Kitchen or household weighing balance

A kitchen weighing balance has a scale carrier, rotatably adjustable about a vertical axis, which provides a dial face having therein a plurality of graduated scales for co-acting with an angularly movable weight indicator pointer visible through a transparent window. At least some of the graduated scales are grouped in radially spaced relationship in different angular segments of the dial face and are calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units or standard bulk volume units for different pre-selected groups of foodstuffs, and they can be selectively brought into co-acting relationship with the pointer, throughout the operative range of pointer deflection, by positional adjustment of the scale carrier. The scale carrier is a circular ring mounted on a circular base frame of the balance casing which protrudes radially with respect to an upstanding central tubular portion enclosing the weighing mechanism. A transparent circular cover member overlying the base frame provides the window and is spaced from the base frame by a circumferential gap giving access to the scale carrier for digital manipulation. The weighing mechanism includes a parallel motion leaf spring unit which co-acts with an intermediate lever member pivoted about a horizontal axis and having laterally directed integral gear teeth which mesh directly with a gear pinion driving the pointer about a vertical axis, the lever member being carried by a pre-set displaceable mounting block.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to weighing balances, particularly for kitchen or 
household use. 
One object of the present invention is to provide a weighing balance of the 
above-mentioned kind which is adapted specifically for weighing food in 
terms of "calorie" units or "bulk volume" units. In general, foodstuffs 
can be divided or classified into different groups, those in each group 
all having similar calorific values per unit weight or having similar bulk 
volume per unit weight. 
A further object is to provide an improved spring weighing mechanism for 
such weighing balances. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to one aspect of the present invention, a weighing balance has 
weight indicator means comprising a movable indicating point which co-acts 
with graduated scale means on a dial face of a scale carrier member. The 
pointer is operatively controlled by the weighing mechanism of the balance 
so as to be displaced from an initial zero applied load position to an 
extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance 
throughout the operational weighing range thereof. The graduated scale 
means comprises a plurality of different graduated scales extending in 
circular arcs covering different angular segments of said dial face. The 
scale carrier member is rotatably adjustable so as to enable the dial face 
to be moved and set to bring the different graduated scales in said 
different angular segments selectively into an operative position to 
co-act with the indicating pointer. The range of adjustable movement of 
the scale carrier member is at least sufficient to enable a zero marking 
of each graduated scale to be brought selectively into a position 
coincident with said initial zero applied load position of the pointer. 
The range is also sufficient to enable said zero marking of each graduated 
scale to be selectively advanced from the position coincident with the 
zero applied load position of the pointer up to a position adjacent or 
coincident with the position of the pointer when deflected by an applied 
load equal to the load corresponding to the maximum graduation reading of 
said respective graduated scale. Thus, any one of the graduated scales can 
be selected for use in co-acting with the pointer. Furthermore when using 
any selected graduated scale, re-zeroing adjustments can be made by 
rotating the scale carrier member to facilitate measurement of 
successively added loads throughout substantially the full operational 
weighing range appertaining to the particular said graduated scale in use. 
At least one of said different graduated scales is a "weight" scale 
calibrated in units of weight and other said different graduated scales in 
different said angular segments are each calibrated in weight equivalent 
units for a given group of foodstuffs having similar equivalent values. 
The weighing equivalent units for each different scale may be weight 
equivalent calorie units for a different given group of foodstuffs having 
similar calorific values; or they may be weight equivalent "volume" units, 
e.g. standard measures such as "cups" and "spoons", for a different given 
group of foodstuffs having similar density values, herein termed "standard 
volume" scales. 
At least one of the graduated scales may cover an angular segment of the 
dial face within a range of 150.degree. to 180.degree., and also, in 
preferred embodiments, the scale carrier member may be rotatably 
adjustable through an angle of 360.degree.. 
It will be understood that the term "angular segment" is used herein to 
denote an area of the dial face bounded by a pair of angularly disposed 
radii, and in a full circular disc dial face would be equivalent to a 
sector thereof. 
