Ergonomics
ISSN: 0014-0139 (Print) 1366-5847 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20
Equipment Note An Anthropometer for use in Developing Countries B. T. DAVIES & H. SHAHNAWAZ To cite this article: B. T. DAVIES & H. SHAHNAWAZ (1977) Equipment Note An Anthropometer for use in Developing Countries, Ergonomics, 20:3, 317-320, DOI: 10.1080/00140137708931630 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140137708931630
Published online: 25 Apr 2007.
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Citing articles: 1 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=terg20 Download by: [Universite Laval]
Date: 05 November 2015, At: 22:01
ERaONO~lICS,
1977, VOL. 20, No.3, 317-320
Equipment Note An Anthropometer for use in Developing Countries By B. T. DAVIES and H. SHAHNAWAZ
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
Department of Engineering Production, Univoraity of Birmingham
During a recent project in Iran an anthropometer was needed, and as one was not readily available, the following was designed by one of the authors (HS) and made in the workshops of the University of Arya-Mehr, Teheran. Its construction and use is described here in the hope that it can be made by research workers in similar developing areas so that it can be used to provide the anthropometric measurements of the native population. The essential requirements of the apparatus were that it should be: 1. Of simple design and construction. 2. Accurate, quick and simple to use. 3. Give consistent results when used by different research workers. 4. Used mainly for vertical and horizontal linear measurements with the subjects sitting or standing. 5. Light and easily transportable. The apparatus consists basically of four parts (see photograph and Figures 1 and 2). 1. The base, on which apparatus rested and upon which subjects could place their feet (either sitting or standing). 2. The seat, on which the subject could sit while the required measurements were made.
3 & 4. Vertical column, up and down which the calibrated horizontal arm could move and provide vertical and horizontal measurements. I. The Base (see Figure 1)
This was made using 3 x 3 em angle iron, forming a rectangle 85 x 50 em. A wooden platform was then fitted inside the frame. Adjustable feet were fitted so that the whole could be kept horizontal and two small wheels were fitted to the rear of the base, so that when tiltcd the apparatus could be moved easily from onc location to another. A 76 mm diameter cylinder was welded to the rear of the base and threaded to accommodate the vertical column.
2. The Seat (see Figure 1) This W[tS made of wood, :37 x 40 x 2·25 em, sunk flush into [t metal frame of 2·25 em. It had a 5 em curve on the front edge after the design of Stier (1974). The seat was designed to allow it to move up or down on the vertical column over [1 range 30-50 em to accommodate subjects of different heights. Both the scat and its stabilising bars were attached to the vertical column by a collar which allowed the seat to rotate to the rear of the vertical column, thus allowing unimpeded access to the standing platform.
318
Equipment Note
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
The scat was raised by a screw thread drive actuated by a rotating handle. The screw-drive and handle allowed large but accurate movements to be made while the subjects still sat on the scat. This handle too could be rotated away from the seu.t allowing free access for measurements to be taken. Measurements of the lower leg were taken to the relevant points using the horizontal moving arm.
E
u
o_ 0 NO N
!.-50-
AnthropomE'tE'r Figure 1
a.
Details of Anthopomcter (All measurements in em.)
]1ertical COZ.I1/11i,n (see Figures 1 and 2) This was made of 7(; mm din.meter hollow galvanised steel 215 em in length, threaded at one end to screw into the base. The back of the column had a 2 mm deep groove 0·25 em wide machined into it to allow movement and subsequent locking of a runner for the horizontal arm. A simple wing nut allowed the horizontal arm to be precisely fixed and wben loosened allowed the arm to move to a new position (see Figure 2B). A counterweight to the horizontal measuring arm passed on a steel wire over a pulley fixed to the top of the vertical column and ran freely inside the vertical column for casy movement and adjustment of the horizontal arm. A steel tape measure of 210 em was attached to the top of the vertical column and to tho lower edge of the moving arm. The tape was arranged (re-rolled) so that u direct rending in ern could be taken a.t its point of emergence from its container (sec Figures 2A and 2B).
Equipment Note
319
4. The Horizontal moving arm (see Figure 2) This was made in two parts connected so that they moved as one.
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
The right-hand side (subject's right hand as he is measured) consisted of three
~ I I
,
C
.r:":
·::~·m ; I
L
i
I
~
..
Mo vin qor rn and paris Figure 2
Moving arm and parts.
articulated parts. The two parts nearest the vertical column were of metal tube of 2 cm cross section drilled for lightness. The third part, made of wood, was jointed at its proximal end and pointed at its distal end, the front acting as a straight edge. The articulations allowed the wooden pointer to be set at the relevant anatomical landmark (see Figures 2B and 2R). The left-hand side of the horizontal moving arm was made of a Lm length of 2 cm square section steel tube, also drilled for lightness. A one-metre steel rule was fixed to this arm so that the zero point was at the centre line of the vertical column. A free moving slide was made to slide along this arm and afforded support for the outstretched arm (see Figure 2C). The weight of the left and right sections of the horizontal arms were equal and were counterbalanced. ERG. x
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
Reference %TIT:R,
Ek., 1974, Tptxchc.l~k,aicEn Jlc%rn.;ahuratt ..sirhc*it(15F74 731, p, 32. r%ft ,&R@E~T),
{Mt~rap.ixc~rt: Y K R F , %~(E;E X H C F X
ISSN: 0014-0139 (Print) 1366-5847 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/terg20
Equipment Note An Anthropometer for use in Developing Countries B. T. DAVIES & H. SHAHNAWAZ To cite this article: B. T. DAVIES & H. SHAHNAWAZ (1977) Equipment Note An Anthropometer for use in Developing Countries, Ergonomics, 20:3, 317-320, DOI: 10.1080/00140137708931630 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00140137708931630
Published online: 25 Apr 2007.
