GB1564110A - Kitchen or household weighing appartus - Google Patents

Description

(54) KITCHEN OR HOUSEHOLD WEIGHING APPARATUS (71) We, SALTER HOUSEWARES LIMITED, a British Company, of Spon Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B70 6AD, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to weighing apparatus, particularly for kitchen or household use, and is concerned with improvements in or modifications of the invention disclosed and described in the complete specification of our Patent No. 1396441 which was an invention itself concerned with improvements in or modifications of the invention of our earlier Patent No. 1267375.

The complete specification of our abovementioned Patent No. 1396441 discloses and describes weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use, can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to provide support for and lateral location for the inverted weighing container wherein said weighing balance has a body structure or casing, enclosing the weighing mechanism of the balance, which presents an inverted T-shaped configuration in side elevation comprising a lower portion and, upstanding therefrom, a central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss of which the upper end is overlapped by a weighing platform struture adapted for up and down vertical movement, and wherein said lower portion of the body structure or casing has a circular or annular configuration and, within an area thereof that is covered by the weighing container when in said inverted storage position, provides a transparent window which, when the balance is in use, exposes to view, for taking readings throughout the full weighing range, an indicating pointer of weight indicator means of the balance which pointer turns about a central vertical axis and co-acts with graduated scale means.

One object of the present invention is to provide a weighing apparatus of the abovementioned kind which is adapted specifically for weighing food and for facilitating determination of the calorie content thereof as, for example, when preparing calorie controlled diets. In general, foodstuffs can be divided or classified into different groups, those in each group all having similar calorific values per unit weight.

Thus, from one aspect, the invention provides kitchen or household weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use, can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to provide support for and lateral location for the inverted weighing container, wherein said weighing balance has a body structure or casing, enclosing the weighing mechanism of the balance, which comprises a circular or annular portion and, upstanding therefrom, a central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss over the -upper end of which is a weighing platform structure adapted for up and down vertical movement, and wherein said circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing, within an area thereof that is covered by the weighing container when in said inverted storage position, provides a transparent window which, when the balance is in use, exposes to view, for taking readings throughout the full weighing range, an indicating pointer of weight indicator means of the balance which pointer turns about a central vertical axis under control of the weighing mechanism so as to deflect angularly to an extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance throughout the operational weighing range thereof and co-acts with graduated scale means, said graduated scale means comprising a plurality of graduated scales, extending horizontally in circular arcs substantially concentric with the rotational axis of the pointer. which are carried by a ring form scale carrier member and which include at least one "weight" scale calibrated in units of weight and at least one "calorie" scale calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a particular group of foodstuffs having similar calor values, said scale carrier member being incorporated or mounted in the body structure or casing so as to enable it to be rotated, about the rotational axis of the pointer. through an angle which is at least sufficient to permit a zero marking of the said "weight scale to be selectively advanced from a position coincident with an initial zero applied load position of the pointer up towards a position adjacent or coincident with the position of the pointer when deflected by an applied load of a magnitude corresponding to the maximum graduation reading of said "weight" scale whereby re-zeroing adjustments of said "weight" scale can be readily made, by rotating said scale carrier mem ber, to facilitate masurement of successively added loads throughout substantially the full operational weighing range appertaining to said "weight" scale.

The invention also provides kitchen or household weighting apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use. can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to provide support for and lateral location for the inverted weighing container, wherein said weighing balance has a body structure or casing, enclosing the weighing mechanism of the balance. which comprises a circular or annular portion and. upstanding therefrom. a central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss over the upper end of which is a weighing platform struc tpre adapted for up and down vertical mvement, and wherein said circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing, within an area thereof that is covered by the weighing container when in said inverted storage position, provides a transparent window which, when the balance is in use, exposes to view, for taking readings throughout the full weighing range, an indicating pointer of weight indicator means of the balance which pointer turns about a central vertical axis under control of the weighing mechanism so as to deflect angularly to an extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance throughout the operational weighing range thereof and co-acts with graduated scale means, said graduated scale means comprising a plurality of different graduated scales extending in circular arcs which are substantially concentric with the rotational axis of the pointer and which cover different angular segments of a face of a scale carrier member incorporated or mounted in the body structure or casing so as to be rotatably adjustable about the central vertical rotational axis of the pointer whereby the scale carrier member can be moved and set to bring the different graduated scales in said different angular segments selectively into an operative position for co-acting with said pointer, at least one of said different graduated scales being a 'weight" scale calibrated in units of weight and another of said different graduated scales, in a different said angular segment, being a "calorie" scale calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a particular or given group of foodstuffs having similar calorific values.

