Diet control device

• US 5,033,561 A
• Filed: 08/30/1989
• Issued: 07/23/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Catherine A. Hettinger
• Original Assignee: Catherine A. Hettinger
• Inventors: Hettinger, Catherine A.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US07/400,435
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.16, 177/25.19, 364/413.29
• US Class Current: 177/25.16
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/415 combined with recording means

Abstract

This invention pertains to a diet control device and more particularly a novel device using a unique method to assess the intake of all nutritive and other substances in a passive, unobstrusive, and utilitarian way. This provides a means for a method of behavioral feedback to assist and provide a means for an individual'"'"'s weight gain, weight loss, or restriction of certain types of substances. It is also a useful tool for health professionals to assess nutritive intake and to provide a means to assess digestive and various health disorders and also treat these disorders. This is accomplished in the main embodiment with a placemat that records this information and provides a means to use this as a method of weight control.

Claims

1. A diet apparatus comprising:

weighing means for producing a readout responsive to a mass being placed thereon, said weighing means having at least one scale;

a placemat shaped to fit on said weighing means so that food items can be placed thereon, said placemat being removably detachable from said weighing means;

a readout means for showing amounts which is a pointer for said scale which shows the amount of food and containers placed on the placemat;

a consumed food amount storage means for recording the amount of food which is paper which is cut off according to the travel of said pointer;

a container measuring means for initializing which zeros the initial weight of containers by starting the paper after the container has been added;

a category type memory means for noting the food group in the category appropriate to the range of calories per unit weight, whereby dieting information is readily available for the purpose of providing behavioral feedback to provide a means to control diet.

2. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein additional information including but not limited to glasses of fluid and tablespoons of condiment are stored by using coding means for noting the information by using stickers and disks.

3. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said category type memory means includes the categories of salt and cholesterol of selected foods.

4. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 2 having a placemat which is permanently attached to said weighing means.

5. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said category type memory means includes the categories of the food according to the categories of fat per unit weight.

6. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the category type memory means for noting the kind of food is accomplished by written or coded stickers according to the food category.

7. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said category type memory means includes the categories of protein and carbohydrates.

8. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which said category type memory means includes the categories of the food which is based on nutritive food groups.

9. A diet apparatus comprising:

a weighing means for producing a readout responsive to a mass being placed thereon, said weighing means having at least one scale;

a placemat shaped to fit on said weighing means so that food items can be placed thereon, said placemats being removably detachable from said weighting means;

a readout means for showing amounts from said scale which shows the amount of food and containers placed on said placemat;

a container measuring means for initializing which zeros the initial weight of containers, if desired;

a consumed food amount storage means for recording the amount of consumed food by measuring the difference between the initial said readout and a final said readout of the leftover food and the container;

a category type memory means for noting the kind of food by recording the category of the range of calories per unit of weight which is recorded and stored along with said amount of consumed food, whereby dieting information is readily available for the purpose of providing behavioral feedback to provide a means to control diet.

10. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein the readout means for showing amounts from the scale is an electronic signal which is coupled with a consumed food amount storage means which is an electronic means coupled to said weighing means to accept a signal from one said weighing means scale to record and store information from said scale signal and the category type memory means is a process to store information to indicate calories and fat, whereby dieting information is readily available on food products placed on said diet apparatus.

11. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 10 having an input means coupled to said electronic means and having a keyboard input means coupled to said electronic means whereby scale information can be keyed into said electronic means.

12. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which said means to process said stored information from said weighing means scale includes means to process and indicate salt and cholesterol of selected foods.

13. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which said means to process said stored information from said weighing means scale includes means to process and indicate protein and carbohydrates.

14. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 10 in which said means to process said stored information from said weighing means scale includes means to process and indicate the food category appropriate for the food group.

15. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 10 having a printing means coupled to said electronic means.

16. A diet apparatus in accordance with claim 10 having a placemat which is permanently attached to said weighing means.