Hand held luggage scale case construction

A hand held luggage scale case is comprised of a generally pentagonal pair of shells which fit compatibly together and include a storage chamber section for weight sensing elements as well as a tape measure. The case includes a recess channel molded into the shell to retain a weight measurement hook.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a hand held luggage scale and, more particularly, to a case for such a scale which is designed to be ergonomical, useful, compact, and easily stored. The hand held luggage scale case of the invention may be utilized in combination with electronic weight measuring technology as well as mechanical weight measuring technology.

With the advent of various travel restrictions particularly air travel restrictions, persons traveling often find it necessary to pack luggage carefully taking into account the weight of luggage inasmuch as transportation service providers typically will charge additional fees for overweight luggage. Additionally, many items which are mailed or shipped often require the sender to take into account the weight of the item being shipped. Thus there has developed the need to provide a compact yet useful weight measurement device of the type which may be hand held and easily transported or stored for use at remote locations such as those locations where a traveler would find themselves.

Various prior art patents and applications disclose scales useful for such purposes. For example, Christman et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,399 entitled “Hand Held Weighing Scale” issued Jun. 26, 1990 discloses a scale which utilizes an electronic measuring device retained within a case from which a hook is suspended. The item to be weighed is suspended on the hook and its weight is reported on a “read out” window. Dittrich et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,895 issued Jul. 3, 2007 for a Multi Purpose Digital Scale for Travelers discloses another type of portable scale allowing travelers to calculate the weight of an item which is to be transported. Critzler in U.S. Publication No. 2008/0251298 published Oct. 16, 2008 discloses another version of a portable hand held electronic scale. It is noted that many of these scales utilize electronic measurement sensors although mechanical measurement sensors are also available. A mechanical scale is taught in U.S. Pat. No. 7,232,961 entitled “Portable Hand Held Luggage Weight and Size Measurement Device” issued Jun. 19, 2007. All the references cited are incorporated herein by reference.

While such devices are extremely useful, there has remained a need for an ergonomic, useful and highly compact weight measurement device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention is directed to a hand held luggage scale case which may incorporate either electronic or mechanical weight measurement sensors and read out mechanisms as well as a size measurement device such as a flexible tape. The case has a generally pentagonal configuration with a front side, a back side, a horizontal, generally planar top side and a bottom side that defines an apex. The top side forms one side of the pentagon. Second and third opposite sides extend downwardly from the top side and diverge slightly therefrom to form two additional sides of the generally pentagonal form. Fourth and fifth sides of the pentagonal form join to the second and third sides, respectively and converge to join the bottom side or apex of the case wherein an opening is provided for a support rod or element attached to the weight sensing and measuring mechanism retained within the case. The fourth and fifth sides of the pentagon are smoothly joined at the bottom side or apex which is a short surface that is generally parallel to the first or top side of the case. The case is a molded case which is formed from two molded shells in opposed relation to form an internal chamber and that include generally congruent sides and which join together along opposing peripheral edges. The edges are congruent to enable the joined shells to form the interior chamber which house the weight sensing mechanism and a measuring tape.

A hand opening or hand holding passage is arranged along and parallel to the top side of the case. The hand opening is generally rectangular and transverse to a vertical, longitudinal axis of the case that extends along a medial line from the top side to the bottom side of the case. The case is designed to be symmetrical about the medial line or longitudinal axis. A weight “read out” window is positioned substantially at the midpoint of the medial line or axis below the hand grip passage. Control buttons are arranged symmetrically along the medial line beneath the hand passage above the read out window and are bounded on each side by detents or recesses in the front side of the case designed to enable the user of the scale to grip the scale using their thumbs positioned within the detents or recesses. Along the fourth and fifth sides of the pentagonally shaped case arcuate recesses are provided in the top side of the shell for receipt of the palms of an individual holding the scale with both hands. The combination of the arcuate recesses for the palms associated with the top side of the case and the detents for thumbs enables a user to lift the scale and luggage supported thereon using both hands to thereby enhance the ergonomic utility of the scale while easily viewing the “read out” window.

