Patent Publication Number: US-7591565-B2

Title: Display device for creating a backlit effect on a display article

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This non-provisional application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/881,606 (filed on Jul. 27, 2007) now abandoned. The two applications list the same inventor. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable 
   MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to the field of decorative candleholders and display devices. More specifically, the invention comprises a candle container configured to provide ambient backlighting for a user-selectable display article such as a picture. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Various decorative candleholders that utilize a candle light source to illuminate a display article (such as a picture) are known in the prior art. Each of these prior art display devices use different illumination techniques to achieve a unique visual effect. Despite the existence of these types of devices there remains a need for a picture display device which is capable of imparting greater warmth and animation to a user-selected picture. It is also desirable for the device to be configured such that the user may easily change the picture displayed in the device from time to time. It is further desirable that such a display device be easy and cost-effective to manufacture and ship. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a display device for creating a backlit effect on a display article—such as a photograph—with a candle. The display device includes a candle container, a display panel attached to the wall of the candle container by a stand-off creating a pocket. A sleeve fits into the pocket. The pocket is formed between the inside wall of the candle, display panel, and stand-off. The pocket receives the sleeve which receives the display article. The sleeve, display panel, and inside wall allow the light of the candle to transmit through the display device and create a backlit effect on the display article that is viewable through the display panel. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the stand-off and inside wall of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view, showing the sleeve of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the sleeve of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view, showing the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view, showing the insertion of sleeve into the pocket of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a top view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a top view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a top view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 10 
                 display device 
               
               
                 14 
                 display panel 
               
               
                 18 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 22 
                 inside wall 
               
               
                 30 
                 picture 
               
               
                 34 
                 mounting studs 
               
               
                 38 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 42 
                 display panel 
               
               
                 46 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 50 
                 mounting bores 
               
               
                 54 
                 advertisement 
               
               
                 58 
                 matrix 
               
               
                 62 
                 sleeve 
               
               
                 66 
                 inner sleeve area 
               
               
                 70 
                 first side wall 
               
               
                 74 
                 second interior wall 
               
               
                 78 
                 inside wall face 
               
               
                 82 
                 front cover 
               
               
                 86 
                 tab 
               
               
                 90 
                 second sleeve 
               
               
                 94 
                 second inside wall 
               
               
                 98 
                 back cover 
               
               
                 102 
                 sleeve 
               
               
                 106 
                 second side wall 
               
               
                 12 
                 candle container 
               
               
                 16 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 20 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 24 
                 candle 
               
               
                 28 
                 wick 
               
               
                 32 
                 mounting bores 
               
               
                 36 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 40 
                 picture 
               
