Abstract:
A handbag includes a fastener which has a slide member and a plurality of interlocking teeth which engage and interlock under the action of the slide member. A magnet is mounted on the slide member and a reed switch is mounted on a substrate which supports the plurality of interlocking teeth. The reed switch operates an electrical circuit to power an electroluminescent panel which is mounted in the handbag.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application entitled “A Fastener Incorporating An Electrical Switch” which was filed in the United Kingdom as Application No. GB 0513906.8 on Jul. 6, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates generally to the field of handbags and more particularly, to a handbag incorporating an illuminated panel.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The field of handbags which incorporate illuminated elements includes the following patents.  
         [0004]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0057923A1 by Catherine Kurcz, et al. for a Method and Apparatus to Illuminate the Interior of a Fashion Accessory, shows a handbag in which a pair of electroluminescent wires is coupled to a switch and to a power source. The switch is a magnetic reed switch which turns the electroluminescent wires on when the handbag is opened.  
         [0005]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0219839A1 to Juli R. Branson for a Lighted Purse shows a purse with a rechargeable battery and a solar call which are connected to an electroluminescent strip. A spring operated switch operates the electroluminescent strip when the purse is opened.  
         [0006]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2005/0281019A1 by Steven N. Verona for a Receptacle Illuminating Device shows a light emitting membrane which has a backbone made of malleable wires which can be bent to conform to the interior shape of a handbag. A rocker switch, a battery and an inverter are mounted on the interior surface of the handbag. The rocker switch is used to turn the light emitting membrane on and off  
         [0007]     U.S. Patent Publication No. US 2003/0090895A1 by Salvatore Guerrieri for a Portable Light Source and Retainer for Mounting, includes a battery powered LED, a microprocessor, a timer, and a switch and a magnetically actuable switch all of which are mounted in a ladies handbag or briefcase. When the handbag is opened, the magnetic switch closes a circuit and turns the LED on for a predetermined period of time. The manual switch can be used to turn the LED on or off at any time.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,439 to R. W. Avery for An Electrical Slide Fastener shows a slide fastener in which the elements of the slide fastener are made up of conducting and insulating interlocking elements which are physically spread over a large area. Electrical leads are provided which are attached to the interlocking contact element. The electrical leads form a closed circuit when the slide fastener is closed and an open circuit when the slide fastener is opened.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,140 B2 to Jani Mantyjarvi, et al. for A System and Method for Smart Clothing and Wearable Electronic Devices, shows a zipper having interlocking teeth with a two part conductive cable. Each of the two parts of the conducting cable is integral with one tooth of a pair of interlocking teeth. The two parts of the cable are brought into conducting position thereby completing the cable when the pair of interlocking teeth are interlocked.  
         [0010]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,603,327 to O. P. Leonard, et al. for a Garment With Fastener Alarm, shows a zipper which includes a pair of electrical contacts in the zipper track for contact by the zipper head as the zipper head moves along the zipper track. The zipper head establishes continuity through the contacts as it moves past the contacts.  
         [0011]     Despite the developments of the prior art, there remains a need for an effective illumination device for a handbag which combines an esthetically pleasing appearance with high reliability and low manufacturing cost.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a handbag incorporating an electrical switch which provides a smooth and esthetically pleasing appearance.  
         [0013]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag incorporating an electrical switch which does not rely on the conductivity of interlocking elements to provide a switching action.  
         [0014]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag having a fastener incorporating an electrical switch which uses a reed switch.  
         [0015]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag having an electrical switch which incorporates an electrical timer.  
         [0016]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a fastener incorporating an electrical switch which is adapted for use on handbags in combination with an electroluminescent panel.  
         [0017]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag incorporating an electrical switch in which the switch elements remain hidden from sight during normal operation.  
         [0018]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag having a fastener incorporating an electrical switch which does not rely on a contact type of switch.  
         [0019]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag having a fastener incorporating an electrical switch which does not rely on conductive wires connected to interlocking elements of the fastener.  
