WO2011015851A2

WO2011015851A2 - Self-weighing luggage

Info

Publication number: WO2011015851A2
Application number: PCT/GB2010/051251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Brent Williams
Original assignee: Intelligent Luggage Ltd
Priority date: 2009-08-01
Filing date: 2010-07-29
Publication date: 2011-02-10
Also published as: WO2011015851A3; GB201001080D0; GB0913400D0; GB2472285A

Abstract

Self-weighing luggage comprising: at least one weighing sensor provided in one end surface of said luggage; a processor, connected to said at least one weighing sensor and configured to calculate the weight on the at least one weighing sensor; and a user interface configured to inform a user of the weight calculated by the processor.

Description

Self weighing luggage

The present invention relates to an apparatus for weighing luggage. In particular, the present invention relates self weighing luggage

Background to the Invention

When travelling buy air a passenger is typically allowed to take one or more items of luggage up to a predefined maximum weight. Ordinarily, a passenger discovers the weight of their luggage for the first time when they check-in for their flight at the airport. If the luggage weighs too much, the passenger ordinarily has to pay a surcharge. As airlines try to drive down costs, the maximum amount of free luggage is decreasing. Furthermore, as green issues become more prevalent, the drive to reduce aircraft weight, and hence emissions, is increasing.

To help passengers with this problem, self-weighing luggage has become available. Such mechanism enable a passenger to know the weight of their luggage after packing. In this manner a passenger is able to remove unnecessary items in the comfort of their own home or hotel room. To date, all known proposals use systems which use the handle of the luggage as the weighing mechanism. One perceived drawback with such mechanisms is that they are inaccurate and easily damaged. The inaccuracies arise through stretch which occurs in the handle during use. This stretch occurs, in part, because airport baggage handlers move luggage around at various logistical stepping points. This heavy use leads to stretch and damage to the technical weighing equipment installed in the luggage.

Summary of Examples of the Invention

In an example embodiment, the present invention provides self-weighing luggage comprising: at least one weighing sensor provided in one end surface of said luggage; a processor, connected to said at least one weighing sensor and configured to calculate the weight on the at least one weighing sensor; and a user interface configured to inform a user of the weight calculated by the processor. In an example, said at least one weighing sensor is provided in at least one foot of the luggage. In an example, said foot has a robust structure. In an example, said user interface includes an electronic display. In an example, said user interface further comprises a switch. In an example, said switch is recessed into said user interface.

In an example, said user interface is electrically coupled to said processor. In an example, said luggage includes a plurality weighing sensors, each provided in a separate foot of the luggage. In an example, said at least one foot is attached to a bottom end surface of the luggage, and the at least one foot is used to support the luggage during normal use.

In an example, said at least one foot comprises a body, arranged to be attached to a surface of said luggage, and a base plate, arranged to be attached to said body, and wherein said weighing sensor is arranged to be placed between the body and the base plate. In an example, the luggage is a suitcase.

In a further example embodiment, the present invention provides a method for weighing luggage, the luggage comprising a weighing mechanism, the mechanism having at least one weighing sensor provided in one end surface of said luggage, a processor for calculating weight, and a user interface, the method comprising: placing the luggage on said one end surface; instructing the weighing mechanism to calculate the weight on the at least one weighing sensor; calculating, using the processor, the weight on the at least one sensor; and proving the weight to the user via the user interface.

In a further example embodiment, the present invention provides a weighing mechanism for installation into an item to be weighed, the mechanism including: at least one weighing sensor for installation in an end surface of said item; a processor, connected to said at least one weighing sensor and configured to calculate the weight of the item; and a user interface configured to inform a user of the weight calculated by the processor.

