Novelty candleholder

Details Novelty candleholder Novelty candleholder

2003-04-24

2004-10-26

Yeung, James C. (Department: 3749)

Combustion

Combined

C431S288000, C431S296000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06808388

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to candleholders and, more particularly, to a candleholder adapted to generate special effects, such as audible sounds.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Candle assemblies adapted to generate audible sounds (e.g., musical melodies) have been developed for enhancing amusement at birthday parties, gatherings, etc. For instance, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,015,175, 5,363,590 and 5,487,658 disclose a sound-producing candle assembly having a thermo-responsive member extending through a candle. The thermo-responsive member is adapted to activate an associated electronic unit so as to generate audible sounds when the candle is lit. Because the thermo-responsive member is incorporated directly into the candle, the production of the candle assembly is rendered costly.
FIGS. 1-4
illustrate another type of sound-generating candle assembly
10
. More particularly, the candle assembly
10
includes a candleholder casing
12
for housing an electronic unit
14
therein. The electronic unit
14
includes a printed circuit board
16
, a speaker
18
and a pair of wire-like contacts
20
,
22
mounted to an upper end
24
of the casing
12
. A metallic ring
26
is rotatably mounted to the upper end
24
of the casing
12
. The ring
26
has an upper portion
28
for receiving a lower end
30
of a candle
32
and a lower portion
34
for receiving the upper end
24
of the casing
12
. The lower portion
34
of the ring
26
has a protruding section
36
such that, when the ring
26
is positioned in an “off” position, the contact
20
is out of engagement with the ring
26
(see
FIG. 3
) and such that, when the ring
26
is positioned in an “on” position, the contact
20
is in engagement with the ring
26
(see FIG.
4
). The other contact
22
is in constant engagement with the ring
26
during the movement of the ring
26
between its “on” and “off” positions. In this manner, when the ring
26
is in its “on” position, both of the contacts
20
,
22
are in engagement with the ring
26
, and an associated switch circuit of the electronic unit
14
is closed by the ring
26
, causing the electronic unit
14
to generate audible sounds. When the ring
26
is placed in its “off” position, the contact
20
is out of engagement with the ring
26
, causing the switch circuit to be open and hence deactivating the electronic unit
14
.
While the switch device of the candle assembly
10
shown in
FIGS. 1-4
is relatively inexpensive, it suffers from various shortcomings. For instance, because the ring
26
is placed over the upper end
24
of the casing
12
by way of a friction fit, it can come off easily from the casing
12
. Moreover, due to the irregular shape of the protruding section
36
of the ring
26
, the engagement between the contact
20
and the ring
26
is imprecise, potentially causing improper operation of the electronic unit
14
. In the foregoing circumstances, there is a need for a candleholder having an improved switch mechanism for enhancing its operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and shortcomings discussed above by providing an improved device adapted to support a candle thereon. The device includes a casing having an opening therein and a generating mechanism for generating special effects, such as audible sounds. More particularly, the generating mechanism includes a switch mounted in the opening of the casing. The switch has a first contact member, which is substantially immovable relative to the casing, and a second contact member. The second contact member is movable relative to the first contact member between a first position, in which the second contact member is in contact with the first contact member, and a second position, in which the second contact member is out of contact with the first contact member. The generating mechanism is adapted to generate special effects when the second contact member is in its first position. A movable member is movably mounted on the casing for moving the second contact member between its first and second positions.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3994502 (1976-11-01), Lombardi
patent: 4801478 (1989-01-01), Greenblatt
patent: 5015175 (1991-05-01), Lee
patent: 5174645 (1992-12-01), Chung
patent: 5363590 (1994-11-01), Lee
patent: 5487658 (1996-01-01), Lee
patent: 5622490 (1997-04-01), Cheng

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