WO2005090934A1

WO2005090934A1 - Personal scales

Info

Publication number: WO2005090934A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/003056
Authority: WO
Inventors: S.R.L. Opus; Carlo Rosa; Nilo Gioacchini
Original assignee: Ariete S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-03-23
Filing date: 2004-03-23
Publication date: 2005-09-29

Abstract

Personal scales, comprising a weighing platform (101), means (401) of measuring weight, means (601) of transducing the measured weight and means (103, 113) of displaying the measured weight, these scales are placed in a structure comprising a base (1), a supporting column (2) and a service shelf (3) connected to the said supporting column (2) and substantially parallel to the plane of the said base (1).

Description

TITLE :

Personal scales

DESCRIPTION: The present invention relates to scales, and relates particularly to personal scales, preferably for domestic use. In ordinary dwellings, personal scales are normally placed in bathrooms; however, this type of environment frequently presents problems in terms of space management. Commercially available personal scales generally consist of substantially flat bodies which are placed directly on the floor, and their use can therefore result in the occupation for an indeterminate period of a proportion of the useful area which may be considerable, particularly in a small bathroom. The only alternative to this encumbrance is to put the scales away in cupboards or the like when they are not in use, but this may adversely affect the functional qualities of the said scales. The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide personal scales whose overall dimensions can be used, at least partially, in a positive way, without compromising their usefulness or functional qualities. The object of the present invention is therefore personal scales, comprising a weighing platform, means of measuring weight, means of transducing the measured weight and means of displaying the measured weight; these scales are placed in a structure comprising a base, a supporting column and a service shelf connected to the said supporting column and substantially parallel to the plane of the said base.

Advantageously, the service shelf can be connected in an oscillating way to the said supporting column, to enable the base and service shelf to be made substantially with the same dimensions. In particular, the connection can be made by pivoting the service shelf about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the said column. In one embodiment, the weighing platform, the measuring means and the transducer means are located in the base of the structure, while the display means are located in the service shelf. It is also possible to provide switch means, which are advantageously positioned in the area of the oscillating connection between the service shelf and the supporting column, and are activated when the connection is moved. Preferably, the scales will be activated when the service shelf is placed in a position in which it does not interfere with the base. The service shelf can be shaped in the form of a stool seat, thus enabling the scales to be used in an alternative way. Further advantages and characteristics of the device according to the present invention will be made clear by the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, provided purely by way of example and without restrictive intent, with reference to the attached sheets of drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the scales according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, with the scales in a different configuration; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the line IV-IV of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the scales according to the present invention. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the personal scales according to the invention; the number 1 indicates the base of the scales. The said base comprises a discoid body 1 in which a weighing platform 101 is located; an axial cavity 201 is formed near the peripheral edge of the base 1, and one end of the column 2 is fitted in this cavity. The opposite end of the column 2 is positioned within the recess 203 formed radially in the service shelf, which in this case takes the form of the stool seat 3, also of discoid shape and having dimensions substantially similar to those of the base 1. The seat 3 is coupled to the column 2 in the recess 203 in a way which is described more fully below; a window 103, in which the display means of the scales are located, is positioned diametrically opposite the recess 203 and radially on the peripheral edge of the said seat 3.

