Thomas E Waters

US Patent:

56216670, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Jan 17, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/590060

Inventors:

Thomas R. Waters - Fairfield OH

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health
and Human Services - Washington DC

International Classification:

G01G 1944

US Classification:

364567

Abstract:

A lift task analysis system includes a sensor having a retractable cable grasped by the hands of a participant. The participant moves in accordance with a selected lifting task and, in doing so, move the cable end correspondingly. The sensor generates an output indicative of a location of the mid-point of the participant's hands holding the cable end with respect to that sensor, i. e. , a position of the end of the extended cable. The sensor is attached to the housing of an analysis device which includes an input for receiving user/selected parameters. The housing also includes a control processor with means for determining a recommended weight limit and means for determining a lifting index. These determinations are made based upon user-selected input and NIOSH equation multipliers automatically determined through the use of the sensor. The system also includes a memory for storing the lifting index and the recommended weight limit for a plurality of different lifting tasks, as well as other data relevant to those lifting tasks.