Device providing coordinated emission of light and volatile active

• US 7,503,668 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2005
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Froehlich, Thomas, Mackey, Kara J., Belongia, David C., Porchia, Jose, Wolf, Jeffrey J., Niederberger, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Assistant Examiner(s): DZIERZYNSKI, EVAN P
• Application Number:
  US11/050,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20050169666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,503 Days
• Field of Search: 362/161, 362/157, 362/166, 362/167, 362/810, 362/643, 422/123
• US Class Current: 362/161
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/02 with devices or substances, e.g. food, pheronones attracting the insects
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/04 Attracting insects by using illumination or colours A01M1/08 and A01M1/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/037 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/122 comprising a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• 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: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources

Abstract

A flameless candle that releases a volatile active includes at least one LED positioned in a tip (106), a cartridge mount (128), and a support structure (102, 141). The at least one LED emits a flickering light that emulates a flame of a candle. The cartridge mount (128) receives and secures a replaceable cartridge (104a) containing a volatile active to be released into the atmosphere over time. The support structure (120, 141) supports the at least one LED and the cartridge mount (128). The support structure (120, 141) is configured to allow airflow across the replaceable cartridge (104a) when the replaceable cartridge (104a) is mounted in the cartridge mount (128).

Claims

1. A flameless candle that releases a volatile active, said candle comprising:

a plurality of LEDs that emit a flickering light that emulates a flame of a candle;

a container mount;

a support structure for supporting said plurality of LEDs so that said plurality of LEDs extends vertically from an uppermost surface of said support structure, said support structure also supporting said container mount; and

a replaceable container including a volatile active to be released into the ambient environment over time;

wherein said support structure is configured to allow air flow across the replaceable container;

wherein the support structure comprises a chassis and a holder moveable with respect to the chassis, and wherein relative movement of the holder with respect to the chassis actuates a switch to control the plurality of LEDs.

2. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising a power source disposed on said support structure for supplying power to said plurality of LEDs.

3. The flameless candle according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of LEDs are supported by said support structure so as to be positioned above the power source and said container mount.

4. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising control circuitry disposed On said support structure for controlling said plurality of LEDs to emit the flickering light.

5. The flameless candle according to claim 4, further comprising a detector disposed on said support structure, wherein said detector detects the presence of the replaceable container when the replaceable container is mounted on said container mount, and wherein said control circuitry controls said plurality of LEDs to emit light only when said detector detects the presence of the replaceable container.

6. The flameless candle according to claim 1,

wherein at least one aperture is formed through the chassis such that air may flow at least one of into and out of the chassis, the air flowing across the replaceable container when the replaceable container is attached to the support structure, and

wherein relative movement of the holder with respect to the chassis covers and uncovers the at least one aperture, thereby adjusting an amount of air that flows trough the at least one aperture.

7. The flameless candle according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of LEDs comprises a first LED and a second LED arranged above the first LED, the first LED emitting light perceived by an observer to have a substantially constant intensity and the second LED emitting light perceived by the observer to be flickering.

8. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising a fan disposed on said support structure, wherein the fan increases air flow across the replaceable container when the replaceable container is attached to the support structure.

9. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising a heater mounted on said support structure, wherein said heater heats air that moves across the replaceable container, to aid in dispersion of the volatile agent from the replaceable container when the replaceable container is attached to the support structure.

10. The flameless candle according to claim 1, wherein the charge pump comprises one or more capacitors for storing voltage to ensure that the supply voltage to said plurality of LEDs exceeds the forward voltage of said plurality of LEDs, during the one portion of the cycle.

11. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising an outer shell extending above a height of said plurality of LEDs.

12. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising an outer shell from and containing said container mount and said plurality of LEDs.

13. The flameless candle according to claim 12, wherein the outer shell comprises a replaceable container detector switch, wherein attachment of the replaceable container to the support structure actuates the replaceable container detector switch to enable the plurality of LEDs to emit light.

