Patent Abstract:
A multifunction decorative torch comprising has a base providing an upwardly directed light, a cap supporting a liquid fueled torch insert having a wick and a fuel reservoir, and an outer wall supporting the cap and defining an interior space between the base and cap. The upwardly directed light illuminates the outer wall from within the interior space. The liquid fueled torch insert is supported by the cap such that the wick burns outside the interior space between the base and cap and the fuel reservoir is at least partially inside the interior space between the base and cap.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to decorative torches in general and, more particularly, to decorative torches having multiple modes of use. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Consumers have had access to liquid fuel burning decorative torches for some time. Some of these are user refillable and may provide utility beyond mere decoration, such as pest repellence. However, many liquid fuel burning torches are unsuitable for indoor use. In addition, users may have had to choose between a large flame, and other decorative aspects that can be provided from a smaller, more recessed flame, such as back lighting of a decorative pattern. 
         [0003]    Light emitting diode (LED) devices can be utilized for decorative purposes, and are now sufficiently efficient to provide many hours of illumination from a single battery or set of batteries. However, most LEDs sufficiently powerful to provide usable lighting effects are not pleasant for direct viewing. They are highly efficient but still do not replicate the visually pleasing spectrum of a combusting fuel. Moreover, LEDs do not directly provide utility beyond their appearance. By design and due to their inherent efficiency, they do not produce sufficient waste heat to activate insect repellants, scents, or other chemicals. 
         [0004]    What is needed is a system for addressing the above, and related, concerns. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The invention of the present disclosure, in one aspect thereof, comprises a multifunction decorative torch having a base providing an upwardly directed light. A cap supports a liquid fueled torch insert having a wick and a fuel reservoir. An outer wall supports the cap and defines an interior space between the base and cap. The upwardly directed light illuminates the outer wall from within the interior space. The liquid fueled torch is supported by the cap such that the wick burns outside the interior space between the base and cap and the fuel reservoir is at least partially inside the interior space between the base and cap. 
         [0006]    In some embodiments, a lighting insert interposes the outer wall and the upwardly directed light such that the upwardly directed light shines through the insert to illuminate the outer wall. The lighting insert may be decorative so as to impart a pattern to the light shining therethrough. The outer wall may be transparent. In other embodiments, the outer wall provides a pattern therein that is viewable outside the wall the when the outer wall is illuminated by the upwardly directed light. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the upwardly directed light comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) selectively emitting a plurality of different visible colors. A battery compartment may be located in the base. The base may include a user control for selectively activating the LEDs. 
         [0008]    The liquid fueled torch may further comprise a skirt that fits onto the cap and retains the liquid fueled torch a predetermined distance above the base. The skirt may have a threaded and removable connection to the fuel reservoir. The skirt may define a wick holder for the wick. 
         [0009]    The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a multifunction decorative torch having a base with a plurality of lights, a cap with a liquid fueled torch having a wick and a fuel reservoir, and an outer wall supporting the cap above the base and defining an interior portion. The reservoir is supported at least partially inside the interior portion. The reservoir remains a predetermined distance above the base and has a predetermined width sufficiently less than the width of the interior portion that the plurality of lights in the base fully illuminates the outer wall along the interior portion that is occupied by the reservoir. 
         [0010]    In some embodiments, the plurality of lights comprise a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that selectively illuminate the interior portion with a plurality of different visible colors. A user control may be provided on the base that selectively activates the plurality of LEDs. 
         [0011]    The device may further comprise a decorative insert placed next to the outer wall in the interior portion such that the plurality of lights illuminate the decorative insert. The outer wall may provide a pattern thereon that is viewable outside the wall the when the outer wall is illuminated from the interior portion. 
         [0012]    The invention of the present disclosure, in another aspect thereof, comprises a multifunction decorative torch with a cylindrical outer wall defining an interior and an exterior of the multifunction decorative torch, a base supporting the cylindrical outer wall and having a plurality of user activated LEDs placed within the base to selectively illuminate the interior portion, and a liquid fuel burning insert having a fuel burning wick at least partially inserted into a axially symmetric fuel reservoir, the fuel reservoir being supported relative to the outer wall and situated at least partially within the interior defined by the cylindrical outer wall. The fuel reservoir is sized and supported such that every portion of the outer wall adjacent to the fuel reservoir may be illuminated by at least one of the plurality of LEDs without shadow from the fuel reservoir. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the multifunction decorative torch further comprises a cap interposing the liquid fuel burning insert and the outer wall. The cap supports the fuel burning insert relative to the wall and the base. A decorative insert may be provided adjacent to the outer wall such that the decorative insert is selectively illuminated by the plurality of LEDs. The outer wall may be masked to provide an illuminated pattern to the exterior when the interior is illuminated. The LEDs may illuminate the interior from within the base through an opening in the base provided with a protective cover. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a multifunction decorative torch according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the torch of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side cutaway view of the torch of  FIG. 1   
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a top down view taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of another a multifunction decorative torch according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a side view of a multi-function decorative torch according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Referring also to  FIG. 2 , a side perspective view of the torch of  FIG. 1  is shown. The torch  100  comprises a wall  102 . The wall  102  may comprise glass or plastic or another transparent or translucent material. In the illustrated embodiments, the wall  102  is cylindrical. However, in other embodiments, the wall  102  may take on other shapes, (e.g., it could be rectilinear). The wall  102  defines interior ( 302   FIG. 3 ) and an exterior of the torch  100 . 
