United States Patent
`Sandell
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Nov. 5, 1985
`
`[191
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`4,551,794
`
`[54]
`
`IMITATION CANDLE WITH MAGNETIC
`PENDULUM
`
`[76]
`
`Inventor:
`
`Sven Sandell, Kalkbacksgatan 5,
`Jiinkoping, Sweden
`
`[2]] Appl. No.: 652,032
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 19, 1984
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Sep. 21, 1983 [SE]
`Sweden .............................. .. 8305081
`
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. F21V 23/00
`Int. Cl.4 . .. . . .
`[51]
`
`[52] U.S. Cl. ............................ .. 362/392; 362/810
`[58] Field of Search ............... .. 362/810, 392, 811, 21,
`‘
`362/212, 411
`
`[56] ,
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,500,126
`4,328,534
`
`3/1970 Ford .................................... 362/810
`5/1982 Abe ................................... .. 362/392
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`8/1969 France .............................. .. 362/392
`2000120
`
`627919 11/1961
`Italy ....... ..
`362/810
`634497 2/1962 Italy .................................... 362/810
`
`Primary Examiner—Carl Stuart Miller
`Attorney, Agent, or Fz'rm—Sughrue, Mion, Zinn,
`Macpeak and Seas
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An imitation candle includes an elongated outer candle-
`casing (43), having located at one end thereof an elec-
`tric light bulb (1) carried on one end of a pendulum. The
`other end of the pendulum carries a counterweight (18)
`comprising, at least in part, a permanent magnet (21).
`The pendulum is mounted on two wire-like elements
`(15) extending in a common plane from a common con-
`nector (11) on the pendulum. The ends of the wire-like
`elements remote from one another are anchored in a
`
`holder (23) located around the pendulum. The poles of
`the permanent magnet (21) lie on a line extending at
`right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pendulum.
`The two wire-like elements (15) extending from the
`common connector (11) in diametrically opposite direc-
`tions preferably form conductors (3,4) leading to the
`electric light bulb.
`
`5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`Luminara 2008
`
`Liown V. Disney
`
`lPR2016-01834
`
`Luminara 2008
`Liown v. Disney
`IPR2016-01834
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 5, 1985
`
`4,551,794
`
`
`......37!!N.
`.7;,
`//[X/ll|‘l»“l"‘IrIl
`
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`15
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`

`
`1
`
`IMITATION CANDLE WITH MAGNETIC
`PENDULUM
`
`4,551,794
`
`2
`FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II—II in
`FIG. 1, with the suspension elements omitted for the
`sake of clarity;
`FIG. 3 illustrates a suspension element made of an
`electrically conductive rubber material and used in the
`arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a modified suspension element, also
`made of an electrically conductive rubber material;
`FIG. 5 illustrates a mode of attachment of the outer
`end of the suspension element according to FIG. 4; and
`FIG. 6 illustrates by way of example an electronic
`circuit for activating periodically the electromagnet
`included in the arrangement.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to an imitation candle compris-
`ing an elongated outer candle-casing having located at
`one end thereof an electric light bulb which is attached
`to one end of an elongated pendulum and which is
`balanced by a counterweight made totally or partially
`of a magnetic material and attached to the opposite end
`of
`the pendulum,
`the pendulum being pivotally
`mounted on pivot means at a location between the two
`ends of the pendulum, and which further comprises an
`electromagnet which is placed beneath the counter-
`weight and which is arranged to receive periodically an
`electric current so as to generate an electromagnetic
`field which acts upon the counterweight.
