US20050007765A1

US20050007765A1 - Illuminating device for a purse

Info

Publication number: US20050007765A1
Application number: US10/616,109
Authority: US
Inventors: Carolyn Easley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-08
Filing date: 2003-07-08
Publication date: 2005-01-13

Abstract

A purse with an illuminating device has a purse unit having a main storage area. A clasp member is provided and has a first end coupled to one end of the main storage area and a second end coupled to a second end of the main storage area. The clasp is used for opening and closing the main storage area. A lighting device is provided to illuminate the interior of the main storage area. The lighting device has a power supply. A light element is coupled to the power supply. A housing is coupled to the interior of the main storage area and holds the power supply and light element. A magnetic switch is coupled to the clasp member. The magnetic switch automatically causes the lighting device to activate when the clasp member is opened.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:
This invention relates to lights and, more specifically, to a light for a purse which automatically illuminates when the purse is opened.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
When opening up a purse or backpack, it is difficult to see the contents inside. For this reason, lighting devices have been designed to illuminate the inside of the purse or backpack. In general, most purse/backpack lights (hereinafter purse lights)are mounted to an inside compartment of the purse. The lights have a manual switch which must be moved by the user in order to activate the purse light.
There are several problems with these types of purse lights. First, as stated above, these types of lights require the user to activate the light. In dark rooms or areas, it is often difficult to locate the light switch. Thus, one will have to feel around in the purse to locate the light switch. This is both time consuming and bothersome to the user.
Another problem is that most purse lights are stationary. The purse light is often sewn into a section of the purse. Thus, only the area around the purse light is illuminated. For someone with a rather large purse, the majority of the interior section would not be illuminated when the purse light is activated.
A further problem with some existing purse lights are that they take up too much space within the purse. Since some purses have rather small storage compartment areas, a bulky purse light will reduce the amount of items one can place and store within the purse.
Therefore, a need existed to provide an improved lighting device for a purse. The improved lighting device for the purse must be able to overcome the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting device for a purse.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved lighting device for a purse that will overcome the problems associated with the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention a purse with an illuminating device is disclosed. A purse with an illuminating device has a purse unit having a main storage area. A clasp member is provided and has a first end coupled to one end of the main storage area and a second end coupled to a second end of the main storage area. The clasp is used for opening and closing the main storage area. A lighting device is provided to illuminate the interior of the main storage area. The lighting device has a power supply. A light element is coupled to the power supply. A housing is coupled to the interior of the main storage area and holds the power supply and light element. A magnetic switch is coupled to the clasp member. The magnetic switch automatically causes the lighting device to activate when the clasp member is opened.
The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular, description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated perspective view of the purse light of the present invention installed in a purse.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of the purse light of the present invention taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a simplified electrical schematic of the purse light of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 3, a simplified electrical schematic of the purse light 10 of the present invention is shown. The purse light 10 has a light source 12. The light source 12 is a flat reflective type light similar to that used in a visor on an automobile. These types of lights are generally smaller and more compact thereby taking up less space in the purse. The light source 12 is coupled to a power supply 14. The power supply 14 is generally a battery. The battery may be any type of battery but a flat watch type battery is generally used since these types of batteries tend to take up less space. Other small power supply devices 14 could also be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The power supply 14 and light source 12 are both coupled to a switch 16. The switch 16 is used to activate and deactivate the purse light 10.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the switch 16 is a magnetic switch 16. The magnetic switch 16 will allow for automatic activation of the purse light 10 when the purse is opened. The magnetic switch 16 has a first magnetic contact 16A and a second magnetic contact 16B. When the first magnetic contact 16A and the second magnetic contact 16B are magnetically coupled together, the switching mechanism 16C will be open. Thus the light circuit will be open. With the light circuit open, no current is allowed to flow to the light source 12 and the light source 12 will not be illuminated. When the first magnetic contact 16A and the second magnetic contact 16B are not magnetically coupled together, the switching mechanism 16C will be closed thereby closing the light circuit. The closed light circuit allows power from the power supply 14 to illuminate the light source 12. The magnetic switch 16 allows the light source 12 to automatically illuminate when the magnetic coupling between the first magnetic contact 16A and the second magnetic contact 16B is broken. The magnetic switch 16 is an improvement over other types of switches since the magnetic switch 16 cannot be interfered with by items in the purse. For example, a spring loaded switch may be blocked from extending or retracting by items in the purse. Thus, the light in the purse may be prevented from illuminating or from turning off.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein like numerals and symbols represent like elements, one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the purse light 10 has a housing 24. The housing 24 is used to store and support the power source 14 and the light source 12. The first magnetic contact 16A and a second magnetic contact 16B are coupled to opposite sides of the purse opening 25. When the purse opening 25 is in a closed position, the first magnetic contact 16A and the second magnetic contact 16B are magnetically coupled together. Thus, the light circuit is an open circuit and the light source 12 will not be illuminated. When the purse opening 25 is in an open position, the first magnetic contact 16A and the second magnetic contact 16B are not magnetically coupled together. The light circuit is now a closed circuit and the light source 12 will be illuminated.
The purse light 10 is used with a purse 20. The purse 20 has a main storage compartment 22. A plurality of smaller storage compartments 23 may be located in an interior section of the main storage compartment 22 or on the exterior section of the main storage compartment 22. A carrying handle 26 is coupled to the main storage compartment 22. The carrying handle 26 is used to carry the purse 20. It should be noted that the carrying handle 26 can be of various lengths and widths. The carrying handle 26 may even be fairly long so as to allow the user to place the carrying handle 26 over the shoulder of the user.
As disclosed above, the purse 20 has an opening 25. A clasp member 28 is used to open and close the purse opening 25. The magnetic switch 16 is coupled to the clasp member 28 and to the housing 24.
In the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first magnetic contact 16A is coupled to one end of the clasp member 28. The second magnetic contact 16B is coupled to a second end of the clasp member 28. When the user magnetically uncouples the first magnetic contact 16A from the second magnetic contact 16B, the magnetic switch 16 will close the path on the light circuit. Current will then flow in the light circuit thereby illuminating the light source 12. When the clasp member 28 is closed so that the first magnetic contact 16A and second magnetic contact 16B are coupled together, the magnetic switch 16 opens thereby opening the light circuit. With the light circuit open, no current is allowed to flow to the light source 12. Thus, the light source 12 will be turned off.
While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A purse with an illuminating device comprising, in combination:

