AU2004100922A4 - An Electric Candle - Google Patents

Description

0 AN ELECTRIC CANDLE t Field of the Innovation.

0The present innovation relates to electric candles or lumninaire and in particular, to electric candles which have controlled light cut-off angles to ensure that light s directed downwardly with little light emitted in the horizontal plane.

Background Art.

Electric candles are available to the public mainly as a replacement for 0 wax candles. Wax candles with open flames are often used for various decorative and religious purposes. However, if used in quantity or without visual supervision, these candles often pose hazard risks of conflagration. Accordingly, flame candles have often been replaced by electric substitutes which, while providing a safer alternative, do not provide the aesthetics for which the candles were used in the first instance.

Various attempts have been made to provide the electric candles of the prior art with "flickering" capabilities and also to hide the electronic circuitry of the candles.

The prior art electric candles all have the same general components, namely, a grounded plug rated for a maximum current and a maximum voltage, a decorative metallic base, a plastic candle body, and a low wattage, flame-shaped light bulb positioned at the upper extremity of the candle body.

The electric candles of the prior art all have the same general problems as well, namely: the bulb, being located at the distal end of the candle body, is exposed and subject to breakage; the bulb casts light in a substantially spherical direction;-.

the bulb being exposed can create an exposed heat and/or ignition source;, the bulbs used in such devices are generally for ornamental purposes and are not particularly bright; and the devices are connected to mains power and therefore are extinguished during power outages.

It would be a substantial contribution to the state of the art if one or more of the above problems are overcome or ameliorated.

It will be clearly understood that, if a prior art publication is referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that the publication fonns part of the common general knowledge in the art in Australia or in any other country.

2 t Summary of the Innovation.

0 The present innovation is directed to an electric candle which may at least partially overcome at least one of the abovementioned disadvantages or provide the consumer with a useful or commercial choice.

In one form, the innovation resides in an electric candle including a base portion housing a light source in electrical communication with a power source; 0 an elongate, substantially upright light transmitting rod member; and a reflector o portion associated with an upper portion of the rod member.

010 The electric candle of the innovation is designed to light a room by casting a lit "footprint" about the electric candle and not cast light into or in the direction of persons' faces as it directs the light downward as opposed to upward or in a spherical configuration as a light bulb does.

The base portion houses a light source in electrical communication with a power source.

The light source is preferably provided in the form of at least one light emitting diode (LED). Generally, more than one LED and as many as five LEDs may be used as a light source. LEDs are a preferred formn of light source as they typically have an operational lifetime of up to 100000 hours.

Different colour LEDs may be used with the electric candle according to the innovation as this allows creation of different colour light without the use of filters.

Multiple LEDs of a single colour may be provided in the electric candle or multiple different colours may be provided in the same unit.

The base portion of the electric candle of the innovation may also house components of an electronic circuit and/or a circuit board. The circuit component and circuit board is generally used to control the LED current to the maximum allowable value. Further, it may control the battery charging current. Still flurther, the circuit board may implement the switchover from a primary power supply, such as alternative current from a mains supply, which may be converted to direct current (DC) using a low voltage plug pack transformer to battery power when the DC power input fails due to failure of the mains AC power supply.

3 The light source which is also generally a heat source, is typically t separated from the more heat sensitive components using a heat sink. This may be as o simple in configuration as an insulated planar separating wall.

The electrical candle according to the innovation also includes an elongate, substantially upright light transmitting rod member. The rod member is Ni suitably manufactured of plastic. The rod member is suitably transparent or opaque.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the rod member is manufactured of acrylic o plastic.

o The rod member is suitably cylindrical and less than 50 cm in length 010 but it is to be appreciated that longer or shorter rods may be used. The rod is generally between approximately 1 and 5 cm in diameter. The rod can be of any shape preferred by a consumer but the cylindrical shape is preferred.

The rod member may have a shaped opening in an upper crosssectional surface for receiving therein the reflector portion and a cap member.

The provision of the rod member enables the light source to be hidden in the base portion of the electric candle. The light can then be transmitted upwards from the light source using the rod member as a transmission guide and be reflected downward by the reflector to keep the light out of the faces and eyes of persons in the room.

