US3194955A

US3194955A - Artificial candle

Info

Publication number: US3194955A
Application number: US215377A
Authority: US
Inventors: Roderic M Koch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-08-07
Filing date: 1962-08-07
Publication date: 1965-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-13

Description

July 13, 1965 R. M. KOCH ARTIFICIAL CANDLE Filed Aug. 7, 1962 .M J 4 8 4 a 6 6 m x n I 3 2 5 2 w m 0N a: w m Ill. 9 9 919 c R w A H l ll m y ||fl.. 0 r 2 P w m a w M Q 4 9 4. 1!- l m5 M.- 4 l 9 6 x v I. I} w 2A 2 m m 5 a m a. 6 F k United States Patent 3,194,955 ARTIFICIAL CANDLE Roderic M. Koch, P1). Box 358, Evansville, Ind. Filed Aug. 7, 1952, Ser. No. 215,377 2 Claims. (Ci. 240-1064) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in portable lamps and more particularly and specifically to a novel and useful imitation, self-contained ceremonial candle.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an attractive, simulated candle which is battery powered to provide a long-lasting, windproof simulated flame light for use in religious and other ceremonies.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a simple fireproof candle for decorative or ceremonial purposes.

Still another object of the present invention rests in the provision of a realistic, simulated candle which has authentic appearance and which may be easily handled for ceremonial purposes Without extinguishing the light or flame thereof, and which is at all times fireproof and safe in handling.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive, yet attractive and durable artificial candle.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art when the following general statement and description are read in the light of the accompanying drawings.

The nature of the present invention may be stated in general terms as relating to an imitation or artificial candle primarily for ceremonial uses consisting of an elongated tubular housing, a removable cap in one end of said housing, a lamp bulb socket in said removable cap, a metallic cage secured to and depending from said cap within said housing, spring means in the bottom of said cage compressing dry cell batteries therein toward said cap and lamp bulb socket, and a flame simulating lamp bulb fixed in said socket and having electrical contact with the uppermost of said dry cells in said cage.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is an elevational View of the novel candle with internal parts illustrated in dotted line for clearer illustration;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section of the candle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on line 33, FIG. 2.

The imitation candle constituting the present invention consists of a housing having a bottom closure 12, a top closure 14, a lamp bulb 16, and a battery cage, generally designated 17, supported within the housing in operable relationship to the lamp bulb 16.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the housing 10 consists of an elongated tube of opaque, colored plastic or other non-conductive material. The bottom closure 12 may be separately or integrally formed relative to the tube and is of the same material and appearance to provide a finished end thereon.

The top closure or cap 14 consists of a disc having an undercut annular groove 15 on the underside thereof for Patented July 13, 1965 reception of the wall of the housing about its open end, and said groove defining a depending plug portion 18 centrally thereof. The cap 14 is formed from a metallic, conductive material and is provided centrally therethrough with a threaded passage 20 forming a lamp base socket for the threaded reception of the metallic base 22 of the flame simulating lamp bulb 16.

Secured to and depending from the cap 14 is a cage 17 for the reception and retention of a plurality of dry cell batteries 24 in a manner to be hereinafter described. The cage 17 consists of a pair of

elongated U-shaped brackets

26 and 28, each composed of flat, spring metal straps which are positioned one within the other and at right angles to one another so that the bottom legs of the two cross and form a bottom platform 30 for the cage 17.

The free ends of the two legs of the U bracket 26 are secured, as at 32, in diametric opposition to the pendant wall of the plug portion 18 of top cap 14 in conductive contact therewith. One leg of the U bracket 28 is also secured to the plug portion 18 of the cap 14 at a point from the points of attachment of bracket 26. The second leg 34 of bracket 28 is shorter than the other leg and terminates short of the cap 14, as is best seen in FIG 2.

A metallic, coil spring 36 is secured within the cage to the bottom platform 30 to project for a spaced distance thereabove. A non-conductive ring or collar 38 is secured to the underside of plug portion 18 of cap 14 concentrically about the lamp base socket opening in the cap. The thickness of collar 38 is greater than the height of the usual dry cell terminal 40 above the cell casing.

When two dry cell batteries 24 are placed in end to end relationship in cage 17 through the opening provided by deforming the upper free end of bracket leg 34 outwardly, an open circuit is created from the terminal on the top battery, through the lower battery, the spring and bracket legs to the metallic cap 14. When the terminal base of lamp bulb 16 is moved downwardly into contact with the terminal 40 on the upper battery the circuit is closed, energizing the lamp.

As is best seen in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the lamp is lighted and extinguished by rotating it from the full line to the dotted line positions shown, into and out of contact with the uppermost dry cell.

As is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is contemplated that the length .of tube 10 be such as to provide beneath the bottom platform 30 of the cage element 17 therein and the fixed bottom closure 12, ample length and space to accommodate two additional dry cell batteries in stored condition where they are readily available for replacement of those in operative condition in the cage upon failure thereof.

Thus, it may be seen from the foregoing that a simple, inexpensive and attractive candle simulating lamp has been provided which attains and satisfies all of the objects and attributes hereinbefore set forth.

Thus having described and explained my invention in terms of its structural components and its operation, what I desire to claim is:

1. An imitation ceremonial candle comprising, an elongated tubular housing of non-conductive material, a cap fixed in the bottom of said housing, a metallic cap removably plugging the top end of said housing, a metallic cage suspended from said top cap telescopically within said housing, said cage consisting of two U-shaped metal- 3 lic strips seated one within the other and at right angles thereto, a metallic spring secured to the inside bottom face of said cage, a plurality of dry cell batteries supported vertically in said cage With the lowermost battery seating on said spring, an insulating collar interposed between said top cap and the uppermost battery in said cage, and a flame simulating lamp bulb screw seated in said top cap and contacting a terminal of the uppermost battery in said cage.

2. An imitation ceremonial candle as defined in claim 1 wherein both upper extremities of one and one upper extremity of the other of the two U-shaped metallic strips are secured to and in electrical contact with said metallic top cap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,710,418 4/29 Gross 240-1054 2,097,222- 10/ 3-7 Tompkins et al. 24010.66 2,296,287 9/42 Leyde 240-10.6 2,377,161 5/45 Le Strange et a1 240-10.66 2,381,520 8/45 Saunders 24010.66

FOREIGN PATENTS 811,806 8/51 Germany.

EVON C. BLUNK, Primary Examiner.

NORTON ANSHER, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN IMITATION CERMONIAL CANDLE COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED TUBULAR HOUSING OF NON-CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL, A CAP FIXED IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID HOUSING, A METALLIC CAP REMOVABLY PLUGGING THE TOP END OF SAID HOUSING, A METALLIC CAGE SUSPENDED FROM SAID TOP CAP TELESCOPICALLY WITHIN SAID HOUSING, SAID CAGE CONSISTING OF TWO U-SHAPED METALLIC STRIPS SEATED ONE WITHIN THE OTHER AND AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO, A METALLIC SPRING SECURED TO THE INSIDE BOTTOM FACE OF SAID CAGE, A PLURALITY OF DRY CELL BATTERIES SUPPORTED VERTICALLY IN SAID CAGE WITH THE LOWERMOST BATTERY SEATING ON SAID SPRING, AN INSULATING COLLAR INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID TOP CAP AND THE UPPERMOST BATTERY IN SAID CAGE, AND A FLAME SIMULATING LAMP BULB SCREW SEATED IN SAID TOP CAP AND CONTACTING A TERMINAL OF THE UPPERMOST BATTERY IN SAID CAGE.