WO2000043472A1

WO2000043472A1 - Wick device of candle for using with melody generating circuits

Info

Publication number: WO2000043472A1
Application number: PCT/KR2000/000042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yun Bok Kang
Original assignee: Yun Bok Kang
Priority date: 1999-01-20
Filing date: 2000-01-20
Publication date: 2000-07-27
Also published as: AU2328700A

Abstract

A wick device for sound generating candles is disclosed. The wick device comprises a wick body (11) and a pair of conductors (12A, 12B). The wick body (11) is burnable when ignited and is inserted into a candle. The conductors (12A, 12B) are positioned in the wick body (11), and run parallel with each other over the whole length of the wick body (11) while being spaced apart from each other. The lower end of a first conductor (12A) is connected to a power source and the lower end of a second conductor (12B) is connected to a sound generating circuit (6). In accordance with another embodiment, the wick device may comprise a pair of conductive wicks (202A, 202B), and (203A, 203B), the conductive wicks (202A, 202B), and (203A, 203B) being inserted into a candle and running parallel with each other over the whole length of the candle while being spaced apart from each other. The lower end of a first conductive wick (202B) is connected to a power source and the lower end of a second conductive wick (203B) is connected to a sound generating circuit (6).

Description

WICK DEVICE OF CANDLE FOR USING WITH MELODY GENERATING CIRCUITS

Technical Field

The present invention relates, in general, to a candle that generates sound while burning and, more particularly, to a wick device that is used for such a sound generating candle so as to allow electric current to flow to the sound generating circuit of the sound generating candle.

Background Art

Currently, there are widely used candles, which can generate a sound such as a melody or voice while the candles are burning, as presents.

A sound generating candle includes means for sensing the flame of the candle and means for generating a sound such as a melody, voice, etc. when the flame of the candle is sensed.

Therefore, it is an important technical task for such a sound generating candle to sense the flame of the candle accurately.

In a conventional sound generating candle, when its wick made of an optical fiber is ignited, an optical sensor such as a photo coupler or photocell senses light generated by the flame of candle and, thereafter, a sound generating circuit such as a known melody integrated circuit is activated.

Fig. 1 illustrates a sound generating arrangement for the conventional sound generating candle. The conventional sound candle includes a wick member in which an optical fiber 1 is enclosed with cotton threads 2, a photo sensor 4 connected to the optical fiber 1 for sensing the light of a flame transmitted through the optical fiber 1, a sound generating circuit 6 connected to the photo sensor 4, and a silver paper 3 and a thermal contraction tube 5 for enclosing the lower end portion of the optical fiber 1, the lower end portion of the cotton threads 2 and the photo sensor 4.

The sound generating circuit 6 comprises an amplifier 6A for amplifying a signal sensed by the photo sensor 3, an operating signal generating unit 6B for receiving a signal outputted from the amplifier 6A and outputting an operating signal, and a sound signal generating unit 6C for receiving the operating signal from the operating signal generating unit 6B and outputting a sound signal, and a speaker 6D for receiving the sound signal from the sound signal generating unit 6C and generating a sound.

In the drawing, reference characters Rl and R2, Ql , Cl and C2, SW1 , and Vcc respectively designate resistors, a transistor, condensers, a reset switch, and a power source.

The wick member of the candle includes the optical fiber 1 so as to transmit to the photo sensor 4 light that is generated by the flame of the candle. Additionally, the optical fiber 1 is enclosed with the cotton threads 2 so as to prevent undesired external light from entering the wick while the candle is not ignited.

The photo sensor 4 comes into contact with the optical fiber 1 at the lower end of the optical fiber 1 so as to sense the ignition of the candle.

The sound generating circuit 6 is connected to the photo sensor 4 so as to generate a sound in response to the signal from the photo sensor 4.