With different graduated scales in different angular segments of the face of the scale carrier member, in preferred embodiments the scale carrier member is a horizontally disposed ring-form member rotatably mounted so as to be angularly adjustable through an angle sufficient to enable a zero marking of each graduated scale to be brought selectively into a position coincident with an initial zero applied load position of the pointer and sufficient also to enable said zero marking of each graduated scale to be brought selectively into a position coincident with the position of the pointer when deflected by an applied load equal to the load corresponding to the maximum graduation reading of said respective graduated scale whereby, when using any selected graduated scale, re-zeroing adjustments can be made bv rotating the scale carrier member to facilitate measurement of successively added loads throughout substantially the full operational weighing range appertaining to the particular graduated scale in use.

At lease one of the graduated scales may cover an angular segment of said face of the scale carrier member within a range of 1500 to 180 , and also, in preferred embodiments, the scale carrier member may be rotatably adjustable through an angle of 360 .

It will be understood that the term "angular segment" is used herein to denote an area of said face bounded by a pair of angularly disposed radii, and in a full circular disc dial face would be equivalent to a sector thereof.

The facilitation of additive weighing, that is, the measurement of successively added loads, by means of the re-zeroing adjustment feature of the scale carrier member is particularly useful in preparing calorie controlled diets because it is frequently necessary to weigh and ascertain the weight equivalent calorific value of each of a number of different foodstuff ingredients when carrying out such preparative work.

If there is not a "calorie" scale covering the foodstuff group which includes a particular foodstuff being weighed, the "weight" scale may be used and the calorific value would then be computed separately, by consulting published tables for example, from the actual weight reading obtained.

But, for maximum convenience, the face of the scale carrier member should be provided with a plurality of "calorie" scales covering as many different foodstuff groups as possible. With said face of the scale carrier member in the form of a horizontally disposed dial face, these different "calorie" scales may be arranged not only in different angular segments of the dial face but also as a group, in concentric radially-spaced relationship, lying within one angular segment or in each of a number of different angular segments of the dial face. thereby to assist in solving the problem of providing a sufficiently large number of different ' calorie" scales to meet practical requirements upon a single dial face of a weighing balance of compact design.

The different graduated scales may be readily identified and distinguished one from another by using any desired visual coding means, such as coding symbols andi or colours.

The weighing balance of weighing apparatus in accordance with the invention may also include various structural features which can be useful, for example, in facilitating assembly during manufacture and in providing for a wide range of angular adjustment of the scale carrier member and convenient manipulation thereof.In one advantageous form of construction, the circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing of the weighing balance comprises a base frame of circular peripheral contour protruding radially with respect to the upstanding central portion and an overlying separate cover member, also of circular peripheral contour, which provides the transparent window; and the scale carrier member, which is in the form of a circular ring, is mounted upon said base frame with the peripheral portion of said scale carrier member fitting with working clearance within a circumferential gap between opposed spaced-apart peripheral portions of the base frame and cover member which lie in mutually confronting relationship, said peripheral portion of the scale carrier member carrying or being formed with digitally engageable means exposed outside the body structure or casing in order to facilitate the manual manipulation and adjustment of said scale carrier member.

The digitally engageable means may comprise at least one radially protruding grip or handle element carried by the scale carrier member.

In the above construction, conveniently the central tubular housing or boss is a separate part which is detachably fixed to the base frame and which locates the cover member, and a surface which co-acts with the weighing container to support it in its inverted out-of-use storage position may be provided by the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of the cover member in the form of a seating which engages and supports a rim portion of the inverted weighing container. Said outer peripheral portion of the covermember may also be adapted to laterally locate and restrict lateral displacement of the inverted weighing container by locating interengagement with the rim portion of said container. The cover member may be a one-piece moulding of transparent plastics material, and may have a truncated shallow substantially conical configuration.

The weighing mechanism preferably comprises a leaf spring parallel motion unit mounted on the base frame, and in preferred emhodiments the balance includes "up stop" means to limit upwards movement of the leaf springs as a precaution against possible damage to the mechanism.

One form of weighing apparatus comprising a bowl type weighing container and a weighing balance which represents one practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated. by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view through the weighing balance and, in fragmentary form, through the weighing container shown in its inverted out-of-use condition; Figure 2 is a top plan view, on a somewhat smaller scale, of the weighing balance. with the graduated scales and markings of the dial face of a scale carrier member component omitted: Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the weighing balance in the direction of the arrow X shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view of the dial face provided by the scale carrier member component; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the scale carrier member taken on line V-V of Figure 4; Figure 6 is a side elevational view, on a larger scale, of the weighing mechanism accommodated within the body structure or casing of the weighing balance which is partially shown in outline; and Figure 7 is a top plan view, with part broken away, of the weighing mechanism shown in Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the weighing apparatus illustrated therein comprises a weighing container in the form of a deep cup shaped circular bowl 30 and a weighing balance 40 having a body strcuture or casing 42 enclosing weighing mechanism 11.

The body structure or casing 42 comprises a circular or annular lower portion 44 and, upstanding therefrom, a cylindrical central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss 6 over the upper end of which is fitted a hood-like weighing platform structure 1 adapted for telescopic up and down vertical movement.

The circular or annular lower portion 44 protrudes radially with respect to the central tubular housing or boss 6 and is made up of a shallow cylindrical base frame 5 and an overlying separate cover member 2, moulded of transparent plastics material, which has a truncated shallow substantially conical configuration.

The cover member 2 thus forms an upwardly presented transparent window which exposes to downwards viewing a dial face 3 of a graduated scale carrier member 4 and the outer end portion of a complementary indicating pointer 23 which together provide the weight indicator means of the balance.

The lower portion 44 of the body structure or casing of the balance also provides a seating which supports the bowl 30, by engagement with a rim portion thereof, when the bowl is fitted in an inverted out-of-use condition over the balance so as to serve as a cover, as indicated in Figure 1.

The seating is formed by the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion 46 of the cover member 2 which has a stepped configuration adapted to interengage and locate with the rim portion 32 of the bowl 30 which rests thereon. As shown, the rim portion 32 has a deep peripheral flange 33. spaced from the main wall of the body of the bowl, which provides a wide U-shaped channel profile and which protrudes so as to interlock with the stepped configuration of the seating 46 thereby to restrict lateral displacement of the inverted bowl.

In use, the bowl 30 is of course utilised in an upright condition and, during weighing, stands upon the top of the weighing platform structure 1. The base of the bowl is fitted with a rubber ring 31 to improve stability and non-slip characteristics when in its upright condition.

The scale carrier member 4 is in the form of a horizontally disposed flat circular ring, of which the uppermost surface constitutes the dial face 3, co-axially arranged and rotatably mounted upon a flat horizontal surface 48 of the base frame 5 beneath the transparent cover member 2. The base frame 5 includes an integral upstanding circular flange 49 which locates the ring of the scale carrier member 4 and forms a hub bearing about which it turns.

The pointer 23 is mounted so as to turn, in a horizontal plane, about a central vertical pivotal axis and is operatively controlled by the weighing mechanism, as hereinafter more fully explained, so as to deflect angularly, from an initial zero applied load position, to an angular extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance throughout the operational weighing range thereof which, in this embodiment, corresponds to a pointer deflection of substantially 1800C. For clarity, the pivot mounting of the pointer and part of the weighing mechanism connected thereto has been omitted in Figure 1, but as shown the horizontally extending outer end portion of the pointer 23 lies closely above the dial face 3 of the scale carrier member 4.

As best seen in Figure 4, on the dial face 3 the scale carrier member 4 carries a plurality of different graduated scales extending in concentric circular arcs for co-operating with the pointer 23. One of these graduated scales, indicated by the reference W, is calibrated solely in units of weight. In this example, this "weight" scale W has a weight range of 0 to 3 kilograms and it covers an angular segment of the dial face ranging through an angle which is only slightly less than 1800.

