Weight determining mechanism for a backpack or other luggage

Abstract

A weight determining mechanism and a method for determining the weight of a piece of loaded luggage, particularly a backpack. The mechanism is generally incorporated into a carry handle of the piece of luggage allowing for it to be integral with the luggage and allowing for it to not take up additional space while allowing for quick and easy weight determinations without need for an external scale.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A piece of luggage comprising: 
 a luggage container portion;    a carrying device attached to the container portion, the carrying device designed to engage a part of a human body;    at least one resistance element responsive to an application of force whenever the piece of luggage is lifted via the carrying device, said resistance mechanism being coupled to the piece of luggage so that the weight of said luggage provides the application of force; and    at least one indicator viewable from an exterior of the luggage and associated with the resistance mechanism, the indicator providing a visual indication of the weight of the piece of luggage.    
   
   
       21 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein the indicator comprises a digital display.  
   
   
       22 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein the resistance element is selected from the group of a coil spring, a rotational dial, an elastic material, a magnetic component, an electrical component, a chemical component reactive to lifting of the carrying device, and an electromechanical element.  
   
   
       23 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein said piece of luggage comprises one of a backpack, a suitcase, a briefcase, a computer bag, a duffel bag, an upright bag, a garment bag, and a shoulder bag.  
   
   
       24 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein the carrying device comprises one of a carrying handle, a handle grip, a support, a should shoulder strap, and a hip strap.  
   
   
       25 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein said resistance element is attached to said piece of luggage via a mounting strip on one end, said mounting strip slidable relative to the piece of luggage when the piece of luggage is lifted via the carrying device.  
   
   
       26 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein said indicator is configured to display a first color corresponding to a first predetermined weight range, and a second color for a second predetermined weight range.  
   
   
       27 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , further comprising a reset or re-zero button, thereby facilitating independent determination of a weight of the piece of luggage and a weight of items loaded into the bag piece of luggage.  
   
   
       28 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein said indicator comprises a series of markings concealed within said carrying device until the carrying device is lifted, and said markings are selectively revealed to indicate said the weight of said piece of luggage.  
   
   
       29 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein said indicator comprises a mounting strip coupled to the resistance element and slidable into and out of an interior region of the lifting element, the mounting strip provided with a plurality of color bands that are respectively revealed when the piece of luggage is lifted under increasing amounts of weight, each of said plurality of color bands corresponding to a predetermined weight range and indicating a relative weight of the bag piece of luggage according to predetermined guidelines for a user.  
   
   
       30 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein the resistance element is located within a hollow interior of the lifting element.  
   
   
       31 . The piece of luggage of  claim 20 , wherein the indicator is attached to the carrying device.  
   
   
       32 . A piece of luggage comprising: 
 a luggage container portion;    a generally flexible lifting element mounted to the luggage container portion and forming an integral part of the container portion, the lifting element defining a primary means of carrying the container portion;    an on-board weight determining mechanism coupled to the lifting element;    wherein the weight determining mechanism comprises at least one resistance element mechanically subjected to a load bearing weight of the container portion whenever the luggage container portion is lifted with the lifting element; and    an indicator operatively coupled to the resistance element and visually indicating information regarding the load bearing weight to a user when the container portion is lifted via the lifting element.    
   
   
       33 . The piece of luggage of  claim 32 , wherein the resistance element is located within a hollow interior of the lifting element.  
   
   
       34 . The piece of luggage of  claim 32 , wherein the indicator comprises a digital display.  
   
   
       35 . The piece of luggage of  claim 32 , wherein the indicator is mounted to the lifting element.  
   
   
       36 . The piece of luggage of  claim 32 , wherein the resistance element is selected from the group of a coil spring, a rotational dial, an elastic material, a magnetic component, an electrical component, a chemical component reactive to lifting of the carrying device, and an electromechanical element.  
   
   
       37 . A piece of luggage comprising: 
 a luggage container portion;    a generally flexible lifting element mounted to the luggage container portion and forming an integral part of the container portion, the lifting element defining a primary means of carrying the container portion;    an on-board weight determining mechanism permanently engaged to the lifting element and mechanically subjected to a load bearing weight of the container portion whenever the luggage container portion is lifted with the lifting element; and    an indicator operatively coupled to the on-board weight determining mechanism and visually communicating a weight of the piece of luggage, as determined by the onboard weight determining mechanism, to a user when the container portion is lifted via the lifting element.    
   
   
       38 . The piece of luggage of  claim 37 , wherein the indicator is resettable.  
   
   
       39 . The piece of luggage of  claim 37 , wherein the indicator is mounted to the lifting element.