US4487276A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Scale of flat construction
Assignee: KCI Licensing Inc
•
Filing: 1983-05-03
•
Granted: 1984-12-11
•
Expires: 2003-05-03
Abstract
Abstract The scale is of limited height and utilizes Z-shaped flexures between the load frame and support frame. The scale can be placed in a hospital bed for weighing bed-ridden patients or for monitoring weight variations in bed-ridden patients. A cart is provided for transporting the scale from place to place and includes an inclined ramp from which the scale may be readily moved onto a bed.
Inventors
- 👤 Burt L. Swersey
- 👤 Peter I. Fried
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G21/00; G01G21/02; G01G21/07; G01G19/00; G01G19/44; G01G19/445; G01G21/22; G01G21/23; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/09
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A portable scale comprising a platform for receiving a load thereon, said platform having a depending peripheral skirt to define a substantially enclosed space; a load frame secured to said platform within said space; a support frame within said space for mounting the scale on a surface; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform, said flexure means including at least one Z-shaped flexure having a pair of flanges, one of said flanges being secured to said load frame and other of said flanges being secured to said support frame; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A portable scale comprising a platform for receiving a load thereon, said platform having a depending peripheral skirt to define a substantially enclosed space; a load frame secured to said platform within said space; a support frame within said space for mounting the scale on a surface; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform, said flexure means including at least one Z-shaped flexure having a pair of flanges, one of said flanges being secured to said load frame and other of said flanges being secured to said support frame; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A scale as set forth in claim 1 wherein said platform is made of plastic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A scale as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skirt has a height of approximately one inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A scale as set forth in claim 1 wherein said skirt has a height of approximately two inches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A scale as set forth in claim 1 wherein said platform is of elongated rectangular shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A scale as set forth in claim 5 wherein said platform has a raised wall along one side to provide an abutment for a bed-ridden patient thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
A scale as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means secured to said flexure means includes a torsion bar secured to said Z-shaped flexure for movement therewith during movement of said load frame relative to said support frame, a beam secured at one end to said torsion bar, a spring secured to and between said support frame and said beam for restraining motion of said beam and read-out means for indicating the amount of movement of said beam as a measure of the load on said platform.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A scale as set forth in claim 7 wherein said read-out means includes a digital display for displaying a digital value of the load on said platform.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A scale as set forth in claim 8 wherein said platform has a raised wall along one side with a window therein spaced above said digital display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
123 words
A portable scale comprising a platform for receiving a load thereon, said platform having a depending peripheral skirt to define a substantially enclosed space; a load frame secured to said platform within said space, said load frame including a pair of spaced flat sheets and a light-weight filler material between said sheets to define a structurally rigid construction; a support frame within said space for mounting the scale on a surface; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
123 words
A portable scale comprising a platform for receiving a load thereon, said platform having a depending peripheral skirt to define a substantially enclosed space; a load frame secured to said platform within said space, said load frame including a pair of spaced flat sheets and a light-weight filler material between said sheets to define a structurally rigid construction; a support frame within said space for mounting the scale on a surface; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A scale as set forth in claim 10 wherein said filler material is of honeycomb construction.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A scale as set forth in claim 10 wherein said sheets are made of aluminum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A scale as set forth in claim 10 wherein said load frame further includes a channel at each of two opposite ends secured to a respective flexure means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A scale as set forth in claim 13 wherein each flexure means includes a Z-shaped flexure having a pair of flanges, one of said flanges being secured to a respective channel of said load frame and the other of said flanges being secured to said support frame.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
117 words
A scale of limited height comprising a rectangular platform for receiving a load thereon and having a raised wall on one side to provide an abutment for a bed-ridden patient and a window in said wall; a load frame secured to said platform; a support frame; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform, said means including a digital display for displaying a digital value of the load for viewing through said window.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
117 words
A scale of limited height comprising a rectangular platform for receiving a load thereon and having a raised wall on one side to provide an abutment for a bed-ridden patient and a window in said wall; a load frame secured to said platform; a support frame; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform, said means including a digital display for displaying a digital value of the load for viewing through said window.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A scale as set forth in claim 15 which has a height in the range of from one inch to two inches.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A scale as set forth in claim 15 wherein said frames are each rectangular with said load frame disposed within said support frame and said flexure means includes a pair of Z-shaped flexures at two opposite sides of said frames for securing said frames together.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a scale, the combination comprising a load frame for receiving the weight of a load thereon; a support frame; and flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load imposing a weight on said load frame, said flexure means including at least one Z-shaped flexure having a pair of flanges, one of said flanges being secured to said load frame and the other of said flanges being secured to said support frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
91 words
