TRAVEL BAG WITH HIDDEN LIGHTING DEVICE

Abstract

A travel bag with hidden lighting device includes a bag body in the form of a soft luggage piece or backpack with an LED light-emitting device and a power switch hidden in a fabric peripheral wall thereof. Alternatively, an LED light-emitting device is mounted inside a transparent flexible tube of a handle at the fabric peripheral wall of the bag body. The LED light-emitting device includes a flexible circuit board and LED light-emitting units installed in the flexible circuit board. Thus, the user can press the power switch to switch on the LED light-emitting device for emitting light toward the inside or outside of the soft luggage piece or backpack.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to travel bag technology and, more particularly, to a travel bag with hidden lighting device, which comprises an LED light-emitting device and a power switch hidden in a fabric peripheral wall of the travel bag operable to emit light toward the inside or outside of the travel bag.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Travel bags, such as luggage pieces and backpacks are widely used today for travels or outdoor adventures. Because a lot of personal items can be kept inside a luggage piece or backpack, it is difficult to search and pick up specific personal items from the luggage piece or backpack in a dark environment. Further, when a person carrying a backpack walks at night, he or she may not be clearly visible to the vehicle coming from behind, and a travel accident can occur easily.

Providing a light-emitting device on the inside or outside of a travel bag can overcome the aforesaid problem. Various similar designs are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 8,282,235, U.S. Pat. No. 7,111,959, U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,857, U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,142, U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,134, etc. However, these techniques enable the light-emitting device to be exposed to the outside of the travel bag. This exposed design can obstruct the original outer appearance design of the travel bag, and may have a problem of insufficient protection over the light-emitting device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a travel bag with a hidden lighting device, which comprises an LED light-emitting device and a power switch hidden in a fabric peripheral wall of the travel bag so that the user can press the power switch to switch on the LED light-emitting device, causing the LED light-emitting device to emit light toward the inside of the travel bag. The travel bag may be a soft luggage piece or backpack.

Further, the present invention to provide a travel bag with hidden lighting device, which comprises a handle with a transparent flexible tube mounted on an outer side of a fabric peripheral wall of the travel bag, an LED light-emitting device mounted inside the transparent flexible tube, and a power switch hidden inside the fabric peripheral wall of the travel bag. Thus, the user can press the power switch to switch on the LED light-emitting device, causing the LED light-emitting device to emit light toward the outside of the travel bag.

The travel bag with hidden lighting device achieves the benefits as follows:

(1) The LED light-emitting device and the power switch are hidden inside the fabric peripheral wall of the travel bag, or mounted inside the transparent flexible tube of the handle so that the LED light-emitting device is well protected and kept from sight, maintaining the outer appearance of the travel bag.

(2) The LED light-emitting device can be arranged to emit light toward the inside space of the travel bag, facilitating the user to search items stored therein and providing auxiliary lighting.

(3) The LED light-emitting device can be arranged to emit light toward the outside of the travel bag, providing a visual warning signal toward the outside.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of the illustrated structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating an LED light-emitting device hidden in a fabric peripheral wall of a backpack in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating an LED light-emitting device hidden in a fabric peripheral wall of a soft luggage piece in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing illustrating the arrangement of the LED light-emitting device and the power switch between the outer layer and inner layer of the fabric peripheral wall in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating an LED light-emitting device hidden in a transparent flexible tube at a fabric peripheral wall of a backpack in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating the arrangement of the LED light-emitting device hidden in the transparent flexible tube and the power switch between the outer layer and the inner layer of the fabric peripheral wall in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a travel bag with hidden lighting device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The travel bag comprises a bag body 10 that can be made in the form of a backpack 10a or a soft luggage piece 10b, having a fabric peripheral wall 11 covering over top, bottom, front, back and opposite lateral sides thereof. An LED light-emitting device 20 is hidden inside the fabric peripheral wall 11, comprising a circuit substrate 21 and a plurality of LED light-emitting units 22 installed in the circuit substrate 21. The circuit substrate 21 is preferably a strip-like flexible circuit board hidden inside the fabric peripheral wall 11 with the LED light-emitting units 22 arranged to emit light toward the space inside the bag body 10. Alternatively, the LED light-emitting units 22 can be arranged to emit light toward the outside of the bag body 10. Further, a power switch 30 is hidden inside the fabric peripheral wall 11. The power switch 30 is preferably a push button switch electrically connected to the circuit substrate 21 of the LED light-emitting device 20 through a power cord 50. The user can press the fabric of the fabric peripheral wall 11 to operate the power switch 30 to switch on/off the LED light-emitting device 20. Further, a battery cell 40, preferably a rechargeable battery (for example, lithium battery), is mounted inside the bag body 10 at any desired location and electrically connected to the LED light-emitting device 20 and the power switch 30 through the power cord 50.

