Abstract:
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 and a display panel attached to the wall of the candle container by a spacer. The wall of the candle, display panel, and spacer together form a pocket for receiving the display article. Both the display panel and inner wall are clear to 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

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    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. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    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 
       [0005]    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 and a display panel attached to the wall of the candle container by a spacer. The wall of the candle, display panel, and spacer together form a pocket for receiving the display article. Both the display panel and inner wall are clear to 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 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view, showing the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view, showing the present invention with the display panel removed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a top view, showing the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a top view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a top view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a top view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view, showing an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0000]    
         
           
                 
               
                 
                 
                 
                 
               
             
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
               
                 
                     
                 
               
            
             
                 
                   10 
                   display device 
                   12 
                   candle container 
                 
                 
                   14 
                   display panel 
                   16 
                   spacer 
                 
                 
                   18 
                   spacer 
                   20 
                   spacer 
                 
                 
                   22 
                   inside wall 
                   24 
                   candle 
                 
                 
                   26 
                   pocket 
                   28 
                   wick 
                 
                 
                   30 
                   picture 
                   32 
                   mounting bores 
                 
                 
                   34 
                   mounting studs 
                   36 
                   spacer 
                 
                 
                   38 
                   spacer 
                   40 
                   picture 
                 
                 
                   42 
                   display panel 
                   44 
                   pocket 
                 
                 
                   46 
                   spacer 
                   48 
                   spacer 
                 
                 
                   50 
                   mounting bores 
                   52 
                   mounting studs 
                 
                 
                   54 
                   advertisement 
                   56 
                   wall 
                 
                 
                   58 
                   matrix 
                   60 
                   inner container 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
            
           
         
       
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    The present invention, display device  10 , is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 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) although candle container  12  may assume many different shapes. 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. Display panel  14 , which is also made of a clear material such as glass, is attached to spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  to form pocket  26 . The top of pocket  26  is open for receiving a display article such as a picture or photograph. 
         [0017]    An exploded view of display device  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 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. In the present embodiment, display panel  14  is attached to spacers  16 ,  18 , and  20  by a contact adhesive such as a glue or epoxy.  FIG. 2  also illustrates how picture  30  rests on spacer  20  when placed in pocket  26 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 3  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. 
         [0019]    A top view of candle container  12  is provided in  FIG. 4 . The reader will note that picture  30  rests between display panel  14  and inside wall  22 . When wick  28  is lighted, candle light passes through inside wall  22  and strikes the back of picture  30 . This creates a backlit effect on the picture. 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 . 
         [0020]    An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In this embodiment, display panels 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 . Picture  40  is then inserted into the pocket formed by candle container  12 , spacers  36  and  38 , and display panel  42 . 
         [0021]    As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the second display article may be entirely enclosed and sealed in the pocket to prevent removal. To accomplish this, spacers  36 ,  38 ,  46 , and  48  surround and completely encompass pocket  44 . Mounting bores  50  are provided in the spacers for receiving mounting studs  52  of display panel  42 . 
         [0022]    Turning to  FIG. 7 , advertisement  54  is placed between spacers  36 ,  38 ,  46 , and  48  and is then enclosed in the pocket with the attachment of display panel  42  to the spacers. As such, the display device may be provided to customers of a business as a promotional item or gift. The customer may use the unsealed pocket for a photograph of his or her choice, and advertisement  54  will thereafter be displayed in the customer&#39;s home or office. 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , 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. 
         [0024]    As a further improvement of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , candle  24  may be provided in inner container  60  to allow for easy replacement when candle  24  is completely consumed as shown in  FIG. 9 . 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. 9 , 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. 
         [0025]    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. In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , pocket  26  may be formed with single spacer  20 , inside wall  22 , and display panel  24 , thus eliminating the spacers on the sides of the pocket. The scope of the invention should therefore be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.