               
                 44 
                 pocket 
               
               
                 48 
                 spacer 
               
               
                 52 
                 mounting studs 
               
               
                 56 
                 wall 
               
               
                 60 
                 inner container 
               
               
                 64 
                 first fold 
               
               
                 68 
                 back wall 
               
               
                 70 
                 first interior wall 
               
               
                 76 
                 third interior wall 
               
               
                 80 
                 stand-off 
               
               
                 84 
                 back cover 
               
               
                 88 
                 notch 
               
               
                 92 
                 second fold 
               
               
                 96 
                 front cover 
               
               
                 100 
                 first fold 
               
               
                 104 
                 inner sleeve area 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention, including candle container  12  and display panel  14 , is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In the preferred embodiment candle container  12  has four walls, first side wall  70 , second side wall  106 , back wall  68  and inside wall  22 . Candle container  12  surrounds candle  24  which has wick  28 . Candle  24  may be made of various hydrocarbon materials including waxes or gels. It is preferred that candle  24  be made of a clear material, however, as will be described in greater detail subsequently. In the current embodiment, candle  24  is a rectangular block of material, but candle  24  may assume many shapes. Candle container  12  is generally rectangular in shape (having a square cross-section), having four walls and a base, although candle container  12  may assume many different shapes and have various number(s) of walls. Spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  extend outwardly from a wall of candle container  12  annotated as inside wall  22 . It is important that inside wall  22  be made of a clear or translucent material for reasons that will be explained in greater detail subsequently. Each spacer  16 ,  18 , and  20  has a corresponding interior wall, first interior wall  72 , second interior wall  74 , and third interior wall  76 , consecutively. Spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  and interior wall  72 ,  74 , and  76  form a U-shaped stand-off  80 . The reader will note that spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  are integrated with candle container  12 . In the preferred embodiment, candle container  12  and spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  are made from a common piece of glass or clear plastic (such as polycarbonate). This optimizes the manufacturing process since attaching spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  to candle container  12  with adhesive or mechanical fasteners adds another stage and potential bottleneck in the manufacturing process. Display panel  14  is a separate component which is attached to spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  later in the manufacturing process. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of stand-off  80 . As discussed previously, spacers  16 ,  18  and  20  are integrated with candle container  12  (shown in  FIG. 1 ). In the preferred embodiment, first interior wall  72  of spacer  16  meets inside wall face  78  and inside wall  22  such that the angle between interior wall  72  and inside wall face  78  is obtuse. 
   In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 3 , display panel  14  is attached to spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  by a contact adhesive such as a glue or epoxy. When display panel  14  is attached to spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20 , stand-off  80  separates display panel  14  from inside wall  22  and inside wall face  78  forming pocket  26 . Therefore pocket  26  is enclosed by display panel  14 , inside wall face  78 , first interior wall  72 , second interior wall  74 , and third interior wall  76 . The top of pocket  26  is open for receiving a display article such as a picture or photograph. 
     FIG. 4  illustrates sleeve  62 . Sleeve  62  is formed by front cover  82  and back cover  84 . Front cover  82  and back cover  84  meet at fold  64 . Back cover  84  is shown partly in broken lines, because it is viewed through a transparent front cover  82 . An inner sleeve area  66  is formed between front cover  82  and back cover  84 . Inner sleeve area  66  can accept a display article such as a picture or photograph. Back cover  84  is preferably transparent or opaque and made of a material that allows light to pass through it. 
   An alternate embodiment of sleeve  102  of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternate sleeve  106  has a first fold  100  and a second fold  92  at opposing ends connecting front cover  96  to back cover  98 . An inner sleeve area  104  is formed between front cover  96  and back cover  98 . Inner sleeve area  104  can be accessed by applying pressure to both first fold  100  and second fold  92 , bowing front cover  96  and back cover  98  away from one another. At rest, alternate sleeve  106  lies flat and can fit into pocket  26  (not shown). 
   A top view of candle container  12  is provided in  FIG. 6 . The reader will note that picture  30  rests between front cover  82  and back cover  84  of sleeve  62 . Sleeve  62  rests between display panel  14  and inside wall  22  in pocket  26 . When wick  28  is lighted, candle light passes through inside wall  22  and back cover  84  striking the back of picture  30 . This creates a backlit effect on the picture  30 . The term “backlit effect” as used herein means any effect created on a display article when light from a light source strikes the display article on one side and the display article is viewed from the opposite side. The natural flickering and the orange light emitted by the burning candle, makes skin tones in photographs appear more lifelike and pictures appear more aesthetically pleasing. In the present embodiment, it is desirable for candle  24  to be made of a clear material so that candlelight can pass through candle  24  and inside wall  22 . 
     FIG. 7  illustrates the placement of sleeve  62  inside of pocket  26 . Front cover  82  and back cover  84  are such a height that when fold  64  contacts third interior wall  76  at the deepest part of pocket  26 , both front cover  82  and back cover  84  protrude out of the top of pocket  26 , creating tab  86 . Tab  86  can be easily grasped by a user in order to simply and quickly change or adjust a display article. When pulling sleeve  62  from pocket  26 , fold  64  prevents a display article from slipping back into pocket  26 . In an alternate embodiment, shown in  FIG. 8 , sleeve  62  is accessed through notch  88 . Like tab  86 , notch  88 , allows a user to grasp and remove sleeve  62  thereby making it simpler and quicker to change or adjust a display article. 
     FIG. 9  illustrates an alternate embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  have mounting bores  32  which are blind holes bored into the spacers. Mounting bores  32  are sized to receive mounting studs  34  which are attached to display panel  14 . Other mechanical fasteners such as screws or rivets may also be used to attach display panel to spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20 . Contact adhesive may be used in addition to the mechanical fasteners. For example, contact adhesive may be injected into mounting bores  32  to prevent display panel from separating from the candle container. 
   An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In this embodiment, display panels,  42  and  14  are provided on both sides of candle container  12  to allow multiple display articles to be shown. Spacers  36  and  38  extend away from candle container  12  on the side of candle container  12  opposite of spacers  16  and  18 . Display panel  42  is attached to spacers  36  and  38 . Sleeve  62  is then inserted into the pocket formed by candle container  12 , spacers  36  and  38 , and display panel  42 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the display device may be further improved by providing wall  56  within candle container  12  to separate candle  24  from matrix  58 . Wall  56  is a clear vertical cylinder. It may be made of glass, polycarbonate or other material capable of withstanding the heat produced when burning candle  24 . Matrix  58  is preferably a clear gel that dispenses a volatile fragrance when candle  24  is lit. Matrix  58  may also contain decorative objects such as flower petals, colored glass or beads. As a further improvement of the embodiment of  FIG. 11 , candle  24  may be provided in inner container  60  to allow for easy replacement when candle  24  is completely consumed as shown in  FIG. 12 . If inner container  60  is not used, residue from candle  24  would remain within wall  56  after candle  24  is consumed. In such a case, the residue must be scraped out of the region enclosed by wall  56  before a replacement candle is placed within wall  56 . However, using the embodiment of  FIG. 12 , inner container  60  may be easily removed from candle container  12  and a replacement candle and container may be inserted in its place. This allows the display device to be used even after the original candle is completely consumed. 
   The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It is should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. For example, candle container  12  may assume various angular or curvilinear cross-sectional shapes. Candle container  12  need not have a cross-section in the shape of a square. Thus, the scope of the invention should therefore be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.