Illumination – With liquid container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-02
2001-04-24
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With liquid container
C362S237000, C362S244000, C362S259000, C362S259000, C362S101000, C362S249070, C362S310000, C362S382000, C362S363000, C362S267000, C362S292000, C362S158000, C315S291000, C315S307000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220718
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to artificial candles, and more specifically, to an artificial candle that mimics a real candle's flame which floats on water.
2. Description of the Related Art
The earliest evidence of the existence of candles has been found in Egypt. North American Indians in the first century made candles from burned oily fish wedged into a splintered stick. Candles over thousands of years have continued to be manufactured with very few changes, other than style and composition. Braided wicks and paraffin were introduced in the early 1800's. There have been several patents on floating candles. However, these candles are actual candles burning a structure made to float on water.
U.S. Des. Pat. No. 245,936, issued to Gary B. Roush on Sep. 27, 1977, and U.S. Pat. Des. No. 266,365, issued to Robert A. Rosenbaum on Sep. 28, 1982, both illustrate an ornamental design for a candle float. U.S. Pat. No. 2,234,903, issued to Thomas J. Muench on March 11, 1941, describes a floating candle. The candle is made of wax and is lighter than water. As it is consumed, it forms a hollow shell-like vessel of the candle material.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,234,303, issued to Fernando M. Neugert on Nov. 18, 1980, describes a two-part float assembly adapted to float upon a molten surface of fuel. U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,328, issued to Lee H. Hai on Mar. 31, 1992, describes a candle holder which includes a bowl having a recessed portion for receiving a candle, a housing securely attached to the bowl, and air inlet tubes for introducing fresh air into the housing. A floating member is provided for retaining an air inlet port of each air inlet tube to be above a water level when the candle holder is place into the water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,994, issued to Hans-Ludwig Schirneker on Mar. 16, 1993, describes a candle with at least one body comprising a material which is solid at room temperature such as wax or paraffin and a wick. The top end of the candle has a tubular headpiece which surrounds the candle body and moves downwards with the burning-down of the candle.
All the above mentioned patents describe real combustible floating candles. The problem with combustible floating candles is the tendency for the water and surrounding air to extinguish the flames. The life of most candles is very short and usually measures in hours. Candles bring about a mystical and soothing aura, which has prompted the desire to construct a light source that appears candle-like but is powered by electricity to ensure a long life.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,839,784, issued to Ling-Young Lin on Jun. 13, 1989, describes a non-floating electrically powered candle-like lighting device having a candle body with a bulb disposed at the top that is mounted on a candle holder. The candle holder is further secured to a candle base and provided with a sucker at the concaved bottom in such a manner that the base can be spun freely with respect to the fixed sucker. U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,602, issued to Andrew Boschetto on Oct. 6, 1992, describes an electric candle that has an electrical circuit for sensing ambient light conditions and automatically turning on and off electrical current. U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,108, issued to Gabor Lederer on Jan. 26, 1999, describes a non-floating decorative holder for an electrically powered candle emulation device. The holder comprises a transparent hollow cylindrical member. Appropriate candle emulation electronics are placed into the holder to provide the effect of a wax candle contained within an etched and colored decorative holder.
Floating candles have been the trend at most weddings and social events. However, the real combustible floating candles tend to create a host of problems. An ideal floating candle would be powered by electricity and watertight. This would eliminate a problem caused by the smallest wind velocities that extinguish most burning candles. This would also prevent the tendency for the water in which the candles are floating to extinguish the burning candles. An electric candle would not be susceptible to being extinguished, therefore eliminating a need to re-light real combustible candles floating in the middle of a pond or pool.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus floating candles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an electrically powered floating candle. The floating candle comprises two parts, a floating candle-like device and an electrical circuit that controls the amount of power supplied to the floating candle. The candle's light source comprises an incandescent lamp which mimics the appearance of a real burning candle.
One example of a floating candle is hollow and cylindrically-shaped with its outer surface dimensioned and configured to resemble a real candle. The floating candle includes a candle base which is hollow and cylindrically-shaped with its upper portion smaller than its lower portion. The floating candle also includes a candle enclosure which surrounds a lamp/candle complex and can be transparent, translucent, or appear in a variety of colors. The candle enclosure has an opening at its lower portion dimensioned and configured to pressure fit with the inward recess located within the upper portion of the candle base to promote a liquid-tight seal. The candle enclosure is pressure sealed to prevent shipping of water and designed to elevate the enclosure to float above water.
Second and third examples of the present invention are basically the same, however, the candle enclosure is designed and attached in a different manner. In any form of the invention, the candle is designed to float with its upper region above the surface of the water with the lower body of the candle.
The present invention additionally comprises electrical circuitry that controls the amount of power supplied to a floating candle. The floating candle further comprises an electrical plug, two conductor insulated wires, multi-conductor water tight splice trunk lines and feeder lines. Power is retrieved into a low voltage power supply section, then the voltage is modulated by a micro-controller, and then power is sent to driver transistors and output drivers which contain diodes. The power then travels through trunk and feeder lines that go to a specific set of floating candles.
There are three sections that comprise the electrical circuitry of the floating candles: a low voltage power supply (AC to DC, high to low voltage conversion), a pulse width modulation programmed micro-controller and power output section (to control the incandescent lamp voltage to produce flickering flames), and trunk and feeder lines. All under water electrical connections are spliced, soldered, insulated, siliconed, and covered with heat-shrink or any other method to prevent water damage.
Resistors provide resistance to the flow of electric current. Potentiometers are variable resistors used to change the brightness of the lamp within the floating candle device. Bipolar driver and output transistors are used to amplify the voltage sent to the trunk lines. The bipolar driver transistors which receive current from the potentiometers amplify current to a second set of transistors known as Darlington Pairs. Each Darlington Pair is connected to a rectifier diode. The trunk lines are spliced into feeder lines to allow the electrical current to go to the floating candles. Weights are strategically placed on the trunk and feeder lines to position the floating candle devices in a desired appearance.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a floating candle which floats primarily with only its upper region exposed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a floating candle which mimics real burning candles.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a floating candle which can be utilized as Christmas lights, at wedding reception halls, amusement parks, in pool
Litman Richard C.
Sember Thomas M.
Ton Anabel
LandOfFree
Floating candles does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Floating candles, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Floating candles will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2437861