US2668045A - Bathroom scale - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1954 M. A. PROVENZANO 2,668,045

BATHROOM SCALE Filed March 10, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 69 T'. 't 4/0 62? Li @8559 Mike A. pz'ovenzauo WQIQUW Feb. 2, 1954 M. A. PROVENZANO BATHROOM SCALE 3 SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed March 10, 1947 Mike A. Provenzcrno mq-.@u%

Feb.,2, 1954 M. A. PROVENZANO BATHROOM SCALE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 10, 1947 Patented Feb. 2, 1954 BATHROOM SCALE Mike A. Provenzano, Rockford, Ill., assignor to The Brearley Company, Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 10, 1947, Serial No. 733,582

8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to weighing scales and is more particularly concerned with a bathroom scale that is for the most part of stamped sheet metal construction for lightness, durability, and economy.

It has been common practice in the manufacture of bathroom scales in the past to provide the so-called wish-bone levers or spiders of cast iron construction with accurately machined knife edge portions for fulcrum engagement on the base and under the platform, but that kind of construction was objectionable from the standpoint of high cost and heavy weight and also because of the danger of breakage should, the scale be dropped accidentally, or be used too roughly. It is, therefore, one of the principal objects of my invention to provide platform-supporting levers of stamped sheet metal construction, flanged along all of the marginal edges for stifiness and strength and having the web portions struck to provide downwardly bent laterally spaced ears with V-shaped notches therein on which hangers are adapted to be fulcrumed for fulcrum suspension of the platform thereon, another ear being struck down from the front lever the the middle of the rear portion thereof to bear on a hanger supported on the other lever so as to transmit the load from the front portion of the platform to the other lever, the counterbalancing spring being attached to said other lever. The rear lever has upwardly struck notched lugs in laterally spaced relation for supporting the hanger on which the downwardly bent ear on the front lever is fulcrumed, a hanger made from a piece of round wire having a U- shaped crank bent in the middle thereof beingused for the hanger at this point. The downwardly projecting marginal flanges on the two levers have notches provided therein to straddle upwardly projecting fulcrum supports provided on the base in which V-shaped notches are provided to define the fulcrums, V-shaped edges being provided in the notches in the flanges for knife edge engagement in the fulcrum supports.

Another important object is to provide a bathroom scale in which the main platform-supporting lever of stamped sheet metal construction is formed with a rectangular opening in the forwardly reaching arm thereof to accommodate the dial mounted in a frame straddling this portion of the lever, the lever having downwardly projecting flanges defining the four sides of the rectangular opening to further stiffen and reenforce the lever at this portion, these inner flanges cooperating with the marginal flanges on the front portion of the lever to define channel sections which, though narrow, have the requisite strength and rigidity to sustain the platform load without excessive deflection and without danger of bending out of shape, the narrow sections enabling reduction in width of the dial supporting frame to a minimum and accordingly permitting use of a dial housing on the platform that is proportionately narrow for neatness in appearance and to leave ample foot room on opposite sides of said housing.

Another important object is to provide a dial supporting frame made from a single piece of sheet metal bent to inverted U-shaped form, the top cross-portion of which forms a support on which to suspend the counterbalancing spring and the side portions having coaxially aligned bearing openings for the dial spindle, and one side portion being formed to provide inwardly projecting lugs with vertically aligned slots to guide a vertically movable rack member, and the' third inwardly projecting lug in vertically spaced relation to the upper slotted guide lug serving as a limiting stop for the rack.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a bathroom scale made in accordance with my invention, with the plat-' form removed, but indicating in dot and dash lines the location of the four legs of the platform for support of the platform by means of hangers on the Wishbone levers;

Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged sectional details on the lines 22 and 3-3 at Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 1 showing the platform and dial housing in the central 1ongitu-' dinal section;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the dial supporting frame;

Figs. 6 and 7 are a top and side view of the of Fig. 4.

The same reference numerals are applied to corresponding parts throughout the views.

