Candle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a candle which includes a base unit and a candle body which is mounted to the base unit. The candle body includes a wick and a fibre optic running therethrough. The base unit includes a light sensor configured to detect light from the wick, when lit. There is additionally provided a light source configured to operate in dependence on detection of light by the light sensor.

Claims

1. A candle, comprising a base unit and a candle body removably mounted to the base unit; wherein the candle body comprises a wick and a fibre optic running therethrough; and the base unit comprises: a light sensor configured, in use, to detect light emitted from the wick and transmitted via the fibre optic; and a light source configured to operate in dependence on detection of light by the light sensor.

2. The candle of claim 1, wherein the candle body comprises a recess in a portion thereof

3. The candle of claim 2, wherein the recess is provided in a lower portion of the candle body and is configured to receive at least a portion of the base unit for removably mounting the candle body to the base unit, in use.

4. The candle of claim 2, wherein the base unit comprises a raised upper portion configured to be received within the recess provided within the candle body.

5. The candle of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting members.

6. The candle of claim 1, wherein the light sensor is operable to output a signal indicative of: the presence or absence of light incident on the sensor; and/or a level of light incident on the sensor.

7. The candle of claim 6, wherein the light sensor is operable to output a control signal for enabling or disabling operation of the light source in dependence on the presence, absence and/or level of light incident on the light sensor.

8. The candle of claim 6, wherein the light sensor is operable to output a control signal for activating or deactivating the light source in dependence on the presence, absence and/or level of light incident on the light sensor.

9. The candle of claim 1, wherein the fibre optic runs substantially parallel to the wick along the length of the candle body.

10. The candle of claim 1, wherein the fibre optic is exposed at an end thereof, the exposed end being positioned proximal to the light sensor of the base unit, in use.

11. The candle of claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor configured, in use, to detect the presence of a candle body mounted to the base unit.

12. The candle of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor is operable, in use, to: output a control signal for disabling operation of the light source in dependence on the absence of a candle body mounted to the base unit; and/or output a control signal for enabling operation of the light source in dependence on the presence of a candle body mounted to the base unit.

13. The candle of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor is configured, in use, to identify the candle body mounted to the base unit; and to control operation of the light source in dependence on the identified candle body type.

14. The candle of claim 13, wherein the base unit is configured to adjust the intensity of light emitted from the light source in dependence on the identified candle body type.

15. The candle of claim 15, wherein the base unit is configured to adjust the colour of light emitted from the light source in dependence on the identified candle body type.

16. The candle of claim 11, wherein the candle body comprises a recess in a portion thereof, and further wherein the proximity sensor is configured to detect a depth of the recess within the candle body, the depth of the recess within the candle body being indicative of the size or type of the candle or type of candle mounted to the base unit.

17. The candle of claim 11, wherein the proximity sensor is configured, in use, to identify a rotational position of the candle body mounted on the base unit, and to control operation of the light source in dependence on the rotational position of the candle body mounted on the base unit.

18. The candle of claim 17, wherein the base unit is configured to adjust the intensity of light emitted from the light source and/or adjust the colour of light emitted from the light source in dependence on the rotational position of the candle body.

19. The candle of claim 17, wherein the proximity sensor is configured, in use, to detect variations in a surface of the candle body which indicative of the rotational position of the candle body on the base unit.

20. The candle of claim 19 wherein the candle body comprises a recess in a portion thereof, and further wherein the proximity sensor is configured, in use, to detect variations in a surface within the recess provided within the candle body.

21. The candle of claim 19, wherein the surface of the candle body comprises a surface profile.

22. The candle of claim 21, wherein the surface of the candle body comprises a castellated profile, and the proximity sensor is operable, in use, to identify the rotational position of the candle body in dependence on the orientation of the castellated surface profile.

23. The candle of claim 21, wherein the surface of the candle body comprises a sloped profile, and the proximity sensor is operable to identify the rotational position of the candle body in dependence on the distance between the sloped surface profile of the surface of the candle body and the proximity sensor.

