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Patent Abstract
The invention includes a device for and a method of weighing. A
device according to the invention is a hand truck having weight
sensors in each toe-portion. A method according to the invention
uses such a hand truck to provide a weight signal corresponding
to the weight of an object on the hand truck.
Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A hand truck comprising: a first toe-portion having a first
roller and a first weight sensor; a second toe-portion having a
second roller and a second weight sensor; a bulkhead connecting
the first toe-portion and the second toe-portion, and having a third
roller.
2. The hand truck of claim 1, further comprising a third weight
sensor mounted to the bulkhead.
3. The hand truck of claim 2 further comprising a third weight
sensor mounted to the third roller.
4. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein the first roller has an axel
and a wheel disposed about the axel, and the first weight sensor
is mounted to the axel.
5. The hand truck of claim 1, wherein the third roller has an axel
and a wheel disposed about the axel, and wherein the hand truck
further comprises a third weight sensor mounted to the axel.
6. The hand truck of claim 1, further comprising a handle joined
to the third roller, and the third roller is capable of swiveling
in response to changes in a position of the handle.
7. The hand truck of claim 1, further comprising a microprocessor
in communication with the weight sensors and capable of receiving
a weight-sensor-signal from at least one of the weight sensors,
the weight-sensor-signal corresponding to a weight sensed by the
corresponding weight sensor.
8. The hand truck of claim 7, wherein the microprocessor is capable
of determining a sum, the sum being determined by adding the weight
sensed by the first weight sensor and the weight sensed by the second
weight sensor.
9. The hand truck of claim 8, further comprising a display in communication
with the microprocessor, and the microprocessor is further capable
of providing a sum-signal to the display, and the display is capable
of providing information corresponding to the sum-signal to a person.
10. The hand truck of claim 1, further comprising a display in
communication with at least one of the weight sensors, the display
being capable of receiving a weight-sensor-signal corresponding
to a weight sensed by the at least one of the weight sensors, the
weight-sensor-signal corresponding to the weight sensed by the at
least one of the weight sensors, and the display is capable of providing
information corresponding to the weight-sensor-signal.
11. A method of weighing, comprising: providing a hand truck having
a first toe-portion, a second toe-portion and a bulkhead connecting
the first toe-portion and the second toe-portion, each toe-portion
having a weight sensor mounted thereon; placing an object on the
hand truck; receiving at least one weight-signal from at least one
of the weight sensors; displaying information corresponding to the
weight signal.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein a weight-signal is received
from all the weight sensors, the displayed information is a number
corresponding to a sum of weights indicated by the weight-signals.
Patent Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
provisional patent application serial No. 60/418,131, filed on Oct.
12, 2002, now pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to devices and methods of
weighing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Hand trucks are used to move objects from one location to
another. Often, a hand truck will be used to lift a pallet, on which
may be placed a heavy object, and move the pallet to a desired location.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic representations of a prior art hand
truck. Typically, a hand truck 8 has two toe portions 10A, 10B each
having a roller 13. Each roller 13 often has bearings disposed about
an axle and one or more wheels 16. Sometimes, a wheel 16 will be
a metal cylinder. The bearings allow the wheel 16 to rotate about
the axle and also support the weight of an item supported by the
hand truck 8. Such hand trucks 8 also typically have a third roller
14, which may be used to guide the hand truck 8 in a desired direction,
and support the weight of an item supported by the hand truck 8.
The guide roller 14 can be turned by a handle 19, in order to guide
the hand truck 8 in a direction desired by the operator.
[0004] Some hand trucks 8 have a hydraulic cylinder, which may
be used to raise and lower the toe portions 10A, 10B. If the toe
portions 10A, 10B are inserted into a pallet, the operator may raise
the pallet by pumping the handle 19 attached to the hydraulic cylinder.
The handle 19, guide roller 14 and cylinder may be connected to
a support structure. Often, the support structure is referred to
as a "bulkhead" 22.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention includes a hand truck having a first toe-portion,
a second toe portion and a bulkhead. The first toe portion has a
first roller and a first weight sensor. The second toe portion has
a second roller and a second weight sensor. The bulkhead connects
the first toe-portion and the second toe-portion, and the bulkhead
has a third roller.