The facilitation of additive weighing, that is, the measurement of 
successively added loads, by means of the re-zeroing adjustment feature of 
the scale carrier member is particularly useful in preparing calorie 
controlled diets because it is frequently necessary to weigh and ascertain 
the weight equivalent calorific value of each of a number of different 
foodstuff ingredients when carrying out such preparative work. 
If there is not a "calorie" scale covering the foodstuff group which 
includes a particular foodstuff being weighed, the "weight" scale may be 
used and the calorific value would then be computed separately, by 
consulting published tables for example, from the actual weight reading 
obtained. But, for maximum convenience, the dial face of the scale carrier 
member should be provided with a plurality of "calorie" scales covering as 
many different foodstuff groups as possible. These different "calorie" 
scales may be arranged not only in different angular segments of the dial 
face but also as a group, in concentric radially-spaced relationship, 
lying within one angular segment or in each of a number of different 
angular segments of the dial face, thereby to assist in solving the 
problem of providing a sufficiently large number of different "calorie" 
scales to meet practical requirements upon a single dial face of a 
weighing balance of compact design. 
Similar considerations apply to providing a plurality of "standard volume" 
scales. 
The different graduated scales may be readily identified and distinguished 
one from another by using any desired visual coding means, such as coding 
symbols and/or colons. 
The weighing balance of weighing apparatus in accordance with the invention 
may also include various structural features which can be useful, for 
example, in facilitating assembly during manufacture and in providing for 
a wide range of angular adjustment of the scale carrier member and 
convenient manipulation thereof. In one advantageous form of construction, 
a circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing of the 
weighing balance extends around and below a central tubular portion 
surmounted by a telescopically movable weighing platform structure. The 
circular portion comprises a base frame of circular peripheral contour and 
an overlying separate cover member, also of circular peripheral contour. 
The cover member provides a transparent window through which the pointer, 
pivotally mounted to turn about a central vertical axis, is exposed to 
downwards viewing when the balance is in use. With this form of 
construction, the scale carrier member, in the form of a circular ring 
horizontally disposed in co-axial relationship with the pointer, is 
mounted upon said base frame. The peripheral portion of said scale carrier 
member fits with working clearance within a circumferential gap between 
opposed spaced-apart peripheral portions of the base frame and cover 
member which lie in mutually confronting relationship. The peripheral 
portion of the scale carrier member carries or is formed with digitally 
engageable means exposed outside the body structure or casing in order to 
facilitate the manual manipulation and adjustment of said scale carrier 
member. The digitally engageable means may comprise at least one radially 
protruding grip or handle element carried by the scale carrier member. 
In the above construction, conveniently the central tubular portion, in the 
form of a housing or boss, is a separate part which is detachably fixed to 
the base frame and which locates the cover member. The cover member may be 
a one-piece molding of transparent plastics material, and may have a 
truncated shallow substantially conical configuration. 
The weighing mechanism preferably comprises a leaf spring parallel motion 
unit mounted on the base frame. The balance includes "up stop" means to 
limit upwards movement of the leaf springs as a precaution against 
possible damage to the mechanism. The spring balance weighing mechanism is 
such that movement is transmitted from the parallel motion leaf spring 
unit to a movable weight indicator, which deflects angularly in a 
horizontal plane, by an intermediate lever member mounted so as to turn in 
a vertical plane. The intermediate lever member includes integral gear 
teeth which mesh directly with a gear pinion connection to the movable 
weight indicator for driving the latter. Means are preferably also 
included for facilitating initial adjustment and centering of a pivoted 
pointer type indicator.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
Referring to the drawings, the weighing apparatus illustrated therein 
comprises a weighing container in the form of a deep cut shaped circular 
bowl 30 and a weighing balance 40 having a body structure or casing 42 
enclosing weighing mechanism 11. 
