Patent Publication Number: US-7214054-B2

Title: Magic candles and candle bases, magic advertisement displays

Description:
This application claims priority from Canadian Patent Application Serial Number 2,427,461 filed Apr. 22, 2003. 
   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the field of decoration. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a decorative apparatus. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Most objects used for to decorate are implements that do not include any moving part. However, the use of moving parts would enable to create aesthetic effects that are not achievable with devices or implements that do not include such moving parts. 
   In cases wherein a decorative apparatuses includes moving parts, the parts typically move with respect to each other through mechanical components that are actuated by a motor. However, in many cases, it is undesirable that such mechanical components be used as they are readily seen by the persons who are looking at the apparatus. Therefore, the source of movement is readily apparent, which may in some cases reduce the visual impact of the decorative apparatus. 
   In view of the above, there exists a need in the industry to provide a novel decorative apparatus. 
   An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved decorative apparatus. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In a first broad aspect, the invention provides an apparatus usable with a liquid. The apparatus includes a container for receiving the liquid and an object. The object is substantially buoyant and supportable by the liquid while being at least in part submerged into the liquid. A first magnet is mounted to the object, the first magnet defining first magnet first and second magnetic poles having opposed polarities. A second magnet is movable over a predetermined path relatively to the container. The second magnet defines second magnet first and second magnetic poles having opposed polarities. Moving the second magnet over the predetermined path modifies the magnetic fields present substantially adjacent the first magnet, thereby causing a force onto the object. 
   Advantageously, the apparatus is relatively easy to use and relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
   Moving the object through magnetic interactions creates a “magical” effect in that it creates the appearance of an object that moves with no external cause. 
   In some embodiments of the invention, the object may support a combustible light source, such as an oil lamp or a candle. In this embodiment of the invention, the water reflects at least in part the light emitted by the combustible light source, which also increases the aesthetics of the apparatus. 
   Another advantage of the present invention is that it is relatively easy to manufacture the apparatus such that is relatively quiet in operation. For example, this is performed by using an electrical motor for moving the second magnet and using relatively simple components to attach the second magnet to the motor, which eliminates the need to have noise-causing gears. 
   In another broad aspect the invention provides an apparatus usable with a liquid. The apparatus includes a container for receiving the liquid and an object, the object being substantially buoyant and supportable by the liquid while being at least in part submerged into the liquid. An actuator is operatively coupled to the object for moving the object relatively to the container. 
   Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the appended drawings: 
       FIG. 1 , in a perspective view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus including a container filled with a liquid and an object supported by the liquid; 
       FIG. 2 , in a perspective view, illustrates the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates the apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the object supporting candles; 
       FIG. 4 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with another alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates the apparatus of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7 , in a bottom plan view, illustrates the container and object of the apparatus of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9 , in a top plan view, illustrates the apparatus of  FIG. 8 ; 
       FIG. 10 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 11 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12 , in a partial top elevation view, illustrates the apparatus of  FIG. 11 ; 
       FIG. 13 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 14 , in a side elevation cross-sectional view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 15 , in a perspective view, illustrates an apparatus in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIGS. 1 to 3  illustrate an apparatus  10  including a container  12  for receiving a noncombustible liquid  14 . The apparatus  10  further includes an object  16 , the object  16  being substantially buoyant and supportable by the liquid  14  while being at least in part submerged into the liquid  14 . The liquid  14  is water, colored water or any other suitable non-combustible liquid. An actuator is operatively coupled to the object for moving the object  16  relative to the container  12 . 
   The container  12 , as seen in the drawings, is substantially cylindrical. However, as seen in other embodiments of the invention shown in other Figures, the container  12  may take any other suitable shape, such as for example, the shape of a half-sphere. Also, in some embodiments of the invention, the container  12  is made of substantially transparent or translucent material. For example, the container  12  may be made of glass, colored glass, or translucent plastic, among other possibilities. 
   In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the container  12  is not closed and, therefore, defines a top aperture  13  through which the liquid  14  may be poured and through which the object  16  may be inserted. In this embodiment of the invention, the liquid  14  therefore defines a surface  15  onto which the object  16  floats. 
   The object  16  is partially submersible and floatable onto the liquid  14 . In some embodiments of the invention, as seen in the drawings, the object  16  includes a top portion  17  and a submersible portion  21  extending substantially downwardly therefrom. The object  16  has a configuration, dimensions and density such that the top portion  17  is typically above the surface  15  while the submersible portion  21  is submerged into the liquid  14  when the object  12  floats onto the liquid  14 . For example, and non-limitingly, the submersible portion  21  is substantially concave and, more specifically, may take the shape of a portion of a sphere. In this case, the top portion may be substantially cylindrical, for example. 