[0006] The invention also includes a method of weighing. A hand
truck may be provided, and an object may be supported by the hand
truck. A weight sensor in the a toe portion of the hand truck may
provide a weight-signal, and a weight corresponding to the weight-signal
may be displayed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of
the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed
description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a hand truck;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hand truck depicted in FIG.
1;
[0010] FIG. 3A depicts a roller according to the invention;
[0011] FIG. 3B depicts another roller according to the invention;
[0012] FIG. 4 depicts a hand truck according to the invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a schematic of a system according to the invention;
and
[0014] FIG. 6 is flow chart of a method according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, an
embodiment of the invention is a hand truck 8, which may include
a first toe-portion 10A, a second toe-portion 10B and a bulkhead
22. The bulkhead 22 may connect the first toe-portion 10A and the
second toe-portion 10B. The first toe-portion 10A may have a first
roller 13 and a first weight sensor 25. The second toe-portion 10B
may have a second roller 13 and a second weight sensor 25. The bulkhead
22 may have a third roller 14. The bulkhead 22 may also have a third
weight sensor 25. If the third weight sensor 25 is provided on the
bulkhead 22, a weight sensor 25 on the third roller 14 may not be
needed. A Wheatstone bridge may serve as one or more of the weight
sensors 25.
[0016] With reference to FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 4, any of the
rollers 13, 14 may have an axel 28 and a wheel 16 disposed about
the axel 28. Bearings 31 may be used to support the axel 28, for
example with the toe portion 10 or bulkhead 22, as the case may
be. The wheel 16 may rotate about the axel 28 and also support some
or all of the weight of an object supported by the hand truck 8.
In such an arrangement, the weight sensor 25 may be arranged so
as to sense the weight carried by the axel 28. For example, the
weight sensor 25 may be mounted to the axel 28. A weight sensor
25 may also be placed on the bulkhead 22. See FIG. 4.
[0017] A hand truck 8 according to the invention may have a handle
19 joined to the third roller 14, for example via a mechanical linkage.
The third roller 14 may be capable of swiveling in response to changes
in a position of the handle 19. For example, if the handle 19 is
moved to the left of the bulkhead 22, the third roller 14 turns
left.
[0018] A device according to the invention may have a microprocessor
34 in communication with the weight sensors 25. See FIG. 5. The
microprocessor 34 may be capable of receiving a weight-sensor-signal
from one or more of the weight sensors 25. The weight-sensor-signal
may correspond to the weight sensed by the corresponding weight
sensor 25. For example, the weight-sensor-signal may indicate the
weight supported by the structure to which the weight sensor 25
is attached. The microprocessor 34 may be capable of determining
a sum, which may be determined by adding the weight sensed by the
first weight sensor 25 and the weight sensed by the second weight
sensor 25, and any other weight sensors 25. In this manner, a total
weight carried by the hand truck 8 may be determined.
[0019] The hand truck 8 may include a display 37, such as a liquid
crystal display or light emitting diode display. The display 37
may be in communication with the microprocessor 34, which may provide
a sum-signal to the display 37. Upon receiving the sum-signal, the
display 37 may provide a person with information corresponding to
the weight being carried by the hand truck 8 and sensed by the weight
sensors 25. The microprocessor 34 and display 37 may also cooperate
to provide a person with information corresponding to the weight
being sensed by one of the weight sensors 25, or the sum of the
weight being sensed by any combination of the weight sensors 25.
[0020] In a method according to the invention, the weight being
carried by a hand truck, or a portion of the hand truck, may be
determined. Referring to FIG. 6, in such a method a hand truck 100
is provided. The hand truck may have a first toe-portion, a second
toe-portion and a bulkhead, which connects the first toe-portion
and the second toe-portion. Each toe-portion may have a weight sensor
mounted thereon. An object may be supported 103 by the hand truck.
Each weight sensor may produce 106 a weight-signal, which corresponds
to the weight being supported by that portion of the hand truck
associated with the weight sensor. Each weight-signal may be received
109, for example by a microprocessor. The microprocessor may provide
112 an information-signal to a display in order to cause the display
to provide 115 information corresponding to at least one of the
weight signals. The information provided by the display may be a
number representing the weight corresponding to a sum of weights
indicated by the weight-signals.
[0021] Although the present invention has been described with respect
to one or more particular embodiments, it will be understood that
other embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Hence, the present
invention is deemed limited only by the appended claims and the
reasonable interpretation thereof. |