US20060177786A1

US20060177786A1 - Luminescent wax candle container

Info

Publication number: US20060177786A1
Application number: US11/117,120
Authority: US
Inventors: Ting Hu
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-06
Filing date: 2005-04-28
Publication date: 2006-08-10
Also published as: WO2006081717A1; CN2777350Y

Abstract

A luminescent container includes a transparent or semi-transparent container body, a wax candle filled in the container body, a candle wick, a luminescent module mounted at the bottom of the wax candle, and a light-guide fiber. The luminescent module includes a power source, a control module, a photosensitive circuit and LEDs. The light-guide fiber is arranged along the candle wick so that its entrance end is placed close to the part of the candle wick sticking top of the wax candle and its exit end touches the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive component. When the wax candle is lit, the control module controls the luminescence of the LEDs and the wax candle container and body are illuminated with the LEDs. The shield of the wax candle container may have the wick flame to burn stably and safely and therefore make the LEDs illuminate stably.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a luminescent wax candle container, and more specifically, to a luminescent wax candle container having wax candle illuminated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wax candle container is often used to hold wax candle in many occasions such as art performances, family parties and wine bars. Lit wax candle may create an environment filled with beauty, peace and harmony. A conventional wax candle container is usually white. Even if it is colorful, its color is determined by the pigmentation dosage in the manufacturing process or by the color of the transparent container. Therefore, the color of a conventional container can not be changed after it is made. Moreover, its color can not be seen in a dim light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, a primary object of the present invention is to provide a luminescent wax candle container, convenient to be placed and held, that has a wax candle body illuminated while the wax candle is burning.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a luminescent wax candle container that prevents burning wax candle from giving off stink smells.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a luminescent wax candle container that controls luminescence of wax candle through intensity of candle light to avoid influences from environmental light.
To achieve above objects, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a luminescent wax candle container, comprising:
a transparent or semi-transparent container body with an opening;
a wax candle with a top surface and fully or partially filled in the container body;
a wick placed in the wax candle and sticking out the top of the wax candle;
a luminescent module placed at the bottom of the wax candle including a power supply, a control module connected to the power source, a photosensitive circuit including a photosensitive component with a photosensitive surface and one or more LEDs, in which the control module controls luminescence of the LEDs in response to signals from the photosensitive circuit; and
a light-guide fiber placed along with the wick, wherein its entrance end is close to the part of the wick sticking out the top of the wax candle and its exit end touches the photosensitive surface of photosensitive component.
The top of the wax candle refers to the upper part of the wax candle which is lit and is placed to face upward.
Further, the wax candle body is divided as a layer close to the luminescent module and the other layer far away from the luminescent module. The layer close to the luminescent module has a higher melting point than the layer far away from the luminescent.
Still further, the photosensitive component of the photosensitive circuit is housed in a darkroom and the photosensitive surface thereof is overlaid by a resilient cushion with a hole for receiving the light-guide fiber.
The invention, together with other objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a luminescent wax candle container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the luminescent wax candle container of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section view of the luminescent wax candle container in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic section view of the luminescent wax candle container in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is seen a transparent or semi-transparent container body 1 that is made in various shape. The container body 1 is fully or partially filled with wax candle 2 having a wick 21. A luminescent module 3, placed at the bottom of the wax candle 2 and on the base 6, includes a power source 31, a control module 32 connected to the power source 31, a photosensitive circuit and one or a plurality of LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) 34. A photosensitive component in the photosensitive circuit is a photosensitive resistance R2 housed in a darkroom 33 shielding light around to avoid being affected by unexpected light. The photosensitive resistance R2, the darkroom 33 and the LEDs 34 are placed on the upper surface of the base 6. As shown in FIG. 4, an alternative embodiment includes the photosensitive resistance R2, the darkroom and the LEDs 34 placed in the base 6 that can be made of transparent materials. A light-guide fiber 4, placed along the wick 21, has one entrance end thereof arranged close to the part of the wick 21 and sticking out the wax candle and the exit end thereof 41 touching the upper surface of the photosensitive resistance R2 to allow the photosensitive resistance R2 to sense the light from the wax candle.
The top surface 22 of the wax candle 2 is arranged lower than the opening surface 11 of the container body 1 to define a space in the container body 1 for burning wick 21, which allows the wick flame to burn stably therein, therefore makes the LEDs 34 illuminate stably, and also prevent the flame from reaching other articles.
Referring to FIG. 2, it shows a circuit diagram of the luminescent module 3. The photosensitive circuit includes the photosensitive resistance R2 and a first resistance R1 which are serially connected between an anode B+ and a cathode B− of the power source 31. The photosensitive resistance R2 can be a positive photosensitive resistance or a negative photosensitive resistance. The connection between the photosensitive resistance R2 and the power source 31 is random. The photosensitive resistance R2 can be connected to a cathode B− or an anode B+ of the power source 31. The serial node between the photosensitive resistance R2 and the first resistance R1 is connected to the input of the control module 32. The anode of each LED 34 is connected to the output of the control module 32. The cathode of each LED 34 is connected to the cathode B− of the power source 31.
The power source 31 is preferred to be a button battery. The control module 32 is an integrated circuit or a chip with embedded software.
When the wick 21 is burnt, candle light is transmitted via the light-guide fiber 4 to the photosensitive resistance R2. Where the photosensitive resistance R2 is positive, its resistance will go up with the increase of light intensity. Simultaneously the photo-voltage generated in the control module 32 will also go up. The control module 32 compares the generated photo-voltage with a pre-stored valve voltage. If the generated photo-voltage is higher than the pre-stored valve voltage, the control module 32 output a high tension signal to activates the LEDs 34 for luminescence.
The anode of each LED may be connected to the anode B+ of the power source 31 and the cathode of each LED 34 is connected to the output of the control module 32. Just same with the above, the LEDs 34 is activated for luminescence by the control module 32.
Referring to FIG. 3, a cap 5 is adapted to fit over the opening 11 of the container body 1 and has an opening at the top thereof to admit air. The cap 5 can be made in various shapes to shield airflow, have candle burning safe and make a decoration.
When the cap 5 is adapted over the container body 1, the top surface of the wax candle can be arranged higher than or aligned with the opening 11 of the container body.
Referring to FIG. 4, the wax candle 2 is divided as a layer 23 close to the luminescent module and a layer 24 far away from the luminescent module. In this embodiment, the layer 23 has a higher melting point than the layer 24 to prevent the layer 23 from burning. After the layer 24 is burned out, the flame of the wax candle will be out to avoid heating the luminescent module 3 and causing smoke or even fire hazards.
In order to avoid influences from environmental light, the photosensitive resistance shall be housed in a darkroom. Where the top surface of the photosensitive resistance is not sealed, the darkroom cannot function well. Where top surface of the photosensitive resistance is sealed, a hole shall be defined to allow the light-guide fiber to attach to the top surface of the photosensitive resistance. Therefore, environmental light still can pass through the hole to impact the photosensitive resistance. Referring to FIG. 4, a resilient cushion 35 can be used on the top surface of the photosensitive resistance to seal the photosensitive resistance with the darkroom and the base so as to avoid influence of environmental light. The resilient cushion 35 is of certain thickness and has a hole to allow the light-guide fiber 4 to be passed through. Since this resilient cushion is elastic, the light-guide fiber can be clamped tightly by it to prevent the environmental light from getting through and also to fix the position of the light-guide fiber so that it is helpful for the wax candle to be filled in the container body. The preferred embodiment for this resilient cushion could apply to sponge, rubber or other elastic materials.
It is provided one or more LEDs producing one or more colors. The preferred embodiment is to provide three LEDs placed on the luminescent module in an equilateral triangle configuration and respectively producing the color of red, green and blue. Under the control of the control module, the three LEDs produce in turn light, intensity of which varies from weak to strong and then from strong to weak. When the light of the first LED becomes weak, the second LED is activated and produces a light varying from weak to strong. When the light of the second LED becomes weak, the third LED is activated and produces the light varying form weak to strong. This circulates among the three LEDs. In accordance with the color mixing principle, the wax candle will illuminates variable and colorful lights promoting a pleasant sociable environment.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preference to specific embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A luminescent wax candle container comprising:

