WO2012063210A1 - Lighting device for containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device to be used as accessory for containers, such as bags for ladies and gentlemen, rucksacks, boxes, and rigid or semirigid containers in general, said accessory providing various services of an electronic/electrical type, amongst which lighting device and/or antitheft device for the container itself. Said device is of the type comprising: - a central body (B, Bv) comprising means for supply (8) and control (7), present on which are connectors (1, 2, 3, 4), controlled by said control means (7), designed to connect various loads; - at least one flexible strip (L, Lv) of LEDs connected together, said at least one flexible strip (L, Lv) being connected to said central body (B, Bv) through at least one of said connectors (1, 2, 3, 4); and - a switch (P, Pv) for turning on said at least one flexible strip of LEDs (L, Lv), said switch being connected to said central body (B, Bv); and is characterized in that it envisages means (M) designed to fix in a removable way said accessory device to said containers so as to enable easy application and removal of said device to/from said container.

Description

LIGHTING DEVICE FOR CONTAINERS

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device to be used as accessory for containers, such as bags for ladies and gentlemen, rucksacks, boxes, and rigid or semirigid containers in general, said accessory providing various services of an electronic/electrical type, amongst which lighting device and/or antitheft device for the container itself.

Prior art

Bags or purses, especially for women, but also tool containers, boxes, rucksacks and the like may be full of objects to the point that it is difficult to identify a specific one of them, also on account of the poor lighting within the container, which contributes to complicating the search.

Since lighting within the container depends upon the external light that penetrates inside it, said problem becomes more serious at moments and in places where there poor external lighting, and also with openings that are not particularly wide as compared to the depth.

In fact, a light that penetrates from outside, more often than not does not manage to penetrate between the objects present inside the container, with the result that the objects set nearer to the bottom are completely in the shaddow and unrecognizable.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to enable the owner of a container, in particular bags and purses, to equip it with an accessory, which can be supplied also as transformation kit, that will provide a service of an electronic/electrical type. In particular, the accessory according to the invention, according to Claim 1 , is able to light up the inside of the container from different points, and adapts to the internal shape of the container.

A fundamental characteristic of the device according to the invention is the removability of the device itself, said removability being obtained via means designed to fix, in a removable way, one end of said accessory to the edge of the container.

The device forming the subject of the present invention can hence be easily adapted to any type of container and, since it comprises a plurality of light elements (strips of LEDs), guarantees a safe lighting of the inside of the container and also of the objects set nearer the bottom and located underneath other objects present in the container.

The dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the invention, forming an integral part of the present description.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly in the light of the detailed description of preferred, but nonexclusive, embodiments of a lighting device for containers, illustrated by way of non-limiting example, with the aid of the annexed plates of drawing, wherein :

Figure 1 illustrates a preferred variant of the device forming the subject of the present invention according to a first variant;

Figure 2 illustrates an application of a second variant of the device to a bag ;

· Figure 3 illustrates an application of the variant of Figure 1 to the bag itself;

Figure 4 illustrates a further variant of the device applied to a bag comprising two or more internal compartments;

Figure 5 illustrates a further variant of the device with corresponding application to a bag by means of at least one hook;

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate supporting elements that can be installed in a container to be lit up for supporting the device;

Figure 8 shows a central body of the device of the preceding figures with parts in transparency and a part removed;

· Figure 9 shows the part removed of Figure 8; and

Figure 1 0 shows in greater detail the variant already illustrated in Figure 5.

Reference numbers and reference letters that are the same in the figures identify the same elements or components.

In particular, the absence/presence of the letter v in the respective references designating the components of the device indicates the absence/presence of Velcro or bi-adhesive attached to the aforesaid components for their connection to the container to be lit up. Said aspect is clarified in the detailed description of the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

The present invention overcomes the aforesaid problems by proposing a device comprising at least one strip of low-consumption LEDs Lv that on the one hand guarantees a more uniform lighting of the container and on the other a greater duration of the supply battery 8, preferably inserted in the central body Bv, to which the strip of LEDs Lv is mechanically and electrically connected also by means of the wiring accessories described in what follows.

The colour of the light emitted by the LEDs can be varied according to the tastes of the user or else so as to improve the visibility inside the container to which the device is applied. In particular, the colour of the light, within the container, can be made to vary gradually so as to exhalt cyclically some colours and hence some objects with respect to others. Alternatively, the choice of the type of colour of the light can be chosen with a different strip of LEDs.

According to a preferred variant of the device, the central body Bv has a parallelepipedal shape comprising:

- a first face Sp designed to be in contact with the internal surface of the cavity of a container;

- another four faces, all perpendicular to said first face Sp along the perimeter thereof, present on each of which is at least one connector; - two connectors 1 and 2 set on opposite faces, designed to supply as many strips of LEDs Lv; - a connector 3 designed to connect up to a switch Pv for turning on the device forming the subject of the present invention, preferably through a first cable Dv1 ;

- a further expansion connector 4, on the face opposite to that of the connector 3, which can be connected to a second cable Dv2, for a possible expansion of the device forming the subject of the present invention.

When the switch Pv closes a circuit connected to the connector 3, the connectors 1 , 2 and 4 are electrically supplied.

It is not necessary for the shape of the central body to be parallelepipedal. It is deemed in any case preferable, instead, for the central body to have connectors arranged according to two axes perpendicular to one another so as to be able to connect strips of LEDs Lv and electric cables Dv1 and Dv2 according to the specific needs of any container.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device, the switch Pv is arranged immediately underneath an opening of the container to be lit up so as to be easily accessible by the user from the opening. The first cable Dv1 is set perpendicular to the perimeter of the opening along an internal perimetral wall of the container so that the strips of LEDs Lv are connected horizontally and parallel to the margins of the opening of the container. The strips of LEDs are preferably sufficiently long as to cover the entire perimeter of the opening of the container. According to a preferred variant of the invention, the LEDs are connected together and, for their very constructional nature of the standard models present on the market, can be shortened by simply cutting them with a pair of scissors in points pre- indicated in the factory.

By adjusting the length of the first connection cable Dv1 , the distance between the perimeter of the opening of the container and the strip/strips of LEDs Lv that runs/run parallel to the perimeter of the opening is adjusted. The strip of LEDs is flexible so as to follow the possible deformations of the container.

It is preferable for the strip of LEDs Lv to be positioned at approximately 10 cm from the opening of the container, in so far as the top part of the inside of the container is more easily lit up by the external light. In addition, having experienced that the depth of bags for ladies is never less than 20 cm, said length of 10 cm of the first electric cable Dv1 proves optimal.

Even though the LEDs available on the market function at 12 V or 24 V, it has been found that the LEDs can be supplied with a single standard battery of just 9 V, which prove sufficient for guaranteeing turning-on of the LEDs and a proper lighting of a bag. This involves the use of standard 9-V batteries of small dimensions, which can be easily integrated in a central body Bv.

It may also be possible to provide the device with one or more photovoltaic cells in order to recharge the battery 8 for supply of the device. For this purpose the central body Bv can be sized to receive rechargeable batteries of a suitable format.

A small pushbutton switch of a flat type may be suitable for supplying the command for turning on the device.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the switch Pv is of a toggle type so that turning-off of the device is actuated exclusively by means of the switch itself.

According to another preferred embodiment, the switch Pv is of a monostable type so that it is associated to electrical circuitry that determines turning-on of the device. As will be clear hereinafter, turning-off of the device, in this variant, can be determined either by the user or by the electrical circuitry itself.

In a further preferred embodiment, said switch is a proximity switch, for example of a capacitive type, i.e., able to detect a proximity capacitive variation, and provided in the form of a strip, or else a simple electric cable, attached directly on the central body Bv or else connected electrically thereto by means of said first electric cable Dv1 . According to another preferred embodiment, the pushbutton switch P is mounted directly on the central body Bv, in which case the connector 3 may not be present.

The device can preferably comprise a branched connector Gv, i.e., a multiple connector designed to connect electrically to the central body Bv, by means of second electric cable Dv2, for supplying further strips of LEDs Lv.

It is preferable for the branched connector Gv to comprise electrical connectors that are the same as the ones present on the central body Bv so as to simplify assembly of the device.

In particular, it is preferable also for the branched connector Gv to have a parallelepipedal shape and comprise a connector for each face perpendicular to the anchorage surface Sg that is to be attached on the internal surface of a cavity of the container.

In the figures it may be seen that the branched connector Gv is connected to the central body Bv by means of the connector 4 of the latter. This does not exclude the possibility for the branched connector Gv to be connected to the central body Bv by another connector 1 or 2 of the central body, rendering the device completely modular.

This is made possible by the fact that all the connectors of the central body Bv and of the branched connector Gv are preferably the same as one another. In addition, given that said connectors are the same as one another, also the electric cables Dv1 , Dv2 and the strips of LEDs Lv can both have connection ends that are the same as one another; hence, also the cables Dv1 and Dv2 are preferably the same as one another.

It is moreover preferable for the electric cables Dv1 /Dv2 to have the shape of a twin lead similar to the shape of the strips of LEDs and to be sufficiently soft so that they can be bent in a U.

In this way, the electric power can be transferred by means of electric cables Dv2 and the corresponding branched connectors Gv in each part of the container so as to compose the device according to each specific need.

In this way, it is possible to connect a strip of LEDs also to the fourth connector 4 of the central body Bv, as it is likewise possible to connect a cable Dv2 to one of said two connectors 1 and 2.

Moreover, the set of components tends to decrease in number, thus simplifying the storage of parts, and it is possible to envisage dedicated assemblages for any shape and size of cavity of containers.

Consequently, thanks to the device thus described, it is possible light up the inside of containers with a single compartment or with multiple compartments, with particular reference to Figures 3 and 4. In particular, in Figure 4 it may be noted that the electric cable Dv2 is bent in a U on the top margin of a partition wall S of a bag, identifying two adjacent compartments. In this way, at least one strip of LEDs surrounds the opening of each compartment.

In order to simplify the assembly of the device in the container, each strip of LEDs Lv has, on one face, a Velcro or else a bi-adhesive strip, but it can also be simply glued.

In addition, each of the aforementioned components, amongst which said first face Sp of the central body Bv, the anchorage surface Sg, the switch Pv, and the branched connector Gv can be provided with Velcro or bi-adhesive or be simply glued or sewn.

The device can advantageously be attached to semirigid surfaces H or C shown respectively in Figures 6 and 7, preferably made of transparent material, which are housed inside a compartment of a container when this is empty so as to light it up adequately without having to constrain the device directly to the container.

In addition, in the context of bags for ladies said semirigid surfaces can have the concavity similar to that of the container in which they are to be housed. This advantageously enables removal of the device from a first bag so that it can be installed in a second bag, transferring simultaneously all the objects contained in the first bag.

According to the variant described in Figure 5, the switch P is mounted directly on the central body B, and a strip of LEDs L is connected to the connector 4 of the housing B.

The central body is suspended by means of an appropriate hook M so that the strip of LEDs L hangs within the container setting itself as a catenary between the objects located in the bag.

The hook M can be of the carabiner type or the like, connected to the central body B by means of a chain of variable size. An end of the strip of LEDs opposite to the end connected to the central body B can be connected to a further hook (not represented) by means of a further chain (not represented). Said solution can be used for arranging the device between two predefined points of the bag, for example between two handles, preventing for example, the strip of LEDs L from being laid on the bottom of the bag, thus reducing its effectiveness of lighting therein.

Said adjustment can be performed by shortening the chains or else shortening the strip of LEDs by cutting.

The device can be also integrated in sheets of rigid or semirigid materials, preferably transparent as shown in Figures 6 and 7 so that it can be positioned within at least one cavity of a container, adhering to some portions of the internal surface of the container. In this way, the device can be associated to a container without necessarily being attached by means of Velcro or else by means of at least one hook M.

The present device can be advantageously integrated in a container at the moment of production of the container itself or else can be attached to the container subsequently. The central body B/Bv is basically shaped for containing electrical means for management of supply of the strips of LEDs and of the electric cables Dv1 /Dv2, etc. The batteries can, in fact, be inserted in a purposely provided housing made in the container to be lit up, preferably close to the position of the central body B/Bv, or else inside the central body B/Bv itself.

With reference to Figures 8 and 9, a central body B/Bv comprises a first compartment 5 for housing a battery 8 and a second compartment 6 for housing an electronic card 7 that manages supply of the connectors 1 , 2, and 4. In particular, the electronic card 7 comprises:

- the switch P for turning on the LEDs; and

- a contact board 71 compatible with a contact board 61 comprised in said second compartment 6 of the central body Bv/B for drawing off the energy supplied by the battery for supplying said strips of LEDs L/Lv, so that when the card is inserted in the respective compartment 6 it is also connected to the battery and to the connectors 1 to 4 of the central body B/Bv.

The card can have an internal timer that autonomously switches off the strips of LEDs L/Lv after a predefined time interval from activation, controlled by a mechanical or capacitive switch or a switch of some other nature. The function of turning off by means of the timer or else by means of the switch P is selected with a first switch 73.

A second switch 74 activates a mode of operation of the device as antitheft device. Said mode envisages that a buzzer 75 will be activated together with turning-on of the strips of LEDs when the device is activated.

According to the operating mode as antitheft device, it is preferable for turning-on of the device to be obtained by means of a capacitive sensor rather than by a pushbutton. This occurs by replacing the pushbutton with a long metal strip to be set along the opening of the bag.

Moreover, a further selector can be provided for varying supply and hence the colour of the strips of LEDs.

In the device according to the invention light diodes with high lighting efficiency can advantageously be used, which have a very low electrical absorption and reach approximately one tenth of the traditional consumption given the same lighting capacity. Another advantage in the use of LEDs is their longer service life and strength when they are subject to impact and vibrations. Since industrial mass production of light diodes has enabled reduction of the prices of the various types of LEDs, whether they are white-light LEDs or coloured-light LEDs, the device of the invention presents very advantageous production costs.

Assemblage of the LEDs in strips, which can have a length of even more 5 m, is generally made by interspersing in the wiring that connects the LEDs some electronic components such as resistors or capacitors, thus maintaining the flexibility of the strip of light points it being possible to distribute them uniformly and supply them just by connecting them up to an electric source at one of the ends of the strip.

It is advantageously envisaged also that highlighted at predefined distances, for example every few centimetres, on the strip of LEDs L and Lv of the device according to the invention, is a point where it is possible to cut it in order to reduce its length without impairing operation of the individual portions of strip thus obtained. This enables the user of the device to adapt the strips of LEDs to the dimensions of the bag where it is desired to apply the device, for example when this is supplied in the form of a kit.

The distribution of the lighting effect in the surrounding environment, the low consumption, the much longer duration, and the possibility of supply at a low voltage, together with the low production cost, hence render advantageous application of said strips in the device according to the invention.

The electronic components 72 can be easily pre-arranged by the person skilled in the branch to obtain the described functions.

The lighting device of the invention can be obtained directly integrated with the bag or container in which it is to be used, or else can be provided as a separate kit to be mounted even by non-skilled persons on bags already produced.

Figure 10 shows the device according to the variant already illustrated in Figure 5, with the addition of some details regarding fixing of the device itself to the bag.

Said kit, to be mounted on bags already produced, comprises a first string Li b, which is connected to a handle of the bag, or to a ring, via a clip-type element and terminates with means, for example a small snap- action jack 9, designed to connect a second string L1 a, said first string being preferably of an adjustable length. Said first string can be fixed even just with a simple noose L2b.

A second snap-action jack 10 is coupled to the first so as to be joined thereto but detachable therefrom just by pressing a safety catch of the jack itself.

This second jack 10 is fixed, with another short string L1 a, to said central body B/Bv, which thus dangles inside the container, it being however possible for it to be conveniently blocked against the inner wall using Velcro. The hand of the user of the container thus equipped easily finds the first external string and, following it, rapidly reaches the central body B/Bv, identifying immediately the main commands, which are advantageously set in the top part, close to the second string that keeps it dangling.

Alternatively, the two strings can be replaced by a single string L3 stably connected to the central body B/Bv.

Present on the body B/Bv are one or more sockets S with external elements. The latter can have different functions both as actuators of an output type and as actuators of an input type.

Said sockets S are preferably arranged in the bottom part of the body B/Bv and in the three possible directions, i.e., on the bottom, on the right, and on the left. In this way, the elements to be connected are made available in all the possible positions.

The sockets are multipolar and are provided all with the same electric contacts for the services envisaged, both at input and at output. The actuators for the services can consequently be coupled to the central body B/Bv in the preferred form and direction. Located on the body B/Bv, in the proximity of the string that keeps it dangling, are the main immediate commands, which can be identified simply by touch. By way of example, there can be two pushbuttons the first one of which turns on an actuator (for example, a strip of LEDs) when it is pressed, whilst the second activates a timer that keeps on the actuator for a longer pre-set time, irrespective of pressing of the pushbutton: this enables the user's hand to be left free for picking up the object sought.

To the sockets S there can be connected one or more actuator devices that supply different services.

Said devices comprise:

- one or more strips of LEDs (actuator of an input type) that can be used for lighting up the container itself;

- a cellphone (actuator of an output type), there being provided means designed to bring about turning-on of one or more of the strips of LEDs (L, Lv) when said cellphone receives a call, said strip of LEDs, which can be of an adhesive type so as to be set also on the outside of the container, and which is joined to the central body B/Bv with an extension, thus enabling identification the container and the corresponding user even in the midst of a crowd or in the dark (for example, in a railway station or at the airport when one goes to pick up a friend or relative and cannot manage to find the person in the crowd), it being possible for the activation of the LEDs to be also made manually for reasons of image or communication;

- an alarm and means designed to activate said alarm, the action of said alarm being driven by a system of a capacitive type, as a foreign body approaches the inside of the container;

- a charger designed to recharge an accumulator, used instead of the battery (8), said charger possibly being of the solar-cell type, or else of a piezoelectric type, with a pendulum set on the outside of the container, which uses for charging the very movement of the bag;

- a small portable torch, to be used instead of or together with the strip of LEDs for lighting up anything outside the container;

- an extension for the main commands, which in this way can be set outside the container or on a handle thereof or hanging outside. Advantageously, it is also possible to envisage that the connection of said cellphone to said sockets S is obtained in wireless mode, for example via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection.

The invention has been described by way of non-limiting illustration, according to some preferred embodiments. The elements and characteristics illustrated in the various preferred embodiments can be combined, without thereby departing from the sphere of protection of the claims annexed to the present application.

