Abstract: A hand-held electronic luggage scale includes a handle designed to be held generally horizontally, and a hook supported by the handle, which extends generally vertically below the handle. The handle houses an electronic scale, the electronic scale connected to the hook for calculating a weight of an object suspended from the hook. The hook may be metal and have a rubber and/or plastic exterior. A touch screen display may be provided in a top surface of the handle that displays the calculated weight from the electronic scale component. The touch screen display may include an icon representing a virtual control button that controls a user-selectable setting, and provides haptic feedback when the user-selectable setting changes due to a user pressing the virtual control button for a predetermined period of time. The touch screen display may include icons that control power, illumination, units of measurement, and/or other functionality.

Abstract: A suitcase includes at least two hard-sided shells forming at least one storage compartment. An expansion portion is positioned between first and second ones of the hard-sided shells at approximately a midpoint of a depth of the suitcase. The expansion portion includes an expansion shell portion and a flexible expansion gusset. An opening zipper is configured to connect the first one of the hard-sided shells to the expansion shell portion and to provide access to the at least one storage compartment. An expansion zipper is configured to connect the expansion shell portion and the second one of the hard-sided shells. When unzipped the flexible expansion gusset connects the expansion shell portion and the second hard-sided shell such that the expansion portion increases a storage capacity of the suitcase. At least one carrying handle is attached to an exterior surface of the expansion shell portion.

Abstract: A hard-sided suitcase may include polycarbonate shells for forming one or more storage compartments. The suitcase may include fiber-optic fibers or other light emitting devices for providing lighting to the hard-sided suitcase. The fiber-optic fibers may be placed on or within the polycarbonate shells. The suitcase may include a lighting mechanism or controller for sending light through the fiber-optic fibers. The lighting mechanism may be configured to send colored light through the fibers, and to change the light pattern being illuminated at a random and/or predetermined interval. A power source may power to the lighting mechanism. The power source, when switched on, may cause the lighting mechanism to send the light through the fiber-optic fibers. Light emitting diodes may also provide illumination. The lighting mechanism may control the lighting of the light emitting devices individually and simultaneously to facilitate a wide range of potential illumination patterns.