a container body having an opening and made of transparent or semi-transparent materials;

a wax candle having a top surface and fully or partially filled in said container body;

a wick placed in said wax candle and sticking out the top surface of said wax candle;

a luminescent module placed at the bottom of said wax candle and including a power source, a control module connected to said power source, a photosensitive circuit including a photosensitive component with a photosensitive surface and one or more LEDs, in which said control module controls luminescence of said LEDs in response to signals from said photosensitive circuit; and

a light-guide fiber placed along with said wick, wherein one end of said light-guide fiber is close to the part of said wick sticking out the top surface of said wax candle and the other end touches the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive component in said photosensitive circuit.

2. The luminescent wax candle container according to claim 1, wherein said wax candle is divided as a layer close to said luminescent module and a layer far away from said luminescent module, and the layer close to said luminescent module has a higher melting point than the layer far away from said luminescent module.

3. The luminescent wax candle container according to claim 2, wherein the photosensitive component is housed in a darkroom.

4. The luminescent wax candle container wax candle according to claim 3, further comprises a resilient cushion with a hole for receiving light-guide fiber and placed on the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive component.

5. The luminescent wax candle container according to claim 4, wherein the resilient cushion is made of sponge.

6. The luminescent wax candle container according to in claim 2, wherein the top surface of the wax candle is lower than the opening of said container body.

7. The luminescent wax candle container as according to claim 2, further comprises a cap with an opening and adapted to fit over the container body.

8. The luminescent wax candle container according to claim 7, wherein the top surface of said wax candle is higher than or aligned with the opening of said container body.

9. The luminescent wax candle container according to claim 1, further comprises a base at the bottom of the container body, the luminescent module mounted in the base, the photosensitive component of the photosensitive circuit which is a photosensitive resistance, and said photosensitive surface and said LED facing top of said wax candle.

10. The luminescent wax candle container according to claim 1, wherein it is provided three LEDs respectively generating red, green and blue colors and placed on said luminescent module in an equilateral triangle configuration.