Candle simulating device having lighting device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6454425
  • Patent Number
    6,454,425
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, July 10, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, September 24, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A candle simulating device includes a blowing device for generating an air and for directing the air toward a flame-like flexible member, in order to blow and to oscillate or to vibrate the flame-like flexible member and to simulate a candle. The blowing device includes a fan-and-motor device received in an enclosure for generating the air through a mouth. A light device may be attached to the enclosure and directed toward and to light the flame-like flexible member. A lamp shade may direct the light generated by the light device toward the flame-like flexible member.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a candle, and more particularly to a candle simulating device having a blowing and a lighting devices.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Typical candles are required to be ignited with lighters or the like, and include a flame that may cause fires and the other hazardous disasters inadvertently. The flames may be easily extinguished by the air flowing through the candles. In addition, the materials for forming the candles may be melted and may flow downward and may hurt people inadvertently, and may also cause fires and the other hazardous disasters inadvertently.




The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional candles.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a candle simulating device including a flame-like member that may be blown and/or lighted for simulating the candle, without actually burning the candles.




In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a candle simulating device comprising a flame-like flexible member, and a blowing device for generating an air, and including a mouth directed toward the flame-like flexible member for directing the air toward and to blow and to oscillate or to vibrate the flame-like flexible member in order to simulate a candle.




The blowing device includes an enclosure, and a fan-and-motor device received in the enclosure for generating the air through the mouth.




A housing is further provided, and means for supporting the flame-like flexible member in the housing, the blowing device being disposed in the housing and disposed below the flame-like flexible member for generating the air to blow the flame-like flexible member.




The supporting means includes a plate secured in the housing and having an opening formed therein, the flame-like flexible member is supported above the opening of the plate.




The supporting means includes a socket device disposed on the plate, and a seat secured on the socket device and having the flame-like flexible member attached thereto.




A device is further provided for lighting the flame-like flexible member and includes a light device directed toward the flame-like flexible member for generating a light to light the flame-like flexible member. The blowing device includes an enclosure, and a retainer provided on the enclosure for supporting the light device. The flame-like flexible member preferably includes a red or an orange or a flame simulating color or pattern applied thereon for simulating the flame of the candle.




The plate includes an orifice formed therein for receiving the light device. A device is further provided for directing the light generated by the light device toward the flame-like flexible member, and includes a lamp shade disposed on the plate and disposed above the light device for directing the light generated by the light device toward the flame-like flexible member.




Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a candle simulating device in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an exploded view of the candle simulating device;





FIG. 3

is a partial perspective view of the candle simulating device, in which the outer housing has been removed for showing the inner structure of the candle simulating device;





FIG. 4

is a partial plane view illustrating the blowing device and the lighting device of the candle simulating device;





FIG. 5

is a cross sectional view taken along lines


5





5


of

FIG. 1

;





FIGS. 6

,


7


are cross sectional views similar to

FIG. 5

, illustrating the operation of the candle simulating device; and





FIG. 8

is a perspective view illustrating the operation of the candle simulating device.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to the drawings, and initially to

FIGS. 1-5

, a candle simulating device in accordance with the present invention comprises a housing


1


including a chamber


10


formed therein, and including a peripheral bulge


11


extended radially inward of the chamber


10


of the housing


1


for forming or defining a peripheral shoulder


17


in the upper portion thereof and for forming a peripheral recess


15


in the lower portion thereof. The housing


1


includes one or more latches


13


extended inward of the peripheral recess


15


thereof and each having an inclined surface


14


formed therein.




A plate


4


is engaged on the peripheral shoulder


17


of the housing


1


, and includes an opening


41


formed therein, and includes two sockets


42


provided beside the opening


41


thereof, and includes an orifice


44


formed therein and located beside the opening


41


thereof, and includes a shield or lamp shade


45


provided above the orifice


44


thereof. A seat


40


has two ends secured in the sockets


42


, and includes a flame-like flexible member


43


attached thereto and having a flame-like shape. The flame-like flexible member


43


may be oscillated or vibrated relative to the seat


40


and is preferably applied with orange or red or flame-like colors thereon for simulating the flames.




