Scale with message display

• US 20040222026A1
• Filed: 05/07/2003
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2003
• 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: Bassett, Patricia, Herrera, Alejandro, Wong, Anson, Kohn, Gabriel
• Granted Patent: US 7,138,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons

Abstract

Disclosed is a bath scale for measuring a user'"'"'s weight having a weight display and a message display driven by a detection-and-display system adapted to provide through the message display one or more substantially non-deductive messages to the user of the bath scale that instruct the user in plain language how to use the scale.

Claims

1. A bath scale for measuring a user'"'"'s weight, comprising:

a standing surface upon which the user stands to have one'"'"'s weight measured;

a weight display;

a message display; and

a detection-and-display system adapted to provide through the message display one or more substantially non-deductive messages to the user of the bath scale.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the weight display and the message display share common display elements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the message display is an LCD display.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection-and-display system provides a message to the user to step off the scale during a calibration operation.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a battery power source;

wherein the detection-and-display system is adapted to test the battery power source; and

wherein the detection-and-display system provides a substantially non-deductive message to the user to replace or recharge the battery power source when indicated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detection-and-display system provides a substantially non-deductive message to the user that the weight placed upon the scale is out of the range of the scale'"'"'s capabilities.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the non-deductive message is provided as written text.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the non-deductive message is scrolled across the message display.

9. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for aiding a user to operate a scale, the method steps comprising:

detecting a load upon the scale;

checking the calibration of the scale; and

if the calibration check shows the scale to be properly calibrated, then measuring the load, otherwise;

executing a calibration of the scale and displaying a substantially non-deductive message to the user to remove the detected load from the scale.

10. The program storage device of claim 9 further comprising the step of:

delaying execution of the calibration until removal of the load is detected.

11. The program storage device of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

checking the strength of a battery power source; and

displaying a substantially non-deductive message to the user to replace or recharge the battery power source if the battery check so indicates.

12. The program storage device of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

checking that the load is within the range of capabilities of the scale to measure; and

displaying a substantially non-deductive message to the user that the load is outside the range of the scale'"'"'s capabilities if the range check so indicates.

13. The program storage device of claim 10 further comprising the step of delivering the non-deductive message to remove the load from the scale as audible speech through a speaker.

14. The program storage device of claim 11 further comprising the step of delivering the non-deductive message to recharge or replace the battery power source as audible speech through a speaker.

15. The program storage device of claim 12 further comprising the step of delivering the non-deductive message that the load is outside the range of the scale'"'"'s capabilities as audible speech through a speaker.

16. A bath scale for measuring a user'"'"'s weight, comprising:

weight display means for displaying a measured load;

message display means for displaying non-deductive messages to the user;

one or more sensor means for sensing data, including one or more load sensor means for detecting and measuring a load upon the bath scale; and

detection-and-display means for inputting and processing information from the sensor means and outputting the non-deductive messages to the user.

17. The bath scale of claim 16 wherein the detection-and-display means further comprises:

means for determining when the scale is in need of calibration;

means for outputting a substantially non-deductive message to the user to remove the load from the scale; and

means for executing a calibration.

18. The bath scale of claim 16 wherein the detection-and-display means further comprises:

means for determining when a battery power source means of the scale is in need of recharging or replacement; and

means for outputting a substantially non-deductive message to the user to replace or recharge the battery power source means.

19. The bath scale of claim 16 wherein the detection-and-display means further comprises:

means for determining when the load is outside the range of measurement of the scale; and

means for outputting a substantially non-deductive message to the user that the load is outside the scale'"'"'s range.

20. The bath scale of claim 16 further comprising means of outputting the non-deductive message as audible speech.