a purse comprising:

a main storage area; and

a clasp member having a first end coupled to one end of the main storage area and a second end coupled to a second end of the main storage area for opening and closing the main storage area; and

a lighting device comprising:

a power supply;

a light element coupled to the power supply;

a housing which holds the power supply and light element, the housing located in an interior compartment of the main storage area, the interior compartment having an opening for accessing the housing, the opening being opened and closed by a zipper; and

a magnetic switch coupled to the clasp member and which automatically causes the lighting device to activate when the clasp member is opened.

2. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the magnetic switch comprises:

a first magnetic connector coupled to the first end of the clasp member; and

a second magnetic connector coupled to the second end of the clasp member.

3. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the purse further comprises carrying straps coupled to the main storage area for allowing the user to carry the purse.

4. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the purse further comprises a plurality of compartment areas coupled to the main storage area.

5. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the power supply is a flat battery.

6. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light element is a flat light bulb.

7. A purse with an illuminating device comprising, in combination:

a purse comprising:

a main storage area;

a plurality of compartment areas coupled to the main storage area; and

a lighting device comprising:

a power supply;

a light element coupled to the power supply;

a magnetic switch coupled to the clasp member and which automatically causes the lighting device to activate when the clasp member is opened wherein the magnetic switch comprises:

a first magnetic connector coupled to the first end of the clasp member; and

a second magnetic connector coupled to the second end of the clasp member.

8. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the purse further comprises carrying straps coupled to the main storage area for allowing the user to carry the purse.

9. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the power supply is a flat battery.

10. A purse with an illuminating device in accordance with claim 7 wherein the light element is a flat light bulb.