GB2398861A

GB2398861A - Light emitting wax decoration

Info

Publication number: GB2398861A
Application number: GB0304538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chun Chung Fung
Original assignee: Packway Ind Ltd
Current assignee: Packway Ind Ltd
Priority date: 2003-02-28
Filing date: 2003-02-28
Publication date: 2004-09-01
Also published as: GB0304538D0

Abstract

A light emitting decoration includes a light emitter such as a bulb, an electrical conductor attached to the light emitter, and a body formed of wax at least partially encasing the electrical conductor. A movement sensing switch is connected to a PCB that controls the light emitter.

Description

À. :' a. ..

Light_Emicting Wax Decoration

Background of the_Invencion

The present invention relates to a light emitting wax decoration. More particularly, although nor exclusively, the invention. relates to electric candles having wx- encased wiring.

Wax candles with a burning wick encased in wax fuel are of course well known. Imitation candles made of plastics material and having a bulb to simulate a flame are also known A problem with such imitation candles is that the plastics material simulating the wax is unrealistic in its appearance and weight characteristics. Also, the bulbs are not controlled to provide interesting lighting effects.

Objects or the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least one of the above disadvantages and/or more generally to provide a light emitting wax decoration having wax-encased wiring.

Disclosure of the Invention

There is disclosed herein a light emitting decoration A. act a.e. e.....

comrisig: a 7 ight emittQr, an eleccrical conductor attached to the light emitter, and a body formed o- wax at least partially encasing th.e electrical conductor.

The light emitter is typically external o'- the body.

However, the wax might be translucent and the decoration could comprise a further light emitter internal of the body and having extending from it another electrical conductor that is at least partially encased by the wax.

If the wax is translucent, the only light smatter might be internal or the body.

Preferably, a base tray supports the body and there is a battery box in the base tray providing power to the 7 ight emitter.

Preferably, the light emitting decoration further comprises a ?CB that Is at least partially encased by the want and controls Cower delivered via the conductor to the light emitter.

The light emitter might be a bulb or an LED.

The decoration might further include a movement sensing 5W' tch in electrical association with the light emitters The movement sensing switch might comprise a hollow À e. À. - .:: À;e À.e metallic case having situated therein a metallic ball, the movement sensing switch further comprising a conductive pad with which the metallic ball can engage to close a CirCUlE be ween the metallic case and The conductive pact There might be a 'further metallic ball with which the first said metallic ball can engage to close said circuit.

There might 'urther be a first terminal extendln.g from the metallic case and a second terminal extending from the conduct ive pad.

Preferably, the P:B is associated electrically with the movement sensing switch.

PreferaLlv the PCB is associated electrically with a thermal sensor switch.

The thermal sensor switch is typically a thermistor.

The tray might support a plurality of said bodies and one of said bodies further comprises a PCB that i s at least partially encased by the wax and controls power delivered to a said light emitter Of each body.

The PCB might provide a signal resulting in flashing of a.. :. ce-. eeeeae.

the light emiter.

Brief Descriotlon of the Drawings _, Preferred forms of che present invention will nov; be described by way o.- example with reference to the # accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure l is a schematic cross- sectional elevational view OI a light emitting decoration, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional elevacional view o' a sllgh ly dlfr-erent light emitting decoration, Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional elevational view of another light emitting decoration, Figure 4 is a schematic cross- secional elevatio.al view of a vibration or movement sensor, and Figure 5 is a schematic circuit diagram for circuitry on a printed circuit board found in each or the decoration is of Figures 1 to

Description or the Preferred Embodiments

In Figure 1 off the accompanying drawings there is depicted schematically a decoration lo. The decoration :: '.e:. À À: ce. À ..e age: includes a base ray 11 ty,cally rormed o moulded plastics Aerial and having formed integrally therewith or attached thereto a battery box 12 for housing batteries to power the decoration's light emitters to be described later.

Supported upon the base tray ll are several bodies 13 formed of way.. The bodies:3 might take on the shape of snowmen, candles, trees, Santa Claus or any other solid lO shape. Alternatively, there might be one large mass of wax, forming the overall shape of distinct bodies That Is, for example, the two snowmen shown in r igure 1 and t;.e candle might be Joined together.

Within each wax body 13 there is an electric cold 15 delivering Power to a light bulb 16 situated above the upper extremity or each body in a position that a flame might have above a candle. As an alternative to the bulbs, LEDs or other light emitters might be adopted.

There would be two or more conductors in each cord, depending upon the particular body in question. The tall body 13 in Figure has more than two conductors in its cord 15. Some or' these are associated with the bulb 16 at the top of the tall body 13. Others are associated with a vibration or movement sensor 17, and others are associated wl.h a thermal sensor swatch 18.

each cord 15 can be supported within a rigid tube . t4. Ail:: À t' cle.e suporced i n urn ky the base rav.

The thermal sensor 18 might be a thermistor or other device calibrated Go trigger upon detecting Great. For example, the device might be calibrated to provide a trigger ON signal upon detecting a flame from a match or cigarette lighter.

The vibration or movement sensor 17 provides a triggering lO signal upon movement. An example of a movement sensor 17 is shown in Figure 4. This sensor includes metallic encasing 21 within which there is a pale of metallic balls 20. These balls would t-yplcally be spherical.

