WO2001048420A1

WO2001048420A1 - Candle with internal illumination

Info

Publication number: WO2001048420A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000854
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Duer
Original assignee: Danika Ltd.
Priority date: 1999-12-23
Filing date: 2000-12-22
Publication date: 2001-07-05
Also published as: AU2022001A

Abstract

A candle assembly (20) is provided, including a candle (88) and an electric light source (24) disposed at a first location adjacent to an outer surface of the candle. An image (22) is placed at a second location adjacent to the outer surface of the candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle, the light source being adapted to backlight the image.

Description

CANDLE WITH INTERNAL ILLUMINATION

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of US

Provisional Patent Application 60/171,960, entitled, "Candle with internal light," filed December 23, 1999, which is assigned to the assignee of the present patent application and is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to candles, and specifically to electronic devices associated w th candies .

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although the use of candles for general lighting and illumination is not very common in industrialized nations, the utilization of candles for decorative, commemorative, esthetic, esoteric, and novelty purposes is becoming increasingly popular.

The variety of candle types available on the market covers a wide spectrum. These include such diverse items as votive and prayer candles, scented candles designed for a variety of moods and seasons, jar candles, herbal aromatherapy candles with scents designed for meditation, passion, anti-stress, and sensuality, novelty candles for special occasions and parties, and candies designed simply for use as decora ion.

Seme types of candles, particularly those intended for decorative purposes, do not require that the candle be lit. Other candles are designed so that the intended purpose can only be achieved when the candles are lit.

US Patents 5,807,096 and 6,033,209 to Shen, 5,921,767 and 6,074,199 to Song, 4,804,323 to Kim, and 5,846,070 to Kim, et al., which are incorporated herein by reference, describe novelty candles that exhibit various visual and audio effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of some aspects cf the present invention to provide an improved illuminated candle assembly. It is a further object of some aspects of the present invention to provide an illuminated candle assembly whose visual effect is achieved independent of the burning of the candle.

It is yet a further object of some aspects of the present invention to provide an illuminated candle assembly which can be configured in the form of rectangles, squares, pyramids, cylinders and other geometrical shapes.

It is still a further object of some aspects of the present invention to provide an illuminated candle assembly with a variety of types of illumination.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, a candle assembly comprises a candle having an outer surface, to which is coupled a visual representation, such as a design, picture, photograph, printing, or other form of message. The assembly further comprises a source of artificial light, which is placed in an inner chamber of the candle, to provide internal illumination, i.e., backlighting, of the visual representation. In some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the candle assembly comprises a fixture for installation of a battery to power the artificial light source. Additionally or alternatively, the light source is powered by an electric supply external to the candle assembly. 01/48420

Preferably, the artificial light source is turned on and off by a manual switch, typically mounted on the side or under-surface of the candle. For some applications, however, the internal light source is activated by lighting the candle wick, which generates heat that closes a switch, using techniques and apparatus which are known in the art.

There is therefore provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a candle assembly including: a candle, having an image placed at an outer surface thereof, so as to form an integral unit with the candle; and an electric light source, disposed inside the candle so as to backlight the image.

There is additionally provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a candle assembly including: a candle; an electric light source, disposed at a first location adjacent to an outer surface of the candle; and an image, placed at a second location adjacent to the outer surface of the candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle, the light source being adapted to backlight the image.

Preferably, the assembly includes a fixture adapted to contain a battery for powering the light source.

In a preferred embodiment, the light source includes a manual on/off switch. Alternatively or additionally, the light source includes a thermally- sensitive switch. 01/484

In a preferred embodiment, the light source includes a flat light. Alternatively or additionally, the light source includes one or more light emitting diodes . Preferably, the light source is entirely enclosed within wax.

There is also provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for illuminating a candle, including: placing an image at an outer surface of the candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle; and backlighting the image from an electric light source disposed inside the candle.

There is additionally provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method for illuminating, including: placing an image at a first location adjacent to an outer surface of a candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle; and backlighting the image from an electric light source disposed at a second location adjacent to the outer surface of the candle.

The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken together with the drawings, in which: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a sciematic, perspective view of a candle assembly, in accorcance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the candle assembly shown in Fig. 1, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to Figs. 1 and 2 (not to scale) . Fig. 1 i a schematic, perspective view of a candle assembly 20, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of candle assembly 20, in accordance with a preferred embodiment cf the present invention. Candle assembly 20 comprises a candle 88 and wick 26, placed within a preferably transparent or translucent housing 74. An on/off switch ^~2 of assembly 20 is preferably set by a user to cause current to flow from a power source 30 to a plurality of active lighting elements 24 (Fig. 1) or a single active lighting element 24 (Fig. 2), located on or in housing 74. Candle assembly 20 preferably includes an image 22 applied to part or all of an outer surface of housing 74, such that the one or more lighting elements backlight the image, typically at the same time as candle 88 itself is burning. Preferably, but not necessarily, housing 74 is coated with wax, to enhance the visual effect by which the backlighting appears to onlookers to be emanating from within the candle itself.

Lighting elements 24 typically comprise one or more light emitting diodes (LED's), which may be set to be steady-on or flashing. Alternatively or additionally, elements 24 comprise a large-area light emitting surface (herein, a "flat light") wrapped around part or all of candle 88. An appropriate surface is the electroluminescent "FlatLite" (Ξ-Lite Technologies, Inc., Trumbull, CT, USA), which is typically integrated into housing 74, or comprises the entirety thereof. Further alternatively or additionally, elements 24 comprise one or more flashlight bulbs, or other light- generation units known in the art. Power source 80 typically comprises a battery, but may, alternatively or additionally, comprise a wire adapted to be connected to an external source of electric power. In a preferred embodiment, the lighting of wick 26 activates lighting elements 24, using heat-sensitive switching apparatus known in the art (not shown) , such that the burning of candle 88 causes, and is automatically associated with, the backlighting of image 22.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the various features described hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereof that are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

Claims

1. A candle assembly comprising: a candle; an electric light source, disposed at a first location adjacent to an outer surface of the candle; and an image, placed at a second location adjacent to the outer surface of the candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle, the light source being adapted to backlight the image.

2. A candle assembly according to claim 1, and comprising a fixture adapted to contain a battery for powering the light source.

3. A candle assembly according to claim I, wherein the light source comprises a manual on/off switch.

4. A candle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a thermally-sensitive switch.

5. A candle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a flat light.

6. A candle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes .

7. A candle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the light source is entirely enclosed within wax.

8. A method for illuminating, comprising: placing an image at a first location adjacent to an outer surface of a candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle; and backlighting the image from an electric light source disposed at a second location adjacent to the outer surface of the candle.

9. A method for illuminating, comprising: placing an image at an outer surface of a candle, so as to form an integral unit with the candle; and backlighting the image from an electric light source disposed inside the candle.

10. A candle assembly comprising: a candle, having an image placed at an outer surface thereof, so as to form an integral unit with the candle; and a electric light source, disposed inside the candle so as to backlight the image.

11. A candle assembly according to claim 10, and comprising a fixture adapted to contain a battery for powering the light source.

12. A candle assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a manual on/off switch.

13. A candle assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a thermally-sensitive switch.

14. A candle assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a flat light.

15. A candle assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes .

16. A candle assembly according to claim 10, wherein the light source is entirely enclosed within wax.