         [0020]    Behind the wall  102 , within the interior  302 , a lighting insert  104  may be provided. The insert  104  may be a decorative insert comprising plastic, paper, or another decorative material. It may be partially transparent or translucent and may have decorative patterns printed or otherwise provided thereon. In some embodiments, the insert  104  may simply be a flat, rectangular sheet of material that is rolled and placed inside the cylindrical wall  104  where it will remain adjacent to the wall  102  for decorative purposes, as described herein. The insert  104  may be viewed through the transparent wall  102  or it may be selectively illuminated from within as described further below. 
         [0021]    The wall  102  is supported by a base  106 . The base  106  may be constructed from a polymer or a metal alloy or a combination thereof. The base  106  provides a supporting platform for the wall  102  and the insert  104 . The base  106  can be painted or decorated as well. In some embodiments, the wall  102  may be affixed to the base  106  by a glue or other means. 
         [0022]    Atop the wall  102 , opposite from the base  106 , may be a cap  110 . The cap  110  may be a metal, a polymer, or a combination thereof, and can also be decorated. In some embodiments, the cap  110  is affixed onto the wall  102  by an adhesive or other means. In normal use, the cap  110  may remain affixed to the wall  102 , and may retain the decorative insert  104  in place within the outer wall  102 . 
         [0023]    The cap  110  may support and provide location for a liquid fuel burning torch insert  112 . From the views provided in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it can be seen that the insert  112  provides a skirt  114  that also functions as a cap or lid for the insert  112 . The skirt  114  also rests upon the cap  110 . A neck  116  is provided on the skirt  114  and provides a wick holder  118  into which a wick  120  may be placed for burning liquid fuels. The skirt  114  and neck  116  may be integrally formed and may comprise, for example, rolled sheet metal. The skirt  114  and other components of the insert  112  may be painted other otherwise decorated. The wick  120  may be a long-term use fiberglass wick. In some embodiments, a cap or snuffer  122  may be provided for protecting the wick  120  and/or extinguishing the flame. In some embodiments, the snuffer  122  may be tethered to the insert  112  via a chain  124 , for example. 
         [0024]    The base  106  may provide certain illumination features, as described in greater detail below. To that end, a user control  108  may be provided on the exterior of the base  106 . In the present embodiment, the control  108  is a push button. However, in other embodiments, the control  108  could be a switch, slider, or other control mechanism. In some embodiments, the illumination effects are battery powered. The base  106  may also provide a user accessible battery compartment  126 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side cutaway view of the torch  100  is shown. In  FIG. 3 , the relationship between the outer wall  102  and the decorative  104  can be better appreciated. The interior portion defined by the outer wall  102  is denoted at  302  in  FIG. 3 . It can also be appreciated from  FIG. 3  that the decorative insert  104  lies generally against the interior surface of the outer wall  102  such that the interior portion  302  is generally empty. 
         [0026]    The skirt  114  of the fuel burning insert  112  can be seen supporting a fuel reservoir  306 . The fuel reservoir  306  is supported, at least partially (and up to substantially), within the interior portion  302  defined by the outer wall  102 . In the present embodiment, the fuel reservoir  306  is radially symmetric (neglecting any printing or other superficial external features). The reservoir  306  has a predetermined diameter or width “W” such that, even though it may substantially occupy a portion of the interior  302 , a void or annulus  304  will exist between the reservoir  306  and the insert  104  and/or outer wall  102 . 
         [0027]    The insert  112  may be user serviceable. To that end, it may be removable from the cap  110 . In some embodiments, the insert  112  is held in place simply by gravity. The neck  116  of the skirt  114  may have interior threads that fit onto a threaded neck  307  affixed to the fuel reservoir  306 . With the insert  112  is removed from the cap  110 , the skirt  114  (or lid) may be unscrewed from the fuel reservoir  306  to facilitate filing or refilling. 
         [0028]    The reservoir  306  may contain a quantity of liquid torch fuel  308 . The wick  120  may be held at least partially within the fuel supply  306  via the wick holder  118 . The wick holder  118  may provide a friction fit for the wick  120 . As the wick  120  may be a long lasting fiberglass type wick, it is not contemplated that frequent adjustments of the wick are needed. 
         [0029]    The base  106  can be seen to contain a light board  310  and a control circuit  312 . The light board  310  may be a circuit board onto which are mounted a plurality of lights  314 . In the present embodiment, the lights  314  are surface-mount type light emitting diodes (LEDs). However, various embodiments of the present disclosure would work equally well, if perhaps less efficiently, with incandescent type bulbs. The lights  314  may be affixed to the board or otherwise placed such that they provide light above the base  106  (e.g., they are upwardly shining or upwardly directed). 
