Combustion – Candle – e.g. – taper – etc. – Having structure additional to wax and wick
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-19
2001-07-17
Price, Carl D. (Department: 3743)
Combustion
Candle, e.g., taper, etc.
Having structure additional to wax and wick
C431S289000, C431S291000, C431S126000, C362S161000, C362S180000, C362S181000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261088
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to mechanical candle holders, and more particularly, to a removable flame cover for a mechanical candle holder which decreases or prevents the risk of injury or damage from the candle's open flame while simultaneously allowing the mechanical candle to be used in the presence of air currents without extinguishing the flame.
2. Background Art
A mechanical candle holder maintains a candle upon a surface, such as a table. The candle is held by a base, and disposed within a vertically oriented tube, and includes a spring or other mechanical means for urging progressively the candle to the upper portion of the tube, so that the entire candle is ultimately consumed over the course of its burning, but the flame is maintained at a fixed position above the supporting surface. Such a device is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No, 2,469,163 to Chace Gilmore. Devices manufactured after the teachings of this seminal patent are known in the art as “Chace Candles.”
In many areas, governmental fire code regulations prohibit the operation of a lighted candle in an open space without adequate protection. This is true regardless of whether the candle is used in conjunction with a mechanical candle holder. Cities in the United States which typically enforce strict fire codes for candles include Boston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York and Chicago. Thus, businesses (such as restaurants) or organizations (such as religious groups) which desire to have a lighted candle placed on a table are prevented from doing so.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a flame cover for a mechanical candle holder for use in areas which have strict fire codes relating to open or exposed flame candles.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flame cover for a mechanical candle holder which is easy to manufacture, simple in construction, economical in cost and which allows for easy insertion onto and removal from a mechanical candle holder.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flame cover for a mechanical candle holder which reduces or prevents fire hazards to property or to a person when the mechanical candle is lighted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a flame cover for a mechanical candle holder which prevents candle flame extinguishment due to adjacent strong air currents while simultaneously allowing the visual enjoyment a lighted candle provides.
Another object of the present invention is to prevent wax drippage.
Yet another object of the present invention is to prevent excessive flame flicker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a flame cover device for use with mechanical candle holders, especially for use with candle holders in which the candle is spring-driven to the top of a tube as the candle is consumed. The apparatus may be removably dispose upon the top portion of the tube of the mechanical candle holder, where it remains motionless while the candle is burned by combustion, yet provides protection from and to the burning flame. A base of the device is engaged with the tube of the mechanical candle holder, with vents in the base providing adequate ventilation to the flame. A transparent shell extends up from the base to provide flame protection. A ring damper is optionally provided for covering the vents in the base to extinguish the flame.
The present invention is a removable flame cover apparatus for use with a mechanical candle holder. In a typical candle holder (e.g. Chace Candle), the candle holder comprises a rigid tube main shaft, an upper tapered end and an upwardly-biased candle therein. For use with such a candle holder, the flame cover apparatus of the present invention comprises a base and conduit. The base comprises a rim comprising a plurality of vents and a center opening. The conduit is cylindrical-shaped, depends downwardly from the rim and comprises a center opening. The base further comprises a lip, integral with the rim, extending slightly beyond the rim into the center opening of the conduit. The rim and vents are preferably perpendicular to the conduit. All of the openings are preferably cylindrical.
The conduit is disposable on the rigid tube main shaft of the candle holder and the lip is disposable on the upper tapered end of the candle holder. This allows the flame cover to be seated near the top of the candle holder while preventing the flame cover from sliding down the candle holder. This is accomplished by the diameter of the conduit being slightly larger than the diameter of the main shaft of the candle holder, while the diameter of the lip is just slightly larger than the upward taper of the candle holder and just slightly smaller than the main shaft of the candle holder. The flame cover remains unmoving atop the candle holder while the candle is burned. No other attachments, e.g. clamps or springs, are required.
The flame cover further comprises a hollow shell defining a flame area therein. The shell comprises an upper end and a lower end, the lower end coupled to the rim of the base. The shell is preferably translucent or transparent, and cylindrical in shape. The upper end of the shell may comprise an annulus, preferably with a diameter slightly larger than the shell, so as to prevent breakage if the shell is dropped. The shell is coupled to the rim, preferably by a heat-resistant adhesive. An edge, preferably upwardly extending and perpendicular to the rim, may be provided on the rim to contain and hold the shell in place. The shell is preferably between approximately 3-5 inches in length, and most preferably 4-4.25 inches in length.
In an alternative embodiment, the flame cover apparatus further comprises a damper ring which is used in high wind or breeze conditions so that the flame does not go out, cause undercurrent flame flicker or dripping wax. This damper ring may be inserted, even while the flame is burning, by dropping it into the shell. It then seats itself on the rim and covers the vents.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 7091 (1876-05-01), Cowles
patent: 140448 (1873-07-01), Walton
patent: 183398 (1876-10-01), Howard
patent: 214664 (1879-04-01), Johnston
patent: 333365 (1885-12-01), Waldron
patent: 370770 (1887-10-01), Drumheller
patent: 427028 (1890-04-01), Johnson
patent: 526877 (1894-10-01), Tolman
patent: 543438 (1895-07-01), Cooper
patent: 603427 (1898-05-01), Gennert
patent: 814183 (1906-03-01), Aschenbach
patent: 902567 (1908-11-01), Noe
patent: 1632577 (1927-06-01), Anderson
patent: 1890378 (1932-12-01), Godoy
patent: 2017533 (1935-10-01), Friedrichs
patent: 2254664 (1941-09-01), Quinlin
patent: 2469163 (1949-05-01), Gilmore
patent: 5193994 (1993-03-01), Schirneker
patent: 2238608 (1991-06-01), None
Chace Candles, Inc.
Peacock Myers & Adams
Price Carl D.
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