GB2184943A - Offertory candle table - Google Patents

Abstract

The table comprises a frame (2) which has at least one support (4) on which is provided a plurality of holders (5) for the offertory candles (1). Each candle (1) comprises an electric lamp (13) and a contact base (20, 34) which can be fitted into any one of the holders (5) which are provided with electrical contact surfaces (32, 25, 26, 40). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Offertory candle table The invention relates to an offertory or sacrificial candletable comprising aframewhich has at leastone support for offertory candles and on which are provided a plurality of holders for the offertory candles.

Offertory candle tables ofthat kind are frequently set up in places of worship, memorial places, churches or other religious premises and permit individualsto lightan offertory light upon making a contribution. Known offertory candle tables comprise a plurality of carriers which are arranged in rearwardly displaced and superposed relationship, with candle holders for inserting wax candles or flitting wax candlesthereonto. The large numberofwaxcandles which frequently burn at the same time causes the wall and ceiling surfacesto becomesooted up and therefore and in particular in churches causes damage to works of art, mural paintings and frescoes displayed therein.Substantial cost is often involved in removing wax which runs offthe candles from floors, carpets and rows of seats. Another problem is that offertory candle tables of a light structure can easily be tipped over by someone knocking againstthem and the hotwaxwhich then dripsoffandtheburningwick represent a not inconsiderable fire risk. Finally, the open flames, particularly when there is a dense array of candles, involves a danger of burn injury if people who are manually less dextrous, in particular children and older people, wish to light an offertory candle.

Taking that art as its basic starting point, the present invention is based on the problem of providing an offertory candle table which, while retaining the present ritual, permits offertory lights to be donated without risk and without pollution of the environment.

In accordance with the invention, in an offertory candle table ofthe kind setforth in the opening part of this specification, that problem is solved in thatthe offertory candles have an electric lamp and a contact base which can befitted into the holders which are provided with electrical contact surfaces. In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the offertory candles are in the configuration of a coloured transparent bowl, in the bottom of which is fixed an incandescent lamp.Preferably, formed on the bottom of the bowl is a cylindrical socket into which is fitted a contact cap whose opening faces away from the bottom and which projects with its edge beyond the edge ofthe socket and by means of which the socket of the incandescent lamp is clamped between the bottom of the bowl and the top side of the contact cap, wherein the central contact extends through an opening into the interior of the contact cap.

The holders on the carriers each have a disc-like contact bottom and a spring contact which is arranged concentrically with respect thereto. The spring contact is preferably provided in the vicinity ofthe top of a cylindrical plastics housing which is fixed concentrically on the contact bottom. The insulating housing has a cylindrical bore in which there is disposed a coil spring which presses a contact disc displaceable in the bore againstan abutment ring atthetop ofthe insulating housing.

Further advantageous features and embodiments are the subject matter of subsidiary claims.

Embodiments of the invention are described, by way of example, in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the accompaying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure lisa perspective view of an offertory candle table according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of an offertorycandleforthe offertory candle table shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view in section through an offertory candlewith an associated holderonthecarrierofthe offertory candle table; Figure 4 is a view in section through the holder and the offertory candle in the inserted condition; Figure 5 is a plan view of the holder; Figure 6 is a view in cross-section of a further embodiment of a holder with offertory candle fitted thereon; Figure7 is a plan viewofthe holder shown in Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view in section of a third embodiment fora holderwith an offertory candle; Figure 9 is a plan view ofthe holder shown in Figure 8;;and Figure 10 is a view in section ofthe contact cap and the insulating housing of the arrangement shown in Figure 8, in the disassembled condition.

The offertory candle table shown in Figure 1 substantially corresponds in terms of its external appearance to a conventional offertory candle table forwax candles although the offertory candle table shown in Figure 1 is intended for electrical offertory candles 1 of a specific configuration.