Referring first to the main views, Figs. 1, 4 and 8, the reference numeral 16 designates the generally rectangular sheet metal base of a bathroom scale and I! the generally rectangular sheet metal pl'atfbr'm "supported on said base through the medium hf the lever mechanism of myin'ven tion, indicated generally by the reference numeral I8. The latter, generally speaking, consists of a small U-shaped platform-supporting lever l9, and a large generally triangular-shaped platform-supporting lever 29-, the two lovers being interconnected by a hanger 2|. It is "common practice to fulcrum the large lever at one end on the base and to supportthe other end of the lever on a coiled tension spring, like that indicated at 22, which is suitably suspended in the dial supporting frame 23 that is mounted on the front end of the base; the spring being supported by means or a screw :24 and adjusting nut 25, so that the scale can be setback to 'ze'ro if it gets out of adjustment. The small lev'er I9 is supported at one end-oh the base and at its other end on the large lever so as to transfer its load to the large lever, the platform being supported at the front end on the small lever and at the rear end on the large lever. Two arms 26 project upwardly from the front corners of the base to support the lever l9, and two arms 27 project upwardly from the rear corners of the base for support of the lever '20. Two le s 28 project downwardly from the corners of the front end of the platform to rest on the lever I9, and two-legs 2-9 project downwardly from the 'corners of the rear end of the platform to rest on the lever 20. The weight is indicated on a dial 38 rotatably mounted in the frame 23 and visible through a window 3| in the top of the dial housing 32 and operable by a pinion 33 meshing with a rack '34 that issuitabl y guided in the frame 23 for reciprocatory movement vertically and rests at 'its lower end on the front endbf the lever 21], said rack being arranged to gravitate in proportion to the deflection of the levers l9 and it under load. Two coiled tension springs 35 are connected at their opposite ends to and'stretched between the platform H and base I6 to hold the parts in assembled relation and permit pick-ing up the scale by its platform.

In "accordance with my invention, the spiders or levers l9 and 2-0, instead of being of heavy cast iron construction, or of welded steel construction have the bodies 36 and 31 thereof each made from a single piece of sheet metal formed between dies to the flanged and ribbed forms shown. Thus, the lever 19 has downwardly projecting marginal flanges 38 and 39 on the inner and outer peripheries for-stiffness and strength, these flanges being integrally interconnected at the ends of the lever 'b'y flanges 40 for maximum strength and rigidity. The ma or portion of the Web 4| of this lever is depressed to define channel shaped ribs '42 and '43 along the inner and outer peripheries for further reinforcement of the lever to reduce to "a minimum distortion under loadand avoid likelihoodof the lever getting bent out of shape. In a similar manner, lever 29 has a continuous downwardly projecting marginal outer flange 44 and has atriangular shapedopening 45 in the center thereof defined by a downwardly projecting continuous flange 46 to lend stiffness and strength, and long-itudi'r ially extending ribs 41 are struck upwardly from the web 48 to reinforce the lever 20 in the region where 4 heavy strains are concentrated by reason of the lever l9 transmitting its load to lever 28 at this point. It is clear in Fig. 1 that the close spacing of flanges 44 and 49 and ribs 41 in this region, plus the fact that the marginal flange 44 is rather abruptly widened on both sides of lever 28 at this region, as shown at 50, make for the necessary "strength and rigidity so that lever 20 will not be flexed too much under load and ulti- "mately get bent out of shape. The flange 49 is a continuous rectangular flange defining a rectangular opening 51 provided in the forwardly extending arm 52 on lever 20 through which the lower portion of the dial 30 projects. The flanges 49 cooperates with marginal flange 4 1 to form a channel section on both sides of the arm 52 of the form shown in Fig. 11 so that the arm has ample strength and rigidity even though so much of it is cut away to provide the dial opening 51. These two channels, incidentally, give enough strength to make it feasible to have the arm 5 2 *of rather small width on both sides of the dial, as best appears in Fig. 1, so that the width of dial frame 23 can be reduced to a minimum, thus permitting use of a dial housing 32 of narrow width so that more foot room is left on the platform H on opposite sides of the dial housing. Attention "is now called in Figs. 4 and "8 to the fact that the marginal flanges 38 and 39 of lever l9 are of maximum width at their forward ends where the maximum stress is concentrated and that they taper off to a minimum width at the rear end where there is a minimum stress, that width being maintained throughout the length of the cross portion of the lever, which extends across the top "of le'ver 2i) at the rear end of the arm 52. In like manner and for the same reason, the marginal flange 44 of lever '21: has a maximum width at the rear end of the lever, where the miximum stress occurs on this lever, and, except for the reinforcing enlargement 58 on each side of the lever, tapers on to a minimum width at the front end of arm 52, Where the minimum stress occurs, the lower end of the coiled tension spring being hooked onto the lever at this end, where slots provided in the web of the channel define therebetween a cross bar 53 which is suit ably reinforced by a struck up rib "5:1, as shown in Fig. 8. The flange 44 is notched at two points on the rear end "of lever 29, as shown at 55 in Fig. '8, in register with the upwardly reaching arins 2 l and has beveled straight edges 55 filed or pressed on the upperends of these notches to provide the equivalent of the knife 'edg'e fulcrums usually machined on the other types of levers, for fulcrum engagement in the bottoms of V-notches 5-! provided in the upper ends of arms 21. In like manner beveled straight edges 53 are vprovided on the end flanges 48 of lever 19in notches 59 for fulcrum engagement in the bottoms of V- notches ii-0 provided in the upper ends of arms 26. It should =b'e'cle'ar-from this much description of the levers l9 and 20 that I secure the necessary streng'th and rigidity with "one -piece stamped sheet metal zparts by hanging and ribbing and otherwise 'fo-rmmg these parts as above described, and, of =c'our'se, these 'stampings are much lighter than cast iron, or even Welded steel, levers and the manufacturing *costds "a small fractio'n of the manufacturing -c'ost 'or either of the others, because, aside r-romthe much lower cost :of the sheet metal head there is the big saving in cost realized by the substantial "elimin'ation of expensive mean ing operations.

