Illumination – Supports – Imitation candle support
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-30
2001-10-30
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supports
Imitation candle support
C362S202000, C362S363000, C362S808000, C362S810000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309092
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an illumination device adapted to be placed in an interior of an object to illuminate a surrounding area. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a illumination device adapted to be placed in a hollowed-out interior of a carved fruit having a fleshy bottom wall, such as a pumpkin or a watermelon, to illuminate the interior so as to project a decorative image carved in the sidewall thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pumpkin carving has become a popular past time especially during the Halloween season. In fact, pumpkin carving has become so popular that there is now a demand for a variety of pumpkin carving implements including pumpkin face patterns, carving tools and drilling tools, as well as a variety of pumpkin carving kits. These pumpkin carving implements and kits can be used by children or adults with a carving skill level ranging from a hobbyist to a professional.
Often during the Halloween season, scary faces, characters or other images are carved into pumpkin shells, and during night hours, a lit candle is placed into the pumpkin shell so that the image is brightly illuminated in the dark of night for view by any passers-by. Either short, slender candles or votive candles are typically employed for this purpose. Usually, votive candles are set, unsecured, into the pumpkin. Homemade holders of aluminum foil, or candles set onto plates with wax are sometime used to hold candles. None of these methods holds the candles securely, allowing them to tip over and be extinguished or even permitting them to fall out of the pumpkin. Also, none of these methods contains the wax of votive candles, causing a reduction in burning time.
Additionally, as candles burn in pumpkins, it is necessary to provide a chimney or flue so that smoke and heat from the candle can escape. This flue or chimney is usually carved with a knife and consequently appears as an unsightly non-uniform, polygonal hole. This chimney is typically located at the top of the pumpkin proximately to the stem. Due to the thickness of the pumpkin shell near the stem, the difficulty of cutting such a chimney with a knife is increased as is the risk of injury to the carver.
Another drawback of these existing techniques in illuminating carved pumpkins is that, as the candle burns over a period of time, it diminishes in size thereby effecting overall illumination of the carved pumpkin. Additionally, where the pumpkin is located outdoors, there remains the possibility that a gust of wind will merely extinguish the lit candle.
There is therefore, a need in the industry to provide an alternative means for illuminating the interior of a carved pumpkin or the like. It is further desirable for an illumination device accomplishing this need to eliminate the drawbacks caused by the wax of votive candles and to eliminate the need for providing a chimney or flue in the pumpkin, while increasing both illumination time and efficiency. Moreover, a need exists for a lightweight, inexpensive illumination device which may be planted into the fleshy shell of a carved pumpkin so that the pumpkin will securely hold the illumination device. Such an illumination device should be capable of inclusion in a kit or sold alone. The present invention satisfies these needs and provides these benefits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illumination device adapted to be placed in an interior of an object, such as a carved pumpkin or some other fruit or vegetable, to illuminate a surrounding area or an image carved therein.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device which is configured to be securely supported in the interior of an object to reduce the likelihood of tipping.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device having a self-contained electrical power supply which is readily replaceable.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved illumination device for pumpkins or some other fruit or vegetable which does not generate any smoke or appreciable amount of heat, thereby eliminating the need for a chimney or flue.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device which is light-weight, easy and safe to use, and inexpensive to manufacture.
In accordance with these objectives, an illumination device according to the present invention is adapted to illuminate a surrounding area. The illumination device may be placed in an interior of an object, such as the hollowed-out interior of a pumpkin having a fleshy bottom wall. The illumination device broadly comprises a stand having a base portion and a body portion extending upwardly from the base portion in a longitudinal direction to terminate at upper end, and a light assembly supported relative to the upper end in an elevated position above the base portion.
The stand may be in the form of a housing having an elongated tubular sidewall which extends from the base portion to terminate at an open upper end so that the sidewall surrounds a stand interior. The base portion is operative to support the housing in an upright orientation relative to a support surface, such as a pumpkin's fleshy bottom wall. Preferably, the base portion is formed as an extension of the sidewall and includes a lower base portion edge. The base portion may be configured to penetrate the support surface and, to this end, the base portion edge is serrated so that the base portion includes a plurality of downwardly projecting teeth. The base portion also preferably includes a transversely extending limit stop located above these teeth, and this limit stop operates to resist insertion of the base portion beyond a selected penetration depth. Where the sidewall is tubular in construction, this limit stop is formed by a transversely extending base wall located in a spaced relation to the base portion edge.
The light assembly which may emit either a continuous or intermittent glow, includes a self-contained power supply, such as one or more batteries, and an incandescent bulb in electrical communication with the power supply. The power supply is disposed within the stand interior between the base wall and the upper end and is preferably suspended within the tubular housing. Where two batteries are utilized, a battery chamber is provided which is sized and adapted to house these batteries. The light assembly also includes a lid sized and adapted to rest on the open upper end of the stand's tubular sidewall. The power supply and the incandescent bulb are each supported by this lid so that the bulb projects upwardly from a lid seat and the power supply is suspended downwardly from the lid. This lid includes a first pair of electrical contacts mounted thereto in electrical communication with the incandescent bulb, and the power supply includes a second pair of cooperative electrical contacts operative to releasably and matably engage the first pair of electrical contacts.
In order to simulate the appearance of an actual candle, the light assembly also includes a bulb cap and a decorative skirt. The bulb cap may be mounted to the lid by a pair of fasteners and provides a protective covering for the incandescent bulb. Preferably, this bulb cap simulates the appearance of a flame. The decorative skirt is mounted to the lid, and preferably simulates the appearance of wax drippings.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily appreciated and understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
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patent: 4866580 (1989-09-01), Blackerby
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patent: 5152602 (1992-10-01), Boschetto
patent: 5174645 (1992-12-01), Chung
patent: 5327332 (1994-07-01), Hafemeister
patent: 5918964
Bardeen Kea L.
Brown Barry P.
Henson Michael R.
Martin Timothy J.
O'Shea Sandra
Pumpkin Ltd.
Ward John Anthony
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