The other graduated scales, indicated by references A to H and W1, W2, W3, are all arranged in three different adjacent smaller angular segments, each of slightly less than 60 angular range, which together cover most of the opposite remaining portion of the dial face 3. And, each of these smaller angular segments contains three or four of the different graduated scales arranged as a set in concentric radially spaced relationship. As shown, the radially outermost scale W1. W2, or W3, in each such set is again calibrated in units of weight ranging from 0 to 1 kilogram, but the other scales therein form a group of "calorie" scales each calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a particular group of foodstuffs.All the "calorie" scales, both those in the same angular segment and those in different angular segments, differ from one another, each covering a different particular foodstuff group, and they are distinguished and identified by the series of individual alphabetical references or code letters A to H.

Thus, with this arrangement, it is possible to display on a single dial face not only a "weight" scale covering an extensive direct weighing range up to 3 kilograms unencumbered by any other closely adjacent calibrations, but also a series of "calorie" scales covering eight different groups of foodstuffs and having each a weight range of one kilogram which is frequently quite sufficient in practice when preparing mixed diets. This arrangement can, however, readily be mod ified to include an even greater number of "calorie" scales, if desired.

The peripheral portion of the scale carrier member or ring 4 fits with working clearance within a circumferential gap 52 between the undersurface of the outer peripheral portion 46 of the cover member and the opposed uppermost surface of the peripheral portion of the base frame 5 which in in confronting relationship therewith.

To facilitate manual manipulation and rotatable adjustment of the scale carrier member 4 it is provided with a pair of integral diametrically opposed radially protruding finger grip or handle projections 54a, 54b, which are exposed outside body structure or casing, and in this embodiment the scale carrier member can be rotated through a full 360".

In use, before a load is applied to the balance, whilst the pointer 23 is in its initial zero load position, the scale carrier member 4 is rotated using one or other of the projections 54a, 54b, so as to bring into a position of coincidence with the pointer the zero marking of whichever graduated scale it is desired to use. After then weighing out in the weighing container bowl 30 a quantity of a first foodstuff material, either according to its actual weight value or according to its total calorific value as ascertained by using the appropriate "calorie" scale, a quantity of a second different foodstuff material can be added and weighed successively after turning the scale carrier member to carry out a re-zeroing operation.Again, in rezeroing, the zero marking of whichever graduated scale it is desired to use for the second ingredient, whether it be the main "weight" scale 50 or a calorie" scale in an angular segment the same as, or different from, that of the graduated scale first used, is brought into a position coincident with the pointer in the position to which the pointer is deflected by the load of the first foodstuff ingredient.

The above additive weighing sequence can clearly be repeated as many times as required, within the operational weighing range of the balance. The latter may conveniently be indicated by a suitable permanent marking or a non-adjustable additional "weight" scale on the transparent cover member, or on another part of the lower portion of the body structure or casing, showing the position of maximum permissible angular deflection of the pointer.

If the total quantity of a particular food stuff to be weighed out according to its total calorific value is greater than one kilogram so that it exceeds the range of an appropriate "calorie" scale, it will be seen that the foodstuff can be weighed out in two or more stages, using a quantity in each stage which does not exceed one kilogram and using the re-zeroing facility between successive stages. And, in general, with the graduated scale arrangement and layout shown and with the re-zeroing adjustment feature of the scale carrier member, the user is presented with a very versatile choice sufficient to cover a wide range of domestic food weighing requirements in a highly convenient manner.

The central tubular housing or boss 6 is a separate part which is supported upon a number of circumferentially spaced integral seating portions 58 of the base frame 5 to which it is detachably fixed by screws 59. It also serves to locate the transport cover member 2 which rests on the top of an upstanding part-circular extension 60 of the flange 49 of the base frame 5, a shallow bevelled circular rib 62 around the outer cylindrical surface of the housing or boss 6 abutting the top edge of the cover member 2 as shown in Figure 1.

This manner of construction facilitates assembly of the balance.

