Light-emitting apparatus

• US 8,215,789 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2009
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mary Elle Fashions
• Original Assignee: Mary Elle Fashions
• Inventors: Howard, Kenneth A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi, Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/466,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20100290238A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 362/157, 362/161, 362/392, 362/810, 362/806, 362/800, 431/125, 431/126, 431/253, 431/289, 431/288, 431/291
• US Class Current: 362/161
• 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: 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 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light-emitting apparatus includes a housing defining an interior space. A light-emitting diode in the interior space of the housing projects upward from the interior bottom surface. A support surface in the interior space above the light-emitting diode is configured to support a candle in the interior space over the light-emitting diode so that the light-emitting diode is hidden from view.

Claims

1. A light-emitting apparatus comprising:

a one-piece housing defining an interior space, the housing being entirely formed of wax;

a light-emitting diode in the interior space of the housing projecting upward from an interior bottom surface in the interior space; and

a support surface defined by the housing and in the interior space above the light-emitting diode configured to support a candle in the interior space over the light-emitting diode so that the light-emitting diode is hidden from view.

2. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a candle supported on the support surface, wherein the candle is removable from the interior space of the housing, and wherein the housing extends above the candle.

3. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the interior space includes an LED-receiving recess below the support surface, the light-emitting diode being disposed in the LED-receiving recess.

4. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the interior space includes a candle-receiving recess above the LED-receiving recess for retaining a candle therein, the candle-receiving recess being partially defined by the support surface.

5. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein the housing defines an upper cavity disposed above the candle-receiving recess, wherein the upper cavity, the LED-receiving recess and the candle-receiving recess are generally coaxial.

6. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein housing includes at least one battery receptacle for receiving at least one battery, wherein the battery receptacle is electrically connected to the light-emitting diode to power the light-emitting diode when said at least one battery is received in said at least one battery receptacle.

7. A light-emitting apparatus comprising:

a housing having an appearance of a candle, the housing having an interior space extending longitudinally through a top of the housing;

a cavity in the interior space of the housing having a first transverse dimension;

a support surface in the interior space of the housing for supporting a candle thereon, the support surface partially defining a candle-receiving recess disposed below the cavity;

an LED-receiving recess in the interior space of the housing and disposed below the support surface; and

an LED in the LED-receiving recess.

8. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the candle-receiving recess has a second transverse dimension smaller than the first transverse dimension and the LED-receiving recess has a third transverse dimension smaller than the second transverse dimension.

9. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in combination with a standard tealight candle supported on the support surface.

10. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the cavity extends above the standard tealight candle when the candle is supported on the support surface.

11. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the candle-receiving recess is generally cylindrical having a diameter within a range of about 1.5″

and about 3.0″

.

12. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein candle-receiving recess and the LED-receiving recess are generally coaxial and are generally coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the housing.

13. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the housing is a one-piece housing.

14. A light-emitting apparatus as set forth in claim 13 wherein the one-piece housing is entirely constructed of wax.