GB2509324A

GB2509324A - Lighting device for interior of bags

Info

Publication number: GB2509324A
Application number: GB1223474.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Suraj Singh; Pooja Kaur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-28
Filing date: 2012-12-28
Publication date: 2014-07-02
Also published as: GB201223474D0

Abstract

A self powered lighting device 1B lights the interior of bags. The lighting device 1B may be spherical in shape such that as the bag is used and moved the lighting device 1B will roll in random directions. The lighting device 1B includes a kinetic generator (5, figure 2) which charges a power reserve (6) as the lighting device 1B is caused to move in the bag. LED lights (8) within the lighting device may be initiated by a user via an inertia switch (9) when it is desired to illuminate the interior of the bag.

Description

I

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

SURAJ SINGH AND POOJA KAUR

FOR

LIGHTING DEVICE FOR INTERIOR OF BAGS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a lighting or illuminating method for all types of carrying apparel including handbags andsimilar variations.

Backciround The use of handbags or similar carrying apparel is common and they are used on an extremely large scale globally on a daily basis. They allow the user to carry essential items and can become overfilled quite easily due to the size of the bag interior and the tendency to add items to them as required. These items tend to remain with the bag for extended periods and make include, money enclosures such as wallets or purses, make up and mirrors, vehicle keys and various daily used items.

When items are required to be retrieved from the bag it is common to find it difficult to see them as the bag interior often has little light within due to their design and nature.

The fact that a number of objects and items are often collected together inside also make it difficult to view and select an item from inside the bag.

The dark interior is made even more apparent in the evening or when the bag is being opened in a dimly lit or dark location, such as a night club.

Proposed lights have therefore been cited for handbags to attempt to solve this problem and patent applications have been filed. US 20120212940 (LEUTY) discloses a method to provide a light to the base of the bag interior that is built into the fabric of the body. This raises questions of the flexibility of this design throughout the thousands of different handbags available as this design relies on being built into the bag at manufacture and many bag companies will not wish to include this.

Also cited is CA 2714905 which discloses a method that may be transferred from bag to bag and is able to light the interior. This design raises issues on the way it is powered being of a battery type, the need for Velcro (TRADEMARK) fastenings with the need for string to enable it to be retraced from the interior Products of this nature are of a class two product line or area Classes of products tend to produce a decision form the buyer as they purchase which can affect the way they are chosen or should be reflected in the way they are designed.

A class one product such as food, clothing, fuel, insurance etc rely on a decision of purchase and usage that is essential and therefore in relation to that they will always be chosen and purchased based on specific criteria. An example of a class one product is a watch. A timepiece is an essential day to day and historic requirement and is used to tell the time and therefore if a battery is required to drive the watch and it needs replacing, then the person would make an effort quickly to do so.

A light for a handbag would be classed as a class two product. It is not essential but offers an advantage and assists the user. Therefore, should the battery require replacement, as it is not essential to the user on a day to day basis or the user could manage' without it, as oppose to a watch or a car, for example, they may not replace the battery for some time.

This would normally apply to a group or percentage of people, as some will always be strict with their organisation and battery replacement but commonly a majority would not, with a device of this nature.

The simplicity of the device should also be taken into account. The need for the light to not require string or Velcro (or similar) attachments to the bag interior, is important.

Known designs include string having to be hung to the exterior of the bag to provide power generation or complicated or incorrect shaping that restricts your ability to locate it within the bag. The need to locate the item to then initiate the light by a manual switch is also a problem and is common to most cited designs.

The light must be self powering, easy to use and be able to be initiated by not having.

to locate it first, as with many bag interiors that are filled with apparel locating it may be difficult. The light emission must also be provided in all circumstances no matter what location or position the light may be in, within the bag, at the time of initiation of the light source If a buyer views an item that is self powered and does not require batteries at any point, is self initiated using a simple application from the user and the light source is able to illuminate the bag interior at any point of its location therein, then its desirability would be improved.

The present invention aims to provide a solution to these issues and the details of this are disclosed as follows.

Prior Art

Accordingly patent applications have been filed to provide a similar solution, including the following: International patent application ret: US 2012/01212940 (LEUTY) Discloses a method of lighting the interior of a handbag having a section that is built in on a permanent basis to the interior therein.

Canadian patent application ret: CA 2714905 (ANDRONICUS) Discloses a handbag light that may be used in different bags and has a powered light applied to a rectangular design. Requiring battery power and assistance of attachment apparel including string to retrieve it from the bag and hook and ioop fabric for attachment therein.

