GB2205169A - Spring balance - Google Patents

Abstract

A spring balance adapted to provide multiple scale readings comprises an elongated tubular body 12 having a longitudinally extending bore of circular cross section, and an elongated scale member 14 longitudinally slidably engaged to the tubular body, the scale member having several faces 18 each provided with different scale indicia 16. One end of the scale member extends through an aperture 26 of the tubular body and is provided with a ring member 22. The other end of the scale member is provided with projecting means 30, 32, to which one end of a spring 28 is needed. Member 50 holds the opposite end of the spring in a fixed position relative to the tubular body, and is retained by a detachable cap 52. A hook 20 is provided on the cap. <IMAGE>

Description

SPRING BALANCE The present invention relates to a spring balance and in particular to a spring balance adapted to provide multiple scale readings.

It is an object of the present invention to p-,Gvi'e a novel sprung balance whictl ls rüa2ted ts provide multiple scale readings so that a user may choose his or her own desired scale or readily convert one scale from the other.

According to the present inventlon, there is provided a spring balance comprising an elongated tubular housing or body having a longitudinally extending bore of generally circular cross section, an elongated scale member longitudinally slidably engaged to the tubular body within the bore, the elongated scale member has more than one surfaces provided thereon, each having different scale indicia imprinted thereon, one end of the elongated scale member extends through an aperture of the tubular body at a first end thereof and is provided with a ring member, the other end of the elongated scale member is provided with projecting means, spring means having a first end and a second end, the first end of the spring means is connected to the other end of the elongated scale member, spring support means for holding the second end of the spring means in a fixed position relative to the tubular body, a cap means detachably fitted to the tubular body for holding the spring support means in a fixed position at the second end of the tubular body, and a hook means provided on the cap means for mounting of objects to be weighed thereon.

Spring balances constructed in accordance with the iilv ntiorl will now be de,crìbedf by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the spring balance according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the spring balance in Figure 1 in a ready-to-weigh position.

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the spring balance in Figure 1 with the spring means in a stretched condition.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the elongated scale member showing scale indicia imprinted thereon at two surfaces thereof.

Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of the spring support means for supporting a free end of the spring means.

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken generally along line X-X of Figure 2 showing the cross section of the elongated tubular body and the scale member.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a second embodiment of the spring balance- having an elongated scale member of triangular cross section.

Figure 8 is a framentary perspective view of a third. embrtlimF~t or tn pring balance hiving an elongated scale member of pentagonal cross section.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the several views, Figure 1 shows a spring balance designated generally by reference numeral 10. The spring balance 10 comprises an elongated tubular housing or body 12. Slidably engaged to the tubular body 12 is an elongated scale member 14 having, according to the preferred embodiment, a square cross section. Different scale indicia 16 are imprinted on different surfaces 18 of the elongated scale member 14 allowing a user to choose his or her own desired scale or readily convert one scale to another scale.

In view of the fact that four surfaces are provided on the scale member 14, it is contemplated that up to four different scales may be employed.

An access hole 26 is provided at the upper end of the tubular body 12 and is adapted to have at least a portion of the scale member 14 extending therethrough. The access hole 26 has a configuration conforming to and slightly larger than that of the cross section of the. scale member 14 such that the scale member 14 can pass through the access hole 26 in a smooth manner.

A ring 22 is mounted through an aperture 24 provided at an end of the elongated scale member 14 extending thrVo h the tubular body 12 sllch that the spying balance 10 can be held in place by means of, for example, a finger of a user in the course of weighing.

Figure 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view of the spring balance 10 of Figure 1, showing the detail structures of the spring balance 10 in a ready-toweigh position. This is the position where the spring balance 10 is being held vertically in the air through the ring 22.

It can be seen that a spring 28 is positioned within the tubular body 12 at a lower portion thereof and is wound about a lower portion of the scale member 14.

A first projection 30 extends laterally from a surface of the scale member 14 at the lower end thereof and a second projection 32 extends laterally from an opposite surface of the scale member 14 at the lower end thereof.

These first and second projections 30, 32 are adapted to have one end of the spring 28 secured at the lower end of the scale member 14. This is achieved by having a section of the spring 28 wound about the portion of the scale member 14 immediately above and contiguous with the lower end of the scale member 14 from which the first and second projections 30, 32 project in such a manner that the projections 30 and 32 are held firmly by the spring 28.

It can be seen that the plane of the first projection 90 is sped slightly apart from the 1an of ehe second projection 32. This renders a close and tight fitting of the spring 28 to the scale member 14.

Furthermore, the ends of the prqjections 30, 32 have curvatures closely conforming to that of the inner cylindrical wall of the tubular housing 12 such that sideward displacement of the scale member 14 relative to the tubular housing is prevented (see Figure 6).

The other free end of the spring 28 is bent outward to form a generally U-shaped end 34 and is adapted to be fixedly held at the lower end portion of the tubular body 12 by means of a spring support element 36. The spring support element 36 is generally circular in shape and has a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubular body 12. Two apertures 38, 40 are provided on the spring support element 36 and are spaced apart from each other (see Figure 5).

Apertures 38 and 40 are adapted to receive a first and a second generally vertical portions 42, 44 of the U-shaped free end 34 respectively.

A recess or groove 46 is provided on one side of the spring support element 35 intermediate the apertures 38 and 40 and is adapted to accommodate the generally horizontal portion 48 of the U-shaped free end 34 of the spring 28.

An annular stop portion 30 is provided as the circumferential portion of the spring support element 36 at one side thereof and is adapted to mate with the rim portion of the tubular body 12 thereby limiting upward movement of the spring support element 36 relative to the tubular body 12.

