Portable Handheld Electronic Scale

• US 20080251298A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Famtrips Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E-Famtrips Incorporated
• Inventors: Kritzler, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,550,684 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/45
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/001 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/58 combined with handles of suit-cases or trunks

Abstract

A portable handheld electronic scale can weigh luggage and other objects. The scale includes an electronic weight-measuring device configured to measure and indicate the weight of the luggage. If the weight of the item of luggage exceeds the weight restriction of an airline, the traveler can reduce the weight of the item of luggage below the weight limit set by the airline by removing some of the contents of the item of luggage. Depending upon the particular embodiment of the scale, a user can comfortably hold the scale either parallel or perpendicular to the ground when the scale is used to lift the item of luggage off of a ground surface in order to obtain the weight of the item of luggage. An audible signal may be given when the measured weight is fixed on a display and/or when it is greater than a set limit.

Claims

1. A portable handheld scale for weighing an object, the scale comprising:

a housing formed with a portion serving as a handle, said housing extending along a longitudinal axis, said handle extending along the longitudinal axis;

an electronic weight-measuring device configured to measure and indicate a weight of the object, said weight-measuring device including a weight sensor for measuring the weight of the object, said weight-measuring device disposed in said housing; and

a support assembly configured to support the object to be weighed, said support assembly attached to said weight sensor, said support assembly including a strap having a first end with a first connector and a second end with a second connector that mates with said first connector.

2. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said support assembly extends in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis.

3. The scale according to claim 1, wherein:

said weight-measuring device includes a display configured to indicate the weight measured by said weight sensor;

said display is disposed in said housing;

said housing has an elongated top side extending along said longitudinal axis and an opposite elongated bottom side extending along said longitudinal axis; and

said display is located in said top side and said aperture is formed in said bottom side.

4. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said aperture is formed in said portion of said housing serving as said handle.

5. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said housing is formed with an aperture, and said support assembly extends through said aperture in a direction other than a direction of said longitudinal axis.

6. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said support assembly is configured to connect to a plurality of different types of attachments for weighing different types of objects.

7. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said weight sensor includes a capacitive load cell configured to measure the weight of the object.

8. The scale according to claim 1, wherein:

said weight-measuring device includes a display configured to indicate the weight measured by said weight sensor;

said weight-measuring device includes a transducer that provides an audible signal; and

said transducer is configured to provide the audible signal after said weight-measuring device has completed determining the weight of the object and after the weight of the object being shown on the display is fixed.

9. The scale according to claim 1, wherein:

said weight-measuring device includes a display configured to indicate the weight measured by said weight sensor; and

after said weight-measuring device has completed determining the weight of the object and after the weight of the object being shown on the display is fixed, said display provides a visual indication in addition to displaying the weight of the object.

10. The scale according to claim 1, wherein:

said weight-measuring device is configured to operate in a mode in which a weight limit can be set; and

when the weight of the object is greater than the weight limit, said weight-measuring device provides a visual indication in addition to displaying the weight of the object.

11. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said weight-measuring device includes a transducer for providing an audible signal, said weight-measuring device is configured to operate in a mode in which a weight limit can be set, and said transducer provides the audible signal when the weight of the object is greater than the weight limit.

12. The scale according to claim 1, wherein said weight-measuring device includes a display configured to indicate the weight measured by said weight sensor.

13. A portable handheld scale for weighing an object, the scale comprising:

a housing extending along a longitudinal axis, said housing formed with an aperture;

a handle attached to said housing;

an electronic weight-measuring device configured to measure and indicate a weight of the object, said weight-measuring device including a weight sensor for measuring the weight, said weight-measuring device disposed in said housing; and

a support assembly configured to support the object to be weighed, said support assembly attached to said weight sensor, said support assembly extending through said aperture;

said weight-measuring device including a display configured to indicate the weight measured by said weight sensor; and

said weight-measuring device including a transducer configured to provide an audible signal after said weight-measuring device has completed determining the weight of the object and after the weight of the object being shown on said display is fixed.

14. The scale according to claim 13, wherein said support assembly includes a strap having a first end with a first connector and a second end with a second connector that mates with said first connector.

15. The scale according to claim 13, wherein said support assembly is configured to connect to a plurality of different types of attachments for weighing different types of objects.

16. The scale according to claim 13, wherein said weight sensor includes a capacitive load cell configured to measure the weight of the object.

17. The scale according to claim 13, wherein said weight-measuring device is configured to operate in a mode in which a weight limit can be set and said display provides a visual indication in addition to displaying the weight of the object when the weight of the object is greater than the weight limit.

18. The scale according to claim 13, wherein said weight-measuring device is configured to operate in a mode in which a weight limit can be set, and said transducer provides an audible signal when the weight of the object is greater than the weight limit.

19. The scale according to claim 13, wherein said handle is formed as an integral portion of said housing, said housing extends along a longitudinal axis, and said handle extends along the longitudinal axis.