Portable weight measuring device

• US 5,234,065 A
• Filed: 11/23/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schmidt, Karl B.
• Original Assignee: Schmidt, Karl B.
• Inventors: Schmidt, Karl B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US07/980,546
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• Field of Search: 177/126, 177/208, 177/209, 177/254
• US Class Current: 177/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons
• 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

A portable weight measuring device including a plurality of flat, flexible generally nonelastic fluid-containing bladders arranged edge to edge and interconnected by flexible tubes for fluid flow between the bladders. Flat, rigid upper and lower support plates, generally similar in size to each bladder, are positioned against each bladder upper and lower surface so that the upper support plates collectively define a flat weight bearing surface and the lower support plates collectively define a flat ground engaging surface which is parallel and spaced from, but on close proximity to, the weight bearing surface by the relatively small thickness of the bladders. A pressure sensing and converting unit is in fluid communication with a closed fluid circuit defined by the bladders and interconnecting tubes; the pressure sensing and converting unit producing an electrical signal output proportional to the weight of an object placed atop the device to a visual readout means which provides viewable indicia of the weight of the object. An upper and lower flexible protective cover sheet surrounds this arrangement, sealed closed along their mating margins, the upper cover sheet having a viewing aperture formed therethrough in alignment and registry with the visual readout means. By selective arranging and spacing of the bladders, the device is made foldable into a compact stored configuration.

Claims

1. A portable weight measuring device comprising:

a plurality of closed flexible, bendable generally flat and non-elastic fluid-containing bladders;

each of said plurality of bladders including a thin rigid upper and lower support plate generally similar in size to that of each said bladder and positioned against an upper and lower surface, respectively, thereof;

said bladders arranged edge to edge so that each said upper support plate of each of said bladders are generally coplanar and define an upper weight-bearing surface;

compressible spacers positioned between each said upper and lower support plate of each said bladders for spacing each said upper and lower support plate of said bladders;

apart a distance generally equal to a thickness of said bladders;

an upper and a lower flexible generally non-elastic cover sheet positioned against said weight bearing surface and a lower generally flat ground engaging surface defined collectively by a coplanar bottom surface of said lower support plate of each of said bladders;

a common edge around said upper and lower cover sheet connected therealong to enclose said plurality of bladders and said upper and lower support plate of each of said bladders;

a flexible tube connected and in fluid communication between each two adjacent said bladders whereby fluid within said bladders will flow between said bladders and a readout tube connected in fluid communication with one of said bladders;

a means connected and in fluid communication with said readout tube for sensing and converting fluid pressure within said plurality of bladders to an electrical signal proportional to a weight of an object applied atop said upper cover sheet, said bladders, said flexible tubes, said readout tube and said sending and connecting means defining a closed generally unpressurized fluid circuit when no object is applied atop said upper cover sheet;

readout means connected to said sensing and converting means for receiving aid electrical signal and for displaying viewable indicia representative of the weight of the object;

a viewing aperture formed through said upper cover sheet in alignment and registry with said readout means.

2. A portable weight measuring device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

said bladders are spaced apart one to another to define at least one folding line whereby said device may be folded into a more compact size when not in use.

3. A portable weight measuring device as set forth in claim 2, wherein:

said weight bearing surface is sized to receive a person standing atop said upper cover sheet whereby said device may be used to determine the weight of the person.