1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to electronic candles. This invention also relates to customizing or personalizing electronic candles. This invention further relates to memorial and funerary business methods.
2. Background and Discussion of the Prior Art
Electronic candle constructions are generally known. Electronic candle constructions are shown and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,108 to Lederer, U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,924 to Lederer, U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,426 to Lederer and US Publication No. 2005/0179355 to Lederer. It is also presently known to commercialize electronic candles for religious institutions and memorial business as disclosed in US Publication No. 2006/0039137 to Lederer.
It is also known to provide LED illuminated signs with an etched portion to scatter light as disclosed in US Publication No. 2005/0188569 to Derose.
In the art directed to funerary and memorial business, there is a growing present need to provide services to a diverse customer base of different religions and further having diverse personalized memorial needs. The funerary and memorial business therefore desires a readily operable and cost effective system that services the diverse customer base and their concomitant needs.
The present invention provides an electronic candle assembly and system that resolves the foregoing art needs. The present invention provides an electronic candle assembly and system as aforesaid which is readily operable in a commercially practicable manner.
The present system for the customization and personalization of an electronic candle includes an electronic candle assembly having a base and interchangeable candle cover sleeves. The candle cover sleeves are alternatively mounted to the base. Each candle cover sleeve has different or distinguishing indicia, e.g., Cross, Star of David, and the like, or it can have none of it, and various compartments for customization for or by a specific customer. The base contains illumination elements and their power and driving circuitries. The illuminations may be in color complementary to a respective candle cover sleeve color to provide an enhanced simulated wax candle flickering effect. The Star of David candle cover sleeve may appropriately be blue, and the Cross candle cover sleeve may appropriately be red.
An assembled and customized candle cover sleeve may include in its lowered and slanted top a picture, or in its enclosable readily viewable space or compartment a memento of particular significance to the deceased and to the customer or viewer or it may house both. The candle cover sleeve further includes an internal holder for a customized printed sheet bearing indicia to identify the deceased or it uses a slidable and interchangeable collar assembly to hold indicia on its external surface.
The electronic candle assembly includes a radially disposed specifically configured on-off switch. The switch is frictionally engaged by the inner surface of the candle cover sleeve. The user by depressing the sleeve actuates the illuminating elements to activate the flickering wax candle simulation. The electronic candle includes circuitries and alternate power sources whereby the electronic memorial candle may in effect be lighted in perpetuity.
In one embodiment, a funeral director or customizing agent receives an email order or completed e-order form with customization instructions from the customer. The funeral director customizes and then assembles the components for ready customization of the electronic candle for delivery to the customer at or in connection with a funeral or memorial service.
Referring to
Illumination assembly 11 has a housing 16, electronic assembly 17, movable switch arm 18, operably connected with electronic assembly 17, two vertically disposed illumination elements or LEDs 19, and translucent illumination housing 20, for purposes hereinafter appearing. It also has a base 41 with cylindrical arms 42 and a compression spring 40.
Candle cover sleeve 12 is cylindrically shaped. Candle cover sleeve 12 is partially clear, textured or transparent. Candle cover sleeve 12 has an outer cylindrical surface 22, an inner cylindrical surface 23, an annular top edge 24 and an annular bottom edge 25 having radially outwardly disposed lip 25a. A radially inwardly protruding element 30 is formed on inner cylindrical surface 23 at a prescribed distance from bottom edge 25 for purposes hereinafter appearing. Inner cylindrical surface 23 is formed with recess 26 for receiving a sheet 35 bearing indicia 36 (
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In this manner of construction, LEDs 19 remains lighted by either the batteries or the external power source. This permits the LEDs 19 to remain lighted in perpetuity. If batteries are rechargeable types the external power source will recharge them at the same time.
Candle 10 remains lighted in perpetuity, as is the generally most desired presentation for memorial candles. Candle 10 is provided with a sheet or insert 35 which is imprinted with a memorial notice 36 once with inscribed the name 37 of the deceased (
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The following Table I shows a coordination of the textured candle cover sleeve colors, the LED colors and their required voltage provided by the DC/DC converter 52 to cause the respective enhanced simulated wax candle flickering effects.
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The afore-discussed embodiments provide a readily customized memorial candle for funerary and memorial businesses. One method, by way of example, useful in a funerary business is where a loved one of the deceased completes an e-form that with the Internet instructs the funeral director as to e.g. the name, religion and image of the decease. The funeral director that imprints the requested memorial information 36 and 37 and photo and assembles the candle with the appropriate candle cover sleeves e.g. 80 or 90 or 100 or any other and complementary LEDs (Table I). This construction and methodology permits a readily customized and personalized electronic candle, which stimulates a flickering lighted wax candle in perpetuity.
A business, such as a funerary or memorial business, may utilize the afore-discussed electronic candle construction to provide cost-effective personalization and customization services to diverse customers. In one preferred embodiment of the business; (a) an e-form is provided by the business on the business website; (b) a prospective customer accesses the website and completes the e-form, including information such as (i) name of deceased; (ii) religion of deceased and (iii) photograph of the deceased; (c) the business then assembles the appropriate symbol bearing candle cover sleeve (colors), LEDs and memorial indicia and simultaneously bills the customer's credit card (
The described systems and candle 10 constructions provides a simulated flame lighted in perpetuity, with readily viewable memorial indicia 37, memorial photo and/or memorial memento. The present invention provides a complete all-in-one customized and personalized memorial unit.
The above-discussed specific embodiments are not intended to be limiting in any way. Many changes can be made to the invention without departing from the scope thereof. It is intended that all material contained herein be interpreted as illustrative of the invention and not in a limiting sense of the invention which is defined by the adjoined claims.
This application is a continuation of and claims priority to Ser. No. 11/846,946, filed Aug. 29, 2007, now U.S. patent Ser. No. ______, and to its divisional application Ser. No. 12/512,545, application Ser. No. 10/666,731, filed Mar. 11, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,011,426 granted Mar. 14, 2006, and application Ser. No. 11/254,428, filed Oct. 20, 2005, which applications and patents are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference thereto.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12512545 | Jul 2009 | US |
Child | 11846946 | US | |
Parent | 10666731 | Sep 2003 | US |
Child | 12512545 | US | |
Parent | 11254428 | Oct 2005 | US |
Child | 10666731 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11846946 | Aug 2007 | US |
Child | 12640389 | US |