Rechargeable flameless candle systems and methods
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a recharging device includes a recharging port that receives a flameless candle and recharges a battery in the candle. The recharging device includes a first stacking structure that has a top portion and a bottom portion. There is a top stacking contact on the top portion. An electrical power bus is connected with the top stacking contact. The electrical power bus is also configured to provide electrical power to the flameless candle through the recharging port. The top portion of the first stacking structure is configured to mate with a bottom portion of a first stacking structure of another recharging device.
1. A recharging device for recharging a plurality of rechargeable flameless candles, wherein the recharging device comprises:
an input jack;
a tray including (i) at least four corners, wherein two of the four corners form a left-side of the tray and the other two corners form a right-side of the tray, and (ii) a plurality of recharging ports configured to receive the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles, wherein:
each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a cavity having a circular sidewall; and
the plurality of recharging ports are arranged in a row and column array;
two left-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different left-side corner of the tray, wherein:
the left-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and
a first of the two left-side stacking portions includes a first upper electrical contact and a first lower electrical contact;
two right-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different right-side corner of the tray, wherein:
the right-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and
a first of the two right-side stacking portions comprises a second upper electrical contact and a second lower electrical contact;
a left-side handle connected to both of the two left-side stacking portions;
a right-side handle connected to both of the two right-side stacking portions;
an electrical power bus electrically connected to the first upper electrical contact, the first lower electrical contact, the second upper electrical contact, and the second lower electrical contact, wherein the electrical power bus is configured to receive electrical power from the input jack and provide the electrical power to at least one of the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles through the plurality of recharging ports; and
a plurality of indicator light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) arranged to emit light through a surface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the tray, wherein:
the number of the plurality of indicator LEDs equals the number of recharging ports;
each of the plurality of indicator LEDs are arranged in a row and column array to correspond to at least one of the plurality of recharging ports;
each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle.
2. The recharging device of claim 1 , wherein:
a second of the two left-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact; and
a second of the two right-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact.
3. The recharging device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first lower electrical contact comprises a spring; and
the second lower electrical contact comprises a spring.
4. The recharging device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle by being ON while the rechargeable flameless candle is charging and OFF when the rechargeable flameless candle is fully charged.
5. The recharging device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a recharging contact capable of contacting a portion of a rechargeable flameless candle.
6. The recharging device of claim 5 , wherein the recharging contact is positioned within the cavity.
7. The recharging device of claim 5 , wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially within the cavity.
8. The recharging device of claim 5 , wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially outside the cavity.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the right-side stacking portions and the left-side handle comprise a “U” shape; and
the right-side stacking portions and the right-side handle comprise a “U” shape.
10. A system comprising:
a plurality of rechargeable flameless candles; and
a recharging device including:
an input jack;
a tray including (i) at least four corners, wherein two of the four corners form a left-side of the tray and the other two corners form a right-side of the tray, and (ii) a plurality of recharging ports configured to receive the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles, wherein:
each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a cavity having a circular sidewall; and
the plurality of recharging ports are arranged in a row and column array;
two left-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different left-side corner of the tray, wherein:
the left-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and
a first of the two left-side stacking portions includes a first upper electrical contact and a first lower electrical contact;
two right-side stacking portions each having one end connected to a different right-side corner of the tray, wherein:
the right-side stacking portions are each projecting upwardly; and
a first of the two right-side stacking portions comprises a second upper electrical contact and a second lower electrical contact;
a left-side handle connected to both of the two left-side stacking portions;
a right-side handle connected to both of the two right-side stacking portions;
an electrical power bus electrically connected to the first upper electrical contact, the first lower electrical contact, the second upper electrical contact, and the second lower electrical contact, wherein the electrical power bus is configured to receive electrical power from the input jack and provide the electrical power to at least one of the plurality of rechargeable flameless candles through the plurality of recharging ports; and
a plurality of indicator light-emitting diodes (“LEDs”) arranged to emit light through a surface that slopes downwardly from a top surface of the tray, wherein:
the number of the plurality of indicator LEDs equals the number of recharging ports;
each of the plurality of indicator LEDs are arranged in a row and column array to correspond to at least one of the plurality of recharging ports;
each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
a second of the two left-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact; and
a second of the two right-side stacking portions does not include an electrical contact.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the first lower electrical contact comprises a spring; and
the second lower electrical contact comprises a spring.
13. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of indicator LEDs visually indicates a charging state of a corresponding rechargeable flameless candle by being ON while the rechargeable flameless candle is charging and OFF when the rechargeable flameless candle is fully charged.
14. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of recharging ports includes a recharging contact capable of contacting a portion of a rechargeable flameless candle.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the recharging contact is positioned within the cavity.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially within the cavity.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the recharging contact is positioned at least partially outside the cavity.
18. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the right-side stacking portions and the left-side handle comprise a “U” shape; and
the right-side stacking portions and the right-side handle comprise a “U” shape.
19. The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of flameless candles comprises:
a flameless candle core including:
a bottom portion;
a rechargeable battery;
a plurality of candle LEDs configured to receive power from the rechargeable battery;
an electronics portion configured to receive power from the rechargeable battery and including an illumination circuit, wherein the illumination circuit is configured to vary current flowing through the plurality of candle LEDs to cause the plurality of candle LEDs to approximate a behavior of a real candle flame, and wherein the plurality of candle LEDs are secured to and extend upwardly from a part of the electronics portion;
a switch configured to interrupt a flow of current through the plurality of candle LEDs; and
a plurality of risers extending upwardly from the bottom portion and supporting the part of the electronics portion to which the plurality of candle LEDs are secured;
a casing portion including:
an interior region configured to receive the flameless candle core; and
an aperture in an upper surface of the casing portion; and
a protruding top portion extending above the aperture in the casing portion and including a flame-like shape and a translucent material,
wherein the plurality of candle LEDs are located below the protruding top portion such that light is emitted from the plurality of candle LEDs through the translucent material of the protruding top portion.