HARVESTING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a handbag having a location sensor, an electrical power source, and an electrical energy generator formed from one or more layers of piezoelectric material.

Handbags are a popular fashion item for women and can cost hundreds of pounds. They are also used to carry valuables such as a personal communications device such as a mobile phone, credit cards, cheque books, cash, make-up, and irreplaceable sentimental items such as photographs. Accordingly, an owner of a handbag finds it important to keep track of the location of their handbag. Currently, no handbag is available which allows its owner to keep track of its location.

Amelioration of these problems has been sought. According to the invention there is provided a handbag having a location communication system, a rechargeable power source, and an energy harvesting system for recharging the power source wherein the location communication system comprises a location sensor and a network adaptor for communicating handbag location information to an owner of the handbag and wherein the energy harvesting system comprises one or more layers of piezoelectric material. According to the invention there is also provided a handbag location system comprising a handbag according to the invention and a personal communications device.

According to the invention there is further provided a method of determining a location of a handbag according to the invention using a system according to the invention which method comprises the steps of:

Gathering handbag location information;

Analysing the handbag location information; and

Communicating the handbag location information to the personal communication device.

According to the invention there is also provided a software application operable to perform the method according to the invention, or operable to control a handbag and/or a system according to the invention.

Advantages of the invention include that the location communication system in the handbag ensures that information about the location of the handbag can be communicated to a personal communications device of the owner of the handbag such that the handbag may be located if it is lost. Because the handbag includes an electrical energy generator, the power source may be kept recharged for longer such that there is a longer time window for locating the handbag if it were lost before the location communication system loses its power supply.

In some embodiments, the handbag may have a handbag body comprising walls and a base wherein the walls and/or the base comprise the one or more layers of piezoelectric material.

In some embodiments, the handbag may have a compartment for receiving the location communication system and the rechargeable power source. In some embodiments, the compartment may form an aperture for access to the rechargeable power source. In some embodiments, the location communication system may include a control panel. In some embodiments, the handbag may include an internal handbag body pocket for receiving the control panel.

In some embodiments, the handbag may have a wireless charging unit. In some embodiments, the network adaptor may provide wireless data communication. In some embodiments, the location communication system may include a motion sensor such that the handbag location information includes location information and motion information. In some embodiments, the location information system may include a real time clock such that the handbag location information includes real-time information. In some embodiments, the energy harvesting system may generate deformation information such that the handbag location information includes deformation information.

In some embodiments, the method may comprise a further step of displaying the location of the handbag on a map displayed on the personal communication device. In some embodiments, the display of the location of the handbag may include an indication of motion and deformation information. In some embodiments, the display of the location of the handbag may show the location of the handbag on the map at different times.

In some embodiments, the analysing step comprises determining whether the status of the handbag is one of the following:

the handbag is stationary,

the handbag is stationary but being deformed,

the physical location of the handbag is changing but there is no deformation or motion information,

the physical location of the handbag is changing with deformation information but without motion information, or

the physical location of the handbag is changing with deformation and motion information. In some embodiments, the software application may be suitable for use on a personal computer using Microsoft Windows, Apple macOS, or Linux software; on a computer (such as a personal computer, tablet, phablet, or smartphone) running an internet browser application; or on a tablet or smartphone running an Apple iOS or Android operating system. The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the following Figures of the accompanying drawings which are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention:

FIGURE 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a handbag according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a layer of energy harvesting material for use in the handbag according to the invention; FIGURE 3 shows a schematic view of the electronic controller for use in the handbag according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 shows a schematic view of a system according to the invention;

FIGURE 5 shows a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system according to the invention; FIGURE 6 shows a schematic view of a control panel for use in the handbag according to the invention.

A handbag according to the invention is indicated generally at 10 on Figure 1 of the drawings. Handbag 10 comprises a handbag body 12 having walls 15 and a base 11, an internal handbag body pocket 20, a handbag base compartment 30 which receives a rechargeable power source 32 and a handbag location communication system 36, and a handbag cover 26. The handbag 10 comprises an energy harvesting system comprising an energy harvesting layer 14 and a rectifier 52. Handbag body 12 forms a handbag cavity 13. The walls 15 and base 11 of handbag body 12 are formed from body material which has three layers which are a resilient outer layer 16, an intermediate energy harvesting layer 14, and an internal handbag body lining layer 18. The resilient outer layer 16 and handbag cover 26 may be formed from leather, fabric (for example canvas), or a plastics material. The structure of the intermediate energy harvesting layer 14 is described in detail below with reference to Figure 2. Internal lining layer 18 is formed from leather or fabric (for example cotton). In an alternative embodiment, the energy harvesting layer 14 of base 11 may be replaced by a reinforcing member formed from a cardboard or plastics material to provide handbag 10 with a resilient base support. The internal handbag body pocket 20 is formed from a folded piece of the material used to form the internal lining layer 18 which is sewed onto the internal lining layer 18. Internal handbag body pocket 20 conceals a control panel 22 for operating the handbag location communication system 36. Control panel 22 is described in detail below with reference to Figure 6.

Handbag base compartment 30 is formed by handbag base layer 28 which is attached below the handbag base 11. In an alternative embodiment, compartment 30 may be attached at a side or at an end of the handbag 10. Handbag base layer 28 is formed from the same resilient material used for the resilient outer layer 16. Handbag base compartment 30 receives a rechargeable power source 32 and the handbag location communication system 36. The rechargeable power source 32 is in the form of a lithium ion battery having a power capacity of about 10,000 mAh. In an alternative embodiment, the battery may have a power capacity of from 5000 mAh to 30,000 mAh. The rechargeable power source 32 has a micro USB port 33 for use in recharging the power source 32. The handbag location communication system 36 is described in detail below with reference to Figure 3. Handbag location communication system 36 is operatively connected to energy harvesting layer 14, handbag control panel 22, and rechargeable power source 32. Handbag base compartment 30 forms an aperture 34 for access to micro-USB port 33 of rechargeable power source 32. In an alternative embodiment, the base layer 28 may include a reinforcing member formed from a cardboard or plastics material to help protect the contents of the base compartment 30.

