Imitation candle

Claim 2

An imitation candle comprising a substantially cylindrical body, an electric incandescent lamp having a bulb positioned at one end of said body, lamp-mounting means carried by said body and suspending said lamp to allow said lamp substantially free arcuate movement about a point in the proximity of said one end of said body, and means operative only upon cessation of electric power to said lamp for preventing arcuate movement of said lamp-mounting means.

Claim 3

The imitation candle of claim 1 wherein said preventing means comprises a stem member and a substantially hemispherically shaped member surrounding one end of said stem member, one of said members being carried by said lamp and the other of said members being carried by a means responsive to the supply of electric power to said lamp, said responsive means moving said other of said members between a first position spaced from said one member when electric power is supplied to said lamp and a second position engaging said one member upon cessation of electric power to said lamp to prevent movement of said lamp mounting means.

Claim 4

The imitation candle of claim 2 where said responsive means comprises a bimetal spring encircled by an electric wire connected to the lamp power supply.

Claim 5

The imitation candle of claim 1 wherein said lamp-mounting means comprise a plurality of arms movably supported by said body suspending said lamps, and further including means selectively preventing said arcuate movement comprising a conical member and a ring-member surrounding said conical member, one of said members being carried by said arms and the other of said members being carried by a means responsive to the supply of electric power to said lamp, said responsive means moving said other of said members between a first position spaced from said one member when electric power is supplied to said lamp and a second position engaging said one member upon cessation of electric power to said lamp to prevent movement of said lamp.

Claim 6

The Imitation candle of claim 4 wherein said responsive means comprises a bimetal spring encircled by an electric wire connected to the lamp power supply lines.

Claim 7

The imitation candle of claim 1 further comprising mechanical means motivating said lamp is arcuate movement, said mechanical means comprising a first stem carried by said lamp, a second stem pivotally mounted and movable through an arc to strike said first stem, spring means attached to said second stem and biasing said second stem toward a first position at one limit of said arc, a metal member carried by said second stem, said metal member being magnetic at ambient temperature and nonmagnetic when heated to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature, a permanent magnet mounted at the other limit of said arc and aligned with said metal member, and means heating said metal member when said metal member is in contact with said magnet, whereby said metal member is attracted to said magnet at ambient temperature to move said second stem to a second position at said other limit of said arc and is released from said permanent magnet upon said metal member being heated to a predetermined temperature whereupon said spring moves said second stem through said arc to said first position, said second stem striking said first stem when moving through said arc to cause said lamp to move.

Claim 8

The imitation candle of claim 6 wherein said means heating said metal member comprises an electric resistance connected to said lamp power supply lines.

Claim 9

The imitation candle of claim 1 further comprising a stem carried by said lamp, and means mounted in said cylindrical casing and engageable with said stem for imparting arcuate movement to said stem to cause said lamp to move.