Electronic scale apparatus and method of controlling weight

• US 4,423,792 A
• Filed: 06/17/1981
• Issued: 01/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald F. Cowan
• Original Assignee: Donald F. Cowan
• Inventors: Cowan, Donald F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Jr., George H.
• Application Number:
  US06/274,557
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 177/1, 177/25, 177/5, 177/245, 177/34
• US Class Current: 177/25.19
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/62 Over or under weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/18 Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/42 electrically operated

Abstract

An electronic scale apparatus which provides weight control information, and a method of controlling weight which employs a scale apparatus. The apparatus comprises a scale member for measuring the weight of a person at a selected point in time. An electrical signal is generated in response to the measured weight. The apparatus further includes a memory for storing weight information. This weight information may include a base weight introduced previously into the memory. The apparatus includes an electronic circuit in which the generated signal is processed so that the weight of the person at the selected point in time can be compared against the base weight. This circuit also enables the calculation of a weight change based on the comparison. A display member is operatively connected to the electronic circuit for displaying the calculated weight and/or percentage of a weight change to a selected goal. The apparatus may be provided with a plurality of manually operable switches for introducing base weight information or other forms of weight related information. Moreover, the apparatus may be provided with a plurality of display members for simultaneously displaying various forms of weight related information. The method of the invention which may utilize the apparatus, enables an individual to measure the weight over selected periods of time, receiving reinforcement for achieving a weight change, or to take corrective action based on the weight changes.

Claims

1. An electronic scale apparatus for providing weight control information and interacting with an individual using same on a periodic basis by providing weight control encouragement, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for measuring weight at sequential selected intervals in time,

(b) signal generating means operatively connected to the means for measuring, for generating an electrical signal in response to the measured weight at each selected interval,

(c) memory means for introducing and storing weight information including a base weight and the measured weights at the selected intervals into said memory means and against which a comparison is to be made,

(d) electronic circuit means operatively connected to the signal generating means for receiving the generated electrical signal of a currently measured weight, said circuit means also being operatively connected to said memory means and capable of calculating a weight change based on a comparison of the base weight previously introduced into said memory means or on a comparison of the measured weight at one or more of the previous selected intervals with the currently measured weight represented by said electrical signal,

(e) display means operatively connected to said electrical circuit means for numerically displaying the calculated weight change at each measured weight,

(f) light means including a plurality of individual light elements operatively connected to said electrical circuit means and being energized in a selected arrangement based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight or base weight, certain of said light elements generating light having a color different from other of the light elements so that different colored light patterns can be generated, the arrangements of and color patterns created by energization of the various light elements being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said arrangement of energization of said various light elements also being controlled in a selected pattern and color arrangement to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, and

(g) sound generation means operatively connected to said electrical circuit means and being operable to provide a plurality of selected sounds and in a plurality of selected intensities based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight, the particular sounds generated and the intensities of such sounds being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, the particular sounds and intensities thereof being generated also being selected to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, the generation of sounds and energization of lights being coordinated to create a "pin-ball" type effect representing a certain level of achievement by the user of the apparatus creating an effect of increasing the stimuli to control weight so that the user of the apparatus becomes interactive with the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said housing is provided with a print control circuit for enabling a print mechanism to provide a printed record of weight related information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises a plurality of individual display members capable of being simultaneously operable for simultaneously displaying weight related information.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that one of said display members displays a total weight loss between the currently measured weight and the previous initial base weight, and a second display member displays a weight loss over the period of time between the currently measured weight and the previously measured weight.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said electronic circuit means, said memory means and said display means are included within a housing separate at least from said means for measuring weight.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said housing is provided with a plurality of manually actuable input switches for introducing information into said memory means.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that said sound generating means is operatively connected to said circuit means for generating audible messages relating to weight or weight differentials.

8. The electronic scale apparatus of claim 1 for providing weight control information, said apparatus also comprising:

(a) register means operatively connected to the signal generating means for receiving the current weight information, and said memory means is operatively connected to said register means to receive the current weight information, and said data storage means containing a weight history,

(b) said memory means comprises at least a read only memory, and

(c) said processing means comprises an arithmetic control unit and a random access memory.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises a plurality of manually actuable input switches capable of being manually actuated to introduce weight related information.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises:

(a) a scale,

(b) said signal generating means being operatively connected to said scale for generating a signal in a form capable of being received by said memory means and which signal is based on a weight determined by said scale.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that said apparatus is provided with a print control circuit for enabling a print head to provide a printed record of weight related information.

