Color changing candle

Details Color changing candle Color changing candle

1999-10-08

2003-03-25

Toomer, Cephia D. (Department: 1714)

Fuel and related compositions

Candle composition

C431S288000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06537335

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a candle having a selectively and reversibly variable color pattern. The candle comprises a conventional wax or a solid transparent gel with a thermochromic or photochromic pigment dispersed evenly throughout the main body. The candle main body changes from a first color to a second color in response to heat or light from the candle flame, and reverts to the original color upon extinguishing the flame.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although electric lights have virtually eliminated the need for candles, candles continue to remain popular as a way to provide “atmosphere”. Candlelight is associated with romantic dinners, holidays, weddings, anniversaries, etc. However, aside from the addition of fragrances and colors, candles have remained virtually unchanged for hundreds of years, a simple combination of wick and wax.
It is difficult to improve upon the simple elegance of a traditional white candle. While many variations have been proposed over the years, they have not met with commercial success, the modifications often perceived as detracting or intrusive.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,487 teaches candles with colored particles that swirl in a pool of molten wax near the flame. While this is interesting, it also detracts from the beauty of the candlelight.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,215 teaches a thermally color-changing candleholder. While this is an interesting effect, the candle itself, which is merely a conventional candle inserted into the candleholder, remains unchanged. The effect is not surprising.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,798,184 teaches a candle having a “coloration area” provided on the surface of the candle in the manner of a film by brushing, spraying, or the like. The “coloration area” may contain a pigment that generates fluorescent light upon being irradiated with ultraviolet light, or may contain a luminescent or phosphorescent agent that glows after being illuminated, or may contain organic photochromic compounds that change in color upon receiving light. In the figures, the “coloration area” is shown as intricately shaped flower petals far from the flame, with the main body of the candle being a wide body formed of a conventional wax. It does not appear that this candle can be shaped into a slender candle. It also appears that the coloration areas do not respond to temperature.
The present inventors, keeping in mind the overwhelming popularity of the simple common candle, considered that consumers may not be interested in candles that display complex patterns or images which detract from the simple beauty of a burning candle. The inventors considered that the same consumers may be more willing to accept a candle which changes in display after being lit in a manner which is simple and eloquent, yet subliminally amazing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
During the course of experimentation, the present inventors developed a new type of candle that has the appearance of a conventional candle, yet changes in display upon being lit in a simple yet intriguing way.
This new type of candle, upon being lit, changes in appearance in a manner which does not detract from the aesthetic beauty of a burning candle, but rather enhances it.
The invention concerns a candle wherein the main body comprises (a) a solid combustible matrix, which may be a conventional wax or a solid clear gel formulation, and (b) a reversible color changing composition, preferably a thermochromic or photochromic composition, the components (a) and (b) preferably forming a homogeneous mixture.
Upon lighting, the light or heat given off by the flame causes the reversible color changing composition contained in the main body to change in color, to loose color, or to become colored, at least in the area nearest the flame. For example, a wax candle with both a blue-to-white thermochromic pigment and a conventional red pigment homogeneously mixed into the main body would appear to have a solid purple body. Upon lighting the candle, the top two inches of the candle would turn red (the red pigment in the candle main body remaining unaffected while the thermochromic pigment transforms from blue to white). As the candle burns down inch by inch, the area of color change travels down along with the flame. Thus, the visual effect remains essentially constant, and can be said to work in tandem with the flame as the candle is being consumed by the flame. Upon extinction of the flame, the entire length of the candle again turns purple.
As mentioned above, the solid combustible material of the main body may be a clear self-supporting gel composition. A candle formed of such a material having a blue-to-clear thermochromic material compounded therein would initially appear to have a solid conventional candle body. After being lit, the top part of the candle may turn from blue to clear, giving the optical illusion of the top part of the candle disappearing. A candle having such a unique display would stand out in the marketplace.
The color change effect can be created by mixing into the candle main body either mixtures of conventional pigments and thermochromic or photochromic compositions, or mixtures of different thermochromic compositions, or mixtures of different photochromic compositions, or mixtures of thermochromic and photochromic compositions, or a pure single thermochromic or photochromic composition. Each of these may be incorporated into conventional wax candle materials or transparent materials. The color changing candle body is made of a composition that can be used by the amateur hobbyist, yet provides a completely unique candle display.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood and so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other color changing candles for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent structures and the processes for forming them do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention imparts to candles the property of reversible color change. The term “candle” as used herein means any candle of any design as conventional in this art, and includes tapers (e.g., traditional dinner candles), filled or jar candles (candles formed by pouring melted wax into glass containers), votives (candles shaped to refill the glass containers after the original wax has been consumed), pillars (free-standing candles generally having a diameter of about three inches or more), etc.
The development of a color changing candle is more complex than merely mixing color changing compositions and waxes or transparent gels.
For correct burning, the radiant heat of the candle's flame must melt a small pool of the candle body material around the base of the exposed portion of the wick. The molten candle body material must have a relatively low viscosity to insure that it will be capable of being drawn up through the wick by capillary action. The candle body material can not contain any materials that would clog the wick, or combust to give off smoke or unpleasant aromas or toxic fumes.
Generally, a one-to-one ratio of pigment to conventional dyes can be used in the present invention, and optimum concentrations for burning and affordability are 0.5-1.0%. Proportions and amounts can easily be selected by those working in this art. Obviously, if the concentration were too low the effects would not be noticeable, and if the concentration of thermochromics was too high the candle wo

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