A load cell assembly, comprising: (a) a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window at least partially defined by a top beam on a top side of said load cell body and a bottom beam, said window transversely disposed through a long dimension of said body; (b) an adapter adapted to receive a vertical load, said adapter disposed on said top side of said load cell body, said adapter having a first end, distal to said spring element, and a second end, opposite said first end, proximal to said spring element, said adapter having an unloaded disposition and a loaded, depressed disposition, in which said second end is depressed with respect to said first end; (c) at least one strain-sensing gage, bonded to said spring element, said strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said spring element; and (d) an at least two-dimensional flexural member having at least a second cutout window (511,512), said second cutout window being transversely disposed through said long dimension of said body, said flexural member being mechanically associated with said spring element, said flexural member disposed along a flexural longitudinal section of said load cell body that is defined by a length of said second cutout window (511,512) along said long dimension, said flexural member being distally disposed, with respect to said spring element, distally along said long dimension of said body; wherein the adapter 0 is largely disposed within a hollow volume of the flexural member 510 and has a load receiving region located nearer to the spring element than is the distal end of the flexural member, whereby, in response to a downward force exerted on said adapter, the beams of said spring element assume a primary double-bending configuration having an at least partial double-bending behavior; and said flexural member assumes a secondary double-bending configuration having an at least partial double-bending behavior. (a) a load cell body including a spring element having a first cutout window at least partially defined by a top beam on a top side of said load cell body and a bottom beam, said window transversely disposed through a long dimension of said body; (b) an adapter adapted to receive a vertical load, said adapter disposed on said top side of said load cell body, said adapter having a first end, distal to said spring element, and a second end, opposite said first end, proximal to said spring element, said adapter having an unloaded disposition and a loaded, depressed disposition, in which said second end is depressed with respect to said first end; (c) at least one strain-sensing gage, bonded to said spring element, said strain-sensing gage adapted to measure a strain in said spring element; and (d) an at least two-dimensional flexural member having at least a second cutout window (511,512), said second cutout window being transversely disposed through said long dimension of said body, said flexural member being mechanically associated with said spring element, said flexural member disposed along a flexural longitudinal section of said load cell body that is defined by a length of said second cutout window (511,512) along said long dimension, said flexural member being distally disposed, with respect to said spring element, distally along said long dimension of said body; wherein the adapter 0 is largely disposed within a hollow volume of the flexural member 510 and has a load receiving region located nearer to the spring element than is the distal end of the flexural member, whereby, in response to a downward force exerted on said adapter, the beams of said spring element assume a primary double-bending configuration having an at least partial double-bending behavior; and said flexural member assumes a secondary double-bending configuration having an at least partial double-bending behavior.