Imitation candle and flame simulation assembly thereof

• US 10,184,626 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2017
• Issued: 01/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xiaofeng Li
• Inventors: Li, Xiaofeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US15/682,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20180038565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/17 forming a single encapsulated light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/34 Voltage stabilisation; Maintaining constant voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

Imitation candle devices and systems with enhanced features enable simulation of a realistic candle flame using multiple light sources that illuminate a surface area of an imitation flame element in a controlled manner. The disclosed imitation candle devices further allow the candle to be turned on or off by pushing down on the flame element, thus eliminating a need for additional external switches.

Claims

1. An imitation candle device, comprising:

a housing having substantially cylindrical shape and including cavity formed by a sidewall and a top surface, the top surface including an opening positioned centrally on the top surface;

a flame element having a top section shaped to resemble a candle flame that protrudes upward from opening, the top section of the flame element formed as a substantially flat sheet, the flame element movable only in a vertical direction upon application of a force on the flame element by a user;

a plurality of light emitting elements located within the cavity and positioned to illuminate a plurality of areas on the top section of the flame element;

one or more brackets positioned within the cavity to form a structure around a bottom section of the flame element, the one or more brackets including a groove that allows the flame element to move vertically up or down within the grove;

a switch positioned within the cavity and positioned below the opening and coupled to the bottom section of the flame element such that a vertical movement of the flame element activates the switch to turn the imitation candle device on or off; and

electronic circuitry coupled to the plurality of light emitting elements to selectively modulate an intensity of each of the plurality of light emitting elements to simulate a moving flame on the top section of the flame element.

2. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the bottom section of the flame element has a flat rectangular shape that moves up or down within the groove upon application of the force by the user.

3. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the application of the force includes pressing down on the flame element.

4. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are positioned to project light onto four areas on the top section of the flame element:

(a) a first area, (b) a second area of the flame element, (c) a third area, and (d) a fourth area; and

the electric signals generated by the electronic circuitry modulate the intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements that illuminate the first and the second area to produce an appearance of flame movement in a horizontal direction, and modulate the intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements that illuminate the third and the fourth area to produce an appearance of flame movement in a vertical direction.

5. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting elements produces an output light having a color temperature in the range 1700-2350°

K.

6. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting elements produces light having the same color.

7. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light emitting elements is positioned to illuminate only one area of the flame element with substantially no overlap with other areas of the flame element.

8. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein electric signals generated by the electronic circuitry modulate the intensity of a first of the plurality of light emitting elements separately from the intensity of a second of the plurality of light emitting elements to simulate differing flame movements in different areas on the top section of the flame element.

9. The imitation candle device of claim 1, further comprising a microphone electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, the microphone positioned within the cavity below the opening of the top surface to detect a blow of air directed at the flame element and to generate an electrical signal in response to the blow of air for turning off the imitation candle device.

10. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the top section of the flame element is curved away from a vertical axis that passes through top of the imitation candle device.

11. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are configured to illuminate both sides of the top section of the flame element.

12. The imitation candle device of claim 1, including a first half-bracket and a second half-bracket that when brought together form a full bracket having the groove formed within the full bracket.

13. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the switch is coupled to a circuit board positioned directly below the switch, and the bottom section of the flame element is in direct contact with the switch to activate or deactivate the switch upon application of the force on the flame element by the user.

14. The imitation candle device of claim 1, further including an outer shell comprising a waxy material that resembles a real wax candle body.

15. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light emitting elements includes two or more light sources housed within a single housing.

16. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are positioned to project a set of partially overlapping light spots upon a top portion of the top section of the flame element, and a substantially non-overlapping light spots upon a lower section of the top section of the flame element.

17. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein:

a first of the plurality of the light emitting elements is oriented in a first direction, and

a second of the plurality of the light emitting elements is oriented in a second direction different from the first direction.

18. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the light emitting elements are positioned with respect to the top section of the flame element such that a divergence angle of the combined light emanating from the plurality of the light emitting elements and reaching the top section of the flame element is about 8 degrees.

19. The imitation candle device of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuitry is configured to produce modulation signals to cause a different pattern of intensity variations for those light emitting elements that illuminate a bottom portion of the top section of the flame element and those light emitting elements that illuminate a top portion of the top section of the flame element.

20. The imitation candle device of claim 19, wherein the modulation signals include an on-off pattern of the plurality of the light emitting elements.