Flameless Candle, Magnetic Resonance Charging System, And Associated Methods

Abstract

The present invention provides a flameless candle, a flameless candle charging system, and methods for using the flameless candle charging system. The charging system generally includes a plurality of flames candles, a charging tray having a tray hollow body with a planar outwardly facing surface on which the plurality of flameless candles may be placed, and a metallic plate positioned within the hollow body, and a remote control for selectively operating the plurality of candles and including a body having a magnet positioned therein. The remote control may be magnetically attached to the charging tray by positioning the magnet in proximity to said metallic plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flameless candle, comprising:
 a. a hollow body;   b. a light emitting element positioned within said hollow body;   c. a magnet positioned within said hollow body;   d. a conductive coil positioned within said hollow body;   e. a power source positioned within said hollow body and in electrical communication with said conductive coil and said light emitting element; and   f. at least one circuit board programmed, structured and/or configured to transmit electricity to said light emitting element and provide energy to said power source.   
     
     
         2 . The flameless candle according to  claim 1 , further comprising a remote sensor disposed therein that is electrically connected to said at least one circuit board. 
     
     
         3 . The flameless candle according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one indicator light disposed in said hollow body, whereby said at least one indicator light provides visual indication of the charging status of said candle. 
     
     
         4 . The flameless candle according to  claim 17 , further comprising a reed switch disposed within said hollow body. 
     
     
         5 . The flameless candle according to  claim 4 , wherein said reed switch is operable between a normally open position and a selectively closed position. 
     
     
         6 . A charging tray for charging a plurality of flameless candles having a magnetically actuated switch, comprising:
 a. a tray hollow body having a planar upper and outwardly facing surface on which the plurality of flameless candles may be placed;   b. a plurality of transmitting coils disposed therein and arranged in a predetermined pattern within said tray hollow body, wherein each of the plurality of flameless candles is adapted to be positioned in axial alignment with a respective one of said transmitting coils; and   c. a switch actuating magnet positioned within said tray hollow body and adapted to actuate the magnetically actuated switch when placed in proximity thereto.   
     
     
         7 . The charging tray according to  claim 6 , further comprising a remote control mounting area on said outwardly facing surface and a metallic plate attached to said tray hollow body in axial alignment with said remote control mounting area. 
     
     
         8 . The charging tray according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of metallic plates attached to said tray hollow body with each one of which positioned adjacent a respective one of said transmitting coils. 
     
     
         9 . The charging tray according to  claim 6 , further comprising a top edge and a handle formed along said top edge. 
     
     
         10 . The charging tray according to  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of nubs that extend outwardly from said planar surface, each of said nubs being axially aligned with a respective one of said transmitting coils. 
     
     
         11 . The charging tray according to  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of nubs are arranged in a series of parallel rows and parallel columns, wherein adjacent columns are laterally offset from one another. 
     
     
         12 . A flameless candle charging system, comprising:
 a. a plurality of flameless candles;   b. a charging tray comprising a tray hollow body having a planar outwardly facing surface on which said plurality of flameless candles may be placed, a remote control attachment area on said outwardly facing surface and a metallic plate attached to said hollow body in axial alignment with said remote control attachment area; and   c. a remote control for selectively operating said plurality of candles and comprising a body having a magnet positioned therein, whereby said remote control may be magnetically attached to said charging tray by positioning said magnet in proximity to said metallic plate.   
     
     
         13 . The flameless candle charging system according to  claim 12 , wherein said plurality of flameless candles each comprise a hollow body and a remote sensor disposed therein, whereby signals sent from said remote control are adapted to be received by said remote sensors. 
     
     
         14 . A flameless candle charging system, comprising:
 a. a plurality of flameless candles each comprising a candle hollow body in which is positioned a light emitting element and a switch that is selectively movable between open and closed positions;   b. a charging tray comprising a tray hollow body having a planar outwardly facing surface on which said plurality of flameless candles may be placed, and a switch actuating magnet attached to said tray hollow body and operable to move said switch to its closed position by placing said candle containing said switch in proximity to said actuating magnet.   
     
     
         15 . The flameless candle charging system according to  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of flameless candles each comprise a receiving coil, and said charging tray further comprises a plurality of transmitting coils, wherein said receiving coils and said transmitting coils each operate at a common resonant frequency. 
     