The body structure or casing 42 comprises a circular or annular lower 
portion 44 and, upstanding therefrom, a cylindrical central portion in the 
form of a tubular housing or boss 6 over the upper end of which is fitted 
a hook-like weighing platform structure 1 adapted for telescopic up and 
down vertical movement. 
The circular or annular lower portion 44 protrudes radially with respect to 
the central tubular housing or boss 6 and is made up of a shallow 
cylindrical base frame 5 and an overlying separate cover member 2, molded 
of transparent plastics material, which has a truncated shallow 
substantially conical configuration. 
The cover member 2 thus forms an upwardly presented transparent window 
which exposes to downwards viewing a dial face 3 of a graduated scale 
carrier member 4 and the outer end portion of a complementary indicating 
pointer 23 which together provide the weight indicator means of the 
balance. 
The lower portion 44 of the body structure or casing of the balance also 
provides a seating which supports the bowl 30, by engagement with a rim 
portion thereof, when the bowl is fitted in an inverted out-of-use 
condition over the balance so as to serve as a cover, as indicated in FIG. 
1. The seating is formed by the upper surface of the outer peripheral 
portion 46 of the cover member 2 which has a stepped configuration adapted 
to interengage and locate with the rim portion 32 of the bowl 30 which 
rests thereon. As shown, the rim portion 32 has a deep peripheral flange 
33, spaced from the main wall of the body of the bowl, which provides a 
wide U-shaped channel profile and which protrudes so as to interlock with 
the stepped configuration of the seating 46 thereby to restrict lateral 
displacement of the inverted bowl. 
In use, the bowl 30 is, of course, utilized in an upright condition and, 
during weighing, stands upon the top of the weighing platform structure 1. 
The base of the bowl is fitted with a rubber ring 31 to improve stability 
and non-slip characteristics when in its upright condition. 
The scale carrier member 4 is in the form of a horizontally disposed flat 
circular ring, of which the uppermost surface constitutes the dial face 3, 
co-axially arranged and rotatably mounted upon a flat horizontal surface 
48 of the base frame 5 beneath the transparent cover member 2. The base 
frame 5 includes an integral upstanding circular flange 49 which locates 
the ring of the scale carrier member 4 and forms a hub bearing about which 
it turns. 
The pointer 23 is mounted so as to turn, in a horizontal plane, about a 
central vertical pivotal axis and is operatively controlled by the 
weighing mechanism, as hereinafter more fully explained, so as to deflect 
angularly, from an initial zero applied load position, to an angular 
extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance 
throughout the operational weighing range thereof which, in this 
embodiment, corresponds to a pointer deflection of substantially 
180.degree.. For clarity, the pivot mounting of the pointer 23 and part of 
the weighing mechanism connected thereto has been omitted in FIG. 1, but 
as shown the horizontally extending outer end portion of the pointer 23 
lies closely above the dial face 3 of the scale carrier member 4. 
As best seen in FIG. 4, on the dial face 3 the scale carrier member 4 
carries a plurality of different graduated scales extending in concentric 
circular arcs for co-operating with the pointer 23. One of these graduated 
scales, indicated by the reference W, is calibrated solely in units of 
weight. In this example, this "weight" scale W has a weight range of 0 to 
3 kilograms and it covers an angular segment of the dial face ranging 
through an angle which is only slightly less than 180.degree.. 
The other graduated scales, indicated by references A to H and W1, W2, W3, 
are all arranged in three different adjacent smaller angular segments, 
each of slightly less than 60.degree. angular range, which together cover 
most of the opposite remaining portion of the dial face 3. Each of these 
smaller angular segments contains three or four of the different graduated 
scales arranged as a set in concentric radially spaced relationship. As 
shown, the radially outermost scale W1, W2, or W3, in each such set is 
again calibrated in units of weight ranging from 0 to 1 kilogram, but the 
other scales therein form a group of "calorie" scales each calibrated in 
weight equivalent calorie units for a particular group of foodstuffs. All 
the "calorie" scales, both those in the same angular segment and those in 
different angular segments, differ from one another, each covering a 
different particular foodstuff group, and they are distinguished and 
identified by the series of individual alphabetical references or code 
letters A to H. 
