Abstract:
The present invention provides a purse illumination assembly including a power source, a light emitting portion, a touch-sensitive switch, and a circuit assembly connecting the light emitting portion to the power source through the touch-sensitive switch. The touch-sensitive switch is located in an indentation to protect against accidental switching on. The light emitting portion includes a light emitting fabric or may include EL wire in combination with LED lights to provide both lighting and a decorative effect. An EL wire may be used alone or in combination with LED lights and light emitting fabric. A driver circuit may be included for driving both the EL wire and the LED lights.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending application Ser. No. 11/676,006 filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 16, 2007, which in turn claims priority to application Ser. No. 10/746,470 filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Dec. 23, 2003, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,689 on Apr. 24, 2007, the entire contents of both of which is incorporated by this reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention generally relates to illumination devices specifically for use in purses, handbags and backpacks that allow the user to easily activate and illuminate its interior. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    The use of lights as a means for illuminating a purse is known within the art. These may include traditional pocket lamps that hang from a strap down into a purse and must be switched on by the user or light systems built into a purse, which would illuminate upon opening the purse. 
         [0006]    By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,142 issued to Weir describes a purse light system. The purse light system is a purse with a built-in light system, which includes a purse outer structure, a battery pack and a light assembly positioned to emit light into the purse chamber. The purse lighting system automatically switches on when the purse opening is in the open position and off when the purse opening is in the closed position. This invention lights the purse from the top of the purse. 
         [0007]    Another purse lighting system, U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,926 issued to Meyers describes a purse light. This purse light includes a light for illuminating the interior of a purse, consisting of a mounting assembly housing a light bulb, a reflector to direct the light towards a diffusing lens which projects the light in a multitude of directions and a digital clock. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,568 issued to Blue-Recio discloses yet another light assembly for the interior of a purse. This light assembly consists of a mounting structure to secure the assembly to the inside of a bag, an illumination source which projects light to the interior of the bag, and a switch the user must push to turn the purse light on. The switching mechanism for the &#39;598 patent may allow for the lamp to be inadvertently switched on by pressure from items within the purse and may also allow for the lamp to be inadvertently left on by the user, both instances may result in complete discharge of the battery without the knowledge of the user. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,438 issued to King describes a light for the interior of a purse, having a light bulb, an electric power supply mounted within a translucent housing which is temporarily mounted on a mounting bracket which is permanently attached to the inside of a purse. The &#39;438 patent is cumbersome and impractical because it requires mounting brackets to be permanently mounted on the interior of a purse. 
         [0010]    U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0067610 to Marshal discloses a lighted and content-organizing carrying case for illuminating the main compartment and organizing the contents in the carrying case. The lighted and content-organizing carrying case includes a handbag assembly and also includes light-emitting assemblies removably attached to the bag. The light-emitting means includes tubular light-emitting holders each having a side wall and an open end, and also includes light-emitting members being disposed in the tubular light-emitting holders, and further includes batteries conventionally disposed in the light-emitting holders and being connected with wires to the light-emitting members, and also includes on/off switches being movably and conventionally disposed at the open ends of the light-emitting holders and being connected with the wires to the light-emitting members and to the batteries for energizing the light-emitting members, and further includes hook and loop fasteners being securely and conventionally attached to an exterior of the side walls of the light-emitting holders and to one of the walls of the bag in the main compartment for removably fastening the light-emitting holders to the bag. Each of the light-emitting holders includes a plurality of holes being spaced apart and along a length of and disposed through the side wall thereof with each of the holes being adapted to receive a respective light-emitting member which is extended through the hole. The assembly of Marshall appears quite bulky and requires several parts in order to operate. The switch is located at the top and appears to work by being pressed in. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,907 to Daniel discloses a light emitting fabric in which optical fibers are part of the weave, replacing some of the threaded fibers, whereby the fabric is uniformly illuminated and, accordingly, decorated. The individual optical fibers are gathered into a bundle at one end of the fabric and illuminated by a light source. Light traveling through the fibers is emitted in small amounts throughout the lengths thereof through small scratches that pierce the outer coating. Uniformity and intensity of light are enhanced by providing a reflective coating on the non-illuminated ends of the optical fibers. According to &#39;907, this fabric is usable in clothing; such as costumes, high visibility safety clothing, suntan suits; rugs, draperies, theater curtains, architectural panels, fiberglass boat hulls, and the like. Because the fibers are all bundled and connected to the same light source, they are lit together. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,704 to Stinson discloses a light emitting diode (LED) or lamp that is programmable to emit a variety of colors or hues at the selection of the user having a unitary housing of clear molded solid epoxy supporting three light dies characterized as producing color hues of red, green and blue respectively. A common cathode is supported in the housing and wire leads interconnect the anode of each light die with the common cathode. Control circuits are operably coupled to anode leads and a common cathode lead for selectively energizing the light die anodes so that their respective color outputs visually combine to produce a desired color or hue. 
