Body fat scale with hand grips

• US 6,472,617 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2000
• Issued: 10/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.), Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc. d/b/a Jarden Consumer Solutions (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Montagnino, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/684,049
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 177/126, 177/127, 177/238, 177/239, 177/240, 177/241, 177/242, 177/243, 177/244, 177/245
• US Class Current: 177/126
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4872 Body fat
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height

Abstract

A practical and accurate body fat scale which utilizes handheld body fat sensors connected to the scale base to aid in determining body fat content. The handheld sensors detect the higher concentrations of fat located in the upper body, as compared to the lower extremities, and therefore provides an accurate and meaningful assessment of body fat content.

Claims

1. A body fat scale comprising:

a base having a bottom surface and a top surface;

at least one retractable cable having a proximal end and a distal end; and

at least one handheld body fat sensor connected to the distal end of the retractable cable.

2. The body fat scale of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the retractable cable is connected to a retraction mechanism.

3. The body fat scale of claim 2, wherein the retraction mechanism is located within the base.

4. The body fat scale of claim 3, wherein the retraction mechanism is selected from the group consisting of a negator type spring assembly, a motorized spring assembly, and a counterbalance weight system.

5. The body fat scale of claim 3, wherein the proximal end of the retractable cable is connected to circuitry within the base.

6. The body fat scale of claim 3 further comprising a monitor.

7. The body fat scale of claim 6, wherein the monitor comprises a display.

8. The body fat scale of claim 7, wherein the display includes at least one of an LED and an LCD.

9. A body fat scale comprising:

a base having a bottom surface and a top surface;

a pedestal having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the pedestal is connected to the base;

at least one retractable lever arm having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the retractable lever arm is pivotally connected directly to the pedestal near the distal end of the pedestal; and

at least one handheld body fat sensor connected near the distal end of the retractable lever arm.

10. The body fat scale of claim 9, wherein a cable having a proximal end and a distal end extends through the retractable lever arm, wherein the distal end of the cable connects to the handheld body fat sensor and the proximal end of the cable connects to circuitry.

11. A body fat scale comprising:

a base having a bottom surface and a top surface;

at least one retractable telescoping extension having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end of the retractable telescoping extension is connected to the base; and

at least one handheld body fat sensor connected to the distal end of the retractable telescoping extension.

12. The body fat scale of claim 11, wherein a cable having a proximal end and a distal end extends through the retractable telescoping extension, wherein the distal end of the cable connects to the handheld body fat sensor and the proximal end of the cable connects to circuitry within the base.

13. The body fat scale of claim 12, wherein the retractable telescoping extension is conductive, and wherein the proximal end of the retractable telescoping extension is connected to circuitry within the base.

14. A method of measuring the body fat content of a person comprising:

standing on a body fat scale platform;

grasping a pair of handheld body fat sensors retractably connected to the body fat scale platform;

transmitting a current through the sensors and the upper extremities of the person;

measuring the impedance of the upper extremities of the person; and

calculating the body fat percentage of the person based on the measured impedance.