ELECTRONIC LUMINARY DEVICE WITH SIMULATED FLAME

• US 20140254148A1
• Filed: 03/07/2013
• Published: 09/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Winvic Sales Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Winvic Sales Incorporated
• Inventors: Fournier, Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 9,068,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/00 Electric lighting devices with self-contained electric batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/04 simulating flames
• 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: F21S 9/02 the power supply being a battery or accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0028 Decorative household equipment, e.g. plant holders or food dummies
• 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

Abstract

A flameless candle may include a side wall including an upper region and a lower region, a base engaged with the lower region of the side wall, and an upper surface extending from the upper region of the side wall to form an upper recess. The candle may also include a projection screen extending upwardly through an aperture in the upper surface. The position of the projection screen is fixed with respect to a position of the upper surface. Two sources of light positioned below the upper surface may project light through the aperture onto the projection screen. Circuitry may electrically connect to the first source of light and the second source of light. The circuitry may independently control each of the sources of light.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a side wall including a minimum height, an upper region and a lower region,

a base engaged with the lower region of the side wall, and

an upper surface extending from the upper region of the side wall to form an upper recess;

a riser extending upwardly away from the base;

an opaque disk at a top of the riser, the opaque disk comprises a first tunnel and a second tunnel, wherein each of the tunnels has a top end and a bottom end and is diagonally oriented in both a vertical and a horizontal dimension and further oriented such that the bottom ends of the tunnels are further apart than the top ends of the tunnels;

a projection screen comprising a flame shape with a front side having convexity, the projection screen extending upwardly from the opaque disk through an aperture in the upper surface and positioned off of a central axis of the aperture through the upper surface,

the projection screen includes a fixed end and a free end, the fixed end of the projection screen is fixedly attached to the opaque disk, whereby the projection screen is fixed with respect to a position of the upper surface, and the free end of the projection screen is located at a height above the minimum height of the sidewall and below the maximum height of the sidewall;

a first source of light positioned below the upper surface and configured to project light through the aperture onto the front side of the projection screen and located at a fixed distance from the projection screen that is at least partially within the second tunnel such that a top end of the second source of light is located at a height below the top end of the second tunnel;

a second source of light positioned below the upper surface and configured to project light through the aperture onto the front side of the projection screen and located at a fixed distance from the projection screen that is at least partially within the first tunnel such that a top end of the first source of light is located at a height below the top end of the first tunnel; and

circuitry electrically connected to the first source of light and the second source of light, wherein the circuitry is configured to independently control intensities of the light projected by the first source of light and the second source of light.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the projection screen includes a primary plane;

the first source of light emits light including a beam axis and a beam width;

the beam axis of the first source of light intersects the primary plane of the projection screen at an angle between 20°

to 40°

;

the second source of light emits light including a beam axis and a beam width; and

the beam axis of the first source of light intersects the primary plane of the projection screen at an angle between 20°

to 40°

.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the beam width of the light emitted by the first source of light is between 30°

to 35°

; and

the beam width of the light emitted by the second source of light is between 30°

to 35°

.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the projection screen comprises a static shape.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the projection screen is rigid.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the projection screen comprises plastic.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first area is offset from the second area along a vertical dimension; and

the first area is offset from the second area along a horizontal dimension.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the first source of light is positioned to project light onto a front side of the projection screen in a first area, the second source of light is positioned to project light through the aperture onto the front side of the projection screen in a second area, wherein the second area is overlapping but different than the first area.