United Sates patent application ret: US 3,045,900 (ZEKENDORF) Discloses a handbag which incorporates a warning light to its body and this offers an alarm or visual assistance to the user, a fan is also enclosed within the design.

UK patent application ref: GB 2449 480 (SMALL) Discloses a handbag illuminator that is built into the upper area of the bag in a narrow strip light format. This requires battery power for power is relevant to a single bag.

Detailed summary of the invention

According to the present invention there is a provided a light that can be placed inside a bag on a more permanent basis. Its shape is suggested in various forms but it can be disclosed in this proposal that a sphere or ball shape would appear to be a preferred embodiment. The light has a self powering method by which it is able to recharge its own power source due to its activity within the bag interior. The sphere or ball shape is able to freely roll or move continually within the bag interior and this moves a charging mechanism located within.

The mechanism is aimed theoretically at a kinetic method. Known Kinetic winders or chargers can include rotating or moving apparel that wind a geared power unit or spring (in the case of many timepieces or watches). This movement is based on that theory and will include at least one element of moving apparel that will wind a gear or generation unit to charge at least one power store or supply reserve unit within.

This determines a design that relies on no external attachments to locate it within the bag or to assist with the charging of any power unit and does not require batteries to be replaced at any point. The sphere or similar shape allows free movement, in all degrees of the light unit when the bag is in transit. Hand bags of this type tend to swing and moveS slightly when being transported and this will move or rock the sphere inside the bag due to the slightest or greatest of bag movement therein. It is suggested that a sphere shape is therefore a preferred form for this unit but it may be designed in other shapes that could perform a similar function. The lighting method chosen with the preferred embodiment of this disclosure would be that of micro LED (Light Emitting Diode) lights or a similar known or emerging type of lifelong illuminator or bulb. In combination with the self charging power unit these would provide a very low draw on the power available to produce a large amount of light emission. Micro LED lights can be produced in various colours and with this disclosure although any colour of light may be used, it is suggested that white or a light colour that provides the best results in the darkness would be chosen.

Once the sphere has been placed within the bag it can be left there permanently due to its self charging method and the fact that it can lay freely alongside other bag contents.

Should the person carrying the bag wish to initiate the light they may apply impact to the bags exterior near the base. This can be done as a brisk tap with the hand to the bag.

This would react with an impact switch or inertia switch which is placed to the body of the sphere unit. This impact switch would read to the sudden change of force made by the users hand and the vibration would initiate the light therein. This is a function that is administered when the user wishes to switch the sphere light on through choice. The impact would also have to be applied with sufficient force to action this switch. Therefore, normal use of the bag or average collision or impact of the bag on general surfaces daily would not tend to action the impact switch. The impact switch may also be pressed by the user's digit directly onto the point of the switch, should the sphere be easily accessible in the bag or if the impact from the hand was not sufficient to initiate the light.

This may be possible when the power reserve is lower and the sphere has been in use for some time. This may affect the switching on, of the light, via the impact switch but a direct pressing with the finger (digit) would always provide a switching on, of the light.

The kinetic power charger and reserve may also be manually charged. By shaking the sphere unit in the hand from left to right several times the internal kinetic plunger and thus the winder wilt be motioned and the power cell charged or wound. This would be a simple process of moving the unit in the hand from side to side in a swaying motion, possibly for a period of minutes if the power reserve is at its lowest or for less time if it is not as low. The kinetic charger in this disclosure is a moving plunger inside a channel that moves without effort and very freely. It may also be desired to use any other known or emerging kinetic winding or charging design therein, to include the rotating semi-circular plates found in watches and simitar devices. These known methods rotate on a central pivot and freely swing as the device is moved, this action, in the case of watches, winds a central spring that provides prolonged power to rotate the second arm. This very same rotation may be used to charge a power cell to emit light via LED or similar diodes.

The surface of the sphere unit would be of a clear or frosted' surface that is best abte to magnify the light being internally emitted. This may include multiple layers of light enhancing plastic to polarise and expand the tight to its maximum effect within the bags interior. Once the light is switched on the user is then able to clearly see inside the bag and locate required objects as previously listed.

