Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02337584 2001-02-20
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY VERIFYING CONFORMITY
OF A CARRY-ON LUGGAGE TO MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE SIZE
AND WEIGHT VALUES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system and a method for simultaneously
verifying
conformity of carry-on luggage to maximum permissible size and weight values.
This
invention would be particularly useful in an airport and can also be used in
other places,
including other transportation systems.
Almost all airline passengers bring at least one carry-on luggage on board of
an
airplane. These carry-on luggage include any kind of suitcase, briefcase, bag,
box or
any other baggage. These carry-on luggage are to be stored in flight in
overhead
storage bins or under the seats. Some carry-on luggage may also be stored in
closets
near the doors of an airplane. Typically, many passengers travelling on short
or
medium range routes have no check-in luggage and bring all their gear aboard
the
airplane in order to save time by not waiting for their luggage at the end of
their flight
and to avoid damages or loss.
Space aboard an airplane is relatively limited and restricted. As a result,
strict rules
concerning maximum permissible size values are edicted by the airline
companies.
Convenient sizing templates have been used in airports for many years to allow
passengers to verify if their luggage is within the maximum permissible size
values and
therefore could be brought on board as carry-on luggage. Any luggage outside
one of
these maximum values has to be checked in and put in the cargo bay of the
airplane.
A maximum weight for carry-on luggage is also imposed in addition to the
maximum
permissible size values. One of the reasons is that heavy carry-on luggage
stored in
an overhead bin could overload the door or the bin itself and fall on
passengers sitting
below, especially if the airplane hits the ground violently or during heavy
turbulence.
Another reason is that all carry-on luggage may not be properly accounted for
in the
total mass of the airplane, especially if many people bring on board heavy
carry-on
CA 02337584 2001-02-20
2
luggage. A typical maximum permissible weight value of carry-on luggage is ten
kilograms.
Generally, passengers do not know exactly the weight value of their carry-on
luggage
and do not go to a check-in counter to have the luggage weighed on a scale.
The
presence of automated registration machines allow passengers to avoid check-in
counters and to have the opportunity to verify the weight of their carry-on
luggage. Yet,
the airline personnel usually does not verify the weight of carry-on luggage
unless it is
very obvious that the weight is well above the limit. Even then, a scale has
to be nearby
to weigh the suspected luggage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has been found that one way to have a passenger verify both the size and
the weight
of his or her carry-on luggage is to provide the sizing templates with a
weight sensor
which allows the luggage to be weighed while it is set in the sizing template.
The weight
value or another indication is then provided to the user as to whether the
carry-on
luggage is conform with respect to the maximum permissible weight or not. This
way,
checking conformity of carry-on luggage to maximum permissible size and weight
values
can be done at the same time.
The present invention will be better understood form the following description
and
appended figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a system according to a possible embodiment of
the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the lower end of the sizing template and the
weight sensor
of the system shown in FIG. 1.
CA 02337584 2001-02-20
3
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the typical connections between the various
components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A system (10) according to a possible and preferred embodiment of the present
invention is described hereinafter and illustrated in the appended figures.
The system
(10) comprises a sizing template (20) having at least one receiving area (22)
with an
opened side (24), usually the upper side, allowing insertion and removal of
carry-on
luggage (12) from the receiving area (22). The sizing template (20) is usually
made of
stainless steel tubes (26) forming a cage-like structure. The size of the
receiving area
(22) is indicative of the maximum permissible size values imposed by the
airlinecompany.
Many airline companies allow passengers to bring two carry-on luggage on
board. The
second one has typically smaller maximum permissible size values and the
sizing
template (20) preferably has a second receiving area (22') to accommodate the
smaller
carry-on luggage. Alternatively, two separate sizing templates (not shown)
could be
used. Using only one sizing template with two receiving areas is however
preferred.
The sizing template (20) is also usually provided with an information panel
(28) giving
information to the passengers concerning the requirements of carry-on luggage
(12).
For instance, the requirements may be different depending if a passenger
travels in first
class, business or economic class. It also identifies to which airline company
or
companies the sizing template (20) is applicable.
In accordance with the present invention, the system (10) is provided with a
weight
sensor (30) which is configured and disposed with reference to the sizing
template (20)
to measure the weight value of the carry-on luggage (12) once it is set in the
receiving
area (22, 22') thereof. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
sizing
template (20) is mounted directly over the weight sensor (30). FIG. 2 shows
that the
lower end of the sizing template (20) rests on a supporting frame (32) of the
weight
CA 02337584 2001-02-20
4
sensor (30). The weight sensor (30) thus also supports the weight of the
sizing template
(20) and can measure the difference between the combined weight of the sizing
template (20) and the carry-on luggage (12) with that of the sizing template
(20) alone.
