초록 ▼

The present invention comprises a portable measuring vessel with a removably attached digital measuring device. The digital measuring device includes one or more load cells, one or more processors, an input unit, and an output unit. Preferably the input unit is one or more finger-actuatable switches

The present invention comprises a portable measuring vessel with a removably attached digital measuring device. The digital measuring device includes one or more load cells, one or more processors, an input unit, and an output unit. Preferably the input unit is one or more finger-actuatable switches and the output unit is a visual display, such as an LCD. The processor is connected to the input, output, load cell and power source, thereby making a convenient, portable and easily used product.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber capable of containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that is adapted to permit the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a base p

1. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber capable of containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that is adapted to permit the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a base portion removably mounted to the vessel;c. a hand-grippable handle portion removably mounted to the vessel; andd. a digital measuring component in at least one of the portions removably mounted to the vessel and including i. an input unit adapted to permit human users to input information about the food material in the chamber;ii. at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material in the chamber;iii. at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor and the input unit; andiv. an output unit connected to the processor to output human-perceptible information related to the mass of the food material in the chamber to the user. 2. The portable measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the mass sensor is a load cell. 3. The portable measuring device according to claim 2, further comprising a power source connected to the input unit, output unit and processor. 4. The portable measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the input unit, the output unit and the processor are located in the handle portion. 5. The portable measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the power source is mounted in a void in the handle portion with a cap removably mounted over the void to permit access to the power source. 6. The portable measuring device according to claim 4, wherein the digital measuring component is substantially waterproof, at least one gasket is disposed in a gap between the digital measuring component and the vessel to mitigate entrance of contaminants to the gap, and the base portion encloses the load cell and permits relative movement between the vessel and a surface upon which the vessel rests. 7. The portable measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the input unit further comprises a tare key that enables a user to zero the weight of the vessel alone. 8. The portable measuring device according to claim 7, wherein the input unit further comprises a mode key that enables a user to choose between different display modes and a unit key that enables a user to choose between units of mass. 9. The portable measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the load cell is located in the base portion. 10. The portable measuring device according to claim 9, wherein the load cell is substantially waterproof. 11. The portable measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to convert a mass measurement received from the load cell to a volumetric measurement according to information about the food material input to the input unit. 12. The portable measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the output unit comprises at least one display screen. 13. The portable measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the output unit comprises an audible mechanism for creating human-perceptible alerts. 14. The portable measuring device according to claim 6, further comprising a display portion of the output unit protruding from the handle between the hand-grippable handle portion and the vessel, thereby remaining visible to a user when the user's hand is gripping the handle. 15. The portable measuring device according to claim 14, wherein the input unit further comprises finger-depressible buttons protruding from the handle between the hand-grippable handle portion and the vessel, thereby remaining accessible to a user's thumb when the user's hand is gripping the handle. 16. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that permits the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a base portion removably mounted to the vessel;c. a hand-grippable handle portion removably mounted to the vessel; andd. a digital measuring component in at least one of the portions removably mounted to the vessel and including i. an input unit through which a human user inputs information about the food material in the chamber;ii. at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material in the chamber;iii. at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor and said input unit; andiv. an output unit connected to the processor to output human-perceptible information related to the mass of the food material in the chamber to the user. 17. A method of using a portable measuring device for food preparation, the method comprising: a. placing a food material in a chamber of a vessel defined by sidewalls and a floor, the sidewalls defining an open top through which the food material is placed into the chamber;b. removably mounting a handle portion to the vessel;c. removably mounting a base portion to the vessel;d. mounting a digital measuring component in at least one of the portions removably mounted to the vessel, the digital measuring component including i. an input unit through which a human user inputs information about the food material;ii. at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material;iii. at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor and said input unit; andiv. an output unit connected to the processor to output human-perceptible information related to the mass of the food material to the user;e. inputting information about the food material to the input unit;f. disposing the measuring device on a substantially horizontal surface;g. sensing the mass of at least the food material; andh. displaying at least one characteristic of the food material on the output unit. 