12. An electronic scale apparatus for providing weight control information and interacting with an individual using same on a periodic basis by providing weight control encouragement, said apparatus comprising:

(a) frame means,

(b) means associated with the frame means for providing information on a base weight of an individual using said apparatus or for providing information of one or more previous weight measurements of such individual using said apparatus,

(c) means associated with said frame means for providing current weight information of an individual using said apparatus,

(d) memory means associated with said frame means for storing said base weight of an individual or a weight of said individual based on one or more previous weight measurements of said individual and which weight information is introduced into said memory means and against which a comparison may be made,

(e) electronic processing means associated with said frame means and operatively connected to said memory means, said processing means having an input receiving current weight information of said same individual and making a comparison of said current weight information and said base weight or said current weight information and a previous weight measurement and thereby calculating a weight change based on said comparison,

(f) display means operatively connected to said electronic processing means for numerically displaying the calculated weight change at each measured weight,

(g) light means including a plurality of individual light elements operatively connected to said electronic processing means and being energized in a selected arrangement based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight or base weight, certain of said light elements generating light having a color different from other of the light elements so that different colored light patterns can be generated, the arrangement of and color patterns created by energization of the various light elements being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said arrangement of energization of said various light elements also being controlled in a selected pattern and color arrangement to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, and

(h) sound generation means operatively connected to said electronic processing means and being operable to provide a plurality of selected sounds based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight, the particular sounds generated and the intensities of such sounds being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, the particular sounds and intensities thereof being generated also being selected to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, the generation of sounds and energization of lights being coordinated to create a "pin-ball" type effect representing a certain level of achievement by the user of the apparatus creating an effect of increasing the stimuli to control weight so that the user of the apparatus becomes interactive with the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said memory means comprises a read only memory and a random access memory.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises:

(a) said means for providing current weight information further comprises means for measuring weight at a selected point in time, and

(b) signal generating means operatively connected to the means for measuring, for generating an electrical signal in response to the measured weight and which last named means is connected to the means for providing current weight information.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said electronic processing means comprises an input register means and an arithmetic control unit.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises a plurality of individual display members capable of being simultaneously operable for simultaneously displaying weight related information.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 further characterized in that a first display member discloses a total weight loss from the previous initial starting weight and a sound display member discloses a weight loss over a period of time less than that from the starting weight.

18. A method for providing weight control information over a period of time and encouraging a user of the method to control his or her weight by providing a stimuli to the user, said method comprising:

(a) measuring a base weight of an individual at a selected point in time,

(b) generating an electrical signal in response to the measured base weight at said selected point in time,

(c) converting said electrical signal to a form capable of being stored in a digital processing memory means and storing the converted electrical signal to represent a base weight against which a comparison is to be made,

(d) measuring a new weight of said same individual,

(e) generating an electrical signal in response to the new weight,

(f) converting the newly generated electrical signal into a form capable of being processed by a digital processing means,

(g) comparing the new weight to the base weight and determining a weight differential therefrom,

(h) displaying the weight differential for the time elapse period from the previous weight measurement to the new weight measurement,

(i) energizing a plurality of individual light elements in a selected arrangement based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight including said base weight, certain of said light elements generating light having a color different from other of the light elements so that different colored light patterns can be generated, the arrangement of and color patterns created by the energization of the various light elements being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said method also controlling the arrangement of energization of said various light elements in a selected pattern and color arrangement to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, and

(j) generating a plurality of selected sounds and in a plurality of selected intensities based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight, including the base weight, the particular sounds generated and the intensities of such sounds being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said method further generating the particular sounds and in the intensities thereof to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, the generation of sounds and energization of lights being coordinated to create a "pin-ball" type effect representing a certain level of achievement by the user of the method creating an effect of increasing the stimuli to control weight.

19. A method for providing a weight control information over a period of time and encouraging a user of the method to control his or her weight by providing stimuli to the user, said method comprising:

(a) measuring a base weight of an individual at a selected point in time,

(b) generating an electrical signal in response to the measured base weight at said selected point in time,

(c) converting said electrical signal to a form capable of being stored in a digital processing memory means and storing the converted electrical signal to represent a base weight against which comparison is to be made,

(d) measuring a new weight of said same individual,

(e) generating an electrical signal in response to the new weight,

(f) converting the newly generated electrical signal into a form capable of being processed by a digital processing means,

(g) comparing the new weight to the base weight and determining a weight differential therefrom,

(h) displaying (1) the weight differential for the time elapse period from the previous weight measurement to the new weight measurement, (2) the number of time elapse periods from a start of a weight control program, (3) a goal weight per time elapse measurement period, (4) the estimated progress as a function of a particular time elapse period goal, (5) the total weight gain or loss over a period of time, and (6) an actual weight of an individual,

(i) energizing a plurality of individual light elements in a selected arrangement based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight including said base weight, the arrangement of the energization of the various light elements being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said method also controlling the arrangement of energization of said various light elements to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, and

(j) generating selected sounds based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight, including the base weight, the sounds generated being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said method further generating the particular sounds to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, the generation of sounds and energization of lights creating an effect of increasing the stimuli to control weight.