The weighing mechanism 11 includes a parallel motion leaf spring unit 65 which comprises a pair of spaced-apart horizontally extending parallal lead springs 28, 28, interconnected at one end by a front frame member 26 and at the other end by a rear frame member 29. The rear frame member 29 slots into and is fixed to an upstanding integral internal bracket or pillar formation 67 of the base frame 5, and the front frame member 26 is secured to a bracket 24 which carries the weighing platform structure 1.

Vertical movement of the front frame member 26 as the leaf springs flex under load applied to the weighing platform controlls by abutting engagement through a screw 19, movement of a spring-biassed bell-crank lever or quadrant 15 which drives. through gear teeth 69, a pinion 14 connected to the pointer 23. The pinion and pointer are rotatably mounted, to turn about a centrally located vertical axis, in bearings carried by a fixed mounting block 12 which also mounts the lever or quadrant 15.

As seen in Figure 1, the bracket 24 has a short horizontally projecting arm 70 extending beneath an inwardly projecting lug 72 of the housing or boss 6 which is fitted with an adjustable screw 74. This arrangement forms an "up stop", the screw 74 engaging the arm 70 to limit upwards movement in the leaf spring unit 65, if for example the balance is lifted by means of grasping the weighing platform 1, thereby reducing risk of damage to the weighing mechanism.

The outer peripheral portion of the base frame 5 includes a short cylindrical depending skirt portion 76 formed with finger grip apertures 77, 77, at two diametrically opposed positions. The skirt portion 76 also has three circumferentially spaced depending lugs 78 fitted with rubber feet 8 for stable support of the balance on an underlying supporting surface.

The weighing mechanism 11, as shown in the drawings, is described in greater detail in our co-pending Patent Appliction No.

51377/75, and certain features of the embodiment of the invention herein described are also the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No. 51376/75 (Serial No.

1499538).

It will, of course. be understood that, within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, many variations and modifications can be made, if desired, in many specific detail features of the embodiment herein described by way of example, both in the particular form, arrangement and number of the graduated scales provided, and in the physical structure. Thus, for example. obviously the graduated scales could, if desired, all be marked directly upon the transparent window cover member 2 which could itself be mounted for rotatable adjustment so as thereby also to constitute the scale carrier member, the pointer being re-profiled if necessary to ensure a close co-acting relationship with said graduated scales on the cover member.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use, can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to provide support for and lateral location for the inverted weighing container.

wherein said weighing balance has a body structure or casing, enclosing the weighing mechanism of the balance, which comprises a circular or annular portion and, upstanding therefrom, a central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss over the upper end of which is a weighing platform structure adapted for up and down vertical movement, and wherein said circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing, within an area thereof that is covered by the weighing container when in said inverted storage position, provides a transparent window which, when the balance is in use, exposes to view, for taking readings throughout the full weighing range, an indicating pointer of weight indicator means of the balance which pointer turns about a central vertical axis under control of the weighing mechanism so as to deflect angularly to an extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance throughout the operational weighing range thereof and co-acts with graduated scale means, said graduated scale means comprising a plurality of graduated scales, extending horizontally in circular arcs substantially concentric with the rotational axis of the pointer, which are carried by a ring form scale carrier member and which include at least one "weight" scale calibrated in units of weight and at least one "calorie" scale calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a particular group of food stuffs having similar calorific values, said scale carrier member being incorporated or mounted in the body structure or casing so as to enable it to be rotated, about the rotational axis of the pointer, through an angle which is at least sufficient to permit a zero marking of the said "weight" scale to be selectively advanced from a position coincident with an initial zero applied load postion of the pointer up towards a position adjacent or coincident with the position of the pointer when deflected by an applied load of a magnitude corresponding to the maximum graduation reading of said "weight" scale whereby re-zeroing adjustments of said "weight" scale can be readily made, by rotating said scale carrier member, to facilitate measurement of successively added loads throughout substantially the full operational weighing range appertaining to said "weight" scale.

2. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use, can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (18)

1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

   pointer are rotatably mounted, to turn about a centrally located vertical axis, in bearings carried by a fixed mounting block 12 which also mounts the lever or quadrant 15.

