Back to results
US 10,976,018 B2Granted
Imitation candle devices with moving lights
AssigneeL&L Candle Company, LLC
InventorXiaofeng Li
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Imitation candle devices and systems with features enable simulation of a realistic candle flame using moving lights are disclosed. In one aspect, an imitation candle device is provided that includes a flame sheet shaped to resemble a flame, a support member positioned in proximity to the flame sheet, and a light casing including a hole. An end of the support member extends into the hole and a tip of the end of the support member is in contact with an inner wall of the hole to allow movement of the light casing on the support member. The imitation candle device also includes a light emitter enclosed at least partially in the light casing and movable with movement of the light casing. The light emitter is oriented at an inclined angle with respect to the flame sheet to emit light onto the flame sheet.
Claims14
An imitation candle device, comprising:
- a flame element having a flame-like shape;
- a light casing including a light emitter that is configured to emit light onto a surface of the flame element, the light casing having internal surfaces defining an opening, wherein the opening includes a recess, and wherein at least a part of the recess has a spherical shape;
- a support member, supporting the light casing to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, wherein the support member has a tip extending from the support member, the tip of the support member fits in the opening of the light casing and extends into the recess, wherein the tip of the support member is in contact with an inner wall of the recess, and wherein the light casing is held on the support member in a way which allows movement of the light casing relative to the support member;
- a drive engine coupled to the light casing, and configured to cause the light casing to move on the support member and to move the light emitted from the light emitter on the flame element;
- and
- a movement limiting structure that limits an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the light emitted by the light emitter from moving off the flame element.
3 more elements
A method of lighting an imitation candle device, comprising:
- attaching a flame element having a flame shape to a body of an imitation candle device;
- emitting light from a light emitter;
- supporting the light emitter to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, and allowing the light emitter to move relative to the support member;
- energizing a drive engine to cause a light casing to move on the support member and thus to move a position of the light that is emitted from the light emitter on to the flame element;
- and
- limiting an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the emitted light from moving off the flame element,
- wherein the limiting is carried out by a movement limiting structure which includes a plurality of baffles, and wherein each of the baffles in the plurality of baffles is positioned to interact with a tip of the support member.
4 more elements
A method of lighting an imitation candle device, comprising:
- attaching a flame element having a flame shape to a body of an imitation candle device;
- emitting light from a light emitter, wherein the light emitter is incorporated in a light casing, wherein the light casing has internal surfaces defining an opening, wherein the opening includes a recess, and wherein at least a part of the recess has a spherical shape;
- supporting the light emitter to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, and allowing the light emitter to move relative to a support member, wherein the support member has a tip extending from the support member, the tip of the support member fits in the opening of the light casing and extends into the recess, wherein the tip of the support member is in contact with an inner wall of the recess, and wherein the light casing is held on the support member in a way which allows movement of the light casing relative to the support member;
- energizing a drive engine to cause the light casing to move on the support member and thus to move a position of the light that is emitted from the light emitter on the flame element;
- and
- limiting an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the emitted light from moving off the flame element.
3 more elements
An imitation candle device, comprising:
- a flame element having a flame-like shape;
- a light casing including a light emitter that is configured to produce an output light that is emitting onto a surface of the flame element;
- a support member, supporting the light casing to hold the light emitter at an angle to face the flame element and to emit light onto the flame element, while allowing the light emitter to move relative to the support member;
- a drive engine coupled to the light casing and configured to cause the light casing to move on the support member and to move the light emitted from the light emitter on the flame element;
- and
- a movement limiting structure that limits an amount of the movement of the light casing relative to the support member in a range that prevents the emitted light from moving off the flame element,
- wherein the movement limiting structure includes a plurality of baffles, wherein each of the baffles in the plurality of baffles is positioned to interact with a tip of the support member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.