         [0013]    The references that are related to LED and light fabric have no mention of purselights. The references that disclose some type of purselight include assemblies that have many parts and are therefore quite cumbersome to build and operate, do not provide light from the bottom of the bag upward, include pressure activated switches that may be turned on accidentally by the items in the bag and provide point light sources and discontinuous sources of light. Some of the shortcomings of the above are addressed by the aspects of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Aspects of the present invention provide an illumination method and system for a purse or bag that has a simple and elegant design to light the bag from the bottom and the sides, is turned on and off by a touch sensitive switch, and may include LEDs that are used to generate a pattern of light. Some aspects of the present invention provide the use of light emitting fabrics that are soft and pliable and add very little to the total weight of the purse. Some aspects of the invention may include the use of electroluminescent (EL) wires that produce a continuous line of light. 
         [0015]    Lighting a purse from the top down is not as effective as the present invention which emits ambient light from the bottom and side of the purse or handbag. Further, the push switch of prior art may be turned on and off accidentally from pressure from objects in the purse while the touch-sensitive switch of the present invention requires the touch of the user&#39;s fingers or hand. Light fabrics using LEDs are both suitable for the inside of a purse because of the pliability of the fabric and may be used on the outside of the purse to form various patterns. Point sources of the prior art require a hard casing and are not as aesthetically pleasing as a light fabric. Therefore, the use of such sources is limited to hidden areas of the purse. In addition to light fabrics that may be used on the outside of a purse, other aspects of the present invention provide a continuous wand of light using EL wire. This wand may be extended from the inside to the outside and is used both as a light source and for ornamentation. Here, the aesthetic feature provides the utility. Fiber optics does not provide the continuity of EL wire. 
         [0016]    According to one embodiment, a purse illumination assembly is provided that includes a purse having at least two sides, wherein the inside of at least one of the at least two sides is light emitting fabric, a power source means operatively coupled to the light emitting fabric, and a switch means operatively coupled to the power source means. 
         [0017]    According to one embodiment, a purse illumination assembly is provided that includes a purse having at least two sides, wherein the inside of at least one of the at least two sides is a light emitting fabric comprised of a piece of fabric with arrays of LED pixels mounted on a flexible plastic substrate and having an electrically conducting track on the flexible plastic substrate connecting each said LED pixel, a power source means operatively coupled to the light emitting fabric, and a switch means operatively coupled to the power source means. 
         [0018]    According to one embodiment, a purse illumination assembly is provided that includes an EL wire to produce a continuous wand of light that may be extended from the inside to the outside of the purse. 
         [0019]    Aspects of the present invention provide a purse illumination assembly, including a power source, a light emitting portion, a touch-sensitive switch, and a circuit assembly connecting the light emitting portion to the power source through the touch-sensitive switch. The light emitting portion includes a light emitting fabric, and the touch-sensitive switch is located in an indentation to protect against accidental switching on. 