14. The flameless candle according to claim 1, further comprising a replaceable container including a fragrance.

15. A flameless candle, comprising:

a plurality of LEDs that emit a flickering light that emulates a flame of a candle;

a receptacle that receives one or more batteries that provide power to said plurality of LEDs;

control circuitry including at least one of (i) a current source controller tat controls a current supplied to said plurality of LEDs and (ii) a charge pump that ensures a supply voltage to said plurality of LEDs that exceeds a forward voltage of said plurality of LEDs, when the voltage provided by the one or more batteries falls below the forward voltage; and

a support structure that supports said plurality of LEDs so that the plurality of LEDs extends vertically from an uppermost surface of said support structure, the support structure also supporting said receptacle and said control circuitry, and said support structure further including a diffuser that diffuses the flickering light emitted by said plurality of LEDs;

wherein a container mount supported by the support structure fits within a substantially U-shaped opening in a protrusion disposed on an end of a replaceable container having a volatile active to attach the replaceable container to the support structure.

16. The flameless candle according to claim 15, wherein the current source controller includes at least one of a constant current source that supplies a constant current to said plurality of LEDs and a constant average current source that supplies a constant average current to said plurality of LEDs.

17. The flameless candle according to claim 16, wherein the constant average current source alternates application of a current to said plurality of LEDs and the charge pump over the course of a cycle, wherein in one portion of the cycle, current is supplied to said plurality of LEDs, and in another portion of the cycle, a current is supplied only to the charge pump, when the charge pump is operational.

18. The flameless candle according to claim 17, wherein plurality of LEDs consists of a first LED and a second LED, and wherein, concerning the first LED, the second LED and the charge pump, the constant average current source supplies (i) a current only to the first LED for a first portion of the cycle, (ii) a current only to the second LED for a second portion of the cycle, and (iii) a current only to the charge pump, when the charge pump is operational, for a third portion of the cycle.

19. The flameless candle according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined forward voltage is between approximately 1.8 and approximately 2.5 volts.

20. The flameless candle according to claim 15, wherein said control circuitry comprises automatic shut-off means to shut off said plurality of LEDs after a predetermined time period.

21. The flameless candle according to claim 15, wherein said support structure comprises a chassis and a holder removably attachable to the chassis.

22. The flameless candle according to claim 21, wherein the holder is removably attachable for replacement of the holder with another holder.

23. The flameless candle according to claim 15, further comprising an outer shell extending above a height of said plurality of LEDs.

24. The flameless candle according to claim 15, further comprising an outer shell spaced from and containing said container mount and said plurality of LEDs.

25. A flameless candle for releasing a volatile active, said candle comprising:

a plurality of LEDs that emit a flickering light that emulates a flame of a candle;

a support structure comprising a light diffusing portion, said plurality of LEDs being supported by said support structure to extend vertically from an uppermost surface of said support structure such that the flickering light is diffused by the light diffusing portion; and

a mount supported by said support structure for mounting a replaceable container including a volatile active,

wherein the mount includes a post and the replaceable container includes a protrusion disposed on an end thereof, and wherein the replaceable container is inserted upwardly through a bottom of the support structure or horizontally through a side of the support structure so that the post fits within the protrusion of the replaceable container to attach the replaceable container to the support structure.

26. The flameless candle according to claim 25, wherein the support structure includes a first aperture arranged proximate to the bottom thereof for allowing air to enter said support structure and a second aperture arranged proximate to a top of said support structure, thereby allowing convective air flow within the support structure between the first aperture and the second aperture.

27. The flameless candle according to claim 26, further comprising an adjustable vent that adjusts to adjust the air flow between the first aperture and the second aperture.

28. The flameless candle according to claim 25, wherein said support structure comprises a replaceable holder including the light diffusing portion.

29. The flameless candle according to claim 25, further comprising an outer shell extending above a height of said plurality of LEDs.

30. The flameless candle according to claim 25, further comprising an outer shell spaced from and containing said mount and said plurality of LEDs.