24. A candle, comprising a base unit and a candle body removably mounted to the base unit; wherein the base unit comprises a proximity sensor configured, in use, to detect the presence of a candle body mounted to the base unit.

25. A candle body for use as part of a candle according to claim 1, the candle body comprising: a wick and a fibre optic running therethrough; and wherein the candle body comprises a recess therein configured to receive at least a portion of a base unit for removably mounting the candle body to the base unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0046] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a candle in accordance with the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 2 is a further perspective view of the candle shown in FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base unit forming part of the candle shown in the preceding Figures;

[0049] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the candle shown in the preceding Figures;

[0050] FIGS. 5A & 5B are side cross-sectional views of the candle shown in the preceding Figures illustrating the operational use thereof; and

[0051] FIGS. 6A & 6B are side cross-sectional views of a further embodiment of a candle according to the invention illustrating the operational use thereof.

[0052] The present invention relates generally to a candle 10, 110 comprising a base unit 12, 112 and a candle body 14, 114 removably mounted to the base unit 12, 112. The candle body 14, 114 includes a wick 16, 116 and in embodiments a fibre optic 16, 116 running through the candle body 14, 114. A light sensor 20, 120 is provided and configured, in use, to detect light from the wick 16, 116i.e. from a flame when the wick 16, 116 is lit. Upon detection of light from the wick 16, 116, a light source 22, 122 may be activated to illuminate the candle body 14, 114. In this way, the present invention provides a candle 10, 110 which may automatically illuminate when lit.

[0053] FIGS. 1-5B illustrate a first embodiment of a candle 10 in accordance with the present invention.

[0054] The candle 10 includes a base unit 12 and a candle body 14 removably mounted to the base unit 12. The candle body 14 is provided with a wick 16 and a fibre optic 18 running therethrough. The base unit 12 includes a light sensor 20 for detecting light associated with a flame 34 present when the candle 10 is lit. Specifically, light from the flame 34 is transmitted along the fibre optic 18 and is incident on the light sensor 20. Upon detection of light by the light sensor 20, a light source in the form of LEDs 12a, 12b, 12c may be activated to illuminate the candle body 14.

[0055] The candle body 14 is formed mainly of a combustible material, typically paraffin wax and, in the illustrated embodiment, is cylindrical having the wick 16 and fibre optic 18 running parallel substantially central along its length. A recess 32 is provided within the candle body 14, here at a lower end of the candle body 14 in the illustrated orientation. The recess 32 is shaped so as to correspond with a raised upper portion 28 on the base unit 12. In this way, the recess 32 and raised upper portion 28 provide means to removably mount the candle body 14 to the base unit 12, in use.

[0056] The raised upper portion 28 of the base unit 12 includes a clear (i.e. transparent) cover and houses components of the base unit 12, including the light sensor 20 and LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c. The cover allows for light to be transmitted therethroughe.g. from the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c to the candle body 14, and from the fibre optic 18 to the light sensor 20. The base unit additionally includes a proximity sensor in the form of infrared sensor 24. As is discussed in detail herein, the infrared sensor 24 is configured at least to identify whether the candle body 14 is mounted to the base unit 12.

[0057] Components of the base unit 12, i.e. the light sensor 20, LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c and the infrared sensor are operatively coupled to a circuit board 26 which may include one or more processors (not shown) for controlling operation of these components. The circuit board 26 may also include an interface for coupling a source of power to the circuit board 26 for powering components associated therewith. The source of power can include a battery or batteries provided within the base unit 12, or an interface for coupling the circuit board 26 to an external source of power.

[0058] As discussed herein, the base unit 12 includes a proximity sensor in the form of infrared sensor 24. The infrared sensor 24 is configured, in use, to detect the presence of the candle body 14 mounted to the base unit 12.

[0059] Specifically, the infrared sensor 24 is operable, in use, to output a control signal for controlling operation of one or more components of the base unit 12 in dependence on the presence (or absence) of the candle body 14 mounted to the base unit 12. As discussed herein, the control signal may be output directly to the one or more components of the base unit, or indirectly via a central control systeme.g. one or more processorsoperable to interpret the output from the infrared sensor and instruct operation of the one or more components of the base unit 12 accordingly.

