Rechargeable flameless candle systems and methods

• US 9,039,227 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sterno Home Inc. (Sterno LLC)
• Original Assignee: Winvic Sales Incorporated
• Inventors: Fournier, Bernard, Boucher, Frdric, Carpintero, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Truong, Bao Q
• Application Number:
  US14/323,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313705A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 362/183, 362/392, 362/393, 362/184, 362/234, 362/253, 362/447, 362/362, 362/249.02, 362/810, 320/107, 320/108, 320/115, 320/128, 320/237, 439/123, 439/124, 431/295
• US Class Current: 362/183
• 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 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/02 characterised by the provision of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/01 Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts F21V15/02 takes precedence housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• 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 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a recharging device includes a recharging port that receives a flameless candle and recharges a battery in the candle. The recharging device includes a first stacking structure that has a top portion and a bottom portion. There is a top stacking contact on the top portion. An electrical power bus is connected with the top stacking contact. The electrical power bus is also configured to provide electrical power to the flameless candle through the recharging port. The top portion of the first stacking structure is configured to mate with a bottom portion of a first stacking structure of another recharging device.

Claims

1. A recharging device for recharging a plurality of rechargeable flameless candles, wherein the recharging device comprises:

an input jack;

a tray including (i) at least four corners, wherein two of the four corners form a left-side of the tray and the other two corners form a right-side of the tray, and (ii) a plurality of recharging ports configured to receive the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles, wherein;

each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a cavity having a circular sidewall; and

the plurality of recharging ports are arranged in a row and column array;

two left-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different left-side corner of the tray, wherein;

the left-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and

a first of the two left-side stacking portions includes a first upper electrical contact and a first lower electrical contact;

two right-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different right-side corner of the tray, wherein;

the right-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and

a first of the two right-side stacking portions comprises a second upper electrical contact and a second lower electrical contact;

a left-side handle connected to both of the two left-side stacking portions;

a right-side handle connected to both of the two right-side stacking portions;

an electrical power bus electrically connected to the first upper electrical contact, the first lower electrical contact, the second upper electrical contact, and the second lower electrical contact, wherein the electrical power bus is configured to receive electrical power from the input jack and provide the electrical power to at least one of the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles through the plurality of recharging ports; and

a plurality of indicator light-emitting diodes (“

LEDs”

) arranged to emit light through a surface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the tray, wherein;

the number of the plurality of indicator LEDs equals the number of recharging ports;

each of the plurality of indicator LEDs are arranged in a row and column array to correspond to at least one of the plurality of recharging ports;

each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle.

2. The recharging device of claim 1, wherein:

a second of the two left-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact; and

a second of the two right-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact.

3. The recharging device of claim 1, wherein:

the first lower electrical contact comprises a spring; and

the second lower electrical contact comprises a spring.

4. The recharging device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle by being ON while the rechargeable flameless candle is charging and OFF when the rechargeable flameless candle is fully charged.

5. The recharging device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a recharging contact capable of contacting a portion of a rechargeable flameless candle.

6. The recharging device of claim 5, wherein the recharging contact is positioned within the cavity.

7. The recharging device of claim 5, wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially within the cavity.

8. The recharging device of claim 5, wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially outside the cavity.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the right-side stacking portions and the left-side handle comprise a “

U”

shape; and

the right-side stacking portions and the right-side handle comprise a “

U”

shape.

10. A system comprising:

a plurality of rechargeable flameless candles; and

a recharging device including;

an input jack;

a tray including (i) at least four corners, wherein two of the four corners form a left-side of the tray and the other two corners form a right-side of the tray, and (ii) a plurality of recharging ports configured to receive the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles, wherein;

each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a cavity having a circular sidewall; and

the plurality of recharging ports are arranged in a row and column array;

two left-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different left-side corner of the tray, wherein;

the left-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and

a first of the two left-side stacking portions includes a first upper electrical contact and a first lower electrical contact;

two right-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different right-side corner of the tray, wherein;

the right-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and

a first of the two right-side stacking portions comprises a second upper electrical contact and a second lower electrical contact;

a left-side handle connected to both of the two left-side stacking portions;

a right-side handle connected to both of the two right-side stacking portions;

an electrical power bus electrically connected to the first upper electrical contact, the first lower electrical contact, the second upper electrical contact, and the second lower electrical contact, wherein the electrical power bus is configured to receive electrical power from the input jack and provide the electrical power to at least one of the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles through the plurality of recharging ports; and

a plurality of indicator light-emitting diodes (“

LEDs”

) arranged to emit light through a surface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the tray, wherein;

the number of the plurality of indicator LEDs equals the number of recharging ports;

each of the plurality of indicator LEDs are arranged in a row and column array to correspond to at least one of the plurality of recharging ports;

each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein:

a second of the two left-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact; and

a second of the two right-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the first lower electrical contact comprises a spring; and

the second lower electrical contact comprises a spring.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle by being ON while the rechargeable flameless candle is charging and OFF when the rechargeable flameless candle is fully charged.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a recharging contact capable of contacting a portion of a rechargeable flameless candle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the recharging contact is positioned within the cavity.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially within the cavity.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially outside the cavity.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein:

the right-side stacking portions and the left-side handle comprise a “

U”

shape; and

the right-side stacking portions and the right-side handle comprise a “

U”

shape.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of flameless candles comprises:

a flameless candle core including;

a bottom portion;

a rechargeable battery;

a plurality of candle LEDs configured to receive power from the rechargeable battery;

an electronics portion configured to receive power from the rechargeable battery and including an illumination circuit, wherein the illumination circuit is configured to vary current flowing through the plurality of candle LEDs to cause the plurality of candle LEDs to approximate a behavior of a real candle flame, and wherein the plurality of candle LEDs are secured to and extend upwardly from a part of the electronics portion;

a switch configured to interrupt a flow of current through the plurality of candle LEDs; and

a plurality of risers extending upwardly from the bottom portion and supporting the part of the electronics portion to which the plurality of candle LEDs are secured;

a casing portion including;

an interior region configured to receive the flameless candle core; and

an aperture in an upper surface of the casing portion; and

a protruding top portion extending above the aperture in the casing portion and including a flame-like shape and a translucent material,

wherein the plurality of candle LEDs are located below the protruding top portion such that light is emitted from the plurality of candle LEDs through the translucent material of the protruding top portion.