Rechargeable lamp system

• US 20010055207A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 12/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Donald Drumm, Duane B. Smith, Stefane E. Barbeau
• Inventors: Smith, Duane B., Barbeau, Stefane E., Drumm, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 6,479,965 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/194
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 2/00 Systems of electric lighting devices systems employing both electric and non-electric light sources or exchangeable light sources F21L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/00 Lighting devices intended to be free-standing F21S9/00, F21S10/00, F21S13/12 take precedence lighting devices specially adapted to be transported from place to place, e.g. lighting devices carried on wheeled supports F21L; details of supports for lighting devices F21V21/00
• 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 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• 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: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection

Abstract

A rechargeable lamp system includes a set of one or more self-standing rechargeable lighting fixtures (luminaries) removably received on a recharging platter. The luminaries each include a light diffusor resembling a candle that turn on when removed from the charging platter. The luminaries also turn on when power to the charging platter is turned off, which allows the set to be used as a table lamp, and has the added benefit of turning the luminaries on automatically during a power failure. The luminaries are each inductively coupled to the recharging platter, which enables to provide an aesthetically pleasing interface free of electrical contacts.

Claims

1. A rechargeable lamp system, comprising:

a recharging platter adapted to receive a set of luminaries including a first circuit coupled to each luminary of said set of luminaries received thereon operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries; and

a set of luminaries each having a light emitting element connected to a rechargeable battery pack via a second circuit operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack in response to said charge signal when each said luminary of said set of luminaries is received on said recharging platter and operative in another mode to activate said light emitting element in response to the absence of said charge signal, whereby, each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if removed from said recharging platter and lights if no AC power is supplied to said recharging platter when received therein.

2. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 1

, wherein said first circuit includes a manually actuated switch, and wherein each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if no AC power is supplied in response to turning off said manually actuated switch.

3. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 1

, wherein each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if no AC power is supplied in response to an AC power service failure.

4. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 1

, wherein the set of luminaries includes one or more luminaries.

5. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 4

, wherein each luminary of said set of luminaries is inductively coupled to said charge signal provided by said first circuit of said recharging platter.

6. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 1

, wherein, each luminary of said set of luminaries is self-standing and includes a diffusor.

7. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 6

, wherein said diffusor of each luminary of said set of luminaries is mounted to a base member supporting said light emitting element therewithin.

8. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 6

, wherein said diffusor is shaped to resemble a candle and is releasably mounted to said base member supporting said light emitting element therewithin.

9. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 1

, wherein said first circuit includes an inductor responsive to said supplied AC signal to provide an inductive charge signal.

10. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 9

, wherein said second circuit includes a latch controlled by a charge signal sensing switch to interrupt power from the battery pack to said light emitting element when no charge signal is sensed.

11. The rechargeable lamp of

claim 10

, wherein said second circuit includes an inductor responsive to said inductive charge signal to inductively couple the same to said rechargeable battery pack.

12. A rechargeable lamp system, comprising:

a cradle removably receiving a set of luminaries including a charge circuit providing a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries received on said cradle;

a set of luminaries each including a lamp connected to a rechargeable battery pack; and

means for inductively coupling the rechargeable battery pack of each luminary to said charge signal when received on said cradle.

13. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 12

, wherein said set includes at least one luminary.

14. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 13

, wherein each said luminary has a body portion adapted to be cradled, and wherein said means includes an induction coil on said body portion of each said luminary and an induction coil on said cradle cooperative with said induction coil on said body portion of each said luminary.

15. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 12

, wherein each luminary includes a diffusor mounted to a self-standing base member.

16. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 12

, wherein said cradle is a platter.

17. A rechargeable lamp system, comprising:

a platter removably receiving a set of luminaries including a charge circuit providing a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries received on said platter;

a set of luminaries each including a lamp and a rechargeable battery pack connected to said lamp; and

means responsive to said charge signal for lighting said lamp of each luminary in response to interruption of said charge signal.

18. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 17

, wherein said set includes one or more luminaries.

19. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 18

, wherein said means includes a manually actuated switch coupled to said cradle.

20. The rechargeable lamp system of

claim 18

, wherein said means includes a circuit coupled to each luminary including a charge signal sensing switch response to interruption of said charge signal to light each luminary.