U.S. patent application number 13/695183 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-14 for handle.
The applicant listed for this patent is Peter Palmer. Invention is credited to Peter Palmer.
Application Number | 20130037363 13/695183 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42289908 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130037363 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Palmer; Peter |
February 14, 2013 |
HANDLE
Abstract
The present invention relates to a handle for use with an item
of luggage. The handle comprises an outer shell, at least one inner
bar and at least one strain gauge, wherein the at least one inner
bar extends out from within the outer shell at each end of the
handle such that the item of luggage may be attached to the handle
using the at least one inner bar. The arrangement is such that when
an item of luggage is lifted using the handle, the weight of the
suitcase is measured using the at least one strain gauge.
Inventors: |
Palmer; Peter; (Coalville,
GB) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Palmer; Peter |
Coalville |
|
GB |
|
|
Family ID: |
42289908 |
Appl. No.: |
13/695183 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
April 28, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2011/000674 |
371 Date: |
October 29, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
190/115 ;
16/114.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01G 19/58 20130101;
Y10T 16/455 20150115; A45C 13/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
190/115 ;
16/114.1 |
International
Class: |
A45C 13/28 20060101
A45C013/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 30, 2010 |
GB |
1007263.5 |
Claims
1. A handle for use with an item of luggage, said handle comprising
an outer part, at least one inner bar and at least one strain
gauge, wherein the at least one inner bar extends out from within
the outer part at each end of the handle such that the item of
luggage may be attached to the handle using the at least one inner
bar, the arrangement being such that when an item of luggage is
lifted using the handle, the weight of the suitcase is measured
using the at least one strain gauge.
2. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner
bar is a continuous bar extending from one end of the handle to the
other with the at least one strain gauge mounted on the continuous
bar or within a recess in the continuous bar.
3. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inner
bar comprises two parts linked by the at least one strain
gauge.
4. A handle according to claim 3, wherein the two parts of the at
least one inner bar are linked by a single strain gauge.
5. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the handle further
comprises display means for displaying the weight of the item of
luggage.
6. A handle according to claim 5, wherein the display means
comprises a liquid crystal display.
7. A handle according to claim 5, wherein the display means is
protected by a retractable cover.
8. A handle according to claim 7, wherein the retractable cover can
retract such that it is housed within the outer part.
9. A handle according to claim 1, wherein the handle further
comprises a battery.
10. A handle according to claim 9, wherein the handle further
comprises an on/off switch.
11. An item of luggage comprising a handle according to claim
1.
12. An item of luggage according to claim 11, wherein the item of
luggage further comprises display means for displaying the weight
of the item of luggage.
13. An item of luggage according to claim 12, wherein the display
means comprises a liquid crystal display.
14. An item of luggage according to claim 12, wherein the display
means is protected by a retractable cover.
15. An item of luggage according to claim 11, wherein the handle
can pivot between an upstanding position and a flat position.
16. An item of luggage according to claim 15, wherein the item of
luggage comprises a recess, and wherein, when the handle is in the
flat position, the handle is located within the recess.
17. (canceled)
18. (canceled)
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a handle, and, more
particularly, to a handle that enables the weight of an item of
luggage to be measured.
[0002] Various means of measuring the weight of an item of luggage
are known, including the use of an external weighing mechanism and
weighing mechanisms that are integrated within an item of
luggage.
[0003] Clearly the simplest external weighing mechanism is a set of
scales, but other external weighing mechanisms specifically
designed for use with an item of luggage have also been developed.
For example, GB 2411966 discloses an electronic weighing device
that may be used to lift an item of luggage by way of a strap
releaseably fitted around the handle of the item of luggage.
However, external weighing mechanisms have an inherent disadvantage
in that a user is required to carry a separate device with them to
wherever they may wish or need to measure the weight of the
suitcase.
[0004] Known weighing mechanisms that are integrated within an item
of luggage include mechanisms using springs and load sensors. For
example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,090,454 discloses a handle for use with an
item of luggage, in which a weighing mechanism comprising springs
is built into the handle. Lifting an item of luggage with a handle
according to US '454 causes the weight of the item of luggage to be
displayed mechanically. However, such a device is inaccurate and
the mechanical display would be difficult for a user to read. Even
more recent developments tend to suffer from multiple
disadvantages. For example, US 2006/0266563 discloses a weighing
mechanism comprising one or more load sensors that are built into
the base or the top surface of an item of luggage. Use of the
weighing mechanism of US '563 would require the modification of the
item of luggage itself and the weighing mechanism is located in a
place where it is likely to be damaged during use of the item of
luggage.