         [0020]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag incorporating a segmented illuminated panel which enables the side panels of the handbag to provide a degree of flexibility which results in convenient use.  
         [0021]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a handbag having a fastener incorporating an electrical switch which comprises a small number of relatively simple components resulting in reliable long term operation and low cost manufacture.  
         [0022]     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made clear hereinafter.  
         [0023]     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a handbag which includes a fastener incorporating an electrical switch which incorporates a zip type of fastener having a slide member and a plurality of interlocking teeth. The slide member may be selectively operated to cause the teeth to engage and interlock thus closing the fastener or to disengage thus opening the fastener. The lower portion of the slide member includes a magnet.  
         [0024]     A reed switch is positioned at the fully open position of the zip fastener below the interlocking teeth. When the slide member approaches the reed switch, the magnet actuates the reed switch causing the reed switch to close. The reed switch is part of an electrical circuit which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a timer, an electroluminescent panel and a battery. The electroluminescent panel, the reed switch and the battery are mounted in the handbag in an unobtrusive manner which maintains the esthetic appearance of the handbag.  
         [0025]     When the zip fastener is opened fully, the magnet causes the reed switch to close thereby completing the electrical circuit which causes the electroluminescent panel to illuminate the contents of the handbag for a predetermined time as controlled by the timer. When the zip fastener is pulled toward the closed position, the electroluminescent panel is turned off. The user sees the light turning off and is thus assured that the handbag is operating correctly. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0026]     Other important objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a fastener incorporating an electrical switch according to the present invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  showing the slide member;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a schematic drawing of the electrical circuit portion of the fastener of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is an overall perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  installed on a handbag and showing the electroluminescent panel portion of the handbag; and  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the handbag taken along the line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 6  is an end view taken along the line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is an overall perspective view of the fastener of  FIG. 1  installed on a handbag incorporating a segmented illuminated panel; and  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a schematic cross-section view taken along the line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7   
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0035]     With reference to the drawings in which there is shown in  FIGS. 1-6  a fastener incorporating an electrical switch  10  made according to the present invention and in which the fastener  10  is shown on a handbag  12 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 1  shows a top plan view of the fastener  10  according to the present invention which incorporates a zip type of fastener or closure  14 . The zip fastener  14  has a slide member  16  and two rows  18 ,  20  of interlocking teeth which are identified typically by reference numerals  22 ,  24 . The rows  18 ,  20  of interlocking teeth  22 ,  24  are mounted on adjacent flexible substrates  26 ,  28 . The zip fastener  14  includes the slide member  16  which has upper and lower guide plates  32 ,  34  which are connected by a septum plate  36  and a pull tab  38  is mounted on plate  32 . The details of construction of the interlocking teeth  22 ,  24  of the zip fastener  14  are conventional in nature and therefore need not be further described.  
         [0037]     The zip fastener  14  may be operated in a conventional manner to move the slide member  16  from a closed position which is shown in broken lines  40  in  FIG. 1  to an open position designated by reference numeral  42 .  
         [0038]     In accordance with the present invention, a permanent magnet  44  is mounted on the lower surface  46  of the lower guide plate  34  as is best shown in  FIG. 2 . The magnet  44  is connected to the lower surface  46  by an adhesive layer  70 .  
         [0039]     A reed switch  48  is mounted on the substrates  26 ,  28  adjacent to the open position  42  of the slide member  30 . The reed switch  48  is mounted on the lower surfaces of the substrates  26 ,  28  by adhesive layers  72 ,  74  or by stitching so that neither the reed switch  48  nor the magnet  44  is visible to a user during normal operation of the zip fastener  14 . The fastener  10  according to the present invention preserves the smooth esthetic appearance of a conventional zip fastener while providing the electrical switch function.  
         [0040]     As a result of the location of the magnet  44  and the reed switch  48 , both the magnet  44  and the reed switch  48  are hidden from view and are protected from accidental user contact and inadvertent damage.  