The offertory candle table comprises a frame 2 having legs 3 and a plurality of carriers 4which are arranged in superposed and rearwardly displaced relationship and on which are fixed holders 5 which areofa specific configuration forthe electrical offertory candles 1. The carriers 4 comprise for example shaped members of a L-configuration or a U-configuration, of wrought iron. On the side which faces rearwardly in Figure 1 are electric lines (not visible) in cable ducts which connectthe holders 5 to an electrical control ci rcuit which is disposed in a housing 6which can be in the form of a table panel.

The electrical control circuit provides that, after an electrical offertory candle 1 has been fitted on to one of the holders 5, the electrical offertory candle 1 remains switched on for a predetermined period of time and is thereafter extinguished. If the electrical offertory candle 1 remains outside the holder for a period of time which exceeds a given minimum period, then when the offertory candle is electrically connected again to the holder 5, current is again supplied for a predetermined period of time.In that way it is possible to keep electrical offertory candles 1 ready on a storage table 7, in a manner corresponding to the wax candles used in the past, so that, in accordance with the previously known ritual, electrical offertory can dles 1 are taken from the storage table 7 and fitted to one of the holders Swhereupon the electrical offertory candle provides an offertory light for a predetermined period oftime.

Associated with the housing 6 is afurthersub- housing 8 which contains for example the transformer forthe electrical control circuit and the boxforthe contribution which isto be inserted through a slot 9.

The transformer disposed in the sub-housing 8 can be connected to the electrical power mains by way of an electrical connecting cable i0 and a mains plug 11.

The structure ofthe electrical offertory candles 1 and the holders 5 are described in greater detail hereinafter.

Figure 2 shows an electrical offertory candle 1 from above while Figure 3 shows the electrical offertory candle 1 shortly before it is fitted into a holder 5 and Figure 4 shows the arrangementwhen the offertory light is switched on.

As will be seen from the drawings, the electrical offertory candle 1 comprises a bowl 12which preferably consists of a red transparent plastics material and which allowsthe lightof an incandescent lamp 13 to appearatasmall distance, likethe lightofan offertory candle consisting ofwax, which is veryfrequently disposed in a red plastics bowl. The incandescent filament 14 ofthe lamp 13 preferably extends in an inverted V-shaped configuration, unlike the di agrammatic view in the drawings, thus substantially imitating the shape of a candle flame.

Like the bowls used for wax candles, the bowl 12 has a bottom 15 and a socket or holder 16which is formed or moulded thereon. For the purposes offixing the incandescent lamp 13 which is of a size for example for a voltage of 12 V and 1.2W and which is preferably powered bya d.c. operatingvoltageof 10.5V, provided in the bottom 15 ofthe bowl 12 is an opening 17 which permits the incandescent lamp 13 to be inserted from the side ofthe socket 16 into the opening 17 to such an extent that the incandescent lamp base 18 which possibly has raised portions 19 is locked in the direction of insertion.

As can also be seen in particularfrom Figure 3, a contact cap 20 which is preferably of brass, is fitted into the socket 16 from below to such an extent, and is connected to the inside ofthe socket 16for example by adhesive,thatthe incandescent lamp base 18 is fixedly clamped between the top side 21 ofthe contact cap 20 and the bottom 15 ofthe bowl 12. In that position the lower edge 22 ofthe substantially cup-shaped contact cap 20 projects beyond the lower edge portion 23 of the socket 16so that, when the bowl 12 is fitted onto a support, the lower edge 22 ofthe contact cap bearsagainstthesupport.

Figure 3 also shows a portion of one ofthe carriers 4 with a holder 5. In the construction shown in Figure 3, the holder 5 comprises a contact shell 25 having a contact bottom 26 which is fixedly connected, for example by soldering, to the carrier4which is provided as the earth line, on the frame 2. The contact shell 25 with the contact bottom 26 are preferably of brass so that, afterthe lower edge 22 ofthe contact cap 20 has been fitted on, there is a good electrical contact with the incandescent lamp 13 which is fitted into an opening 27 in the contact cap 20 with its base t8, and thus electrically connected.

