Imitation Candle

Abstract

An imitation candle having a substantially cylindrical body with an electric incandescent lamp mounted therein such that the bulb protrudes from one end of the body. The lamp is suspended within the body by an elastic material, a plurality of arms, or a spring, and is capable of substantially free arcuate movement about a point in the proximity of one end of the body. The degree of arcuate movement is limited by stops engaging the lamp, and the lamp is locked against movement by a latch that operates in response to the cessation of electric power to the lamp to seize the lamp. A motor can be provided for motivating the arcuate movement of the lamp.

Description

The present invention is concerned with an imitation candle having a substantially cylindrical body portion provided at one end with an electric incandescent lamp having a bulb of optional shape.

There are a number of different designs of such candles known to the art. In the most common of these, the shape of the bulb is reminiscent of the shape of a candle flame. The illusory effect afforded by this embodiment, however, is impaired as a result of the total immovability of the bulb and because the filament can be seen through said bulb. Various types of bulbs have been suggested with the purpose of improving the appearance of this type of imitation candle; and it has also been suggested that said lamps should be made to blink, to obtain better resemblance with the fluttering of a candle light. The main disadvantage associated with known arrangements, however, is that they are relatively poor imitations of a candle. A number of these arrangements are also complicated and expensive to manufacture.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive imitation candle which is a fully acceptable imitation of a candle. This object is achieved by the candle of the invention which is mainly characterized in that the lamp is capable of oscillating in all directions about a point in the proximity of the end of the cylindrical body, and is suspended so as to be easily swingable about said point.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partially cutaway imitation candle according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a partially cutaway imitation candle according to another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of an imitation candle according to the invention.

The imitation candle illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a substantially cylindrical body member 1, provided at one end with a diaphragm 2, made of rubber or some other elastic material. The diaphragm may even be made of sheetmetal or some other flexible material, and may also be slotted. Located in the center of the diaphragm 2 is a holder 3 for a lamp. The holder 3 is provided with a depending stem 5, the lower end of which is positioned in a bowl-shaped member 6, which is connected to the wall of the body member by means of a bimetal spring 7. The bimetal spring 7 is encircled by a winding 8, which is connected to the electric circuit from which current is passed to the lamp 4.

When the lamp is switched on, all the components adopt the positions shown in FIG. 1. The lamp 4, holder 3 and stem 5 are suspended by the diaphragm 2 and form a very easily moved unit, which, for instance, when subjected to air currents swings about the fixture in the diaphragm. Actuation of the unit can also be effected mechanically. The swinging movement of the unit is restricted by abutment of the stem 5 with the edges of bowl 6.

When the lamp 4 is switched off the winding 8 is deenergized and cools. Thus, the bimetal spring 7 also cools and bends upwards so that the bottom of the bowl 6 comes into contact with the bottom of the stem 5 and prevents the stem and the lamp and holder from moving. This enables the imitation candle to be transported without risk of the components thereof moving and being damaged in consequence thereof.

The embodiment of FIG. 2 also presents a substantially cylindrical body 1, a holder 3 and an incandescent lamp 4. At the bottom of holder 3 is a pointed portion 9 which is mounted in a bowl 10, fixed to the wall of the body 1. Two arms 11 extend downwardly from the holder 3 and support at their lower ends a ring 12 which encircles a stem 13, fixed to the bottom of the bowl 10. Attached to the stem 13 is a conical member 14 having a largest diameter which is larger than the inner diameter of the ring 12. The conical portion 14 is also connected to a bimetal spring 15 which is fixed to the wall of the body 1 and is encircled by a winding 16, connected to the electric circuit from which current is supplied to the lamp 4. It should be understood that the positions of the pointed member 9 and the bowl 10 can be reversed, so that said bowl 10 is located on the holders.

When the lamp is energized the components adopt the positions shown in FIG. 2. The lamp 4, holder 3, arms 11 and ring 12 form a unit whose center of gravity lies slightly below the pointed member 9. The unit is therefore easily moved, and can swing in all directions about the bearing point of the member 9 in the bowl 10. The magnitude of the oscillations effected by the unit is restricted by the ring 12 abutting the stem 13.

When the lamp 4 is switched off current is broken to the winding 16, which cools. Thus, the bimetal spring 15 also cools and bends downwards, whereupon the conical portion 14 is also passed downwardly, into abutment with the ring 12. In this way all movement of the components is prevented, and the imitation candle can be transported without risk of damage caused by relative movement of the components.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 the imitation candle includes a substantially cylindrical body 1 fitted at one end with an incandescent lamp 4. The lamp 4 is mounted in a holder 17 which is fixed to the narrow end of a conical coil spring 18, the other end of which abuts a shoulder 19 in the body 1. A stem 20 extends down from the bottom of the holder 17 and passes through the spring 18 and an opening in the shoulder 19. The upper end of the stem 20 extends into the holder 17 and is insulated therefrom by means of an insulating element 21. When the lamp is screwed into the holder 17 one pole of said lamp comes in contact with the upper end of the stem 20. Above the lower end of the stem 20 is arranged a weight 22, and the stem 20 is fixed above said weight but below the shoulder 19 to the inner end of a spiral spring 23, the outer end of which is fixed to the body 1.