         [0041]     It is clear that while a zip fastener  14  having interlocking teeth has been described above, the fastener according to the present invention may be incorporated in a slide fastener in which the interlocking teeth are replaced by interlocking elongated elements which are urged into a closed position by a slide member.  
         [0042]     It is also clear that the fastener  10  of the present invention may find application in a broad range of devices which require a closure.  
         [0043]     In a preferred construction, the reed switch  48  may be mounted on the inner surface  50  of a panel  52  of the handbag  12  near the fully open position  54  of the slide member  16  as is shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0044]     When the slide member  30  approaches the reed switch  48 , the magnet  44  actuates the reed switch  48  causing the reed switch  48  to close. The reed switch  48  is part of an electrical circuit  56  which includes an electroluminescent panel  58 , a battery  60  and a timer  62 .  
         [0045]     When the fastener  10  is opened fully, the magnet  44  causes the reed switch  48  to close thereby completing an electrical circuit which causes the electroluminescent panel  58  to illuminate the contents of the handbag  12  for a predetermined time as controlled by the electrical circuit  56 .  
         [0046]     A preferred predetermined time period for the electroluminescent panel  58  to stay on is in the order of  15  seconds. If the slider  16  is moved to the closed position before predetermined period has elapsed, the light turns off. The light only comes on when the slider  16  is moved to the fully open position  54  and not when the handbag  12  has been partially opened.  
         [0047]     When the fastener  10  is pulled toward the closed position, the electroluminescent panel  58  is turned off. The user sees the light turning off and is thus assured that the handbag  12  is operating correctly.  
         [0048]     In  FIG. 4 , the components of the electrical circuit are shown disposed within an enclosure  64  which is mounted on the inner surface  66  of the panel  68  of the handbag  12 .  
         [0049]     The handbag  12  as shown in  FIG. 4  includes the panel  52 , the panel  68  and the bottom panel  18 . The panels  52 ,  68 ,  78  may be made of fabric, leather, plastic or any material which provides the requisite combination of properties of esthetic appeal with flexibility. The panels  52 ,  68 ,  78  may be fastened together to form the handbag by any one or combination of conventional fastening techniques including stitching and adhesive layers. The electroluminescent panel  58  is attached to the bottom panel  78  by an adhesive layer  80  as shown in  FIG. 5  or alternatively, by conventional stitching.  
         [0050]     As is shown in  FIG. 3  in the preferred construction, the electrical circuit  56  includes a solid state timer chip  62 , a battery  60 , a reed switch  48 , an inverter  82 , resistors  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90 , capacitors  92 ,  94 ,  96 , a diode  98 , and the electroluminescent panel  58 . The resistors  84 ,  86 ,  88 ,  90  are designated R 1 , R 2 , R 3  and R 4  respectively, and the capacitors  92 ,  94 ,  96  are designated C 1 , C 2  and C 3 , respectively. Preferably the timer  62  is an LM555CM chip.  
         [0051]     The functions of the various pins of the timer  62  are as follows. Pin I is ground, pin  2  is the trigger, pin  3  is the output, pin  4  is the reset, pin  5  is the control voltage and is not used, pin  6  is the threshold, pin  7  is the discharge, and pin  8  is positive Vcc.  
         [0052]     Pin  1  of the timer  62  is connected to ground and pin  3 , which is the output of the timer  62 , is connected to the inverter  82  and the electroluminescent panel  58 . Pin  2  which is the trigger of the timer  62 , is connected to capacitor  62  and to the reed switch  48 . Pins  6  and  7  are connected to resistor R 3  and capacitor C 4 . Pin  2  is connected to capacitor C 2  and to the moveable portion of the reed switch  48 . Pin  2  is also connected to diode D 1  and resistor R 4 . Resistor R 2  and capacitor C 1  are connected across pins  1  and  8 .  
         [0053]     The time period during which the electroluminescent panel  58  is on is determined by the values of resistor R 3  and capacitor C 3 .  
         [0054]     The inverter  82  converts the direct current provided by the battery  60  to alternating current for operation of the electroluminescent panel  58 .  