"The web piftionWl-of lever f9 has openings viii and 62 punched therein near the front end of each arm of the lever, the metal from these openings being bent downwardly on one side of the openings to provide two spaced parallel vertical ears 53 on which U-shaped hangers 64 for fulcrum support of the front end of the platform are rockably mounted by their aligned outwardly projecting end portions 35, the downwardly offset middle portions 66 being arranged to engage in the V-notches 66' provided in the lower ends of the legs 23 on the front end of the platform, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The ears 63 have V- notches Bl provided therein to receive the beveled edges $38 on the bottom of end portions 65 of hangers t4, and there is a beveled edge 69 on top of the middle portion 66 to enter the V-notches 66' in the legs 28. The hangers 64, incidentally, are of stamped sheet metal construction and have the beveled edges 38 and 69 formed thereon between dies under heavy pressure. This construction, compared with castings, is cheaper but better, because, when the three beveled edges 53 and 59 are produced tapering to the same face of the piece, as shown in Fig. 13, there can be no room for doubt that these edges are all in accurate coplanar relationship, whereas, it was a very difficult matter to obtain such coplanar relationship in cast hangers in quantity production. The compression of the metal at the edges 68 and 69 makes for hardness and longer wear without a hardening operation. Of course, cast iron hangers similar in general form to hangers 64 may be used in this scale as in earlier scale constructions, Sutton Patent 2,293,572, showing such hangers. The web 4| is cut away on diametrically opposite sides of openings 3|, as indicated at '50, as continuations of the slots in the ears 33 terminating in the V-notches 61', to provide clearance for the arms 65 and permit the hangers 64 to be dropped into place in notches 61 from above the lever Id. In a similar way, ears H having V- notches 12 therein are bent downwardly from the web "it of lever 20 on opposite sides of openings T3, the openings E3 in this case having diametrically opposed side extensions 14 to allow passage of arms 65 of hangers 64, the beveled edges 68 of these hangers resting in notches 12 and the beveled edges 69 being entered in V-notches 15 provided in legs 29 on the rear end of the platform. Here again, it should be clear that the punching and forming operations involved in providing fulcrums on the levers l9 and on which to support the platform involve only a small fraction of the cost involved where machined cast or welded levers are used. Furthermore, these portions of the levers are punched and formed at the same time with other portions so that the labor cost is reduced and the ultimate cost of manufacture is reduced accordingly.

The web portion of lever 19 has an ear 16 bent downwardly therefrom at the middle of the rear cross portion to rest on the hanger 2| and thus transmit the load carried by the lever IE! to lever 25. The hanger 2! is bent from a short length of stiff wire of round section to provide coaxially aligned trunnion ends I1 and a straight middle crank pin portion 18 in oifset parallel relation to the ends. The web portion 48 of lever 29 has an opening 19 punched therein for projection downwardly therein of the middle crank pin portion 18 of the hanger 2i and the ear 16, which has a V-notch 80 with a semi-circular crotch;

to fit on the crank pin portion. The trunnion top of the web portion 48 of lever 20 and ar held against lateral displacement by spaced lugs 8| bent upwardly from the web 48 at opposite ends of the opening 19. A downwardly projecting lug 82 is also provided on the lever [9 at the middle of the back of the cross portion, as an integral extension from flange 39, which projects freely through a slot 83 provided in the web 43 behind and parallel to the opening 19, the lower end portion of the lug being bent rearwardly to define a hook, as clearly appears at 82 in Figs. 4, 8 and 9, to limit upward movement of the rear end of lever l9 and thereby prevent disassociation of the ear i3 and hanger 2| in event a person causes the levers I9 and 20 to oscillate more rapidly than usual in normal operation, as, for example, by resting only one foot on the platform and depressing the same and quickly releasing the pressure. The lever I9 is assembled in the scale by first entering lug 82 in slot 83 and then lowering the front ends of the arms to rest on arms 26. Fhis portion of the scale obviously involves the same kind of inexpensive punching and forming operations as in the provision of the ears 33 and H previously described.

