US3400359A - Electric candle - Google Patents

Description

S. BEDINI ELECTRIC CANDLE Sept. 3, 1968 Filed April 6. 1966 STEFANIA BEDINI United States Patent O 3,400,359 ELECTRIC CANDLE Stefania Bedini, Via G. Pezzana, 68, Rome, Italy Filed Apr. 6, 1966, Ser. No. 540,650 Claims priority, application Italy, Apr. 6, 1965, 2,359/ 65 1 Claim. (Cl. 339-25) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A candle-simulating extension comprising a body having a plug at one end for threading into a standard electrical lamp-base socket, and a socket shell at its free end to receive the threads of a lamp base. The body is thick-walled and has counterbores at its ends in which the plug and shell are respectively secured. Electrical connections between the plug and shell extend in and along a central axial passageway in the body.

This invention relates to an electric candle with screw base.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide a candle which is ornamental, easily removed from a receptacle or socket for replacement of bulbs, and capable of being made in a wide variety of material, shapes, sizes and omamentations.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the candle; and

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal axial section thereof with lower shell partly in elevation and partly in section.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 1 identifies a generally cylindrical body or base which may be of wood, plastics or like materials. The body has a central axial passageway 2, counterbored or enlarged at its lower end to receive with a snug fit, a metallic screw base 3 comprising a hollow plug 4 and a centrally-disposed end contact 5 electrically insulated from plug 4 in a known manner.

The smooth cylindrical upper end of the plug may be secured within the counterbore of body 1, by epoxy or other permanent strong adhesive.

The upper end of body 1 is also enlarged or counterbored, as at 6. The upper end of the counterbore is of inverted frusto-conical form, as at 7, and sized to fit about the base of a lamp bulb of the incandescent type. If desired, the truste-conical cavity may be lined with soft rubber or other water-proof material to make a liquidand water-tight joint between the socket and bulb when the latter is firmly threaded into position.

Below counterbore surface 7, body 1 is formed with threads of standard lamp-base size and pitch, to threadedly receive a metallic shell or socket 8 having the usual tip 9 of metal, centrally and axially fixed with the shell and electrically insulated therefrom.

A first electrical lead of insulated wire 10 is attached at one end to lower tip 5 nteriorly of plug 4, passes centrally up through the passageway in body 1, and at its other end is secured to tip 9. Likewise a second lead 11 of insulated wire connects shells 4 and 8 in a manner clear from inspection of FIGURE 2.

The exterior of body 1 is shown with ornamentations 12 in the form of simulations of drippings from a wax candle. Other exterior shapes and forms of the body may be advantageously used when desired.

ICC

In originally installing the invention, a bulb may be first threaded into shell 8 and then the entire assembly is mounted by threading plug 4 of base 3 into a conventional outlet socket such as a wall bracket or chandelier. Due to the fact that the bulb may be emplaced before the assembly is threaded into the receptacle for shell 4, a great deal of time is saved where large numbers of these candles are used. Much time and annoyance are saved in replacement of bulbs.

It will be understood that threaded shell 8 may be made in a size to receive bulbs having reduced or miniature-size threaded bases. Where outdoor use is contemplated or desired, in addition to the aforesaid Water-proof lining for cavity 7, the lower end of body 1 may have a like covering of soft pliable water-proof material to effect a moisture-proof seal with the end of the socket when the assembly is threaded thereinto.

While I have disclosed the preferred form 0f the invention as presently known to me, various changes of shapeform, construction, materials, and substitutions of equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art, after a study of the foregoing description. Thus the description should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and all changes within the scope of the subjoned claim, are reserved.

Having fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electric candle comprising an elongated thickwalled tubular body of rigid non-metallic material having a central axial passageway therethrough, said passageway having first and second counterbores in its respective ends, said second counterbore having its wall formed with lampbase threads and being flared outwardly from the terminus of said threads to the contiguous end of said body, a hollow, one-piece metallic plug having a smooth end fitting and secured within said first counterbore, standard lamp-base threads exteriorly 0f said body, and a metallic contact tip centrally of and externally fixed with the terminus of the projecting end of said plug and insulated therefrom, a hollow metallic shell having its walls formed with lamp-base threads, threaded into the threads of said second counterbore, to threadedly receive the end of a lamp bulb therein, said shell having a metallic tip centrally fixed to and insulated from its end within said body, a first lead extending in and along said passageway and electrically connecting said tips, and a second lead extending in and along said passageway and electrically connecting said plug and shell, the interior walls of said flared end being shaped to conform to and contact the base portion of a lamp bulb when threaded into said shell.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,245,949 1l/1917 Nero 339-25 1,476,586 l2/1923 Bowen 339-25 XR 1,497,557 6/ 1924 Eastman et al. 339-25 XR 1,623,716 4/ 1927 Boss 339-25 XR 2,800,635 7/1957 Christenbury 339-180 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 840,802 l/ 1939 France.

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Assistant Examiner.

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