Weighing scales – Illuminated
Patent
1999-08-02
2000-12-26
Gibson, Randy W.
Weighing scales
Illuminated
177210R, 290 1R, 290 1C, G01G 2330, G01G 314, G01G 1944, H02P 904
Patent
active
061663352
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a bathroom scale having a measurement value sensor, which when the person weighing himself stands on it, it generates a measurement signal that reaches an evaluation circuit, from the measurement signal person ascertains the weight and displays it on a display device. The supply of electrical energy to the evaluation circuit and the display device is accomplished by a generator, which is mounted in a plane upon which the weight of the person weighing himself acts, wherein the generator is mechanically actuatable by an actuating element, which is subsequently returned to its outset position by a restoring spring compressed upon actuation.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
One such bathroom scale is known from published German Patent Disclosure, DE 44 33 858 A1. As disclosed wherein the aforementioned plate (first plate), a further plate, the actual tread plate, is disposed, and it is on that plate that the actuating element (there referred to as a cam) is disposed in fixed fashion. When a person steps on the tread plate, the cam meets a horizontally displaceable further actuating element of the generator; the generator is thus set in motion and generates electrical energy. The restoring spring is disposed between the first plate and the tread plate.
A disadvantage of this arrangement is the uneven introduction of force from the tread plate into the horizontally displaceable actuating element of the generator; this introduction of force depends very strongly on how and at what point a person puts his weight on the tread plate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a scale of the type defined at the outset in such a way that its design and actuation become simpler.
According to the present invention, this object is attained by embodying the actuating element as a tappet which drives the generator via a toothed rack and a pinion, and protrudes past the plate in such a way that it is actuatable independently of the plate, with the restoring spring becoming operation between the plate and the toothed rack and pinion. The present invention also relates to various advantageous refinements.
The design is thus substantially simpler, especially because the transmission of force from the tappet to the generator is effected by a toothed rack and pinion arrangement, and the restoring spring becomes operative at the toothed rack in a very much less complicated way that is less vulnerable to malfunction. In both cases, namely upon direct actuation of the tappet 18 with one's foot before weighing or upon actuation of the tappet by a tread plate disposed above it, a certain and reliable actuation is achieved in a simple way.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention and their advantageous refinements will be described in detail below with reference to the appended drawings. Shown are:
FIG. 1, which is a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2, which is a plan view of a bathroom scale of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3, which is a schematic illustration of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The scale of FIG. 1 has a bottom part that is formed by a bottom, or support plate 2 and a vertical rim 2' extending all the way around. Located above this bottom part is a movable top plate 3, which acts on weighing levers 8, 9 via posts 17'. Two weighing levers 8 and two weighing levers 9 are provided, only one of each of which are visible in FIG. 1. The two weighing levers 8 are both connected to a pressure plate 11, which acts on a measurement value sensor 5 (or weighing cell). In this weighing cell, a measurement signal is derived, for instance with the aid of a strain gauge 30, and this signal reaches an evaluation circuit 15, and from the evaluation circuit 15 ascertains the weight of the person weighing himself and causes the weight to be displayed on a display device 7. The display device 7 is disposed in the plate 3 so that it
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patent: 5141065 (1992-08-01), Maxwell et al.
patent: 5561274 (1996-10-01), Brandorff
Gibson Randy W.
Soehnle AG
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