In a scale, the combination comprising a load frame for receiving the weight of a load thereon; a support frame; and flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load imposing a weight on said load frame, said flexure means including at least one Z-shaped flexure having a pair of flanges, one of said flanges being secured to said load frame and the other of said flanges being secured to said support frame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 which further comprises a torsion bar secured to said Z-shaped flexure for movement therewith during movement of said load frame relative to said support frame, a beam secured at one end to said torsion bar, a spring secured to and between said support frame and said beam for restraining motion of said beam and read-out means for indicating the amount of movement of said beam as a measure of the load.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said Z-shaped flexure is made of spring steel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said frames are each rectangular with said load frame disposed within said support frame.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as set forth in claim 18 wherein said frames are disposed in horizontal planes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
122 words
A portable scale comprising a rectangular load frame having a pair of spaced sheets, a filler material between said sheets to define a rigid construction and a pair of channels between said sheets, each said channel being disposed at an opposite end of said frame from the other channel; a plastic cover secured to said load frame to define a load-receiving platform; a support frame for supporting said load frame; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
122 words
A portable scale comprising a rectangular load frame having a pair of spaced sheets, a filler material between said sheets to define a rigid construction and a pair of channels between said sheets, each said channel being disposed at an opposite end of said frame from the other channel; a plastic cover secured to said load frame to define a load-receiving platform; a support frame for supporting said load frame; flexure means securing said load frame to said support frame to permit movement of said load frame relative to said support frame in response to a load placed on said platform; and means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of the load placed on said platform.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
In combination, a movable cart having a frame, a ramp mounted on said frame at an inclined angle and a stop spaced from a lower end of said ramp; and a flat weighing scale of elongated shape slidably mounted on said ramp and abutted against said stop along a side thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
In combination, a movable cart having a frame, a ramp mounted on said frame at an inclined angle and a stop spaced from a lower end of said ramp; and a flat weighing scale of elongated shape slidably mounted on said ramp and abutted against said stop along a side thereof.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
The combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said ramp is of a height at an upper end to permit movement of said weighing scale thereover onto a bed for weighing of a patient in the bed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said ramp has a plurality of slides for sliding of said scale thereon.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
34 words
The combination as set forth in claim 24 wherein said frame is of skeletal structure and is recessed intermediately thereof along one side to permit access thereto for moving said scale from said ramp.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of weighing a bed-ridden patient comprising the steps of placing a scale of low profile on top of a bed and beside a bed ridden patient; placing the bed-ridden patient on the scale; and obtaining a read-out of the weight of the patient.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
45 words
A method of weighing a bed-ridden patient comprising the steps of placing a scale of low profile on top of a bed and beside a bed ridden patient; placing the bed-ridden patient on the scale; and obtaining a read-out of the weight of the patient.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of weighing a bed-ridden patient, comprising the steps of bringing a scale of low profile next to a bed; rolling a bed-ridden patient to one side; sliding the scale onto the bed; rolling the patient onto the scale; and reading out the weight of the patient on the scale.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of weighing a bed-ridden patient, comprising the steps of bringing a scale of low profile next to a bed; rolling a bed-ridden patient to one side; sliding the scale onto the bed; rolling the patient onto the scale; and reading out the weight of the patient on the scale.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
117 words
A portable scale for in bed weighing of a patient, said scale having a flat construction and contour with a height in the range of from about one inch to two inches and comprising an elongated platform for receiving a load; a support frame for mounting the scale on a surface; a flexure means supporting said platform on said support frame for movement in a manner to maintain said platform parallel to said support frame; second means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of a load placed on said platform; and a display connected to said second means within said platform for displaying a value of the load on said platform.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
117 words
A portable scale for in bed weighing of a patient, said scale having a flat construction and contour with a height in the range of from about one inch to two inches and comprising an elongated platform for receiving a load; a support frame for mounting the scale on a surface; a flexure means supporting said platform on said support frame for movement in a manner to maintain said platform parallel to said support frame; second means secured to said flexure means for producing a read-out of the weight of a load placed on said platform; and a display connected to said second means within said platform for displaying a value of the load on said platform.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A portable scale as set forth in claim 30 wherein said platform is contoured to receive a bed-ridden patient in a comfortable manner.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
28 words
A portable scale as set forth in claim 30 wherein said platform has a raised longitudinal wall along one side to provide an abutment for a bed-ridden patient.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
88 words
A portable scale as set forth in claim 30 wherein said second means includes a least one torsion bar secured to said flexure means at one end of the scale, a beam secured to one end of said torsion bar and extending along one side of the scale, a spring secured to and between said beam and said support frame for restraining motion of said beam and a read-out means for indicating the amount of movement of said beam as a measure of the load on said platform.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-12-11 | 1988-06-11 | 1988-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-11 | 1992-06-11 | 1992-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-11 | 1996-06-11 | 1996-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |