Lighting device including at least one lighting means activated by the emission of a light radiation

The present invention relates to a luminaire comprising at least one lighting means, the activation of which is carried out by the emission of light radiation. It relates more specifically, but not exclusively, to a luminaire comprising a candle, the flame of which constitutes a source of light radiation allowing the activation of said lighting means.

The object of the invention is to solve the problem consisting in allowing the activation of lighting means included in a luminaire also comprising a candle, using the simple light radiation of the flame of the wick of the candle or of the flame used to ignite said wick.

The object of the invention is therefore more particularly to overcome this problem by proposing a luminaire which comprises a candle carried by a support characterized in that it further comprises at least one lighting member of the candle and / or of said support, means for capturing and transporting the light radiation emitted by the flame of the candle and / or by the flame serving to cause the ignition of the wick of said candle, means for detecting said light radiation and a switching circuit which controls, following the detection of the light radiation, the activation of the lighting member.

-2Thus, the upper ends of the wick of the candle and the means for capturing and transporting the light radiation of the flame (these can be constituted by an optical fiber) are arranged close to one another. In this way, the flame used to light said wick or the flame of the wick itself emits a light radiation detected and transmitted by said sensing and transport means to said detection means which are connected to the switching circuit, the latter being connected to a source of electric current and then controls the activation of the lighting device.

Advantageously, the means for capturing and transporting the light radiation from the flame may consist of an optical fiber made of a material which melts at the same time as the candle so that its receiving end is always at the correct distance from to the wick.

Advantageously, the switching circuit and said means for detecting light radiation are protected from the heat given off by the combustion of the candle by an insulator. According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, said support carrying the spark plug can be connected to a separate receptacle comprising the switching circuit and the detection means which are thus isolated.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the means for capturing and transporting the light radiation are connected at their lower end to a means, such as a photodiode, which makes it possible to transform light radiation into an electrical signal, this which advantageously ensures the energy autonomy of the luminaire according to the invention.

Advantageously, the candle is translucent which makes it possible to see the lighting member which consists of at least one lamp or light-emitting diode.

-3 Preferably, the candle is made of a gelatinous material which allows decorative objects to be inserted therein.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the luminaire according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the luminaire according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the luminaire comprising a photodiode.

As shown in FIG. 1, the luminaire according to the invention 1 comprises a support 2 comprising in its upper part a candle 3 which itself comprises means 4 for capturing and transporting light radiation. These collection and transport means 4 are preferably formed by an optical fiber, the upper end of which is placed near the wick 5 of the spark plug 3, while its lower end is connected to means 6 for detecting a signal. luminous which are themselves connected to a switching circuit 7 controlling at least one lighting member 8, said detection means 6 as well as the switching circuit 7 are also connected to an electric current source 9 which may be a battery.

In this way, the light radiation from the flame of the wick 5 of the candle 3 or of the flame 10 serving to light this wick 5 is picked up by said collection and transport means 4, and transmitted to the detection means 6 a light signal which then controls the control circuit.

-4commutation 7 which makes it possible to cause the activation of said lighting member 8.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the luminaire according to the invention 1 comprises a means making it possible to transform optical radiation into an electrical signal, such as for example a photodiode 11, connected on the one hand, to the lower end of the means for capturing and transporting a light radiation 4 and, on the other hand, to at least one lighting member 8.

In this way, the light radiation from the flame of the wick 5 of the candle 3 or of the flame 10 serving to light this wick 5 is picked up by said collection and transport means 4, and transmitted to the photodiode 11 where it is transformed into an electrical signal supplying said lighting device 8.

The lighting member 8 preferably consists of at least one lamp or at least one light-emitting diode capable of emitting light radiation of any color.

According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the switching circuit 7 or the photodiode 11 can be connected to a multivibrator circuit (not shown) which makes it possible to cause the lighting member to flash.

8.

In order to make it possible to visualize the lighting member 8 included in the candle 3, the latter is translucent while the support 2 is preferably transparent, the latter being made of a non-flammable material.

Preferably, the candle 3 which can be scented is made of a gelatinous material in order to incorporate decorative objects therein, which makes it possible to give the whole an aesthetic appearance.

The means 6 for detecting a light signal, the switching circuit 7, the electric current source 9 or the photodiode 11 are arranged in the lower part of said support 2 where they will preferably be isolated from the heat emitted by the combustion of the gas. wick 5 of the candle 3, as well as of the surrounding light in order to prevent an untimely operation of said lighting member 8. These elements could also be included in a separate receptacle (not shown) which can fit together with said support 2, which makes it possible to facilitate their reuse, this receptacle being able to include an on / off switch.

The capture and transport means 4 may be covered with a cap (not shown) or more generally with a decorative object in order to prevent unwanted switching on of said lighting member 8 when the luminaire 1 is placed in a very luminous.

Advantageously, in the event of reconstitution of the spark plug 3 by adding the material constituting it to the support 2, the optical fiber 4 which has melted at the same time as the spark plug 3 can be replaced by a new fiber 4, which allows the luminaire according to the invention 1 to be reusable.

Advantageously, the means 6 for detecting a light signal or the photodiode 11 can be connected to at least one photovoltaic cell (not shown) arranged either on the external surface of the structure of the luminaire according to the invention 1, or in a zone transparent of the candle 3. In this way, the lighting member 8 can operate continuously when the luminaire 1 is placed in a bright place without it being necessary to light the wick 5 of the candle 3.

Advantageously, the support 2 of the candle 3 can comprise on its external surface hooking means which can be constituted by suction cups (not shown) in order to be able to fix it effectively to a surface.