This summary provides examples of the invention which are not intended to be limiting on the scope of the invention. The features of the invention described above and recited in the claims may be combined in any suitable manner. The combinations described above and recited in the claims are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

Features and advantages associated with the examples of the invention will be apparent from the following description of some examples of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings

Examples of the invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows an item of luggage in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of some of the components of a weighing mechanism in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows the item of luggage shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows part of a foot of the luggage of Figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows a further part of the foot of the luggage of Figure 1 ;

Figure 6 shows a weighing sensor of the weighing mechanism of Figure 2; Figure 7 show a schematic diagram of the weighing mechanism of Figure 2; and Figure 8 shows a flow-chart of a method of operation of the present invention. Detailed Description of Example Embodiments

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an item of luggage in accordance with an example of the present invention. In this case, the luggage is a suitcase. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to a suitcase, and may be applied to other types of luggage, including holdalls, rucksacks, specialist carriers etc. Furthermore, as will be appreciated below, the weighing mechanism may be applied to other articles which are not items of luggage.

The suitcase 100 includes a carry handle 101 which is attached to an upper end 102 of the suitcase. The suitcase 100 also includes a trolley handle 103 which extends out of the bottom face of the suitcase. The bottom face can not be seen in Figure 1. The suitcase includes a set of wheels at the connection of the bottom face and a lower end of the suitcase. When the trolley handle 103 is extended, the suitcase may be pulled along on the set of wheels. Furthermore, the suitcase 100 includes a lid 104 which is closed by a zip 105. The suitcase 100 may be locked using locking mechanism 106. The suitcase 100 also includes user interface module 107. This is a moulded housing which includes, in a top face, a crystal display 108 and a switch 109. These are the only components of the weighing mechanism shown in Figure 1 and their operation will be described below. The switch 109 is recessed so as to prevent it from being depressed accidentally during flight.

Figure 2 shows various components of the weighing mechanism 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In particular, the weighing mechanism 200 includes the user interface module 107. As noted above, this includes the crystal display 108 and the switch 109. The weighing mechanism 200 also includes a processor unit 201. The processor unit 201 includes a processor and a 3V battery, which is a non-leakage battery. The battery is one which can withstand the range of temperatures found in the hold of an airliner during travel. The processor unit 201 is for calculating the weight of the suitcase 100 based on signals received from the weighing pads, which are described in more detail below. The processor unit 201 is electrically coupled to the crystal display 108 and the switch 109 using wiring 202. The processor unit 201 calculates the true weight of the suitcase 100, taking into consideration uneven weight distribution of the suitcase. This is achieved using an appropriate wiring technique, meaning the weight may be read even if the case is loaded unevenly. The weighing mechanism 200 is calibrated such that its weight should match that of the official airline scale. The weighing mechanism 200 also includes weighing pads 203a, 203b, 203c and 203d. These pads fit inside the feet of the suitcase 100. The suitcase 100 includes four evenly distributed feet on the lower end (opposite the upper end 102) of the suitcase. The feet fixings are very robust and have been tested by dropping a 40kg bag from 0.6m. This is the expected maximum load that the feet will be under. The weighing pads 203 continued to operate after this testing. The weighing pads 203 are interconnected by wiring 204 and in turn to processor 201 by wiring 205.

Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of the suitcase 100. This view shows the bottom surface 110 of the suitcase. This view also shows four feet 300a, 300b, 300c and 30Od.

Figures 4 and 5 show further details of the design of the weighing pads feet 300. In particular, Figure 4 shows various views of a base part 301 one of the feet 300. The base part 301 is robust enough to withstand the abuses received during transit in the cargo hold of an airliner. Figure 5 shows various views of a body casing 302 of the feet 300. The weighing pads fit inside the body casing 302. The casing sheaths 302 are machined to allow the weighing pads 203 to withstand the range of temperatures experienced during transit in the cargo hold of an airliner. The base part 301 covers the body casing 302.

The body casing fits to the bottom surface 110 of the suitcase 100. The weighing pads fit within the body casing 302. The base part 301 then fits to the bottom of the body casing 302. In use, pressure on the base part 301 causes the base part 301 to flex. This movement is transmitted to the weighing pads 203 which are then able to measure the weight of the suitcase 100.

