Illumination – Self powered lamp – Nonelectric
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-07-24
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Self powered lamp
Nonelectric
C362S084000, C362S166000, C362S172000, C362S173000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06264345
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a drip preventing candle holder which provides auxiliary illumination at a location remote from the candle flame.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The problems associated with dripping candles, complete burning and effective candle mounting are well recognized and there have been numerous attempts, over more than one hundred years, to provide both practical and aesthetically attractive solutions while maximizing effective illumination.
One type of a drip preventing candle holder is taught by U.S. Pat. No. 1,365,485 issued in 1921 to Guest and comprises a drip preventing and candle stabilizing cap member or follower having an annular shoulder portion for sitting on a shoulder of the candle to descend under gravity during consumption thereof and a central, wick receiving opening with a lip to contain melted wax and a cylindrical skirt depending from the annular portion; a stand having a base and an upstanding, socket-less candlestick with a candle supporting surface and receivable in sealing engagement within the cap during the last stages of consumption of the candle to reduce or prevent leakage of melted wax; and complementary cap guiding means on the cap member and base.
In the Guest patent, the candlestick is of constant width, substantially equal to the width of the candle and supporting surface and, preferably, the guiding means includes a cylindrical sleeve member upstanding from the base of the stand surrounding the candlestick in coaxial relation to provide therebetween a skirt receiving socket. The skirt is of greater axial length than the candle and is guided by sliding receipt in the socket during burning, ensuring even, vertical descent of the cap member. Furthermore, the lip is extended to provide a large bowl as necessary to contain the increased amount of wax melted as a result of the high thermal conductivity of the cap which is apparently metal.
However, that construction is relatively bulky and heavy, also requiring vent holes in the walls of the cap for cooling the candle body and another set of holes at the edge of the socket extending into the bowl to drain back reliquified wax from the bowl at the final stage of burning adding to complexity and manufacturing cost. Removal of any wax leaking into the socket can be relatively time consuming and difficult.
In addition, as with another proposal taught by G.B patent 230,229 granted 1925 to Riley, in which a follower's skirt telescopically receives the candlestick, the candle body is concealed from view substantially completely throughout burning as the follower is made of metal.
An additional problem often encountered in candle-lit restaurants, particularly when a diner's eye level is higher than the flame of a candle upstanding from the table top is difficulty in reading a menu on the table below the candle as a result of the relative brightness of the candle flame. Auxiliary illumination below the candle is therefore desirable.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,767,910 teaches a cap or follower carrying a chimney, both transparent glass, with a radial array of optical fibers positioned on the chimney with one of their respective ends aligned with the candle flame so that a ring of discrete, minute points of light is emitted by their other ends. However, while decorative, such arrangement is relatively complex and the light ring is at the same general height as the candle flame and does not significantly increase the level of illumination spaced below the candle flame.
Other prior candle holders with cap members or followers, some of which are made of transparent glass are taught by U.S. Pat. Nos. 84,103; 1,225,614; 1,350,461; 1,671,652; 2,503,236; 3,071,952; 4,544,357; 4,566,055; 4,755,135; 5,057,005; U.S. design Pat. No. 288,722; U.K. patent application publication 2,067,739 and Japanese patent application publication 9161517.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a socketless, drip preventing candle holder or device which operates effectively to ensure leak free consumption while permitting use of a generic candle.
Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder or device which permits the entire candle body and flame to be seen throughout burning.
An additional object of the invention is to decorate a standard candle by utilizing a follower with a transparent skirt extending over the entire candle.
A further object of the invention is to provide a candle holder or device which provides enhanced illumination of an area below the candle flame
A still further object of the invention is to provide a candle holder or device that can be easily cleaned.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a candle holder which is of relatively simple construction suitable for economic production by conventional mass production techniques.
Accordingly, the invention provides a drip preventing device for a candle of a type comprising a candle follower having an annular shoulder portion for sitting on a shoulder of the candle to descend under gravity during consumption thereof and a central, wick receiving opening with an annular lip to contain melted wax and a cylindrical skirt depending from the annular shoulder portion for receiving a candle body; wherein the candle follower is made in one piece of transparent material with a melted wax containing bowl extending outwardly and upwardly from the annular lip which has an upwardly inclined, annular optical face providing an optical aperture aligned to receive, normally, light refracted through the melted wax from the candle flame for transmission by total internal reflection down the entire length of the skirt for emission from a lower end thereof.
In one embodiment, the optical face is flat providing an optical aperture aligned to receive, light incident normally thereon while, in another embodiment, the optical face is convex, the bulbous form increasing the amount of light collected.
The lower end of the skirt may, for example, be coated with a fluorescent material excited by the candle light, particularly by infrared light.
The wall of the skirt may be decorated by transparent inks or dies, stickers, fluorescent material, opaque color layers with transparent openings.
The device further comprises a stand having a base and an upstanding, socket-less candlestick with a recessed candle supporting surface at least as wide as the candle and the skirt is elongate for containing an entire candle and so that the candlestick is receivable in sliding engagement within the skirt, providing precise vertical descent of the cap member or follower throughout the entire burning of the candle and for sealing engagement within the cap member during a final stage of consumption to prevent leakage of melted wax.
This construction will provide sufficient lateral support and guidance for the cap throughout descent to enable both the essentially socketless structure to be maintained with total, drip-free consumption of a universally available, generic candle type with some thickness variation accommodated.
Substantially the entire candle is exposed to view throughout burning maintaining the desired natural and symbolic quality of the living flame which is the primary reason for candle use in homes and restaurants.
REFERENCES:
patent: 84103 (1868-11-01), Foote
patent: 280101 (1883-06-01), Waldron
patent: D. 288722 (1987-03-01), Uarada
patent: 307952 (1884-11-01), Chinnock
patent: 1200121 (1916-10-01), Knapp
patent: 1255614 (1918-02-01), Knapp
patent: 1350461 (1920-08-01), Knapp
patent: 1365485 (1921-01-01), Guest
patent: 1671652 (1928-05-01), ONeill
patent: 2056605 (1936-10-01), Guilfoil
patent: 2082897 (1937-08-01), Muench et al.
patent: 2349072 (1944-05-01), Bormann
patent: 3767910 (1973-10-01), Harrigan
patent: 4544351 (1985-10-01), Marsicano
patent: 4566055 (1986-01-01), Klees
patent: 4755135 (1988-07-01), Kwok
patent: 5057005 (1991-10-01), Kwok
patent: 5193994 (1993-03-01), Schirneker
patent: 5228771 (1993-07-01), Zimmerman
patent: 3001359 (1981-07-01), None
patent: 779643 (1935-01-01), None
patent: 1
Cariaso Alan
The Candle Machine Co
Usher Robert W. J.
LandOfFree
Drip preventing candle holder with decorative follower... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Drip preventing candle holder with decorative follower..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Drip preventing candle holder with decorative follower... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2510403