Patent US3630172A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3630172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Diet reminder manikin
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-07-15
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Granted: 1971-12-28
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Expires: 1990-07-15
Abstract
Abstract A structure comprising a manikin enclosed in a suitable enclosure is capable of manipulation by the user each time that a number of calories of food or grams of carbohydrate has been consumed by the user. The manipulation may take the form of dropping balls into the hollow of the manikin, or releasing a small amount of colored liquid to flow into the manikin or moving a colored member to change the appearance of the manikin. In each case the manipulation is performed during the day in such degrees that normal food intake by the user with orthodox manipulation will not result in any distortion or out-of-the-ordinary appearance of the manikin. An excess of manipulation on the other hand will make a visible change from the normal in the appearance of the manikin. This provides a reminder for the normal food consumption of the dieting user, but also provides a psychological reminder of the results of excess. For example, the manikin will appear bloated, or excessively colored, etc., if the user indulges in excess food and is religious in manipulating the manikin for each increment of intake.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcel Neumann
- 👤 Burton L Siegal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/0003; A61F5/0006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A diet control apparatus adapted to be carried by a user and manipulated incrementally by the user each time an equivalent incremental amount of diet material is consumed, said apparatus comprising: A. portable support mEans having a transparent manikin associated therewith, B. means for changing the interior appearance of said manikin in a gradual, visible manner from first to second contrasting aspects, and C. operating means capable of being manipulated incrementally by the user to operate said changing means, said operating means being reversible, whereby the user may manipulate said operating means throughout a given period of time for each incremental amount of diet material consumed and leave a continuous visual indication of relative amount consumed compared to amount required totally to change the interior appearance of said manikin from first to second aspects, and may reverse the operating means when desired to change the interior appearance from at least partially second to first aspects.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A diet control apparatus adapted to be carried by a user and manipulated incrementally by the user each time an equivalent incremental amount of diet material is consumed, said apparatus comprising: A. portable support mEans having a transparent manikin associated therewith, B. means for changing the interior appearance of said manikin in a gradual, visible manner from first to second contrasting aspects, and C. operating means capable of being manipulated incrementally by the user to operate said changing means, said operating means being reversible, whereby the user may manipulate said operating means throughout a given period of time for each incremental amount of diet material consumed and leave a continuous visual indication of relative amount consumed compared to amount required totally to change the interior appearance of said manikin from first to second aspects, and may reverse the operating means when desired to change the interior appearance from at least partially second to first aspects.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means for changing the interior appearance of said manikin comprise a plurality of uniformly sized balls, said support means including a ball dispenser and a manikin holder secured to said ball dispenser, the manikin being freely suspended within said holder and having an opening to said ball dispenser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said ball dispenser comprises a ball chamber for holding said balls, a passageway leading axially from said chamber to the opening in said manikin, said chamber having a sloped floor terminating at said passageway, and stop means provided in said passageway to prevent balls from falling into said manikin except upon operation of said apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said stop means comprise a stop member laterally arranged in said passageway, said stop member having an end normally blocking passing of said balls.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said operating means comprise a plunger centrally arranged in said ball dispenser coaxial with said passageway for telescopic engagement in said passageway whereby when said plunger is depressed it will force one ball at a time past said stop member to drop into said manikin.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said stop means include a spring member mounted external of said ball dispenser, said spring member and stop member having cooperating means to retain said stop member in unblocking condition of said passageway to permit said balls to be returned to said ball dispenser from said manikin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which said cooperating means comprise a groove in said stop member and a tang on said spring member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said support means comprise a first cylinder and a second cylinder telescopically arranged in said first cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said second cylinder has said manikin applied to the wall thereof with the opposite portion of said cylinder wall being opaque, a central noncylindrical post arranged within said second cylinder, a threaded tubular member of color contrasting with that of said opaque wall disposed within said first cylinder and having an opening in mating engagement with said post whereby when said cylinders are rotated one relative the other, said tubular member will move behind the manikin to color the same.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said first cylinder has a fluid chamber with means for expressing fluid therefrom, said second cylinder having said manikin suspended therein, the manikin having an opening to said fluid chamber whereby upon rotation of said cylinders one relative the other, said fluid will be expressed into said manikin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said means for expressing fluid comprise a piston and said fluid chamber opens to an air chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
83 words
A diet control apparatus comprising, a base cylinder, said base cylinder having a transparent manikin of predetermined volume carried therein and visible therethrough, a second cylinder connected to said first cylinder, meter-indicating means operative from saId second cylinder for moving media into said manikin to change the appearance thereof from normal to abnormal, said meter-indicating means being capable of selective operation incrementally for gradual change of the manikin appearance, said meter-indicating means being reversible to return the appearance of said manikin to normal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A diet control apparatus comprising, a base cylinder, said base cylinder having a transparent manikin of predetermined volume carried therein and visible therethrough, a second cylinder connected to said first cylinder, meter-indicating means operative from saId second cylinder for moving media into said manikin to change the appearance thereof from normal to abnormal, said meter-indicating means being capable of selective operation incrementally for gradual change of the manikin appearance, said meter-indicating means being reversible to return the appearance of said manikin to normal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said manikin is hollow and said media is adapted for insertion into said manikin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which said media is a plurality of balls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which said media is a fluid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which said manikin comprises a transparent form on the wall of said base cylinder and said media is a colored tubular member adapted for movement behind said manikin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-27 | 1975-06-28 | 1975-12-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-27 | 1979-06-28 | 1979-12-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-27 | 1983-06-28 | 1983-12-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |