Patent Publication Number: US-2013250603-A1

Title: Illumination method and system for a bag

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/613,664, filed on Mar. 21, 2012. All documents above are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illumination method and system for a personal item. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     More specifically, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an illumination system for a personal item, comprising at least one light source activated by a textile switch, the light source and the textile switch being secured to a textile substrate and connected by conductors on the textile substrate, the textile substrate being secured on the personal item. 
     There is further provided a personal item comprising at least one light source activated by a textile switch, the light source and the textile switch being secured to a textile substrate and connected by conductors on the textile substrate. 
     There is further provided a method for illuminating a personal item, comprising securing at least one light source and a textile switch on a substrate, connecting the light source and the textile switch by conductors on the substrate, connecting the light source and the textile switch to a powering unit, securing the substrate to the personal item and operating the textile switch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the appended drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a partial view of system of according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows light sources in a lighting unit of a system according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  show a) light emitting diodes secured to a textile substrate on an inner surface of a liner inside a carrying item; b) conductors on the textile substrate on the inner surface of a liner inside a carrying item; c) the textile substrate on the inner surface of a liner inside a carrying item; and d) light emitting diodes as seen from outside of the carrying item, according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  show a) conductive fabric surfaces of a switch; b) a conductive fabric surface of a switch; c) a hole in a conductive fabric surface; d) a conductive fabric surface with a hole; and e) conductive fabric surfaces of  FIG. 4   d  in an exploded view, according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  show a) a power and control unit, and b) a board, c) a battery, d) a battery holder; and e) connection of a power and control unit according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  shows a part of a liner of a carrying item according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  shows a part of a liner of a carrying item according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  show a) a first side and b) an opposite side, of a pocket according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  shows the pocket of  FIG. 8  on a liner of a carrying item according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of  FIGS. 9 ; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a carrying item according to an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment of an aspect of the present invention, a system comprises a lightning unit, a switch, and a power and control unit (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     As shown for example in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the lightning unit comprises light sources  12 . The light sources  12  may be light emitting diodes (LEDs), for example, secured to a textile substrate  16  and connected by flexible conductors  18 . Other light sources, such as small bulbs, electroluminescent strips or optical fibers for example, may be used. The light sources are typically selected so as to be of reduced size and volume. 
     The textile substrate  16  is a flexible material, such as a flexible cloth material, formed of textile fiber, wire, or other material and including any pliant fabric, woven, knit, felted, needled, or otherwise formed, of natural or synthetic filaments or films. 
     The flexible conductors  18  are metallic wires, for example silver, copper or stainless steel wires. Depending on the selected light sources and on the required current, other conductors, such as polymeric or carbonated, may be used. Alternatively, a metallic tape secured on the substrate  16  could be used, or conductors could be printed, by ink jet printing, flexography, screen printing etc. . . . with conductive inks. 
     The substrate  16  may be secured on an inner surface (non-visible) of a liner  120  of the carrying items for example. The position of the LEDs  12  may be adapted, depending on the design of the liner  120 , so as to optimize, or vary, the illuminating effect (see  FIG. 1 ). In the example of  FIG. 3   d  for example, the LEDS  12  are positioned at the center of rosettes of the design of the liner  120 , which happens to be of a lighter color, i.e. more light transmitting, than the remaining of the liner  120 . 
     Tests show that the LEDS  12 , substrate  16  and conductors  18  are operational, i.e. provide sufficient illumination, over a range of temperatures, for example between −25° C. and +50° C. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4  for example, a switch of the resistive type comprises two conductive fabric surfaces  15  separated by an insulating fabric  11 , typically with a good resistance to compression (see  FIGS. 4   c - 4   e ) provided with an aperture  13 . The two conductive fabric surfaces  15  may be formed by embroidery, on the substrate  16 , of conducting yarns, such as silver plated nylon yarns for example for example. They may also be formed by conductive tapes, conductive fabrics etc. . . . They may also be printed by ink jet printing, flexography, screen printing etc. . . . , with conductive inks. The two conductive fabric surfaces  15  are brought into electric contact only when a sufficient pressure is applied on the assembly, mainly through the aperture  13  in the sandwiched insulating fabric  11 . 
     Tests have shown that such a switch is still operational, i.e. the two conductive fabric surfaces  15  are still able to brought into electric contact and separated, after a pressure of about 900 g on a surface of about 1 inch by 1 inch to simulate the pressure applied by a finger, submitted during more than 100 hours. Power supply to the switch is provided by conductive wires  18 . 
     It was found that an electric resistance between the two conductive fabric surfaces  15  of the textile switch lower that 10 kohms allows lightening the diodes for a duration of 60 s under normal conditions of use, i.e. under an average pressure submitted to the textile switch. 
     The switch may be coated with a bright embroidery made for example with electroluminescent thread or wire, phosphorescent thread or wire or optic fibers, thereby easily noticeable within the inside of the carrying item, so that the user easily finds it for activation when needed. 
     A touch switch, i.e. a switch of the capacitive type, may also be used. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 , the power and control unit ( FIG. 5   a ) typically comprises an electronic board  20  ( FIG. 5   b ) and batteries  22  ( FIG. 5   c ) supported by a holder ( FIG. 5   d ). A shown in  FIG. 5   b , a coating  27  may be applied on the board to prevent access to its active components The power and control unit is removably connected to the textile substrate  16  by a connecter  24  ( FIG. 5   e ). It is typically located inside the personal item, in an inner pocket for example as will be described in relation to  FIG. 7  hereinbelow, so as to be removable or at least to allow access to the batteries  22 . It may further comprise a time switch allowing switching off the light sources  12  a predetermined amount of time after they have been activated by action on the switch. 
     Flexible conductors  18  connect the light sources  12  and the textile switch  14  on the substrate  16  and to the power and control unit (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     In the example illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the switch is positioned, on the inner liner  120  inside the personal item, above an inside pocket  140  of the carrying item (see  FIG. 4   b ). Basically, the switch, although not visible in the personal item, is thus easily located and reachable by the user. The location of the switch  14  may be indicated on the inner liner  120  by a specific ornamentation  150 , above the opening of the pocket  140  for example (see  FIG. 6 ), thereby allowing easy activation by the user when needed. On the non-visible surface of the inner liner  120 , the LEDs  12  are positioned on a substrate  16 , as well as conductive wires  18  connecting the locations of the LEDS to the pocket  130  and the switch  14  as described hereinabove. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , a button hole  110  is made in the liner  120  of the personal item. A pocket  130 , shown for example in  FIG. 7 , is secured to the liner  120 , by sewing for example (see  FIG. 9 ), above the button hole  110  (see  FIG. 10 ), which allows passing connectors from the pocket  130  inside the liner  120 . The pocket  130  houses the power and control unit. 
     When integrated within the inner liner of a personal item such as a hand bag, a knapsack, a purse, a wallet, a spectacle case etc. . . . for example, the present system provides sufficient light to illuminate at least part of the inside of the carrying item while remaining unnoticeable and most discrete (see  FIG. 11 ). The present system may also be used to illuminate the outside of a personal item. 
     The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.