Patent Application
20110280008
The field of the invention is floating candles.
Floating candles are well known in the art. However, such floating candles known to Applicant lack a replaceable wick and are thus made to be disposable once the wick is burned.
Floating electronic lights are also known such as that described in U.S. Patent Appl. No. 2005/0141214 to Fotherby (publ. June 2005), which discusses a flower-shaped floating candle having an electronic light. However, Fotherby does not contemplate using a non-electric light source, and also fails to contemplate a removable portion containing the light source.
Fotherby and all other extrinsic materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply.
Although it is known to have candle assemblies with removable wicks (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,637,737 to Furner), such assemblies have an unnatural appearance and fail to be composed of wax to resemble a wax sculpture.
Thus, there is still a need for a light emitting system configured to resemble a wax sculpture and having a replaceable light emitter.
The inventive subject matter provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a light emitting system comprises a base portion at least partially composed of wax, and a removable portion with a light emitter. As used herein, the term “wax” means an oily, water-resistant substance, normally having long-chains of hydrocarbons, alcohols or esters, although the wax need not be burnable.
The base portion can advantageously include an aperture sized and dimensioned to receive the removable portion, and can also include a coupling configured to receive the removable portion, and it is especially preferred that the coupling allows for removal of the removable portion from the base portion. In some contemplated embodiments, the base portion and the removable portion can each have an at least partially threaded surface such that the removable portion can be threaded and thereby secured to the base portion. However, the base and removable portions can have any commercially suitable couplings.
Preferred light emitting systems are configured to resemble one or more items in nature including, for example, flowers, lily pads, and other plant life, frogs, turtles and other reptiles or animals, butterflies and other insects, and combination(s) thereof.
Preferred light emitting systems are configured such that they can float in a body of water. As used herein, the term “float” means that at least 10% of the candle's surface, and preferably an average of 30%, remains above a surface of the water. It is contemplated that the specific percentage of the light emitting system above the water's surface can vary depending on the liquid's properties and the candle's buoyancy.
The light emitters can comprise light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) or other commercially suitable electronic light emitters or combination(s) thereof. Additionally or alternatively, the light emitters can comprise non-electric light sources, such as a combustible wick or a candle.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a variety of electronic devices may be included in the light emitting system, including, for example, speakers, microphones, sensors, controllers, video screens, and so forth.
Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
In
The removable portion 130 preferably resembles the top of a flower and includes external threads 140 configured to mate with the internal threads 110 of the base portion 105. However, one skilled in the art would choose a coupling for the removable portion 130 that is suitable to mate with a corresponding coupling of the base portion 105. Both removable portion 130 and base portion 105 can be configured to receive one or more light emitters and various electrical components.
It is contemplated that the removable portion 130 and the light emitters (not shown) can be positioned anywhere on the light emitting system 100, and at least one light emitter is preferably placed such that the light emitter is above the water's surface when the candle is floating in the water. However, it is also contemplated that one or more light emitters can be positioned such that the light emitter is below the water's surface. This can be advantageous as the light emitting system 100 can be used to light the water in addition to, or alternatively to, the surrounding environment. In other contemplated embodiments, one or more light emitters can be disposed internally to the light emitting system 100. In such embodiments, it is preferred that the light emitting system 100 have an at least partially translucent or transparent exterior, such that the system 100 can create a glowing effect, for example.
Base portion 105 and removable portion 130 can each be made of any commercially suitable and preferably water resistant material(s) including, for example, wax, wood, plastic, metal, and any combination(s) thereof. Preferably, the base portion 105 and removable portion 130 are made substantially of wax, which facilitates the resemblance of a sculpture. In this manner, the light emitting system 100 can have a uniform appearance, which preferably resembles an item of nature. Alternatively, the base portion 105 could be composed of a different material or materials than the removable portion 130.
In
Preferably, audio emitter 610 is configured such that submersion in water will not cause the audio emitter 610 to malfunction. In this manner, the audio emitter 610 preferably has a resistance to water up to 5 feet, preferably 10 feet, and more preferably, 20 feet. This advantageously allows the audio emitter 610, and a light emitting system to which the emitter 610 is coupled, to be partially or fully submerged in a body of water such as a pool, while reducing the likelihood that the audio emitter 610 will be damaged from contact with the surrounding liquid.
Removable portion 630 may also include an additional light emitter 650, allowing for a variety of colors and configuration of light emitters 650. Preferably, removable portion 630 includes at least three, and more preferably, at least five light emitters 650. Additionally, a base portion (not shown) may also contain light emitters. Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary.
The removable portion 630, or alternatively, a light emitting system, can have a battery compartment 660 configured to hold one or more batteries (not shown). In some contemplated embodiments, the battery compartment 660 can have a single rechargeable battery that is charged via a power adapter that is pluggable into a line voltage. However, it is also contemplated that the battery compartment 660 could be configured to receive one or more disposable batteries, which might or might not be rechargeable. In other contemplated embodiments, the removable portion 630 or a light emitting system could include one or more photovoltaic cells (not shown) coupled to a battery or other power storage device to generate power using light from the sun. In such embodiments, a battery could preferably store enough energy from the sunlight on a sunny day to power the LED 650 and other electrical components for two or more hours.
It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
