External Flame Element for Electric Candle Flickering Effect
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric candles and lighting devices require a large opening at the top to accommodate a flame element, which can lead to issues such as liquid ingress and a less realistic flame effect, and there is a need for improved designs that provide a more authentic flickering flame appearance.
Innovation Solution
The electric lighting device features a flame element mounted entirely outside the enclosure, allowing it to move freely, eliminating the need for a large top opening and incorporating a support member and electromagnet system to create a realistic flickering effect, while ensuring hermetic sealing and preventing liquid entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the flame element is mounted inside the enclosure, then the structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the flame effect is less realistic and requires a large opening at the top
Solution Approach 1:
The flame element is extracted from the enclosure and mounted externally on the top surface. This allows the flame element to be positioned outside the sealed enclosure, eliminating the need for large internal mounting space and large top openings, while providing a more realistic flame effect that is visible from above.
Solution Approach 2:
The flame element is positioned in a different spatial dimension - mounted on the external top surface rather than inside the enclosure. This dimensional change allows the flame element to be supported by a support member that extends from the top surface, enabling realistic flame movement and lighting while maintaining enclosure integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large opening is provided at the top for the flame element, then the flame element can be accommodated, but liquid ingress risk increases and hermetic sealing is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The flame element is taken out of the enclosure interior and mounted externally. This extraction allows the enclosure to be hermetically sealed without large openings, as the flame element is supported by a support member that extends through a minimal opening or is mounted on the external surface, thereby preventing liquid ingress while accommodating the flame element.
Solution Approach 2:
The enclosure can utilize a hermetic seal with a minimal opening that accommodates the support member, while the flame element itself is positioned externally. This approach allows the use of sealed enclosures with protective coatings or membranes that prevent liquid ingress while still allowing the flame element to be mounted and illuminated.
3Device complexity
If the flame element is fixed in position, then the structure is simpler, but the flickering flame effect is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The flame element is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to rotate or oscillate about its mounting point on the top surface. This dynamic positioning creates a flickering flame effect that enhances realism, while the movement is constrained to a small range that does not require complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The flame element can be subjected to mechanical vibration or oscillation to create a flickering effect. This may be achieved through a simple vibration mechanism or by exploiting natural vibrations, providing a realistic flame appearance without requiring complex structural modifications.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enhances the realism of the flame effect and reduces the risk of liquid ingress, providing a more durable and functional electric candle with improved manufacturing flexibility and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
incorporating a support member and electromagnet system to create a realistic flickering effect
Data Source
AI summary
Electric lighting devices are described having a candle body with an upper surface coupled to a sidewall. A flame element is disposed entirely outside of the candle body and include one or more magnets or a ferrous material. The flame element is supported above the upper surface by a support member that extends upwardly from the upper surface and terminates at a first end disposed within the flame element. This allows the flame element some degree of movement about the support member that combined with a light source configured to illuminate a surface of the flame element creates a flickering flame effect. The device can also include a drive mechanism such as an electromagnet that generates an electromagnetic field that interacts with the magnets of the flame element to thereby cause movement of the flame element.