Flame simulator with movable light beam

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10030831-B2
Application number	US-201715415214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2017
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A flame simulator can include a light beam source, a range limiter, a light beam mover, a power supply, a power control circuit, and a flame screen. The light beam source can be adapted to project a movable beam of light with a circular, oval, elliptical, or otherwise round, cross-sectional shape and with an intensity, shape and/or color that mimics a flame (e.g., a candle flame) when the beam strikes the flame screen. The light beam mover can generate beam movement and the range limiter can limit the range of movement so that the beam stays mostly on the flame screen in a region bounded by the typical range of movement of a flame being simulated (e.g., a candle flame moving in response to ambient air currents). The light beam mover can cause the illumination provided by the beam to dance on the flame screen with variations in position and shape that mimic a dancing flame (e.g., a candle flame being blown about by air currents). One or more of the flame simulators can be incorporated into an imitation candle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A flame simulator comprising:
a housing;
a light beam source adapted to project a beam of light, the light beam source comprising a light source adapted to produce light and at least one light conditioner adapted to act on the light from the light source to produce the beam of light with a color, size and shape that mimics a flame when the beam strikes a flame screen;
the flame screen arranged with respect to the light beam source so that, when the light beam source projects the beam of light, at least a portion of the beam of light strikes the flame screen, the flame screen being stationary relative to the housing;
a light beam mover operatively associated with the light source and adapted to impart movement to the light source relative to the flame screen; and
a range limiter operatively associated with the light source and adapted to limit movement of the light source and the beam of light so that the beam of light, when being projected, always strikes at least a portion of the flame screen and causes illumination of the flame screen by the beam of light.

2. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover and the range limiter are configured so that movement of the light source by the light beam mover causes changes in an angle of illumination and a position of illumination of the flame screen.

3. The flame simulator of claim 2 , wherein the light beam mover and the range limiter are configured so that the changes in the angle of illumination and the position of illumination of the flame screen result in changes to the shape of the illumination of the flame screen.

4. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover is configured to move the light source while at least one light conditioner remains stationary.

5. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover is configured to move the at least one light conditioner and the light source.

6. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the shape of the flame screen and a range of angles of the beam of light with respect to the flame screen are configured so that the illumination of the flame screen by the beam of light results in rounded, flame-shaped light projection on the flame screen.

7. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover and the range limiter are configured so that movement of the light source in response to the light beam mover causes changes in the shape and position of illumination of the flame screen by the beam of light to mimic movement of a flame exposed to ambient air currents.

8. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam source is adapted to produce a yellowish beam of light with a shape, intensity and color that result in a candle flame-mimicking illumination of the flame screen.

9. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam source is adapted to produce the beam of light with a correlated color temperature in a range between 1,800 Kelvin and 1,900 Kelvin.

10. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam source is adapted to produce the beam of light with a correlated color temperature in a range between 1,650 Kelvin and 2,300 Kelvin.

11. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the housing resembles a candle.

12. The flame simulator of claim 11 , wherein the flame screen projects upwardly from an upper surface of the housing.

13. The flame simulator of claim 12 , wherein the light beam source is located in the housing and no higher than the upper surface of the housing so that the light beam source is not visible when the housing is viewed from a location that is laterally separated from the housing.

14. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover comprises a magnetic field generator adapted to produce a magnetic field that varies and causes the light source to move.

15. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover comprises an air mover adapted to generate at least one air current that causes movement of the light source.

16. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the light beam mover comprises a motor and a mechanical coupling from the motor to the light source.

17. The flame simulator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light conditioner is adapted to remain stationary when the light beam mover imparts movement to the light source.

18. The flame simulator of claim 1 , further comprising an anchor fixed to the housing.

19. The flame simulator of claim 18 , further comprising a ball-and-socket coupling between the light source and the anchor.

20. The flame simulator of claim 19 , wherein the ball-and-socket coupling constitutes at least part of the range limiter.

21. The flame simulator of claim 18 , wherein the anchor extends downwardly from an upper wall of the housing.

22. The flame simulator of claim 21 , further comprising a connector adapted to connect the light source to the anchor, and wherein the connector and the anchor constitute at least part of the range limiter.

23. An imitation candle comprising:
a candle body that, when resting upright on a surface, visually resembles a wax candle; and
at least one flame simulator located partially inside the candle body, wherein each flame simulator comprises:
a light beam source adapted to project a beam of light, the light beam source comprising a light source adapted to produce light and at least one light conditioner adapted to act on the light from the light source to produce the beam of light with a color, size and shape that mimics a flame when the beam strikes a flame screen;
the flame screen arranged with respect to the light beam source so that, when the light beam source projects the movable beam of light, at least a portion of the beam of light strikes the flame screen, the flame screen being stationary relative to the candle body;
a light beam mover operatively associated with the light source and adapted to impart movement to the light source relative to the flame screen; and
a range limiter operatively associated with the light source and adapted to limit movement of the light source and the beam of light so that the beam of light, when being projected, always strikes at least a portion of the flame screen and causes illumination of the flame screen by the beam of light.

24. The imitation candle of claim 23 , wherein the candle body comprises an upper surface, each flame screen being located at the upper surface and extending upwardly from the upper surface; and
wherein the imitation candle further comprises at least two of the at least one flame simulator arranged so that the flame screen of one flame simulator is laterally spaced apart from each other flame screen, to simulate a candle having multiple burning wicks.

25. The imitation candle of claim 23 , wherein each light beam mover and each range limiter are configured so that movement of each beam of light in response to a corresponding one of the light beam movers causes changes in a corresponding illumination of a corresponding one of the flame screens that mimic movement of a flame exposed to ambient air currents.

26. The imitation candle of claim 25 , wherein each light beam mover and each range limiter are configured so that movement of each beam of light in response to a corresponding one of the light beam movers causes changes in shape and position of a corresponding illumination of a corresponding flame screen by the corresponding beam o

Assignees

• Lowes Companies Inc

Inventors

• Baeza Guillermo Enrique

Classifications

• F21V14/08

  by movement of the screens {or filters} · CPC title

• F21V23/0464

  the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V14/06

  by movement of refractors {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635)} · CPC title

• F21V14/02

  by movement of light sources {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657)} · CPC title