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the processor calculating the volume of the food material in the chamber based upon the mass of the food material and the density of the food material, and the output unit displaying the volume of the food material. 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the digital measuring component is substantially waterproof, and further comprising submerging the portable measuring device in water for cleaning. 20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising separating the vessel from at least one of the portions. 21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising re-attaching the vessel to said at least one of the portions. 22. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber for containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that permits the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a hand-grippable handle portion removably mounted to the vessel, the handle portion including an input unit through which a human user inputs information about the food material;c. a base portion removably mounted to the vessel and mounted to the handle portion, the base portion including at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material;d. at least one processor mounted in one of the portions and connected to said at least one mass sensor and said input unit, said processor configured to calculate at least the volume of the food material; ande. an output unit mounted in one of the portions and connected to the processor to output to a user human-perceptible information related to the volume of the food material;wherein the vessel is configured for removal from, and replacement to, the handle portion and base portion, and, when the vessel is mounted to the handle and base portions, to permit a human hand gripping the handle portion to simultaneously lift the handle portion, the base portion and the vessel as a unified structure. 23. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber for containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that permits the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a hand-grippable handle portion removably mounted to the vessel;c. a base portion removably mounted to the vessel and mounted to the handle portion, the base portion including at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material;d. at least one processor mounted in one of the portions and connected to said at least one mass sensor, said processor configured to calculate at least the volume of the food material; ande. an output unit mounted in one of the portions and connected to the processor to output to a user human-perceptible information related to the volume of the food material;wherein the vessel is configured for removal from, and replacement to, the handle portion and base portion, and, when the vessel is mounted to the handle and base portions, to permit a human hand gripping the handle portion to simultaneously lift the handle portion, the base portion and the vessel as a unified structure. 24. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber for containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that permits the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a base and a hand-grippable handle removably mounted to the vessel and including at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material and at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor, wherein said processor is configured to calculate at least the volume of the food material;c. an output display unit mounted to the handle and connected to the processor to display information related to the volume of the food material; andwherein the vessel is configured for removal from, and replacement to, the base and handle with at least one connector, and, when the vessel is mounted to the base and handle, to permit a human hand gripping the handle to simultaneously lift the base, handle and vessel as a unified structure. 25. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber capable of containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that is adapted to permit the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a base portion removably mounted to the vessel;c. a hand-grippable handle portion removably mounted to the vessel; andd. a digital measuring component in at least one of the portions removably mounted to the vessel and including i. at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material in the chamber;ii. at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor; andiii. an output unit connected to the processor to output human-perceptible information related to the volume of the food material in the chamber to the user. 26. A portable measuring device for food preparation, the device comprising: a. a vessel having sidewalls and a floor that define a chamber containing a food material, the sidewalls defining an open top that permits the passage of the food material into the chamber;b. a base portion removably mounted to the vessel;c. a hand-grippable handle portion removably mounted to the vessel; andd. a digital measuring component in at least one of the portions removably mounted to the vessel and including i. at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material in the chamber;ii. at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor; andiii. an output unit connected to the processor to output human-perceptible information related to the volume of the food material in the chamber to the user. 27. A method of using a portable measuring device for food preparation, the method comprising: a. placing a food material in a chamber of a vessel defined by sidewalls and a floor, the sidewalls defining an open top through which the food material is placed into the chamber;b. removably mounting a handle portion to the vessel;c. removably mounting a base portion to the vessel;d. mounting a digital measuring component in at least one of the portions removably mounted to the vessel, the digital measuring component including i. at least one mass sensor for measuring the mass of at least the food material;ii. at least one processor connected to said at least one mass sensor; andiii. an output unit connected to the processor to output human-perceptible information related to the volume of the food material to the user;e. disposing the measuring device on a substantially horizontal surface;f. sensing the mass of at least the food material; andg. displaying at least one characteristic of the food material on the output unit.