The dial supporting frame 23, as best shown in Fig. 5, is of one-piece sheet metal construction, bent to inverted U-shape to define vertical side portions 9 and interconnected by an integral narrow top cross-portion 36 at the front end of the frame. The latter has an upwardly embossed perforated bearing portion 8'! through which the screw 2 t connected to and supporting the counterbalancing spring 22 projects freely and on which the adjusting nut 25 rests for a bearing. The nut 25 is accessible through an opening 83 in the front end wall of dial housing 32 for manual adjustment, such adjustment being necessary now and then to reset the dial 30 to zero. The side portions 84 and 85 have outwardly projecting attaching flanges 83 on their lower ends to rest on the base l6, rivets being used for fastening the frame to the base by these flanges. Location lugs projecting downwardly from the rear end of the side walls are entered in location holes 92 provided in the base to insure accurate positioning of the frame 23 as a whole relative to the lever mechanism 18. A bearing hole 33 is provided in the rear end of side portion 34 in coaxial alignment with the front end of a bayonet slot 95 provided in the other side portion 85, and the dial 36 is assembled in the scale by entering one end of its shaft 95 in hole 93 and then dropping the other end in slot 94. There are two horizontal lugs 96 bent inwardly from the side portion 85 in vertically spaced relation, above and below the level of the slot 95, having vertically aligned slots 97 wherein the rack 34, meshing with pinion 33 fixed on the dial shaft 95, is received with an easy working fit to guide the same for vertical reciprocation and prevent disengagement of the dial shaft from slot 94. The lower end of the rack rests freely on an embossed rounded transverse abutment 98 struck up from the Web 68 of lever 29 on one side of dial opening 5i. The rack 34 gravitates with depression of lever 20 under load to operate the dial 3!) in proportion to the downward movement of said lever. A third horizontal lug 99 is also provided on the side portion 95 bent inwardly in a predetermined vertically spaced relation to and above the upper one of the two guide lugs 96, the rear end portion of which is bent upwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, while assembling the dial 30 and rack ends ll of hanger 2| are rotatably supported on V 34 in the frame but is thereafter bent downwardly into approximately parallel relationship to lugs 96 to serve as a stop to limit upward movement of the rack, as is necessary, for example, if the scale is misused by jumping on the platform, or, as previously mentioned, by depressing the scale platform with one foot and releasing the pressure suddenly. Obviously, this one-piece stamped sheet metal construction makes for low cost and also insures closer alignment of dial shaft holes and closer accuracy in location of the rack guides than previous built-up frame structures.

The window lens 31, which may be of glass or clear transparent plastic material is generally rectangular in form and has a projecting fiange I on the bottom for engagement with the inside of the dial housing around the rectangular dial opening iC-i to prevent outward displacement, two small pointed lugs it? being provided on diametrically opposite sides of the opening Edi, at the middle, integral with the wall of the dial housing and bent downwardly alongside the window lens 3| and inwardly under it, to prevent inward displacement of the lens and at the same time serve as aligned pointers to cooperate with the usual weight graduations provided in circumferentially spaced relation around the periphery of dial 3d. The lens 3! magnifies the pointers and the numerals on the dial 3i! so that one standing on the scale may easily read the weight shown on the dial, without stooping. The pointers it? are preferably colored red so as to stand out clearly in contrast with the black numerals on the dial and make for still easier reading. This one-piece lens mounting is simpler, cheaper, and better than those'used heretofor on bathroom scales, where a separate retainer frame is usually provided, thus necessitating fastening screws l" e heads of which must be exposed on the ou do of the dial housing, whereas the present construction leaves the outside of the dial housing clear of such unsightly details.

