The present invention relates generally to scales.
The parent application provides a lightweight, inexpensive scale with an easily viewable weight display that can be used by a wide variety of users, particularly debilitated users in wheelchairs or rollable beds. The parent application discloses that one or more (e.g., four) bases can he provided, each with its own weight sensor, and a person in wheelchair can roll the wheels of the chair onto respective bases for weighing himself.
As understood herein, it may be problematic to roll a wheelchair onto a base of a scale system if the base has a narrow wheel channel, because the casters of many wheelchairs tend to turn and impede wheeling the chair onto the base with the wheel in the narrow channel. As also understood herein, some occupants of wheelchairs might wish to place the individual bases themselves onto a surface for weighing and then pick up and stow the bases afterward, but if the base is very low to the floor this intent can he frustrated. Still further, the present invention recognizes that it may desirable to provide mechanical advantage in rolling a wheelchair or bed onto a weight base.
Accordingly, a base for a weight measuring system for a bed- or wheelchair-bound person is disclosed herein. In addition to the parent application, the following patent documents are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 6,812,662; U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,854; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0215210.
A base for a scale system includes a bottom surface, at least three support pads on the bottom surface supporting the base when the base is disposed on the ground, and a generally elliptical mat surface opposed to the bottom surface. A ramp surface surrounds the mat surface and is bounded by a periphery raised from the ground when all support pads rest on the ground. With this structure, when a wheel is rolled over the periphery the ramp surface is urged toward the ground to tilt the base until the wheel clears a portion of the base to cause the base to tilt back with all pads on the ground.
A weight sensor may be disposed under the mat surface. In some examples the mat surface is centrally formed with straight, co-parallel guide grooves. The mat surface may he generally concave. First and second curved handgrips can extend in respective loops with a respective space established between each handgrip and the periphery, with a midpoint of each handgrip being higher relative to endpoints. A portion of the ramp surface may slope upwardly toward the mat surface to facilitate rolling a wheel up the ramp surface, and if desired one or more indicator lights can be energizable to indicate weighing conditions.
In another aspect, an apparatus has a base for a scale. The base tilts slightly when a wheel is rolled onto it to facilitate rolling the wheel onto a central concave mat surface of the base. Opposed handgrips form grippable loops on the base.
The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which:
Referring to
The base 10 may have a unitary plastic body made of, e.g., polyurethane, or it may be made of die cast aluminum. As shown in
A body portion 22 of the base 10 is contiguous to the mat periphery 14 as shown. Details of the body portion 22 are disclosed further below. As shown in
As best shown in
With this structure, it may now be appreciated that as a wheel is rolled up the ramp surface 28, it pushes the flat angled (relative to the bottom surface 34) bottom 28a (
Returning to
Returning to
It may readily be appreciated that four pads 10 can be arranged on the ground as appropriate for rolling respective wheels of a four-wheeled chair onto respective pads. Or, three pads 10 can be arranged on the ground as appropriate for rolling respective wheels of a three-wheeled chair onto respective pads. In this way, both types of chairs can he weighed. A user may be permitted to enter the number of pads being used so that the weight determination circuitry can multiply the signal from a single pad by the appropriate amount (three or four). In such an embodiment, only one pad 10 need contain the weight sensing structure described by the parent application, with its signal being multiplied by three or four and with the remaining pads being “dummy” pads devoid of weight sensors. Or, each pad 10 may contain weight sensing structure and each may transmit its weight signals on a respective frequency or use other means to discriminate its signals from those of the other pads, so that the (three or four) separate and distinct signals received at the display unit can be simply added together without requiring the user to enter the number of pads being used.
The present device may be used in the following non-limited applications:
1. home healthcare providers
a. to weigh wheelchair bound patients
b. to have a scale that is easily transportable
2. long term healthcare facilities
a. to weigh wheelchair bound patients
b. to weigh bedridden patients
c. to allow weighing in the room
d. to easily comply with HIPPA regulations
3. hospitals
a. to weigh wheelchair bound patients
b. to weigh bedridden patients
c. to allow weighing in the room
d. to easily comply with HIPPA regulations
4. high end wheelchair owners
a. to weigh themselves in the home environment
b. to weigh themselves on a device that is easily
5. physical therapists
a. to provide a simple, accurate device to teach load bearing
b. to have a rehab load bearing training device that is easily transportable
6. golf pros and advanced golfers
a. to provide a simple device to train weight transfer during club swing
b. to provide an easily transportable device to allow training at the range
c. to provide a cost effective swing analyzer
d. to have a hands free instructional device
7. Olympic and world class shooting competitors
a. to train in proper stance and weight distribution
h. to have a device that is easily transportable to the range
c. to have a hands free instructional device
8. law enforcement pistol training
a. to train in proper stance and weight distribution
b. to have a device that is easily transportable to the range
c. to have a hands free instructional device
9. ranch animal/wildlife weighing
a. to weigh cattle/wildlife at a remote location
b. to provide an easily transportable durable scale
c. to have a scale that is operable in harsh environments
10. small racing vehicle weighing
a. to allow for adjusting suspension setups at the track
b. to provide an easily transportable durable device
In some embodiments (e.g., wheelchair scale) a four digit numeric character display may be used, while for a golf swing analyzer a full dot matrix backlit LCD module may be used. Also, the read frequency of the pad output data to the display and control module may he varied, depending on the application: For example, as understood herein a golf swing analyzer requires faster pad weight readings with less required accuracy, while a scale used for wheelchair or bed bound patients with congestive heart disease or diabetes requires more accuracy and repeatability.
While the particular EASY MOUNT BASE FOR MOBILITY SCALE is herein shown and described in detail, it is to he understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.
This is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/591,920, filed Nov. 2, 2006, incorporated herein by reference, from which priority is claimed.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12114975 | May 2008 | US |
Child | 12794984 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12794984 | Jun 2010 | US |
Child | 12974442 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11591920 | Nov 2006 | US |
Child | 12114975 | US |