Apparatus and method for measuring the body weight

• US 20080115592A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzanne Wang
• Original Assignee: Suzanne Wang
• Inventors: Wang, Suzanne
• Granted Patent: US 7,842,892 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.581
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/445 in a horizontal position
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/04 with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid pressure gauges per se G01L

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for measuring a body weight of a user are provided. The apparatus includes a container containing a fluid inside for supporting the user, a fluid sensor measuring a pressure of the fluid inside the container, and a control unit determining the body weight of the user. The fluid sensor measures a change of the pressure as the user lying on the container, and the control unit determines the body weight of the user based on the change of the pressure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring a body weight of a user, the apparatus comprising:

a container containing a fluid inside for supporting the user;

a fluid sensor connected to the container, for measuring a physical property of the fluid inside the container; and

a control unit connected to the fluid sensor;

wherein the fluid sensor measures a change of the physical property as the user lying on the container, and the control unit determines the body weight of the user based on the change of the physical property.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a valve connected to the container, allowing the fluid selectively flowing into and flowing out from the container.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a driving device for driving the fluid flowing into the container.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an emergent power supply providing a power when a normal power supply fails.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a modification device for modifying the pressure of the container according to the body weight of the user.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit modifies the pressure of the container according to the body weight of the user.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a first cell and a second cell, and the first cell defines an opening while the second cell defines at least two openings for facilitating the fluid contained in the second cell flowing out faster than the fluid contained in the first cell.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a first cell and a second cell, and the first cell defines a first opening while the second cell defines a second opening, and the second opening is larger than the first opening for facilitating the fluid contained in the second cell flowing out faster than the fluid contained in the first cell.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the physical property is pressure.

10. A method for measuring a body weight of a user by an apparatus, the apparatus comprising a container containing a fluid inside for supporting the user, a fluid sensor connected to the container for measuring a physical property of the fluid inside the container, and a control unit connected to the fluid sensor, the method comprising:

measuring the initial physical property of the fluid inside the container by the fluid sensor;

measuring a change of the physical property of the fluid inside the container by the fluid sensor as the user lies on the container; and

determining the body weight of the user based on the change of the physical property by the control unit.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus further includes a valve connected to the container allowing the fluid selectively flowing into and flowing out from the container.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus further includes a driving device for driving the fluid flowing into the container.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus further includes an emergent power supply providing a power when a normal power supply fails.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus further includes a modification device for modifying the pressure of the container according to the body weight of the user.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein the control unit modifies the pressure of the container according to the body weight of the user.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein the container includes a first cell and a second cell, and the first cell defines an opening while the second cell defines at least two openings for facilitating the fluid contained in the second cell flowing out faster than the fluid contained in the first cell.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the container includes a first cell and a second cell, and the first cell defines a first opening while the second cell defines a second opening, and the second opening is larger than the first opening for facilitating the fluid contained in the second cell flowing out faster than the fluid contained in the first cell.

18. A container for supporting a user, comprising:

a first cell container containing a first fluid inside for supporting the user; and

a second cell container containing a second fluid inside for supporting the user.

19. The container according to claim 18, wherein the first cell defines an opening and the second cell defines at least two openings for facilitating the second fluid flowing out faster than the first fluid, and the container is for use with an measuring apparatus for measuring a body weight of the user, the measuring apparatus further comprising:

a fluid sensor connected to the container, for measuring a physical property of the fluid inside the container, and

a control unit connected to the fluid sensor;

wherein the fluid sensor measures a change of the physical property as the user lying on the container, and the control unit determines the body weight of the user based on the change of the physical property.

20. The container according to claim 18, wherein the first cell defines a first opening and the second cell defines a second opening, and the second opening is larger than the first opening for facilitating the second fluid flowing out faster than the first fluid, and the container is for use with an measuring apparatus for measuring a body weight of the user, the measuring apparatus further comprising:

a fluid sensor connected to the container, for measuring a physical property of the fluid inside the container; and

a control unit connected to the fluid sensor;

wherein the fluid sensor measures a change of the physical property as the user lying on the container, and the control unit determines the body weight of the user based on the change of the physical property.