Artificial candles with glowing canopies that flutter
OwnerMark Lauerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An artificial candle has a flexible glowing canopy that can flutter like a candle flame, and the canopy may surround a “wick” that can be seen through the canopy to glow. Such a diaphanous canopy can be actuated by a solenoid, piezoelectric actuator or other mechanism, which can be provided adjacent to the canopy. Light can emanate from at least one light emitting diode (LED), and the canopy can include fluorescent material that absorbs and reradiates some of the light from the LED(s). The wick and the canopy can be coupled to a shaft that simulates a wax candle body. A standard threaded fitting can be provided so that the artificial candle can thread into a socket to replace an incandescent light bulb.
Claims28
An illumination device comprising:
- a light source including a light emitting diode (LED) that emits electromagnetic radiation;
- a canopy that substantially encircles the light source and simulates a candle flame when irradiated by the light source;
- and
- an actuator including a rod that is operably coupled to an upper portion of the canopy to move the canopy.
An illumination device comprising:
- a light source including a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits electromagnetic radiation;
- a canopy disposed adjacent to the light source to receive the radiation and consequently transmit visible light from the canopy;
- an actuator that is operably coupled to the canopy, the actuator having at least one winding that curves around an axis, the winding having a winding portion disposed at a radius from the axis;
- and
- a rod that is oriented more parallel than perpendicular to the axis and disposed at a distance from the axis that is less than the radius, at least a portion of the rod being magnetized, the rod being operably coupled to the canopy to move the canopy when a current in the winding induces a magnetic field in the solenoid.
A method for illumination comprising:
- providing a flexible canopy that is operably coupled to a light source;
- emitting electromagnetic radiation from the light source such that the radiation impinges upon an interior surface of the canopy;
- transmitting, by the canopy, visible light in response to receiving the radiation from the light source;
- and
- moving the canopy with a rod that contacts an upper portion of the canopy during the transmitting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.