Imitation candle devices with moving lights

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10976018-B2
Application number	US-202016781865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 4, 2020
Priority date	Jun 12, 2017
Publication date	Apr 13, 2021
Grant date	Apr 13, 2021

Abstract

Imitation candle devices and systems with features enable simulation of a realistic candle flame using moving lights are disclosed. In one aspect, an imitation candle device is provided that includes a flame sheet shaped to resemble a flame, a support member positioned in proximity to the flame sheet, and a light casing including a hole. An end of the support member extends into the hole and a tip of the end of the support member is in contact with an inner wall of the hole to allow movement of the light casing on the support member. The imitation candle device also includes a light emitter enclosed at least partially in the light casing and movable with movement of the light casing. The light emitter is oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the flame sheet to emit light onto the flame sheet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An imitation candle device, comprising:
a flame element having a flame-like shape;
a light casing including a light emitter that is configured to emit light onto a surface of the flame element, the light casing having internal surfaces defining an opening, wherein the opening includes a recess, and wherein at least a part of the recess has a spherical shape;
a support member, supporting the light casing to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, wherein the support member has a tip extending from the support member, the tip of the support member fits in the opening of the light casing and extends into the recess, wherein the tip of the support member is in contact with an inner wall of the recess, and wherein the light casing is held on the support member in a way which allows movement of the light casing relative to the support member;
a drive engine coupled to the light casing, and configured to cause the light casing to move on the support member and to move the light emitted from the light emitter on the flame element; and
a movement limiting structure that limits an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the light emitted by the light emitter from moving off the flame element.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the movement limiting structure is in the opening.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the movement limiting structure includes a plurality of baffles, wherein each of the baffles is positioned at a side of the light casing to partially restrict the sway of the light.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the baffles are positioned to interact with the tip of the support member.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the movement limiting structure is positioned outside of the light casing.

6. The device of claim 1 , where the drive engine includes a magnetic member coupled to a lower portion of the light casing.

7. The device of claim 6 , where the drive engine includes a coil in a proximity of the magnetic member such that upon interaction of the magnetic member with a magnetic field of the coil, the light casing sways relative to the support member.

8. The device of claim 6 , wherein the magnetic member has a circular cross section.

9. The device of claim 1 , where the drive engine includes a motor coupled to the light casing, and an electronic control circuit to cause the movement of the light casing.

10. A method of lighting an imitation candle device, comprising:
attaching a flame element having a flame shape to a body of an imitation candle device;
emitting light from a light emitter;
supporting the light emitter to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, and allowing the light emitter to move relative to the support member;
energizing a drive engine to cause a light casing to move on the support member and thus to move a position of the light that is emitted from the light emitter on to the flame element; and
limiting an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the emitted light from moving off the flame element,
wherein the limiting is carried out by a movement limiting structure which includes a plurality of baffles, and wherein each of the baffles in the plurality of baffles is positioned to interact with a tip of the support member.

11. The method as in claim 10 , wherein said light casing has internal surfaces defining an opening, wherein the the tip of the support member extends from the support member, and the tip of the support member fits in the opening of the light casing, wherein the light casing is held on the support member, and wherein said light casing is configured to move relative to the support member.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the movement limiting structure is positioned outside of the light casing.

13. A method of lighting an imitation candle device, comprising:
attaching a flame element having a flame shape to a body of an imitation candle device;
emitting light from a light emitter, wherein the light emitter is incorporated in a light casing, wherein the light casing has internal surfaces defining an opening, wherein the opening includes a recess, and wherein at least a part of the recess has a spherical shape;
supporting the light emitter to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, and allowing the light emitter to move relative to a support member, wherein the support member has a tip extending from the support member, the tip of the support member fits in the opening of the light casing and extends into the recess, wherein the tip of the support member is in contact with an inner wall of the recess, and wherein the light casing is held on the support member in a way which allows movement of the light casing relative to the support member;
energizing a drive engine to cause the light casing to move on the support member and thus to move a position of the light that is emitted from the light emitter on the flame element; and
limiting an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the emitted light from moving off the flame element.

14. An imitation candle device, comprising:
a flame element having a flame-like shape;
a light casing including a light emitter that is configured to produce an output light that is emitting onto a surface of the flame element;
a support member, supporting the light casing to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, while allowing the light emitter to move relative to the support member;
a drive engine coupled to the light casing and configured to cause the light casing to move on the support member and to move the light emitted from the light emitter on the flame element; and
a movement limiting structure that limits an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the emitted light from moving off the flame element,
wherein the movement limiting structure includes a plurality of baffles, wherein each of the baffles in the plurality of baffles is positioned to interact with a tip of the support member.

Assignees

• L&L Candle Company Llc

Inventors

• Li Xiaofeng

Classifications

• F21W2121/00

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

• F21S10/04 Primary

  simulating flames · CPC title

• F21V14/02

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

• H05B47/10

  Controlling the light source · CPC title

• F21S6/001

  candle-shaped · CPC title