WO2018185631A1

WO2018185631A1 - Luggage with integrated scale

Info

Publication number: WO2018185631A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052210
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tim Peter OUBORG; Gerard VAN LOON
Original assignee: Princess Sportsgear & Traveller B.V.
Priority date: 2017-04-03
Filing date: 2018-03-29
Publication date: 2018-10-11
Also published as: CN110475492A

Abstract

A scale for integration into a suitcase comprising: a grip handle (104) for lifting the suitcase; a weight sensor (150) fixedly connected to the handle; and a display panel (110) for displaying the weight sensed by the sensor when the suitcase is lifted by the handle.

Description

LUGGAGE WITH INTEGRATED SCALE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is of luggage and more specifically a piece of luggage with a built- in scale for indicating the weight of the luggage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable containers, such as luggage, are widely used for transporting materials, for example during travel. Travelers, especially those on flights must conform to strict luggage weight restrictions. Exceeding the weight limits imposed by an airline usually results in exorbitant charges or requires that the traveler transfer items between pieces of luggage or even leave items behind. Often, the weight of a full suitcase is not known until the check-in and resolving the overweight issue then becomes a stressful event for the traveler.

While travelers might be able to weigh their luggage on a home scale, this is often inaccurate as the luggage does not sit correctly on the scale. Further, travelers who are departing from a hotel or similar destination usually do not have access to a scale and must wait till check-in to see what weight they are carrying. Alternatively, specific suitcase weighing devices exist but for these to be useful on all travel legs they must be packed into the luggage, taking up precious space and weight.

It would therefore be advantageous if there was a device to allow weighing the luggage at any stage in its use such as on a journey without having to buy and transport an additional device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the background art by providing luggage with a built-in scale such that the weight of a piece of luggage may be known at any time.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a scale for integration into a suitcase comprises: a grip handle for lifting the suitcase; a weight sensor fixedly connected to the handle; and a display panel for displaying the weight sensed by the sensor when the suitcase is lifted by the handle. Preferably the scale further comprises: a plurality of screws for connecting said handle to said weight sensor wherein said screws pass through an upper fixing panel fixedly attached to said suitcase; and a lower fixing panel fixedly attached to said upper fixing panel wherein said sensor is fixedly attached to said lower fixing panel in between said upper and lower fixing panels.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, a suitcase comprises an integrated scale, the scale comprising: a grip handle for lifting said suitcase; a weight sensor fixedly connected to said handle; and a display panel for displaying the weight sensed by said sensor when said suitcase is lifted by said handle.

The terms portable container or luggage as used herein refer to a container in which to pack items for traveling or transporting. Non-limiting examples of luggage include suitcases, travel bags, cases, luggage and trunks. These terms may be used interchangeably herein.

Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing certain selected tasks or steps manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention, several selected steps could be implemented by hardware or by software on any operating system of any firmware or a combination thereof. For example, as hardware, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a chip or a circuit. As software, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In any case, selected steps of the method and system of the invention could be described as being performed by a data processor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality of instructions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1 A-1E are exemplary, non-limiting illustrations of a suitcase with an integrated scale according to at least some embodiments of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively an exploded illustration of a scale assembly and a detail of a sensor for integration into a suitcase according to at least some embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an exemplary circuit diagram of an integrated scale according to at least some embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention in at least some embodiments is related to a system, device and a method for various improvements in luggage, bags and other carrying containers, including, for example, for travel. The suitcase of the present invention comprises an integrated scale to enable weighing of the suitcase without the need for an external scale. As described herein, the weight of the suitcase as measured by the integrated scale includes the combined weight of the suitcase and of the contents therein. Optionally, the weight displayed is of the contents alone.

Figures 1 A-1E show exemplary, non-limiting illustrations of a suitcase with an integrated scale according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in figures 1A-1E, a suitcase 100 comprises a suitcase body 102. A handle grip 104 is fixedly attached to the suitcase for carrying or moving the suitcase. Lifting the suitcase 100 with handle grip 104 also provides an indication of the weight of the suitcase on display assembly 108 using the integrated scale 200 (see figure 2A) as will be described below. Handle grip 104 is covered on its ends by caps 106.

Figures IB and 1C show enlarged illustrative views of handle grip 104, caps 106 and display assembly 108. Figures ID and IE show enlarged illustrative top views of handle grip 104, caps 106 and display assembly 108. As shown, display assembly 108 comprises display 110 for displaying the measured weight of the suitcase. Display 110 is preferably an LCD but may optionally be any type of electronic display. Display assembly 108 further comprises power toggle button 114 for switching the integrated scale on and off, and weight unit toggle button 112 for switching the displayed weight between pounds and kilograms. Optionally, other units of weight measurement are provided and can be switched between using weight unit toggle button 112. Optionally a tare button 116 (see figure 3) is provided to display only the weight of the contents of the suitcase. Optionally a power indicator LED 118 (see figure 3) illuminates when the scale is on. Alternatively LED 118 functions as a low battery indicator. Optionally buzzer 120 (see figure 3) provides an audible indication that integrated scale 200 has completed a weight measurement.

