LIGHT JEWELS

Abstract

A wickless candle system includes a housing, a wax reservoir, a light, and an ornament, with at least one hole through a panel of the housing. The light provides a source of heat to melt wax within the wax reservoir, and the ornament is mounted in a position of alignment with the hole through the panel of the housing. The ornament is offset from the panel of the housing to maintain a substantially unobstructed airflow path between the ornament and the panel of the housing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/528,434, filed Aug. 29, 2011, and entitled “Light Jewels” (atty docket no. JTH-P010P), which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

People generally are very sensitive to smells and aromas. One way that people replicate familiar smells is by using scented candles. Unfortunately, burning candles can produce smoke, harmful chemicals, and black soot. In order to avoid these problems with conventional candles, people have started to use wickless candles. Wickless candles do not require a burning flame, so the aromas are not accompanied by the undesirable side-effects of conventional flame candles.

Wickless candles rely on a heat source such as an incandescent light bulb which heats wax in a tray. The light source is typically contained within a decorative housing. For aesthetics as well as temperature control, the decorative housings typically have holes in the sides which release light and heat. Sometimes, the light can be harsh and, from certain viewing angles, emit direct glare into a viewer's eyes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a wickless candle system with light jewels inserted into holes in the side walls of the decorative housing.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the wickless candle system and light jewels of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates another view of a light jewel of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light jewel of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a light jewel with different locations for the ventilation ports.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a light jewel with individual mounting prongs.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light jewel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates another cross-sectional view of the light jewel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 illustrates another cross-sectional view of the light jewel of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a wickless candle system with the light jewels of FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the wickless candle system and light jewels of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a threaded light jewel.

Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.

SUMMARY

One embodiment is a wickless candle system includes a housing, a wax reservoir, a light, and an ornament, with at least one hole through a panel of the housing. The light provides a source of heat to melt wax within the wax reservoir, and the ornament is mounted in a position of alignment with the hole through the panel of the housing. The ornament is offset from the panel of the housing to maintain a substantially unobstructed airflow path between the ornament and the panel of the housing. Other embodiments of wickless candles systems and ornamental “light jewels” are also described.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity.

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

While many embodiments are described herein, at least some of these described embodiments include complements that are referred to herein as light jewels” or “candle jewelry.” These light jewels may have many uses. In some embodiments, these light jewels are designed to be inserted into holes in the side walls of decorative housings for wickless candles. By inserting these light jewels in to some or all of the holes in a wickless candle housing, direct glare from a light source within the housing can't be avoided. Additionally, in some embodiments, the light jewels may be offset from the exterior surface of the housing by a distance which allows airflow between the interior and exterior of the housing. In this way, the airflow can facilitate heat transfer out of the housing so that the housing temperature does not get too high.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a wickless candle system 100 with light jewels 102 inserted into holes in the side walls of the decorative housing 104. In general, the decorative housing 104 houses a light source (refer to FIG. 2) which produces heat. Alternatively, the light source may be separate from a dedicated heat source (not shown). A tray 106 sits on top of the housing 104, and wax within a reservoir of the tray 106 is melted by the heat produced from the light source and/or dedicated heat source. In some embodiments, the housing 104 sits on a base 108 for decorative and/or thermal insulation purposes.

Generally, each light jewel 102 includes an ornament and a mounting structure. In some embodiments, the ornament and mounting structure may be formed as one integral piece. Alternatively, the ornament and mounting structure may be formed of two or more pieces combined together as a unit. The ornament may be mounted directly to the mounting structure or, in other embodiments, to an intermediate component between the ornament and the mounting structure.

Some examples of specific embodiments of the light jewel 102 are shown in subsequent figures and described in more detail below. Although some specific examples of light jewels 102 are shown in the figures and described herein, other embodiments may have similar or different physical features and may be capable of the same or different functionality. In this regard, the embodiments contemplated herein are not limited to a particular physical structure for coupling the ornament to the mounting structure or for coupling the mounting structure to the housing 104. In various embodiments, adhesives, snaps, threads, clip-on, twist-lock, friction, elastic deformation, wires, frames, supports, or other types of mechanisms may be used to secure the ornament to the mounting structure. In some embodiments, the structures may be coupled together in a manner that is temporary and intended for relatively easy decoupling at a later time, for example so that different ornaments may be used with the same mounting structure and/or housing 104. In one example, a mounting structure may have a standard mounting frame (or other mechanism) to support various ornaments. Alternatively, the structures may be coupled together in a manner that is permanent and intended to prevent non-destructive decoupling. In some embodiments, the overall shape of the mounting structure may vary (e.g., circular, elliptical, rectangular, square, star, etc.) depending on the shape of the corresponding holes in the housing 104.

In some embodiments, the ornament is mounted in alignment with the holes in the housing 104. In this way, light from within the housing 104 may be at least partially transmitted through an ornament 102 that is translucent. Alternatively, an ornament 102 that is opaque may be backlit to highlight the silhouette of the ornament 102. In some embodiments, the ornament 102 may have at least one surface, or internal feature, which diffuses light from the light source inside the housing 104.

Although one light jewel 102 is shown on each side wall of the housing 104, other embodiments may include multiple light jewels 102 on a single side wall of the housing 104. In some embodiments, one or more light jewels 102 may be installed on another panel (e.g., a top panel) of the housing 104, depending on the dimensions, shapes, and relative arrangement of the housing 104, the tray 106, and the base 108. In another embodiment, a light jewel 102 may be mounted so that an ornament is located within the housing 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the wickless candle system 100 and light jewels 102 of FIG. 1. In this illustration, the housing 104 is depicted with the tray 106 (refer to FIG. 1) removed. The light source 110 within the housing may be any type of source for generating and emitting light. Some examples of sources include, but are not limited to, incandescent lights, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and so forth. In many conventional embodiments, incandescent lights are used as the light source 110 to provide dual functionality of generating light for visual effects and heat for melting wax in the reservoir of the tray 106.

In one embodiment, the light jewels 102 are mounted to maintain a distance between the ornament and the exterior panels of the housing 104. This separation between the ornament and the exterior surface of the housing 104 may facilitate airflow between the internal cavity of the housing 104 (where the light source 110 is located) and the ambient environmental conditions outside of the housing 104. In one embodiment, the separation is sufficient to maintain a substantially unobstructed ventilation path through the panels of the housing. The degree to which some obstructions may be acceptable is dependent on each specific design and may rely on several factors. One factor is the ability to maintain sufficient airflow to control the thermal parameters of the housing 104, the wax, the light source 110, and so forth, within acceptable safety thresholds for operating and handling the wickless candle system 100.

FIG. 3 illustrates another view of a light jewel 102 of FIG. 1. The light jewel includes the ornament 122 and the mounting structure 124. In the depicted embodiment, the mounting structure 124 is a tube made of plastic, glass, metal, or another suitable material. The ornament 122 is mounted to a mounting surface of the mounting structure 124, which in the case of a tubular mounting structure may be an annular end surface. The mounting structure 124 of the light jewel 102 also includes one or more ventilation ports 126 which allow airflow 128 through the light jewel 102, as described above. Other embodiments may implement one or more ventilation ports 126 in a different configuration. Any number or size of ventilation ports 126 may be implemented, so long as the structural integrity of the mounting structure 124 is sufficient to maintain the ornament 122 in a position when the light jewel 102 is mounted in the housing 104. The mounting structure includes an engagement surface 130 that allows the light jewel to engage a separate housing. The engagement surface may engage the housing through friction or a small amount of adhesive. The engagement surface may also include an exterior dimension that engages the interior surface of a hole in a separate housing. FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the light jewel 102 of FIG. 3 taken at the location marked as “A.”

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a light jewel 102 with different locations for the ventilation ports 126. In general, at least one of the ventilation ports 126 is located at or near the end of the mounting structure 124 where the ornament 122 is mounted. This location ensures that the installation of a light jewel 102 into a housing 104 can be visually inspected for maintaining an unobstructed ventilation port 126.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a light jewel 102 with individual mounting prongs 132. The prongs 132 are mounted to and extend away from a mounting plate 134 which has a mounting surface 136 for mounting the ornament. In some embodiments, the mounting prongs 132 have non-planar surfaces 138 which facilitate installation of the light jewel 102 into a hole of the housing 104. The non-planar surface may include bumps, rises, a protruding member and so forth, that require elastic deformation during insertion of the light jewel 102 into the hole. This elastic deformation may be at least partially responsible for holding the light jewel 102 in place within the hole of the housing 104.

FIGS. 7-9 illustrate cross-sectional views of the light jewel of FIG. 6. In particular, FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the mounting plate 134, with the tips of the prongs 132 extending behind. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-section of the mounting prongs 132 behind the mounting plate 134. FIG. 9 illustrates another cross-section of the mounting prongs 132 behind the mounting plate 134.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a wickless candle system 100 with the light jewels 102 of FIG. 6. FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of the wickless candle system 100 and light jewels 102 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 illustrates an embodiment of a light jewel in which the extension structure has threads 142 to allow engagement to a separate housing.

The types of ornaments that may be used are virtually limitless. Ornaments may include, but are not limited to, stones, metalwork, carvings, picture holders (hanging or backlit with insulation material/space), decorative hooks, strings or chains or garlands to span two or more structures/hooks, charms, birthstones, initials or other alphanumeric characters or other symbols, names, insignias (for sports teams), logos, holiday graphics, decoration-ready canvases (for painting, stickers, etc.), and so forth. The types of themes (e.g., sports, holidays, pets, travel destinations, family, etc.) that may be used are not limited by the embodiments described herein. The sizes and shapes and quantities that may be used with different housings are not limited by the embodiments described herein.

