Flameless candle

[0001] This patent application claims priority from both provisional patent applications: 60/395,054 filed Jul. 12, 2002 and 60/440,739 filed Jan. 18, 2003.

[0002] 1. Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to candles, and more particularly is a flameless candle illuminated by an internal illumination source not incorporating an open flame. Specifically, the invention is a translucent candle with an internal cavity including a light source such as a light emitting diode or incandescent bulb, a power source, and any necessary circuitry including light flickering circuitry.

[0004] 2. Background Information

[0005] Candles of a wax construction have been made and used for many centuries. Generally, a candle comprises an ignitable and burnable wick surrounded by a wax structure that slowly burns away. These candles have been used over the centuries to provide light, and in more recent years for aesthetic purposes such as mood lighting, accent lighting or the like.

[0006] The wicks on candles also often cause uneven burning of the candle body, or merely illumination of the top portion of the candle.

[0007] It is well known that the burning of candles involves inherent risk of fire due to the open flame. The burning wick may ignite surrounding flammable objects such as draperies, furniture or the like. In addition, candle users have a tendency to forget about a slow burning candle, thereby increasing the risk of fire where such candle is left un-attended.

[0008] It is thus desirable to provide a candle that reduces or removes these risks and undesirable features.

[0009] The present invention is a candle that overcomes these and other limitations. The present invention is specifically a candle including a wax body with an internal cavity therein, a light positioned within the internal cavity for illuminating the wax body from within, a power source coupled to the light, and flickering circuitry to allow the light to flicker.

[0010] Preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant has contemplated applying the principles, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a view of a typical candle illuminated at the top end;

[0012] FIG. 2 is a view of the candle of the present invention illuminated from within;

[0013] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of one embodiment of the candle with an insert therein for providing illumination;

[0014] FIG. 4 is a front side view of the one half of the capsule body including the light that is insertable within the candle;

[0015] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the body of FIG. 4;

[0016] FIG. 6 is a back side view of the body of FIG. 4;

[0017] FIG. 7 is a left side view of the body of FIG. 4;

[0018] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the body of FIG. 4;

[0019] FIG. 9 is a detail taken from FIG. 6;

[0020] FIG. 10 is a right side view of the insert of FIG. 4;

[0021] FIG. 11 is a front side view of the body of FIG. 10;

[0022] FIG. 12 is a left side view of the body of FIG. 10;

[0023] FIG. 13 is a back side view of the body of FIG. 10; and

[0024] FIG. 14 is a top view of the body of FIG. 10.

[0025] Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

[0026] The candle of the present invention is indicated generally at 10. The candle includes a wax body 12 with a hollow cavity 14 therein in which an insert 16 is selectively positionable. The insert 16 includes a bright light source 20, and a power source 22 with some form of an on-off switch 24.

[0027] In one embodiment, the light source 20 is an incandescent light bulb of a type that provides intense light.

[0028] In accordance with a preferred embodiment and one of the features of the invention, the light source 20 is a light emitting diode or LED which is a semiconductor diode that converts applied voltage to light. Light emitting diodes provide a significantly brighter light than other light sources while at the same time using substantially less energy from the power source and providing less heat to the surroundings in comparison to incandescent, halogen or other light sources. Light emitting diodes also provide a very consistent lighting.

[0029] The power source 22 may be any form of power sources including standard batteries, rechargeable batteries, or AC power provided by a cord from an outlet; however in the most desirable embodiment, the power source is standard batteries such as A, AA or AAA as are readily available. It has been found that LEDs when powered off of several standard AA batteries can provide two hundred or more hours of illumination. These batteries are then easily replaced as described below, thus eliminating the need for cords or recharging.

[0030] The use of a light emitting diode further necessitates the insert 16 include a circuit board 26 for controlling the light emitting diode 20. The circuit board 26 controls the voltage and/or amperage as needed.

[0031] In one embodiment as is shown in the Figures, the insert 16 is a capsule-like member that is translucent in nature, and includes a body 30 of one or more pieces (in this embodiment two pieces namely 30A and 30B), and a removeable end cap 32 defining a readily accessible internal chamber 34 in which the light 20, battery or batteries 22, and the circuit board 26 are located. Preferably, the switch 24 extends through the end cap 32 to provide for easy access thereto.

[0032] This body 30 protects the circuit board and LED, as well as minimizes the transfer of heat from the light to the candle. This minimizes or insulating protects the candle from melting or other distortion from the internal light source. The body 30 further protects the circuit board, light and battery from the candle melting onto or over these parts where the candle is subject to undesirable external heat such as the sun.

[0033] The candle need not in desirably does not include a standard burnable wick thereby prohibiting accidental burning of this candle.

[0034] One specific embodiment is disclosed in the Figures. The capsule-like member that is translucent in nature is specifically an elongated cylindrical-like structure with a semi-hemispherical top end and an open bottom end with internal chamber 34 therein. The semi-hemispherical top end of the elongated cylindrical-like structure may be two pieces 30A and 30B as shown that are snapped, adhered or otherwise affixed together.

[0035] A cap 32 with a functional yet inconspicuous handle 38 is preferably positionable within the open bottom end whereby it selectively locks in place due to outwardly extending nubs 40 on the cap interacting with inwardly extending nubs 42 on the surface defining the open bottom endthis allows for a locked and unlocked position depending upon the rotational position of the cap in relation to the open bottom end.

[0036] In one embodiment, the circuit board 26 includes the light 20 and battery or batteries 22 seated on or connected thereto, whereby the switch 24 extends from the board 26 through the end cap 32 to provide for easy access thereto.

[0037] Where a more realistic flickering type look is desired, the candle 10 includes a device or circuit for varying the voltage or current to the light 20 with such a device or circuit being referred hereafter to as a flickering means. Example of such a flickering means include an oscillator such as a 555 timer, or a microcontroller such as a 4, 8, 16 or 32 bit type where the microcontroller may be programmed to provide various lighting effect such as random lighting (since a candle typically has a random variation in its intensity), or flashing or patterned lighting. In any case, the flickering means are a way to alter the voltage or current to the light 20 thereby causing changes in the light's intensity.

[0038] Accordingly, the invention as described above and understood by one of skill in the art is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device, system and process which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, systems and processes, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art.

[0039] In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.

[0040] Moreover, the invention's description and illustration is by way of example, and the invention's scope is not limited to the exact details shown or described.

[0041] Having now described the features, discoveries and principles of the invention, the manner in which it is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts and combinations, are set forth in the appended claims.