Thus, with this arrangement, it is possible to display on a single dial 
face not only a "weight" scale covering an extensive direct weighing range 
up to 3 kilograms unencumbered by any other closely adjacent calibrations, 
but also a series of "calorie" scales covering eight different groups of 
foodstuffs and having each a weight range of one kilogram which is 
frequently quite sufficient in practice when preparing mixed diets. This 
arrangement can, however, readily be modified to include an even greater 
number of "calorie" scales, if desired. 
The peripheral portion of the scale carrier member or ring 4 fits with 
working clearance within a circumferential gap 52 between the undersurface 
of the outer peripheral portion 46 of the cover member and the opposed 
uppermost surface of the peripheral portion of the base frame 5 which lies 
in confronting relationship therewith. 
To facilitate manual manipulation and rotatable adjustment of the scale 
carrier member 4 it is provided with a pair of integral diametrically 
opposed radially protruding finger grip or handle projections 54a, 54b, 
which are exposed outside body structure or casing, and in this embodiment 
the scale carrier member can be rotated through a full 360.degree.. 
In use, before a load is applied to the balance, while the pointer 23 is in 
its initial zero load position, the scale carrier member 4 is rotated 
using one or another of the projections 54a, 54b, so as to bring into a 
position of coincidence with the pointer the zero marking of whichever 
graduated scale it is desired to use. After then weighing out in the 
weighing container bowl 30 a quantity of a first foodstuff material, 
either according to its actual weight value or according to its total 
calorific value as ascertained by using the appropriate "calorie" scale, a 
quantity of a second different foodstuff material can be added and weighed 
successively after turning the scale carrier member to carry out a 
re-zeroing operation. Again, in re-zeroing, the zero marking of whichever 
graduated scale it is desired to use for the second ingredient, whether it 
be the main "weight" scale 50 or a "calorie" scale in an angular segment 
the same as, or different from, that of the graduated scale first used, is 
brought into a position coincident with the pointer in the position to 
which the pointer is deflected by the load of the first foodstuff 
ingredient. 
The above additive weighing sequence can clearly be repeated as many times 
as required, within the operational weighing range of the balance. The 
latter may conveniently be indicated by a suitable permanent marking or a 
non-adjustable additional "weight" scale on the transparent cover member, 
or on another part of the lower portion of the body structure or casing, 
showing the position of maximum permissible angular deflection of the 
pointer. 
If the total quantity of a particular foodstuff to be weighed out according 
to its total calorific value is greater than one kilogram so that it 
exceeds the range of an appropriate "calorie" scale, it will be seen that 
the foodstuff can be weighed out in two or more stages, using a quantity 
in each stage which does not exceed one kilogram and using the re-zeroing 
facility between successive stages. In general, with the graduated scale 
arrangement and layout shown and with the re-zeroing adjustment feature of 
the scale carrier member, the user is presented with a very versatile 
choice sufficient to cover a wide range of domestic food weighing 
requirements in a highly convenient manner. 
The central tubular housing or boss 6 is a separate part which is supported 
upon a number of circumferentially spaced integral seating portions 58 of 
the base frame 5 to which it is detachably fixed by screws 59. It also 
serves to locate the transparent cover member 2 which rests on the top of 
an upstanding part-circular extension 60 of the flange 49 of the base 
frame 5, a shallow bevelled circular rib 62 around the outer cylindrical 
surface of the housing or boss 6 abutting the top edge of the cover member 
2 as shown in FIG. 1. 
This manner of construction facilitates assembly of the balance. 
The weighing mechanism 11 comprises a parallel motion leaf spring unit 65 
which is made up of upper and lower spaced-apart parallel leaf springs 28, 
28, extending horizontally between interconnecting front and rear frame 
members, 26 and 29 respectively, which are formed as U-shaped metal 
pressings. 