Disposed concentrically with respect to the contact shell 25 is a cylindrical housing 28 of insulating material, which is connected to the top side of the contact bottom 26, for example by using adhesive on its underside. The insulating housing 28 isfor example of PVC and projects beyond the contact bottom 26 approximately by the depth ofthe contact cap 20, as can be best seen from Figure 4which shows the way in which the contact cap 20 is supported with its lower edge 22 on the contact bottom 26.Disposed in the interior of the insulating housing 28 is a cylindrical bore 29 in which there is a coil spring 31 whose lower end is supported against a plastics disc30. Provided at the opposite end of the coil spring 31 is a contact disc 32 which is preferably of brass and which is connected to the electrical power supply arrangement by way of a soldered wire 33. Apertures are provided both in the carrier 4 and in the contact bottom 26 and the plastics dise 30, forthe wire 33.

Comparison between Figures 3 and 4 will show that, after the electrical offertory candle 1 has been fitted into place, the central contact 34 ofthe incandescent lamp 13 displaces the contact disc32 downwardly in the cylindrical bore 29 as a result ofthe inherent weight, against the force ofthe coil spring 31 The contactpressurewhich is thus produced between the contact disc 32 and the central contact 34 ofthe incandescent lamp 13 is sufficient, like the contact pressure at the lower edge 22 ofthe contact cap 20 as a result of the inherent weight ofthe electrical offertory candle 1 which in particular is increased by the metal nature ofthe contact cap 20.Therefore the electrical currentwhich is introduced by way ofthe wire 33 passes by way ofthe contact disc 32, the central contact 34, the incandescent filament 14, the incandescent lamp base 18, the contact cap 20, the contact bottom 26 and the carrier 4to the mains arrangement in the housing 6. The presence or absence of the electrical offertory candles 1 can be easily ascertained by the electronic control circuit provided in the housing 6, by virtue ofthefactthatthe resistance ofthe holder 5 falls abruptly afterthe electrical offertory candle 1 has been fitted into position.

While in the embodiment of the holder 5 shown in Figures 3 and 4, a circumferential lateral guide wall 35 of the contact shell 25 provides a radial guiding action, that is effected by means of insulating housings of a specific configuration, in the case of the embodiments described hereinafter.

It will be seen notjustfrom Figures 3 and 4 but also from Figure 5 that, in the embodimentfirst described above, in respect of the holder 5, the diameter of the insurating housing 28 is substantially smallerthan that of the contact shell or dish 25 and the contact cap 20.

Figure 4 shows that the outside ofthe socket 16 can come to bear against the inside ofthe guide wall 25, and is guided thereby. In practice there is a slight gap which is not perceptible in the drawings. It will be appreciated that a gap 36 is provided between the top side of the insulating housing 28 and the inward side, which faces theretowards, of the contact cap 20, thereby ensuring that when the electrical offertory candle is fitted into place, contact occurs only atthe central contact34 and the lower edge 22, without the insulating housing 28 coming into contact with the contact cap 20, which is provided in respect of the side walls ofthe insulating housings described hereinafter, in ordertoguidethecontactcap 20.

The electrical offertory candle 1 shown in Figure 6 corresponds to the offertory candle 1 shown in the preceding Figures of drawings. However, provided on the carrier4, instead of a contact shell 25, is a contact disc40 which is electrically conductively connected to the carrier 4. Fixed on the contact disc40 is an insulating housing 38, the construction of which substantially corresponds to the insulating housing 28. In particular, a cylindrical bore 29 is also provided in the insulating housing 38 for accommodating a coil spring 31 and a contact disc32 which, when the electrical offertory candle 1 is not fitted into position, bears against an abutment ring 41 at the top ofthe insulating housing 38.

The diameter ofthe insulating housing 38 is equal to orslightlysmallerthan the inside diameterofthe contact cap 20 so that the insulating housing 38 provides a guide action without impeding the downward sliding movement of the contact cap 20 on to the top ofthe contact disc 40.

Figure 7 shows a plan view of the holder5 provided with the insulating housing 38 of largerdiameter. It will be seen that the contact disc 40 projects onlywith an outer edge portion beyond the periphery of the insulating housing 38. Figure 7 also shows the contact disc32which is guided in the cylindrical bore29.

