Weight scale with differential display

• US 7,994,439 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Great Valley Land Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Great Valley Land Company, LLC
• Inventors: Daniels, Donald Wayne, Nunley, James Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson; Randy W
• Application Number:
  US12/341,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20090178858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.13, 177/25.16, 177/25.19, 128/921
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/921 Diet management

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments of a weight scale with differential display. A first weight is determined for a user from a weight sensor. The first weight is stored in a memory. A second weight is determined for the user from the weight sensor. A difference is determined between the first weight and the second weight. The difference is communicated to the user through an output device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

determining a first weight for a user from a weight sensor;

storing the first weight in a memory;

determining a second weight for the user from the weight sensor;

determining a difference between the first weight and the second weight;

communicating the difference to the user through an output device;

storing a goal in the memory; and

communicating a goal progress indication to the user through the output device based on the goal and the difference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein neither the first weight nor the second weight is communicated to the user at any time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

indicating a weight gain to the user through the output device when the second weight is greater than the first weight; and

indicating a weight loss to the user through the output device when the second weight is less than the first weight.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

storing the second weight in the memory;

determining a next weight for the user from the weight sensor;

determining a next difference between the second weight and the next weight; and

communicating the next difference to the user through the output device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of communicating to the user through the output device a time that has elapsed between when the first weight was determined and when the second weight was determined.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

associating a user profile with the user; and

loading the first weight from the memory based on the user profile.

7. A weight scale, comprising:

a controller having a processor and a memory, the controller being coupled to an input device, an output device, and at least one weight sensor;

a scale application executable in the controller, the scale application comprising;

logic that determines a first weight of a user from the at least one weight sensor;

logic that stores the first weight in the memory;

logic that determines a second weight of the user from the at least one weight sensor;

logic that communicates a difference between the first weight and the second weight to the user through the output device;

logic that stores a goal in the memory; and

logic that communicates a goal progress indication to the user through the output device based on the goal and the difference.

8. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein neither the first weight nor the second weight is communicated to the user at any time.

9. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the scale application further comprises:

logic that indicates a weight gain to the user through the output device when the second weight is greater than the first weight; and

logic that indicates a weight loss to the user through the output device when the second weight is less than the first weight.

10. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the scale application further comprises logic that communicates to the user through the output device a time that has elapsed between when the first weight was determined and when the second weight was determined.

11. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the scale application further comprises:

logic that stores the second weight in the memory;

logic that determines a next weight for the user from the weight sensor;

logic that determines a next difference between the second weight and the next weight; and

logic that communicates the next difference to the user through the output device.

12. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the scale application further comprises logic that receives a user profile selection from the input device.

13. The weight scale of claim 12, wherein the scale application further comprises logic that receives a reset indication for the user profile selection from the input device.

14. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the scale application further comprises:

logic that receives a guest mode selection from the input device;

logic that determines a current weight for a guest user from the weight sensor; and

logic that communicates the current weight to the guest user through the output device.

15. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the input device comprises a plurality of buttons.

16. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the output device comprises a display screen.

17. The weight scale of claim 7, wherein the output device comprises an audio generation device.

18. A weight scale, comprising:

means for comparing weights;

means for communicating a differential value to a user based on the comparison;

means for storing a goal in a memory; and

means for communicating a goal progress indication to a user through an output device based on the goal and the differential value.

19. A weigh scale according to claim 18, wherein the weighing mechanism, recording system, comparator and indicator are further configured to indicate the difference in weight using a non-numerical system.

20. A weigh scale according to claim 18, wherein the weighing mechanism, recording system, comparator and indicator are further configured to reset the initial weight to a new value on reaching a predetermined difference in weight.

21. A method of monitoring a weight of a subject according to claim 20, wherein the difference in weight is indicated using a non-numerical system.

22. A method of monitoring a weight of a subject according to claim 20, further comprising resetting the initial weight to a new value on reaching a predetermined difference in weight.

23. A computer-readable medium according to claim 22, further comprising instructions which cause the processor to indicate the difference in weight using a non-numerical system.

24. A computer-readable medium according to claim 22, further comprising instructions which cause the processor to reset the initial weight to a new value on reaching a predetermined difference in weight.