[0005] The present invention seeks to provides an improved handle
that overcomes many of the disadvantages associated with prior art
mechanisms for weighing an item of luggage.
[0006] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention
there is provided a handle for use with an item of luggage, said
handle comprising an outer part, at least one inner bar and at
least one strain gauge, wherein the at least one inner bar extends
out from within the outer part at each end of the handle such that
the item of luggage may be attached to the handle using the at
least one inner bar, the arrangement being such that when an item
of luggage is lifted using the handle, the weight of the suitcase
is measured using the at least one strain gauge.
[0007] In the preferred embodiment, the outer part is an outer
shell. The outer shell may be made out of any durable material,
such as a hard plastic or a metal. A hard plastic outer shell
provides a robust handle whilst helping to minimise its weight.
Optionally, the outer shell may be ergonomically designed, may
comprise a textured outer surface and/or may comprise an additional
outer layer, such as rubber, to improve grip.
[0008] The at least one inner bar may be made out of any durable
material, such as a hard plastic or a metal. The at least one inner
bar may be a continuous bar extending from one end of the handle to
the other with the at least one strain gauge mounted on the
continuous bar or within a recess in the continuous bar.
Alternatively, the at least one inner bar may comprise two parts
linked by the at least one strain gauge.
[0009] The at least one inner bar may be maintained in a fixed
position within the outer shell by the close fit of parts of the
outer shape of the at least one inner bar with parts of the
internal shape of the outer shell. In embodiments in which the at
least one inner bar comprises two parts linked by the at least one
strain gauge, the at least one inner bar may also be maintained in
a fixed position within the outer shell by the close fit of parts
of the outer shape of the at least one strain gauge with parts of
the internal shape of the outer shell.
[0010] Preferably, the handle comprises a single strain gauge.
Using a single strain gauge enables the accurate measurement of the
weight of the item of luggage. The strain gauge may be connected to
a printed circuit board that converts the signal from the strain
gauge into a weight measurement.
[0011] The handle of the present invention may also comprise
display means for displaying the weight of the item of luggage.
Suitable display means include a liquid crystal display. The weight
may be displayed in any unit of measurement and the display means
may comprise a button to switch between different units of
measurement, e.g. between kilograms and pounds.
[0012] The display means may be protected by a retractable cover to
prevent the display means being damaged at times when it is not
necessary to weigh the item of luggage, e.g. when the item of
luggage is being processed by baggage handlers at an airport. The
retractable cover may be designed to retract such that it is housed
within the outer shell and may comprise two parts that move away
from each other as they retract to uncover the display means.
[0013] The handle of the present invention may also comprise a
battery to supply power to the weighing mechanism and/or the
display means. The battery may be stored behind a removable cover
to ensure that the battery may readily be changed. The handle may
also comprise an on/off switch to improve battery life.
[0014] In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention
there is provided a suitcase comprising the handle of the present
invention. Any item of luggage incorporating a handle may be
covered by the present invention, for example the item of luggage
may be a suitcase, a rucksack, a bag, a trunk or a briefcase.
[0015] The item of luggage may also comprise display means for
displaying the weight of the item of luggage either in addition to
or instead of the display means that may be present in the handle.
As with the display means suitable for use with the handle, display
means suitable for use with the item of luggage include a liquid
crystal display. Also as with the display means suitable for use
with the handle, the display means suitable for use with the item
of luggage may be protected by a retractable cover, may display the
weight in any unit of measurement and may comprise a button to
switch between different units of measurement.
[0016] The item of luggage may be designed such that the handle can
pivot between an upstanding position and a flat position.
Preferably, the item of luggage will comprise a recess, the recess
being shaped such that when the handle is in the flat position it
is located within the recess. This helps ensure the handle is not
damaged when it is not in use.
[0017] The at least one inner bar may be attached to the item of
luggage by any suitable means, such as springs, pins, spigots
and/or pegs. In embodiments in which the handle can pivot, the
pivot point of the handle may be extended inwards (towards the
middle of the handle) to help distribute the weight of the item of
luggage.
[0018] One embodiment of a handle according to the present
invention is depicted in the Figures, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a view of the inside of a handle according to the
present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 2 is a close up of a part of FIG. 1
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