Submit your article to this journal
Article views: 12
View related articles
Citing articles: 1 View citing articles
Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=terg20 Download by: [Universite Laval]
Date: 05 November 2015, At: 22:01
ERaONO~lICS,
1977, VOL. 20, No.3, 317-320
Equipment Note An Anthropometer for use in Developing Countries By B. T. DAVIES and H. SHAHNAWAZ
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
Department of Engineering Production, Univoraity of Birmingham
During a recent project in Iran an anthropometer was needed, and as one was not readily available, the following was designed by one of the authors (HS) and made in the workshops of the University of Arya-Mehr, Teheran. Its construction and use is described here in the hope that it can be made by research workers in similar developing areas so that it can be used to provide the anthropometric measurements of the native population. The essential requirements of the apparatus were that it should be: 1. Of simple design and construction. 2. Accurate, quick and simple to use. 3. Give consistent results when used by different research workers. 4. Used mainly for vertical and horizontal linear measurements with the subjects sitting or standing. 5. Light and easily transportable. The apparatus consists basically of four parts (see photograph and Figures 1 and 2). 1. The base, on which apparatus rested and upon which subjects could place their feet (either sitting or standing). 2. The seat, on which the subject could sit while the required measurements were made.
3 & 4. Vertical column, up and down which the calibrated horizontal arm could move and provide vertical and horizontal measurements. I. The Base (see Figure 1)
This was made using 3 x 3 em angle iron, forming a rectangle 85 x 50 em. A wooden platform was then fitted inside the frame. Adjustable feet were fitted so that the whole could be kept horizontal and two small wheels were fitted to the rear of the base, so that when tiltcd the apparatus could be moved easily from onc location to another. A 76 mm diameter cylinder was welded to the rear of the base and threaded to accommodate the vertical column.
2. The Seat (see Figure 1) This W[tS made of wood, :37 x 40 x 2·25 em, sunk flush into [t metal frame of 2·25 em. It had a 5 em curve on the front edge after the design of Stier (1974). The seat was designed to allow it to move up or down on the vertical column over [1 range 30-50 em to accommodate subjects of different heights. Both the scat and its stabilising bars were attached to the vertical column by a collar which allowed the seat to rotate to the rear of the vertical column, thus allowing unimpeded access to the standing platform.
318
Equipment Note
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
The scat was raised by a screw thread drive actuated by a rotating handle. The screw-drive and handle allowed large but accurate movements to be made while the subjects still sat on the scat. This handle too could be rotated away from the seu.t allowing free access for measurements to be taken. Measurements of the lower leg were taken to the relevant points using the horizontal moving arm.
E
u
o_ 0 NO N
!.-50-
AnthropomE'tE'r Figure 1
a.
Details of Anthopomcter (All measurements in em.)
]1ertical COZ.I1/11i,n (see Figures 1 and 2) This was made of 7(; mm din.meter hollow galvanised steel 215 em in length, threaded at one end to screw into the base. The back of the column had a 2 mm deep groove 0·25 em wide machined into it to allow movement and subsequent locking of a runner for the horizontal arm. A simple wing nut allowed the horizontal arm to be precisely fixed and wben loosened allowed the arm to move to a new position (see Figure 2B). A counterweight to the horizontal measuring arm passed on a steel wire over a pulley fixed to the top of the vertical column and ran freely inside the vertical column for casy movement and adjustment of the horizontal arm. A steel tape measure of 210 em was attached to the top of the vertical column and to tho lower edge of the moving arm. The tape was arranged (re-rolled) so that u direct rending in ern could be taken a.t its point of emergence from its container (sec Figures 2A and 2B).
Equipment Note
319
4. The Horizontal moving arm (see Figure 2) This was made in two parts connected so that they moved as one.
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
The right-hand side (subject's right hand as he is measured) consisted of three
~ I I
,
C
.r:":
·::~·m ; I
L
i
I
~
..
Mo vin qor rn and paris Figure 2
Moving arm and parts.
articulated parts. The two parts nearest the vertical column were of metal tube of 2 cm cross section drilled for lightness. The third part, made of wood, was jointed at its proximal end and pointed at its distal end, the front acting as a straight edge. The articulations allowed the wooden pointer to be set at the relevant anatomical landmark (see Figures 2B and 2R). The left-hand side of the horizontal moving arm was made of a Lm length of 2 cm square section steel tube, also drilled for lightness. A one-metre steel rule was fixed to this arm so that the zero point was at the centre line of the vertical column. A free moving slide was made to slide along this arm and afforded support for the outstretched arm (see Figure 2C). The weight of the left and right sections of the horizontal arms were equal and were counterbalanced. ERG. x
Downloaded by [Universite Laval] at 22:01 05 November 2015
Reference %TIT:R,
Ek., 1974, Tptxchc.l~k,aicEn Jlc%rn.;ahuratt ..sirhc*it(15F74 731, p, 32. r%ft ,&R@E~T),
{Mt~rap.ixc~rt: Y K R F , %~(E;E X H C F X
