U.S. patent application number 14/054758 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-17 for self-propelled luggage.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mirko DiGiacomcantonio, Yonathan Gebreyes. Invention is credited to Mirko DiGiacomcantonio, Yonathan Gebreyes.
Application Number | 20140107868 14/054758 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50476119 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140107868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DiGiacomcantonio; Mirko ; et
al. |
April 17, 2014 |
SELF-PROPELLED LUGGAGE
Abstract
A container with a propelling system that can be controlled
remotely, and a sensor system to help to navigate the
container.
Inventors: |
DiGiacomcantonio; Mirko;
(Atlanta, GA) ; Gebreyes; Yonathan; (Mableton,
GA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
DiGiacomcantonio; Mirko
Gebreyes; Yonathan |
Atlanta
Mableton |
GA
GA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50476119 |
Appl. No.: |
14/054758 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61713668 |
Oct 15, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
701/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 5/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
701/2 |
International
Class: |
A45C 5/14 20060101
A45C005/14 |
Claims
1. A self-propelled luggage system comprising: a propelling system
for driving at least one drive wheel associated with a container; a
wireless receiver communicatively coupled to the propelling system
and configured to receive control commands; a remote control
communicatively coupled to the wireless receiver and providing a
user interface to enable a user to associate the wireless receiver
with the remote control; and an application running in the remote
control and configured to provide control commands to the wireless
receiver, the control commands providing instructions to alter the
operation of the propelling system.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a utility patent application being filed in the
United States as a non-provisional application for patent under
Title 35 U.S.C. .sctn.100 et seq. and 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.53(b) and,
claiming the benefit of the prior filing date under Title 35,
U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) of the United States provisional application
for patent that was filed on Oct. 15, 2012 and assigned Ser. No.
61/713,668, which application, as well as any other documents it
may incorporate, is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] One of the biggest burdens of traveling is toting ones
luggage through airport parking lots, which thanks to the events of
9/11 has resulted in quite a huff from the parking lot to the
terminal, as well as traversing through the airport. What is needed
in the art is a technique that allows a person's luggage to be
self-propelled.
SUMMARY
[0003] A container with a propelling system that can be controlled
remotely, and a sensor system to help to navigate the
container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is an environmental drawing showing an exemplary
embodiment within a luggage container.
[0005] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a suitcase container
suitable for embodiments of the self-propelled system.
[0006] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram of a sensor that can be
incorporated into a shoe for helping to guide or navigate the
self-propelled system.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of a remote control for a
self-propelled system in the form of a dedicated remote or a smart
phone embodiment with a resident application.
[0008] FIG. 5 is an exemplary screen shot of an application running
on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0009] FIG. 6 is an exemplary screen shot of an application running
on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0010] FIG. 7 is an exemplary screen shot of an application running
on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0011] FIG. 8 is an exemplary screen shot of an application running
on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0012] FIG. 9 is an exemplary screen shot of an application running
on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0013] FIG. 10 is an exemplary screen shot of an application
running on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0014] FIG. 11 is an exemplary screen shot of an application
running on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
[0015] FIG. 12 is an exemplary screen shot of an application
running on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In general, some embodiments of a self-propelled suitcase or
other container are presented herein along with various features,
aspects and functions that may be included in one or more
embodiments. An exemplary embodiment pertains to a portable
motorized suitcase, which can operate in a motorized or manual
mode. The suitcase includes an extendable handle, which is provided
with multi-directional wheels. The motor and movement of the
luggage can be controlled via an electronic device, namely a mobile
phone via Bluetooth signal or an electronic remote control.
[0017] The self-propelled/motorized luggage shall track and follow
the users motion and direction as guided by a remote control, smart
phone and foot sensor. A distance can range from 1 to several feet
in radius.
[0018] Features that can be in various embodiments include the
following: [0019] Ability for multiple bags or containers to be
controlled by remote or mobile phone; [0020] A method for following
a users smart phone/remote control and foot sensors in close
proximity; [0021] The ability to alert user and other parties if
bag is missing or stolen, still or out of battery; [0022] The
ability to track the whereabouts of the bag whenever a bluetooth
signal is available; [0023] The ability to disable the bag from
following the user; [0024] The onboard
computer/transponder/receiver for the luggage can have the ability
to: [0025] Be aware of obstacles and avoid collisions and change
course with incoming objects/projectiles; and [0026] Alert the user
when it fails to receive incoming bluetooth signal from a mobile
device and foot sensor.
[0027] To increase reliability, embodiments can include 3 way
communication between the luggage a mobile device and a foot
sensor. This feature would allow the luggage to accurately track a
users pace, direction and momentum.
[0028] In one embodiment, a scooter or platform can include a
controller board and motor driven wheels. The platform includes a
wireless communication device, such as a BLUETOOTH transceiver that
can communicate with a remote control. In operation, the luggage
can be set onto and/or locked or connected to this platform and
then guided by the remote control.
