Scoop with weigh scale
First Claim
1. A scoop having an attached handle, and load cell means with strain gauge means, said load cell means being mounted in said handle and bearing said scoop, said strain gauge means being operatively associated with CPU means and said CPU means being operatively associated with readout display means, a level indicator operatively associated with said CPU means said level indicator actuating a level registering means, said level registering means registering level when said means is horizontal or at an angle to the horizontal less than or equal to a predetermined angle, and not registering level when said means is at an angle to the horizontal greater than said predetermined angle, whereby a weight in said scoop is converted to a display number on said readout display means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scoop has a handle attached thereto by a neck. The neck has a built in strain gauge supporting the scoop which measures weight in the scoop. An analog-digital converter converts the strain gauge output to a digital signal, which displays the weight as a readout (either metric or avoirdupois) on a panel in the handle. Control switches built into the handle or panel control the functions of the scoop, while indicator/annunciator lights indicate status. A level indicator is provided having a ball bearing resting freely on a conducting bottom plate forming a spherical sector of predetermined angle and a cylindrical sidewall having therein conducting elements. When the ball bearing contacts a sidewall conducting element it closes a circuit which switches off a level indicator/annunciator light, which when on shows that the scoop is level. The position of the ball bearing is visible to the operator, allowing correction of tilt. The predetermined angle is set between 8 and 12°, so that tilts greater than 4 or 6° are visually indicated.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A scoop having an attached handle, and load cell means with strain gauge means, said load cell means being mounted in said handle and bearing said scoop, said strain gauge means being operatively associated with CPU means and said CPU means being operatively associated with readout display means, a level indicator operatively associated with said CPU means said level indicator actuating a level registering means, said level registering means registering level when said means is horizontal or at an angle to the horizontal less than or equal to a predetermined angle, and not registering level when said means is at an angle to the horizontal greater than said predetermined angle, whereby a weight in said scoop is converted to a display number on said readout display means.
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8. A level indicator comprising a conducting base being part of a electric circuit, and forming a sector of a generally spherical surface, a sidewall circumvent said sector extending inward toward the center of said spherical surface, said sidewall having therein a circumferential conducting element spaced apart from and above said conducting base, said conducting element being part of said electric circuit and generally level when said indicator is level, a ball bearing resting and rollable on said conducting base, said ball bearing being in the middle of said conducting base when said base is level, and touching said conducting element in said sidewall when resting against said sidewall, whereby said electric circuit is closed, and
a transparent insulating top wall above and touching said sidewall spaced apart from and opposed to said conducting base.
- 19. A scoop having an attached handle, and load cell means with strain gauge means, said load cell means being mounted in said handle and bearing said scoop, said strain gauge being operatively associated with CPU means and said CPU means being operatively associated with readout display means, whereby a weight in said scoop is converted to a display number on said readout display means.
Specification