A hook is supported on an articulated connection or link at the bottom side or apex of the case. The hook is thus linked to the support rod or element and may be pivoted about the link in a manner which enables the hook to be folded and retained in an array of recess channels molded into the backside shell of the luggage scale case. Thus, the hook element may be easily stored and protected by impressing it into a compatible storage channel on the outside surface of the backside shell of the case. A tape measure may be incorporated within the interior of the shell of the case and retracted therefrom through one of the second or third lateral sides of the case.

Thus it is an object of the invention to provide an ergonomic, hand held luggage scale case useful for measurement weight and dimensions of luggage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a light weight yet rugged inexpensive and easily used hand held luggage scale device.

Another object of the invention is to provide a luggage scale device which is compact and which includes a luggage support hook which may be easily folded or integrated into the luggage scale case for protective storage.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, the luggage scale case20of the invention includes a molded front side shell22and a compatible molded backside shell24. The shells22and24are integral, that is, single molded elements, though they may comprise multiple sections joined together to provide the form of the described case20. Thus, typically, each shell is molded as a single component and each shell includes a peripheral edge26and28, respectively, which enables the shells22,24to be joined together along their peripheral edges26,28. The separate shells22,24each include or define a generally closed loop, peripheral surface or side30and32, respectively, which when the component edges26and28are joined form an internal chamber. The internal chamber provides the volume in which a weight sensing read out mechanism, for example, of the type disclosed in any of the references cited heretofore may be incorporated. Thus a mechanical measurement device or an electronic measurement device may be incorporated. With contemporary hand held weight measurement constructions, the electronic version is typically more likely and/or more popular.

The assembled case20includes a longitudinal axis of symmetry34which extends from a top side end36to a bottom side end38. Thus the front side shell22and the backside shell24are molded and symmetrical respectively about the axis of symmetry34. The front side shell22includes a read out window39which is located on axis34substantially at the midpoint of the distance between the extreme ends36,38of the longitudinal axis34. The case20includes a first top lateral side or run40which is joined to second and third lateral sides42and44respectively that diverge slightly outwardly from top lateral side40. The diverging lateral sides42and44are connected respectively to converging fourth and fifth lower end lateral sides or surfaces46and48which connect at an apex region to a short linking surface50. The case20thus has a generally pentagonal shape with generally smooth connecting arcuate surfaces joining each of the respective generally flat planar lateral sides forming the pentagonal shape. The smooth surfaces joining respective linear surfaces such as lateral side42and lateral side46or lateral side44and straight lateral side48provide an ergonomically useful shell construction which is easily stored and which may be extremely compact.

The case20further includes a generally rectangular opening52adjacent the top side36.

The opening52has a lateral dimension between the sides42and44that is greater than the longitudinal dimension along the axis34. The passage52thus defines a hand hold passage and the top border of the inside of the hand hold passage52includes a smoothly curved section54which facilitates the ergonomic character of the case20to promote ease of gripping with one hand.

Arranged symmetrically on, and on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis34on the front side of the front shell22, are central control buttons of a control panel section57including a power start and reset button51, a button53which sets the readings through the view window39in appropriate units, such as English units or metric units, and a separate button55which provides that the measured weight upon the support hook64will be retained for purposes of reading.

Arranged on each side of the central control panel section57, which includes the buttons51,53and55that control the operation of the scale, are thumb detents or depressions59and61, respectively, on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis34. These depressions or detents59and61are designed to receive the underside of the thumbs of the left and right hands of an individual as depicted in phantom.

Arcuate recessed sections63and65on the front side or face of the case or front shell22are designed to receive a portion of the palms of an individual; namely, the left and right hand portions below the thumb of an individual. Thus, an individual may place, for example, their right hand thumb into the detent59with the palm portion of their thumb placed within the arcuate recess section63. Similarly, with the left hand of an individual, the individual may place their thumb in the detent61with the palm portion placed in the arcuate recess65. In this manner, an individual may hold the scale with both hands in order to achieve a better balance and steady positioning of the scale while simultaneously being able to observe the read out through the window39and manipulate the buttons while holding the scale and a luggage item supported thereby with both hands (seeFIG. 2).

The scale device includes a depending element in the form of a rod56depending through an opening58in the bottom side50. The rod56is connected to a link or loop element60that joins to the eye62of an arcuate hook64. The arcuate hook64includes a curved section66which is generally semi-circular with an end run68projecting from the semi-circular arcuate curve section66.

Referring toFIG. 5, the backside shell24may include fasteners such as fasteners70and72which facilitate connection of the backside shell24and the front side shell22. The backside shell24also includes a recessed hook channel76made up of a first channel section78extending from the bottom side50along the longitudinal axis34and connecting to diverging second and third arcuate channel sections80and82which diverge in the opposite sense of one another and are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis34. The arcuate channels80and82extend in an arcuate path of at least 160 to 200° and terminate in a straight section such as straight sections86and88. As shown inFIG. 5, the purpose of the hook recess channel76is to engage and retain the hook64in a storage position. That is the hook64is retained and recessed within the channel76within either channel80or channel82. Hook64is retained therein by a constricted area of each such as the area90for channel80and92for the channel82so that the hook64will, in essence, snap fit into one of the channels80,82. Importantly, the hook64is retained within a channel80or82so that it will not inadvertently catch on some item in an undesirable manner. Thus, when the scale is stored, the hook64may be safely placed within the channel76. Again, this provides for an ergonomic benefit with respect to the storage of the scale case.

Another feature of the invention is depicted by way of example inFIG. 1. There the backside shell24is depicted having a slot98in the wall42for receipt of a tape measure100. The angled end102of measure100thus enables the tape measure100to be easily accessible. The tape which is retained within the chamber formed by the front side shell22and backside shell24provides a storage feature for the tape measure which may thus be used to measure the size of luggage that is to be weighed in order to confirm compliance with travel restrictions associated with the sizing of luggage. Again, by placing the tape measure100within the chamber defined by the shells22and24and exposed only through the wall42, access is insured to the tape100in a safe and convenient ergonomically beneficial way. Further, the tape measure100is easily stored as was the hook64to enhance the compactness and safety of use of the case20.

The description of the manner in which an item may be held by both hands of an individual as set forth previously and the positioning of the storage of the hook64, as also discussed previously, have been associated with the front shell22and the back side shell24, respectively. Thus, the hook64is stored in appropriate channels molded into the back shell24whereas the front shell22is molded for gripping by both hands of an individual. However, the molded construction may be reversed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The compactness of the case20is another beneficial characteristic or aspect of the invention. Specifically, because of the choice of pentagonal configuration, the horizontal dimension of the first top side of run40is typically in the range of 3 to 4½ inches. This enables the hand opening52adjacent the top side40to be sized to accommodate, in an ergonomic fashion, a wide variety of hand sizes. The length of the second and third lateral sides42and44is substantially equal and in the range of 2¾ to 3¾ inches. By providing that the sides42,44diverge, the interior chamber within the case20is adequately sized to incorporate weight measurement, instrumentation as well as the tape measure100. The converging lower end sides46and48are typically in the range of about 3½ to 4½ inches and the apex or linking surface50is generally about 1 inch in length. The choice of dimensions thus enables the formation of a compact, hand held carry case which, because of its configuration and its general symmetry about the vertical longitudinal axis34, provides adequate internal chamber size for the necessary instrumentation while at the same time providing a rather compact and highly functional device wherein the hook64is stored and sharp edges are avoided. This provides an enhanced safety characteristic associated with the design of the case20.

The specification and claims are intended to be interpreted broadly with respect to the scope and meaning of adjectives, adverbs and prepositions as well as nouns and verb forms. By way of example, though specific claim language may include the word “between”, the interpretation of said word shall not be limited to preclude extent of elements beyond boundaries of the example unless specific disclaimer is made or unless by virtue of prosecution the term is to be limited. Articles are also not to be limited and articles such as “a” and “an” shall not be limited to a single item or element unless specifically disclaimed. The examples of the invention should therefore not be interpreted as limiting unless indicated as such.

While there have been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.