Abstract:
The invention concerns a spring scale with two tubular housing parts enclosing a spring, which can be slid within one another telescopically, with play, but which are unable to rotate due to their cross-sectional shape.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The problem addressed by the invention is to create a spring scale with several readout scales, which can thus be used for different purposes. It can expediently assume the form of a scoop scale. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention achieves this goal with a spring scale having the special characteristics of patent claim 1. A particularly advantageous application results, if the spring scale is configured as a scoop scale and its readout scales are calibrated according to the calorie values of various foods. The scale can likewise be used as a calorie scale. The scales can also be calibrated in grams or in English units of weight, like the ounce. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     Illustrated in the enclosed drawing is an execution example of the invented article in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a spring scale in the form of a scoop scale; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross section along line II--II in FIG. 1, on a larger scale; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the scale portion of the scale in FIG. 1, enlarged, and 
     FIG. 4 shows a table. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 in which the elements are provided having like reference designates the spring scale, configured as a scoop scale, has an upper housing part 1, an outer, lower housing part 2 and a coil spring 3. The top of the upper housing part 1 is attached to a hook 11. The outer housing part 2 extends downward in the shape of a dipper arm 21 with a scoop 22. A first end of the spring 3 is attached to an internal surface of upper housing part 1, and the second end of spring 3 is attached to an internal surface of lower housing part 2. 
     The outer housing part is enclosed by a transparent hollow cylinder 4, marked with several readout scales calibrated at the periphery. This hollow cylinder can be rotated but is mounted on the outer housing part in such a way that it cannot be moved in the axial direction. The two flanges 23 and 24 serve to locate it. The lower flange 24 is integrally formed with the lower housing part 2. The upper flange 23 comprises a C-shaped collar which is adapted to fit over an upper portion of lower housing part 2, and thereby provides a stop to prevent the upper housing part 1 from extending away from lower housing part 2. 
     Mounted on the upper housing part 1 is an indicator blade 12 which projects through a lengthwise slot 25 in the outer housing part 2, which extends nearly up to the inner wall of the transparent cylinder 4. The indicator 12 is connected to the upper housing 1. Upper housing 1 has a flat front side which includes grooves 13 extending vertically on each edge of the flat side. A plate 14 is slidably held within grooves 13. Indicator 12 is integrally formed with the plate 14. 
     Displayed on the outer wall of the hollow cylinder are several different calibration scales. FIGS. 2 and 3 is an enlarged view of the readout portion of the spring scale. Nine different scales a, b, c . . . are available. One scale indicates the weight filled into the scoop in grams, another scale the weight in ounces. The remaining seven scales are subdivided into the calorie values of various food groups in kilojoules. To enable you to know which scale is to be used for which food group, a table 6 is used, like that shown in FIG. 4. This has great advantages. 
     People who submit to a diet, either of their own free will or by prescription, must know and take into account the calorie values of various foods. Available for that purpose is the table per FIG. 4, indicating the calorie value of various foods, for example, in kilojoules or kilocalories per unit of weight. Putting together a menu yourself on the basis of such a table requires considerable calculation work. 
     The user of the calorie scale needs only to glance at the table to see which group contains the food and to make the corresponding scale visible by rotating the cylinder 4. The scales are correspondingly numbered, as can be seen in FIG. 3. 
     Instead of subdividing the available scales as described above, it is also possible to calibrate them according to volume for bulk goods, like flour or rice or liquid with a different specific gravity. In cooking recipes the quantities are given in terms of the numbers of soup spoons, tablespoons or teaspoons. For technical purposes the scales can also be calibrated in terms of the number of pieces, for example, according to the number of screws, nuts, nails or tubular rivets. Because measurement in terms of pieces cannot be very exact, it is an option only for relatively cheap parts. 
     The indicator blade 12 is, as shown in FIG. 2, held by means of a plunger on the upper part 1. It can thus be moved during mounting for the purpose of adjustment or, respectively, setting to the zero value. Thus, the scale is zeroed by adjusting the plate 14 which includes indicator 12 to a zeroing position. The indicator 12 is moved with respect to the cylinder 4. 
     The table 6 (FIG. 4) needed for the use as a calorie scale can, for example, be hung up with it by means of a hook attachable to a wall, as this is illustrated in FIG. 1.