Weighing scales

• US 5,193,631 A
• Filed: 05/10/1991
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Invicta Plastics, Ltd. (Alliance Creative Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Invicta Plastics, Ltd. (Alliance Creative Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lannie, Michael, Horton, Lewis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US07/698,121
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 177/208, 177/254, 177/10
• US Class Current: 177/208
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/00 Weighing apparatus wherein the balancing is effected by fluid action

Abstract

Weighing scales for use as a teaching aid in educational establishments. The scales include a platform adapted to receive an article to be weighed, a compressible, fluid-containing reservoir, in the form of bellows or diaphragm provided with a fixed wall. The scales are provided with display means which are in fluid communication with the reservoir. The display means is a transparent flexible tube adapted to display the volume of fluid displaced in response to the article being placed upon the platform.

Claims

1. A weighing scale for determining a weight of an article placed thereupon comprising:

a circular base;

an annular collar being integrally formed and coaxial with said circular base, said collar defining a recess and being formed with a plurality of equally angularly spaced slots;

a plurality of lever means being respectively received in said angularly spaced slots so as to project into said recess, each of said lever means adapted to pivot about a lower edge of its respective slot;

a plunger means received in said recess and contacting a radially inner end of said lever means;

a reservoir cover formed to cover said recess and adapted to be secured to said annular collar;

a diaphragm received in said recess and adapted to be sealed in place between said cover and said collar;

a platform contacting the radially outward ends of said lever means, said platform adapted to move relative to said base and said collar;

a deformable reservoir formed between said diaphragm and said cover, said deformable reservoir being compressible in response to said weight of said article on said platform and containing a displaceable fluid;

a display means in fluid communication with said deformable reservoir for displaying the volume of fluid displaced; and

a recording means for temporarily recording the position of a meniscus of the fluid displaced from said reservoir;

whereby in response to the weight being placed on said platform, said platform is translated relative to said collar, said lever means pivots about the lower end of it respective slot, said plunger is translated within said recess, said deformable reservoir is compressed, and said fluid is displaced from said deformable reservoir to said display means.

2. Weighing scales as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises a legend and a securing means for securing said legend against a support, said legend adapted to receive writing and adapted to roll up for portable use.

3. Weighing scales as set forth in claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises at least one slidable marker adapted for translational movement proximate said display means, said slidable marker recording the position of a meniscus of said displaced fluid.