Weighing scales – With casing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-29
2002-06-18
Gibson, Randy W. (Department: 2859)
Weighing scales
With casing
C177S239000, C248S188200, C248S188400, C411S542000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06407351
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to food equipment, and more particularly, to thread covering arrangements suitable for use on components such as adjustable support feet of food equipment such as food scales.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many food product scales, as is the case with other types of scales, must be properly leveled in order provide accurate weight readings. Accordingly, food product scales are provided with adjustable support feet which can be threaded into and out of the scale housing in order to level the scale. The support feet therefore include a threaded shaft which extends from the housing.
In the food equipment industry maintaining a sanitary condition of the equipment is always desirable. Food product can become lodged in exposed threads of support feet making it difficult to remove during cleaning. Covering such threads would facilitate maintenance of a sanitary environment by preventing food product from becoming lodged in the threads where it could be difficult to remove during cleaning.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and advantageous to provide a support foot assembly which has a threaded shaft for adjustment purposes but includes a suitable structure for preventing the threads from being exposed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As used herein the terminology “threaded shaft” encompasses shafts threaded along their entire length as well as shafts threaded along only a portion of their length.
In one aspect of the present invention, an adjustable support foot assembly includes a base portion for resting upon a support surface and a threaded shaft extending from the base portion. A first thread cover is positioned around the threaded shaft between the base portion and an end of the threaded shaft. The first thread cover has at least one wall portion spaced from the threaded shaft forming a gap therebetween. A second thread cover is positioned around the threaded shaft between the base portion and the end of the threaded shaft. The second thread cover includes at least one wall portion shaped and sized to fit within the gap between the at least one wall portion of the first thread cover and the threaded shaft. At least one of the first and second thread covers is moveable along the threaded shaft to permit the first and second thread covers to be adjusted relative to each other in a telescoping manner for selectively covering different lengths of the threaded shaft.
A further aspect of the invention provides a level able scale including a housing with a plurality of support feet extending from the housing and adjustably threaded into the housing for enabling leveling of the scale. Each of the support feet includes a base portion with a shaft extending from the base portion to the housing. The shaft includes a first portion which is threaded and extends from the housing and a non-threaded second portion which extends from the threaded portion toward the base portion. At least one thread cover is threaded onto the threaded shaft and positioned between the base portion and the housing. The thread cover extends from a first end near the housing to a second end located along the non-threaded second portion of the shaft. The thread cover is adjustable along the length of the shaft for maintaining coverage of the first portion when a position of the adjustment foot relative to the housing is varied in order to level the scale.
A broader aspect of the invention provides a thread covering assembly including a threaded shaft including first and second ends. A first thread cover is positioned around the threaded shaft between the first end and the second end and has at least one wall portion spaced from the threaded shaft forming a gap therebetween. A second thread cover is positioned around the threaded shaft between the first and second ends and has at least one wall portion shaped and sized to fit within the gap between the at least one wall portion of the first thread cover and the threaded shaft. At least one of the first and second thread covers is moveable along the threaded shaft to permit the first and second thread covers to be adjusted relative to each other in a telescoping manner for selectively covering different lengths of the threaded shaft.
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Bowling Kinred
McMahon William H.
Meyer James C.
Gibson Randy W.
Premark FEG L.L.C.
Thompson Hine LLP
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