Display assembly 108 further comprises an acrylic cover 124 which is preferably a touch screen for providing buttons 114, 112, and optionally 116. Bevel 122 surrounds cover 124 of assembly 108.

Figures IB and 1C also illustrate differences in the designs of display assembly 108 and it should be appreciated that design assembly 108 may be of any color or suitable material and may be raised above the surface of suitcase body 102 as in figure 1C or may be countersunk relative to the surface of body 102 as in figure IB. Bevel 122 may also be of different colors or materials to emphasize the presence of the integrated scale.

Figure 2A is an exploded illustration of a scale assembly 200 for integration into a suitcase according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in figure 2A, scale assembly 200 comprises screws 130, wherein the heads of screws 130 are fixedly attached to either side of handle grip 104. Screws 130 pass through upper fixing panel 132 which is fixedly attached to suitcase body 102. Screws 130 are screwed into load holes 152 (see figure 2B) of weighing sensors 150. Weighing sensors 150 are preferably strain gauges as known in the art. Screws (not shown) are screwed through mounting holes 154 (see figure 2B) of sensors 150 into metal strip 142.

Metal strip 142 is in turn fixedly attached to lower fixing panel 144. Caps 106 and upper fixing panel 132 are also fixedly attached to lower fixing panel 144. Lower fixing panel 144 comprises a battery compartment (not shown) which is covered by a battery compartment cover 146. Battery compartment accommodates a battery 180 (see figure 3) for powering scale 200.

Printed circuit board (PCB) 140 is mounted on lower fixing panel 144. An exemplary circuit diagram for PCB 140 and associated components is provided in figure 3. Sensors 150 provide sensor output to PCB 140 and receive operating power therefrom.

Display assembly 108 comprises display 110. Display frame 134 is fixed on top of display 110 and acrylic cover 124 is fixed on top of display frame 134. Display bevel 122 is fixed on top of acrylic cover 124. Display assembly 108 is mounted on PCB 140 and receives power and display information therefrom. Integrated scale 200 preferably can bear a load of up to 40kg. Scale 200 preferably has an error range of +/- 400 gram. Preferably scale 200 has an operating temperature of between - 10 to +50 degrees Celsius.

Reference is now made to figure 3 which is an exemplary circuit diagram of an integrated scale according to at least some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 3 shows PCB 140 comprising integrated circuit (IC) 170 for receiving a sensor output from sensor 150 and providing a weight value for display on display 110. Figure 3 also shows battery 180 for providing power to the scale 200, buttons 112, 114, and 116 and LED 118 and buzzer 120.

In operation, when handle grip 104 is lifted to lift suitcase 100, and integrated scale 200 is switched on, screws 130 pull on the load holes 152 of sensors 150, causing sensors 150 to bend. This bend is proportional to the strain on the sensors 150 since the mounting holes of sensors 150 are fixed to the suitcase via strip 142 attached to lower fixing panel 144 which in turn is fixed to upper panel 132 which is fixed to suitcase 100. This strain on sensors 150 results in a voltage change across sensors 150. This voltage is provided to IC 170 which converts the sensed voltage into a weight according to a calibration provided during fabrication of the integrated scale 200. The weight is then displayed on display 110.

Optionally the displayed weight is held on the display even after suitcase 100 is set down.

It should be appreciated that the above described methods and apparatus may be varied in many ways, including omitting or adding steps, changing the order of steps and the type of devices used. It should be appreciated that different features may be combined in different ways. In particular, not all the features shown above in a particular embodiment are necessary in every embodiment of the invention. Further combinations of the above features are also considered to be within the scope of some embodiments of the invention.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Different components, embodiments and sub-embodiments may optionally be combined herein in any suitable manner, beyond those explicit combinations and sub combinations shown herein.

Claims

A scale for integration into a suitcase comprising:

a. a grip handle for lifting said suitcase;

b. at least one weight sensor fixedly connected to said handle; and

c. a display panel for displaying the weight sensed by said sensor when said suitcase is lifted by said handle.

The scale of claim 1 further comprising

a. a plurality of screws for connecting said handle to said weight sensor wherein said screws pass through an upper fixing panel fixedly attached to said suitcase; and

b. a lower fixing panel fixedly attached to said upper fixing panel wherein said sensor is fixedly attached to said lower fixing panel in between said upper and lower fixing panels.

A suitcase comprising an integrated scale, said scale comprising:

a. a grip handle for lifting said suitcase;

b. a weight sensor fixedly connected to said handle; and