Carrying handle with built-in electronic scale with supercapacitors instead of batteries

Abstract

Piece of luggage, preferably trolley suitcases, backpacks and sports bags, which optionally has one or more handles with one or two attachment points, with - A luggage body made of hard or soft, flexible material - At least one attachment point for a handle or carrying strap connected to the body of the luggage, characterized in that a scale element is integrated in each of the attachment points, which is then connected to a controller element.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The invention relates to luggage with integrated carrying handles, such as, but not limited to, trolley suitcases, backpacks, or sports bags. The luggage body usually has one or two carrying handles. These are attached to the top or side. They serve to comfortably lift and move the luggage. For easy rolling or pulling, a telescopic handle is also mounted on the trolley suitcase. The invention relates to both variants: fixed handles and telescopic handles.

[0002] Following the resumption of international flight operations following the coronavirus (COVID) pandemic, airlines are increasingly focusing on determining carry-on and checked baggage not only by volume but also by actual weight, in order to tailor their fee structures accordingly. They are also paying particular attention to ensuring that weight limits are strictly adhered to, especially for carry-on baggage. Excess baggage increases the cost for air travelers and promotes a lucrative source of income for airlines. The allowances are currently still freely defined by individual airlines and have been significantly reduced in some cases since the pandemic.

[0003] Determining the actual weight of a piece of luggage is a difficult task without a scale, and it's very easy for travelers to misjudge the weight of their luggage. A dedicated luggage scale is often handy when packing at home, but even less so during a trip.

[0004] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a carrying handle for the body of a piece of luggage in which the weight scale is integrated invisibly and without significantly adding weight into the carrying handle / piece of luggage, while complying with the relevant aviation safety regulations. An additional feature is the tracking of the piece of luggage using Bluetooth technology.

[0005] The features of claim 1 serve to solve this problem.

[0006] In a piece of luggage according to the present invention, it is advantageously and effectively provided that a weight scale unit is provided, wherein the weight is accurately measured by means of weighing cell(s) integrated in the receiving point(s) and is transmitted to an integrated electronic control unit.

[0007] Like force transducers, load cells usually contain a spring element—a suitably shaped piece of metal whose geometry changes slightly under the influence of weight. This elastic deformation is detected by strain gauges and converted into an electrical signal.

[0008] The weighing cell can be integrated into one or two support units. In addition to a handle that fits the entire palm of the hand, the weighing cell can also be integrated into a loop with a weighing cell.

[0009] An electronic control unit requires power to function, which, according to the state of the art, is provided by batteries such as Ni-MH cells of size AA or AAA, or as button cells Ni-MH or lithium.

[0010] The problem with such a state-of-the-art solution, however, is that airlines, according to IATA rules, prohibit such baggage with integrated battery power supply and refuse to transport it by air.

[0011] The described invention draws its power not from batteries, but from particularly fast-charging supercapacitors (S-Caps). This means that the invention complies with the technical safety-relevant interpretations of both the IATA and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

[0012] Supercapacitors are electronic components used to store extremely large amounts of electrical charge. Instead of a conventional dielectric, supercapacitors use two mechanisms to store electrical energy: double-layer capacitance and pseudocapacitance. Double-layer capacitance is electrostatic in origin, while pseudocapacitance is electrochemical in origin, meaning that when used in this disclosed invention, supercapacitors combine the functionality of normal capacitors with the functionality of a conventional battery. Key features and differences of supercapacitors compared to conventional capacitors and batteries:

[0013] High power density: Supercapacitors can have a significantly higher energy density than conventional capacitors, which means they can store more electrical energy in a more compact space, thus saving weight and volume in luggage.

[0014] Fast charging and discharging times: Supercapacitors can be charged and discharged very quickly, making them ideal for use in luggage where rapid energy transfer is desired. If the supercapacitors used become depleted during a trip, they can be recharged within seconds using a standard 5V mobile phone power adapter.

[0015] Long lifespan: Compared to conventional batteries, supercapacitors have a longer lifespan and can undergo a large number of charge and discharge cycles.

[0016] The electrical properties of the supercapacitors used in the invention, especially their fast charging and discharging times, are of particular interest as they will completely replace batteries in order to comply with IATA and FAA safety regulations.

