Diet aid device and method

• US 5,640,774 A
• Filed: 06/26/1995
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Millicent F. Goldman
• Original Assignee: Millicent F. Goldman
• Inventors: Goldman, Millicent F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US08/494,807
• Time in Patent Office: 729 Days
• Field of Search: 33/15 D, 33/1 C, 33/15 B, 33/1 BB, 116/318, 116/316, 235/114, 235/116, 235/122, 235/78 R, 235/78 A, 364/413.29, 364/709.03, 434/127, 434/206, D10/97, D18/10
• US Class Current: 33/1.0SD
• CPC Class Codes: G06C 3/00 Arrangements for table look-up, e.g. menstruation table
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

In a preferred embodiment, a diet aid device, including: apparatus to indicate a net calorie intake goal; apparatus to indicate remaining calories to reach the goal; and apparatus to decrease the remaining calories to reach the goal as calories are consumed.

Claims

1. A diet aid device, comprising:

(a) first means to display a first value indicating a net calorie intake goal;

(b) second means, coupled to said first means, to display a second value indicating remaining calories to reach said goal; and

(c) third means, coupled to said second means, to cause a decrease in said second value as calories are consumed.

2. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

said third means also to cause an increase in said second value as calories are expended.

3. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 1, wherein said second and third means comprise:

(a) a first substrate having thereon a first scale indicating said remaining calories;

(b) a second substrate superjacent said first substrate and having means to view said remaining calories on said first scale; and

(c) means to move said second substrate relative to said first substrate a distance representing calories consumed so as to decrease the value of remaining calories viewed an amount equal to said calories consumed.

4. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 3, wherein said means to move comprises:

a shifter selectively freely moveable with respect to said second substrate or causing said second substrate to move with said shifter, said shifter being freely moved to be alignable with a second scale indicating calories consumed, with return of said shifter to a zero position while causing said second substrate to move with said shifter causing said decrease in the value of remaining calories viewed through said opening.

5. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 4, wherein:

(a) said shifter causes said second substrate to move with said shifter by means of applying pressure to frictional material mounted in said shifter and engaging a surface of said second substrate; and

(b) said shifter moves freely with respect to said second substrate by moving said shifter without applying pressure to said frictional material.

6. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 3, wherein:

(a) said first and second substrates are superjacent a third substrate;

(b) said third substrate has thereon a second scale indicating calories consumed and a third scale indicating net calorie intake goals; and

(c) said first substrate includes pointer means to indicate a specific net calorie intake goal.

7. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 6, wherein:

said first, second, and third substrates are circular disks.

8. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 7, further comprising:

frictional means disposed between said first and third substrates.

9. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said second means includes background shading increasing in intensity from higher values to lower values along said second means.

10. A diet aid device, comprising:

(a) means to indicate a net calorie intake goal;

(b) means to indicate remaining calories to reach said goal; and

(c) means to decrease said remaining calories to reach said goal as calories are consumed;

wherein;

said means to indicate remaining calories and said means to decrease said remaining calories comprise;

(d) a first circular disk having thereon a first scale indicating said remaining calories;

(e) a second circular disk superjacent said first substrate and having means to view said remaining calories on said first scale;

(f) said first and second circular disks are superjacent a third circular disk;

(g) said third circular disk has thereon a scale indicating net calorie intake goals and a scale indicating calories consumed; and

(h) said first circular disk includes pointer means to indicate a specific net calorie intake goal;

and wherein said diet aid device further comprises;

(i) frictional means disposed between said first and third circular disks.

11. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 10, wherein said means to move comprises:

a shifter selectively freely moveable with respect to said second substrate or causing said second substrate to move with said shifter, said shifter being freely moved to be alignable with said scale indicating calories consumed, with return of said shifter to a zero position while causing said second substrate to move with said shifter causing said decrease in the value of remaining calories viewed through said opening.

12. A diet aid device, as defined in claim 11, wherein:

(a) said shifter causes said second substrate to move with said shifter by means of applying pressure to frictional material mounted in said shifter and engaging a surface of said second substrate; and

(b) said shifter moves freely with respect to said second substrate by moving said shifter without applying pressure to said frictional material.