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US 7,022,920 B2Granted
Collapsible weighing scale
AssigneeJoan Hulburt
InventorsJoan Hulburt, Brian B. Mathewson, Cherry A. Bochmann, Jesse P. Carlson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A collapsible weighing scale includes a support structure and a plurality of platform segments displaceable between extended and collapsed positions. A load sensing apparatus is mounted on the support structure and outputs a signal of the full weight of an associated object on the scale. An output device receives the signal and communicates the full weight sensed by the scale in appropriate units.
Claims39
A collapsible weighing scale for outputting the full weight of an associated object, said scale comprising:
- a support structure including a first support member and a second support member operatively connected to and displaceable relative to said first support member between a storage condition of said support structure and a use condition of said support structure, wherein said first and second support members are in a first plane in both said storage condition and said use condition;
- a plurality of platform segments mounted to said support structure and including first and second outer platform segments respectively secured on said first and second support members and at least one inner platform segment secured between said first and second outer platform segments, said plurality of platform segments having an extended position in which all of said platform segments are located in said first plane of said first and second support members, and a collapsed position in which said outer platform segments are displaced from said first plane of said first and second support members into a second plane different from said first plane and said at least one inner platform segment is displaced from said first plane into a third plane different from said first and second planes;
- a load sensing apparatus mounted to said support structure, said load sensing apparatus providing an output signal of the full weight of the associated object;
- and,
- an output device for communicating the full weight of the associated object, said output device being in electrical communication with said load sensing apparatus and receiving said output signal therefrom;
- each of said support members and said platform segments extends in generally transverse relation to the direction in which said support structure extends and collapses.
3 more elements
A collapsible weighing scale for outputting the full weight of an associated object, said scale comprising:
- a support structure including a longitudinal axis and a base member extending along the longitudinal axis, said support structure including a plurality of support members pivotally mounted on said base member with at least one of said plurality of support members being secured along each of a pair of opposed sides of said base member, said plurality of support members being displaceable between extended and collapsed positions, in said collapsed position said support members extending in generally aligned relation to said base member and in said extended position said support members extending in generally transverse relation to said base member with at least one of said support members projecting from each of said opposing sides of said base member;
- a plurality of platform segments connected to said support structure and having respective collapsed and extended positions corresponding to said collapsed and extended positions of said support structure;
- a load sensing apparatus mounted to said support structure, said load sensing apparatus providing an output signal of the full weight of the associated object;
- and,
- an output device for communicating the full weight of the associated object, said output device being in electrical communication with said load sensing apparatus and receiving said output signal therefrom.
2 more elements
A collapsible weighing scale for outputting the full weight of an associated object, said scale comprising:
- a support structure displaceable between a collapsed position and an extended position, and including a base member having a longitudinally extending centerline defining opposing sides of said base member, a plurality of support members pivotally mounted on said base member with at least one of said plurality of support members mounted along each of said opposing sides of said base member, an actuating member, and a linkage arrangement interconnecting said actuating member and at least one of said plurality of support members, wherein in said collapsed position of said support structure said support members extend in generally aligned relation to said base member and in said extended position of said support structure said support members extend in generally transverse relation to said base member;
- a plurality of platform segments mounted on said support structure and having respective collapsed and extended positions corresponding to said collapsed and extended positions of said support structure;
- a load sensing apparatus supported on the said supporting structure, said load sensing apparatus providing an output signal of the full weight of the associated object;
- an output device for communicating the full weight of the associated object, said output device in electrical communication with said load sensing apparatus and receives said output signal therefrom.
1 more element
A collapsible weighing scale for outputting the full weight of an associated object, said scale comprising:
- a support structure including a first support member, a second support member displaceable from said first support member and a plurality of platform segments interconnected with one another and supported by said first and second support members in a deployed orientation thereof, each of said platform segments is pivotally interconnected to an adjacent platform segment by a pivotal joint, and each platform segment includes a male joint portion and a female joint portion;
- a load sensing apparatus mounted on said support structure, said load sensing apparatus providing an output signal of the full weight of the associated object;
- and,
- an output device for communicating the full weight of the associated object, said output device being in electrical communication with said load sensing apparatus and receiving said output signal therefrom.
1 more element
A collapsible weighing scale comprising:
- a support structure;
- a platform on said support structure displaceable between a deployed configuration and a storage configuration, said platform including a membrane and a plurality of platform segments, said membrane including a plurality of pockets receiving said platform segments;
- a load sensor operatively associated with one of said support structure and said platform to sense the full weight of an associated object positioned on the scale;
- and
- a display, connected to said load sensor, for converting the weight sensed by said load sensor to human readable form.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.