A cap 52 is threadingly fitted to the lower portion of the tubular body 12 and is adapted to hold the spring support element 36 in place, which is best shown in Figure 2. The cap 52 is provided at the inner surface thereof with a threaded portion 54 which is threadably engaged to a threaded portion 56 provided on the outer surface of the lower portion of the tubular body 12. This screw thread mechanism allows easy disassembly in case replacement of,; in particular, the spring 28 is required.

A hook 20 is, according to the preferred embodiment, provided integrally with the cap 52 for ready mounting of objects to be weighed thereon.

Figure 3 is a similar view to that of Figure 2 showing the spring 28 in a stretched position. It is understood that the spring balance 10 may be produced to possess a large range of load capacity depending on the size of the spring balance, in particular the capacity of the spring being used. In accordance with the present preferred embodiment, the length of the elongated scale member 14 is 118..-lm.and th -sxiru,n capacity is up to t.wc7.ve pounds, five kilograms or eight and a half catties.

Figure 4 depicts a perspective view of the elongated scale member 14. It is apprecíated that the zero marking for each of the scales selected is located at the same level on the scale member 14. This level is disposed in alignment with the plane of the top end surface of the tubular body 12 when the balancer 10 is in its ready-toweigh position.

When object to be weighed is loaded onto the hook 20 of the balance 10, weight of the object would force the tubular body 12 downward relative to the scale member 14 which is at that time being held in a steady position through ring 22 by means of the finger of a user or by other support means. This renders further extension of the scale member 14 from the tubular body 12 and reading of the scale from the marklngs imprinted on the portion of the scale member 14 extended from the tubular body 12.

Preferably, different colors are used for ready identification of different scales chosen.

Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view. taken generally along line X-X of Figure 2. It can be seen that the tubular body 12 has an annular cross sectional configuration whereas the elongated scale member 14 has a square cross sectional configuration.

The s;jng balance 30 is preferably I.r;3de of plastics material of a rigid structure and the spring 28 is preferably made of metal.

Although the elongated scale member 14 has been described as having a square cross section, it is contemplated that the scale member 14 may be of other cross section such as triangular, rectangular, pentagonal or polygonal cross section. Two further embodiments are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

Figure 7 shows a second embodiment of the spring balance 10. According to this embodiment, spring balance 10' is provided with an elongated scale member 60 of triangular cross section extending through an aperture 62 of a tubular housing 64 having a triangular configuration.

Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of the spring balance 10. According to the third embodiment, spring balance 10' 'comprises an elongated scale member 66 of pentagonal cross section extending through an aperture 68 of a tubular housing 70 having a polygonal configuration.

A further modification of the spring balances hereinbefore described may involve the material of the tubular body 12 used. For example, the tubular body 12, 64 or 70, or at least a portion thereof, may be made of t-ansparent material SO thc 3C 1eX-St 3 portion OL the scales on the elongated scale members 14, 62 or 68 are viewable from the outside at any time. This would enhance the variety and appearance of the balances 10, 10' and 10''. Furthermore, the scale indicia may be provided on the transparent portion of the tubular body instead of on the scale member.

While the present invention has been shown and described with particular reference to preferred embodiments thereof it should be noted that various other changes or modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. A spring balance comprising: (a) an elongated tubular body havingdfirst end and second end defining a longitudinally extending bore of circular cross section; (b) a, er .g-ted sa1r member longitvrdinally sildably engaged to said tubular body within said bore; (c) said elongated scale member having more than one surface; each having different scale indicia means provided thereon; (d) one end of said scale member extending through an aperture of said tubular body at the first end thereof and provided thereon with a ring member through which said spring balancer is supported in the course of weighing; (e) the other end of said scale member being provided with projecting means; r (f) spring means havingafirst end andasecond end; (g) the first end of said spring means being wound about said other end of said scale member and connected thereto by means of said projecting means; (h) means for holding the second end of said spring means in a fixed position relative to said tubular body; (i) a cap means detachably fitted to said tubular body at the second end thereof for holding said means in a fixed position; and (j) a hook means provided on said cap means for mounting of objects to be weighed thereon.

2. A spring balance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated scale member has a square cross section.

3. A- sprig blllce as claimcd n claim 1, wh-eln Ea.:3 elongated scale member has a rectangular cross section.

4. A spring balance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated scale member has a triangular cross section.

5. A spring balance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongated scale member has a Polygonal cross section.

6. A spring balance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means, defining a spring means support element, is in the form of a generally circular panel having two apertures provided thereon for receiving and securing the second end of said spring means, said means further comprises at the circumferential portion thereof an annular step portion for receiving the rim portion of the second end of said tubular body whereby upward movement of said means relative to said tubular body is prevented.

7. A spring balance as claimed in qlaim 1, wherein said cap means is threadably engaged to said tubular.body.

8. A spring balance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said different scale indicia means are further identifiable by colors.

9. A spring balance as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projecting means is defined by two projections extending laterally from two opposite surfaces of said scale member at the lower end thereof, the ends of said two projections having curvature conforming to that of the inner cylindrical wall of said tubular body whereby axial movement of said scale member relative to the tubular body is facilitated while sideward movement of the scale member relative to the tubular body is prevented.

10. A spring balance as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least a portion of said tubular body is of transparent material.

11. A spring balance as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said spring balancer is substantially of plasticsmaterial.

12. A spring balance as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said spring means is of natal.

13. A spring balance. substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

14. A spring balance subs.dntially as herein described with reference to, and a illustrated by, Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A spring balance substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A spring balance substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A spring balance having an elongate scale member with more than one scale provided thereon.