Candle assembly with light emitting system

• US 20070292812A1
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Porchia, Jose, Furner, Paul, Beland, Rene, Westphal, Nathan, Thuot, Raechell, Nelson, Cory, Kubicek, Chris, Kissner, William, Adams, Mary
• Granted Patent: US 7,637,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 431/289
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 19/00 Lighting devices or systems employing combinations of electric and non-electric light sources; Replacing or exchanging electric light sources with non-electric light sources or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 35/00 Candle holders
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 2900/31001 Wick burners without flame spreaders or burner hood
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/24 Carriers for wicks
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/26 Safety devices thereon

Abstract

A candle assembly includes a support base with a melting plate upon which a meltable solid fuel rests and a wick holder to hold a wick and engage the meltable solid fuel. The candle assembly further includes a control unit having at least one electrical component to control a light emitting system.

Claims

1. A candle assembly, comprising:

a support base comprising a first retention member and a melting plate that includes an upwardly projecting capillary lobe, the capillary lobe comprising a first capillary wall extending from the melting plate;

a wick holder having a wick and a base portion that includes a second capillary wall, the capillary lobe cooperatively engages the base portion to define a capillary space between the first and the second capillary walls to allow capillary flow of melted fuel from the melting plate to the wick through the capillary space; and

a control unit having a light emitting system and a second retention member configured to lockingly engage with the first retention member.

2. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the second capillary wall is a downwardly extending skirt.

3. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the support base further comprises a diffuser to diffuse light emitted from the light emitting system.

4. The candle assembly of claim 3, wherein the first retention member comprises a retention tab projecting from the diffuser.

5. The candle assembly of claim 3, wherein the diffuser further comprises a spacer.

6. The candle assembly of claim 3, wherein the diffuser further comprises at least one of a de-nesting column or a structural stabilizer.

7. The candle assembly of claim 4, wherein the retention tab comprises one or more teeth.

8. The candle assembly of claim 7, wherein the teeth are rounded.

9. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the second retention member comprises a retention slot configured to receive the first retention member.

10. The candle assembly of claim 9, wherein the retention slot comprises at least one of a retention tooth or a spring finger to cooperatively engage the retention tab.

11. The candle assembly of claim 1, wherein the light emitting system is configured to display a light show at more than one brightness level.

12. A retention mechanism, comprising:

a first retention member disposed on a support base comprising a melting plate configured to hold a fuel element and engage a wick holder, the melting plate comprising a projecting capillary lobe, the capillary lobe including a first capillary wall extending from the melting plate, the wick holder having a wick and a base portion that includes a second capillary wall, the capillary lobe cooperatively engages the base portion to define a capillary space between the first and the second capillary walls to allow capillary flow of melted fuel from the melting plate to the wick through the capillary space; and

a second retention member disposed on a control unit having a light emitting system and configured to lockingly engage the first retention member.

13. The retention mechanism of claim 12, wherein the first retention member includes a retention tab that projects from the support base.

14. The retention mechanism of claim 13, wherein the second retention member includes a slot configured to receive the retention tab.

15. The retention mechanism of claim 12, wherein the capillary lobe projects upwardly from the support base.

16. A candle assembly, comprising:

a support base comprising an upwardly projecting capillary lobe, the capillary lobe disposed within a recessed base portion of a wick holder, and a capillary space defined between the capillary lobe and the recessed base portion to allow capillary flow of melted fuel to a wick from the support base;

a control unit having a light emitting system; and

a retention mechanism to attach the support base to the control unit and comprising a first retention member disposed on the support base and a second retention member disposed on the control unit and configured to lockingly engage the first retention member.

17. The candle assembly of claim 16, wherein the support base further comprises a diffuser to diffuse light emitted from the light emitting system and including the first retention member.

18. The candle assembly of claim 17, wherein the support base further comprises a third retention member configured to lockingly engage a fourth retention member disposed on the diffuser.

19. The candle assembly of claim 18, wherein the third retention mechanism is attached to the diffuser by a retainer.

20. The candle assembly of claim 18, wherein the third retention mechanism comprises a retention post to lockingly engage the fourth retention member.