Patent ID: 7645949

Claim:
A portable scale comprising: (a) a housing having a top end and a bottom end; (b) two spring-loaded handles retractable into and extendable from said housing; (c) a weighing hook retractable into and extendable from the bottom end of said housing; (d) a guide mechanism comprising a slotted rail and a captive trolley connected to said weighing hook for dropping said weighing hook into an extended position away from the bottom end of said housing; (e) a lock/release mechanism for (i) locking said handles into extended positions away from said housing; (ii) locking said handles and said weighing hook into retracted positions within said housing; and (iii) releasing said handles and said weighing hook from retracted positions within said housing; (f) a switch in said housing for operating said lock/release mechanism; (g) a weight sensor in said housing operatively connected to said weighing hook; (h) an LED display in the top end of said housing and in electronic communication with said weight sensor; and (i) an on/off switch in electronic communication with said weight sensor and said LED display.