         [0030]    The control circuit  312  may be integral with the light board  310  and may provide the necessary voltage regulation and control circuitry to operate the lights  314 . The control circuit  312  may interface with one or more batteries  316  in the battery compartment  126  and/or the user control  108  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0031]    The lights  314  may be at least partially recessed into the base  106  such that they shine through an internally defined opening  318  to illuminate the interior portion  302 . In some embodiments, a transparent, or at least translucent, cover  320  may be provided over the opening  318 . As discussed, the insert  112  may be removed from the torch  100  such that the interior  302  is accessible. The cover  320  prevents items from being lost into the base  106  and may also prevent a fuel spill from damaging the lights  314 , the control circuit  312 , or other components within the base  106 . 
         [0032]    The lights  314  may be configured to selectively illuminate or provide various flashing or fading effects. For example, in one embodiment, a single press of the user control button  108  may activate a white light while a second press may activate a colored light and third press may turn the torch  100  off. It is understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure are not meant to be limited to any particular light color or lighting effect. For example, light effects may include steady state, strobing, flashing, fading, cross-color fading, and other effects. 
         [0033]    In order to provide a device that is useful as both a liquid fuel burning apparatus and an electrically powered internally lighted device, it may be desirable to insure that substantially all of the outer wall  102  and/or decorative insert  104  can be illuminated even when the fuel burning insert  112  is in place. To that end, the dimensions of the various components of the device  100  and their relationship to one another may be carefully selected. As described, the fuel reservoir  306  has a diameter or width “W”. However, the reservoir  306 , the skirt  114 , and/or the height of the wall  102  may be such that a minimum distance “D” is provided between the bottom of the reservoir  306  and the top of the lights  314 . The dashed lines “B” of  FIG. 3  illustrate how even the most remote light  314  from an opposite wall will at least partially illuminate the relevant portion of the wall  102 . This is owing in part to the free space or annulus  304  between the fuel reservoir  306  and the decorative insert  104  or wall  102 , and the distance from the bottom of the fuel reservoir  306  to the light board B. The present disclosure is not meant to be limited to particular dimensions so long as those dimensions function as claimed herein. 
         [0034]    The lines D′ illustrate how the lights  314  can also illuminate all or substantially all of the wall  102  and/or decorative insert  104  near where they affix to the base  106 . In order to eliminate or minimize any shadows resulting from the base at the lower portion of the wall  102 , the lights  314  and/or light board  310  may elevated towards the opening  318 . 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a top down view of the torch  100  taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2  is shown. From the viewpoint of  FIG. 4 , the cylindrical wall  102  appears circular. The decorative insert  104  can be seen to lie interior to the wall  102  and adjacent thereto. Where the decorative insert  104  is a single rectangular sheet, it may be rolled and inserted into the wall  102  where it joins back to itself, for example, at  105 . 
         [0036]    The light board  310  can be seen through the opening  318  and the base  106 . The cover  320  may serve to cover and protect the light board  310 . In the present embodiment, four surface-mounted LEDs are provided as lights  314 . The embodiments of the present disclosure are not meant to be limited to any particular number of lights  314 . More or fewer than four could be utilized. The spacing and location of the lights  314  on the board  310  may be somewhat important, depending upon the embodiment, to insure that substantially all of the interior  302  can be at least partially illuminated. As discussed with respect to  FIG. 3 , the present embodiment, utilizing four lights  314 , can be made to satisfy this criteria. 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a perspective view of another multi-function decorative torch  500  according to aspects of the present disclosure is shown. The torch  500  is substantially identical to the torch  100  of  FIGS. 1-4 , except as described below. The torch  500  comprises an outer wall  502  with a pattern provide therein. The wall  502  may have an opaque or translucent layer over a glass layer to provide the pattern shown. In some embodiments, the wall  502  is a single layer with no glass layer underneath. 
         [0038]    Some embodiments include the decorative insert  104  while others do not. It will be appreciated that, when the torch  500  is illuminated from within, the pattern on the wall  502  may be viewed. Where the lights  314  are sufficiently powerful, the pattern on the wall  502  may be projected onto adjacent walls or other surfaces. It should be understood that the present disclosure is not meant to be limited to the illustrated patterns on either the decorative insert  104  or the outer wall  502 . 
         [0039]    The torch  500  also includes a decorative ring  504  that attaches to the cap  110 . The decorative ring  504  may have a pattern cut therein such that the light from the liquid fueled flame shines therethrough and/or casts decorative shadows into adjacent areas. In other embodiments, the ring  504  may be sized and shaped so as to promote large flame effects from the fuel burning insert  112 . 
         [0040]    Thus, the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and attain the ends and advantages mentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While presently preferred embodiments have been described for purposes of this disclosure, numerous changes and modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes and modifications are encompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by the claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5