Scented electronic candle device

• US 10,232,074 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xiaofeng Li
• Inventors: Li, Xiaofeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Application Number:
  US15/451,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20170368219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/135 Vaporisers for active components
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/032 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/00 Candles
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/008 Candles characterised by their form; Composite candles, e.g. candles containing zones of different composition, inclusions, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/046 by movement of parts, e.g. by movement of reflectors or 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

Abstract

Scented electronic candle devices are described that facilitate operation and usage of a variety of features such as light or scent or movement of the flame, or a combination thereof. The disclosed features also include multiple settings for the variety of features. For instance, the scent feature can be activated or deactivated by multiple switches, remote, sensors, timers, or similar devices. In addition, the intensity of the scent features can be increased or decreased by increasing or decreasing the amount of heat or air. Similarly the light feature can be activated, deactivated, or set on a timer. Additionally, the scented electronic candle devices can be equipped with rechargeable batteries that can be charged using a wireless charging station or by connecting the scented electronic candle device to an electrical wall outlet.

Claims

1. A scented electronic candle device, comprising:

a body with a top surface and a base, the top surface including a partial opening;

a flame assembly positioned in the body, the flame assembly includes a flame element that at least partially protrudes from the top surface of the body, and a top section of the flame assembly and a bottom section of the flame assembly each including an opening;

a scent container having a fully or partially open top section and positioned below the bottom section of the flame assembly and aligned with the opening at the bottom section of the flame assembly to allow diffusion of a scented material from the fully or partially open top section of the scent container to the interior of the flame assembly and to an outside environment of the electric candle device; and

one or more rechargeable batteries located above the base.

2. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, wherein the scent container includes one or more notches to securely hold in place the scent container within one or more protrusions inside the body of the scented electronic candle device.

3. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, wherein the scent container includes threaded grooves to securely hold in place the scent container within corresponding threads of inside the body of the scented electronic candle device.

4. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, further comprising:

a motorized fan positioned above the top section of the scent container and below the bottom section of the flame assembly, wherein

the motorized fan is structured to draw air from one or more openings in the base of the scented electronic candle device to assist with diffusion of the scented material.

5. The scented electronic candle device of claim 4, further comprising a sensor to turn on or off the motorized fan in response to detection of (a) a movement or (b) detection of a presence or an absence of light.

6. The scented electronic candle device of claim 4, further comprising a wireless transceiver for receiving remote signals, wherein a speed or on-off activation of the motorized fan is controlled in response to a corresponding remote signal received by the transceiver.

7. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more heater elements in close proximity to the scent container, wherein the one or more heater elements positioned in proximity of scent container to assist with diffusion of the scented material.

8. The scented electronic candle device of claim 7, wherein the one or more heater elements include a positive temperature coefficient material.

9. The scented electronic candle device of claim 7, further comprising one or more switches including a plurality of switch settings configured to control an operation of the one or more heater elements to control a rate of evaporation of a scent from the scent container.

10. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical connector to electrically connect the scented electronic candle device to an electrical wall outlet and to allow recharging of the one of more rechargeable batteries.

11. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, further comprising one or more charging coils located above the base and coupled to the one or more rechargeable batteries.

12. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, wherein the flame assembly comprises a support element placed through a hole in the flame element, the support element having two ends for pivotally suspending the flame element in an interior of the flame assembly.

13. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, further including a light source positioned within the flame assembly.

14. The scented electronic candle device of claim 13, wherein the flame element includes the light source.

15. The scented electronic candle device of claim 1, wherein the scent container includes a wick to assist with diffusion of the scented material.