Referring to FIGS.1-3 again, in the aforesaid first embodiment of the present invention, the fabric peripheral wall 11 of the bag body 10 comprises an outer layer 111 facing toward the outside of the bag body 10, and an opposing inner layer 112 facing toward the space inside the bag body 10. The LED light-emitting device 20 and the power switch 30 are preferably mounted in between the outer layer 111 and the inner layer 112, allowing the LED light-emitting units 22 to emit light toward the space inside the bag body 10, to provide auxiliary lighting. On the contrary, the LED light-emitting units 22 can be arranged in a reversed direction to emit light toward the outside of the bag body 10, to provide outward warning. In order for the emitted light of the LED light-emitting units 22 to pass through the fabric, the inner layer 112 is configured to have an open window 113 corresponding to the LED light-emitting device 20, and a light transmissive covering 114 covering the open window 113. The light transmissive covering 114 can be a light color fabric (for example, white fabric), mesh fabric or light transmissive film (for example, white plastic film) that admits light.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a travel bag with hidden lighting device in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the exception that this second embodiment further comprises a handle 12 mounted on an outer surface of the fabric peripheral wall 11 of the bag body 10 (for example, at the top side of the fabric peripheral wall 11 of the backpack). The handle 12 comprises a transparent flexible tube 121. The circuit substrate 21 and LED light-emitting units 22 of the LED light-emitting device 20 are mounted in the transparent flexible tube 121. The fabric peripheral wall 11 of the bag body 10 in accordance with this second embodiment also comprises an outer layer 111 located on the outer side of the bag body 10 and an inner layer 112 located on the inner side of the bag body 10. The power switch 30 is mounted in between the outer layer 111 and the inner layer 112. Thus, the user can press the fabric to operate the power switch 30 to switch on/off the LED light-emitting units 22 of the LED light-emitting device 20. When switched on, the LED light-emitting units 22 emit light toward the outside of the bag body 10, giving a visual warning signal.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A travel bag, comprising:

a bag body comprising a fabric peripheral wall; an LED light-emitting device hidden in said fabric peripheral wall, said LED light-emitting device comprising a circuit substrate and a plurality of LED light-emitting units installed in said circuit substrate, said LED light-emitting units being selectively arranged to emit light toward the inside of said bag body or the outside of the bag body; a power switch hidden in said fabric peripheral wall and electrically connected to said LED light-emitting device with a power cord; and a battery cell mounted in said bag body and electrically connected to said LED light-emitting device and said power switch through said power cord.

2. The travel bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fabric peripheral wall comprises an outer layer facing toward an outer side of said bag body and an opposing inner layer facing toward an inner side of said bag body; and said LED light-emitting device is mounted in between said outer layer and said inner layer.

3. The travel bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said power switch is mounted in between said outer layer and said inner layer.

4. The travel bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inner layer comprises an open window corresponding to said LED light-emitting device, and a light transmissive covering that covers said open window.

5. The travel bag as claimed in claim 4, wherein said light transmissive covering is selectively a piece of fabric or plastic film.

6. The travel bag as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handle mounted at an outer surface of said fabric peripheral wall, said handle comprising a transparent flexible tube, wherein said LED light-emitting device is mounted inside said transparent flexible tube.

7. The travel bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fabric peripheral wall comprises an outer layer facing toward an outer side of said bag body and an opposing inner layer facing toward an inner side of said bag body; and said power switch is mounted in between said outer layer and said inner layer.

8. The travel bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit substrate of said LED light-emitting device is a strip-like flexible circuit board.

9. The travel bag as claimed in claim 2, wherein said circuit substrate of said LED light-emitting device is a strip-like flexible circuit board.

10. The travel bag as claimed in claim 6, wherein said circuit substrate of said LED light-emitting device is a strip-like flexible circuit board.

11. The travel bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said power switch is a push button switch.

12. The travel bag as claimed in claim 3, wherein said power switch is a push button switch.

13. The travel bag as claimed in claim 7, wherein said power switch is a push button switch.

14. The travel bag as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bag body is selectively made in the form of a soft luggage piece or backpack.