Dieter's weighing scale

• US 4,576,244 A
• Filed: 02/23/1984
• Issued: 03/18/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zemco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zemco Incorporated
• Inventors: Zeigner, Willard L., MacIntosh, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, E. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Patrick W.
• Application Number:
  US06/582,892
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 177/3, 177/5, 177/6, 177/25, 177/45, 177/164, 177/177, 177/245, 177/DIG. 6, 361/173-177
• US Class Current: 177/245
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons

Abstract

A talking electronic scale for encouraging the use of and adherence to a preset diet program is disclosed. A user on the scale actuates a mechanism whose movement is transformed to electrical pulses to provide a digital readout of his present weight on a display. A microprocessor provides an electronic memory for storing a goal weight for the person and his weight each time he weighs, along with the date of each stored weight as well as a series of comments to be voiced. The microprocessor also compares the goal weight with the present weight to actuate a voice synthesis device connected to the microprocessor to provide preselected comments appropriate to the comparison. Audio means connected to the voice synthesis device provides for such comments to be audibly spoken to the user.

Claims

1. A talking electronic scale for encouraging the use of and adherence to a preset diet program, comprising:

weighing means for determining the weight of a person on the scale,

display means connected to said weighing means for displaying said weight,

comparison means for comparing his present weight, his most recent past weight, and his goal weight,

memory means connected to said weighing means for storing a goal weight for the person and his weight each time he weighs, along with the date of each stored weight, and a series of comments to be voiced,

voice synthesis means connected to said comparison means and said memory means for providing preselected said comments appropriate to said comparison,

audio means connected to said voice synthesis means for speaking those comments audibly to the user,

manually activated individual identification means, for use by the user in his first weighing of a diet program coupling his scale identify and initial weight and placing them in said memory means,

recognition means connected to said memory means for subsequently identifying that user each time he weighs by the relative closeness of his weight to his last previous weight, so long as he does not vary from that weight by more than a preselected amount, and

address means connecting said recognition means to said voice synthesis means so that the comments are addressed to the user audibly by stating his scale identity.

2. A talking electronic scale for encouraging the use of and adherence to a present diet program, comprising:

weighing means for determining the weight of a person on the scale,

display means connected to said weighing means for displaying said weight,

comparison means for comparing his present weight, his most recent past weight, and his goal weight,

memory means connected to said weighing means for storing a goal weight for the person and his weight each time he weighs, along with the date of each stored weight, and a series of comments to be voiced,

voice synthesis means connected to said comparison means and said memory means for providing preselected said comments appropriate to said comparison, and

audio means connected to said voice synthesis means for speaking those comments audibly to the user,

said weighing means (including

a weighing platform on which the user stands during weighing, said platform including a pair of light-transmitting openings which are covered by the user'"'"'s feet when he stands on the platform,

light-sensing means below each said opening of said platform, and

activating means connected to said light-sensing means and responsive to the decrease in light due to the user'"'"'s feet covering said opening, for activating said display means, said comparison means, said voice synthesis means, and said audio means, all of which are normally deactivated,

so that the present weight is displayed and said comments spoken soon after the user steps on the weighing platform.

3. The scale of claim 2 having delay means for delaying the display and comments for a few seconds, to assure scale stability first.

4. The scale of claim 2 wherein said weighing platform includes

a third light-transmitting opening placed where it is unlikely that a user will cover it with his foot, for transmitting ambient room light,

third light-sensing means below said third opening,

disabling means activated by said third light-sensing means for preventing activation of said activating means when the ambient room light drops below a predetermined level, and

a manual overriding switch for activating said activating means regardless of the status of any of said light-sensing means.