Figure 6 shows the weighing pads 203 in more detail. Each pad includes three anchor points 303a, 303b, and 303c. This anchor points are secured between the base part 301 and the body casing 302. Each weighing pad 203 also includes three sprung arms 304a, 304b and 304c. In use, as pressure is applied to the pad, these arms flex, changing their electrical characteristics, and allowing weight to be calculated. At the centre of each pad 203, is a support unit 305. This unit includes the weighing pad 203 circuitry, for connecting the pad to the processor unit 201. Figure 7 shows a schematic diagram of the electric circuit 400 of the weighing mechanism 200. The circuit 400 includes the processor 401 , the display 108, the switch 109, the battery 401 and the weighing pads 203a, 203b, 203c and 203d. The various components of the circuit are connected as described above. The operation of the circuit is described below.

A method of operation of the weighing mechanism 200 will now be described with reference to Figure 8. When a user wishes to weigh their luggage, they must place it in such a way that the weight of the luggage is not taken on the feet (block 500). The user then presses the switch 109 in order to activate the weighing mechanism 200 (block 501 ). The weighing mechanism 200 self- calibrates and notifies the user via the display 108 when it is ready for use (block 502). The user then places the suitcase 100 on its feet 300 and presses the switch 109 once in order to begin weighing. The processor unit 201 then calculates the weight of the suitcase 100 and displays this on the display 108 (block 503).

An advantage of this embodiment is that it provides an accurate self-weighing mechanism that can calculate the weight of the suitcase, even when the suitcase 100 is unevenly loaded. A further advantage is that the self-weighing mechanism is robust and can withstand the abuses a typical item of receives during normal use. Therefore, this embodiment overcomes, or at least mitigates, some of the problems associated with self-weighing mechanisms which use a luggage handle as the weighing mechanism.

The above described self-weighing mechanism is ideally suited to luggage used in air travel. This is due the robust nature of the feet which allow operation between -5O⁰C and +5O⁰C. The components are specifically designed for air travel with the range of likely abuse in travel using robust technology commensurate with usage.

Various modifications, changes, and/or alterations may be made to the above described embodiments to provide further embodiments which use the underlying inventive concept, falling within the spirit and/or scope of the invention. Any such further embodiments are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Self-weighing luggage comprising: at least one weighing sensor provided in one end surface of said luggage; a processor, connected to said at least one weighing sensor and configured to calculate the weight on the at least one weighing sensor; and a user interface configured to inform a user of the weight calculated by the processor.

2. Self-weighing luggage according to claim 1 , wherein said at least one weighing sensor is provided in at least one foot of the luggage.

3. Self-weighing luggage according to claim 2, wherein said foot has a robust structure.

4. Self-weighing luggage according to claims 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said user interface includes an electronic display.

5. Self-weighing luggage according to any preceding claim, wherein said user interface further comprises a switch.

6. Self-weighing luggage according to claim 5, wherein said switch is recessed into said user interface.

7. Self-weighing mechanism according to any preceding claim, wherein said user interface is electrically coupled to said processor.

8. Self-weighing luggage according to any preceding claim including a plurality weighing sensors, each provided in a separate foot of the luggage.

9. Self-weighing luggage according to claim 2, wherein said at least one foot is attached to a bottom end surface of the luggage, and the at least one foot is used to support the luggage during normal use.

10. Self-weighing luggage according to claim 2, wherein said at least one foot comprises a body, arranged to be attached to a surface of said luggage, and a base plate, arranged to be attached to said body, and wherein said weighing sensor is arranged to be placed between the body and the base plate.

11. Self-weighing luggage according to any preceding claim, wherein the luggage is a suitcase.

12 A method for weighing luggage, the luggage comprising a weighing mechanism, the mechanism having at least one weighing sensor provided in one end surface of said luggage, a processor for calculating weight, and a user interface, the method comprising:

placing the luggage on said one end surface;

instructing the weighing mechanism to calculate the weight on the at least one weighing sensor;

calculating, using the processor, the weight on the at least one sensor; and

proving the weight to the user via the user interface.

13. A weighing mechanism for installation into an item to be weighed, the mechanism including:

at least one weighing sensor for installation in an end surface of said item;

a processor, connected to said at least one weighing sensor and configured to calculate the weight of the item; and

a user interface configured to inform a user of the weight calculated by the processor.

14. Self-weighing luggage substantially as described herein and as shown in the drawings.

15. A method substantially as described herein and as shown in the drawings.

16. A weighing mechanism substantially as described herein and as shown in the drawings.