Electronic flameless candle

• US 9,625,112 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Xiaofeng Li
• Inventors: Li, Xiaofeng
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M
• Application Number:
  US15/187,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20160305624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/12 Lighting means
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/133 Replaceable cartridges, refills
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/03 Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/12 Apparatus, e.g. holders, therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/127 comprising a wick
• 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 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/004 Sanitary equipment, e.g. mirrors, showers, toilet seats or paper dispensers
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

An electronic flameless candle including a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a sidewall between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a cavity defined by the top surface, the bottom surface and the sidewall, the body configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle. The candle may also include a light source operably connected to the body, the light source electrically operated to illuminate in a way that simulates a natural flicker of a real candle flame. The candle may also include a scent component, operably connected to the body, the scent component configured to emit a scent when heated and/or a sensor component, operably connected to the body, the sensor component configured to sense an environmental condition and affect a mode of the light source upon the sensing of the environmental condition.

Claims

1. A control switch associated with a wick for an electronic flameless candle, the control switch comprising:

a wick component configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle'"'"'s wick; and

a light source operably connected with the wick component configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle'"'"'s wick,

wherein the wick component is configured to operate as a physical control switch to activate or deactivate the light source.

2. The control switch of claim 1, further comprising an at least partially transparent sheath that encapsulating the light source.

3. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a LED.

4. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component is substantially black in color.

5. The control switch associated of claim 1, wherein the wick component and the light source comprise a single component.

6. The control switch of claim 1, comprising a sheath formed around the wick component and the light source.

7. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component is configured to operate as the physical control switch to activate or deactivate one or more functions of the electronic flameless candle in addition to the light source.

8. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the light source is connected under the wick component so as to position the light source completely within a cavity of the electronic flameless candle.

9. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component is positioned in a central portion of a top section of the electronic flameless candle and protrudes from the top section of the electronic flameless candle.

10. The control switch of claim 9, comprising a retaining assembly having a circumferential portion that mates with a circular opening on the top section of the electronic flameless candle.

11. The control switch of claim 10, wherein the circumferential portion is opaque and wax like to resemble a traditional candle.

12. The control switch of claim 10, wherein the retaining assembly includes a central lumen through which the control switch is configured to slide.

13. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component is configured as one of:

a flat or a cylindrical structure.

14. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component is configured to resemble one of:

a cored wick, a flat braided wick, or a square braid wick.

15. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component includes a ball or nub at a tip thereof to resemble a mushrooming or carbonized ball on a natural wick.

16. The control switch of claim 1, wherein the wick component is at least partially curved or bent.

17. The control switch of claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic circuit board in contact with the control switch, and

a push button switch coupled to the electronic circuit board such that an up or down movement of the control switch causes an up or down movement of the electronic circuit board and activation or deactivation of the push button switch.

18. The control switch of claim 17, wherein the electronic circuit board comprises a clear or semitransparent material so as to allow light from the light source to propagate through the electronic circuit board.

19. The control switch of claim 1, further comprising a push button switch positioned below and in contact with the control switch such that an up or down movement of the control switch causes an up or down movement of the push button switch.

20. An electronic candle, comprising:

a body that mimics a traditional candle and includes a top surface, a bottom surface, a sidewall between the top surface and the bottom surface, the top surface including an indented central portion that resembles a partially melted surface of a traditional candle; and

a control switch positioned within the indented central portion, the control switch comprising;

a wick component configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle'"'"'s wick; and

a light source operably connected with the wick component configured in shape and size to simulate a true flame candle'"'"'s wick, wherein the wick component is configured to operate as a physical control switch to activate or deactivate the light source.

21. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the control switch comprises an at least partially transparent sheath that encapsulates the light source.

22. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the light source comprises a LED.

23. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the wick component and the light source comprise a single component.

24. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the wick component is configured to operate as the physical control switch to activate or deactivate one or more functions of the electronic candle in addition to the light source.

25. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the wick component is configured to resemble one of:

a cored wick, a flat braided wick, or a square braid wick.

26. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the wick component is at least partially curved or bent.

27. The electronic candle of claim 20, further comprising:

an electronic circuit board in contact with the control switch, and

a push button switch coupled to the electronic circuit board such that an up or down movement of the control switch causes an up or down movement of the electronic circuit board and activation or deactivation of the push button switch.

28. The electronic candle of claim 20, wherein the light source is configured to illuminate at least a section of the electronic candle above the top surface, and at least part of the interior of the electronic candle below the top surface.

29. The electronic candle of claim 20, further comprising a push button switch positioned below and in contact with the control switch such that an up or down movement of the control switch causes an up or down movement of the push button switch.