In Figure 2, the seat 3 is tipped up from its position shown in Figure 1, in other words is rotated through approximately 90° about an axis of oscillation perpendicular to the axis of the column 2. Figure 3 shows the section through the line III- III of Figure 1; the seat 3 has, at the end diametrically opposite the recess 203, a housing 603 in which the display means 113 are located. The said housing faces the window 103 positioned on the lateral edge of the seat 3; a cable 123 is provided for connecting the display means 113 to the means of transducing the measured weight, which are not shown in this figure (see Figure 4) . A compartment 403, provided with a removable cover, in which the batteries 503 for supplying power to the scales are located, is formed in the median portion of the seat facing the base 1. A thickened area 213 projects radially into the recess 203 and bears against the radial flange 112 projecting from the collar 102 positioned at the end of the column 2 located in the said recess 203. The said collar 102 has a transverse wall 162 in which is formed a semi- cylindrical housing 122 for accommodating, in interaction with the housing 212 formed in the transverse wall 232 of the cap 202 placed on top of the said collar, the hinge pin 303 which is fixed to the seat 3. The said hinge pin 303 is provided with an axial cavity 333 in which the cable 123 runs, and two radial recesses 313 and 323, formed on the lateral wall of the hinge pin 303 at an angular distance of approximately 90°. The switch 302 is positioned inside the cap 202, and the push button of this switch can be inserted, through the radial aperture 222 formed in the housing 212, into the recess 313 of the hinge pin 303. The housing 122, on the other hand, communicates with a tubular element 132 in which is positioned a spring 152 which acts on a ball 142, this ball 142 engaging in the recess 323 of the hinge pin 303. Figure 4 shows a section through the line IV-IV of Figure 2; the housing 301 for the weighing platform 101 of the scales is formed in the base 1. The said platform 101 has an axial recess 111 provided at its bottom with a hole 121 in which is located the bolt 131 for fixing the platform 101 to the lever 401. The said bolt is screwed into the hole 421 of the said lever 401, whose opposite end is provided with another hole 411 into which is screwed the bolt 521 which is inserted through the hole 511 formed in the bottom of the recess 501 formed in the bottom wall of the base 1. A cavity 431 is formed at the end of the lever 401 to which the platform 101 is connected, on the opposite side from the said platform 101, and this recess interacts with the means for transducing the weight measured by means of the platform 101, in this case the load cell 601; the said load cell is connected by the cable 123 to the display means 113 positioned in the seat 3 (see Figure 3) . One end of the column 2 is housed in the axial cylindrical cavity 201 formed in the base 1 in the proximity of its lateral edge; this end is welded to the base piece 402 which has an axial hole 412 into which the bolt 221 is inserted through the hole 211 in the bottom of the cavity 201. Finally, Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of the electrical circuit of the scales according to the present invention; the battery 503 supplies power through the switch 302 to the transducer means 601 and the display means 113, which are connected to the transducer means 601 by the cable 123. The operation of the scales according to the present invention will be made clear by the following description. In the configuration shown in Figure 1, the scales according to the invention are not active in their function of weighing persons; this is because, as shown in Figure 3, the push button 312 of the switch 302 is located in the recess 313 of the hinge pin 303 and the power supply circuit of the scales is therefore open. In any case, in this configuration the platform 101 would not be accessible for weighing, and therefore the scales can only act as a stool, a shelf or the like. On the other hand, when the seat 3 is rotated upwards, the switch 302 closes the power supply circuit and the scales are ready to measure the weight of the user who can now position himself appropriately on the platform 101. The weight of the user, measured by the lever 401, is transmitted to the load cell 601 which converts it into an electronic signal for the display means 113 to which it is connected by the cable 123. Advantageously, the position in which the display window 103 of the display means 113 is located enables the measured data to be read more easily than in ordinary scales, in which the display is located in the base. The stability of the seat 3 in the position shown in Figure 2 is ensured by the ball 142 pushed by the spring 152 which is pressed into the recess 313 of the hinge pin 303. On completion of the weighing operation, the user must return the seat to the position parallel to the base 1; the thickened area 213 of the seat bears on the flange 112 of the collar 102 of the column 2 and thus ensures the stability of the said seat 3 in this position. Advantageously, the batteries 503 for supplying power to the electrical circuit of the scales can be housed, as shown in Figure 3, in a compartment 403 accessible from the outside and provided with a removable cover 413, located on the face of the seat 3 nearest the base 1. The structural parts of the scales, namely the seat 3, the base 1 and the column 2, can be made from any material which is sufficiently strong and suitable for forming; in particular, it is considered advantageous to make the seat 3 and the base 1 from die-cast aluminium, while the column 2 is preferably made from steel. The aforesaid three main structural components of the scales according to the invention can be easily assembled and dismantled without the need for special tools, and therefore the packaging for containing the scales according to the invention can be of limited size and therefore easily transportable.

Claims

1. Personal scales, comprising a weighing platform (101), means (401) of measuring weight, means (601) of transducing the measured weight and means (103, 113) of displaying the measured weight, characterized in that these scales are placed in a structure comprising a base (1) , a supporting column (2) and a service shelf (3) connected to the said supporting column (2) and substantially parallel to the plane of the said base (1) .

2. Scales according to Claim 1, characterized in that the weighing platform (101), the measuring means (401) and the transducer means (601) are located in the base (1) of the structure, while the display means (103, 113) are positioned in the service shelf (3) .

3. Scales according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the said transducer means (601) and the said display means are electrical or electronic, power supply means (503) being provided.

4. Scales according to Claim 3, in which the said power supply means comprise batteries (503) housed in an accessible compartment (403) located in the said service shelf (3) .

5. Scales according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the service shelf (3) is substantially placed over the said base (1) , and is connected in an oscillating way to the said supporting column (2), in such a way that it can be put in a position in which it is not placed over the said base (1) .

6. Scales according to Claim 5, in which the connection is made by pivoting the service shelf (3) at one end of the said column (2) about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the said column ( 2 ) .

7. Scales according to Claim 3 or 4 and Claim 5 or 6, characterized in that switching means (302) of the power supply circuit of the said scales are provided and are positioned in the area of the oscillating connecting (303, 212, 122) between the service shelf (3) and the column (2) , in such a way that the said power supply circuit is closed when the said service shelf (3) is not placed over the said base (1) .

8. Scales according to any one of the preceding

Claims 2 to 7, in which releasable means (142, 152) are provided for locking the service shelf (3) in the position in which it is not placed over the said base (1) - 9. Scales according to any one of the preceding Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the said service shelf can be shaped substantially in the form of a seat (3) of a stool.