The rear frame member 29 locates within slots 80 of an upstanding fixed 
pillar support 67 forming an integral part of a base frame 5 of the 
balance casing 42, and this frame member 29 is rigidly mounted upon and 
secured to said pillar support 67 by fixing screws 22. 
The front frame member 29 is rigidly secured, by locating studs 82 and 
fixing screw 27, to a carrier plate bracket 24 of inverted "L" shape, 
which is attached to the underside of, and supports, the weighing platform 
1 of the balance. Thus, in response to loads applied to the weighing 
platform, the leaf springs 28, 28 flex so that the front frame member 26 
moves up and down vertically together with the weighing platform. 
Through an intermediate lever member 15, the vertical movement of the front 
frame member 26 controls angular deflection in a horizontal plane of a 
pivoted indicating pointer 23, of which the outer end portion co-operates 
with a graduated scale extending through a circular arc on a horizontally 
disposed flat scale carrier ring 4 rotatably mounted in the balance 
casing. 
The pointer 23 is in the form of a wire finger and the inner end portion is 
fashioned into a loop of substantially rectangular configuration which 
clips into a groove formation 85 around a rectangular section carrier 
block portion 86 formed by an integral axial extension or boss of a gear 
pinion 14. 
The gear pinion 14 is supported, for rotation about a central vertical 
axis, by top and bottom bearing mountings 88 and 89 which are carried by a 
fixed mounting block 12. The top pinion bearing mounting 88 is provided by 
an apertured horizontally projecting lug which is integrally formed with 
the main hollow box-like body of the mounting block 12, but the bottom 
pinion mounting 89 is provided by a lower horizontal limb of a separate 
L-shaped bracket part 13 which clips into located position in the main 
body of the mounting block 12. These components are molded in plastics 
material and the top portion of the vertical limb of the bracket part 13 
fits into slots 90 and enters the interior recess 91 of the block 12 
wherein it is retained by snap engagement of a lip portion 92 with a 
shoulder 93 within said mounting block recess (see FIG. 7). Thereby, 
fitting of the pinion 14 during assembly is carried out very readily 
without requiring any special assembly tools. 
The lever member 15 is also carried by the mounting block 12 and is mounted 
thereon by trunnions 95, 95, for rotation in a vertical plane about a 
horizontal pivotal axis which lies in intersecting relationship with the 
vertical pivotal axis of the pinion. The lever member 15 is also a 
plastics molding which has a bell crank or quadrant form with two arms 97, 
98, extending at right angles to one another. The one arm 97, which 
projects downwards, is provided with an arcuate set of contrate gear teeth 
69 and forms a sector gear meshing with the gear teeth of the pinion 14. 
The other arm 98, termed the operating arm, projects forwardly in a 
substantially horizontal direction in operational use and abuttingly 
engages, through an integral laterally protruding plate-like lug 100, the 
capped inner end of an abutment screw 19 fitted in a cantilever arm member 
16 carried by the front frame member 26 of the leaf spring unit 65. 
The cantilever arm member 16 is provided by an elongate body, again of 
molded plastics material, which extends transversely behind the front 
frame member 26 and which is rigidly fixed to the latter at one side by a 
fixing screw 20 and an integral locating stud 102 of oval form that fits 
closely in a slot 104 of similar profile in the body of said frame member 
26. 
The screw 19 is fitted towards the free end of the cantilever arm member 16 
and extends substantially horizontally within the path of vertical 
movement of the lug 100 of the lever member 15. It can be adjusted axially 
by a tool engaged with its slotted head 109 which is accessible through an 
aperture 108 in front frame member 26, and its contact point with the 
lever operating arm 98 can thereby be moved towards or away from the 
pivotal axis of the lever member 15 so as to vary the lever ratio and 
provide a "range" adjustment. As shown, a plastic cap 17 is fitted on the 
inner contact end of the screw 19. 
