Patent Publication Number: US-2018054599-A1

Title: Human growth tracking apparatus, system and method

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The journey from infancy to full-grown adulthood is, for many, often filled will notable events or milestones that occur during the growth period. Moreover, pregnancy, in a somewhat similar manner, is also often marked by prominent occurrences as a woman&#39;s torso grows to full-term development. The human characteristics for physical growth has long prompted people to strive to capture or otherwise document growth progression. However, growth tracking and milestone capturing ordinarily occur separately and distinctly. Hence there is a need for an efficient and effective apparatus, system and method for tracking human growth while simultaneously documenting notable occurrences in human development. 
     A described aspect provides a human growth tracking apparatus comprising: a flexible tracking sheet, the flexible tracking sheet having at least one display face, wherein the at least one display face covers an area of at least four square feet, the at least four square foot area being defined by at least two perpendicular dimensions, each of the at least two perpendicular dimensions being at least two feet in length; and a plurality of indicia located on the at least one display face of the flexible tracking sheet, wherein the plurality of indicia corresponds to notable events that occur during a period of growth of a human. 
     Another described aspect provides a system for tracking human growth in correlation with notable events, the system comprising: an imaging device, the imaging device configured to capture at least one image of a growing human, wherein the imaging device includes a storage medium configured to store the at least one captured image of the growing human, and further wherein the at least one image is captured during or close-in-time to the occurrence of a notable event during a period of growth of the human; and a human growth tracking apparatus, the human growth tracking apparatus including: a flexible tracking sheet, the flexible tracking sheet having at least one display face, wherein the at least one display face covers an area of at least four square feet, the at least four square foot area being defined by at least two perpendicular dimensions, each of the at least two perpendicular dimensions being at least two feet in length; and a plurality of indicia located on the at least one display face of the flexible tracking sheet, wherein the plurality of indicia corresponds to notable events that occur during the period of growth of the human. 
     Yet another described aspect provides a method of tracking human growth, the method comprising: providing a human growth tracking apparatus, the human growth tracking apparatus including: a flexible tracking sheet, the flexible tracking sheet having at least one display face, wherein the at least one display face covers an area of at least four square feet, the at least four square foot area being defined by at least two perpendicular dimensions, each of the at least two perpendicular dimensions being at least two feet in length; and a plurality of indicia located on the at least one display face of the flexible tracking sheet, wherein the plurality of indicia corresponds to notable events that occur during a period of growth of a human; locating a human proximate the plurality of indicia located on the at least one display face of the flexible tracking sheet during or close-in-time to the occurrence of a notable event during the period of growth of the human; signifying specific indicia that correlatively identifies the particular notable event being identified as correspondingly relevant for tracking growth of the human; providing an imaging device; capturing at least one image of the growing human, as the growing human is located proximate the plurality of indicia located on the at least one display face of the flexible tracking sheet, wherein the image is captured during or close-in-time to the occurrence of the notable event during the period of growth of the human; and storing, at least temporarily, the at least one captured image of the growing human, wherein the captured image is stored during or close-in-time to the occurrence of the notable event during the period of growth of the human. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The described aspects are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing(s). Included in the drawing(s) are the following figure(s): 
         FIG. 1  is a top view of an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 1  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of another embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus; 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 4  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of still another embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 6  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 8  is a top view of yet an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus; 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 8  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of a further embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus; 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 10  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of still yet a further embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus; 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 12  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 12  being used in another anner to track the growth of a human; 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus depicted in  FIG. 12  being used in still another manner to track the growth of a human; and 
         FIG. 16  is a top view of an embodiment of a system for tracking human growth. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     While this disclosure contains many specific details, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the technology herein described and the appended claim(s). The scope of the technology shall in no way be construed as being limited to the number of constituting components, the corresponding relationship, if any, of constituting components, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, the temperature employed, the order of combination of constituents thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as examples. The depictions and schemes shown herein are intended for illustrative purposes and shall in no way be construed as being limiting in the number of constituting components, connectivity, methodological steps, the materials thereof, the shapes thereof, the relative arrangement thereof, the order of system interactions thereof, etc., and are disclosed simply as an aid for understanding. The features and advantages of the described embodiments are illustrated in detail in the accompanying drawing(s), wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawing(s). As a preface to the detailed description, it should be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claim(s), the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     With reference to the drawing(s),  FIG. 1  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  100 . The human growth tracking apparatus  100  may comprise a flexible sheet  110 , formed for example of cloth, linen, woven or felted fabric made from wool, cotton, or a similar fiber, or other textile material. In addition, the flexible sheet  110  may be fanned of plastic or other polymeric material or thin flexible metal materials or foils, or any material or combination of materials that will facilitate a lightweight and flexible sheet  110 . 
     The flexible sheet  110  of the human growth tracking apparatus  100  includes at least one display face  120 . The term “face,” as used herein, refers, inter alia, to a designated side or portion of the flexible sheet  110  of the human growth tracking apparatus  100  that is configured for depiction of components located thereon. The flexible sheet  110  and/or the display face  120  may comprise a uniform coloring or shading scheme and/or may contain multiple colors or patterns. In addition, the display face  120  of the flexible sheet  110  may be configured to prominently present, show or otherwise exhibit a plurality of indicia  130  located on the at least one display face  120 . 
     The plurality of indicia  130  may be comprised of, formed or otherwise fashioned in any manner that effectuates visual presentation of information corresponding to notable events that may occur during a period of growth of a human. Moreover, the plurality of indicia  130  may be presented in the form of signs, codes, cryptograms, or other communication markers, such as alphanumeric symbols. For example, as exemplarily depicted in  FIG. 1  the plurality of indicia includes silk-screened numerals (1-12), as well as the cursive scripted word “months” silk-screened onto the display face  120  of a flexible sheet  110  of bamboo cotton muslin in the form of a swaddle blanket. 
     With continued reference to the drawings,  FIG. 2  depicts a top perspective view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  100  depicted in  FIG. 1 . The at least one display face  120  of the human growth tracking apparatus  100  covers an area of at least four square feet, the at least four square foot area being defined by at least two perpendicular dimensions (dimension  140  and dimension  150 ), each of the at least two perpendicular dimensions ( 140  and  150 ) being at least two feet in length. Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the two perpendicular dimensions ( 140  and  150 ) may intersect at a center of a circle (such that each dimension is the same length and representative of a diameter of the circle), may intersect at a foci of an ellipse, may form the base and height of an isosceles triangle or may be oriented in any manner such that the display face  120  includes at least four square feet of surface area and each of dimension  140  and dimension  150  are at least two feet in length. A four square foot surface area helps to facilitate better tracking of human growth. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 2 , the plurality of indicia  130  corresponds to notable events that occur during a period of growth of a human. For example, each of the printed numbers 1-12 represents a month of the year, with 1 being representative of January, 2 being representative of February, and so on, so that each number is an indicia  130   a.  The indicia  130   b  identifies, through wording, that this human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100  tracks “months.” 
     With additional reference to the drawings,  FIG. 3  depicts a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  100  depicted in  FIG. 1  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human, in this case, an infant baby  90   a.  Once the human growth tracking apparatus  100  is provided, the growth-size of a human can be tracked in correlation with the occurrence of a notable event. Accordingly, the human infant  90   a  may be located or otherwise positioned, oriented, placed and/or set-upon the display face  120  of the flexible sheet  110 . The location of the human infant proximate the display face  120  of the flexible sheet  110  may be during or close-in-time to the occurrence of the notable event. For example, if the size of the human infant  90   a  is desired to be tracked in conjunction with the human infant&#39;s one-month birthday then the human infant  90   a  may be located proximate to the display face  120  of the flexible sheet  110  either on the date of the human infant&#39;s one-month birthday, or within a day or so prior to or following that date, so that the size of the human infant will correspond accurately with growth up to that one-month birthday date. In addition to proximately locating the human infant  90   a  next to or on the human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100 , a user may also signify, circle, point-to, highlight, emphasize, or otherwise recognize specific indicia  150  that correlatively identifies the particular notable event being identified as being correspondingly relevant for growth tracking. Thus, in continuance of the example, a user may signify the first month (the silk-screen printed numbe “1” indicia  150  on the display face  120  of the human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100 ), to correspondingly identify that the human infant  90   a  is approximately one-month old, or otherwise celebrating a one-month birthday at the time of the occurrence of growth tracking. An imaging device, such as a camera or other device capable of capturing an image, may be provided to capture at least one image of the human infant  90   a  located proximate the signified indicia  150 , of the plurality of indicia, thereby identifying the human infant  90   a  as being approximately one month old in the captured image. For purposes of documenting or otherwise tracking the size of the human infant  90   a  as captured in correlation with the notable moment, the captured image may be at least temporarily stored, such as on film or on a digital hard drive or flash drive, during or close-in-time to the occurrence of the notable event during the period of growth of the human infant  90   a.    
     With still continued reference to the drawings,  FIG. 16  depicts a top view of an embodiment of a system  1000  for tracking human growth. The system particularly comprises an imaging device  900 , such as a camera or any other device capable of capturing an image. The imaging device  900  may be configured to capture at least one image of a growing human, such as a human infant  90   a  of  FIG. 3 , wherein the imaging device  900  includes a storage medium configured to store the at least one captured image of the growing human. Examples of a storage medium comprise film, magnetic tape, hard drives, floppy disks, compact disks, digital video disks, flash drives or any other medium capable of storing a captured image. The system  100  for tracking human growth further includes a human growth tracking apparatus, such as the human growth tracking apparatus  100  described and depicted in regard to  FIGS. 1-3 , or any other operable embodiment as set forth herein or equivalently understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     Additional embodiments of a human growth tracking apparatus  200 ,  300 ,  400 ,  500  and  600  will now be discussed in relations to drawing  FIGS. 4-15 , along with corresponding methodology and systems utilizing such embodiments. In particular,  FIG. 4  depicts a top view of another embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  200 . This embodiment  200  is similar to embodiment  100 , but also adds additional indicia pertaining to “Days,” “Weeks” and “Years,” thereby affording a potential user the opportunity to track human growth in correlation to additional varying notable occurrences. For instance,  FIG. 5  depicts a top view of the embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  200  depicted in  FIG. 4  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human child  90   b.  Also depicted is the proximate location of the human growth tracking apparatus  200  near a standing human child  90   b.  In this instance, the human growth tracking apparatus  200  may be hung or otherwise suspended vertically support components  270 . Furthermore, as depicted the human child  90  may be the means for signifying  250  which particularly indicia is/are correlatively appropriate for the image capturing the growth size of the human child  90   b.  Moreover, as exemplarily depicted, use of extraneous indicia, such as the mustache symbol  260   c  under the “years” indicia, and/or the “0.5” half year symbol after the third year indicia, may serve to further clarify the time occurrence being captured in relation to the size of the human child  90   b  at the time of the image capture. Other component elements, such as the display face  220  and the flexible sheet  210  are similar to comparable elements of the human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100  described and depicted in regard to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     Referring further to the drawings,  FIGS. 6 and 7  depict a top view of an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  300  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human infant  90   c.  Notably, this embodiment is completely independent of time, and instead provides a plurality of indicia  330  focusing instead on milestone happenings, such as when a human infant  90   c  first crawls. As depicted, a signifying  350  physical wooden hoop device is located around the “Rolled Over” indicia to indicate that, on or about the time the image was captured, the human infant  90   c  first rolled over and had a body size of that shown in the captured and stored image. IN addition, indicia  330   c  indicates vastly different font size and type as compared with indicia  330   b.  The display face  320  and flexible sheet  310  are similar to that described with respect to comparable elements associated with human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100  described and depicted in regard to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     Again, referring further to the drawings,  FIGS. 8 and 9  depict a top view of an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  400  being used in a manner to track the growth of a human infant  90   d.  Notably, this embodiment is completely devoid of time, and instead provides a plurality of, inter alia, pictorial indicia  430  focusing instead on milestone happenings, such as the height and weight of a human infant  90   d.  Here, as exemplified, a blank spot indicia  460   a  is purposefully left open on the scale image indicia  430   d  and under the ruler image indicia  430   e  and when filled in with informative data indicate that, on or about the time the image was captured, the human infant  90   d  was the height and weight shown in the captured and stored image. The display face  420  and flexible sheet  410  and indicia  430   b  are similar to that described with respect to comparable elements associated with human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100  described and depicted in regard to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     With further reference to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a top view of an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  500  is depicted and shown being used in a manner to track the growth of a human infant  90   e.  This embodiment human growth tracking apparatus  500  focuses all notable events on first experiencing well-known holidays, as set-forth by the “My First” indicia  530   c.  For example, when a human infant  90   e  experiences Valentine&#39;s Day for the first time, the human infant  90   e  can be located proximate the holiday indicia  530   b  and a garland heart  550  can be placed particularly around the “Valentine&#39;s Day” indicia signifying that the growth size of the human infant  90   e  is what it is during or close-in-time to that particular holiday when the image of the same is captured. Moreover, further holiday accoutrements and decorations  580 , such as hearts, can also emphasize the holiday milestone. As before, the display face  520  and flexible sheet  510  and indicia  530   b  are similar to that described with respect to comparable elements associated with human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100  described and depicted in regard to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     In addition to human growth from infancy to adulthood, human women also experience growth in the torso area during pregnancy. With still continuing reference to the drawings,  FIGS. 12-15  depict a human growth tracking apparatus  600  being used in various manners to track the growth of a pregnant human  90   f.  Here, since a typical pregnancy lasts around 40 weeks, the plurality of indicia  630  are provided with indicia numbers 1-40. Depending on the numbered indicia  630   a,  a correlation can be drawn between a particular week of pregnancy. The indicia “Weeks”  630   b  is set forth to clarify the information presented for potential use for tracking purposes. Here also, a support component  670  is used to suspend a rod  675  from which the human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  600  is draped. As shown particularly in  FIG. 13 , a heart-shaped signifying element  650  is utilized to identify the 25 week as the notable event corresponding to the growing size of the pregnant human  90   f.  The depiction in  FIG. 14  teaches a different approach to identifying significance; all of the indicia  630  prior to week  25  are crossed off  650   b,  thereby leaving 25 as the week having notable significant in correlation with the growing size of the pregnant human  90   f  In a different manner, the depiction of  FIG. 15  shows the pregnant human  90   f  pointing to signify that week 25 of her pregnancy correlates with her size as may be recorded via image capture, so that the notable event(s) are signified by directed actions of the human, such as the pregnant human  90   f,  for whom growth is being tracked. Again, as before, the display face  620  and flexible sheet  610  and indicia  630   b  are similar to that described with respect to comparable elements associated with human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100  described and depicted in regard to  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     With reference being made to  FIG. 1 - FIG. 16 , methodology corresponding to the tracking human growth in correlation with notable events is described. Once an embodiment of a human growth tracking apparatus  100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 600  is provided, the growth-size of a human  90  can be tracked in correlation with the occurrence of a notable event. Accordingly, the human  90  may be located near or otherwise positioned, oriented, placed and/or set-upon the display face  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 / 520 / 620  of the flexible sheet  110 / 210 / 310 / 410 / 510 / 610 . The location of the human  90  proximate the display face  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 / 520 / 620  of the flexible sheet  110 / 210 / 310 / 410 / 510 / 610  may be during or close-in-time to the occurrence of the notable event. For example, if the size of the human  90  is desired to be tracked in conjunction with a particular year, week, day, size, or accomplishment, etc., then the human  90  may be located proximate to the display face  120 / 220 / 320 / 420 / 520 / 620  of the flexible sheet  110 / 210 / 310 / 410 / 510 / 610  either on the date of the human&#39;s  90  notable event, or within a day or so prior to or following that date, so that the size of the growing human  90  will correspond accurately with growth up to that notable date and/or accomplishment. In addition to proximately locating the human  90  next to or on the human growth tracking apparatus embodiment  100 / 200 / 300 / 400 / 500 / 600 , a user may also signify, circle, point-to, highlight, emphasize, or otherwise recognize specific indicia  150 / 250 / 350 / 450 / 550 / 650  that correlatively identifies the particular date and/or notable event being identified as being correspondingly relevant for growth tracking. An imaging device, such as a camera or other device capable of capturing an image, may be provided to capture at least one image of the human  90  located proximate the signified indicia  150 / 250 / 350 / 450 / 550 / 650 , of the plurality of indicia  130 / 230 / 330 / 430 / 530 / 630 , thereby identifying the human  90  as being a tracked size on the notable date or day of accomplishment in the captured image. For purposes of documenting or otherwise tracking the size of the human  90  as captured in correlation with the notable moment, the captured image may be at least temporarily stored, such as on film or on a digital hard drive or flash drive, during or close-in-time to the occurrence of the notable event during the period of growth of the human  90 . 
     Although various aspects are illustrated and described herein with reference to specific embodiments, the aspects, in whole and in part, are not intended to be limited to the details shown. For example, the apparatus, system and methods described herein may be utilized to track reduction in human size, as opposed to growth in human size, and may also be used to track any change in human size. Rather, various modifications may be made in the details within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims and without departing from the invention.