Patent ID: 8490481

Claim:
A method of protecting a strain gauge on a structure surface, comprising: a. providing a structure, wherein said structure has a structure surface; b. providing a strain gauge and a preformed protective cover; c. bonding said strain gauge to said structure surface; d. placing said preformed protective cover over said strain gauge and connecting said preformed protective cover to said structure surface to enclose said strain gauge within said preformed protective cover, wherein other than at a penetration extending through said protective cover outer surface, all sidewalls of said preformed protective cover at least one from the group consisting of (a) have a rounded convex outer surface, wherein said rounded convex outer surface extends from the structure surface, and (b) are tilted, wherein said tilted sidewalls extend toward each other from the structure surface; and e. providing an energy providing device, wherein said energy providing device includes a battery, said battery being replaceably sealed within said protective cover. measured by said temperature sensor.