Diet calculator

• US 4,575,804 A
• Filed: 08/01/1983
• Issued: 03/11/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lloyd P. Ratcliff
• Original Assignee: Lloyd P. Ratcliff
• Inventors: Ratcliff, Lloyd P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Malzahn, David H.
• Application Number:
  US06/518,947
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 364/715, 364/413, 364/567
• US Class Current: 708/133
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4146 for controlling caloric intake, e.g. diet control
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/00 ICT specially adapted for the handling or processing of medical references

Abstract

A new and novel calculator for use by cooks, dieters and others is disclosed. The calculator may be made in a hand-held model and may be made in a scale version for use in the kitchen. The calculator permits instant access to counting of calories, carbohydrates and/or proteins and adding the amount of each item consumed. In the modified form of the invention a weighing mechanism is incorporated to accurately weigh each item to be consumed.

Claims

1. A diet calculator, comprising:

(a) a calculator case;

(b) a standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit contained within the case, the circuit containing at least a memory add circuit as well as other circuits and contacts;

(c) a modified calculator keyboard positioned on the calculator case;

(d) a plurality of first buttons positioned on the keyboard and having formed thereon indicia designating groups of ingestible items, the plurality of first buttons being electrically connected to the standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit so that each button when pushed represents a number in the standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit, the items formed on each button being grouped together by a numerical value and having a substantially similar numeric value as grouped so that when a particular first button is pushed on the calculator, a given numerical value will be recorded in the standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit;

(e) a second button, positioned on the keyboard and electrically connected to the standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit, the second button functioning as an add button to add the given numerical values recorded in the standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit whenever the first buttons are pushed; and

(f) a standard numerical calculator display readout positioned in the calculator case and electrically connected to the standard numerical calculator electrical operation circuit to display a total numerical value of a sum of the numerical values derived from pushing the plurality of first buttons and the numerical values derived from pushing the second button.

2. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the second button has formed thereon indicia designating a "plus" sign.

3. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of first buttons comprise at least the following groups of ingestible items;

(a) Eggs, cheese and cereal

(b) Bread

(c) Juices

(d) Dairy.

4. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the following groups of ingestible items are contained on the plurality of first buttons;

(a) Fresh Fruits

(b) Drinks.

5. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the following groups of ingestible items are contained on the plurality of first buttons;

(a) Vegetables--Group A

(b) Vegetables--Group B.

6. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the following groups of ingestible items are contained on the plurality of first buttons;

(a) Canned Fruits

(b) Meats.

7. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the numerical values of the first buttons represent calories of the item pushed.

8. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the numerical values of the first buttons represent carbohydrates of the item pushed.

9. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the numerical values of the first buttons represent proteins of the item pushed.

10. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of first buttons comprises groups of ingestible items and caloric value range as follows;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Item Caloric Value Range ______________________________________ (a) Eggs, cheese and cereal 75-125 (b) Bread 80-130 (c) Juices 49-100 (d) Dairy 75-105 (e) Fresh Fruits 25-127 (f) Drinks 22-65 (g) Vegetables - Group A 20-49 (h) Vegetables - Group B 22-106 (i) Canned Fruits 23-72 (j) Meats 70-250 ______________________________________

11. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the modified calculator keyboard has formed thereon the plurality of first buttons arranged in at least four rows and the caloric numerical value of each button is as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Button No. Row No. 1 Row No. 2 Row No. 3 Row No. 4 ______________________________________ 1 75 25 20 23 2 125 50 49 50 3 80 76 22 72 4 130 102 70 70 5 100 127 106 175 6 49 65 49 195 7 75 22 -- 250 8 105 -- -- -- ______________________________________

12. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the modified calculator keyboard has formed thereon the plurality of first buttons arranged in at least four rows and the carbohydrate numerical value of each button is as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Button No. Row No. 1 Row No. 2 Row No. 3 Row No. 4 ______________________________________ 1 3 8 3 22 2 21 22 5 11 3 12 11 6 12 4 21 24 10 1 5 9 3 18 0 6 23 0 10 0 7 13 0 -- 0 8 12 -- -- -- ______________________________________

13. The diet calculator as defined in claim 1 wherein the modified calculator keyboard has formed thereon the plurality of first buttons, arranged in at least four rows and the protein numerical value of each button is as follows:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ Button No. Row No. 1 Row No. 2 Row No. 3 Row No. 4 ______________________________________ 1 15 1 3 1 2 2 1 3 1 3 2 1 2 1 4 3 1 2 8 5 2 1 4 18 6 2 4 1 32 7 7 0 -- 30 8 9 -- -- -- ______________________________________