[0060] The control signal may be for disabling operation of one or more of the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c in dependence on the absence of the candle body 14 mounted to the base unit 12. Similarly, the control signal may be for enabling operation of one or more of the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c in dependence on the presence of the candle body 14 mounted to the base unit 12. In this way, the infrared sensor 24 may be used to prevent operation of one or more of the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c when there is no candle body mounted to the base unit 12e.g. where the light sensor 20 may be exposed to natural light within the environment which may otherwise be interpreted as a lit wick. This may prevent excessive energy consumption by the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c.

[0061] The infrared sensor 24 is additionally configured, in use, to identify the candle body 14 mounted to the base unit 12, and to control operation of one or more of the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c in dependence on the identified candle body type. Controlling operation of the LEDs 22a, 22b, 22c may include adjusting the intensity or colour of light emitted into the candle body 14.

[0062] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a second embodiment of a candle 110 in accordance with the invention. The candle 110 is substantially the same as candle 10. Accordingly, like reference numerals have been used to represent like components.

[0063] In this embodiment, a proximity sensor in the form of infrared sensor 124 is provided which is configured to detect variations in the size of the candle body 114 (or features thereof) which are indicative of the type of candle body 114 mounted to the base unit 112. Specifically, the infrared sensor 124 is configured to detect a depth of a recess 132 within the candle body 114. Here, the depth of the recess 132 within the candle body 114 is indicative of the rotational position of the candle body 114 on the base unit 112 as described below.

[0064] As with base unit 12, the base unit 112 includes a light source in the form of LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c. Here, the base unit 112 is configured to control operation of the LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c in dependence on the rotational position of the candle body 114 on the base unit 112 as determined using the infrared sensor 124. Specifically, the base unit 112 is configured to adjust the intensity of light emitted from the LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c in dependence on the rotational position of the candle body 114. In this way, the intensity may be increased and/or decreased by a user simply by rotating the candle body 114 on the base unit 112.

[0065] The recess 132 within the candle body 114 includes a surface 136 having a sloped profile. Upon rotation of the candle body 114 with respect to the base unit 112, the portion of the surface 136 positioned directly above the infrared sensor 124 will change. By sloping the surface 136, the distance between the surface 136 and the infrared sensor 124 will change depending on the rotational position of the candle body 114. Accordingly, by measuring this distance the rotational position of the candle body 114 can be determined.

[0066] In FIG. 6A, the candle body 114 is in a first rotational position with respect to the base unit 112, with the distance X.sub.1 between the infrared sensor 124 and the surface 136 of the recess 132. In FIG. 6B, the candle body 114 is in a second rotational position with respect to the base unit 112, with the distance X.sub.2 between the infrared sensor 124 and the surface 136 of the recess 132. In the illustrated embodiment X.sub.1 is less than X.sub.2, however, it will be appreciated that the candle 110 may be configured in the opposite sense with X.sub.2 being greater than X.sub.1.

[0067] Infrared sensor 124 is operable to output a signal indicative of the measured distance X.sub.1/X.sub.2, and the intensity of light emitting from LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c may be controlled accordingly. As shown, with the candle body 114 in a first rotational position (as shown in FIG. 6A), the LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c are controlled to emit light at a first, high intensity. When the candle body 114 is in a second rotational position (as shown in FIG. 6B), the LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c are controlled to emit light at a second, lower intensity.

[0068] The LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c may be operable at discrete intensity levelse.g. the first and second intensity levels shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, or indeed any number of discrete levels which may be provided between a minimum (e.g. LEDs off) and a maximum intensity for the LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c. In alternative arrangements, the intensity of the LEDs 122a, 122b, 122c may be varied continuously in dependence on rotational position of the candle body 114.

[0069] The one or more embodiments are described above by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of protection afforded by the appended claims.

[0070] The invention is defined by the claims.