Fuel and related compositions – Candle composition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-16
2002-10-08
Toomer, Cephia D. (Department: 1714)
Fuel and related compositions
Candle composition
C431S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461392
ABSTRACT:
I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of plastics and elastomers, and more particularly to the art of a clear, resilient plasto-elastomeric material.
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Soft gel materials used in container candles have been reported in U.S. Pat. No. 5,789,089, by Elasamatory. This material is unsuitable for use as a freestanding candle, or in shoe soles, or in any of the other uses for which the present invention is ideal.
A characteristic transparent candle has been disclosed is U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,342 (the '342 patent). This candle comprises a thermoplastic polyamide resin and a flammable solvent selected from the group consisting of unsaturated fatty acids with polyhydric alcohols, and mixtures thereof. This candle suffers from the drawback of potential flaring, resulting from the separation of oil from the candle forming a top layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,615,389 (“the '389 Patent”), discloses another clear candle that is chemically similar to the device of the '342 Patent. The composition comprises a thermoplastic polyamide resin formed from linoleic acid, polymerized with a polyamide alkolamide or alkanol, and stearic acid. This composition allegedly alleviates syneresis. But U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,089 claims to have tested the above compositions and found that separation was a consistent problem in '389 and '342 candles. The '389 patent also claims the optional addition of ionic surface agents that prevent “blooming” or fogging, which result in the loss of transparency. Although this may be helpful, it does not eliminate cloudiness.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,645,705 (“the '705 patent”) discloses a transparent candle material comprising a straight chain aliphatic amide with white mineral oil and alcohol. There is also a methyl ester added for hardness. The '705 patent, however, is similar to the '342 and '389 patents, in that it suffers from the same structural and functional problems.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,711 (“the '711 patent”) appears to disclose a clear, undyed, and unpigmented wax band “candle.” However, the invention is a reusable “candle holder” and not a “candle.”
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a plasto-elastomeric material comprising two or more of, but not limited to, the following: (a) thermoplastic; (b) mineral oil; (c) vegetable oil; (d) rubber; (e) thermoplastic olefin; (f) thermoplastic elastomer; (g) copolymer; and (h) blends of two or more of the above. Some of the exceptional properties of this material are the following: (1) Clarity; (2) resiliency; (3) shock absorption; (4) resilio-damping balance; (5) high flash point; (6) burns leaving no ash at high temperatures; and (7) hydro-sliminess not affected by applied pressure.
The above properties, as well as others, render the plasto-elastomeric material of this invention highly applicable for use in the following:
i. Insoles and soles of shoes;
ii. water slide replacement surfaces;
iii. mold making;
iv. unbreakable, free standing candies; and,
v. medical devices such as catheters, tubes in general, flexible implants and the like.
One object of the present invention is to form an unbreakable, transparent, non-flaring, non-blooming candle that burns without coking or dripping.
Another object of the present invention is to exclude the use of polyamides or nitrogen-containing polymers that are known, on burning, to exude hazardous byproducts containing oxides of nitrogen.
Yet another object of the present invention is to produce an extremely slow burning candle. The candle made from the composition of this invention will take more than five times longer to burn the same amount of material with a similar size flame as a known candle.
Still another object of the present invention is to form a candle that is longer than wax- based and polyamide-resin-based candles.
Another object of the present invention is to mold a candle which is either clear, meaning uncolored, or dyed with organic pigments, which maintain the transparency of the candle in the colored state. These pigments are not sensitive to light, nor do they decrease the clarity of the candle, the size of the flame during burning, nor do they cause any flare. The inert nature of the composition in this invention makes it inactive to the dyes or pigments at the elevated temperatures of the molten material.
A further object of the present invention is to prevent age-induced brittleness, which is encountered in wax-based and polyamide-resin-based candles.
Another object of the present invention is to make transparent candle material that does not need a container to hold it, as in the case of presently available gel candles. The candles made from the present composition are freestanding, unbreakable, and free of a container.
One advantage of the present invention is its thermal reversibility. Unlike polyamide-resin-based candles, the composition in the present invention is remeltable and reusable any number of times. This feature of the present invention allows the mixing of color(s), fragrances, etc. before molding as well as after molding and re-melting. This recycling capability minimizes the waste and environmental problem associated with solid waste disposal.
Another advantage of the present invention is the elimination of syneresis/blooming resulting from excessive cross-linking, which is a serious problem in polyamide resin based candles. By eliminating any chemical cross-linking, and minimizing the so-called physical cross-linking, the oil exuding problem is overcome in the present invention.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the plasto-elastomeric material has exceptional balance of resilience and damping properties, which makes the material ideal for soles of shoes, rendering a high level of comfort to the wearer.
Still another advantage of the present invention is the high flash point that makes it suitable for use in making clear, free-standing, non-flashing candles, and for use as a high resolution mold polymer in the jewelry industry.
Another advantage of the present invention is that the burning emission, and the solid melting states are all non-toxic as well as nearly soot-free. At high temperatures the composite material leaves no ash, making it ideal for use as a mold polymer. While rubber used as a mold rubber or mold polymer produces toxic emissions when it is burnt from the mold, the plasto-elastomeric material in the present invention, being made of hydrogen and carbon only, creates no toxic fumes during complete combustion.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the material has zero friction when two slabs of the material contact each other with a small amount of water between the slabs. The coefficient of friction between the two slabs, with moisture in between, is lower than two Teflon slabs under similar conditions. This ultra low, or zero, friction remains the same no matter what pressure or load is applied to the slab. This unusual feature of the material is referred to as ‘hydro-sliminess.’ This hydro-sliminess of the plasto-elastomer is not thixo-limiting. On the other hand, with greater applied pressure and/or increased load on the top layer, the water-induced slippery property only increases. Thus this property makes it applicable as a surface for slides, similar to the water-slides, with the advantages that the volume of water used is small and the steepness of the sliding slope is drastically decreased.
The above aspects are achieved in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention which is a candle comprising an unbreakable, free-standing, clear body without a container, at least one wick, which may be introduced before the molten mass solidifies or after the candle body is made by a needle threaded with the wick. The body is a clear, strong, free-standing gel comprising 60 to 90 weight % of liquid paraffin wax, mineral oil, vegetable oil, polyethylene glycols and methoxypolyethylene glycols, such as those sold under the tradename Carbowax, and combinations thereof, 10 to 40 we
Emerson Roger D.
Emerson & Skeriotis
Kanakkanatt Sebastian V.
Skeriotis John M.
Toomer Cephia D.
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