Floor tile scale with wall display

• US 20030178233A1
• Filed: 03/25/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Murguia, Ricardo, Montagnino, James G., Wong, Anson
• Granted Patent: US 6,781,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/142
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means

Abstract

A body weigh scale that mounts into a floor of a room, for example in the floor of a bathroom, and that is designed to receive tiles or other floor covering materials thereon. A weighing mechanism of the body weigh scale generates weight information and transmits that weight information to a remote countertop or wall mounted display. The display may normally show a clock or another displayed item, and may convert its view to show weight units when a user steps on a platform. The display may also be configured to receive medical information from other medical devices, such as blood glucose monitors, heart rate monitors, or blood pressure monitors. The medical information may be shown by the display, may be received by the display and transmitted to another computer (e.g., at a hospital), or may be stored in the display for later transmission or evaluation.

Claims

1. A body weigh scale, comprising:

a weighing mechanism;

a transmitter associated with the weighing mechanism and configured to send wireless signals regarding weight information generated by the weighing mechanism; and

a receiver configured to receive wireless signals sent by the transmitter; and

a display associated with the receiver, the display being configured to change from a first view to a second view when a load is placed on the weighing mechanism, the first view being substantially independent of weight information, and the second view including information regarding the weight of the load based upon wireless signals sent by the transmitter.

2. The scale of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configured to send radio frequency (RF) signals, and the receiver is configured to receive RF signals.

3. The scale of claim 1, wherein the weighing mechanism is configured to be mounted in a floor of a building.

4. The scale of claim 3, wherein the weighing mechanism is configured to be mounted in a floor of a bathroom.

5. The scale of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to rest on a countertop.

6. The scale of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to hang on a wall.

7. The scale of claim 6, wherein the first view comprises a clock.

8. The scale of claim 7, wherein the first view comprises a digital clock having number locations, and wherein the second view comprises the weight information displayed at the number locations.

9. The scale of claim 1, wherein the first view comprises a digital clock having number locations, and wherein the second view comprises the weight information displayed at the number locations.

10. The scale of claim 6, wherein the display is further configured to receive medical information from a medical device.

11. The scale of claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to store the medical information.

12. The scale of claim 11, wherein the display is further configured to display the medical information.

13. The scale of claim 10, wherein the display is further configured to forward the medical information to a monitoring component.

14. The scale of claim 13, wherein the display is further configured to forward the medical information via the Internet.

15. A body weigh scale, comprising:

a weighing mechanism configured to generate weight information responsive to a load on the weighing mechanism; and

a display, connected to the weighing mechanism, and configured to change from a first view to a second view when a load is placed on the weighing mechanism, the first view being substantially independent of weight information, the second view including information regarding the weight of the load.

16. The scale of claim 15, wherein the display is configured to hang on a wall.

17. The scale of claim 16, wherein the first view comprises a clock.

18. The scale of claim 15, wherein the first view comprises a clock.

19. The scale of claim 15, wherein the display is connected to the weighing mechanism via a wireless connection.

20. The scale of claim 15, wherein the display is further configured to receive medical information from a medical device.

21. The scale of claim 20, wherein the display is further configured to store the medical information.

22. The scale of claim 21, wherein the display is further configured to display the medical information.

23. The scale of claim 20, wherein the display is further configured to forward the medical information to a monitoring component.

24. The scale of claim 23, wherein the display is further configured to forward the medical information via the Internet.

25. A health monitoring system, comprising:

a device for receiving medical information from a medical device; and

a display, connected to the receiver, and configured to change from a first view to a second view to display the medical information, the first view being substantially independent of the medical information.

26. The health monitoring system of claim 25, wherein the display is configured to hang on a wall.

27. The health monitoring system of claim 26, wherein the first view comprises a clock.

28. The health monitoring system of claim 25, wherein the first view comprises a clock.

29. The health monitoring system of claim 25, wherein the display is connected to the medical device via a wireless connection.

30. The health monitoring system of claim 25, wherein the display is further configured to store the medical information.

31. The health monitoring system of claim 30, wherein the display is further configured to display the medical information.

32. The health monitoring system of claim 25, wherein the display is further configured to forward the medical information to a monitoring component.

33. The health monitoring system of claim 32, wherein the display is further configured to forward the medical information via the Internet.