[0017] The supercapacitors used in the invention are significantly safer than regular batteries if mishandled. While batteries are known to explode due to excessive heat during short circuits, supercapacitors do not heat up as much due to their low internal resistance. Short-circuiting a fully charged supercapacitor leads to a rapid release of stored energy, which can cause arcing and damage the scale's electronics. However, unlike batteries, the heat generated is not a problem.

[0018] The supercapacitors used can be charged and discharged millions of times and have an almost unlimited cycle life, while batteries only have a cycle life of 500 charges or more.

[0019] The invention can be integrated into soft, slightly flexible handles, fixed handles, and soft, fully flexible handles. This includes all permanently attached handles, as well as handles on one or two telescopic poles.

[0020] The control electronics and supercapacitor power storage can be configured as a fully integrated design. In this case, the entire electronics and power storage are located in the handle itself, or as a dual design, with the control electronics and power storage mounted in a separate housing unit, protected in the case on the underside of the handle unit.

[0021] Since handles are often subjected to considerable physical damage during loading, storage, and air transport, there is no display in the handle or on the luggage, whose visible surface can easily be damaged or at least scratched. The weight display is transmitted wirelessly to the luggage owner's mobile phone. The display is transmitted to the mobile phone using Bluetooth LE technology. Pairing is automatic and secure. The described invention is therefore shatterproof and requires significantly fewer components and buttons.

[0022] Depending on the requirements of the luggage, the controller board is mounted as a separate unit on the handle mounting plate inside the suitcase, or integrated into the handle itself. If integrated into the handle itself, a flexible conductive board made of a plastic substrate is used to maintain flexibility.

[0023] Using integrated motion and altitude sensors, the electronics detects when it is in flight mode and stops radio data transmission during this time.

[0024] The weight is displayed either on a dedicated app or via messenger message.

[0025] The supercapacitors can be charged much faster than is the case with all current state-of-the-art lithium batteries.

[0026] A supercapacitor also lasts longer than batteries. Even after 10,000 charge and discharge cycles, it still retains 88 percent of its original capacity. Compared to smartphone batteries, which only retain about 80 percent of their initial capacity after just 500 charge cycles.

[0027] The charging port is a USB-C port that's splash-resistant to IP65. It's positioned on / near the handle so that it can't be damaged by external mechanical influences during transport or travel.

[0028] A power button is also positioned to protect it from external mechanical influences. If the scale is not used for a few seconds / minutes, it switches off automatically. The power button ensures that the scale and controller electronics only consume power when explicitly intended, and not when simply carrying the luggage.

[0029] Unlike simple, state-of-the-art scales, a Bluetooth LE connection enables convenient functions within a smartphone app. Once the app is installed, you can freely select the weight unit, which includes the metric kilogram and the Anglo-American pound. Using Bluetooth LE also allows you to track your luggage within a Bluetooth network. Examples, but not limited to, include Android networks such as Google's Find My Device or the equivalent from Apple or Samsung.

[0030] The measured values can be saved as desired, and with a label / name of the piece of luggage, the designation does not need to be changed when integrating the invention. The handle can be rigid, flexible, or soft. The entire electronics are very small and are mounted safely inside the suitcase, bag, or backpack at the handle attachment point.

[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0032] The foregoing and other features of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description of the drawings and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Since these drawings merely illustrate several embodiments according to the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings: It shows: Fig. 1 a piece of luggage (trolley) in perspective side view with handle on top Fig. 2 a piece of luggage in a perspective view from above with handle Fig. 3 the handle is mounted from above / side of the hard shell luggage Fig. 4 the handle in perspective as a component from the side above Fig. 5 Handle as a component perspective from below Fig. 6 Housing for controller board with super capacitors visible Fig. 7 Handle with two side mounting devices Fig. 8 two holders for handle Fig. 9 Libra element Fig. 10 Scale element with scale cell, view from below Fig. 11 Handle device with two receiving elements and two scale cells Fig. 12 Handle and telescopic handle Fig. 13 two versions for the integration of the controller board Fig. 14 All components of the carrying handle with scale elements without handle, view from above

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a piece of luggage 2, in the illustrated embodiment as a trolley case with four rolling wheels. The piece of luggage 2 comprises the luggage body 2 and the carrying handle 1 with integrated scales mounted on the top. In addition to the carrying handle 1, a telescopic handle 3 is also mounted on the side. In both handle variants, the inventive scale device with a controller board can be mounted.

[0034] Fig. Figure 2 shows a piece of luggage 2, constructed from two hard-shell elements. The carrying handle 1 with integrated scale elements (two) is mounted on the top. The telescopic handle 3 is visible and mounted on the back.

[0035] Fig. 3 In Fig. 3, the luggage 2 is open, revealing a hard-shell component. The carrying handle 1 with the integrated scale elements is located on the top. The telescopic carrying handle is visible on the rear side.

[0036] In Fig. 4 shows the complete carrying handle unit 1 with two receiving elements 4 and the housing 5 for the controller board 6. The housing 5 contains the controller board with microcontroller and series-connected super capacitors 7. This carrying handle assembly has two internally integrated scale elements 8. Normal carrying handles are designed with two scale elements 8. Technically, the invention shown also works with one scale element 8. With the exception of the handle 1 and the two lateral receiving elements 4, all components are mounted invisibly inside the luggage.

[0037] In Fig. Figure 5 shows the carrying handle assembly from the inside, viewed from below. Housing 5 is mounted centrally within the luggage and is thus protected. This, in turn, protects the controller board 6 with the supercapacitors for power storage. The two scale elements 8 contain the scale cells 9, each in duplicate. Only the mounting elements 4 and the handle 1 itself are visible and easily accessible from the outside.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 6 shows how the housing 5, the controller board 6, and the super capacitors are constructed. However, in another version, this complete assembly can also be mounted within the carrying handle 1 itself. For this purpose, a flexible circuit board is used for the components.

[0039] In Fig. 7 shows the carrying handle 1 with the two lateral receiving units 4 and the scale elements 8.

[0040] Fig. 8 shows the two recording units 4 with the scale elements 8 without the handle 1 mounted

[0041] Fig. 9 shows the essential elements of the balance element 8, consisting of the transformer 11 and a stabilizing element 10, as well as two fixing screws 12.

[0042] In Fig. 10 shows the scale element 8 from an oblique bottom view. The scale cell 9 is flexibly mounted in the center. The scale element 8 is mounted using four screws / nuts 13.

[0043] Fig. 11 shows the carrying handle assembly 1 from the side below with the two receiving units 4, the scale elements 8 and mounted scale cells 9.

[0044] With Fig. Figure 12 shows the two possible carrying handle variants. Variant 1 is integrated into a carrying handle 1, and another variant is integrated into the telescopic handle 3.

[0045] By means of Fig. Figure 13 illustrates that there are two variants for integrating the electronics and power-storing supercapacitors. Variant A shows the more detailed illustrated version with a separate, internally mounted housing for the electronics (controller board) and supercapacitors, compared to variant B with the controller board integrated into the handle itself and the supercapacitors mounted on a flexible controller board.

[0046] In Fig.Figure 14 shows the entire structure of the carrying handle in variant A, without the carrying handle 1 itself, in perspective. The support units 4 are visible on the left and right. The scale elements 8 are mounted underneath, for example, within a half-shell of a piece of luggage. The controller board 6 with the super capacitors is located in the housing 5. An on / off switch button is mounted on the top to turn on the scale. A USB-3 socket with a cover 14 is provided for charging the super capacitors.

Claims

[1] Piece of luggage, preferably trolley suitcases, backpacks and sports bags, which optionally has one or more handles with one or two attachment points, with - A luggage body made of hard or soft, flexible material - At least one attachment point for a handle or carrying strap connected to the body of the luggage, characterized by that a scale element is integrated into each of the recording points, which is then connected to a controller element. [2] Luggage according to claim 1, characterized by that the electronic controller works without battery power. [3] Luggage according to claim 1, characterized by that the power supply is provided by super capacitors. [4] Luggage according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized by that the weight display is carried out without a display via radio transmission on the mobile phone. [5] Luggage according to claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized by that the built-in scale elements do not require any changes to the case itself. [6] Luggage according to claim 1, characterized by that the scale elements work with both one and two attachment points, and with hard, flexible or soft handle elements. [7] Luggage according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, characterized by that the load cell is integrated into a handle or a telescopic handle on a trolley. [8] Luggage according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, characterized by that the weighing cell and the electronics (controller) are integrated together in one housing or separately in two units. [9] Luggage according to claims 1 and 2 characterized byThe built-in microcontroller, which operates without a battery, is also suitable for finding or tracking in a Bluetooth network. These are ad-hoc networks that are created when multiple users are in one location.

Images