DE20200924U1 - Bag with light source - Google Patents

Description

Rainer Hofmeister ····*·♦* **** »·· **·"***·. Patent Attorney Hansen

January 22, 2002 ""~ ~~ """ ~ "" 0764.20a.doc

DESCRIPTION Bag with light source

The invention relates to a bag which is preferably carried on the back of a person, in particular a school bag, with a wall forming the bag.

Bags that are preferably carried on a person's back are known in various designs. For example, backpacks are known for carrying luggage comfortably when hiking. Students use school bags that are carried on the back, which also allow for comfortable and back-friendly carrying. It is also known to equip such bags with light reflectors. For example, light reflector strips and/or textile panels equipped in this way are attached to backpacks. For example, the push buttons on the snap fasteners on school bags are often designed as light reflectors.

The disadvantage, however, is that such passive light reflecting elements only reflect light when the light incidence is relatively strong. In addition, dirt on the reflective surfaces causes a significant reduction in light reflection. In poor lighting conditions and when the well-known bags with light reflectors are not illuminated optimally, the actually desired reflective light signal can easily be overlooked by following or crossing traffic. People carrying such bags are therefore at risk.

The object of the invention is therefore to improve the road safety of the persons carrying the bags mentioned above which are equipped with light reflectors.

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Rainer Hofmeister $-*·· ^v ii~ 'ti %Sf "**"**-$* Patent Attorney Hansen

22 January 2002 0764.20a.doc

This problem is solved by providing at least one outward-facing light source in or on the wall.

The fact that an active light source is provided in or on the wall of the bag ensures that the person carrying this bag can be recognized even in unfavorable lighting conditions and inadequate illumination.

If the light source is an illuminable reflector, a light-reflecting reflector is coupled to the light source, as is known, for example, from rear lights on motor vehicles and bicycles. The red light of the illuminable reflector signals the person ahead with the bag according to the invention. Following road users are therefore warned by the actively illuminated reflector.

Alternatively or additionally, the light source can be battery-operated. A flashing light increases the warning effect considerably due to the short light pulse and is much easier to see than other static light sources. In addition, the energy requirement is reduced, whereby the individual light pulse can be brighter than a comparable continuous light. Such flashing lights or hazard lights are also known as accessories for bicycles.

Such lights are usually battery-operated. Of course, rechargeable batteries can also be used. It is therefore preferable to have a battery compartment in the bag.

Because a photovoltaic cell is arranged on the top of the bag and charging electronics are provided for rechargeable batteries arranged in the battery compartment, the photovoltaic cell, if it is connected to a

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Rainer Hofmeister »*«»**-** *.··* ·■·?· *«··. ■·*·*» Patent Attorney Hansen

January 22, 2002 ^ ""~''" 0764.20a.doc

When exposed to a light source, such as daylight, electrical energy is generated which is temporarily stored in the rechargeable batteries in the bag. In poor lighting and visibility conditions, the electrical energy from the light source can then be accessed.

Because there is a switch on the bag to turn the light source on/off, the light source can be activated as needed by the person carrying the bag. The switch could also be easily accessible on the bag's carrying strap, for example.

If the switch is designed as an automatically triggered twilight switch, the light sources arranged on the bag are automatically activated in poor lighting conditions. The wearer can therefore not forget to switch on the warning light. The twilight switch includes, for example, a photocell for measuring light with a downstream electronic switch.

If the bag is designed as a school bag, wherein the wall is formed from a base, a back with attached carrying straps, a right and a left side surface, a front facing backwards when carried on the back and an openable lid on the top, preferably at least one light source is arranged on the front and one light source each on the two side surfaces.

Alternatively, in a school bag having an openable lid with a flap extending over the front of the bag, at least one light source can be arranged on the flap.

In the following, an embodiment is described in detail using the attached drawing.

Rainer Hofmeister ·"· ·' &igr; · * " · »_· Patent Attorney Hansen

January 22, 2002 SMS ~ Si * «»-ft *% "<?" 0764.20a.doc

It shows:

Fig. 1 a school bag with light sources in spatial view.

In Fig. 1, a bag 1 designed as a school bag is shown in a schematic spatial view, with the circuitry inserted into the view as a schematic sketch.

The bag 1 has a wall 10 forming the bag, which in the illustrated embodiment of a school bag consists of a base 11, which is only indicated by a dashed line, a back 12, also only shown by a dashed line, with a carrying strap 121, a right side surface 13, a left side surface 14, which is only shown by a dashed line, and a front 15 that points backwards when carried on a person's back. The school bag 1 also has an openable lid 16 with a flap 161 that partially protrudes over the front 15. To close the openable lid 16, closures 17 are provided on the flap 161 and the front 15.

Components of a lighting system 2 are provided in the bag/school bag 1 and on the wall 10.

On the flap 161 of the cover 16, two light sources 21 are arranged which are directed backwards when carried on the back of a person, so that following traffic can recognize the light signals of the light sources 21. Furthermore, a light source 21 is arranged in each of the side surfaces 13, 14 so that road users approaching from the side, for example at intersections or road junctions, can recognize the light signal of these light sources 20.