`Such an imitation candle is described, for example, in
`the published International Patent Application (PCT)
`WO 82/02756 and DE 3037706 A1. A common feature
`of all known candles or lamps of the kind described is
`that the pendulum suspension and pivot means com-
`prises a coil spring which embraces the pendulum. This
`coil spring supports the weight of the bulb, the pendu-
`lum and the counterweight, and is also intended to
`allow the pendulum to swing in all directions. The
`counterweight comprises a magnetizable material and is
`drawn down towards a periodically magnetised electro-
`magnet. When the counterweight is attracted towards
`the electromagnet, the spring is compressed in the di-
`rection of its longitudinal axis. When the electromag-
`netic field ceases to act on the counterweight, the coun-
`terweight, together with the pendulum and the light
`bulb are pushed upwards by the coil spring, in what can
`be referred to as a “rocking” movement. This down-
`ward and upward movement of the light bulb in no way
`corresponds to the flickering or fluttering movement of
`a candle flame, and the lamp therefore gives but a poor
`illusion of a real candle. The most serious disadvantage
`with such an arrangement, however, is that sooner or
`later the spring is weakened and, as a result, the coun-
`terweight strikes against
`the electromagnet with an
`irritating clicking sound. In addition, the force exerted
`by the spring does not normally act in a true vertical
`direction, causing the bulb to be obliquely positioned
`and therewith further impairing the desired effect of
`imitating a candle flame.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Consequently, a prime object of the invention is to
`provide an imitation candle of the aforedescribed kind
`in which the aforesaid downward and upward move-
`ment of the pendulum is either fully excluded or kept to
`a minimum, and in which the pendulum swings about an
`axis which extends substantially at right angles to the
`longitudinal axis of the pendulum.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`This object is fully realised with the arrangement
`defined in the following claims and hereinafter de-
`scribed with reference to the accompanying drawings,
`in which
`
`FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of an embodiment of
`the invention;
`
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`In FIG. 1 there is shown an electric light bulb I hav-
`ing a glass envelope which is evacuated or filled with
`gas and which has an electric filament 2 arranged
`therein. The filament 2 includes elongated electrical
`conductors 3 and 4 respectively, over which a voltage is
`applied to the filament. The glass envelope may have
`the shape of a candle flame, or alternatively can be
`housed in a lamp casing of suitable configuration, as
`illustrated at 5. The illustrated bulb 1 has a base part 6
`which is inserted into an upwardly open cup-shaped
`bulb holder 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the holder
`7 has an upper cylindrical part 8 which tightly embraces
`the base part 6 of the bulb 1 and holds the bulb in posi-
`tion by friction. It is, of course, also possible to bond the
`base part 6 firmly to the cup-shaped holder 7.
`The cylindrical part 8 of the holder 7 joins with a
`conical part 9, the pointed end of which merges with a
`narrow tube 10. Arranged on the lower end of the tube
`10 is a connector 11. The connector 11 has the form of
`a cylindrical annulus having two diametrically opposed
`grooves 12 and 13 which extend from the lower edge
`surface 14 of the connector 11 up to the narrow tube 10.
`As hereinafter made more apparent,
`the continuous
`body 7, 10, 11 forms a pendulum. The two electrodes or
`conductors 3,4 of the light bulb, said electrodes in the
`illustrated embodiment being bare and void of an exter-
`nal insulation, are drawn down through the interior of
`the bulb holder 7, through the tube 10 and out through
`respective grooves 12 and 13, and folded upwardly
`around the edges of said grooves in a manner to hold
`the bulb in the holder 7. Subsequent to inserting the
`bulb 1 into the bulb holder 7 and placing the conductors
`in the respective grooves 12,13 in the aforedescribed
`O manner, wire-like elements for supporting the pendu-
`lum are mounted in position. One such element 15 is
`illustrated in FIG. 3 and comprises a head 16 and a
`wire-like or strip-like stem. The element is made of an
`electrically conductive rubber material, for example,
`silicon rubber containing carbon particles, and the head
`of said element
`is located radially inwardly of the
`groove 12. The width or diameter of the head 16 is such
`that when inserted into the inner cavity 17 (FIG. 2) of
`the connectorll, the head 16 of said element 15 lies
`against the inner defining wall of the connector 11,
`thereby preventing the element
`from sliding out
`through the groove 12. The position of the head 16
`behind the groove 12 is shown in broken lines in FIG. 2.
