Low-profile load cell assembly with vertical weight adapter

A load cell assembly, comprising:

• (a) a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window defined, on a top side of said first cutout window, by a top beam on a top side of said load cell body, and on a bottom side of said first cutout window by a bottom beam, said window transversely disposed through a long dimension of said body;
• (b) at least one strain-sensing gage, bonded to said spring element, said strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said spring element;
• and
• (c) an at least two-dimensional flexural member integral with said load cell body, said flexural member having at least a second cutout window, said second cutout window being transversely disposed through said long dimension of said body, said flexural member being mechanically associated with said spring element, said flexural member disposed along a flexural longitudinal section of said load cell body that is defined by a length of said second cutout window along said long dimension, said flexural member being distally disposed with respect to said spring element along said long dimension of said body and having a proximal end adjacent the spring element and an opposite distal end;
• and
• (d) an adapter disposed on said top side of said load cell body, said adapter having a first end configured to receive a vertical load, and second end mechanically associated with the distal end of the flexural member;
• the adapter having an unloaded disposition and a loaded disposition in which said first end is depressed with respect to the proximal end of the flexural member;
• said second cutout window including a plurality of cutout windows disposed one on top of another;
• wherein said two-dimensional flexural member further includes a top-oriented cutout, said top-oriented cutout defining a top face of said adapter;
• wherein a load receiving position of said adapter is disposed within an area defined by a projection from said top side of said load cell body on said flexural member;
• wherein said adapter has a longitudinal length La between said first and second ends of said adapter, and wherein said load receiving position of said adapter is disposed on an inner half of said longitudinal length La.