Low Profile Load Cell

• US 20080041638A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gerald Simons
• Original Assignee: Gerald Simons
• Inventors: Simons, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US11/761,774
• Publication Number:
  US 20080041638A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/210FP
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale

Abstract

The invention includes a load cell which has a base, a contact knob and a strain gauge measuring device. When the contact knob supports an object, the base flexes, which is detected by the measuring device, and used to provide a weight of the object to a person interested in knowing the weight.

Claims

1. A load cell, comprising:

a base;

a contact knob;

a strain gauge measuring device fixed to the base, the measuring device including at least one strain gauge;

a transmission device, the transmission device being capable of transmitting a signal from the strain gauge to an analyzing circuit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmission device includes conductors extending between the load cell and the analyzing circuit.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact knob has a rounded surface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact knob and the base are an integral unit.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact knob and the base are different pieces of material that have been attached to each other.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the contact knob is on a first side of the base and the strain gauge is on a second side of the base.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge measuring device is a Wheatstone bridge.

8. A method of weighing, comprising:

provide a load cell having a base, a contact knob and a strain gauge measuring device fixed to the base;

measure a first resistance of the strain gauge measuring device;

support an object to be weighed with the contact knob;

measure a second resistance of the strain gauge measuring device;

compare the first resistance and the second resistance to obtain a resistance difference;

correlate the resistance difference to a weight;

display the weight to a person.