14. A diet calculator, comprising:

(a) a case;

(b) a viewing screen, positioned within the case, wherein the viewing screen is a CRT and is capable of showing at least one item of the group of items comprising calories, carbohydrates and proteins, the viewing screen also showing a food code value adjacent to the item on the screen;

(c) a platform weighing scale mechanism positioned partially on the exterior of the case for receiving quantities of ingestible items on the platform and positioned partially within the case;

(d) a plurality of first buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating ingestible items;

(e) a plurality of second buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating food code values;

(f) a plurality of third buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating at least one item of the group of items comprising calories, carbohydrates or proteins;

(g) a plurality of fourth buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating miscellaneous calculator functions; and

(h) calculator means, positioned within the case, for electricaly connecting the screen, the scale mechanism, the plurality of first, second, third and fourth buttons together as a functioning calculator.

15. The diet calculator as defined in claim 14 wherein the viewing screen is a CRT and is capable of showing calories, carbohydrates and proteins.

16. The diet calculator as defined in claim 14 wherein the viewing screen is a CRT and is capable of showing calories, carbohydrates, proteins and the weight of the item placed on the scale.

17. The diet calculator as defined in claim 14 wherein the plurality of second buttons have positioned thereon indicia designating a food code which corresponds to the food code shown on the CRT.

18. A diet calculator, comprising:

(a) a case;

(b) a CRT viewing screen, positioned within the case, for viewing at least one item of a predetermined group of items selected by the user of the diet calculator;

(c) a platform weighing scale mechanism positioned partially on the exterior of the case for receiving quantities of ingestible items on the platform and positioned partially within the case;

(d) a plurality of first buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating ingestible items;

(e) a plurality of second buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating food code values;

(f) a plurality of third buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating at least one item of a predetermined group of items;

(g) a plurality of fourth buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating miscellaneous calculator functions; and

(h) calculator means, positioned within the case, for electrically connecting the screen, the scale mechanism, the plurality of first, second, third and fourth buttons together as a functioning calculator and a viewing device for viewing at least one item of a predetermined group of items.

19. The diet calculator as defined in claim 18 wherein the plurality of first buttons have positioned thereon the indicia "drinks", "breads", "desserts", "fats", "meats", "milk products", "snacks", "soups" and "vegetable fruits".

20. The diet calculator as defined in claim 18 wherein the plurality of fourth buttons comprise at least an "on/off button", a "clear" button and a "CE" button.

21. The diet calculator as defined in claim 20 wherein the plurality of fourth buttons also comprises a "diets" button.

22. A diet computer/calculator, comprising:

(a) a case;

(b) a weighing device comprising a weighing platform positioned on the exterior of the case and a weighing mechanism positioned within the case;

(c) a CRT positioned within the case and having its viewing screen positioned for viewing from the exterior of the case;

(d) a computer/calculator circuit positioned within the case and programmed and electrically connected to project on the CRT viewing screen, on command, at least one group of items of the grouping comprising ingestible items and a food code value of at least one item of the group of items comprising calories, carbohydrates or proteins;

(e) means, electrically associated with the weighing device and the CRT, for sending a signal designating a weight of an item positioned on the weighing device to the CRT for viewing on the CRT;

(f) a plurality of first buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating ingestible items, the first buttons being electrically connected to the computer/calculator circuit and being designed to signal the computer to project a given group of ingestible items and their food code on the CRT viewing screen;

(g) a plurality of second buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating food code values, the second buttons being electrically connected to the computer/calculator circuit and having a designated numerical value input into the computer/calculator circuit when pushed;

(h) a plurality of third buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating at least one item of the group of items comprising calories, carbohydrates, or proteins, the third buttons being electrically connected to the computer/calculator circuit and having designated "equal" value input into the computer/calculator circuit when pushed;

(i) means, electrically associated with the weighing device and the computer/calculator circuit, for reading the weight of the ingestible item positioned on the platform and sending a signal to the computer/calculator to multiply the readout weight by the food code numerical values pushed on the first plurality of buttons; and

(j) a plurality of fourth buttons, positioned on the case and having positioned thereon indicia designating miscellaneous calculator functions.

23. The diet computer/calculator as defined in claim 22 wherein the plurality of fourth buttons comprise at least an "on/off" button.

24. The diet computer/calculator as defined in claim 22 wherein the plurality of fourth buttons comprise at least an "on/off" button and a "clear" button.

25. The diet computer/calculator as defined in claim 22 wherein the plurality of fourth buttons comprise at least an "on/off" button, a "clear" button and a "CE" button.