   In some embodiments of the invention, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the object  16  includes at least one of graphics and lettering inscribed thereonto. The graphics may be line-graphics or may consist of colored regions of the object  16  that produce a relatively pleasant aesthetic effect. The graphics, lettering or both may be also used for promotional purposes to advertise a brand, a product or a service, among other possibilities. 
   In some embodiments of the invention, as seen from  FIG. 3 , the apparatus  10  is usable with a combustible light source and the top portion  17  takes the form of a light source support for supporting the combustible light source above the liquid  14  in a conventional manner. For example, the combustible light source includes a candle  19 , as seen in  FIG. 3 . In other embodiments of the invention, the combustible light source includes an oil lamp as described in further details hereinbelow. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , in some embodiments of the invention, the actuator includes a first magnet  18  and a second magnet  24 . The first magnet  18  is mounted to the object  16  and defines first magnet first and second magnetic poles  20  and  22  having opposed polarities. For example, the first magnet  18  is mounted into the object  16  and hidden from view. 
   The second magnet  24  is movable over a predetermined path relatively to the container  12 . The second magnet  24  defines second magnet first and second magnetic poles  26  and  28  having opposed polarities. The term “moving over a predetermined path” should be interpreted broadly and indicates either translational movements of the second magnet  24  relatively to the container  12 , rotational movement of the magnet  20  relatively to the container  12 , or combinations of rotational and translational movement of the second magnet  24  relatively to the container  12 . In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second magnet  24  rotates relatively to the container  12 , as described in further details hereinbelow. 
   In some embodiments of the invention, the second magnet  24  is movable over the predetermined path manually. However, in other embodiments of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second magnet  24  is movable by a motor  30  and a magnet support  32  rotatable by the motor  30  about a rotation axis  34 . The second magnet  24  is mounted to the magnet support  32  so that at least one of the second magnet first and second magnetic poles  26  and  28  are located eccentrically relatively to the rotation axis  34 . 
   In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the second magnet  24  is mounted to the magnet support  32  so that both the second magnet first and second magnetic poles  26  and  28  are located substantially eccentrically relatively to the rotation axis  34 . In this specific embodiment of the invention, the second magnet  24  is substantially U-shaped and defines a second magnet first leg  36 , a second magnet second leg  38  and a second magnet legs connecting portion  40  extending therebetween. 
   The second magnet first magnetic pole  26  is located into the second magnet first leg  36  and the second magnet second magnetic pole  28  is located into the second magnet second leg  38 . The second magnet  24  is attached to the magnet support  32  so that the second magnet first and second legs  36  and  38  are located substantially diametrically opposed to each other relatively to the rotation axis  34 . In this embodiment of the invention, the support  32  takes the form of an axle substantially co-linear with the rotation axis  34  and rotated about its longitudinal axis by the motor  30 . 
   Furthermore, the first magnet  18  is also substantially U-shaped and defines a first magnet first leg  42 , a first magnet second leg  44  and a first magnet legs connecting portion  46  extending therebetween. The first magnet first magnetic pole  20  is located into the first magnet first leg  42  and the first magnet second magnetic pole  22  is located into the first magnet second leg  44 . The first magnetic first and second legs  42  and  44  extend substantially towards the second magnet  24  when the object  16  is supported by the liquid  14 . Furthermore, the second magnet first and second legs  26  and  28  extend substantially towards the first magnet  18 . 
   In this embodiment of the invention, the first and second magnets  18  and  24  are aligned such that the first magnet first and second poles  20  and  22  face the second magnet first and second magnetic poles  26  and  28  in a manner such that poles having opposed polarities in different magnets face each other. This alignment is typically achieved spontaneously when the object  16  is first put in the liquid  14 . 
   As shown in the drawings, in the apparatus  10 , the first magnet  18  is mounted into the object  16  at a location substantially central in radial direction. Also, the candies  19  are supported by the object  16  at locations substantially radially peripheral onto the object  16 . 
   In some embodiments of the invention, the motor  30  and the second magnet  24  are mounted into a motor casing  48  that hides the motor  30  and the second magnet  24  from view. The container  12  is supported by a container support (not shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ) for suspending the container  12  spaced apart from the motor casing  48 . 
   Typically, the object  16 , the container  12  and the motor casing  48  are made of a non-magnetic material so that they do not interfere with the attraction between the first and second magnets  18  and  24 . For example, the object  16  may be made of plastic, a non-magnetic metal, cork or Styrofoam™, among other possibilities. Also, in some embodiments of the invention, the object  16  is an inflatable object. 
   In use, the liquid  14  is poured into the container  12  and the container  12  is positioned above the motor casing  48 . Then, the motor  30  is energized so that the magnet support  32  rotates about the rotation axis  34 , which in turn rotates the second magnet  24 . Since the second magnet first and second magnetic poles  26  and  28  move, the magnetic field present substantially adjacent the first magnet  18  is modified, which causes a magnetic force onto the first magnet  18  and consequently causes a force to be exerted onto the object  16 . In this case, the object  16  rotates about its center, which causes the candles  19  to move in a substantially circular path above the liquid  14  in a plane substantially parallel to the surface  15  of the liquid  14 . 
