SELF WEIGHING LUGGAGE BAG

Abstract

A luggage bag which is able to weigh itself when the bag is opened during packing so as to be able to determine if airline weight limits have been exceeded while the bag is open and being packed.

Claims

1. A luggage bag comprised of two cases pivotally connected together along one side to be able to be swung apart to allow the cases to be pivoted open by swinging about the connected side so that the cases are positioned side by side with an open top allowing items to be placed therein when packing; each case having an arrangement of weight sensors mounted on a side surface and producing electronic signals corresponding to the total weight of each case including packed contents therein; a summing processor receiving and summing said signals to produce a signal corresponding to the total weight of said both cases with any contents packed therein; and a numeric display visible to a user when receiving said total weight sensor signals and producing a numeric display thereby located on one side of one of said cases so as to be visible to a person packing said opened cases.

2. The luggage bag according to claim 1 wherein said sensor arrangements comprise four spaced apart weight sensors arranged in a quadrilateral pattern on an outer side of each case which is on the bottom surface of each case when said luggage cases are swung open and lying on a supporting surface.

3. The luggage bag according to claim 1 wherein a surface is on a bottom wall of each case when swung open and said sensors are located so as to be arranged in a quadrilateral pattern thereon.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is a side view of a luggage bag according to the invention in the closed up condition.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a front view of luggage bag shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 3 is an end view of two opened cases constituting the luggage bag are laid flat on a hard surface.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the luggage bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the two cases unzipped and laid flat.

[0025] FIG. 5 is an enlarged outer view of the display screen with associated connections and a summing signal processor depicted schematically.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following detailed description, certain specific terminology will be employed for the sake of clarity and a particular embodiment described in accordance with the requirements of 35 USC 112, but it is to be understood that the same is not intended to be limiting and should not be so construed inasmuch as the invention is capable of taking many forms and variations within the scope of the appended claims.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1 in the drawings, the luggage bag 10 which may be wheeled as shown has two separate storage cases 12, 14 able to be connected together facing each other as with a zipper 16.

[0028] Handles 18A, 18B may be provided at the top and the side of one of the cases 14. Feet 25 are provided when resting the bag 10 on its side. An extendable handle 22 may be provided as per the usual practice for wheeled bags.

[0029] An LED display 20 is located on one side of one of the cases 14 so as to be viewable when the cases 12, 14 are unzipped and laid flat side by side, connected together along one side as with a fabric strip 24 or other connection as seen in FIG. 2.

[0030] Two AAA batteries 54 are in a housing 52 behind the LED display 20 but within the casing 14.

[0031] A pressure surface 26 is integrally formed (or being a plate separately mounted thereto) is on the outside of each case 12, 14.

[0032] Four commercially available weight sensors 28 are arranged in a quadrilateral pattern on each pressure surface 26 the quadrilateral pattern prevents slight tipping which possibly could contact the surface on which the cases 12, 14 rest, possibly causing a significant error by reducing the total sensed weight.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows the details of the sensor mountings. It should be understood that such weight sensors are commercially available for scales, etc. and can be used in the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 5 shows the LED display 20 which includes a screen 36 displaying the total weight sensed by all of the sensors 28. All of the signals from the sensors 28 are transmitted to a summing signal processor 32 which could include suitable software wherein a total weight is determined and transmitted to the display 20.

[0035] An on/off control button 50A is also provided as well as a unit change button 50B (lbs to Kg).