   As seen in Figure 1, the bracket 24 has a short horizontally projecting arm 70 extending beneath an inwardly projecting lug 72 of the housing or boss 6 which is fitted with an adjustable screw 74. This arrangement forms an "up stop", the screw 74 engaging the arm 70 to limit upwards movement in the leaf spring unit 65, if for example the balance is lifted by means of grasping the weighing platform 1, thereby reducing risk of damage to the weighing mechanism.

   The outer peripheral portion of the base frame 5 includes a short cylindrical depending skirt portion 76 formed with finger grip apertures 77, 77, at two diametrically opposed positions. The skirt portion 76 also has three circumferentially spaced depending lugs 78 fitted with rubber feet 8 for stable support of the balance on an underlying supporting surface.

   The weighing mechanism 11, as shown in the drawings, is described in greater detail in our co-pending Patent Appliction No.

   51377/75, and certain features of the embodiment of the invention herein described are also the subject of our co-pending Patent Application No. 51376/75 (Serial No.

   1499538).

   It will, of course. be understood that, within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, many variations and modifications can be made, if desired, in many specific detail features of the embodiment herein described by way of example, both in the particular form, arrangement and number of the graduated scales provided, and in the physical structure. Thus, for example. obviously the graduated scales could, if desired, all be marked directly upon the transparent window cover member 2 which could itself be mounted for rotatable adjustment so as thereby also to constitute the scale carrier member, the pointer being re-profiled if necessary to ensure a close co-acting relationship with said graduated scales on the cover member.

   WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use, can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to provide support for and lateral location for the inverted weighing container.

   wherein said weighing balance has a body structure or casing, enclosing the weighing mechanism of the balance, which comprises a circular or annular portion and, upstanding therefrom, a central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss over the upper end of which is a weighing platform structure adapted for up and down vertical movement, and wherein said circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing, within an area thereof that is covered by the weighing container when in said inverted storage position, provides a transparent window which, when the balance is in use, exposes to view, for taking readings throughout the full weighing range, an indicating pointer of weight indicator means of the balance which pointer turns about a central vertical axis under control of the weighing mechanism so as to deflect angularly to an extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance throughout the operational weighing range thereof and co-acts with graduated scale means, said graduated scale means comprising a plurality of graduated scales, extending horizontally in circular arcs substantially concentric with the rotational axis of the pointer, which are carried by a ring form scale carrier member and which include at least one "weight" scale calibrated in units of weight and at least one "calorie" scale calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a particular group of food stuffs having similar calorific values, said scale carrier member being incorporated or mounted in the body structure or casing so as to enable it to be rotated, about the rotational axis of the pointer, through an angle which is at least sufficient to permit a zero marking of the said "weight" scale to be selectively advanced from a position coincident with an initial zero applied load postion of the pointer up towards a position adjacent or coincident with the position of the pointer when deflected by an applied load of a magnitude corresponding to the maximum graduation reading of said "weight" scale whereby re-zeroing adjustments of said "weight" scale can be readily made, by rotating said scale carrier member, to facilitate measurement of successively added loads throughout substantially the full operational weighing range appertaining to said "weight" scale.
2. 2. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container which, when the apparatus is not in use, can be inverted and placed in an out-of-use storage position over the weighing balance so as to provide a cover fitting thereon, in which storage position the structural configuration of the weighing balance is effective to