A spring 112 serves to bias the lever member 15 to turn in a clockwise 
direction, as viewed in FIG. 6, and thereby ensures that abutting 
engagement is maintained between the arm 98 and screw 19. Thus, in 
operation, upon a load being applied to the weighing platform 1 causing 
the leaf spring unit to deflect so that the front frame member 26 moves 
vertically downwards in accordance with the magnitude of the load, the 
lever member 15 follows this movement, turning about its horizontal 
pivotal axis under the influence of the bias spring 112, and drives the 
pinion 14 through the sector gear teeth 69, thereby causing a 
corresponding deflection of the pointer 23 moving in a horizontal plane 
over the graduated scale of the scale carrier ring 4. 
For fine control of the initial zero load position of the pointer 23, the 
top of the front frame member 26 carries a screw 200 directed vertically 
so as to bear upon the upper surface of the cantilever arm member 16. 
Adjustment of this screw 200 thus enables a controlled thrust pressure to 
be applied to the cantilever arm member 16 causing it to yield or flex 
resiliently, sufficiently to displace slightly its free end in a downwards 
direction, thereby moving the abutment screw 19 a corresponding distance 
downwards. 
When assembled, the relative positioning of the lever member 15 and pinion 
14 is such that the sector gear arm 97 is slightly stressed so that it 
flexes laterally to apply a light resilient biasing pressure effective to 
maintain close meshing engagement of the gear teeth. This lateral flexing 
is permitted or promoted by a transverse groove formation 114 in the 
sector gear arm 97. 
It will be seen that the main body of the mounting block 12 is carried by 
an angle bracket 25 which is rigidly secured to the rear frame member 29. 
This angle bracket 25 is composed of metal and can be deformed slightly by 
bending which enables the precise position of the block 12 to be adjusted 
during assembly. This can be useful for fine adjustment of the pinion 14 
and pivotal axis of the pointer 23 to establish a truly concentric 
relationship with the graduated scale on the scale carrier ring 4. 
The weighing mechanism construction described is well adapted to provide a 
large angular range of deflection of the pointer 23, of the order of 
180.degree. or more if need be, with a high degree of linearity. Also, by 
avoiding use of more conventional rack and pinion drive means, there is a 
useful reduction in the number of friction points in the mechanism, and 
other features give various other practical advantages especially from an 
assembly and production aspect. 
In this embodiment, the front frame member 24 is formed with a short 
forwardly protruding arm 70 which can co-operate with a screw 74 fitted in 
a hole 116 of an overhanging integral lug formation 72 of the bars 6 of 
the complete balance, thereby to provide an "up-stop" to limit upwards 
deflection of the leaf spring unit which could otherwise result in damage 
to the mechanism if for example the balance is lifted by means of grasping 
the weighing platform 1, thereby reducing risk of damage to the weighing 
mechanism. 
The outer peripheral portion of the base frame 5 includes a short 
cylindrical depending skirt portion 76 formed with finger grip apertures 
77, 77, at two diametrically opposed positions. The skirt portion 76 also 
has three circumferentially spaced depending lugs 78 fitted with rubber 
feet 8 for stable support of the balance on an underlying supporting 
surface. 
It will, of course, be understood that, within the scope of the invention 
as defined in the appended claims, many variations and modifications can 
be made, if desired, in many specific detail features of the embodiment 
herein described by way of example, both in the particular form, 
arrangement and number of the graduated scales provided, and in the 
physical structure. Thus, for example, obviously the graduated scales 
could, if desired, all be marked directly upon the transparent window 
cover member 2 which could itself be mounted for rotatable adjustment so 
as thereby also to constitute the scale carrier member, the pointer being 
re-profiled if necessary to ensure a close co-acting relationship with 
said graduated scales on the cover member. As shown in FIG. 9, graduated 
scales of the dial face on the rotatable scale carrier can be calibrated 
in standard "cups" or "spoons", representing standard volume units for 
different groups of foodstuffs, with the same associated advantageous 
structure and arrangement as with the "calorie" scales.