The weight sensor (30) is either a scale-like apparatus, such as the one
illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2, or could be a device using strain gages or similar devices to
measure
changes in the structure of the sizing template (20) and translate that into
weight values
following a previous calibration procedure.
The system (10) also comprises a display unit (40) responsive of the weight
value of the
carry-on luggage (12). The purpose of the display unit (40) is to provide an
indication
as to whether the carry-on luggage (12) is conform with respect to the maximum
permissible weight or not. This display unit (40) can take many forms.
In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, the display unit (40) is an
electronic display
that indicates the actual value of the carry-on luggage (12). The weight
sensor (30)
sends a signal to the display unit (40) located at the top of the sizing
template (20). The
display unit (40) can be installed on any convenient location if required,
including a
nearby wall or object. By comparing this actual value to the maximum
permissible
weight value, the passenger is able to determine if the carry-on luggage (12)
is conform
or not with the requirements. In that case, the maximum permissible weight
value
should be indicated on the display panel (28) or be otherwise communicated to
the
passenger.
Another possible embodiment is to have the display unit (40) showing the
results of the
comparisons between the actual and the maximum permissible weight values
stored in
an electronic memory or another storage medium. This can take place as either
a visual
signal or an audible signal. For instance, there can be a red and green light
as a visual
signal, indicating if the carry-on luggage (12) passed the test (green) or not
(red). An
audible signal can also be used to signify that the carry-on luggage is above
the weight
limit. Both visual and audible signals could be used simultaneously if
desired. Of
course, there is a number of other possible combinations of visual and audible
signals
CA 02337584 2001-02-20
that could be used to notify the passenger that the carry-on luggage (12) is
conform with
respect to the maximum permissible weight or not.
If two or more maximum permissible weight values are to be in the comparison,
which
5 could be the case when the same sizing template (20) has two receiving areas
(22, 22'),
a detector (not shown) can be provided for the system (10) to know which value
is to be
used from its memory.
When the weight sensor (30) and the display unit (40) involves electronic
circuits, these
circuits can be powered by a battery or through an AC outlet. However, as
shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the electronic circuits are powered by a photovoltaic panel
(50) located
on the weight sensor (30). The panel (50) could also be located anywhere else.
This
allows the system (10) to be self reliable even with minimal lighting from the
lights of the
airport when there is no sunlight.
Preferably, the system (10) is designed to allow the use of existing sizing
templates (20)
by receiving them on the supporting frame (32) of the weight sensor (30). The
lower
end of the sizing template (20) is then fastened to the supporting frame (32)
in a suitable
manner.
Although electronic weight sensors and display units are preferred, a
mechanical
system could be used in a similar manner. The weight sensor (30) would then be
a
mechanized device using any of the known mechanical instruments to measure the
weight, such as spring mechanisms, deflection bars, etc. The weight value of
the carry-
on luggage (12) would be displayed either as the actual weight or any other
indication
which allows the user to know whether the carry-on luggage (12) is conform
with the
maximum permissible weight requirements or not.
In use, a passenger inserts the carry-on luggage (12) into one of the
receiving areas
(22, 22') of the sizing template (12) to verify its conformity with the
maximum permissible
size value. Simultaneously, the weight value of the carry-on luggage (12) is
measured.
Either the passenger or the system (10) then evaluates whether the weight
value of the
CA 02337584 2001-02-20
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carry-on luggage (12) is equal or below the maximum permissible weight value,
therefore in conformity with the weight requirements.
Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in
detail
herein and illustrated in the accompanying figures, it is to be understood
that the
invention is not limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes
in the
modifications may be effected therein without departing from the scope or
spirit of the
present invention. Many examples of these possible modifications have been
indicated
throughout the text of the detailed description. Other modifications are also
possible.
For instance, although the sizing template (20) is shown as a cage-like
structure, it could
be in the form of a housing or have other forms. Also, it would be possible to
overhang
the system from a wall or ceiling and have the weight sensor (30) at a
different place
than beneath the sizing template (20).
The present invention may be conveniently used by passengers in a an airport.
It
should be noted that it could be used in other kinds of transportation systems
where the
conformity of carry-on luggage with the maximum permissible size and weight
values
has to be verified. The term "passenger" also includes any possible user, such
as the
airline personnel assisting passengers.