   provide support for and lateral location for the inverted weighing container, wherein said weighing balance has a body structure or casing, enclosing the weighing mchanism of the balance, which comprises a circular or annular portion and, upstanding therefrom, a central portion in the form of a tubular housing or boss over the upper end of which is a weighing platform structure adapted for up and down vertical movement, and wherein said circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing, within nn area thereof that is covered by the weighing container when in said inverted storage position, provides a transparent window which, when the balance is in use, exposes to view, for taking readings throughout the full weighing range, an indicating pointer of weight indicator means of the balance which pointer turns about a central vertical axis under control of the weighing mechanism so as to deflect angularly to an extent substantially proportional to the load applied to the balance throughout the operational weighing range thereof and co-acts with graduated scale means, said graduated scale means comprising a plurality of different graduated scales extending in circular arcs which are substantially concentric with the rotational axis of the pointer and which cover different angular segments of a face of a scale carrier member incorporated or mounted in the body struture or casing so as to be rotatably adjustable about the central vertical rotational axis of the pointer whereby the scale carrier member can be moved and set to bring the different graduated scales in said different angular segments selectively into an operative position for co-acting with said pointer, at least one of said different graduated scales being a "weight" scale calibrated in units of weight and another of said different graduated scales, in a different said angular segment, being a "calorie" scale calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a particular or given group of foodstuffs having similar calorific values.
3. 3. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the scale carrier member is a horizontally disposed ring form member rotatably mounted so as to be angularly adjustable through an angle sufficient to enable a zero marking of each graduated scale to be brought selectively into a position coincident with an initial zero applied load position of the pointer and sufficient also to enable said sero marking of each graduated scale to be brough selectively into a position coincident with the position of the pointer when deflected by an applied load equal to the load corresponding to the maximum graduation reading of said respective graduated scale whereby, when using any selected graduated scale, re-zeroing adjustments can be readily made, by rotating the scale carrier member, to facilitate measurement of successively added loads throughout substantially the full operational weighing range appertaining to the particular graduated scale in use.
4. 4. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the circular arc of at least one of the graduated scales covers an angular segment of the face of the scale carrier member extending through an angle within a range of 1500 or 1800.
5. 5. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the scale carrier member can be rotatably adjusted through an angle of 360".
6. 6. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two of the graduated scales, lying in different angular segments of said face of the scale carrier member, are "calorie" scales calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for different given foodstuff groups.
7. 7. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of the graduated scales carried by the scale carrier member are each a "calorie" scale calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units for a different given foodstuff group and are arranged in concentric radially spaced relationship as a group of "calorie" scales lying within the same angular segment of said face of the scale carrier member which face is a horizontally disposed dial face.
8. 8. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein a plurality of different angular segments of said face of the scale carrier member, which face is a horizontally disposed dial face, each include a plurality of different said graduated scales, calibrated in weight equivalent calorie units each for a different given foodstuff group, arranged as a group of "calorie" scales in concentric radiallyspaced relationship.
9. 9. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the graduated scales carried by the scale carrier member are calibrated in weight units and weight equivalent calorie units for different given foodstuff groups and are arranged substantially as shown in, and as herein described with reference to, Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
10. 10. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing protrudes radially with respect to the up standing central portion, and the transparent window is provided by an upwardly presented top surface of said circular or annular portion disposed so as to expose said indicator pointer to downwards viewing when the balance is in use.
11. 11. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the surface which co-acts with the weighing container in the inverted out-of-use condition forms an annular or circular seating engageable with a rim portion of the inverted weighing container.
12. 12. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 or 11, wherein the circular or annular portion of the body structure or casing of the weighing balance comprises a lower base frame of circular peripheral contour and an overlying separate cover member, also of circular peripheral contour, which provides the transparent window, and the scale carrier member, which is in the form of a circular ring, is mounted upon said base frame with the peripheral portion of said scale carrier member fitting with working clearance within a circumferential gap between opposed spaced-apart peripheral portions of the base frame and cover member which lie in mutually confronting relationship. said peripheral portion of the scale carrier member carrying or being formed with digitally engageable means exposed outside the body structure or casing in order to facilitate the manual manipulation and adjustment of said scale carrier member.
13. 13. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the digitally engageable means comprises at least one radially protruding grip or handle element carried by the scale carrier member.
14. 14. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, wherein the central tubular housing or boss is a separate part which is detachably fixed to said base frame and which locates said cover member.
15. 15. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of claims 12 to 14, wherein the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion of the cover member forms a surface which co-acts with the weighing container to support it in its inverted out-of-use storage position. and said outer peripheral portion of the cover member also laterally locates and restricts lateral displacement of the inverted weighing container by locating interengagement with the rim portion of said container.
16. 16. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 15, in which the cover member is moulded of transparent plastics material.
17. 17. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 12 to 16, in which the cover member has a truncated shallow substantially conical configuration.
18. 18. Kitchen or household weighing apparatus comprising a weighing balance in combination with a separate vessel or bowl constituting a weighing container, said weighing balance and weighing container being substantially of the form herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.