         [0055]     The electroluminescent panel  58  is flexible and provides an even illumination without creating heat or hot spots thus illuminating the contents of the handbag  12  in a convenient and effective manner.  
         [0056]      FIG. 1  shows a solar panel  100  which may be mounted on the outside  104  of the handbag  12  to provide electrical power to charge the battery which may be a conventional rechargeable battery which includes a conventional battery charging circuit (not shown).  
         [0057]     It should be understood that the reed switch and the permanent magnet described above may be replaced by a conventional microswitch (not illustrated) which has an actuating portion which is actuated by contact with the slide member when the slide member  16  reaches the open position.  
         [0058]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show an alternative embodiment  200  of the handbag  12  which was previously described in connection with  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 7 , the handbag  200  includes the side panel  202 , side panel  204  and the bottom panel  206 . The panels  202 ,  204  and  206  may be made of any combination of fabric, leather, plastic or any material which provides the requisite properties of esthetic appeal and flexibility. As previously described, the panels  202 ,  204 ,  206  may be fastened together by any one or combination of conventional fastening techniques including stitching and adhesive layers.  
         [0059]     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the electroluminescent panel  208  is segmented and comprises a series of individual electroluminescent panels  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218 . The individual electroluminescent panels  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218  are connected by wires typically indicated by wires  222 ,  224  shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The individual electroluminescent panel  210  is connected to the electrical circuit  56  which is mounted in the enclosure  222  via wires  230 ,  232 . The enclosure  222  is mounted on the side panel  202  by conventional attachment means. The enclosure  222  is mounted close to the end  224  of the side panel  202  thereby minimizing the length of the wires  226 ,  228  connecting the reed switch  48  and the electrical circuit  56  and also increasing the convenience for the user since the enclosure  222  is located in an area which does not interfere with the normal use of the handbag  200 .  
         [0060]     The segmented electroluminescent panel  208  has been illustrated as having five individual electroluminescent panels  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218 . The incorporation of individual electroluminescent panels  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218  provides a high degree of flexibility which does not impair the normal flexibility of the side panel  202  and thereby facilitates the normal convenient use of the handbag  200 .  
         [0061]     The selection of the quantity of five individual electroluminescent panels  210 ,  212 ,  214 ,  216 ,  218  has been done as a matter of convenience and clarity of illustration. It is clear that a larger or smaller number of individual electroluminescent panels may be used depending on the overall size of the handbag and the degree of flexibility desired with a larger number of individual electroluminescent panels resulting in a more flexible construction for a given size of handbag.  
         [0062]     The electroluminescent panel  208  has been illustrated as having mounted on the side panel  202 . It is clear that a second electroluminescent panel similar to the electroluminescent panel  208  generally indicated by the broken lines  234  in  FIG. 7  may be mounted on the side panel  204  and that a third electroluminescent panel generally indicated by the reference number  236  in  FIG. 7  may be mounted on the bottom panel  206 . The use of the second and third electroluminescent panels  234 ,  236  result in full illumination of the handbag  200 .  
         [0063]     The individual electroluminescent panels may be programmed by the electrical circuit  56  to light in a pre-selected sequence. The electroluminescent panel  208  is made of a flexible electroluminescent material which has properties similar to fabric. In an alternative construction (not illustrated), the electroluminescent panel may be used as the inner lining of the handbag thereby enabling the entire interior of the handbag to be illuminated. By way of example, tests conducted on the electroluminescent material of the electroluminescent panels have demonstrated the ability of the material to flex and bend in the order of  180  degrees around a radius which is in the order of  1   2 mm.  
         [0064]     One or more of the electroluminescent panels  208 ,  234 ,  236  may be printed with a variety of indicia including a company logo or a customized design. When the printed electroluminescent panels are illuminated, the indicia will become visible.  
         [0065]     It should be understood that while the present invention has been described in connection with a handbag, this has been done by way of example and that the invention may be utilized with all manner of bags and compartments, including luggage, briefcases, garment bags, attache cases, jewelry boxes and glove boxes.