The silver paper 3 holds the optical fiber 1 to be centered on the photo sensor 4 primarily. The thermal contraction tube 4 holds the optical fiber 1 to be centered on the photo sensor 4 securely. The thermal contraction tube 4 is contracted by heat applied to the tube 4 while enclosing the silver paper 3 that encloses the optical fiber 1 and the photo sensor 4. The operation of the conventional candle is as follows.

When the candle is ignited, the optical fiber 1 and the cotton threads 2 are burnt together. At this time, the light of the flame of the candle is transmitted to the photo sensor 4, and the photo sensor 4 senses the light and outputs an operating signal to the amplifier 6A of the sound signal generating unit 6C.

The amplifier 6A amplifies a feeble signal from the photo sensor 4 and outputs an amplified signal to the operating signal generating unit 6B, and the operating signal generating unit 6B outputs a start signal to the sound signal generating unit 6C.

In response to the start signal, the sound signal generating unit 6C outputs a sound signal to the speaker 6D, and the speaker 6D outputs a sound in response to the sound signal.

However, the conventional sound generating candle is problematic in that the sound generating circuit may be operated by undesirable external light, such as natural light or the light of an electric lamp except for the light of the candle because the optical fiber is covered with the woven cotton threads and the undesirable light cannot be intercepted by the woven cotton threads. Additionally, since the optical fiber of the conventional sound generating candle is made of plastic, bent cotton threads may cover the optical fiber to cause a malfunction when the wick member of the candle is burning, the size of the flame of the candle is small in comparison with the candle, the flame is not stable, and a harmful odor is generated. Furthermore, since the thermal contraction tube of the conventional sound generating candle, which is employed to maintain the relative positions of the optical fiber and the photo sensor secure, is contracted at a temperature of about 125 ^°C , the optical fiber and the optical sensor of the candle may be deteriorated by heat.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wick device for sound generating candles, which is capable of preventing its malfunction, simplifying its manufacture process, and improving its competitive power in cost by lowering its manufacturing cost.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a wick device for sound generating candles, comprising a wick body burnable when ignited, the wick body being inserted into a candle, and a pair of conductors, the conductors being positioned in the wick body and running parallel with each other over the whole length of the wick body while being spaced apart from each other, wherein the lower end of a first conductor is connected to a power source and the lower end of a second conductor is connected to a sound generating circuit.

In addition, the present invention provides a wick device for sound generating candles, comprising a pair of conductive wicks, the conductive wicks being inserted into a candle and running parallel with each other over the whole length of the candle while being spaced apart from each other, wherein the lower end of a first conductive wick is connected to a power source and the lower end of a second conductive wick is connected to a sound generating circuit. Brief Description of Drawings

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates the sound generating arrangement for the conventional sound generating candles;

Fig. 2 illustrates a sound generating arrangement for sound generating candles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a wick member in accordance with the first embodiment;

Fig. 4 shows an explanatory circuit equivalent to the action of a flame in the present invention;

Fig. 5 illustrates a wick member in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 illustrates a sound generating candle in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference now should be made to Figs. 2 to 6, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the different drawings to designate the same or similar components. [First Embodiment]

Fig. 2 illustrates a sound generating arrangement for sound generating candles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Since the sound generating circuit of Fig. 2 is the same as that of Fig. 1 , a detailed description of the circuit is omitted here.

In the first embodiment, a wick device of this embodiment comprises a burnable paper 11 and a pair of copper wires 12A and 12B. The wires 12A and 12B are positioned in the rolled burnable paper 1 1, and run parallel with each other over the whole length of the rolled paper 1 1 while being spaced apart from each other. The lower end of one 12A of the wires 12A and 12B is connected to batteries (reference numeral not assigned to) that serve as a power source, while the lower end of the other 12B of the wires 12A and 12B is connected to the sound generating circuit 6.

A porcelain insulator 13 is positioned around the lower end portion of the rolled paper 11 so as to automatically extinguish the flame of a candle when the candle is almost completely burnt away.

In Fig. 2, reference numeral 14 designates a central hole that is formed in the central portion of the wick when the burnable paper 1 1 is rolled.

