Weighing scale with scale pan and body made from a particulate of natural stone

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6534729
  • Patent Number
    6,534,729
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, November 9, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 18, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A scale for measuring weight with natural stone on the surface of the base of the scale. The natural stone has a pleasing aesthetic appearance, is comfortable to stand on and is hygienic.
Description




FIELD OF INVENTION




The invention relates to a weighing device, and particularly to such a device as a scale in the form of a personal weighing scale.




BACKGROUND OF INVENTION




Personal weighing scales are used usually by users who stand on them with bare feet, and as such need to be hygienic, have a comfortable “feel”, and aesthetic.




SUMMARY OF INVENTION




It is an object of the invention to provide such a scale.




According to the invention there is provided a scale, having at least a part of the body comprising a natural stone.




The scale may be a personal weighing scale at least part of the platform of which may comprise natural stone. This provides a hygienic scale.




A surface of the platform may suitably comprise natural stone.




Moreover, a base of the scale may comprise a natural stone. Thus a majority of the whole scale may be of natural stone.




The stone may be particulate and moulded to a desired shape with a binder, particularly a resin binder. This provides a relatively easily manufactured scale.




The natural stone may comprise granite, or a marble, or a durable slate.




The scale is suitably an electronic scale, which may include a housing including an LFD and a viowing lens. The lens may be elliptical.











A scale embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a scale according to the invention;





FIG. 2

is a side view of the scale of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a plan view with part of the top cut away to show the base;





FIG. 4

is a view from one end, partly in section along line A—A; and





FIG. 5

is an elevational view from the other end.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION




Referring to the drawings, there is shown a scale


1


, in the embodiment a personal weighing or bathroom scale, at least a part of the body


2


of which comprises a natural stone.




The body


2


comprises a base


3


and a platform


4


which is designed to reciprocate substantially vertically with respect to the base


3


when a user stands on it to operate a weight sensing mechanism or device


5


so that the weight of the person can be read.




In the embodiment, the platform


4


and base


3


are formed from a natural stone, the stone being any natural stone product through a granite, a marble or a durable slate material are generally preferred.




The stone can be carved, or sculpted to a desired shape, but in a preferred scale the stone product is particulate and is moulded to a preferred shape with a binder such as a resin binder.




The base


3


has feet


6


for setting down on a support surface such as a floor. One foot


6


′ is hollow and houses electronic circuitry and the mechanism


5


such as a piezo-electric mechanism which on application of a weight displays that weight via an LED


7


which is viewed through an elliptical lens


8


in a housing


9


at one end of the scale


1


. The housing


9


is of generally meniscus shape in section, as seen in FIG.


2


.




The platform


4


, being of stone is hygienic, has a comfortable “feel”, and a pleasing natural aesthetic look.




It will be understood that only a surface of the platform may be stone, which may be applied to and secured to a non-stone underlying part of the platform.



Claims
  • 1. A scale comprising a body having a platform, wherein said platform and body comprise, at least in part, a natural stone, wherein said stone is particulate and moulded to a desired shape with a binder.
  • 2. A scale according to claim 1, comprising a personal weighing scale at least part of the platform of which comprises natural stone.
  • 3. A scale according to claim 1, a surface of the platform comprising natural stone.
  • 4. A scale according to claim 2, a base thereof comprising a natural stone.
  • 5. A scale according to claim 1, wherein the binder comprises a resin.
  • 6. A scale according to claim 1, the natural stone comprising granite.
  • 7. A scale according to claim 1, the natural stone comprising a marble.
  • 8. A scale according to claim 1, the natural stone comprising a durable slate.
  • 9. A scale according to claim 1 comprising an electronic scale.
  • 10. A scale according to claim 9, a housing including an LED and a viewing lens.
  • 11. A scale according to claim 10, the lens being elliptical.
  • 12. A scale comprising a body having a platform, wherein said platform and body comprise, at least in part, a natural stone, wherein said stone further comprises a majority of said body.
  • 13. A scale according to claim 12, wherein the body further comprises a surface of natural stone and a base of natural stone.
  • 14. The scale according to claim 12, wherein the stone is particulate and molded to a desired shape with a binder.
  • 15. The scale according to claim 14, wherein the binder comprises a resin.
  • 16. The scale according to claim 12, wherein the natural stone comprises granite.
  • 17. The scale according to claim 12, wherein the natural stone comprises marble.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
9926535 Nov 1999 GB
US Referenced Citations (5)
Number Name Date Kind
3187826 Traff Jun 1965 A
4800973 Angel Jan 1989 A
4844189 Shisgal et al. Jul 1989 A
5606126 Glenville Feb 1997 A
5886302 Germanton et al. Mar 1999 A
Foreign Referenced Citations (4)
Number Date Country
2 426 892 Dec 1979 FR
603210 Jun 1948 GB
1192170 May 1970 GB
WO 0049375 Aug 2000 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry
“426 Nickel Bahroom Scale Scale Hampshire-Designer Granite” <http://www.earthcommerce.com/cgi-win/dream55.exe/˜p999000162011> copyright 1999.