Autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system

• US 20050194930A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Original Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
• Inventors: Smith, Duane B., Drum, Donald, Barbeau, Stefane E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• 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 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 9/022 Emergency lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/02 the elements being transformers, impedances or power supply units, e.g. a transformer with a rectifier
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/06 the elements being coupling devices , e.g. connectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/0625 the material diffusing light, e.g. translucent plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/02 in which an auxiliary distribution system and its associated lamps are brought into service
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/00 Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources structurally associated with the incandescent lamps H01K1/62

Abstract

An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system includes a set of one or more self-standing rechargeable lighting fixtures (luminaries) removably supported on a recharging and support member. The luminaries each include a light diffusor that may resemble a-that turn on when removed from the recharging and support member. The luminaries may also turn on when power to the recharging and support member is turned off, turning the luminaries on automatically as during a power failure. The luminaries may each be inductively coupled to the recharging and support member, which enables to provide an aesthetically pleasing interface free of electrical contacts.

Claims

1. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system for use on an upstanding wall of a room, comprising:

a wall mountable recharging base adapted for mounting to said wall and further adapted to removably support a set of luminaries including a first circuit coupled to each luminary of said set of luminaries supported thereby operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries; and

a set of luminaries each having a light emitting element connected to a rechargeable battery pack via a second circuit operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack with said charge signal and to de-light said light emitting element when each said luminary of said set of luminaries is supported by said wall mountable recharging base and operative in another mode to activate said light emitting element in response to the removal of each said luminary from said wall mountable recharging base, whereby, each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if removed from said wall mountable recharging base and de-lights if received on said wall mountable recharging base.

2. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 1, wherein said first circuit includes a manually actuated switch, and wherein each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if no AC power is supplied in response to turning off said manually actuated switch.

3. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 1, wherein each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if no AC power is supplied in response to an AC power service failure.

4. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 1, wherein the set of luminaries includes one or more luminaries.

5. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 1, wherein each luminary of said set of luminaries is inductively coupled to said charge signal provided by said first circuit of said recharging platter.

6. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 1, wherein each luminary of said set of luminaries is self-standing and includes a front face diffusor.

7. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 6, wherein said wall mountable recharging base has at least one projection adapted to support a luminary and wherein each luminary of said set of luminaries has an opening adapted to be supported by each said at least one projection.

8. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 7, wherein each said projections and openings is generally cylindrically shaped.

9. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 8, wherein each said projection has a free end, and further including a light diffuser mounted to said free end over a light emitting element.

10. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 1, wherein said wall mountable charging base is an AC wall plug mountable charging base.

11. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing soft, candle-like ambient lighting about indoor and outdoor locations, comprising:

a portable charging stand removably supporting a set of luminaries removably supported on the portable charging stand, wherein the portable charging stand and set of luminaries supported on the portable charging stand are freely movable to any indoor and outdoor location, allowing each luminary of the set of luminaries removably supported on the charging stand to be individually removed and placed in the environment of that location;

said portable charging stand removably supporting said set of luminaries including a charge circuit providing a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries supported by said stand;

each said luminary of said set of luminaries providing the illumination and ambience of candles without suffering their undesirable disadvantages of self-consumption, smoke, unintended extinguishment and wax buildup, each said luminary of said set of luminaries including an electric lamp of illumination corresponding to that of a candle, a rechargeable battery pack connected to said lamp and a housing in which the lamp and rechargeable battery pack are mounted, wherein said housing in which the lamp is mounted includes a diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle, and wherein said diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle has a translucence of such transmission and diffusion as to simulate the soft ambience of a glowing candle when the lamp within the housing is lit; and

autoilluminating means coupled to each luminary of said set of luminaries and responsive to said charge signal for lighting said lamp of each luminary in response to non-detection of said charge signal, and for de-lighting said lamp of each luminary in response to detection of said charge signal, whereby, each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if removed from said portable charging stand and de-lights if supported thereby.

12. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 11, wherein said set includes one or more luminaries.

13. Autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing soft, candle-like ambient lighting about indoor and outdoor locations, comprising:

a portable charging stand removably supporting a set of luminaries removably supported on the portable charging stand, wherein the portable charging stand and set of luminaries supported on the portable charging stand are freely movable to any indoor and outdoor location, allowing each luminary of the set of luminaries removably supported on the charging stand to be individually removed and placed in the environment of that location;

said portable charging stand adapted to removably support said set of luminaries including a first circuit coupled to each luminary of said set of luminaries when supported thereon operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries when supported thereon;

each said luminary of said set of luminaries providing the illumination and ambience of candles without suffering their undesirable disadvantages of self-consumption, smoke, unintended extinguishment and wax buildup, each said luminary of said set of luminaries including a light emitting element of illumination corresponding to that of a and a housing in which the light emitting element is mounted, wherein said housing in which the light emitting element is mounted includes a diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle, and wherein said diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle has a translucence of such transmission and diffusion as to simulate the soft ambience of a glowing candle when the light emitting element within the housing is lit;

a sensor to provide a seat signal representative that each luminary of said set of luminaries is supported on said portable charging stand;

wherein each said light emitting element of each luminary of said set of luminaries is connected to a rechargeable battery pack via a second circuit operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack in response to said charge signal when each luminary of said set of luminaries is supported on said portable charging stand and operative in another mode to activate said light emitting element in response to the absence of said seat signal, whereby, each said luminary lights if removed from said portable charging stand, does not light if no AC power is supplied to said portable charging stand when supported thereon, and does not light if there is no charge signal when supported thereon.

14. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 13, wherein said set includes one or more luminaries.

15. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 13, further including a cover removably mounted to said charging base.

16. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 13, further including a handle mounted to said portable charging stand adapted to allow the stand and luminary set to be hand carried.

17. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 13, further including a switch mounted to at least one said luminary of said set of luminaries to independently turn it on/off

18. An autoilluminating lamp system providing soft, candle-like ambient lighting about indoor and outdoor locations, comprising:

a portable stand removably supporting a set of luminaries removably supported on the portable stand, wherein the portable stand and set of luminaries supported on the portable stand are movable to any indoor and outdoor location, allowing each luminary of the set of luminaries removably supported on the portable stand to be individually removed and placed in the environment of that location;

said portable stand is adapted to removably support at least luminary receivable on and removable from said portable stand;

each said luminary of said set of luminaries providing the illumination and ambience of candles without suffering their undesirable disadvantages of self-consumption, smoke, unintended extinguishment and wax buildup, each said luminary of said set of luminaries is self-standing and includes an electric lamp of illumination corresponding to that of a candle, a power source connected to said lamp and a housing in which the lamp and power source are mounted, wherein said housing in which the lamp is mounted includes a diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle, and wherein said diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle has a translucence of such transmission and diffusion as to simulate the soft ambience of a glowing candle when the lamp within the housing is lit; and

an autoilluminating circuit coupled to each said at least one luminary of said set of luminaries operative in one mode in response to receipt of each said luminary on said portable stand adapted to removably support at least one luminary each adapted to be received on and removed from said portable stand to place said lamp of each said at least luminary received on said portable stand in its off state, and operative in another mode in response to removal of each said at least one luminary from said portable stand adapted to removably support at least one luminary each adapted to be received on and removed from said portable stand to place said lamp of each said at least one luminary removed from said portable stand in its “

on”

state;

whereby, each said at least one luminary lights if removed from said portable stand and de-lights if received on said portable stand.

19. The autoilluminating lamp system of claim 18, wherein each said at least one luminary is a rechargeable luminary;

and wherein said power source of each said at least one rechargeable luminary is a rechargeable battery.

20. The autoilluminating lamp system of claim 19, further including a charge circuit adapted to provide a charge signal in response to supplied AC power;

and wherein said autoilluminating circuit operative in response to receipt of each said at least one luminary on said portable stand is further operative in said one mode to apply said charge signal to said rechargeable battery of each said at least one rechargeable luminary received on said portable stand.

21. An autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system, comprising:

a charger member adapted to be supported by a surface and further adapted to receive a set of luminaries such that each luminary of the set of luminaries stands on said support and in such a way that the charger at least partially surrounds a part of each luminary of the set of luminaries;

a first circuit coupled to each luminary of said set of luminaries received by the charger member operative in response to supplied AC power to provide a charge signal to each luminary of said set of luminaries received by the charger member; and

a set of luminaries each having a light emitting element connected to a rechargeable battery pack via a second circuit operative in one mode to charge said rechargeable battery pack and to de-light said light emitting element in response to detection of said charge signal when each luminary of said set of luminaries is received by said charger member and operative in another mode to activate said light emitting element in response to the absence of said charge signal, whereby, each said luminary lights if removed from said charger member and de-lights when received thereby.

22. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 21, wherein said charger member is removable from said set of luminaries while at least one luminary of said set of luminaries remains standing on said support.

23. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 21, wherein each said luminary of said set of luminaries lights if no AC power is supplied in response to an AC power service failure.

24. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 21, wherein the set of luminaries includes one or more luminaries.

25. The autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system of claim 21, wherein each said luminary of said set of luminaries provides the illumination and ambience of candles without suffering their undesirable disadvantages of self-consumption, smoke, unintended extinguishment and wax buildup, wherein said light emitting element of each said luminary of said set of luminaries has an illumination corresponding to that of a candle, and wherein said light emitting element is mounted inside a diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle, and wherein said diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle has a translucence of such transmission and diffusion as to simulate the soft ambience of a glowing candle when the light emitting element within the diffuser is lit.

26. A luminary for an autoilluminating rechargeable lamp system providing for easy bulb and rechargeable power source replacement, comprising:

an electric lamp of illumination corresponding to that of a candle, a rechargeable battery pack connected to said lamp, a lamp receiving member adapted to provide easy replacement of said electric lamp, a rechargeable battery receiving member adapted to provide easy replacement of said rechargeable battery pack and a housing in which the lamp, lamp receiving member, rechargeable battery pack and rechargeable battery pack are mounted, wherein said housing in which the lamp is mounted includes a diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle, and wherein said diffuser having a size and shape resembling a hand holdable candle has a translucence of such transmission and diffusion as to simulate the soft ambience of a glowing candle when the lamp within the housing is lit.

27. The luminary of claim 26, wherein said lamp receiving member is adapted to allow manual insertion and removal of a replacement lamp without using an instrument.

28. The luminary of claim 26, wherein said rechargeable battery pack receiving member is adapted to allow manual insertion and removal of a replacement rechargeable battery pack without using an instrument.