`The stem of the wire-like element 15 extending from the
`head 16 thus lies externally of the annular connector 11.
`A further wire-like element 15 is placed in the groove
`13 located diametrically opposite the groove 12. The
`two heads 16 lie pressed against the un-insulated bulb
`
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`3
`thereby to provide an electrical
`and 4,
`electrodes
`connection between the electrodes 3 and 4 and respec-
`tive wire-like elements 15. The illustrated arrangement
`also includes a counterweight 18 having a neck 19 on
`which there is mounted an elongated insulating rod 20.
`Subsequent to the electrodes or conductors 3 and 4 and
`the wire-like elements 15 having been assembled in the
`aforedescribed manner, the rod 20 is inserted into the
`hollow interior of the tube 10 and there forms a positive
`insulating barrier between the electrodes 3 and 4. In the
`FIG. 2 embodiment the rod 20 has a rectangular cross-
`sectional
`shape,
`and suitably extends completely
`through the tube 10 and projects slightly into the bulb
`holder 7. As will be seen from FIG. 2, the rod 20 of the
`illustrated embodiment has two mutually opposing sur-
`faces which abut the inner wall of the tube 10 in a man-
`ner to positively hold the rod firmly in the tube, there-
`with also to hold the counterweight 18 in its intended
`position. The illustrated counterweight 18 has provided
`at the lower end thereof a permanent magnet 21. As
`beforementioned, the respective heads 16 of the two
`wire-like elements 15 have diametrically opposed loca-
`tions on the annular connector 11 and are extended
`outwardly in a common plane 22, FIG. 2, towards and
`over the edge of a sleeve 23 which partially encircles
`the counterweight 18 and the pendulum. The upper
`edge 24 of the sleeve 23 lies in a plane extending at right
`angles to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. As will be
`seen from FIG. 1, the ends of the wire-like elements 15
`are folded around said edge and in the assembled condi-
`tion of the arrangement lie pressed against the outer
`surface of the sleeve 23, as described hereinafter.
`The permanent magnet 21 lies above an electromag-
`net 25, having a coil 26 to which a voltage is periodi-
`cally applied from an electronic circuit 27, as hereinaf-
`ter described with reference to FIG. 6. The electronic
`circuit 27 is connected to mains voltage at 28 and has a
`supply conductor 29 and 30, for applying a voltage to
`the electric light bulb 1. These conductors 29 and 30 are
`drawn upwards along the outer surface of the sleeve 23
`and are bare of insulation, at least at
`the end parts
`thereof lying in the vicinity of the upper edge 24 of the
`sleeve 23. The sleeve 23 of the illustrated embodiment is
`made totally of an electrically insulating material, pref-
`erably a plastics material. The upper end parts 31 and 32
`of the two conductors 29 and 30 are brought
`into
`contact with the folded end parts 33 and 34 of the wire-
`like elements 15. To ensure electrically conductive
`contact of the non—insulated end parts of the conductors
`29 and 30 with the electrically conductive wire-like
`elements 15, a ring 35 is pressed on the sleeve 23, in the
`manner illustrated in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a modified wire-like element 36
`having two heads 37 and 38. The head 38 is placed in a
`respective groove in the connector 11 in the aforedes-
`cribed manner, and the other, oppositely located head
`37 is placed externally of the outer wall of the sleeve 23,
`against a groove 39 into which the conductor 29 has
`already been drawn, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Two wire-
`like elements 36 secured in the connector 11 and in the
`sleeve 23 respectively and lying in a straight line with
`one another will form a suspension means upon which
`the pendulum can pivot or swing. The wire-like ele-
`ments 15 form a similar pivot means. The wire-like
`element 36 is also assumed to be made from an elastic
`rubber material of an electrically conductive kind, al-
`though it should be noted that the wire-like element 36
`may also be made of an electrically conductive material,
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`4,551,794
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`4
`for example copper or a copper alloy. It is also possible
`to cause the conductors 29 and 30, particularly the end
`portions 31 and 32 of said conductors, to form the wire-
`like elements and to solder said end parts of the conduc-
`tors to the conductors or electrodes 3 and 4. The only
`essential factor in this respect is that the conductor-por-
`tions located on both sides of the connector 11 and
`extending between the connector and the upper edge 24
`of the sleeve 23 are uniformly tensioned and positively
`anchored. As will readily be understood, the pendulum
`with the light bulb 1 and the counterweight 18 are so
`balanced as to hang vertically in the absence of any
`force thereupon.