The screw 24 is adjustably connected in the upper end of spring 22 by means of a specially formed stamped sheet metal washer Hi3. This washer is shown on an enlarged scale in 6 and 7 and comprises a cupped body portion $8 3 of cylindrical form adapted, to fit freely inside the upper end of the spring 22, the same having a helical flange mil adapted to thread in the spring between the coils thereof. One end its of the flange IE is bent to form an obtuse angle with the flange, and at a-dia-metricaliy opposite point V-shaped projection rill is bent out of the plane of the flange in the same direction and with approximately the same angularity relative to the flange as the end I03, as best appears in Fig. "7. Now, when th headed lower end of screw 2% is entered nonrotata'bly in the square hole 538 provided in the center of the cupped body portion HM and the flange N35 is threaded in the upper end of the spring 22 and is adjusted up or down as the calibration of the scale requires, the projections Hi6 and H31 insure the adjustment being permanent by spreading the neighboring coils at the particular point where the washer is to remain so that these coils exert much heavier spring pressur-eon the flange id-5 than would be obtained if the coils were spread only to the or:- tent of the thicknessof the flange. is very important because it insures more accurate weighing throughout the life of the In the earlier unimproved -constructions, if the screw became a bit rusty, causing the nut to turn with difficulty, there was danger of a person throwing the scaleout of-calibration byreason-of these-row turning with the nut when the latter was turned to reset to zero.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a good understanding of the objects and advantages of my invention. The appended claims have been drawn to cover all legitimate modifications and adaptations.

I claim:

1. A weighing scale comprising a generally rec tangular "base having upward projections on the corners thereof, a pair of platform-supporting levers, each of one-piece sheet metal construction dished to provide a web portion within an integral continuous downwardly projecting marginal flange lending stiffness and strength, said levers being fulcrumed at opposite ends of said base on the edges of said flanges which bear directly on said projections, counterbalancing means on which said levers are yieldingly suspended, the web portion of said levers having openings provided therein in a predetermined spaced relationship to the projections on the base and having ears struck therefrom on opposite sides of each of said openings, hangers suspended in said ears, and a weight receiving platform of generally rectangular form having downward projections resting in said hangers.

2. A weighing scale comprising a generally roctangular base having upward projections on the corners thereof, a pair of platform-supporting levers, each of one-piece sheet metal construction dished to provide a web portion within an integral continuous downwardly projecting marginal flange lending stiffness and strength, said levers being fulcrumed at opposite ends of said base on the edges of said flanges which bear directly on said projections, counterbalancing means on which said levers are yieldingly suspended, the web portion of said levers having openings provided therein in a predetermined spaced relationship to the projections on the base and having ears struck therefrom on opposite sides of each of said openings, each pair of ears having aligned V-notches, knife edged hangers suspended in the V-notches in said ears, and a weight receiving platform of generally rectangular form having downward projections resting in said hangers.

3. A weighing scale comprising a generally rectangular base having upward projections on the corners thereof, a pair of platform-supporting levers, each of one-piece sheet metal construction dished to provide a web portion within an integral continuous downwardly projecting marginal flange lending stiffness and strength, said levers being fulcrumed at opposite ends of said base on the edges of said flanges which bear on said projections counterpois-ing spring means yieldingly suspending the free end of one of said levers, the second of said levers having the free end thereof resting on top of the first lever, the marginal flange "of said second lever having an integral downwardly extending lug received freely in an opening provided therefor in the web portion of the first lever, the lower end portion of said lug being bent to limit upward displacement of said second lever relative to said first lever, and a weight receiving platform supported on said levers.

4. In a weighing scale comprising a generally rectangular base having upward projections on the corner portions thereof, a pair of platformsupporting levers adapted to be fulcrumed on said projections, counter balancing spring means on which said levers are yieldingly suspended relative to the base, and a generally rectangular weight-receiving platform supported on said levers, the improvement which consists in the provision of said levers each of one-piece sheet metal construction, each lever having transversely of one end thereof a downwardly projecting flange integral therewith for added stiffness and strength and providing on the edge thereof at spaced points the fulcrum portions for direct rocking engagement on the aforesaid upward projections, one of said levers having its free end suspended on said counter-balancing spring means, the other of said levers having the free end thereof arranged to rest on top of the first mentioned lever, the latter having an opening provided therein under the free end of the second mentioned lever, the latter having an integral downwardly reaching projection extending freely through said opening, the lower end portion of said projection having a shoulder provided thereon which by engagement with the bottom of the first mentioned lever adjacent the opening is adapted to limit upward displacement of said second lever relative to said first lever.

