Patent Application
20060250785
This invention relates in general to an illuminating device and more specifically to an illuminating device for the logo of a product.
Brand recognition is very important in a highly competitive market place. Logos including brand names are being displayed more and more prominently on goods as a method of brand recognition, promoting brand loyalty, and advertising.
It would be desirable to have an additional method of calling attention to the brand.
With reference now to the drawings, and more particularly to
Although a particular embodiment of the invention is being illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Purse 120 includes a useful feature 130, such as a compartment 131 for holding articles defined by walls 132, including a front wall 132F and a rear wall 132R, and activation means 140, such as access means 142, such as closure 145, for using compartment 131 by selectively providing an opening 135 for access thereto. Walls 132 may be made of any suitable material, such as cloth, such as is well known in the art. Closure 145 may be of many suitable closure designs, however closure 145 shown is a snap type comprising a pair of stiffeners 150 including front stiffener 150F and rear stiffener 150R, to which the tops 134 of front wall 132F and rear wall 132R respectively are attached. Latching means 160, such as cooperating latching means, such as hook/loop fastener, or snap 165, are movable by the user between a latched position holding stiffeners 150 in proximity to one another such that opening 135 is closed and an unlatched position wherein stiffeners 150 are not so held such that they may be separated to form opening 135. Snap 165 shown is of a well known type including balls 166, including front and rear balls 166F, 166R, each mounted on a resilient stem 168 on front and rear stiffeners 150F, 150R, respectively. Balls 166 interfere with one another and act as a detent to hold stiffeners 150 in the closed position.
Illuminating device 10 includes a housing 20 mounted on purse 120, such as on front wall 132F. Housing 20 generally includes main body 30, front cover 40, logo 50 and rear cover 60. Logo 50 includes a logo symbol 52 and logo area 54 around logo symbol 52.
Further including
Attaching means, such as cooperating detent barbs 35, 65 on main body 30 and rear cover 60, respectively, selectively attach rear cover 60 to main body 30.
Illuminating circuit 70 is disposed in central cavity 25 in housing 20. Circuit 70 includes an electrical energy source 71, such as coin cell type battery 72; logo illuminating means 80, such as a light source, such as first light emitting diode, such as logo illuminating LED 81, additional illuminating means 85, such as second light emitting diode, such as compartment illuminating LED 86, connectors 75 including spring contacts 76, 77 for connecting LEDS 81,86 to battery 72, and switch means 90, such as push button 92, having an activated position wherein battery 72 is connected to diodes 81, 86 such that LEDS 81, 86 are lit and a deactivated position wherein battery 72 is disconnected from LEDS 81,86 such that LEDS 81,86 are off. Although LEDS 81, 86 are shown and described, other illuminating means, such as incandescent lights or electroluminescent lights, may be used.
Logo illuminating LED 81 is mounted in front socket 31 in main body 30 so as to backlight logo 50 through hollow neck 32. Second LED 86 is mounted in bottom socket 34 so as to shine downward and illuminate compartment 131 of purse 120. Selective removal of front cover 40 and logo 50 permits LED 81 to function as a flash light external to article 100. Although only one light source each is shown for illuminating logo 50 and compartment 131, with small alteration, multiple light sources could be used for each function.
Spring contact 76 connects first leads 88 of LEDS 81, 86 to center pole 73 of battery 72. Spring contact 77 connects second leads 89 of LEDS 81, 86 to outer pole 74 of battery 72. Push button 92 is slidingly disposed in a longitudinal bore 37 in a radial projection 36 of main body 30. Front end 93 of push button 92 contacts spring contact 77 such that push button 92 is resiliently biased rearward thereby. With switch 90 in the “on” position, spring contact 77 is in contact with outer post 74 of battery 72 and rear end 95 of push button 92 is disposed through bore 62 in rear cover 60 so as to extend rearward slightly past the rear 69 of rear cover 60. Moving push button 92 forward from this position pushes spring contact 77 away from contact with outer post 74 of battery 72 and opens the circuit to turn LEDS off.
Push button 92 may be activated in any desired manner. The embodiment shown uses magnetic means to activate switch 90. A ferrous or magnetic plate 66 is attached to rear 69 of rear cover 60 by any suitable means, such as by riveting or gluing. A cooperating magnetically attracting ferrous or magnetic plate 98 is attached by suitable means, such as adhesive or sewing about its border, to rear wall 132R of compartment 131, as seen in
The user may selectively open circuit 70 by pushing forward on rear end 95 of push button 92 and may selectively keep it in the open position by then slightly rotating rear cover 60 such that push button 92 is not aligned with bore 62 and cannot move rearward to the closed position. In this manner, the user can turn off device 10.
Although a switch 90 of the push button type is shown, other switches may be used. A rocker switch may be used, for example, for activation by a zipper slider.
Having described the invention, it can be seen that it provides a very convenient device for calling attention to the brand of the purse, luggage, backpack or other goods, such as clothing, such as jackets having pockets, and additionally provides for useful light for taking advantage of a feature, such as a compartment, of the goods. Marketing value is achieved by the change of state perception by human eyes as the logo is illuminated. Activation is caused by a willful effort to implement a feature, such as opening a pocket, purse, or backpack, operating a zipper, or stepping on a shoe. This energizes a light which indicates the feature is in use to the people in the surrounding vicinity. The on/off feature catches the attention of people much more than any constantly illuminated sign.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes may be made in the form, composition, construction, and arrangement of the parts herein without sacrificing any of its advantages. For example, the circuit may include timing circuitry as is well known in the art to delay turning the circuit on or, particularly, off. Other circuit components may include an intermittent function in the logo light such that it blinks. The light or lights may be of any suitable type and the switch may be mechanical, optical, magnetic or other types well known in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims such modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