`The periodic pulses which act upon the permanent
`magnet 21, can be supplied from any suitable known
`circuit. One such circuit is illustrated in FIG. 6 and
`includes an RC-circuit having a resistance 39, an elec-
`trolyte capacitor 40 and a diode 41 over which a diac 42
`is activated periodically to send a voltage pulse to the
`coil 26, which during magnetization generates briefly a
`magnetic field within which the permanent magnet 21 is
`located. The poles of the permanent magnet are located
`at right angles, or at least substantially at right angles to
`the longitudinal axis of the pendulum, i.e. to the vertical
`axis of the pendulum when the pendulum hangs freely
`in the absence of any force thereupon. With such an
`arrangement, the permanent magnet 21, and thus the
`pendulum with light bulb 1, will execute a swinging
`movement about the centre of the connector 11, and the
`downward movement resulting in the disadvantages
`mentioned in the introduction is completely eliminated,
`or at least practically completely eliminated. The per-
`manent magnet 21 is suitably positioned so that the
`north pole and south pole of the connecting line lies at
`right angles to the pivot axis 22, as indicated in FIG. 2.
`As shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 at 43, the aforedes-
`cribed arrangement
`is housed in an outer casing 43
`having the shape and appearance of a candle body.
`The illustrated embodiment of the invention has been
`selected solely by way of example, and can be widely
`modified within the scope of the following claims. For
`example, the described counterweight may itself com-
`prise the permanent magnet.
`I claim:
`1. An imitation candle which comprises an elongated
`outer candle-like casing having located at one end
`thereof an electric light bulb (1) which is attached to
`one end of a pendulum and which is balanced by a
`counterweight (18) made totally or partially of a mag-
`netic material and attached to the opposite end of said
`pendulum, said pendulum being pivotally mounted on
`pivot suspension means (15; 36) at a location between
`the two ends of said pendulum, and which further com-
`prises an electromagnet (25) which is placed beneath
`the counterweight (18) and which is arranged to receive
`periodically an electric current so as to generate an
`electromagnetic field acting upon the counterweight,
`characterized in that said pivoting means comprises two
`wire-like elements (15, 36) which extend in a mutually
`common plane in mutually opposite directions from a
`common connector (11) on said pendulum, and the ends
`(33,34; 37) of said elements remote from the pendulum
`are firmly attached to a holder (23) surrounding the
`pendulum; and in that the counterweight (18) is sup-
`ported by or consists of a permanent magnet (21) with
`the north pole and the south pole thereof lying on a line
`extending substantially at right angles to the longitudi-
`nal axis of the pendulum.
`
`

`
`5
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`4,551,794
`
`6
`4. An imitation candle according to claim 1 or claim
`2, characterized in that the wire-like elements comprise
`-the electrical conductors (3,4) leading to the filament (2)
`of the electric light bulb (1).
`5. An imitation candle according to claim 1, charac-
`terized in that the two poles (N,S) of the permanent
`magnet (21) lie on a line which is at a right angle to a
`plane (22) containing both the two wire-like elements
`(15,36) and the longitudinal axis of the pendulum.
`Bk
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`2. An imitation candle according to claim 1, charac-
`terized in that the wire-like elements (15, 36) comprise
`an electrically conductive rubber-like material and form
`connecting conductors leading to the filament (2) of the 5
`electric light bulb (1).
`3. An imitation candle according to claim 1, charac-
`terized in that the wire-like elements (15, 36) comprise
`an electrically conductive metal.
`
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