5. In a weighing scale comprising a generally rectangular base having upward projections on the corner portions thereof, a pair of platformsupporting levers adapted to be fulcrumed on said projections, counter-balancing spring means on which said levers are yieldingly suspended relative to the base, and a generally rectangular weight-receiving platform supported on said levers, the improvement which consists in the provision of said levers each of one-piece sheet metal construction, each lever having transversely of one end thereof a downwardly projecting flange integral therewith for added stiffness and strength and providing on the edge thereof at spaced points the fulcrum portions for direct rocking engagement of the aforesaid upward projections, one of said levers having its free end suspended on said counter-balancing spring means, the other of said levers having the free end thereof arranged to rest on top of the first mentioned lever, the latter having an opening provided therein under the free end of the second mentioned lever, the latter having an integral downwardly reaching projection extending freely through said opening, the lower end portion of said projection having a shoulder provided thereon which by engagement with the bottom of the first mentioned lever adjacent the opening is adapted to limit upward displacement of said second lever relative to said first lever, the improvement further consisting in the provision of openings in each of said levers in inwardly spaced relation to the transversely extending flange adapted. to receive hangers swingably supported on the levers, and the provision of hangers swingably mounted on said levers in said openings, and downwardly reaching projections on the corners of said platform extending into said openings and supported on said hangers.

6. A weighing scale as set forth in claim 5, wherein the transverse flanges have notches provided in the bottom edges thereof in which the upward projections are received to prevent lateral displacement of the levers from operative position.

7. As an article of manufacture, a platform supporting fulcrum lever for a weighing scale, comprising a one-piece generally U-shaped sheet metal body, comprising a substantially flat web flanges integral with'the web portion lending stiffness and strength to said arms, and downwardly projecting reinforcing flanges transversely of the ends of the arms of the U providing fulcrums on the edges thereof adapted for direct fulcrum support of the lever on the base of the scale, said lever having openings provided in the web portion adjacent the outer ends of the arms of the U, where the web portion is formed to provide fulcrum bearings adapted for support of the platform of the scale, said web portion also having an integral portion thereof midway between the arms of said lever projecting downwardly providing a support for said lever adapted to rest on a companion platformsupporting fulcrum lever, said lever having a portion integral therewith at the same location defining a hook, which by projection through an opening provided in said companion lever is adapted to limit upward displacement of the first-mentioned lever relative to said companion lever.

8. In a weighing scale, in combination, a platform supporting fulcrum lever having a onepiece sheet metal body of generally triangular form comprising a substantially flat web portion having a downwardly projecting flange lengthwise of the base of the triangle integral with the web portion lending stiffness and strength, said flange having at spaced points knife edges on the edge thereof for direct fulcrum support of said lever on projections on the base of the scale, said lever having portions of the web adjacent the two end portions of the base of the triangle formed to provide fulcrum bearings for support of the platform of the scale, the apex portion of the triangular body of said lever being adapted to be supported by weighing spring means, a second platform-supporting fulcrum lever having a one-piece generally U-shaped sheet metal body comprising a substantially flat web portion having on the longitudinal edges of the arms of the U and on the edges of the cross-portion of the U downwardly projecting marginal flanges integral with the web portion lending stiffness and strength to said arms and cross-portion, said web portion also having downwardly projecting reinforcing fianges transversely of the ends of the arms of the U providing fulcrums on the edges thereof for direct fulcrum support of said second lever on other projections on the base of the scale, said second lever having portions of the web adjacent the outer ends of the arms of the U formed to provide fulcrum bearings for support of the platform of the scale, said second lever having the cross-portion of the U-shaped body thereof extending transversely over the first mentioned lever between the base and apex portions parallel to said base portion and said crossportion having an integral downwardly projecting portion midway between the arms of the U-shaped body resting on the first mentioned lever to transmit some of the load of the platform through said second lever to said first mentioned lever, and said cross-portion having another integral downwardly projecting portion at the same location defining a hook which extends through an opening provided in the web portion of said first-mentioned lever to limit upward displacement of the second lever relative to said first-mentioned lever.

MIKE A. PRO'VENZANO.

(References on following page) 11' References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2:379:861 1,782,670 Van Duyn NOV. 25, 1930 5 2 405 19 1,954,030 Von Pein Apr. 10, 1934 2 483 700 1,982,939 Weber Dec. 4, 1934 2,069,757 Hansen Feb. 9, 1937 2,232,830 Sutton Feb. 25, 1941 Number 2,293,572 Sutton Aug. 18,v 1942 10 103,994

12 Name Date Kircher Aug. 10, 1943 Weber. Oct. 12, 1943 Browne July 10, 1945 Sutton Aug. 13, 1946 Hansen Oct. 4, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Australia May 19, 1938

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