The provision of the rod member with the reflector also typically creates an optical illusion that the reflector is the light source, thereby maintaining the use of the electric candle of the present innovation as a window or votive candle.

Preferably, the rod member may glow along its length due to microscopic impurities contained in the rod member. This may enhance the aesthetic effect of the electric candle.

Additionally, grooves, slots or openings may be provided in an upper portion of the rod. This may assist with the light dispersal and the grooves may be configured to disperse the light in patterns. The grooves, slots or openings may be longitudinal but preferably circumferential according to the preference of the designer and the patterns that they wish to be created.

The innovation has a reflector portion associated with an upper portion of the rod member. The reflector portion typically has angled portions to reflect light in a chosen direction and most preferably downward towards a surface. The angle of 4 0 inclination of the angled portions can be changed to vary the size and/or shape of the t light footprint cast on the surface. As the rod member is preferably cylindrical, the o reflector portion will typically be at least partially conical, with the point of the cone directed towards the base portion. It will be appreciated that the reflector portion can be of any shape, and will typically match the cross-sectional shape of the rod member, although different shapes can be used.

i an pper The reflector portion is suitably located in a shaped opening provided inanupe cross-sectional surface of the rod member.

The reflector will suitably be sized such that its widest dimension is 010 circumferentially spaced from the outside surface of the light rod allowing the controlled penetration of light past the reflector and upward from the light source.

This will typically leave an annular transparent section through which light can pass in the vertical direction to give a particular illumination pattern on the ceiling directly above the candle.

The electric candle of the innovation may further comprise a cap member. The cap member may be received in the shaped opening in an upper crosssectional surface of the rod member. Preferably, the shaped opening will be defined by a periphery which is spaced from the outer diameter of the rod member. The cap member may then be snugly received in the opening.

The reflector, being circumferentially spaced from the outside surface of the light rod, allows the penetration of light past the cap and upward from the light source. This feature, when combined with the circumferentially spaced reflector, typically provides a "halo" effect on the ceiling of the room in which the electric candle of the innovation is used.

Alterniatively, the reflector and/or cap may not be spaced from the outside surface of the light rod so that no halo effect is created.

in an alternative embodiment, it is preferred that the cap be solid in order to prevent penetration of light therethrough.

The electric candle of the innovation generally and the light source in particular may be low voltage to maintain the usage life of the device. Utilisation of low voltage components may also extend the operating period of the electric candle of the innovation when operating on the battery back-up power source.

I

0 The electric candle of the innovation may be operable using a mains power supply or a battery back-up power supply. The electric candle of the O innovation may therefore be provided with at least one battery, and preferably rechargeable battery. There will typically be more than one battery to extend the operating time of the device whilst drawing power from the batteries to as long as i possible. The circuit boards are suitably located at either end of the batteries to create the circuit. The circuit boards are spaced apart by one or more batteries provided.

oThere may be a heat sink provided to cool the LED or light source and 1 the position of the heat sink may be maintained using one or more spacing members.

The provision of a back-up battery power source may allow the device to remain lit for a period of operation when there is no mains power. The device may function as an emergency light.

There are preferably therefore, two different modes of operation including 1. operation from a removable mains power source via a low voltage plug pack transformer; and 2. operation from rechargeable batteries located in the base.

The device may be provided with circuitry allowing an automatic switching between the two power sources with the mains supply being the default.

The circuitry may also provide for the batteries to be recharged when the mains power supply is available.

Brief Description of the Drawings.

Various embodiments of the innovation will be described with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a sectional schematic side view of an electric candle according to a preferred embodiment of the innovation.

Figure 2 is a perspective side view of an electric candle according to a preferred embodiment of the innovation.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electric candle according to a preferred embodiment of the innovation showing the light "footprint" created.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electric candle according to a preferred embodiment of the innovation showing the light "halo" created.

6 Detailed Description of the Innovation.

t According to a preferred embodiment of the innovation, an electric o candle 10 is provided.

N The electric candle 10 as illustrated in the Figures includes a base portion 11 housing a light source in electrical communication with a power source; an elongate, substantially upright light transmitting rod 12 and a reflector 13 associated with an upper portion of the rod 12.

o The base portion I11 houses the light source which, according to the o preferred embodiment, is provided in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) 14.