     FIGS. 4 ,  6  and  7  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein an apparatus  10   a  includes a container  12 ′ having the shape of a half-sphere. In these embodiments of the invention, the container  12 ′ might be supported spaced apart from the motor casing through a bowl support  52 . For example, the bowl support  52  has an upper surface  54  that conforms substantially to the shape of the container  12 ′ and a bottom surface  56  that engages and is supported by the motor casing  48 . 
   For example, the bowl support  52  includes a plurality of pillars circumferentially spaced apart from each other relatively to the container  12 ′. In another example, the bowl support  52  is substantially annular. 
   As shown in  FIG. 7 , the object  16  may support four candles  19  at substantially identically spaced angular locations substantially adjacent the periphery of the object  16 . 
     FIG. 5  illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein an apparatus  10   b  includes the container  12 ′ and an alternative object  16 ′. The object  16 ′ includes a cavity  23  for receiving oil thereinto and two oil lamps  58  extending substantially upwardly therefrom substantially at the periphery thereof. The oil lamps each include a respective wick  60  for conducting the oil towards the surface of the oil lamps  58  wherein the oil may be burned. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein an apparatus  10   c  includes an alternative magnet support  32 ′. The magnet support  32 ′ includes an axle  62  and a substantially elongated support member  64  defining a magnet support first end  66  and a magnet support second end  68  substantially longitudinally opposed to the magnet support first end  66 . 
   The magnet support first end  66  is located substantially adjacent the rotation axis  34  and a second magnet  24 ′ is attached to the magnet support substantially adjacent the magnet support second end  68 . In this embodiment of the invention, the second magnet  24 ′ is an alternative second magnet  24 ′ that is substantially elongated and has substantially longitudinally opposed magnet first and second magnetic poles  26  and  28 . The second magnet  24 ′ defines a second magnet longitudinal axis  29  that is substantially parallel to the rotation axis  34 . 
   Also, in this embodiment of the invention, the first magnet  18  is located substantially eccentrically relatively to the object  16  and a counter-weight  72  is added so that the object  16  is floatable substantially horizontally onto the liquid  14 . 
   In this embodiment of the invention, operating the motor  30  causes the second magnet  24 ′ to move in a substantially circular path inside the motor casing  48 . In turn, this causes forces onto the first magnet  18  that move the object  16  in a substantially circular path. 
     FIG. 10  illustrates another embodiment  10   d  of the present invention wherein the first magnet is an alternative first magnet  181  that is also a substantially elongated magnet. 
     FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate another alternative apparatus  10   e  wherein the object  16  is entirely submersible into the liquid  14 . In the apparatus seen in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the object  16  therefore does not support a combustible light source. The specific weight of the object  16  is such that a balance between the magnetic force exerted by the second magnet  24 ′ onto the first magnet  18  in a direction substantially longitudinally with respect to the second magnet  24 ′ is balanced by the buoyancy of the object  16 . In this embodiment of the invention, the container  12 ′″ is a substantially hermetically sealable enclosure fillable with the liquid. 
   For example the container  12 ′″ of the apparatus  10   e  is substantially spherical. In some embodiment of the invention, the spherical container has a diameter that is substantially equal to the distance between the rotation axis  34  and the second magnet  24 ′. Then, if the object  16  is positioned at an intermediate location between the top and bottom ends of the container, and if the buoyancy of the object  16  is suitable, the container  12 ″ stabilizes the object  16 ″ such that it remains at a substantially constant distance from the second magnet  24 ′. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate yet other embodiments of the invention wherein apparatuses  10   f  and  10   g  include a container  12 ′″ that is suspended from a top portion thereof through a substantially jib-shaped container support  52 ′. The motor  30 , magnet support  32  and second magnet  24  may be located either below the container  12 ′″ or above the container  12 ′″. 
     FIG. 15  illustrates yet another apparatus  10   h  wherein the motor  30 , magnet support  32 , second magnet  24  and motor casing  48  are located at the bottom of the container  12 , into the liquid  14 . 
   While the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings include two magnets, it is within the scope of the present invention to replace one of the magnets with a magnetizable member. The magnetizable member is magnetized by the magnet and therefore allows to create the magnetic interaction between the magnet and the magnetizable member that allows moving the object  14 . Also, in some embodiments of the invention, at least one of the first and second magnets may be either a permanent magnet or an electro-magnet. 
   In other embodiments of the invention, the apparatus is decorated, for example with flowers, lighting or colors. Also, it is within the scope of the invention to use the above-described apparatuses with a candle illumination device including a variable color light source, such as the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,857 issued to Andeweg on Oct. 2, 1973. 
   Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.