A Device for Taking Measurements of the Upper Part of the Body.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Taking Measurements of the Upper Part of the Body.
I, JOHANN LECIEJEWSKI, Markt 3, Rawiisch, Silesia, Germany, Merchant, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:-
By means of this device measurements, for the purpose of making vestments
and the like, of the upper part of the body can be simultaneously taken and
recorded no matter whether the person whose measure has to be taken is of a
normal or abnormal build. By this device the shape and also the carriage of the
upper part of the body are ascertained simultaneously by measurements taken
from the central line of the body towards the left and right.
In order that the invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device as it appears when adapted to measure
the body.
Figs. 2 and 3 show how the device is applied for taking measurements of a
man of normal build.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show how the device is applied when taking measurements
of men of abnormal build.
As shown in Fig. 1 the device consists of a measuring tape a having a zero
mark 6 at the centre of its length. To the left and also to the right of this zero
mark centimetre divisions are made, counting from 1. A number of eyeletted
holes c are also made in the tape at each side of the zero mark.
Forming also a part of the device is a second tape at which has likewise a zero
mark and is also divided centimetrically to the right and left of the zero mark,
counting from 1. On each end of the tape a¹ is a runner 9 which is provided
with buttons as shown.
Forming also a part of the device are two measuring tapes d d which are each
provided at the upper end with a hook and at the lower end with a ring. The
tapes d are divided centimètrically, counting from 1 at the upper ends.
weight is attached to the ring of each tape. The tapes are also made with
eyeletted holes d'.
A
The apparatus is used for taking measurements of the upper part of the body
in the following manner:-The tape a is so placed over the shoulders that its
zero mark 6 is just at the nape of the neck. The free ends of the tape are then
carried under the arm-pits and round the back (see Fig. 3) where they are joined
by a suitable connection. By fitting the tape in this manner several of the most
important measurements can be ascertained, such as, for instance, the exact
position of the vertebrae, the arm-pits, the measurements below the arms and
the breadth of the shoulders. This application of the tape also shows whether
the two sides of the body are equally developed and whether one shoulder is
higher than the other (see Fig. 6) and also indicates exactly where such deviations
from the normal occur.
The tape measure a' is now placed round the waist in order to ascertain its

page_text: measurement. When this has been done the tapes dare hooked on to the corre-
sponding holes c of the tape a and hang down in front, plummet-wise, owing to
the action of the weights f. These hanging tapes d indicate, on the centimetre
scale of the tape a¹, how much the upper part of the body is inclined towards
the left or the right. The amount of stoop or inclination of the body either
backwards or forwards is shown according as the tapes d hang free in front of
the body (see Fig. 5) or lie against it. The runners are moved along the tape
measures a¹ until they correspond with the positions of the tapes d and by intro-
ducing a button of each runner into a corresponding hole of the tapes d the
necessary measurements can be obtained.
It is perfectly clear that in this manner the waist and the upper part of the
trunk can be measured without difficulty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is:-
A device for taking measurements of the body consisting of two tapes (a, a¹)
the one adapted to pass round the shoulders and the other round the waist, both
tapes having divisions counting from the centre to each end, and two measuring
tapes (d) provided with weights at their lower ends and adapted to be secured at
their upper ends to the shoulder tape, substantially as and for the advantages
set forth.
Dated this 18th day of September 1899.
'H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.