20. The method of claim 19 further characterized in that said method also comprises displaying the following:

(7) the date of the start of a weight control program, and (8) a present date on which a weight measurement is being made.

21. An electronic scale apparatus for providing weight control information, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for measuring weight at a selected point in time,

(b) signal generating means operatively connected to the means for measuring, for generating an electrical signal in response to the measured weight,

(c) memory means for storing weight information including a base weight introduced into said memory means and against which a comparison is to be made,

(d) electronic circuit means operatively connected to the signal generating means for receiving the generated electrical signal, said circuit means also being operatively connected to said memory means and capable of calculating a weight change based on a comparison of the base weight previously introduced into said memory means with the weight represented by said electrical signal, and

(e) display means operatively connected to said electrical circuit means for displaying;

(1) the number of time elapse periods from a start of a weight control program,

(2) a goal weight per time elapse period,

(3) the estimated progress as a function of a particular time elapse period goal,

(4) the total weight gain or loss over a period of time,

(5) the weight loss or gain for a particular time elapse period, and

(6) an actual weight of an individual.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that said display means also displays (7) the date of the start of a weight control program, and (8) a present date on which a weight measurement is being made.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises:

(1) first display means for displaying the number of time elapse periods from a start of a weight control program,

(2) second display means for displaying the goal weight per time elapse period,

(3) third display means for displaying the estimated progress as a function of a particular time elapse period goal,

(4) fourth display means for displaying the total weight gain or loss over a period of time,

(5) fifth display means for displaying the weight loss or gain for a particular time elapse period, and

(6) sixth display means for displaying an actual weight of an individual.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 further characterized in that said apparatus further comprises:

(7) seventh display means for displaying the date of the start of a weight control program, and

(8) eighth display means for displaying a present date on which a weight measurement is being made.

25. An electronic scale apparatus for providing weight control information and interacting with an individual using same on a periodic basis by providing weight control encouragement, said apparatus comprising:

(a) means for measuring weight at sequential selected intervals in time,

(b) a housing separate from said means for measuring weight,

(c) signal generating means operatively connected to the means for measuring, for generating an electrical signal in response to the measured weight at each selected interval,

(d) memory means in said housing for introducing and storing weight information including a base weight and the measured weights at the selected intervals into said memory means and against which a comparison is to be made,

(e) electronic circuit means in said housing and being operatively connected to the signal generating means for receiving the generated electrical signal based on a currently measured weight, said circuit means also being operatively connected to said memory means and capable of calculating a weight change based on a comparison of the base weight previously introduced into said memory means or on a comparison of the measured weight at one or more of the previous selected intervals with the currently measured weight represented by said electrical signal,

(f) display means operatively connected to said electrical circuit means for numerically displaying;

(1) the calculated weight change at each measured weight for a certain time interval,

(2) the number of time elapse periods from a start of a weight control program,

(3) a goal weight per time elapse period,

(4) the estimated progress as a function of a particular time elapse period goal,

(5) the total weight gain or loss over a period of time, and

(6) an actual weight of an individual,

(g) light means including a plurality of individual light elements operatively mounted on said housing an connected to said electrical circuit means and being energized in a selected arrangement based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight or base weight, the arrangement of energization of the various light elements being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, said arrangement of energization of said various light elements also being controlled to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, and

(h) sound generation means operatively connected to said electrical circuit means and being operable to provide a selected sound based on a weight differential between a currently measured weight and a previously measured weight, the sounds generated being a function of the amount of weight differential thus measured and being different for certain different weight differentials, the particular sound being generated also being selected to provide a desired amount of encouragement to the user of the apparatus as a function of the weight differential, the generation of sounds being related to the arrangement for energization of lights, and the generation of sounds and energization of lights creating an effect of increasing the stimuli to control weight.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 further characterized in that said display means further displays:

(6) the date of the start of a weight control program, and

(7) a present date on which a weight measurement is being made.

27. The method of claim 25 further characterized in that said electronic circuit means, said memory means and said display means are included within a housing separate at least from said means for measuring weight.

28. The apparatus of claim 25 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises a plurality of individual display members capable of being simultaneously operable for simultaneously displaying weight related information.

29. The apparatus of claim 25 further characterized in that said display means comprises:

(1) a first display which displays said calculated weight chainge for a certain time interval,

(2) a second display for displaying said number of time elapse periods from a start of a weight control program,

(3) a third display for displaying said goal weight for a time elapse period,

(4) a fourth display for displaying said estimated progress as a function of a particular time elapse goal,

(5) a fifth display for displaying said total weight gain or loss over a period of time, and

(6) a sixth display for displaying said actual weight of an individual.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 further characterized in that said apparatus comprises:

(7) a seventh display for displaying a date of the start of a weight control program, and

(8) an eighth display for displaying a present date on which a weight measurement is being made.