Weighing scales – With weigher loading or unloading means – Hand manipulatable weigher
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-16
2001-07-31
Gibson, Randy W. (Department: 2859)
Weighing scales
With weigher loading or unloading means
Hand manipulatable weigher
C177S171000, C177S190000, C177S191000, C177S245000, C177S246000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06268573
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT
This application references Disclosure Document No. 455728 bearing a Patent & Trademark Office stamp dated May 3, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention describes a portable postal scale for determining whether the weight of a letter exceeds a predetermined amount corresponding to a given value of postage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Lightweight portable postal scales serve a useful function for postal patrons who do not have access in their home or work areas to more complicated platform scales available at post offices and elsewhere. In particular, a portable postal scale enables the user to determine whether the weight of a letter exceeds a maximum amount such as one ounce.
All of the prior art presents various limitations and disadvantages. Many of the devices in the prior art have multiple components that make the accuracy of a scale more difficult to achieve in the manufacturing process. Other devices require coins to balance beams; coins have varying weight tolerances themselves that again affect the accuracy of a scale. Devices that require placement of a letter horizontally at a predetermined location on a beam introduce inaccuracy to the weighting function because of variances in the center of gravity from one letter to another with equal outside dimensions and even the same total weights. Still other devices require letters being weighed to be hung over the side of a desk or other work surface. During the weighing function, these devices can fall from the desk damaging the letter or the device and making repeated weighing trials awkward. A disadvantage of other balance beam type of scales is that they do not maintain weighing accuracy when used on surfaces that are unlevel.
The present invention is provided to overcome these limitations and disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is that for a portable postal scale employing an elongated balance beam and a wedge shaped piece, wherein the beam comprises a letter holding means, a fulcrum, a leveling assembly, a stop and a preloaded portion. The letter holding means comprises two arms extending from the top of the beam near one end which form an upward facing narrow opening or slot for holding a letter to be weighed in an upright position. The slot maintains the center of gravity of the letter at a predetermined distance from the fulcrum. The traverse fulcrum is located on the bottom of the beam The leveling assembly, comprising a leveling bubble and leveling scribe lines, is located at any convenient position along the beam. The stop extends from the bottom of the beam near a second end. The preloaded portion of the beam is that part from the fulcrum to the second end. It is given sufficient weight to balance the beam when a letter of predetermined weight is placed in the letter holding means of the opposite end.
To use the scale, a letter is placed in the slot of the letter holding means, the beam fulcrum is placed on a smooth, hard surface, the beam stop is placed on top of the wedge shaped piece and the end of the beam is held down, for example, with a finger. The wedge shaped piece is then moved forward (toward the fulcrum) or backward (away from the fulcrum) until the leveling bubble is centered within the leveling scribe lines. The scale is then released to begin the weighing function. No movement indicates that the letter weight is equal to or less than the predetermined amount. Tipping indicates that the weight is greater than the predetermined amount. By knowing the weight of a letter, the proper postage can then be determined.
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