     
         16 . A method for recharging and actuating a flameless candle having a light emitting source, a rechargeable power source and a magnetic switch housed therein, wherein the light emitting source is operable between an off condition and in any one of a plurality of modes when in an on condition, wherein the recharging uses a candle charging tray having a power input for conducting electricity thereto, an outwardly facing surface on which the flameless candle may be placed and a magnetic actuating spot, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. placing the candle on the outwardly facing surface of the charging tray;   b. applying power to the power input of the charging tray, wherein the light emitting source automatically goes to its off condition;   c. removing the candle from off of the outwardly facing surface of the charging tray, wherein the light emitting source automatically goes into one of its plurality of modes in its on condition; and   d. selectively changing the mode of the light emitting source by manually passing the candle over the magnetic actuating spot.   
     
     
         17 . A method for recharging a flameless candle having a light emitting source, a rechargeable power source, a power supply circuit structured, programmed and/or configured to provide power to the rechargeable power supply, and a receiving coil housed therein that is adapted to transmit received electricity to the power supply circuit, wherein the recharging uses a candle charging tray having a power input for conducting electricity thereto, a transmitting coil housed therein and an outwardly facing surface on which the flameless candle may be placed, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. placing the candle on the outwardly facing surface of the charging tray such that its receiving coil is aligned with the transmitting coil housed within the charging tray; and   b. applying power to the power input of the charging tray, whereby electricity is transmitted to the transmitting coil which in turn wirelessly conducts electricity to the receiving coil.   
     
     
         18 . A flameless candle, comprising:
 a. a hollow body;   b. a power source;   c. a light emitting element positioned within said hollow body;   d. at least one circuit board programmed, structured and/or configured to transmit electricity to said light emitting element, provide energy to said power source; and   e. a magnetic switch housed within said hollow body that is operable between a normally open position and a selectively closed position.   
     
     
         19 . The flameless candle according to  claim 18 , wherein said light emitting element is selectively actuable between an off state and any one of a plurality of on states, and said at least one circuit board is further programmed, structured and/or configured to cause said light emitting element to change amongst its plurality of on states and its off state. 
     
     
         20 . The flameless candle according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one magnet interconnected to said hollow body. 
     
     
         21 . The flameless candle according to  claim 18 , further comprising a remote sensor disposed therein that is electrically connected to said at least one circuit board. 
     
     
         22 . The flameless candle according to  claim 18 , further comprising at least one indicator light disposed in said hollow body, whereby said at least one indicator light provides visual indication of the charging status of said candle. 
     
     
         23 . A charging tray for charging a plurality of flameless candles, comprising:
 a. a body having an outwardly facing surface on which the plurality of flameless candles may be placed;   b. a plurality of candle charging elements disposed within said body; and   c. a plurality of metallic plates disposed within said body, wherein each of said plurality of metallic plates are positioned adjacent one of said plurality of candle charging elements.   
     
     
         24 . The charging tray according to  claim 23 , further comprising a remote control mounting area on said outwardly facing surface and a metallic plate attached to said tray hollow body in axial alignment with said remote control mounting area. 
     
     
         25 . The charging tray according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of metallic plates attached to said tray hollow body with each one of which positioned adjacent a respective one of said candle charging elements. 
     
     
         26 . The charging tray according to  claim 23 , further comprising a top edge and a handle formed along said top edge. 
     
     
         27 . The charging tray according to  claim 23 , further comprising a plurality of nubs that extend outwardly from said planar surface, each of said nubs being axially aligned with a respective one of said candle charging elements. 
     
     
         28 . The charging tray according to  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of nubs are arranged in a series of parallel rows and parallel columns, wherein adjacent columns are laterally offset from one another. 
     
     
         29 . A charging tray for charging a plurality of flameless candles, comprising:
 a. a body having an outwardly facing surface on which the plurality of flameless candles may be placed;   b. a plurality of candle charging elements disposed within said body; and   c. a magnet attached to said body.   
     
     
         30 . The charging tray according to  claim 29 , further comprising a remote control mounting area on said outwardly facing surface and a metallic plate attached to said tray hollow body in axial alignment with said remote control mounting area. 
     
     
         31 . The charging tray according to  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of metallic plates attached to said tray hollow body with each one of which positioned adjacent a respective one of said candle charging elements. 
     
     
         32 . The charging tray according to  claim 29 , further comprising a top edge and a handle formed along said top edge. 
     
     
         33 . The charging tray according to  claim 29 , further comprising a plurality of nubs that extend outwardly from said planar surface, each of said nubs being axially aligned with a respective one of said candle charging elements. 
     
     
         34 . The charging tray according to  claim 29 , wherein said plurality of nubs are arranged in a series of parallel rows and parallel columns, wherein adjacent columns are laterally offset from one another. 
     
     
         35 . A charging tray for charging a plurality of flameless candles, comprising:
 a. a body having an outwardly facing surface on which the plurality of flameless candles may be placed;   b. a remote control storage area arranged on said outwardly facing surface; and   c. a metallic plate attached to said body and in axial alignment with said remote control storage area.