A further example of a sensing system comprising a piece of wearing apparel is disclosed in DE-U-29620940. Said publication is related to a glove, which provides an indication of heat by means of a colour. The glove is to be used by firemen, and carries a pad which exhibits an irreversible temperature change at a predetermined temperature level. The object is to indicate emergency circumstances, so as to increase the safety of the firemen.

The invention aims at a means for obtaining an accurate indication of a parameter or a property in general, in e. g. a machine room environment and the like. Under such circumstances, usually gloves and possibly other protective clothing are worn. The measurement of temperatures or other parameters of e. g. engine parts is greatly hampered as a result of said protective clothing.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a sensing system which can be applied in a flexible way, and for a wide range of purposes. This object is achieved in that the sensing means comprise a contact sensor for measuring a parameter or property, such as the roughness or the temperature, of a surface of an object, such as of a machine component.

The contact sensor can be positioned accurately by the user. Dependent on his dexterity, the user may position the contact sensor in places which are otherwise difficult to reach, such as in a cramped engine room.

Also, the sensing system can comprise read-out means which are connected to the piece of wearing apparel at a distance from the contact sensor.

The piece of wearing apparel can take different forms. For instance, it may be a jacket, or a shoe. In particular, it may be carried out as a glove or mitten, and at least one contact sensor may be at a fingertip end of said glove or mitten.

The sensor and read-out means can be on the outside of the glove, which means that an accurate measurement is possible without taking off the glove.

In particular, the contact sensor may be at the fingertip end. By simply pointing the finger in question to the object or surface to be measured, a very easy and direct

measurement is possible, also in remote places which are difficult to reach with e. g. a standard thermometer in the case of a temperature measurement.

According to a further embodiment, the read-out means comprise a memory connected to the piece of wearing apparel, such as a data-logger, as well as a separate download means which is remote from the piece of wearing apparel.

With this embodiment, it is possible to record the development of a parameter during a certain period of time. Analysis of the recorded results can subsequently take place by a suitably programmed computer.

The contact sensor may be arranged for sensing a wide variety of parameters, e. g. temperature, vibration, humidity, pH, distances, sound, etc.

The invention is also related to the use of a sensing system as described before, comprising the steps of -applying the piece of wearing apparel on a body part of the user, -accurately positioning the contact sensor with respect to a measuring spot, -making the contact sensor contacting the measuring spot, -sensing a parameter which is characteristic for the measuring spot, -removing the contact sensor from the measuring spot.

The invention will now be described further with reference to an embodiment shown in the figure.

The figure shows a glove 1, comprising a hand palm portion 2, finger portions 3, and a thumb portion 4.

One of the finger portions 3, in the embodiment shown on the index finger, carries a heat probe or heat sensor 5. This heat sensor 5 by means of cables (not shown) is connected to read-out device 6.

The read-out device 6 provides the temperature as sensed by heat sensor 5, preferably in digital form. The read-out device 6 also comprises a suitable processor, for converting the signals emanating from heat sensor 5 into the corresponding digital figures.

The glove 1 provides the possibility to measure the temperature of objects, surfaces etc. in a very accurate way, even when wearing gloves or mittens. By pointing the index finger 3 to the object of surface to be measured, and contacting this with the heat sensor 5, also very remote and difficult to reach places are accessible for temperature measurements.