There is a contact pad 22 mounted upon a dielectric base 23 against which one of the balls 20 can engage. The metal casing 21 has a terminal 25, whereas the contact pad 23 has a terminal 24. One of these is positive and the other negative. When one of the balls is in contact with the casing, che two balls are in contact with each other and the other ball is in contact with the dielectric pad, a trigger OFF signal results. Similarly, when electrical contact between the casing and the contact pad via the balls 20 is broken, a triggering OFF signal re sul t s.

There is a printed circuit board (PCB) 14 located wi thin one of the bodies 13. The PCB la receives power from batteries located within the battery box 12 and the cee. ce. À. .' cc s.e electric oords 15 are connected to the PCB.

In Figure 2, the decoration 10' is the same as decoration of Figure 1, but includes additional light emitters 19 located internally of each body 13. In this embodiments, the wax from which each of the bodies 13 is moulded would be translucent to enable light.-rom the emitters 19 to De seen. The light emitters 19 are also be wired to be PCB and electrical conductor's extending from the PC3 to these light emitters would be encased within the wax o,' the respective bodies 13.

In the decoration. 103, of Figure 3, there are no light emitters 16 externally of the respective bodies 13, but The internal light emitters 19 as shown in Figure 2 remain. There is also know thermal sensor Is and no vibration or movement sensor 17.

With reference to the circuit diagram shown in Figure 5, 1 the circuitry upon the PCB 14 would operate as follows; | When A and B are shortcircuited by hand, a voltage pulse signal will be generated at the base of the translator Q1 thereby turning on Q1. At the same time, Q? will also be turned on This will result in a regulated output of D2 supplied Go control SC1225, thereby turn2n.g it on. A flame from a match or a cigarette lighter can be applied against or nearby the thermister tl to reduce its res'2scance, thereby producing a voltage at D1 which À l e.

À C, À . controls SC? to turn it on At this time, he stee: ball swiccn is conducting. Thus, voltage is supplied '-rom the steel ball switch via SCR to the oscillator circuit formed by QA and Q5. An oscillating voltage is produced at the emitter of QG, which is supplied via R10 co the base of Q3, thereby turning Q3 on and off repeatedly.

Thus, LED1 end LED2 will flesh according to a certain rhythm. To cum ok f both Lads, one can shake the steel ball switch. (an the I' flame"). This will cut voltage supplied to the anode of SCR, thereby causing the oscillator circuit to stop oscillation, hence turning off Q3 and thus turning HI the LEDs.

Claims

cea. :. c..' ate CHIMES: 3. A light emitting decoration comprising: a

light emitter, an electrical conductor attached to the light emitter, and a body toed of wax al least partially encasing the electrical conductor.

o
2. The light emitting decoration of Claim 1 wherein the 1lght emitter is external of the body.
3. The light emltlng decoration of Clalm 2 wherein the wax is translucent and the decoration comprises a further light emitter internal or the body and having extending from it another electrical conductor that is at least partially encased by the wax.
4. The light emitting decoration of Clalm 1 wherein the wax is translucent and the light emitter is internal of the body.
5. The light emitting decoration of Claim 4 comprising a further light emitter external of the body and having exceeding from in another electrical conductor that is at lease partially encased by the wax.
6. The light emitting decoration of Claim 1 further Ic: a:' :e ark: comrising oase tray supporti.g the body- and within which there is located a battery box providing power to the light emitter.
7. The light emitting decoration of Claim 1 urther comprising a PC chat is an least partially encased by # . the wax and controls power delivered via the conductor to the light emitter.
8. The 1lght emitting decoration Of Claim 1 wherein the light emitter is a bulb.
9. The light emitting decoration of Claim 1 wherein the light emitter is an Loo.
10. The light emitting decoration of Claim 1 comprising a movement sensing switch in electrical association with the light emitter.
11. The light emitting decoration or Claim 10 wherein the movement sensing switch comprises a hollow metallic case having situated therein a metallic ball, the movement sensing switch further comprising a conductive pad with which the metallic ball can engage to close a circuit between the metallic case and the conductive pad.
12. The light emitting decoration or Claim 11 comprising a further metallic ball with which the first said t. d': . :d;e * - À : metallic bull can e--gage to close said circuit.
13. The light emitting decoration of Claim 11 comprising a first ermn.al extending from the metallic case and a second terminal exceeding rom the conductive pad.
1. The light emitting decoration of Clalm 10 further comprising a PCS that is at least partially encased by the wax and controls power delivered via the conductor to the light emitter, and wherein the PC is associated electrically with the movement sensing switch.
15. The light emitting decoration of Claim 1 comprising a thermal sensor switch. in electrical association with the light emitter.
16. The light emitting decoration or Claim 15 further comprising a PCB that is at least partially encased by the wax and controls power delivered via the conductor to the light emitter, and wherein the PCB is associated electrically with the thermal sensor switch.
17. The light emitting decoration. of Claim 15 wherein the thermal sensor switch is a the'-mister.
16. The light emitting decoration of Claim 6 wherein the tray supports a plurality- or said bodies and one of said bodies further comprises a PCS thal is at lease partially l l :: le. tIs ll: - : - 1 - encased by the wax and control s power delivered to a said light ems Ever o' each body.
19. The 1 igh emlcEing decoration of any one of Clalms 7, 16 or 16 wherein the PCD confides a signal resulting in flashing of the light emitter.