The base portion 11I of the electric candle 10 also houses components of an electronic circuit and/or two circuit boards 15. The circuit components and circuit boards 15 are used to control the LED 14 current to the maximum allowable value. Further, it controls the battery charging current and implements the switchover from direct current (DC) from a mains supply provided via a cord 16 and removable plug 17 to battery power when the DC power input fails.

The light source which is also generally a heat source is cooled using a heat sink 24 in the form of an insulated planar separating wall. The position of the heat sink/wall 24 is maintained using spacing members 23.

The rod 12 is manufactured of plastic and is suitably transparent or opaque. I the preferred embodiment, the rod 12 is manufactured of acrylic plastic. It is maintained in position and secured there using an 0-ring 22 and Screws 26.

The rod 12 of the preferred embodiment is cylindrical and approximately 20 cm in length and approximately 2-3 cm. in diameter.

The rod 12 has a transparent solid acrylic member as a cap 13 The provision of the rod 12 enables the LED 14 to be hidden in the base portion 11 of the electric candle 10. The light can then be transmitted upwards from the LED 14 using the rod 12 as a transmission guide and be reflected downward to keep the light out of the faces and eyes of persons in the room.

The provision of the rod 12 with the reflector 13 also creates an optical illusion that the reflector 13 is the light source.

As seen in Figure 2, the rod 12 glows along its length due to microscopic impurities contained in the material of the rod 12. This enhances the aesthetic effect of the electric candle 7 o The reflector 13 has angled portions to reflect light in a chosen t direction and most preferably downward towards a surface. The angle of inclination of o the angled portions can be changed to vary the size and/or shape of the light footprint cast on the surface as seen in Figure 3.

The reflector 13 is conical and the point of the cone is directed towards Nl the base portion.

The reflector 13 is sized such that its widest dimension is O circumnferentially spaced from the outside surface of the rod 12 allowing the penetration of light past the reflector 13 and upward from the LED 14. This leaves an annular transparent section 19 through which light can pass.

The reflector 13, being circunmferentially spaced from the outside surface of the rod 12 allows the penetration of light past the cap 18 and upward from the light source. This feature, when combined with the circumferentially spaced reflector 13, provides the "halo" effect on the ceiling of the room in which the electric candle of the innovation is used as seen in Figure 4.

The electric candle of the innovation is operable using a mains power supply associated with a low voltage plug pack transformer 25, or a battery back-up power supply. The electric candle of the innovation is also provided with a plurality of batteries 2 1, which are preferably rechargeable.

The circuit boards 15 are located at either end of the batteries to create the circuit. The circuit boards are spaced apart by the batteries 21. Provision of a base plate 27 in combination with the spacing members 23, assists with the maintenance of the position of the internal elements of the base portion 11. The base plate 27 is removably located using screws 28.

The device is provided with circuitry allowing an automatic switching between the two power sources with the mains supply being the default. The circuitry will also provide for the batteries to be recharged when the mains power supply is available.

In the present specification and claims, the word "comprising" and its derivatives including "comprises" and "comprise" include each of the stated integers but does not exclude the inclusion of one or more further integers.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in

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0 o connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present tinnovation. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an 0 embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more combinations.

N In compliance with the statute, the innovation has been described in Slanguage more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be o understood that the innovation is not limited to specific features shown or described 0 since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the innovation 0 10 into effect. The innovation is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (4)

1. An electric candle including a base portion housing a light source in electrical O communication with a power source, an elongate, substantially upright light transmitting rod member, and a reflector portion associated with an upper portion of the rod member. Cl

2. An electric candle according to claim 1 wherein the candle casts a lit "footprint" about the electric candle by directing the light downward from the oreflector portion.

3. An electric candle according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the reflector is circumferentially spaced from an outside surface of the light rod allowing the penetration of light past the reflector.

4. An electric candle according to any one of the preceding claims further including an electrical connection with a mains power supply and at least one battery such that the electric candle is operable in two modes of operation including a. operation from a mains power source; and b. operation from batteries during times when the mains power is unavailable with automatic switching between the two modes of operation. An electric candle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 27th day of October 2004 Noel Doyle Grant By his patent attorneys CULLEN CO