Portable airbag scale

• US 8,330,058 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2010
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: King FAHD University of Petroleum & Minerals Intellectual Assets Office Innovation Center
• Original Assignee: King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Inventors: Mekid, Samir
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W
• Application Number:
  US12/662,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20110272197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 177/208, 177/209, 177/254, 177/126, 177/127
• US Class Current: 177/126
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/28 Frames, Housings
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/04 with means for measuring the pressure imposed by the load on a liquid pressure gauges per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 5/06 with electrical indicating means

Abstract

The portable airbag scale is a scale that measures the weight of a load based upon a difference between measured air pressure in an inflatable bladder, the difference being measured between a first state, where the load is not positioned on the inflatable bladder, and a second state, in which the load is supported on the inflatable bladder. The portable airbag scale includes an inflatable bladder having opposed upper and lower walls and at least one sidewall. A port is formed through the at least one sidewall for selective inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder. A pressure sensor is mounted within the inflatable bladder for measuring the air pressure therein. A controller selectively calculates the weight of the load based upon the measured difference in air pressure. A display is provided for displaying the weight of the load.

Claims

1. A portable airbag scale, comprising:

an inflatable bladder having opposed upper and lower walls and at least one sidewall, the lower wall being adapted for positioning on a support surface and the upper wall being adapted for receiving a load to be weighed, the bladder having a port formed through the at least one sidewall for selective inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder;

a pressure sensor mounted within the inflatable bladder for measuring air pressure therein;

means for calculating the weight of the load based upon a difference in air pressure in the inflatable bladder measure when the load is not supported on the upper wall and measured when the load is supported on the upper wall;

a humidity sensor connected to said means for calculating the weight of the load; and

means for displaying the calculated weight of the load.

2. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor comprises a microelectromechanical system pressure sensor.

3. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 2, further comprising a temperature sensor connected to said means for calculating.

4. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for displaying ambient temperature measured by said temperature sensor.

5. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 3, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a microelectromechanical system temperature sensor.

6. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 5, further comprising means for displaying ambient humidity as measured by said humidity sensor.

7. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 5, wherein the humidity sensor comprises a microelectromechanical system humidity sensor.

8. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 1, further comprising a carrying container for storage and transport of the inflatable bladder when the inflatable bladder is in a deflated state.

9. A portable airbag scale, comprising:

an inflatable bladder having opposed upper and lower walls and at least one sidewall, the lower wall being adapted for positioning on a support surface and the upper wall being adapted for receiving a load to be weighed, the bladder having a port formed through the at least one sidewall for selective inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder;

a pressure sensor mounted within the inflatable bladder for measuring air pressure therein;

a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature;

means for calculating the weight of the load based upon a difference in air pressure in the inflatable bladder measured when the load is not supported on the upper wall and when the load is supported on the upper wall, the temperature sensor being connected to the means for calculating;

a humidity sensor connected to said means for calculating the weight of the load; and

means for displaying the weight of the load and the ambient temperature.

10. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 9, wherein said pressure sensor comprises a microelectromechanical system pressure sensor.

11. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a microelectromechanical system temperature sensor.

12. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 9, further comprising means for displaying ambient humidity measured by said humidity sensor.

13. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 12, wherein said humidity sensor comprises a microelectromechanical system humidity sensor.

14. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 9, further comprising a carrying container for storage and transport of the inflatable bladder when the inflatable bladder is in a deflated state.

15. A portable airbag scale, comprising:

an inflatable bladder having opposed upper and lower walls and at least one sidewall, the lower wall being adapted for positioning on a support surface and the upper wall being adapted for receiving a load to be weighed, the bladder having a port formed through the at least one sidewall for selective inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder;

a pressure sensor mounted within the inflatable bladder for measuring air pressure therein;

a humidity sensor for measuring ambient humidity;

means for calculating the weight of the load based upon a difference in air pressure in the inflatable bladder measured when the load is not supported on the upper wall, and measured when the load is supported on the upper wall, the humidity sensor being connected to the means for calculating; and

means for displaying the calculated weight of the load and for displaying the ambient humidity measured by the humidity sensor.

16. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 15, further comprising a temperature sensor connected to the means for calculating.

17. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 16, further comprising means for displaying ambient temperature measured by said temperature sensor.

18. The portable airbag scale as recited in claim 17, further comprising a carrying container for storage and transport of the inflatable bladder when the inflatable bladder is in a deflated state.