Candle assembly with light emitting system

• US 7,637,737 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Thuot, Raechell M., Nelson, Cory J., Furner, Paul E., Porchia, Jose, Kubicek, Chris A., Westphal, Nathan R., Kissner, William R., Adams, Mary Beth, Beland, Rene Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart; Kenneth B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bernstein; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/821,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20070292812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 922 Days
• Field of Search: 431/253, 431/291, 431/288, 431/289, 362/228
• US Class Current: 431/253
• 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: F23D 2900/31001 Wick burners without flame spreaders or burner hood
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/24 Carriers for wicks
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/26 Safety devices thereon

Abstract

A candle assembly includes a support base with a melting plate upon which a meltable solid fuel rests and a wick holder to hold a wick and engage the meltable solid fuel. The candle assembly further includes a control unit having at least one electrical component to control a light emitting system.

Claims

1. A retention mechanism, comprising:

a first retention member disposed on a support base comprising a melting plate configured to hold a fuel element and engage a wick holder, the melting plate comprising a projecting capillary lobe, the capillary lobe including a first capillary wall extending from the melting plate, the wick holder having a wick and a base portion that includes a second capillary wall, the capillary lobe cooperatively engages the base portion to define a capillary space between the first and the second capillary walls to allow capillary flow of melted fuel from the melting plate to the wick through the capillary space;

a second retention member disposed on a control unit having a light emitting system and configured to lockingly engage the first retention member; and

a third retention member disposed on the support base, wherein the third retention member is configured to lockingly engage a fourth retention member disposed on a diffuser.

2. The retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first retention member includes a retention tab that projects from the support base.

3. The retention mechanism of claim 2, wherein the second retention member includes a slot configured to receive the retention tab.

4. The retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein the capillary lobe projects upwardly from the support base.

5. A candle assembly, comprising:

a support base comprising an upwardly projecting capillary lobe, the capillary lobe disposed within a recessed base portion of a wick holder, and a capillary space defined between the capillary lobe and the recessed base portion to allow capillary flow of melted fuel to a wick from the support base;

a control unit having a light emitting system; and

a retention mechanism to attach the support base to the control unit and comprising a first retention member disposed on the support base and a second retention member disposed on the control unit and configured to lockingly engage the first retention member,

wherein the support base further comprises a diffuser to diffuse light emitted from the light emitting system and including the first retention member; and

wherein the support base further comprises a third retention member configured to lockingly engage a fourth retention member disposed on the diffuser.

6. The candle assembly of claim 5, wherein the third retention mechanism is attached to the diffuser by a retainer.

7. The candle assembly of claim 5, wherein the third retention mechanism comprises a retention post to lockingly engage the fourth retention member.