The lamp 4, holder 17 and stem 20 form together with the weight 20 a rigid unit suspended by the springs 18 and 23. These springs are relatively weak and the unit is therefore very easily moved. The forces required to actuate the unit to obtain the desired movement thereof are thus very small. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the unit is actuated mechanically by a device built into the body 1. This device includes a stem 24 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 25 attached to the body 1. Attached to the stem 24 is a strip of material 26 presenting good heat conductivity, e.g., copper. Secured to the lower portion of the strip 26 is a strip of material 27 of the type which changes its magnetic properties when its temperature changes, e.g., the material sold under the name "Termoflux," and which when heated becomes nonmagnetic or practically nonmagnetic.

In the position shown by full lines in FIG. 3, the strip 26 is located with its upper portion abutting a heat source in the form of an electric resistance 28. The strip 27 is positioned at a small distance from a permanent magnet 29; the resistance 28 and the magnet 29 being secured in the body 1 in a suitable manner. Heat is transferred from the resistance 28 to the strip 27 via the strip 26, whereupon when the temperature of strip 27 has been raised sufficiently it becomes nonmagnetic and is no longer affected by the permanent magnet 29. At this point, a pull spring 30 moves the stem 24 and the strips 26 and 27 attached thereto to the position shown by phantom lines in the drawing. While moving to this position, the upper end of the stem 24 moves the weight 22 slightly to one side, causing the lamp 4 to move.

As the strip 27 cools, it regains its magnetic properties and is once again influenced by the magnet 29, which draws said strip to the position shown in full lines. This again causes the lamp to move. This cycle is repeated at intervals which can be preselected by suitable dimensioning of the components of the device.

An added advantage with the embodiment of FIG. 3 is that power can be supplied to the lamp 4 through the springs 18 and 23.

It should be understood that the embodiments described and illustrated herein are merely examples of how the invention can be designed in practice and do not represent the extent of the inventive concept. Although no electrical connections have been shown passing to the lamp, it should be realized that these can be arranged in a manner so as not to hinder the swinging movements of the lamp.

Claims

I claim:

1. An imitation candle comprising

a substantially cylindrical body,

an electric incandescent lamp having a bulb positioned at one end of said body,

lamp-mounting means carried by said body and suspending said lamp to allow said lamp substantially free arcuate movement about a point in the proximity of said one end of said body, and

means operative only upon cessation of electric power to said lamp for preventing arcuate movement of said lamp-mounting means.

2. The imitation candle of claim 1 wherein said preventing means comprises

a stem member and a substantially hemispherically shaped member surrounding one end of said stem member, one of said members being carried by said lamp and the other of said members being carried by a means responsive to the supply of electric power to said lamp, said responsive means moving said other of said members between a first position spaced from said one member when electric power is supplied to said lamp and a second position engaging said one member upon cessation of electric power to said lamp to prevent movement of said lamp mounting means.

3. The imitation candle of claim 2 where said responsive means comprises a bimetal spring encircled by an electric wire connected to the lamp power supply.

4. The imitation candle of claim 1 wherein said lamp-mounting means comprise a plurality of arms movably supported by said body suspending said lamps, and further including means selectively preventing said arcuate movement comprising a conical member and a ring-member surrounding said conical member, one of said members being carried by said arms and the other of said members being carried by a means responsive to the supply of electric power to said lamp, said responsive means moving said other of said members between a first position spaced from said one member when electric power is supplied to said lamp and a second position engaging said one member upon cessation of electric power to said lamp to prevent movement of said lamp.

5. The imitation candle of claim 4 wherein said responsive means comprises a bimetal spring encircled by an electric wire connected to the lamp power supply lines.

6. The imitation candle of claim 1 further comprising mechanical means motivating said lamp is arcuate movement, said mechanical means comprising

a first stem carried by said lamp,

a second stem pivotally mounted and movable through an arc to strike said first stem,

spring means attached to said second stem and biasing said second stem toward a first position at one limit of said arc,

a metal member carried by said second stem, said metal member being magnetic at ambient temperature and nonmagnetic when heated to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature,

a permanent magnet mounted at the other limit of said arc and aligned with said metal member, and

means heating said metal member when said metal member is in contact with said magnet,

whereby said metal member is attracted to said magnet at ambient temperature to move said second stem to a second position at said other limit of said arc and is released from said permanent magnet upon said metal member being heated to a predetermined temperature whereupon said spring moves said second stem through said arc to said first position, said second stem striking said first stem when moving through said arc to cause said lamp to move.

7. The imitation candle of claim 6 wherein said means heating said metal member comprises an electric resistance connected to said lamp power supply lines.

8. The imitation candle of claim 1 further comprising

a stem carried by said lamp, and

means mounted in said cylindrical casing and engageable with said stem for imparting arcuate movement to said stem to cause said lamp to move.