Rainer Hofmeister _# * ₄ &idiagr; * ! , »-» ·· Patent Attorney Hansen

January 22, 2002 .».*-.* "i* ··* ··. ?*»· 0764.20a.doc

The light sources 21 are preferably designed as illuminated rear lights or hazard warning lights. The rear lights or hazard warning lights 21 can be mounted as structural elements on the wall 10 of the school bag 1 or can become an integral part of the school bag 1 by being embedded in the wall 10.

Furthermore, a battery compartment 22 is arranged in the school bag, for example in the base 11, in which rechargeable batteries, so-called accumulators, are arranged. To supply the rear light or hazard warning light 21, a supply line 23 from the battery compartment 22 to the rear light/hazard warning light 21 is installed in the school bag 1. A switch 24 for switching the rear light 21 on and off is arranged at a suitable point in the supply line 23. The switch 24 should be easy to operate by the person carrying the school bag 1. For example, the switch could be mounted on the carrying strap 121 of the school bag 1.

Alternatively, the switch 24 is equipped as a twilight switch with a photocell-activated electronic switch. The rear/warning light 21 is automatically activated when the ambient brightness falls below a preset level.

Furthermore, a photovoltaic element 25 is arranged on the upper side of the lid 16 of the school bag 1, which is connected to the rechargeable batteries of the battery compartment 22 by means of a charging line 26 and an electronic charging control 27.

The functionality and areas of application of the invention are explained below.

Rainer Hofmeister ^' , J ^! | J i *J J.* Patent Attorney Hansen

January 22, 2002 ·»·»"·*"'*·' ft·-· "··'·»*· 0764.20a.doc

The bag 1 equipped with lighting system 2 is designed for, for example, schoolchildren, hikers, etc. to increase visibility for other road users.

The person carrying the bag 1 can, as a road user, activate the light sources 21, for example in the form of rear and/or hazard lights on the bag 1, at any time using switch 24. This can be done depending on the traffic situation and in particular the lighting conditions, i.e. in poor visibility or poor lighting conditions. The person carrying the bag only has to ensure that the batteries inserted in the battery compartment 22 have sufficient charge.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the photovoltaic element 25 on the top of the lid 16 of the school bag 1 ensures a constant refreshment of the rechargeable batteries in the battery compartment 22 via the charging cable 26 and the charging controller 27. This occurs both when the bag 1 is used in daylight and when the bag is stored in a place where it is exposed to light.

In order to ensure an effective warning function with as little power consumption as possible, an energy-saving flashing light 21 or LED flashing light is preferably used.

Rainer Hofmeister «J»»*·** '·»* ·!· *··*··»■·. Patent Attorney Hansen

January 22, 2002 ~ "0764.20a.doc

List of reference symbols

1 Bag, schoolbag 10 Wall 11 Floor 12 back 121 Carrying strap 13 right side surface 14 left side surface 15 front 16 Lid 161 flap 17 Closure 2 Lighting system 21 Light source, tail light, hazard light 22 Battery compartment 23 supply line 24 Switch 25 Photovoltaic element 26 Charging cable 27 Charge controller

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Claims (10)

1. Bag which is preferably carried on the back of a person, in particular a school bag, with a wall forming the bag, characterized in that at least one outward-acting light source ( 21 ) is provided in or on the wall ( 10 ). 2. Bag according to claim 1, characterized in that the light source ( 21 ) is an illuminable reflector. 3. Bag according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the light source ( 21 ) is battery-operated. 4. Bag according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the light source ( 21 ) is a flashing light. 5. Bag according to claim 4, characterized in that a battery compartment ( 22 ) is provided in the bag ( 1 ). 6. Bag according to claim 5, characterized in that a photovoltaic cell ( 25 ) is arranged on the upper side of the bag ( 1 ) and charging electronics are provided for rechargeable batteries arranged in the battery compartment ( 22 ). 7. Bag according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a switch ( 24 ) for switching the light source ( 21 ) on/off is provided on the bag ( 1 ). 8. Bag according to claim 7, characterized in that the switch ( 24 ) is designed as an automatically triggered twilight switch. 9. Bag, designed as a school bag, according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall ( 10 ) is formed from a base ( 11 ), a back ( 12 ) with carrying straps ( 121 ) attached thereto, a right and a left side surface ( 13 , 14 ), a front ( 15 ) pointing backwards when carried on the back and an openable lid ( 16 ) on the top, characterized in that at least one light source ( 21 ) is arranged on the front ( 15 ) and one light source ( 21 ) each on the two side surfaces (13, 14). 10. Bag, designed as a school bag, according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall ( 10 ) is formed from a base ( 11 ), a back ( 12 ) with carrying straps ( 121 ) attached thereto, a right and a left side surface ( 13 , 14 ), a front ( 15 ) pointing backwards when carried on the back and an openable lid ( 16 ) on the top, wherein the openable lid ( 16 ) has a flap ( 161 ) projecting over the front ( 15 ) of the bag ( 1 ), characterized in that at least one light source ( 21 ) is arranged on the flap ( 161 ).