Improvements in Weighing Scales.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Weighing Scales.
I, ESSINGTON NUELL GILFILLAN, of No. 1937 Deming Court, Chicago, County
of Cook, and State of Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to and is designed as an improvement on that class of
scales or balances more particularly employed for weighing letters and mail matter,
in which the scale pan is supported above the scale plate or dial.
In letter scales or balances it is desirable that the pan be arranged above all the
other mechanism so that there may be no restrictions as to the dimensions of
the package or matter that may be supported thereon for weighing.
The primary object of my invention therefore is to preserve the desirable superposed
arrangement of the scale pan as heretofore, and reduce the amount of friction created
by depressing the scale pan, to the minimum and to a certainty; and in addition to
this to so curve and arrange the scale plate that it will be in a convenient position for
reading without requiring the user to stoop or to raise the scale to the level of his
face, and at the same time to keep the height and length of the scale within the
minimum dimensions.
My invention also has for its object to improve and simplify the construction
generally and to reduce the number of necessary parts.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in the
construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved spring balance or scale with the scale pan
removed;
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;
Figure 3 is a front view with the scale pan and part of its support broken
away,
and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device on a smaller scale.
Like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
In carrying out my invention I employ an upright curved or bowed scale plate and
I mount the index or pointer on one of a pair of parallel spring actuated pivoted
arms whose free or swinging ends are connected to and supported by the stem of the
scale pan, and which in turn hold such stem in an upright or vertical position,
the graduated scale plate being bowed on an are concentric with the arc described by
the said pivoted arm to which the index is secured.
A represents the graduated scale plate having the graduations or other desired
scales indicated thereon in vertical rows or columns. In practice I prefer to have
the index cr pointer B rise and fall along a central line on the scale plate and
indicate the graduations representing weight, on one side while those representing the
various classes of mail matter or articles to be weighed, such as newspapers, books
and circulars, letters, merchandise etc., and the amount of postage required thereon,
are indicated on the other side, the index being double pointed so as to point to the
graduations on both sides at once, as shown, and it being of course understood that
the various classes of mail matter referred to are indicated in the spaces a¹ at the

page_text: top of the columns a", while the amount of postage is indicated in the spaces of such
columns a¹¹.
The graduated scales may be printed or indicated on a separate piece and afterwards
slipped into and held in place by guide flanges or beads C formed along the side and
bottom edges of the curved or bowed back plate C, the latter being secured to the
forward members D of the frame by means of screws or rivets c as shown in dotted
lines in Figures 2 and 3, and the screws being concealed by the front plate A upon
which the graduations are indicated.
The inside frame of the device is preferably a skeleton structure constructed
preferably of pressed steel or brass and composed of the forward members D, the
bottom rectangular portion D' which constitutes the base or pedestal of the device,
the rear standards D and the horizontal top portions D³, connected together by cross
members D, D; all if desired being cast in one piece. The sides and top are closed
by plates De D' secured to skeleton frame by screws or other suitable means.
The parallel arms E, F, are substantially U-shape and have their rear extremities
pivoted on rods or pins G extending between the standards D' of the frame, while
their swinging or inner ends are pivoted to and supported by the stem I of the scale
pan J, the stem I in turn being supported by the coil spring K which depends from
an adjustable bar I passing through the cross member D of the frame and being
supported thereon by the nut 1, the connection between the spring and stem I
being effected by providing the lower end of the stem with a crook or bend i
through a perforation in which one of the convolutions of the spring is passed.
The stem and the spring K are arranged between the side members of the
arms E, F, such members being a sufficient distance apart to permit the upper arm
to descend without striking against or interfering with the spring. The pivotal
connection between the stem I and arms E, F, may be effected by means of transverse
rods or pins e.
The lower one F, of the pivoted arms is provided at its inner end with an
extension upon the extremity of which the index or pointer B is secured, the
scale plate A as well as the plate C being provided with a vertical slot M for
the passage of such extension, and the extension f being bent upwardly as shown
in Figure 2 in order to hold the index in proper position with reference to the
graduations on the scale plate.
By this arrangement it will be seen that the scale pan J is held above the other
mechanism as heretofore so that there may be no danger of the matter placed
thereon coming into engagement with any obstructions while being weighed, and
that by bending the arm f upwardly at an angle to the arm F, I am enabled to
carry the index B to the extreme upper end of the curved scale plate without
carrying the arm and the scale pan to an extreure elevation, and at the same
time I am enabled to employ a spring of sufficient length without unduly increasing
the height of the frame upon which the spring is supported. And while this bend
of the arm F enables me to carry the index B to the extreme upper end of the
scale plate while keeping the lower end of the spring at a low elevation, it does
not prevent the index from descending sufficiently far to reach the lower end of
the scale, but permits the index to traverse that portion of the bowed scale plate
which is presented upward so that the user may read it conveniently without
stooping to the level of the device; whereas it is readily seen that should the
arm be a straight continuation of the arm F, the graduated scale in order to be
of sufficient length would have to be extended around the under side of the arc and
thus exclude the graduations from view.
I am aware that curved scale plates have been used in combination with oscillating
index arms but a scale of this kind is not the equivalent of my invention inasmuch as
the surface of my scale plate is curved or cylindrical whereas in said prior form the
said scale plate is simply curved in the plane of its surface and is necessarily used in
a vertical position and not in a position tipped or presented to the view of the user as
is my scale plate.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The herein described improvements in weighing scales having the scale plate
provided with a bowed or cylindrical surface in combination with the scale pan and
index arm constructed arranged and combined substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. The herein described improvements in weighing scales or balances having a
scale plate provided with a bowed or cylindrical surface having a slot therein; the
index arm projecting through the slot and carrying an index pointing to the characters
on opposite sides of the slot, representing weight and money respectively, the scale
pan connected with said index arm and means for yieldingly supporting said pan
and arm, all constructed arranged and combined substantially as herein shown and
described.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.