Method and apparatus to illuminate the interior of a fashion accessory

Abstract

The present invention describes a method and apparatus for illuminating the interior of a fashion accessory. An illumination device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention may include an illumination source, a power source, and a switch electrically coupled to one another. The illumination source may be a tubular illumination mechanism or fiber optic illumination source that may be affixed to the interior of the fashion accessory. The switch may cause the illumination source to illuminate when the fashion accessory is opened and to turn off when the fashion accessory is closed. Various elements of the illumination device may be obscured from view by including the same behind an interior lining of the fashion accessory, and the illumination source may be selected from any suitable color so as to provide illumination of a desired color.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An illumination apparatus to illuminate the interior of a fashion accessory, comprising: 
 an illumination source;    a power source electrically coupled to the illumination source; and    a switch electrically coupled to the illumination source,    wherein the illumination apparatus is configured inside the interior of the fashion accessory.    
     
     
         2 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source is a tubular illumination mechanism.  
     
     
         3 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source is electric luminescent wire.  
     
     
         4 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source is activated when the switch is in an “on” position and the illumination source is deactivated when the switch is in an “off” position.  
     
     
         5 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein when the illumination source is activated, it glows with a color.  
     
     
         6 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the switch is in the “on” position when the fashion accessory is open, and the switch is in the “off” position when the fashion accessory is closed.  
     
     
         7 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the switch is a magnetic reed switch.  
     
     
         8 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , further including an inverter configured between the power source and the illumination source, and electrically coupled thereto.  
     
     
         9 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the illumination apparatus is concealed from view by a portion of the fashion accessory.  
     
     
         10 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fashion accessory is selected from the group consisting of a purse, a handbag, a pocketbook, a wallet, a backpack, a briefcase, a satchel, an article of luggage, a suitcase, a case for sunglasses, and a case for makeup.  
     
     
         11 . The illumination apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, multiple batteries, a solar cell, and a set of solar cells.  
     
     
         12 . A fashion accessory with an illumination apparatus to illuminate the interior of the fashion accessory, comprising: 
 a fashion accessory;    an illumination source included inside the fashion accessory;    a power source electrically coupled to the illumination source; and    a switch electrically coupled to the illumination source.    
     
     
         13 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the illumination source is a tubular illumination mechanism.  
     
     
         14 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the illumination source is electric luminescent wire.  
     
     
         15 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the illumination source is activated when the switch is in an “on” position and the illumination source is deactivated when the switch is in an “off” position.  
     
     
         16 . The fashion accessory of  claim 15 , wherein when the illumination source is activated, it glows with a color.  
     
     
         17 . The fashion accessory of  claim 15 , wherein the switch is in the “on” position when the fashion accessory is open, and the switch is in the “off” position when the fashion accessory is closed.  
     
     
         18 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the switch is a magnetic reed switch.  
     
     
         19 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , further including an inverter configured between the power source and the illumination source, and electrically coupled thereto.  
     
     
         20 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the illumination apparatus is concealed from view by a portion of the fashion accessory.  
     
     
         21 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the fashion accessory is selected from the group consisting of a purse, a handbag, a pocketbook, a wallet, a backpack, a briefcase, a satchel, an article of luggage, a suitcase, a case for sunglasses, and a case for makeup.  
     
     
         22 . The fashion accessory of  claim 12 , wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, multiple batteries, a solar cell, and a set of solar cells.  
     
     
         23 . A method for illuminating the interior of a fashion accessory, comprising: 
 opening a fashion accessory that includes an illumination source electrically coupled to a switch,    wherein opening the fashion accessory causes the switch to effect an illumination of the illumination source.