In the above description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The scope of the invention is to be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A wickless candle system comprising:

a housing with at least one hole through a panel of the housing;

a wax reservoir;

a light mounted within the housing, wherein the light is configured to provide a source of heat to melt wax within the wax reservoir; and

an ornament mounted in a position of alignment with the hole through the panel of the housing, wherein the ornament is offset from the panel of the housing to maintain a substantially unobstructed airflow path between the ornament and the panel of the housing.

2. The wickless candle system of claim 1, further comprising a mounting structure coupled to the ornament, wherein a first side of the mounting structure supports the ornament in the position offset from the panel of the housing, and a second side of the mounting structure engages with a surface of the panel of the housing.

3. The wickless candle system of claim 1, wherein the position of the ornament relative to the hole through the panel of the housing and the light within the housing substantially prevents direct glare of the light source through the hole at a viewing position outside of the housing.

4. A light jewel comprising:

an ornament; and

a mounting structure coupled to the ornament, wherein the mounting structure has a tubular geometry and comprises: a mounting surface at approximately a first end of the mounting structure, wherein the mounting surface is configured to mount the ornament; an engagement surface at approximately a second end of the mounting structure, wherein the engagement surface has an exterior dimension to engage with an interior surface of a hole through a separate housing structure to mount the ornament in a fixed position that is offset by a space from an exterior surface of the separate housing structure.

5. The light jewel of claim 4, wherein the mounting structure defines an internal airflow channel, wherein the internal airflow channel provides at least a portion of a substantially unobstructed ventilation path for airflow which passes through the hole through the separate housing structure.

6. The light jewel of claim 5, wherein the mounting structure further defines, at least partially, a ventilation port through a sidewall of the mounting structure, wherein the ventilation port provides at least another portion the substantially unobstructed ventilation path for the airflow which passes through the hole through the separate housing structure.

7. The light jewel of claim 4, wherein the mounting structure is further configured to mount the ornament in alignment with a light source mounted within the separate housing structure to facilitate light transmission incident on a back side of the ornament.

8. The light jewel of claim 4, wherein the ornament is at least partially translucent and facilitates light transmission through the ornament.

9. The light jewel of claim 4, wherein the ornament comprises at least one diffusion surface to diffuse light transmission emitted from the hole through the separate housing structure.

10. A light jewel comprising:

an ornament;

a mounting structure coupled to the ornament, wherein the mounting structure comprises: a mounting surface on which the ornament is mounted; an extension structure coupled to the mounting surface at a first end of the extension structure, wherein the extension structure extends in a first direction away from the mounting surface; and at least one protruding member coupled to a second end of the extension structure, wherein the protruding member extends in a second direction that is approximately orthogonal to the first direction, and the protruding member is configured to engage with a perimeter surface of a hole through a separate housing structure to mount the ornament in a fixed position that is offset by a space from an exterior surface of the separate housing structure.

11. The light jewel of claim 10, wherein the extension structure maintains a substantially unobstructed ventilation path for airflow which passes through the hole through the separate housing structure.

12. The light jewel of claim 10, wherein the mounting structure is further configured to mount the ornament in alignment with a light source mounted within the separate housing structure to facilitate light transmission incident on a back side of the ornament.

13. The light jewel of claim 12, wherein the ornament is at least partially translucent and facilitates light transmission through the ornament.

14. The light jewel of claim 12, wherein the ornament comprises at least one diffusion surface to diffuse light transmission emitted from the hole through the separate housing structure.

15. The light jewel of claim 10, wherein the extension structure comprises at least two independent prongs, and the protruding member comprises at least first and second bumps on each prong, wherein the first and second bumps on each prong extend transversely and are separated by a space in the first direction, which space has dimensions to facilitate the first bump to engage an outer perimeter surface of the hole through the separate housing structure and the second bump to engage an inner perimeter surface of the hole through the separate housing structure.

16. The light jewel of claim 15, wherein the ventilation path for airflow passes between the prongs.

17. The light jewel of claim 10, wherein the extension structure comprises a cylindrical screw defining a hollow center cavity along a length of the cylindrical screw, wherein the protruding portion comprises screw threads extending outward from an exterior surface of the cylindrical screw, wherein the screw threads are configured to engage with corresponding screw threads at the hole through the separate housing structure.

18. The light jewel of claim 17, wherein the cylindrical screw further defines at least one port hole through a sidewall of the cylindrical screw, wherein the hollow center cavity and the port hole at least partially define a substantially unobstructed ventilation path for airflow which passes through the hole through the separate housing structure.