         [0020]    In one aspect, the circuit assembly includes a capacitive timing circuit to turn the light off after a predetermined period. In one aspect, wherein said light emitting fabric is selected from the group consisting of textile imbedded with LED, OLED, optical fibers or black light. In one aspect, the light emitting fabric includes a piece of fabric, a flexible substrate attached to the piece of fabric, arrays of LED pixels mounted on the flexible substrate, a waveguide between said LED pixels, and an electrically conducting track on said flexible substrate connecting and controlling the LED pixels, and each said LED pixel contains red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs. In one aspect, the light emitting fabric is encased in translucent water resistant material. In one aspect, the touch sensitive switching means is comprised of two non-intersecting electrical contacts. In one aspect, a voice sensitive switching means in communication with said switch means is also used in the purse illumination assembly. In one aspect, the light emitting fabric is used to illuminate an inside of a purse and an outside of the purse. In one aspect, the light emitting fabric may be sequenced to provide a dynamic display. 
         [0021]    Aspects of the present invention also provide purse illumination assembly for illuminating a purse that includes a power source, a light emitting portion, a touch-sensitive switch, and a circuit assembly connecting the light emitting portion to the power source through the touch-sensitive switch. The light emitting portion includes an EL wire and a LED light both being driven by a driver circuit of the circuit assembly. The LED light is located outside the purse. The EL wire extends from an outside of the purse inside, and the touch-sensitive switch is located on a casing of the LED light. 
         [0022]    In one aspect, the EL wire is shaped as a wand portion and the casing of the LED light has a flower-shaped cap. In one aspect, the wand portion is covered with crystals that diffuse light. In one aspect, the casing of the LED light has interchangeable decorative caps. In one aspect, the circuit assembly includes a transformer. In one aspect, the power source is rechargeable. In one aspect, the light emitting portion further includes a light emitting fabric. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows one exemplary location of a purse illumination assembly with respect to a purse, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows one exemplary pattern of a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows another exemplary pattern of a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a light fabric used as a part of a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows various views of a flower purselight according to other aspects of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows exemplary dimensions for the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary exploded view of the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 9  shows exemplary dimensions for a leaf part of the flower shown in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 10A  shows an exemplary driver for the lights used in the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0033]      FIG. 10B  shows exemplary implementation parameters for the driver of  FIG. 10A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0034]    A purse illumination assembly is described that is used to illuminate a purse. The purse usually has two or more sides. The purse illumination assembly in some embodiments includes a light emitting fabric. In that case, the inside of at least one of the sides is at least partially covered with the light emitting fabric. The light illumination assembly includes a power source operatively coupled to the light emitting fabric and a switch operatively coupled to the power source. The light emitting fabric may be encased in translucent water resistant material. A touch sensitive switching means may be in communication with the switch means. 
         [0035]    The light emitting fabric, used in various embodiments of the present invention, may be selected from various types of light-emitting fabric including textile embedded with light emitting diodes (LEDs) or organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), optical fibers, and black light. Photonic textile, which uses cloth as a lighted graphic display medium may also be used. Photonic textile integrates a flexible array of miniature LEDs into a piece of cloth, which allows the cloth to display graphics, text, and animation. Black light refers to the type of light that remains close to the ultraviolet range and is of low visibility to the eye unless used with fluorescent and phosphorescent material. 
         [0036]    While optical fibers may be used for some aspects of the present invention, to provide ambient lighting that is capable of being programmed to provide a pattern, individual lights should be embedded in the fabric. The term embedded refers to the fact that the light is contained substantially within the fabric or substrate. The LEDs are not capable of moving around, as would be the case in a string of lights. The LEDs are fixedly attached to either the fabric or substrate. 
         [0037]    Aspects of the present invention with reference to  FIG. 1  provide a purse illumination assembly. Aspects of the present invention with reference to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  provide a purse illumination assembly with light emitting fabric on the inside or outside of the purse.  FIG. 5  shows a light fabric to be used as part of the purse illumination assembly of some aspects of the present invention. 
         [0038]    EL wire may be used to produce a continuous line of light in other aspects of the invention. EL wire is a thin copper wire coated in a phosphor which glows when an AC Current is applied to it. Unlike other types of strand lights, EL wire is not a series of points but produces a 360 degree unbroken line of visible light. Its thin diameter makes it flexible and ideal for use in a variety of applications such as clothing or costumes. 
         [0039]    Aspects of the present invention with reference to  FIGS. 6 through 10  provide a flower purselight including a continuous light source in the form of a wand made from EL wire. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  shows a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a purse illumination assembly  10  is shown that includes a base housing unit  12  a circuit assembly  15  and a light-emitting portion  20 . The base housing unit  12  may have a generally rectangular shape with two ends, and four longitudinal sides. Other shapes are possible. At least one of these longitudinal sides may be a removable side providing access to the interior of the base housing unit  12  for tasks such as replacing a power source  18 , or fixing other electrical elements in the base housing unit  12 . The exterior of the base housing unit  12  may have two recessed indentations  17 . The recessed indentations  17  may contain the switching means  16 . These two indentations  17  may be sufficiently deep as to shield the switching means  16  from inadvertent actuation by items contained within the purse but also sufficiently shallow to allow the user to intentionally actuate the switching means  16 . 
         [0042]    The base housing unit  12  may further comprise an attachment means  26  to yield a purse illumination assembly  10  that is removably attachable to the interior of the purse. The attachment means  26  may be a hoop and loop fastener (such as Velcro®) in which one side of the attachment means is affixed to the base housing unit  12  by an adhesive, and the other side of the attachment means is attached to the interior of the purse. Another possible attachment means may be a U shaped clip with a spring like closing effect. One side of the clip may be fixedly attached to a side of the housing  12 , the other side may slip over an interior pocket of a purse providing a purse illumination assembly  10  that is secured to the interior of the purse. 
         [0043]    The circuit assembly  15  is partially contained within the base housing unit  12 . The circuit assembly  15  includes the switching means  16  exposed on the exterior of the base housing unit  12 , the power source  18  and a timing circuit  14  providing a timed and regulated conveyance of electricity. The switching means  16  may be touch sensitive switching means. The touch sensitive switching means  16  may extend through the base housing unit  12  and are exposed on the exterior of the base housing unit  12 . The touch sensitive switching means  16  may also be exposed on the exterior of the light-emitting portion  20 , and may be comprised of a first electrical contact  21  and a second electrical contact  23  which are non-intersecting. The bridging of the first contact  21  and second contact  23  will illuminate the light-emitting portion  20  for a given amount of time before automatically shutting off. The purse illumination assembly  10  may implement the timing circuit  14  as a capacitive timing circuit, which uses the charging and discharge of a capacitor, to regulate the duration of illumination. The purse illumination assembly may also further comprise a flash memory contained within the housing unit  12 . 
         [0044]    The power source  18  in communication with the electronic circuitry  15  may include at least one disposable power cell, rechargeable cell or solar powered cell. The illumination assembly  10  may further comprise an electrical contact  27  partially contained within the base housing unit  12  in electrical communication with the power source  18 . This electrical contact  27  allows a battery-charging device to be in removable electrical communication with the power source  18  of the purse illuminating assembly  10 . The user may attach one end of a battery charging unit to the electrical contact  27  in communication with the illumination assembly power source  18 , and the other end of the battery charging unit to a battery charger receptacle, providing a rechargeable purse illumination assembly  10 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 2  shows one exemplary location of a purse illumination assembly with respect to a purse, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
         [0046]    The light emitting portion  120 , shown in  FIG. 2 , includes a light fabric  200 . In contrast to the prior art discussed above, the light emitting fabric may illuminate either the inside or outside of the purse. The light emitting portion  210  is located along the side of the purse to provide illumination on the inside or outside of the purse. The remainder of the purse illumination assembly  10  includes a touch sensitive switching means  220  that may be comprised of two non-intersecting electrical contacts. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the remainder of the purse illumination assembly  10  is placed such that the switching means  220  is on the outside of the purse. There may also be a voice sensitive switching means in communication with the switch means. 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows one exemplary pattern of a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
         [0048]    When light fabric is used as the light emitting portion, the light emitting portion may take various forms.  FIG. 3  shows a light emitting portion  300  that takes the shape of a star. In some aspects of the present invention, the voice sensitive switching means is able to call up certain shapes in response to voice activated commands. For example, the user may say “Star” and the star  300  may light up. The light emitting fabric may be sequenced to provide a dynamic display. For example, the star  100  may flash or turn into a circle or a video depicting movement. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the remainder of the purse illumination assembly  10  is placed completely inside the purse. 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  shows another exemplary pattern of a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 4 , the light emitting portion  410  is similar to the light emitting portion  210  of  FIG. 2  but occupies a larger area. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the remainder of the purse illumination assembly  10  is placed completely inside the purse. 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  shows a light emitting fabric used as a part of a purse illumination assembly, according to the aspects of the present invention. 
         [0052]    The light emitting fabric  500  may be comprised of a piece of fabric with arrays of LED pixels  502  mounted on a flexible substrate  504  and having an electrically conducting track  506  on the flexible substrate  504  connecting the LED Pixels  502  to a controlling circuit and power source. The electrically conducting track may include circuits for separately controlling each of the pixels. The flexible substrate  504  may be plastic. The LED pixels  502  may each contain red, green and blue (RGB) LEDs such that each pixel may create various colors as a combination of these lights. There may also be a waveguide  508  between the LED pixels to conduct the light. Flash memory may be used in communication with the light emitting fabric. 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  shows various views of a flower purselight according to other aspects of the present invention. 
         [0054]    The purselight  600  of  FIG. 6  is configured to look like a flower. Other appropriate shapes may be used. Also, this and variations of this embodiment may be used in combination with the light fabric shown in the preceding drawings. 
         [0055]      FIG. 6  shows a plan view  601 , an isometric view  602  and a bottom view  603  of the flower purselight  600 . The flower purselight  600  includes a flower portion  610  and a wand portion  620 . The flower portion  610  includes an embedded LED  612 , a touch-sensitive switch  614  and an interchangeable cover  616  or cap. The wand portion  620  includes an end cap for fiber optics or EL light. 
         [0056]    In one aspect, the wand  620  is made from EL wire that provides even coverage and a continuous light. Hot spots from the use of several LEDs are avoided when EL wire, fiber optics, or phosphorous coated plastic are used for the wand material. Using crystals around the wand helps diffuse the light. 
         [0057]      FIG. 7  shows exemplary dimensions for the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0058]    One set of exemplary dimensions for the flower shown in  FIG. 6  are shown in  FIG. 7 . The plan view  700  shows an exemplary length of 3.580 inches and an exemplary width of 2.291 inches. A first side view  710  and a second side view  720  show an exemplary thickness of 0.275 inches. 
         [0059]      FIG. 8  shows an exemplary exploded view of the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0060]    Exemplary components to be used in an exemplary flower  800  that is used in the purselight of  FIG. 6  are shown in  FIG. 8 . The flower  800  includes batteries  801 , a base  802 , a battery door  803 , a leaf  804  under the flower, a circuit  805 , a cap  806 , a resistive spring  807 , a positive button  808 , right and left contacts  809 ,  810 , a flower cover  811 , a transformer  812 , an LED  813 , screws  814  and contact table  815 . The various components are assembled to provide DC current from the batteries  801  to the LED  813 . The base  802  permits the EL wires to enter through EL wire connections  816  and receive AC power from the transformer. The circuit  805  provides the appropriate power to each component. 
         [0061]      FIG. 9  shows exemplary dimensions for a leaf part of the flower shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0062]    One exemplary set of dimensions for the leaf part  804  of  FIG. 8  are shown in  FIG. 9 . A plan view  900 , an isometric view  910  and a side view  920  are shown. The exemplary dimensions are shown as 3.950×2.000×0.125 inches. 
         [0063]      FIG. 10A  shows an exemplary driver for the lights used in the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 10A  shows one exemplary implementation of the circuit  805  of  FIG. 8  that forms a driver circuit for the LED of the flower portion  610  as well as the EL wire for the wand portion  620  of the flower purselight of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 10B  shows exemplary implementation parameters for the driver of  FIG. 10A . 
         [0066]      FIG. 10B  provides a table that shows exemplary specifications for the driver circuit of  FIG. 10A . 
         [0067]    As mentioned above, a combination of the above features may be used for illuminating the inside and outside of a purse. 
         [0068]    The present invention has been described in relation to particular examples, which are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, with the scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.