A base


2


may be engaged into the peripheral recess


15


of the housing


1


, and includes a peripheral inclined or tapered surface


25


formed thereon for engaging with the inclined surfaces


14


of the latches


13


and for allowing the base


2


to be engaged into the peripheral recess


15


of the housing


1


. The latches


13


may be engaged with the base


2


for securing the base


2


in the bottom of the housing


1


. The base


2


includes a receptacle


20


formed or provided thereon and facing downward for receiving one or more batteries


21


therein, and includes one or more conductors


23


attached thereto and electrically engaged with the center and/or case electrodes of the batteries


21


. The base


2


includes a slot


29


formed therein and located beside the receptacle


20


.




A casing


24


is formed or provided or disposed on top of the receptacle


20


, and includes a space


26


formed therein, and includes one or more ribs


27


formed or extended therefrom. A blowing device


3


includes an enclosure


31


having one or more grooves


36


formed therein for receiving the ribs


27


and for securing the blowing device


3


in the casing


24


with such as a force-fitted engagement or the like, and having a mouth


310


extended upward therefrom and located below the opening


41


of the plate


4


. The mouth


310


includes an opening


37


formed therein and directed toward the opening


41


of the plate


4


for directing the air to flow through the opening


41


of the plate


4


. A motor-driven fan device or a fan-and-motor device


32


is disposed in the enclosure


31


of the blowing device


3


for generating an air


6


(

FIGS. 5

,


6


) through the mouth


310


and the opening


41


of the plate


4


, in order to blow the flame-like flexible member


43


.




A retainer


33


is formed or provided or attached to the enclosure


31


of the blowing device


3


for supporting one or more light devices or light bulbs


34


therein. The light device


34


is directed toward the orifice


44


of the plate


4


for generating a light to light the flame-like flexible member


43


(FIG.


7


). The lamp shade


45


may direct the light toward the flame-like flexible member


43


and may prevent the light from emitting toward the other directions. The batteries


21


are electrically coupled to the fan-and-motor device


32


and/or to the light device


34


with electric wires


35


and a switch device


28


which includes a switch button


281


extended outward through the slot


29


of the base


2


, such that the fan-and-motor device


32


and the light device


34


may be actuated or energized by the switch button


281


of the switch device


28


.




In operation, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the candle simulating device in accordance with the present invention may be disposed on top of any kind of supporting surfaces


8


. The flame-like flexible member


43


may be blown or oscillated or vibrated by the air


6


generated by the fan-and-motor device


32


, and may be lighted by the light device


34


, in order to simulate the candle, without actually burning the candles.




Accordingly, the candle simulating device in accordance with the present invention includes a flame-like member that may be blown and/or lighted for simulating the candle, without actually burning the candles.




Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.



Claims
  • 1. A candle simulating device comprising:a housing, a plate secured in said housing, and including an orifice formed therein, a flame-like flexible member supported on said plate, a light device received in said orifice of said plate, and directed toward said flame-like flexible member for generating a light to light said flame-like flexible member, and a blowing device including a mouth directed toward said flame-like flexible member for generating an air and for directing the air toward and to blow said flame-like flexible member.
  • 2. The candle simulating device according to claim 1, wherein said blowing device includes an enclosure having said mouth provided thereon, and a fan-and-motor device received in said enclosure for generating the air through said mouth.
  • 3. The candle simulating device according to claim 2, wherein said blowing device includes a retainer provided on said enclosure for supporting said light device.
  • 4. The candle simulating device according to claim 1, wherein said blowing device is disposed in said housing and disposed below said flame-like flexible member for generating the air to blow said flame-like flexible member.
  • 5. The candle simulating device according to claim 1, wherein said plate includes an opening formed therein, said flame-like flexible member is supported above said opening of said plate.
  • 6. The candle simulating device according to claim 1, wherein said plate includes a socket device disposed thereon, and a seat secured on said socket device and having said flame-like flexible member attached thereto.
  • 7. The candle simulating device according to claim 1 further comprising a lamp shade disposed on said plate and disposed above said light device and directed toward said flame-like flexible member for directing the light generated by said light device toward said flame-like flexible member.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Number Name Date Kind
1824388 Birch Sep 1931 A
4965707 Butterfield Oct 1990 A
6312137 Hsieh Nov 2001 B1