Weighing scales – With weigher loading or unloading means – Hand manipulatable weigher
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-23
2003-06-03
Gibson, Randy (Department: 2841)
Weighing scales
With weigher loading or unloading means
Hand manipulatable weigher
C177S211000, C177S245000, C177SDIG009
Reexamination Certificate
active
06573462
ABSTRACT:
The earlier invention relates to scoops with weighing capacity. Scoops generally have load receiving vessels with attached handles. In this case, a weighing device such as a load cell incorporating a strain gauge connects the handle to the load receiving vessel and a display scale is built into the handle. The weighing device is calibrated so that when the load receiving vessel is empty it registers zero, and registers the specific weight of material in the load receiving vessel. This was intended to weigh amounts of material in the kilogram range, when buying or measuring material, since most people have no idea what a gram, kilogram, or five or ten kilograms looks like. In grocery stores, for example it would enable rough estimation of cost of product. It was also considered for “legal for trade” purposes, which would require testing and approval by regulating authority.
For industrial use shock loading and overloading had to be considered, and for “legal for trade” purposes the load registered had to remain constant. Overload protection to prevent damage to the load cell is preferably incorporated. Flexmount protection, which provides relative rigidity at the fixed end of the load cell until the load exceeds a predetermined amount, and yields at that point, was also preferably incorporated, preventing distortion of the load cell. An inclinometer is also preferably incorporated to make the registered load constant.
Although the invention is described and referred to specifically as it relates to specific devices, structures and methods for scoops with handles incorporating display scales, overload protection, flexmount protection and inclinometers, it will be understood that the principles of this invention are equally applicable to similar devices, structures and methods for material containing and handling and accordingly, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to such devices, structures and methods for material containing and handling.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Generally scoops are used to transfer bulk material from a storage or holding container to a traditional weighing scale, where the bulk material is poured out to be weighed. Often a specific approximate or exact amount is required, and achieved by hit and miss methods. It is of practical advantage and convenience to know the amount in the load receiving vessel before pouring. It is also of practical advantage to have overload protection, and flexmount protection, preventing damage to the weighing device, and an inclinometer to provide a constant registered load.
PRIOR ART
Prior art made of record in application Ser. No. 09/365,743 and hereby incorporated by reference, includes U.S. Pat. No. 412,049, Oct. 1, 1999, to Side; U.S. Pat. No. 537,743, Apr. 16, 1895, to Berquist; U.S. Pat. No. 570,434, Oct. 27, 1896, to Johnson; U.S. Pat. No. 578,642, Mar. 9, 1897, to Joslyn; U.S. Pat. No. 734,653, Jul. 28, 1903, to Alexander; U.S. Pat. No. 781,920, Feb. 7, 1905, to Taylor, U.S. Pat. No. 784,641, Mar. 14, 1905, to Taylor; U.S. Pat. No. 807,334, Dec. 12, 1905, to Swank; U.S. Pat. No. 852,183, Apr. 30, 1907, to Howe; U.S. Pat. No. 1,266,881, May 21, 1918, to Taylor; U.S. Pat. No. 2,333,385, Nov. 2, 1943, to Le Bert; U.S. Pat. No. 2,893,134, Jul. 7, 1959, to Shea et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 3,701,093, Oct. 24, 1972, to Pick; U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,905, Sep. 7, 1982, to Berckes; U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,155, Feb. 8, 1983, to Dola; U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,186, Dec. 20, 1983, to Bradley; U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,666, Apr. 28, 1987, to Reder et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,697,655, Oct. 6, 1987 to Junkas; U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,092, May 23, 1989, to Hirose et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,340, Mar. 20, 1990, to Kazais et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,158, Aug. 27, 1991, to Schmelzer; U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,328, Jun. 9, 1992, to Sakai et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,199,518, Apr. 6, 1993, to Woodle; U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,146, Aug. 15, 1995, to Bell et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,855, Aug. 13, 1996, to Stanfield et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,646,376, Jul. 8, 1997, to Kroll et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,147, Sep. 23, 1997, to Nakajima et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,695, Feb. 3, 1998, to Bruns; U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,767, Jun. 30, 1998, to Collins, Jr. et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,854,447, Dec. 29, 1998, to Greenwood et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,995,713, Sep. 21, 1999, Titus et al.
It is a principal object of the invention to provide shock loading protection for a scoop having a weigh scale operatively associated with a load cell. It is another principal object to provide overload protection for a scoop having a weigh scale operatively associated with a load cell. It is a another principal object of the invention to provide an inclinometer for a scoop having a weigh scale operatively associated with a load cell, to correct weigh scale readings for angular deviation from the horizontal, in two, four or six (multi-dimensional) directions. It is a further principal object of the invention to provide a visible ball bearing switch, which cuts off the weigh scale display, at a predetermined angle of tilt. It is a subsidiary object of the invention to provide a flexmount of predetermined yield load at the fixed end of the load cell, to provided shock loading and overload protection. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a flexmount formed by an elastomeric grommet of predetermined yield load to hold retaining bolts for the load cell. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a flexmount formed by spring mounted retaining bolts of predetermined yield load for the load cell. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide overload protection at the moving end of the load cell. Further subsidiary objects of the invention are to provide a check rod and/or an overload stop at the moving end of the load cell for overload protection. It is a further subsidiary object of the invention to provide a load cell that is moment insensitive binocular single point shear beam. It is a further subsidiary object of the the invention to provide a metal security ring in the handle of the scoop. Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In one broad aspect the invention is directed to a scoop having a load receiving vessel and a handle attached to the vessel. Load cell means with strain gauge means, is mounted in the handle and bearing the load receiving vessel. The strain gauge means is operatively associated with CPU means, which are operatively associated with readout display means, whereby a weight in the load receiving vessel is converted to a display number on the readout display means. Inclinometer means are mounted in the handle and operatively associated with the CPU, whereby angular deviation from the horizontal is compensated so that the readout display means shows the correct weight. The inclinometer means may be two dimensional, which compensates for angular deviation in two opposed directions from the horizontal along the load receiving vessel-handle axis. It may be four-dimensional, which compensates for angular deviation from the horizontal along the load receiving vessel-handle axis and at right angles thereto. It may be multi-dimensional, which compensates for angular deviation from the horizontal in any direction. Two-dimensional inclinometers were found effective, use of the more sensitive forms would improve accuracy, but not to a significant practical degree. The more sensitive inclinometers are generally more expensive, and this increases with the angular compensation covered, which in theory can approach 45° from the horizontal. Preferably the handle has a metal security ring at the end furthest from the load receiving vessel. In use this is typically attached to a chain itself attached to a wall or floor eye bolt or the like to prevent the scoop being stolen.
In another broad aspect the invention is directed to a scoop having a load receiving vessel and a handle attached to the vessel, and load cell means with strain gauge me
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