[0029] In another embodiment, the luggage carriers that are
available for free or rent in airport terminals can be equipped
with a controller board that includes a transceiver such as a
BLUETOOTH transceiver. When a patron selects a luggage carrier, the
user can synchronize his or her remote with the luggage carrier,
place his or her luggage onto the carrier and then, guide the
luggage to an intended destination.
[0030] In another embodiment, a specialized piece of luggage may
include the controller board, transceiver and motor-driven system
including one or more wheels.
[0031] In some embodiments, the wheel system may include one or
more wheels that are motor-driven. In other embodiments, the wheel
system may include a single roller ball that can be driven in
multiple directions. Other non-motor-driven wheels may be used to
stabilize the device.
[0032] The remote control can be a dedicated piece of equipment or,
may be a device such as a smart phone that includes an application.
The remote communications with the various embodiments of the
luggage propelling system to control the operation and thus the
movement of the luggage. The remote can be used to set up
thresholds such as: [0033] how close the luggage will stay in
proximity to the remote, [0034] the speed that the luggage will be
propelled, [0035] the sensitivity of the sensors to stopping and
starting, [0036] the weight of the luggage being propelled,
etc.
[0037] The control can be set to a follow-me mode in which the
luggage propelling system will simply follow the remote using
sensor signals transmitted and received between the remote and the
transceiver in the luggage propelling system. In another
embodiment, the control can be set to a control mode in which the
remote can be used to direct the luggage propelling system to move
the luggage from one point to the next.
[0038] The luggage propelling system may include brakes to stop or
slow the luggage if it begins moving too fast or if it loses
synchronization with the remote.
[0039] The luggage propelling system can include an audible and/or
visual alarm system to alert the user if the luggage propelling
system loses contact with the remote, falls over or is moving in an
unexpected direction or manner.
[0040] The luggage movement system may also include one or more
accelerometers, gyro-sensors, GPS location devices, etc., to detect
motion and location of the luggage.
[0041] The luggage movement system may also include a locking
mechanism to prevent opening of the luggage unless the luggage is
within a threshold distance from the remote control. In some
embodiments, the remote control may include an actuator that can be
used to lock or unlock a locking mechanism in or on the
luggage.
[0042] In some embodiments, the luggage may include a holder to
receive the remote control when the luggage does not require
movement, such as during storage or upon reaching a desired
location.
[0043] The technology to communicate between the luggage propelling
system and the remote may include a variety of technologies
including BLUETOOTH, unlicensed RF spectrum, audio, infrared,
sonic, WIFI as well as any other transmission technology.
[0044] Commands that can be used to control the movement of the
luggage can include one or more of the follow commands, as well as
other commands: start, stop, slow down, speed up, left, right,
reverse, X degrees left, X degrees right, soft stop, soft start,
hard stop, hard start, rotate left, rotate right, etc.
[0045] In some embodiments, the luggage may include propelled
wheels on a single surface, such as the bottom, or may include
propelled wheels on multiple surfaces such as the bottom and a
side. In some embodiments, propelled wheels may be included on each
of the surfaces.
[0046] FIG. 12 is an exemplary screen shot of an application
running on a smart phone and providing setup, operation and status
information for operation of certain aspects of a self-propelled
container. On the top of the screen is a quick snapshot of the
remaining battery life and an name or identifier for a bag that is
connected or is being controlled by the remote control. There is a
button, a soft button shown in red in the illustrated embodiment,
that is actuated to disconnect a currently connected bag, in this
instance to disconnect my Bag01. In some embodiments, this soft
button may be an omnipresent button that is placed on all screens,
just in case the user would like to disconnect the bag from the
device promptly.
[0047] Further, the illustrated embodiment includes a numbered dial
that a user can adjust by touching the round grey or black button
underneath or proximate to the numbers then to adjust the level of
the following distance.
[0048] A dashboard can then be selected to provide a view into
which bags are being controlled, which are available in the area to
be controlled, selecting one or more bags to control (simultaneous
bags can be controlled with the same command, multiple bags can be
selected to respond to the same command and the same sensor or, in
other embodiments multiple bags can be selected in a cascaded
fashion such that one bag is directly controlled by the sensor in a
user and commands from the remote, while a next bag is controlled
by a sensor in the first bag and commands relayed by the first bag
or commands from the remote).
[0049] The present invention has been described using detailed
descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of
example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The described embodiments comprise different features, not all of
which are required in all embodiments of the invention. Some
embodiments of the present invention utilize only some of the
features or possible combinations of the features. Variations of
embodiments of the present invention that are described and
embodiments of the present invention comprising different
combinations of features noted in the described embodiments will
occur to persons of the art.
[0050] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that
the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly
shown and described herein above. Rather the scope of the invention
is defined by the claims that follow.
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