Brief description of figures

Figures 1 show the sphere version of the light Figures 2 show the sphere version of the light and it's interior Figures 3 show the spheres movement within the bag Figures 4 show the sphere emitting light inside the bag

Detailed description of figures

A preferred embodiment of the lighting device for the interior of bags is shown as the light 1, in Figure 1. The sphere shape 1 may be of various sizes of an unlimited degree but would always be determined by the interiors into which it is to be placed and their general and minimum capacities throughout various designs and ranges. The bag interior 2, as shown in Figure 1, is the area onto which the light 1 is placed and remains therein. As the bag is used and moves the light 1 will roll or move in random directions shown as direction of the light movement 3, in Figure 1. The surface of the light 1 may be of a solid or pliable or softer plastic or similar composite that is able to transmit light from its internal area to its external surface. This light is provided by known or emerging light technologies such as micro LED (light emitting diodes) or similar 8. These are mounted to an interior surface, in this particular version being the power reserve unit 6. The LED lights 8, are located internally of the light 1A and are situated as to emit their light to the complete or entire external surface evenly, as shown in Figure 2. The light 1A, as shown in Figure 2 seats to the bottom of the bag interior 2A and moves in various directions 3A as the bag 2A is moved or used therein.

As the bag 2A moves and thus the light 1A rolls or moves therein, the kinetic plunger 5 freely moves within its exacting chamber 4, as shown in Figure 2. The plunger 5 is of a metal or alloy variant as weight is required to provide enhanced movement as the plunger 5 is forced in the direction to which the light 1A is rotating 3A. As the plunger 5 slides freely within the chamber 4 it moves a kinetic arm attachment 7 each time. This kinetic arm attachment is formed and routed to a central winding gear within the power reserve 6. This winding gear, not shown, may be of a sprung, cog, or other rotationally related apparel that is able to wind the power reserve 6 to a point of charging. This uses known and emerging methods and produces a kinetic charging of the power reserve 6 which may contain a permanent chargeable battery cell, which stores this energy.

The micro LED lights B are then ready to be initiated via the inertia switch 9, as shown.

The inertia or impact switch 9 is located to the exterior of the light IA and provides a way by which the light tA may be initiated by external force. The person 11 who is carrying the bag, as shown in Figure 3 is able to use their hand or other limb area to make a sharp impact or blow with the exterior of the bag 2B and the inertia switch 9 will then make a positive switch within the light lB and initiate the LED lights 1A. This.energy has been stored following the winding of the kinetic unit as described therein. This is possible by the light lB moving within the bag 2B in various directions 10 during its daily use and movement. The angle of the bag 12 alters as the person 11 may swing or as the angle of the bag changes through its daily usage, moving the light lB in small or large quantities, of which each applies a small movement to the kinetic plunger 5 and thus adding to the power cell reserve to be used at anytime the light is required to be emitted 13, as shown in Figure 4. The interior of the bag 2C in Figure 4 is illuminated by the light 1 C and the Emitted light 13 is spread around the bag interior 2C to enable the person 11 to locate other stored items within the bag 14 and 15.

As the spherical nature of the light iC, as shown, is able to spread the internally produced light, the stored items within the bag 14 and 15 are lit sufficiently, regardless of the location of them to the light 1G or the light to them within the bag interior 2C during all stages of the bags use through the day To enable access to the light 1C to allow replacement of interior functioning parts, the sphere has an access point, not shown, that is easily operable by the person 11. It may be possible to produce the light 1 C in any desired shape other than the sphere shown within this disclosure and produce the desired objective of lighting the bag interior.

However, although any other known shape is acceptable, for example a novelty character for children, as its shape, this may restrict its ability to roll inside the bag or to spread light in the myriad of directions required and thus would need to be considered carefully. It may be finalised that the very functionality requirements of the internal and external elements of the light 1C described herein, some of them forming advantages to its ongoing performance, may be decided by its external shape, it's shape therefore has a direct effect upon its success as a light and self charging device.

Claims

Claims 1) A lighting device for the interior of bags is self powered.
2) A lighting device for the interior of bags as claimed in claim 1 wherein, it is self powered by an internal process.
3) A lighting device for the interior of bags as claimed in claim 2 wherein, as it is self powered, battery replacement is not required and the device remains inside the bag permanently.
4) A lighting device for the interior of bags as claimed in claim 3 wherein1 the self powered process is aided by the shape of the device.
5) A lighting device for the interior of bags has no external attachments required to allow it to function.
6) A lighting device for the interior of bags wherein, the lighting may be initiated externally of the bag without further attachment& 7) A lighting device for the interior of bags wherein, the amount of light expelled is aided by the shape of the device.8) A lighting device for the interior of bags as claimed in claim 7 wherein the light is aided by the shape of the device and the internal positioning of the Light Emitting Diodes.9) A lighting device for the interior of bags as claimed in all previous claims is a self powered device that lights the interior of a bag by use of an internal charging process and the positioning of internal apparel and the device shape, allow for a more basic operation for the user, that can remain inside the bag at all times.