US4387777A — Calorie counting method and apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 95 words

Apparatus for determining the caloric content of an entire meal comprising: (a) a base support structure; (b) a common planar support structure adapted to support a plurality of food components of different caloric density and including means pivotally mounted on said base support structure; and (c) scale means connected to said pivotally mounted means at a point remote from said pivotal mounting thereof for weighing said plurality of food components which are positioned on said planar support structure, said scale means including means for indicating the total caloric content of said plurality of food components.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 95 words

Apparatus for determining the caloric content of an entire meal comprising: (a) a base support structure; (b) a common planar support structure adapted to support a plurality of food components of different caloric density and including means pivotally mounted on said base support structure; and (c) scale means connected to said pivotally mounted means at a point remote from said pivotal mounting thereof for weighing said plurality of food components which are positioned on said planar support structure, said scale means including means for indicating the total caloric content of said plurality of food components.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said planar support structure includes indicia corresponding to foods having different calories per gram, said indicia determining where said plurality of food components are to be positioned.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indicia corresponding to the lowest calories per gram is nearest said pivotal mounting and the indicia corresponding to the highest calories per gram is nearest said connection point.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 65 words

The apparatus of claim 1, which includes a plate adapted to be mounted on said planar support structure at a predetermined location thereon, said plate having parallel lines thereon indicating food positioning zones corresponding to food components of different calories per gram, said lines extending parallel to the pivot line of said planar support structure when said plate is positioned at said predetermined location thereon.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

The apparatus of claim 4, which includes interlocking means on said plate and said planar support structure for facilitating location of said plate at said predetermined location on said planar support structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 66 words

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said plate is provided with means defining a series of parallel zones extending at right angles to a line between said pivotal mounting and the point at which said scale means is connected to said plate support structure, the zones which are progressively farther away from said pivotal mounting being adapted to receive food of progressively higher calories per gram.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 24 words

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said plate is provided with demarcation lines in the surface thereof which define said series of parallel zones.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 4, which includes means for compensating for the weight of an empty plate or other food container positioned on said planar support structure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said compensating means includes a mechanical counterbalancing assembly connected to said planar support structure and including a movable member which may be adjusted to compensate for the weight of an empty plate or other food container on said planar support structure.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 117 words

The method of measuring the caloric content of an entire meal, which comprises the steps of: (a) arranging food on a plate in different parallel zones extending at right angles to a line connecting two opposite sides of the plate, the calories per gram of food placed in said different zones increasing from one side of the plate to the other; (b) placing said food carrying plate on a pivotally mounted member with the zone thereof corresponding to the least calories per gram being positioned adjacent the pivoted end of said member, and (c) weighing said food carrying plate by connecting a scale to said pivotally mounted member at a point remote from said pivoted end thereof.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 117 words

The method of measuring the caloric content of an entire meal, which comprises the steps of: (a) arranging food on a plate in different parallel zones extending at right angles to a line connecting two opposite sides of the plate, the calories per gram of food placed in said different zones increasing from one side of the plate to the other; (b) placing said food carrying plate on a pivotally mounted member with the zone thereof corresponding to the least calories per gram being positioned adjacent the pivoted end of said member, and (c) weighing said food carrying plate by connecting a scale to said pivotally mounted member at a point remote from said pivoted end thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 10, which includes the step of placing an empty plate on said pivotally mounted member and counter-balancing said member to compensate for the weight of said empty plate.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 10, which includes the step of indicating the total caloric content of the food on said plate based on the weight thereof as measured at said remote point on said member.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 124 words

The method of measuring the caloric content of an entire meal, which comprises the steps of: (a) arranging food on a plate in different parallel zones extending at right angles to a line connecting two opposite sides of the plate, the calories per gram of food placed in said different zones increasing from one side of the plate to the other; (b) placing said food carrying plate on a pivotally mounted member with the zone thereof corresponding to the least calories per gram being positioned adjacent the pivoted end of said member, and (c) weighing said food carrying plate by connecting a scale to said pivotally mounted member at a point adjacent the zone of said plate corresponding to the greatest calories per gram.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 124 words

The method of measuring the caloric content of an entire meal, which comprises the steps of: (a) arranging food on a plate in different parallel zones extending at right angles to a line connecting two opposite sides of the plate, the calories per gram of food placed in said different zones increasing from one side of the plate to the other; (b) placing said food carrying plate on a pivotally mounted member with the zone thereof corresponding to the least calories per gram being positioned adjacent the pivoted end of said member, and (c) weighing said food carrying plate by connecting a scale to said pivotally mounted member at a point adjacent the zone of said plate corresponding to the greatest calories per gram.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 102 words

The method of measuring the total caloric content of a combination of food components, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing food components of different caloric densities in different zones on a plate, said zones being spaced from one edge of said plate at distances corresponding to said caloric densities represented thereby; (b) placing said plate with said food components thereon on a pivotally mounted member with said one edge thereof adjacent the pivoted end of said member; and (c) weighing said food components by connecting a scale to said pivotally mounted member at a point remote from said pivoted end thereof.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 102 words

The method of measuring the total caloric content of a combination of food components, which comprises the steps of: (a) placing food components of different caloric densities in different zones on a plate, said zones being spaced from one edge of said plate at distances corresponding to said caloric densities represented thereby; (b) placing said plate with said food components thereon on a pivotally mounted member with said one edge thereof adjacent the pivoted end of said member; and (c) weighing said food components by connecting a scale to said pivotally mounted member at a point remote from said pivoted end thereof.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 14, which includes the step of indicating the total caloric content of said food components on said plate based on the weight thereof as measured at said remote point on said member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-06-13	1986-12-13	1987-06-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-06-13	1990-12-13	1991-06-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-06-13	1994-12-13	1995-06-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Calorie counting method and apparatus

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