WO2002033468A1 - Record viewing device - Google Patents

Abstract

A viewer comprising: support means (14) for receiving a data card (23); a first member (16) hingedly connected to the support means; a second member (17) hingedly connected to the first member at a location remote from the support means; a lens (19) for viewing the data card, said lens mounted on the second member and slidable relative to the data card; wherein the lens and the second member may be reversibly moved from a first stowed position to a second viewing position spaced from the support means.

Description

TITLE "RECORD VIEWING DEVICE" FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to compact viewing devices for non- powered viewing of data records and, in particular, viewing devices for viewing microfilm records on cards.

BACKGROUND ART

There are occasions when access to detailed information about a person may be of great assistance. This is particularly the case in the event of medical emergency or accidental mishap when information about a patient's medical history including known sensitivities and allergies may be of vital importance to a treating physician.

While a patient may be able to provide an outline of his or her history, it is most unusual for that person to recall actual diagnoses, relevant dates and results of diagnostic tests conducted in relation to previous illness. Additionally, the patient's ability to recall may be compromised or extinguished by pain, distress and loss of consciousness. In such an event, an independent source of readily accessible information may be critical to the prospects of successful treatment and even to the survival of the patient. There have been some previous attempts at developing a satisfactory solution to this dilemma. US Patent No 5,215,334 to Press et al describes an emergency medical card with a reduced size medical data transparency and a detachable lens element for separation from the card to view the medical data. This device, however, relies on removal of the lens from the card to provide two independent pieces which may then be used in co-operation. However, it is clear that in the stress of an emergency situation, it would be easily possible for one or both pieces of the device to be dropped or misplaced without obtaining the necessary information. This is particularly the case in relation to the small lens component. In the absence of a lens, the data information would be difficult or impossible to access. In addition, the chance of accidental separation prior to the time of needing to use the device provides a real risk that the viewer may become defective prior to use. This may be of considerable consequence if the defect is not recognised or remedied prior to an emergency situation arising.

US Patent No 3,117,608 to Goss et al discloses a compact pocket folder for containing a microfilm of medical history of a patient. This device also includes a magnifying lens secured in a shank of a T member.

However, this device is primarily used for removal of an insert and use on conventional microfilm projectors. It is possible to use the magnifying glass at the scene of an injury or illness. However, this is a once only use as the card and the supporting structure must be separated for use with resulting damage to the structural enclosure. Use of the magnifying glass is very much a fallback position and not a primary means of addressing the information held on the card.

The above devices all use conventional magnifying lens with the associated problems of narrowness of field in view and marked peripheral distortion of characters. This leads to a reduced capacity to review the information effectively and efficiently. It also leads to a marked limitation in the type of material that can be included on such a data card as any figures should preferably be viewable in one narrow field.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a portable compact viewing card which is easy to use with a microfilm data card. It is also an object to provide such a compact viewer which may be repetitively re-used. It is a further object to provide a pocket viewer with a lens that allows effective review of a substantial field of vision. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadest form, the invention resides in a viewer comprising: support means for receiving a data card; a first member hingedly connected to the support means; a second member hingedly connected to the first member at a location remote from the support means; a lens for viewing the data card, said lens mounted on the second member and slidable relative to the data card; wherein the lens and the second member may be reversibly moved from a first stowed position to a second viewing position spaced from the support means. The support means may comprise at least two spaced interconnected grooves for each receiving a respective edge of a data card. The grooves may be spaced by an intermediate web. The intermediate web may be in the form of a solid body. The intermediate web preferably includes a window. Alternatively, the support means may comprise a sleeve.

The first member may be planar. The second member is preferably planar.

The second member may include lens protection means. The lens protection means may be a rim surrounding an aperture for receiving the lens, wherein the rim projects beyond a plane of the second member.

Preferably, the lens is a double aspheric lens. The lens may be a singly aspheric lens. The lens may be mounted in an aperture of the second member.

Preferably, the lens, first member and second member are all slidable relative to the data card. In addition, the support means may also be slidable relative to the data card. The first stowed position may be adjacent the support means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a viewer of the invention in a stowed position,

FIG. 2 is a side view of the viewer of FIG. 1 in a viewing position.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the viewer of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the viewer of FIG. 1 . FIG. 5 is a plan view of the viewer of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a viewer with data card.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the viewer of FIG. 6 in its viewing position.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a viewer in a viewing position with data card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Referring to FIG. 1 , there is shown a compact pocket viewer 10 having a support means 11 in the form of two spaced grooves 12, 13 for slidingly receiving a data card (not shown). The two grooves 12, 13 are spaced and interconnected by a web body 14 which is preferably in the form of a substantially planar structure. In this view, it is possible to see a lens protection means in the form of rim 15 which protrudes above body 14 in the stowed position.

FIG. 2 shows the viewer 10 when in a deployed or viewing position. In this view, first member 16, which is hingedly connected to the support means 11 via pivotal attachment to the body 14, is rotated until it is substantially 90° to the plane of body 14. Second member 17 is in turn hingedly connected to the first member 16 at a location remote from the support means. The second member 17 is disposed for viewing at approximately 90° to the first member 16. The second member 17 may be held by a user in an operative position relative to the first member 16. Alternatively, there may be a lock mechanism in the pivot joint which automatically limits the arc of travel of second member 17 relative to the first member 16 and maintains it in a preselected position. The advantages of this arrangement are obvious in that the space between body 14 and second member 17 may be substantially equal to the focal length of any lens used which automatically places the lens in a viewing position relative to a data card located in grooves 12, 13.

The advantages of the invention are immediately obvious when compared to the prior art. It may be repetitively moved between stowed and viewing positions. The distance of separation between the lens and a data card may be predetermined and set. The lens is not removed from the viewer at any stage and is comprehensively held in the substantial structure of the viewer so that even if the viewer is dropped, it will be easily and readily located. Additionally, the lens will be protected by rim 15 during any such accidental impact on the viewer 10.

FIG. 3 shows an end view of the viewer of FIG. 2 when deployed in the viewing position. As can be seen, the first member 16 is substantially planar as is the second member 17 with rim 15 substantially transverse to the plane of second member 17. A hinge joint 18 is formed by a pivot bolt (not shown) inserted through a cylindrical seat or a plurality of receiving rings.

In FIG. 4, a plan view of the viewer 10 shows the location of components when stowed. The body 14 has a recess for receiving first member 16, second member 17 and lens 19. In this case, the recess completely penetrates the body 14 to provide a window when the lens 19 is in use. This recess provides extra protection during storage of the viewer in a wallet, purse or carry bag. The viewer is preferably dimensioned to be easily stored in such receptacle. Additionally, the data card for use with the viewer is likewise dimensioned and preferably of the size of a standard credit card. A thumb recess 20 is provided for easy activation of the device by insertion of a thumb or fingernail to lever the movable components out of the recess of the body 14. The recess may include a lip which may be resiliently deformed during location of the first member 16 and second member 17 with subsequent snap locking of the lip to retain the components in place. Alternatively, the first member 16 and second member 17 may be retained in the recess in the body 14 by friction fit so that the likelihood of accidental deployment of the device with subsequent damage to the hinges in minimised.

FIG. 5 shows the viewer of FIG. 4 in a deployed position. The recess 21 is now readily apparent as the second member 17 has been transferred from the recess 21 to a position spaced from the body 14. The edge 22 of the recess 21 is also readily apparent, as is the hinge joint 18. The recess 21 in this view creates a window through the body 14 so a user can see a data card. The window may of course be restricted to coincide with the view through lens 19. FIG. 6 shows the viewer of FIG. 4 when a data card 23 is located in the grooves 12, 13. The data card preferably has microfiche or microfilm inserts 24 and may be of credit card size with up to the equivalent of 8 A4 pages of medical or other data or graphical information. This information may be medically based, including specific information such as allergies, medications, hospital history, ECG charts and x-rays, handicaps, blood groups and other genetic and graphically recorded information. Information relating to the patient's identification may also be present, including contact details or reference numbers for access to a broader database. In the present view, the data card 23 has been located in the device. It may be carried in the viewer 10 so that the two in combination form a narrow profile item for easy location in a traveller's bag or wallet.

In FIG. 7, the lens 19 has been moved into viewing position and the magnification is clearly seen in the field of view 25. As previously noted, the focal length of the lens may be predetermined and accurately maintained by the relative positions of second member 17 and first member 16. However, it is also clear that allowance for individual focusing ability may be made by relative movement of the components, that is, the hinging may allow movement of the lens closer to or further away from the microfiche inserts 24, thereby allowing people with visual variations to obtain their own individual focus and thereby clearly read the documentation.