While in the above-described embodiments it is onlytheforce of gravity that maintains the electrical contact, which can result in short interruptions in the supplyof currentforexample if the offertory candle table is subjected to shaking or rattling movements, in the embodiment illustrated in Figures8to 10 the construction additionally provides a mechanical locking action.

Corresponding to the above-described embodiments, provided on the carrier4 is a contact shell or cup 25 oralso a contact disc40without a guide wall portion. An insulating housing 48 is provided concen tricel liy with respectto the contact shell 25 or the contact disc40 which may alternatively be used. In contrastto the insulating housing 28 and 38, the peripheral surfaceofthe insulating housing 48 is not of a uniformly cylindrical configuration, but has a plurality of projecting claws 49. The claws 49 which are shown in section in Figures 8 and 10 and in plan in Figure 9 are resiliently connected to the insulating housing 48 in the vicinity ofthe bottom thereof.For that reason, the claws 49 can be resiliently pressed into intermediate spaces 50 in orderto yield upon insertion ofthe contactcap 20 intothe annulargap 51 between the insulating housing 48 and the guide wall portion 35 ofthe contact shell 25, when a bead 52 provided on the inside ofthe contact cap 20 comes into contact with the head portions 53 ofthe claws 49.

When the bead 52 has passed the head portions 53 as it moves downwardly, the head portions 53 spring radiallyoutwardlyagainandtakeuptheposition shown in Figure 8 in which the head portions 53 of the claws 49 lockthe electrical offertory candle 1 in position. The shape ofthe bead 52 and the head portions 53 provides that an additional pressing force acting towards the carrier 4 is produced. When the offertory candle 1 is removed, the rounded head portions 53 are deflected back into the intermediate spaces, as a result oftheforce applied thereto by the bead 52, and, after a predeterminable resistance is overcome, open the way for removal of the offertory candle 1.

In orderclearlyto show the form of the bead 52 and the claws 49 which are provided with the head portions 53, Figure 10 shows the insulating housing 48 with the contact cap 20 removed.

Claims (11)

1. An offertory candle table comprising a frame which has at least one support for offertory candles and on which are provided a plurality of holders forthe offertory candles wherein each offertory candle has an electric lamp and a contact base which can be fitted into the holders which areprovidedwith electrical contact surfaces.

2. Atable according to Claim 1 whereinthe offertory candles are in the configuration of a coloured transparent bowl, in the bottom of which is fixed an incandescent lamp.

3. Atable according to Claim 2 wherein formed on the bottom ofthe bowl is a cylindrical socket into which is fitted a contact cap whose opening faces awayfromthe bottom and which projects with its edge beyond the edge ofthe socket and by means of which the socket of the incandescent lamp is clamped between the bottom ofthe bowl and the top side of the contact cap, wherein the central contact extends through an opening into the interior of the contact cap.

4. Atableaccordingto oneof Claims 1 to3wherein the holders on the carriers each have a disc-shaped contact bottom and a spring contact arranged concen trically with respect thereto.

5. Atable according to Claim 4wherein the spring contact is formed in the vicinity of the top side of a cylindrical housing of insulating material, which is fixed concentrically on the contact bottom

6. Atable according to Claim 5 wherein the insulating housing has a cylindrical bore in which there is disposed a coil spring which presses a contact dise displaceable in the bore against an abutment ring at the top ofthe insulating housing.

7. Atable according to Claim 6wherein the coil spring is supported against a plastics disc which is provided at the underside ofthe insulating housing.

8. Atable according to one of Claims 4to 7 wherein at the outer edge the contact bottom has a circum ferentiallyextending guide wall.

9. Atable according to one of Claims 4 to 7 wherein at the outside diameter of the insulating housing approximately corresponds to the inside diameter of the cup-shaped contact cap.

10. Atableaccordingto Claim 9wherein provided along the periphery of the insulating housing are a plurality of elastic claws which are formed on the insulating housing in the vicinity ofthe underside thereof and which can be brought into latching engagement with a radially inwardly projecting bead which is provided on the inside of the contact cap and extends circumferential ly thereof.

11. Atable according to Claim 1 constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.