The wick member of this embodiment may be formed by rolling the burnable paper 11 while the copper wires 12A and 12B are attached to the paper 11, thereby allowing the copper wires 12A and 12b to be spaced apart in the burnable paper 11.

That is, thin copper wires 12A and 12B are attached to a sheet of burnable paper 11 by means of bonding means (not shown) such as paste, and the burnable paper, to which the copper wires 12A and 12B are attached, is rolled by means of rolling means (not shown). The diameter of the rolled paper 11 is preferably 6mm. When the outer end of the rolled paper 11 is bonded to the overlapped portion of the rolled paper 11 after the sheet of burnable paper 1 1 is rolled several times with the copper wires 12A and 12B attached to the burnable paper 1 1 , the wick member is formed as shown in

Fig. 3.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the copper wires 12A and 12B are preferably positioned at the outermost and opposite positions of the rolled paper 1 1. When the candle having such wick member is ignited, the burnable paper 11 is burnt together with the copper wires 12A and 12B.

At this time, since electric current can flow between the copper wires 12A and 12B by the mediation of the flame of the candle, the electric current from the batteries can flow into the sound generating circuit 6. As a result, the sound generating circuit 6 can generate a sound such as a melody or voice using the electric current.

Fig. 4 shows an explanatory circuit equivalent to the above action. As shown in Fig. 4, the electric current can flow from the batteries to the sound generating circuit 6 by means of the ratifying function of the flame of the candle. That is, the electric current can be supplied to the sound generating circuit 6 by means of the mediation of the flame of the candle.

Since the copper wires 12 A and 12B and burnable paper 1 1 are burnt at the same time and the sound generating circuit 6 is operated using the electric current that flows between the copper wires 12A and 12B by means of the mediation of the flame of the candle, sound is generated continuously until the flame is extinguished. When the candle is almost completely burnt away and the flame reaches the porcelain insulator 13, the flame of the candle is automatically extinguished by the porcelain insulator 13, and so the burning of the candle and the generation of sound are stopped almost simultaneously.

Incidentally, since the remnants of the wick fall down and are eliminated through the central hole 14 while the candle burns, the remnants that hinder the burning of the candle do not remain on the burning portion of the candle.

[Second Embodiment] Fig. 5 illustrates a wick member in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the copper wires 12A and 12B of the first embodiment are replaced with conductive adhesive lines 12A-1 and 12B-1. As shown in Fig. 5, the conductive adhesive is applied to a burnable paper 11 at positions where copper wires 12A and 12B are attached in the first embodiment, thereby forming the conductive adhesive lines 12A-1 and 12B-1 on the burnable paper 11. In this embodiment, when the diameter of the rolled paper 1 1 is 6mm, the first conductive adhesive line 12A-1 is formed on the burnable paper 1 1 at a position that is spaced apart from one edge of the burnable paper 11 by about 8mm and the second conductive adhesive line 12B-1 is formed on the burnable paper 11 at a position that is spaced apart from the first conductive adhesive line 12B-1 by about 16mm. The burnable paper 11, on which two conductive adhesive lines 12A and 12B are formed, is rolled into a cylindrical wick member.

As shown in Fig. 3, when the burnable paper 11, on which the two conductive adhesive lines 12A and 12B are formed is rolled into a cylindrical wick member, the two conductive adhesive lines 12A and 12B, are situated at the opposite and outermost positions of the wick. Of course, the positions where the copper wires 12A and 12B and the conductive adhesive lines are attached or formed are selected depending on the diameter of the wick member.

Although the copper wire and conductive adhesive are employed in the above embodiments, these may be replaced with conductive material such as charcoal powder. Additionally, the conductive element can be formed on the burnable paper 1 1 by means of a carbon print technique that has been employed for the buttons of an electronic calculator. In addition, the paper 11 can be replaced with one of other burnable sheets.