The presence of a double aspheric lens can add considerably to the efficiency and effectiveness of the present device. A magnifying lens, particularly of the size under discussion, can cause considerable distortion when a user attempts to clearly read characters on the microfiche inserts. A double aspheric lens provides a relatively even and precise field of view across the full extent of the lens. This provides a greater field of immediate review. Such an improvement leads to easy and accurate consideration of the contents of the text which, of course, may be of great importance in a life and death emergency situation. Additionally, the improved field of view provides the ability to include in the microfiche data, graphic elements and representations including charts and tables. This may even allow the inclusion of x-rays, electro cardiographic charts and ultrasound images.

In FIG. 8, a perspective view of the device of FIG. 7 is given. Lens protecting rim 15 sits above and beyond lens 19 providing protection for the lens. First member 16 hingedly supports the second member 17 which is 5 in place for reading the microfiche inserts 24 of data card 23. The recess 21 is of necessity a window to permit visualisation of the inserts 24. The recess 21 may simply be a space or, alternatively, may have some form of clear lining, such as perspex to provide additional protection for the lens 19 when stowed. o In the invention as described, the lens, first and second member, body and grooves are all slidable relative to the data card. However, it is easy to envisage a device in which only the first member and second member and lens are slidable relative to both the data card and body 14. Indeed, it is possible that only the second member and lens is slidable s relative to the data card. The data card may be enclosed in a sleeve rather than body and grooves, with a similar function as described.

Not only does the described device provide a ready and effective supply of information, but it allows a user to enter a broader protective scheme. A patient may choose to store a concise or even o censored amount of evidence on the data card or cards on his or her person.

A backup file as well as more extensive records may be kept on a primary secure database which is internationally accessible. In this way, the cardholder has the choice as to the amount of medical or other information which is contained on the card itself and may choose to have more extensive 5 records available at the primary site. Access to the primary site may be guarded by codes and identification requirements which are well known in the art. Such a card may be updated annually or sooner, if required, to thereby provide a current history of the patient. The cardholder would therefore have a complete and updated medical file held in their wallet and 0 purse, as well as the secure backup database site which may be effectively accessed anywhere in the world at any time. A call centre may be established to operate on a 24 hour per day, 365 days per year basis to provide immediate access and response to enquiries from cardholders or associated medical practitioners.

The inventor has found that the double aspheric lens has the advantage that it provides for flat viewing. This achieves a far better peripheral vision and also allows the thickness of the lens to be minimised. In fact, a lens with a thickness as little as 4mm may be effective which provides an obvious advantage in the compactness of the device and in diminishing the side profile. The features of such a lens may be as follows: diameter: 15mm; viewing distance: 18.9mm; lens thickness: 4mm; strength: 15.5mm; material: optical acrylic clear; lens type: double aspheric; finished product: high peripheral vision, no distortion.

It is possible to use a standard lens in such a device. The details of such a lens may be as follows: viewing distance: 15.5mm; lens thickness: 4.95mm; strength: 17.3mm; material: optical acrylic MFP001 ; lens type: aspheric one side, spherical the other side; finished product: low peripheral vision, a lot of distortion.

This type of lens may be used in the product but has substantial disadvantages when compared to the above alternative.

Throughout the specification, the aim has been to describe the preferred embodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any one embodiment or specific collection of features. While the medical information has been used as an example, it is clear to a skilled addressee that any form of information may be stored on a data card with resulting access using a viewer of the invention. Various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

Claims

1. A viewer comprising: support means for receiving a data card; a first member hingedly connected to the support means; a second member hingedly connected to the first member at a location remote from the support means; a lens for viewing the data card, said lens mounted on the second member and slidable relative to the data card; wherein the lens and the second member may be reversibly moved from a first stowed position to a second viewing position spaced from the support means.

2. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the support means comprises at least two spaced interconnected grooves for each receiving a respective edge of a data card.

3. The viewer of claim 2 wherein the grooves are spaced by an intermediate web.

4. The viewer of claim 3 wherein the intermediate web is in a solid body.

5. The viewer of claim 3 wherein the intermediate web includes a window.

6. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the support means comprises a sleeve.

7. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the first member is planar.

8. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the second member is planar.

9. The viewer of claim 1 wherein second member include lens protection means.

10. The viewer of claim 9 wherein the lens protection means is a rim surrounding an aperture for receiving the lens, wherein the rim projects beyond a plane of the second member.

11. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the lens is a double aspheric lens.

12. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the lens is mounted in an aperture of the second member.

13. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the lens, the first member and the second member are all slidable relative to the data card.

14. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the support means is slidable relative to a data card.

15. The viewer of claim 1 wherein the first stowed position is adjacent the support means.