Claims

1 . An accessory device for containers, such as bags for ladies and gentlemen, rucksacks, boxes, and rigid or semirigid containers in general, designed to provide a service of an electronic/electrical type, such as lighting, of the type comprising:

- a central body (B, Bv) comprising means for supply (8) and control (7), present on which are connectors (1 , 2, 3, 4), controlled by said control means (7), designed to connect various loads;

- at least one flexible strip (L, Lv) of LEDs connected together, said at least one flexible strip (L, Lv) being connected to said central body (B, Bv) through at least one of said connectors (1 , 2, 3, 4); and

- a switch (P, Pv) for turning on said at least one flexible strip of LEDs (L, Lv), said switch being connected to said central body (B, Bv);

said device being characterized in that it envisages means (M) designed to fix in a removable way said accessory device to said containers so as to enable easy application and removal of said device to/from said container.

2. The device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said means (M), designed to fix in a removable way said accessory device to said containers so as to enable easy application and removal of said device to/from said container, comprise a first string (L1 b, L2b, L3) that is connected to a part of said container and terminates with means, designed to connect in a removable way a second string (L1 a), which is in turn connected to said central body (B, Bv).

3. The device according to Claim 2, characterized in that said means, designed to connect said second string (L1 a) in a removable way comprise a first snap-action jack (9) and a second snap-action jack (10).

4. The device according to Claim 2, characterized in that said first string (L2b) is connected to said part of said container via a simple noose.

5. The device according to Claim 2, characterized in that said first string (L3) connects said central body (B, Bv) directly to said container.

6. The device according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an end of the strip of LEDs (L, Lv) opposite to the end connected to said central body (B, Bv) is provided with further engagement means.

7. The device according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said strips of LEDs (L, Lv) are integrated in sheets of rigid or semirigid materials, designed to be positioned within at least one cavity of said container, adhering to some portions of the internal surface of said container, so that the device is associated to said container without necessarily being attached by means of Velcro.

8. The device according to Claim 1 , characterized in that said central body (B, Bv) comprises a first compartment (5) for housing a battery (8) and a second compartment (6) for housing means (7) designed to manage supply of said connectors (1 , 2, and 4).

9. The device according to Claim 8, characterized in that said means designed to manage supply of said connectors (1 , 2, and 4), include an electronic card (7) comprising a switch (P) for turning on said strips of LEDs (L, Lv) and a contact board (71 ), compatible with a contact board (61 ), contained in said second compartment (6) of the central body (B, Bv), designed to draw off the energy supplied by said battery (8) for supplying said strips of LEDs (L, Lv) in such a way that when said card (7) is inserted in the respective compartment (6) it is also connected to said battery (8) and to said connectors (1 , 2, 3 and 4) of said central body (B, Bv).

10. The device according to Claim 9, characterized in that said electronic card (7) further comprises a timer designed to switch off said strips of LEDs (L, Lv) after a predefined time interval by turning on said strips of LEDs (L, Lv).

1 1 . The device according to Claim 10, characterized in that it envisages a first switch (73) designed to select the function of turning-off by means of said timer.

12. The device according to at least one of Claims 9 to 1 1 , characterized in that it envisages a second switch (74) designed to activate a mode of operation of the device as antitheft device, there being provided acoustic means (75) that can be activated together with turning- on of said strips of LEDs (L, Lv).

13. The device according to Claim 12, characterized in that it envisages means of a capacitive type designed to activate the mode of operation as antitheft device.

14. The device according to Claim 13, characterized in that said means of a capacitive type, designed to activate the mode of operation as antitheft device, comprise a long metal strip to be set along the opening of said container.

15. The device according to at least one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that connected to said sockets S, positioned on said central body (B, Bv), are one or more of the following actuator devices:

- one or more strips of LEDs (L, Lv), designed to light up said container;

- a cellphone, there being provided means designed to bring about turning-on of one or more the strips of LEDs (L, Lv) when said cellphone receives a call;

- an alarm and means designed to activate said alarm, the action of said alarm being driven by a system of a capacitive type, as a foreign body approaches the inside of the container;

- a charger designed to recharge an accumulator, said charger possibly being of the solar-cell type, or else of a piezoelectric type, with a pendulum set on the outside of the container, which uses for charging the very movement of the bag; and

- a small portable torch.