At a glance
| Patent number | CN205424561U (application CN201620108051) |
| Type | China utility model (实用新型) - protects product shape and structure |
| Original title | LED electronic candle lamp (一种LED电子蜡烛灯) |
| Patent owner | Dongguan Luoma Yuzhou Candle Industry Product Co., Ltd. |
| Inventors | Su Dawei |
| Filing date | 2016-02-03 |
| Grant date | 2016-08-03 |
| Status (China) | Lapsed - terminated for non-payment of annual fees (recorded 2018-03-02) |
| Patent family | Chinese filings only - no US, European, Japanese, PCT or other filings listed |
| Cited by | 3 later documents |
| Source | Google Patents (search for CN205424561U) |
What the claims cover, in plain language
Claim 1 - an LED candle with a shell, a base holding a power module, a support column and circuit board on the base, and a flame-shaped shade on top of the column with an LED module in its bottom; base, column and board are inside the shell, and the shade sits outside the top of the shell.
Claims 2-4 - the shade passes up through a hole in the top of the shell; the top is dish-shaped; the shell is made of paraffin, plastic, glass or metal. Claims 5-7 - the shade has a hollow tip and LED slots in its bottom; several slots are tilted toward each other, or a single slot is stepped for LED modules of different sizes. Claims 8-9 - a wick is engraved or printed inside the hollow tip; the shade is two halves with leaf-shaped tops. Claim 10 - the power module is a plug-in battery or rechargeable supply.
This is a simplified reading for orientation only. The legal scope is defined by the exact claim wording in the official Chinese document.
What this means for US production
This patent was filed only in China and has lapsed, so it no longer restricts anyone in China either. It has no US or other foreign counterpart.
Two points to settle early:
- Other patents may exist. Flameless candles are a crowded patent field in the US - moving-flame and projected-flame designs from established candle brands have been patented and litigated - so a freedom-to-operate (FTO) review of the shade, LED layout and any flicker circuit is needed before tooling.
- Real wax shell. A paraffin shell gives the best look but softens in heat; shell material and the hole around the shade are decided on samples left in warm rooms and shop windows.
Customization and manufacturing
What can be customized
| Area | Options |
|---|---|
| Shell | Real paraffin over plastic, all-plastic, glass or metal; ivory, colored or textured finishes |
| Size | Pillar, taper, votive and lantern sizes; height of shade above the dish |
| Light | Warm-white or amber LEDs, two- or three-LED crossed layouts, flicker pattern |
| Controls | On/off switch, 6-hour timer, remote control, dimming |
| Power | AA/AAA batteries, coin cells, or USB-rechargeable pack |
| Sets | Mixed-height sets, gift packs, wholesale cases for venues |
Things to plan for (US market)
- Reese’s Law (16 CFR 1263) - if the candle or remote uses coin or button cells, the battery compartment must be secured and warnings printed on product and pack.
- FCC Part 15 - timer, flicker and remote circuits are digital electronics; the remote receiver and board need FCC verification.
- UL 588 - many retailers ask for decorative LED lighting to be tested to UL 588 (seasonal and holiday decorative products).
- California Prop 65 - paraffin, dyes and plastic housings are screened; warnings if needed.
- Battery charger efficiency - a rechargeable version’s charger falls under DOE battery charger rules (10 CFR 430).
How a project runs
- Inquiry - candle sizes, shell material, light pattern and quantity.
- Design - shade halves, LED slot angles, wick print, battery compartment.
- Prototype - samples compared side by side with competitor candles in a dark room.
- Pilot run - battery-life, heat and drop tests; FCC and retailer testing.
- Production - wax pouring or molding, assembly, gift or bulk packaging.
Quantities & timeline
The shade halves and base need small injection molds, the paraffin shell needs pouring molds or a dip line, and the LED board is a simple assembly with a programmable flicker chip. Most development time goes into making the flame look right at the chosen LED angle. Send us your candle sizes, shell material, control options, quantity and target price and we will reply with options.
Patent drawings
Drawings reproduced from the public patent document for reference.