The handbag base 11 is lined with handbag base lining layer 18A. Part of the handbag base lining layer 18A is replaced by a wireless charging unit 17 which is operatively connected to control panel 22 and rechargeable power source 32. Wireless charging unit 17 allows personal communications devices which are capable of being charged wirelessly to be charged whilst being carried in handbag 10. In an alternative embodiment, a wired connection for charging of a personal communications device may be provided.

An energy harvesting layer suitable for use in the handbag 10 according to the invention is indicated generally at 14 on Figure 2 of the drawings. Energy harvesting layer 14 comprises two electrode layers 40, 44 which sandwich a piezoelectric layer 42. Electrode layers 40, 44 are operatively connected to a rectifier 52 which forms part of the handbag location communication system 36. Electrode layers 40, 44 are formed from a conductive material. Layer 42 is formed from a suitable piezoelectric material which has electrical properties which change when the layer 42 is deformed and which is also capable of generating electrical current when manipulated. A location communication system suitable for use in the handbag 10 according to the invention is indicated generally at 36 on Figure 3 of the drawings. Location communication system 36 has a system housing 50 which provides a containment for a rectifier 52 and a circuit board 53. Circuit board 53 comprises a processor 54 which includes a real-time clock, a memory chip 55, a network adapter 56, a location sensor 58, a low power Bluetooth chip 60, a micro USB port 62, and a motion sensor 64.

A control panel suitable for use in the handbag 10 according to the invention is indicated generally at 22 on Figure 6 of the drawings. Control panel 22 has a body 21 on which are mounted four programmable buttons 24 which may be used to operate location communication system 36. Control panel is operatively connected to the location communication system 36. For example, buttons 24 may be used for diagnostic purposes, to reset the location communication system 36, to switch the wireless charging unit 17 on or off, or to select different modes for the location communication system 36.

The rectifier 52 is operatively connected to the energy harvesting layer 14, the rechargeable power source 32, and the circuit board 53. In use, the rectifier 52 powers the electrode layers 40,44 of the energy harvesting layer 14, detects any change in the electrical properties of the energy harvesting layer 14 (e.g. through its deformation), and converts any alternating current received from the energy harvesting layer 14 into direct current for use in recharging power source 32.

The network adapter 56 provides suitable data communication such as by a cellular or Wi-Fi network. The low-power Bluetooth chip 60 provides further data communication such as with a personal communications device 80. The location sensor 58 comprises a GPS chip which provides information about the location of the handbag 10 using the Global Positioning System. In an alternative embodiment, an alternative and/or equivalent chip may be used to provide information about the location of the handbag 10. The motion sensor 64 comprises an accelerometer which provides information about movement of handbag 10.

The location communication system 36 generates handbag location information 37 from the location sensor 58, the rectifier 52, and the motion sensor 64. The handbag location information 37 contains information about the location of the handbag 10 from the location sensor 58 such that changes in the physical location of handbag 10 can be detected, information about deformation of the energy harvesting layer 14 such that searching of the handbag 10 can be detected as well as whether the handbag 10 is being carried by a person whilst being moved because deformation during motion can be detected, real-time information from the real-time clock on processor 54 such that the real-time of changes to the handbag location information may be detected, and information about the motion of handbag 10 such as a swinging movement generated when a handbag is carried. The handbag location information 37 may be stored on memory chip 55.

A system according to the invention is indicated generally at 65 on Figure 4 of the drawings. System 65 includes a handbag 10, a cloud server 70, and a personal communications device 80. Handbag 10 is in electronic communication 72 with the cloud server 70. Personal communications device 80 is in electronic communication 82 with the cloud server 70. Personal communications device 80 is in the form of a mobile phone, for example a smartphone operated by the iOS or Android operating systems.

A flowchart which illustrates a method for the operation of the system according to the invention is indicated generally at 90 on Figure 5. Flowchart 90 comprises the steps of gathering 92 handbag location information 37 by handbag location communication system 36, communicating 94 the handbag location information 37 to cloud server 70, analysing 96 handbag location information 37 by cloud server 70 to generate analysed electronic controller information 38, and communicating 98 the analysed electronic controller information 38 to the personal communication device 80. In an alternative embodiment, the location communication system 36 may perform step 96 of analysing the handbag location information 37. In an alternative embodiment, method 90 may include a final step of displaying the location of the handbag 10 on a map on the personal communication device 80.

The analysis 96 of the handbag location information 37 may include determining the status of handbag 10 such as whether handbag 10 is stationary which would be shown by the absence of change in the GPS location, no deformation and no motion information; whether handbag 10 is stationary with deformation information which would indicate that the contents of the handbag 10 were being searched or if items were being removed/added to the handbag 10; whether the physical location of handbag 10 is changing but there is no deformation or motion information which would indicate that the handbag 10 was being transported in a vehicle; whether the physical location of handbag 10 is changing with deformation information but without motion information which would indicate that the handbag 10 was being transported in a vehicle whilst its contents were being searched; whether the physical location of handbag 10 is changing with deformation and motion information which would indicate that the handbag 10 was being transported by being carried by a person. The analysis 96 of the handbag location information 37 may include saving analysis of the deformation and/or motion information at each location on a map such that activities associated with the handbag 10 can be tracked and viewed afterwards. In this way, if the handbag 10 were lost, it would be possible for the handbag location information 37 to be analysed to determine what had happened to it such that not only the handbag 10 might be retrieved but also its contents.