Portable scale
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A portable scale for a patient bed, comprising:
- (a) a flexible carrier of size generally corresponding to the bed, and being adapted to removable placement on the bed;
(b) a plurality of weighing slats positioned in the carrier in parallel array extending transversely of the carrier, each weighing slat having an upper beam and a lower beam movably spaced apart by at least two load cells, the load cells being located toward opposite ends from the center of the slat to measure loading forces causing deflection of the upper beam with respect to the lower beam when a vertical load is applied to the slat; and
(c) means for receiving signals from the load cells, and for calculating the magnitude of a load placed on the scale.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A portable patient scale has a flexible carrier which may be placed under a hospital bed mattress. Pockets in the carrier hold weighing slats. Each slat has an upper beam and lower beam, with load cells interconnecting the beam on opposite ends of the slat. A microprocessor receives load cell signals to calculate the weight applied to the scale. The microprocessor may also produce a moving out of bed alarm by comparing signals from the load cells on opposite sides of the bed.
141 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A portable scale for a patient bed, comprising:
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(a) a flexible carrier of size generally corresponding to the bed, and being adapted to removable placement on the bed; (b) a plurality of weighing slats positioned in the carrier in parallel array extending transversely of the carrier, each weighing slat having an upper beam and a lower beam movably spaced apart by at least two load cells, the load cells being located toward opposite ends from the center of the slat to measure loading forces causing deflection of the upper beam with respect to the lower beam when a vertical load is applied to the slat; and (c) means for receiving signals from the load cells, and for calculating the magnitude of a load placed on the scale. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A combination portable scale and moving out of bed alarm for a patient bed, comprising:
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(a) a flexible carrier of size generally corresponding to the bed, and being adapted to removable placement on the bed; (b) a plurality of weighing slats positioned in the carrier in parallel array extending transversely of the carrier, each weighing slat having an upper beam and a lower beam movably spaced apart by at least two load cells, the load cells being located toward opposite ends from the center of the slat to measure loading forces causing deflection of the upper beam with respect to the lower beam when a vertical load is applied to the slat; (c) means for receiving signals from the load cells, and for calculating the magnitude of a load placed on the scale; and (d) means for comparing signals from the load cells on opposite sides of the slats to produce an alarm when the comparison indicates signals from one side of the bed exceeding signals from the other side by a preset threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A combination portable scale and moving out of bed alarm for a patient bed, comprising:
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(a) a flexible carrier of size generally corresponding to the bed, and being adapted to removable placement on the bed; (b) a plurality of weighing slats positioned in the carrier in parallel array extending transversely of the carrier, each weighing slat having an upper beam and a lower beam movably spaced apart by at least two load cells, the load cells being located toward opposite ends from the center of the slat to measure loading forces causing deflection of the upper beam with respect to the lower beam when a vertical load is applied to the slat; (c) means for receiving signals from the load cells, and for calculating the magnitude of a load placed on the scale; (d) means for comparing signals from the load cells on opposite sides of the slats to produce an alarm when the comparison indicates signals from one side of the bed exceeding signals;
from the other side by a preset threshold; and(e) means for comparing signals from the load cells at different times and for sounding an alarm when the comparison indicates a change in the signals.
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Specification