Electronic luminary device with simulated flame

• US 10,024,507 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sterno Home Inc. (Sterno LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sterno Home Inc. (Sterno LLC)
• Inventors: Fournier, Bernard, Toutant, Michael, Landry, Jonathan
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US15/646,926
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/043 by selectively switching fixed light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/001 being candle-shaped with varying lighting effect of simulating flames F21S10/04; string of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for decorative purposes, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00

Abstract

A flameless candle may include a side wall including an upper region and a lower region, a base engaged with the lower region of the side wall, and an upper surface extending from the upper region of the side wall to form an upper recess. The candle may also include a projection screen extending upwardly through an aperture in the upper surface. The position of the projection screen is fixed with respect to a position of the upper surface. Two sources of light positioned below the upper surface may project light through the aperture onto the projection screen. Circuitry may electrically connect to the first source of light and the second source of light. The circuitry may independently control each of the sources of light.

Claims

1. A device for simulating a flame, comprising:

a side wall including an upper region and a lower region;

an upper surface extending from the upper region of the side wall toward a central axis of the device, wherein an upper recess is formed at least in part by the upper surface;

a projection screen arranged to extend upwardly from the upper surface, wherein the position of the projection screen is fixed in relation to the upper surface;

a first source of light located below the upper surface and configured to project an first beam of light directly onto the projection screen without obstruction;

a second source of light located below the upper surface and configured to project a second beam of light directly onto the projection screen without obstruction; and

circuitry electrically connected to the first source of light and the second source of light, wherein the circuitry independently controls intensities of the first beam of light projected by the first source of light and the second beam of light projected by the second source of light.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein positions of the first source of light and the second source of light are fixed with respect to the position of the projection screen.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen is flat.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen includes a concavity.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen comprises a flame shape.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen includes a convexity.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the projection screen includes a primary plane;

the first beam of light includes a first beam axis and a first beam width;

the first beam axis of the first beam of light intersects the primary plane of the projection screen at an angle between 20°

to 40°

;

the second beam of light includes a second beam axis and a second beam width; and

the second beam axis intersects the primary plane of the projection screen at an angle between 20°

to 40°

.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein:

the first beam width is between 30°

to 35°

; and

the second beam width is between 30°

to 35°

.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first source of light is positioned to project light onto a front side of the projection screen; and

the second source of light is positioned to project light onto a back side of the projection screen.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the projection screen comprises a translucent material that allows light from the first source of light to penetrate to the back side of the projection screen and allows light from the second source of light to penetrate to the front side of the projection screen.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen is rigid.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the projection screen comprises plastic.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first source of light is positioned to project light onto a front side of the projection screen in a first area;

the second source of light is positioned to project light onto the front side of the projection screen in a second area; and

the second area is different than the first area.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein a portion of the first area overlaps a portion of the second area.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen includes a simulated wick.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the circuitry is configured to control the intensity of the first beam of light using pulse-width modulation; and

the circuitry is configured to control the intensity of the second beam of light using pulse-width modulation.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is configured to control at least one of a color of the first beam of light and a color of the second beam of light.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the color of the first beam of light and the color of the second beam of light.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the circuitry is configured to independently control the color of the first beam of light and the color of the second beam of light.