Electronic scent producing imitation candle device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10357587-B2
Application number	US-201815908718-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2018
Priority date	May 26, 2017
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

Electronic imitation candle devices are described that produce a scent while including a flame-like element that simulates a real fire flame. One example device includes a support assembly having a base, a top plate and a support rod that connects the base and the top plate, as well as a flame element and a light source to simulate a real candle flame. The device also includes a fragrance compartment above the top plate that includes a lid removably positioned on top of the fragrance container. The device is further provided with a heating element above the top plate and below the fragrance container to provide heat to the fragrance container, and a switch coupled to the lid of the fragrance container and operable to sense that the fragrance container is covered by the lid and to deactivate the heating element when the fragrance container is covered by the lid.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electronic scent producing imitation candle device, comprising:
a support assembly comprising a base, a support rod and a top plate, the support rod connecting the base and the top plate;
a flame element and a light source for illuminating the flame element to simulate a real flame, the flame element and the light source positioned on the base and below the top plate;
a fragrance compartment positioned above the top plate, the fragrance compartment including a lid that can be removably positioned on top of the fragrance compartment to cover the fragrance compartment;
a heating element positioned above the top plate and below the fragrance compartment to provide heat to the fragrance compartment;
a protection device comprising a contact element, a reset element, and a conductive switch;
wherein at one end the contact element is coupled to the fragrance compartment to detect a presence or absence of a fragrance material within the fragrance compartment;
wherein another end of the contact element is coupled to the conductive switch, which is coupled to the heating element to affect a supply of power to the heating element in response to detection of the presence or absence of the fragrance material;
wherein the reset element is disposed between the contact element and the support assembly;
wherein the contact element comprises a spring pin, the reset element comprises a spring;
wherein upon detection of an empty fragrance compartment or a presence of a nominal amount of fragrance in the fragrance compartment the spring is configured to drive the spring pin to open the conductive switch and shut down the electronic scent producing imitation candle device, and
wherein upon detection of a presence of fragrance compartment beyond the nominal amount the spring is configured to drive the spring pin to close the conductive switch and turn on the electronic scent producing imitation candle device.

2. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , comprising a second switch coupled to the lid to sense a downward or an upward movement of the lid.

3. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 2 , wherein the second switch is configured to deactivate the heating element upon detection of a downward movement of the lid and to activate the heating element upon detection of an upward movement of the lid.

4. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , further comprising an insulation lid positioned under the lid to impede transfer of heat to the lid.

5. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the lid includes a hollow structure that protrudes downward from a center of the fragrance compartment, the hollow structure including an elastic material therein that allows the lid to be pressed downward or to be moved upward.

6. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 5 , further including a locking base positioned within the electronic scent producing imitation candle device below the fragrance compartment to lock in place the lid when the lid is moved downward.

7. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the fragrance compartment includes one or more partitions that divide the fragrance compartment into a plurality of chambers.

8. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 7 , wherein each chamber is configured to hold a particular fragrance material that is different from fragrance materials in other chambers.

9. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of chambers are in communication with each other to enable scents from a variety of fragrances to be mixed in the fragrance compartment.

10. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , further including an indicator light positioned to illuminate the fragrance compartment with light.

11. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 10 , wherein the indicator light is configured to illuminate the fragrance compartment with any one of a plurality of colored lights.

12. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 11 , wherein a first colored light is indicative of a low temperature of the fragrance compartment, a second colored light is indicative of a medium temperature of the fragrance compartment and a third colored light is indicative of a high temperature of the fragrance compartment.

13. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein at least a section of the fragrance compartment is made of a clear material or a translucent material to allow contents of the fragrance compartment to be viewed.

14. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a power cord to deliver power to the electronic scent producing imitation candle device;
a remote control device that allows control of the operations of the electronic scent producing imitation candle device from a remote location; and
a control panel coupled to the power cord, the control panel including a plurality of buttons that allow control of an operation of the electronic scent producing imitation candle device.

15. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 14 , wherein each of the remote control device and the control panel includes a corresponding magnetic element thereon, and wherein the remote control device is configured to be mounted on the control panel at least in-part due to attractive forces of magnetic element on the remote control device and the control panel.

16. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 15 , wherein the remote control device includes a clearance groove configured to prevent the remote control device from contacting the buttons on the control panel when the remote control device is mounted on top of the control panel.

17. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 14 , wherein the remote control device and the control panel include mutually matching structures that enable installation of the remote control device onto the control panel.

18. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the top plate of the support assembly includes an installation groove for accommodating placement of the fragrance compartment inside the installation groove.

19. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature control device to control an on/off operation of the heating element according to a temperature of a fragrance material inside the fragrance compartment.

20. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , further comprising a shell disposed along a periphery of the support assembly, the shell including an observation window thereon to allow the flame element to be viewed from outside of the electronic scent producing imitation candle device.

21. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , further including an electromagnet coupled to the lid and configured to close or open the lid in response to activation of the electromagnet.

22. The electronic scent producing imitation candle device of claim 1 , wherein the protection device is configured to activate or deactivate in response to a weight of the fragrance compartment.

Assignees

• Li Xiaofeng

Inventors

• Li Xiaofeng

Classifications

• A61L9/032

  comprising a fan · CPC title

• A61L2209/111

  Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors · CPC title

• F21W2121/00

  Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 · CPC title

• A61L2209/11

  Apparatus for controlling air treatment · CPC title

• A61L9/035

  emanating multiple odours · CPC title