Sound-producing candle assembly

Abstract

Disclosed is a sound-producing candle assembly comprising a candle and a base which are detachable from one another. One candle can be removed from the base and replaced by another. In one embodiment, each candle contains an optical guide, which conveys light from the flame to an optical switch, the switch in turn activating a sound-generating system, rendering a stored sound audible. Each candle may contain an alignment guide, which maintains alignment between the optical guide and the optical switch. Each candle may also contain one or more fire stops to prevent the candle from burning beyond a certain point. The assembly may allow a user to choose among several sounds to be heard when the candle is lit. The assembly may also allow a user to record sound.

1 . A candle assembly, said assembly comprising: 
 a first candle with first and second end surfaces;    a wick substantially contained within said candle;    a sensor located proximate to the wick; and    a base, comprising a sound-generating system, said base being detachable from said candle.    
   
   
       2 . The candle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first candle is interchangeable with at least one second candle.  
   
   
       3 . The candle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sensor is an optical guide.  
   
   
       4 . The candle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said optical guide is coaxial with said wick.  
   
   
       5 . The candle assembly of  claim 3  wherein said optical guide is an optical fiber.  
   
   
       6 . The candle assembly of  claim 5  wherein said optical fiber is consumable.  
   
   
       7 . The candle assembly of  claim 6  wherein said wick and optical fiber are consumable at substantially the same rate.  
   
   
       8 . The candle assembly of  claim 3  wherein said base further comprises an optical switch.  
   
   
       9 . The candle assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising an alignment guide, said alignment guide maintaining alignment between said optical guide and said optical switch.  
   
   
       10 . The candle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said alignment guide comprises a block containing a hole, said optical guide passing through said hole.  
   
   
       11 . The candle assembly of  claim 9  wherein said alignment guide comprises a lip on top of said base, said lip surrounding said first candle.  
   
   
       12 . The candle assembly of  claim 9  wherein said alignment guide comprises a registration mechanism in said base and said first candle.  
   
   
       13 . The candle assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said alignment guide acts as a fire stop.  
   
   
       14 . The candle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a fire stop.  
   
   
       15 . The candle assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch in said base, said switch preventing the generation of sound by said sound-generating system while said base is detached from a candle.  
   
   
       16 . The candle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said sound-generating system comprises a speaker coupled to a memory, said memory capable of containing one or more sound recordings.  
   
   
       17 . The candle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said memory releases at least some of its contents upon receiving a signal from said sensor.  
   
   
       18 . The candle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said memory comprises at least one integrated circuit chip.  
   
   
       19 . The candle assembly of  claim 16 , wherein said memory can be removed and replaced by a user.  
   
   
       20 . The candle assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising a sound selection switch.  
   
   
       21 . The candle assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a microphone, wherein sound detected by said microphone can be stored in said memory.  
   
   
       22 . A sound-producing candle assembly comprising: 
 a first candle having first and second end surfaces and a wick substantially contained within said candle, the wick having a first and second end extending beyond said first and second end surfaces, respectively;    an optical fiber located coaxially within said wick;    a base, comprising an optical switch and a sound-generating system, said base being detachable from said first candle;    an alignment guide within said first candle, said alignment guide comprising a block containing a hole, said optical fiber passing through said hole;    said alignment guide acting as a fire stop;    said sound-generating system comprising a speaker coupled to a memory, said memory capable of containing one or more sound recordings, said memory releasing at least some of its contents upon receiving a signal from said optical switch.    
   
   
       23 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said first candle is interchangeable with at least one second candle.  
   
   
       24 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22  wherein said wick and said optical fiber are consumable at substantially the same rate.  
   
   
       25 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22  wherein said memory comprises at least one integrated circuit chip.  
   
   
       26 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said memory can be removed and replaced by a user.  
   
   
       27 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a sound selection switch.  
   
   
       28 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22 , further comprising a switch in said base, said switch preventing the generation of sound by said sound-generating system while said base is detached from a candle.  
   
   
       29 . The sound-producing candle assembly of  claim 22  further comprising a microphone, wherein sound detected by said microphone can be stored in said memory.  
   
   
       30 . A sound producing and recording candle assembly, said assembly comprising: 
 a candle with a wick substantially contained within said candle,    a sensor proximate to said wick; and    a base, comprising a sound-generating system and a sound-recording system.    
   
   
       31 . The candle assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said sound-generating system comprises a speaker coupled to a memory, said memory capable of containing one or more sound recordings.  
   
   
       32 . The candle assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said sound recording system comprises a microphone, said one or more sound recordings comprising sound detected by said microphone.  
   
   
       33 . The candle assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said sensor generates a signal when a flame is present on said wick, said memory releasing at least some of its contents upon receiving said signal.  
   
   
       34 . The candle assembly of  claim 31 , wherein said memory can be removed and replaced by a user.  
   
   
       35 . The candle assembly of  claim 31 , further comprising a sound selection switch.  
   
   
       36 . The candle assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said candle and said base can be detached from one another and said candle can be replaced by at least one second candle.  
   
   
       37 . The candle assembly of  claim 36 , further comprising a switch in said base, said switch preventing the generation of sound by said sound-generating system while said base is detached from a candle.  
   
   
       38 . The candle assembly of  claim 30 , wherein said sensor comprises an optical guide and optical switch.  
   
   
       39 . The candle assembly of  claim 38 , wherein said optical guide is coaxial with said wick.  
   
   
       40 . The candle assembly of  claim 38 , further comprising an alignment guide, said alignment guide maintaining alignment between said optical guide and said optical switch.  
   
   
       41 . The candle assembly of  claim 40 , wherein said alignment guide acts as a fire stop.  
   
   
       42 . The candle assembly of  claim 30  further comprising a fire stop.  
   
   
       43 . The candle of  claim 33 , wherein at least two of said sound recordings are automatically released sequentially.