[Third Embodiment] Fig. 6 illustrates a wick device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a pair of wicks 202a and 202b, and 203a and 203b are employed as a wick member.

Each of the wicks 202a and 202b, and 203a and 203b comprises a copper core 202b or 203b and an outer cover 202a or 203a enclosing the copper core 202b or 203b. The copper core 202b and 203b is a conductive copper wire, and the outer cover 202a or 203a is woven cotton threads.

Since the copper cores 202a and 203a are respectively enclosed with the outer cover 202b or 203b of the woven cotton threads and spaced apart from each other, the copper cores 202a and 203a are insulated from each other. The lower end of the first copper core 202a of the first wick 202a and

202b is connected to batteries (reference numeral not assigned to), while the lower end of the second copper core 203a of the second wick 203a and 203b is connected to the sound generating circuit 6.

A porcelain insulator 204 is positioned around the lower end portion of a candle 201 so as to automatically extinguish the flame of the candle 201 when the candle is almost completely burnt away.

When the candle 201 having such wicks 202a and 202b, and 203a and 203b is ignited, the outer covers 202b and 203b are burnt together with the copper cores 202a and 203a, and the outer covers 202b and 203b melt the candle 201 to allow the burning of the candle to be continued.

At this time, since electric current can flow between the copper cores 202a and 203a by the mediation of the flame of the candle 201, the electric current from the batteries can flow into the sound generating circuit 6. As a result, the sound generating circuit 6 can generate a sound such as a melody or voice using the electric current.

That is, since the electric current can flow from the batteries to the sound generating circuit 6 by means of the ratifying function of the flame of the candle, the electric current can be supplied to the sound generating circuit 6, so that the sound generating circuit 6 can generate a sound such as a melody or voice.

When the candle is almost completely burnt away and the flame reaches the porcelain insulator 204, the flame of the candle is automatically extinguished by the porcelain insulator 204, and so the burning of the candle and the generation of sound are stopped almost simultaneously.

Industrial Applicability As described above, the present invention provides a wick device for sound generating candles, which is capable of preventing its malfunction, allowing its manufacture to be easily performed, and improving its competitive power in cost by lowering its manufacturing cost.

Since a paper or woven cotton threads are employed in a wick device, the wick member is burnt well, odor is not generated, the wick member is not excessively bent, the wick member causes no hindrance, and the shape of its flame is symmetric.

Since an optical fiber of the convention art is made of plastic, its flame sparks. However, the wick member of the present invention does not cause its flame to spark because the wick member is made of paper and copper or cotton and copper.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

C L A T M SWhat is claimed is:

1. A wick device for sound generating candles, comprising: a wick body burnable when ignited, the wick body being inserted into a candle, and a pair of conductors, said conductors being positioned in the wick body and running parallel with each other over a whole length of the wick body while being spaced apart from each other; 0 wherein a lower end of a first conductor is connected to a power source and a lower end of a second conductor is connected to a sound generating circuit.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a porcelain 5 insulator, said porcelain insulator being positioned around a lower end portion of said wick body so as to automatically extinguish a flame of said candle when the candle is almost completely burnt away.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said wick body is a burnable o paper, and said conductors are copper wires.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said wick body is a burnable paper, and said conductors are conductive adhesive lines.

5 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said wick body is a burnable paper, and said conductors are printed carbon lines.

6. A wick device for sound generating candles, comprising: a pair of conductive wicks, said conductive wicks being inserted into a candle, and running parallel with each other over a whole length of the candle while being spaced apart from each other; 5 wherein a lower end of a first conductive wick is connected to a power source and a lower end of a second conductive wick is connected to a sound generating circuit.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein each of said conductive l o wicks comprises a copper core and an outer cover enclosing the copper core, said copper core being a conductive copper wire, said outer cover being woven cotton threads.

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising a porcelain 15 insulator, said porcelain insulator being positioned around a lower end portion of said candle so as to automatically extinguish a flame of the candle when the candle is almost completely burnt away.