Kinetic flame device
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An apparatus for simulating a flame, comprising:
- a housing including an interior space with a first stage and a second stage;
a drive mechanism generating a time varying electromagnetic field that extends into the first stage;
a first stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the first stage, the first stage pendulum member including a first magnet on a first end and a second magnet on an second end, wherein the first end of the first stage pendulum member is positioned proximate to the drive mechanism, whereby the first magnet interacts with the time varying electromagnetic field;
a second stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the second stage, the second stage pendulum member including a magnet on a first end positioned proximate to the second end of the first stage pendulum member, wherein the second stage pendulum member further includes a flame silhouette element extending from a second end of the second stage pendulum member; and
a light source adapted to selectively transmit light onto the flame silhouette element.
3 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus creating a flickering flame effect. The apparatus includes a housing with an interior space with first and second stages. A drive mechanism generates a time varying electromagnetic field extending into the first stage. A first pendulum member is pivotally mounted in the interior space of the first stage and includes first and second magnets on first and second ends, with the first end proximate to the drive mechanism such that the first magnet interacts with the varying electromagnetic field to cause movement of the pendulum member. The apparatus includes a second pendulum member pivotally mounted in the second stage with a magnet on a first end proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member. A flame silhouette element extends from the second pendulum member, and a light source transmits light onto the flame silhouette, which is moving due to the magnetic coupling of the pendulum members.
180 Citations
43 Claims
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1. An apparatus for simulating a flame, comprising:
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a housing including an interior space with a first stage and a second stage; a drive mechanism generating a time varying electromagnetic field that extends into the first stage; a first stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the first stage, the first stage pendulum member including a first magnet on a first end and a second magnet on an second end, wherein the first end of the first stage pendulum member is positioned proximate to the drive mechanism, whereby the first magnet interacts with the time varying electromagnetic field; a second stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the second stage, the second stage pendulum member including a magnet on a first end positioned proximate to the second end of the first stage pendulum member, wherein the second stage pendulum member further includes a flame silhouette element extending from a second end of the second stage pendulum member; and a light source adapted to selectively transmit light onto the flame silhouette element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A kinetic flame device, comprising:
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a housing with a sidewall defining an interior space with a first stage and a second stage; an elongated, first pendulum member with a first permanent magnet positioned near a first end and second permanent magnet positioned near a second end, wherein the first pendulum member is pivotally mounted within the first stage; an elongated, second pendulum member with a third permanent magnet positioned near a first end and a flame silhouette element extending from a second end, wherein the second pendulum member is pivotally mounted within the second stage of the housing with the first end of the second pendulum member spaced apart and proximate to the second end of the first pendulum member; during an operating time period, a coil providing a time-varying magnetic field within a portion of the first stage containing the first end of the first pendulum member; and a light source directing light toward the flame silhouette element. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A flame simulator, comprising:
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an electrically driven motion engine including a coupling member, wherein the motion engine generates chaotic motion at the coupling member in at least two dimensions; a movable flame body magnetically coupled to the coupling member such that the chaotic motion of the coupling member is transferred to the movable flame body, and a light projector emitting a spot of light towards the flame body, wherein the motion engine further comprises; a hollow housing a sidewall defining a first end and a second end; an electromagnetic coil proximate to the first end of the housing; a drive circuit coupled to the coil and providing a signal to the drive coil to produce a time-varying magnetic field in a vicinity of the drive coil; a support wire spanning across the housing and affixed to the housing sidewall wherein the support wire is V-shaped so that a vertex of the support wire is near a midpoint of the housing, wherein the support wire is located at a position along the sidewall that is closer to the second end than to the first end; and a pendulum having a hole, wherein the support wire passes through the hole allowing the pendulum to pivot about the hole on the support wire. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27)
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22. A flame simulator, comprising:
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an electrically driven motion engine including a coupling member, wherein the motion engine generates chaotic motion at the coupling ember in at least two dimensions; a movable flame body magnetically coupled to the coupling member such that the chaotic motion of the coupling member is transferred to the movable flame body; a light projector emitting a spot of light towards the flame body; a hollow housing having a sidewall defining a first end and a second end; and a flame support wire spanning across the housing and affixed to the housing sidewall wherein the support wire is V-shaped so that a vertex of the support wire is near a midpoint of the housing, wherein the support wire is located at a position along the sidewall that is closer to the second end than to the first end, wherein the flame body comprises a pendulum having a hole, wherein the flame support wire passes through the hole allowing the pendulum to pivot about the hole on the flame support wire, the pendulum having a first end proximate to the first end of the housing and a second end proximate to the second end of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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28. A light bulb, comprising:
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a bulb-shaped housing including an interior space with a first stage and a second stage; a flame element pivotally mounted within the housing and having a surface operable to reflect a projected light spot; a motion engine that moves the flame element with a time-varying magnetic field that extends into the first stage; and a first stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the first stage, the first stage pendulum member including a first magnetic coupling member on a first end and a second magnetic coupling member on a second end, wherein the first end of the first stage pendulum member is positioned proximate to the motion engine, whereby the first magnetic coupling member interacts with the time varying electromagnetic field; wherein the flame element is pivotally mounted within the interior space of the second stage, the flame element including a magnetic coupling member on a first end positioned proximate to the second end of the first stage pendulum member. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for simulating a flame, comprising:
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a housing including an interior space with a first stage and a second stage; a drive mechanism generating a time varying electromagnetic field that extends into the first stage; a first stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the first stage, the first stage pendulum member including a first magnetic coupling member on a first end and a second magnetic coupling member on a second end, wherein the first end of the first stage pendulum member is positioned proximate to the drive mechanism, whereby the first magnetic coupling member interacts with the time varying electromagnetic field; a second stage pendulum member pivotally mounted within the interior space of the second stage, the second stage pendulum member including a magnetic coupling member on a first end positioned proximate to the second end of the first stage pendulum member, wherein the second stage pendulum member further includes a flame silhouette element extending from a second end of the second stage pendulum member; and a light source adapted to selectively transmit light onto the flame silhouette element. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification