Combustion – Candle – e.g. – taper – etc. – Having structure additional to wax and wick
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-19
2004-02-24
Basichas, Alfred (Department: 3743)
Combustion
Candle, e.g., taper, etc.
Having structure additional to wax and wick
C431S292000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06695611
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. This invention is directed to a safety candle, and in particular to a candle incorporating a mobile, wick system, having a permanent wick mounted in a shallow container.
2. Historically, the use of candles for many purposes extends back into the mists of antiquity. Wax and tallow candles have been widely used as sources of light and heat, as well as for decorative purposes and in churches as votive symbols, and in modern times for purposes of generating scents, as table decoration in homes and restaurants, and as a de-odoriser.
The candle forms the historical basis for measuring light intensity, by way of “candlepower” ratings.
The candles of the prior art incorporate a central wick that extends the full length of the candle, extending from the top end thereof, and which, in the traditional manner of candle making serves as the basis for candle dipping, wherein the wick is repeatedly dipped in wax, to build up a desired thickness of candle, centered on the wick.
One drawback of prior art candles is the manner in which hot wax from the burning candle may overflow down the sides of the candle to cause a mess, with a propensity for initiating or spreading a fire when the candle burns down. The propensity to drip is fostered, in the case of many candles, by the provision of an upwardly tapered end, terminating at the projecting wick.
In use, when lighted the continuous wick of a candle serves as the base for the candle flame, and as the wax burns or drips away, the exposed outer end of the wick itself chars and combusts and ultimately tends to fall away.
Owing to the danger presented by an open candle flame, it is customary to use some form of candle-holder, to minimize the danger of initiating a conflagration, particularly when the candle nears the end of its “life”.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a candle having a mobile wick system assembly incorporating a permanent wick of limited height and a wick suspension including a thermal barrier, wherein the body of the candle is wickless, being surmounted by the wick assembly.
The top of a plain or wickless candle is hollowed out to accommodate a wick assembly in accordance with the present invention in seated relation therein.
In use, upon igniting the wick a limited transfer of heat takes place downwardly, by way of the wick and the thermal barrier, both of which conduct heat from the burning candle downwardly, thus forming a stable pool of melted wax of limited dimension, located primarily below the barrier, which the wick draws upon to maintain itself alight.
As the burning of the candle progresses over time, the wick assembly moves downwardly in stable fashion, forming a substantially constant reservoir of melted wax in the vicinity of the wick, while maintaining the outer wall portion of the candle in a firm condition.
The wick assembly consists of the wick, per se, together with its suspension means.
One embodiment of the wick suspension means consists of a metallic, perforated dish consisting of an inverted truncated cone, a central aperture of which accommodates the wick, and having one or more perforations in the conical surface of the dish to facilitate stable downward passage of the wick assembly, relative to the body of the candle, as the candle bums.
The dish usually has a diameter greater than the diameter of the candle body with which it is used. The wick assembly is of balanced construction, to maintain a level posture as the wax softens, to permit progressive downward passage of the wick as the candle burns
The wick per se is preferably of limited length, usually in the order of about two centimeters, being a substantially rigid permeable structure incorporating one or more metallic elements for purposes of integrating the wick structure, and for conducting heat downwardly away from the candle flame, while facilitating the upward “wicking” of molten wax to the flame zone.
In the case of cup-candles, as disclosed below, one or more cotton extension wicks may depend from the short, upper flame-supporting wick, the extensions serving to wick-up wax to the upper flame-supporting wick portion, while remaining isolated from the candle flame combustion zone. In a preferred hand-made wick embodiment the wick consists of a carbonized bundled mixture of fibres, with a metal binding, including fine wire.
In one embodiment, for a long-life candle of about two inches diameter the wick fibre bundle has a final diameter of about six millimeters (i.e. about ¼ inch).
One formulation for hand-made wicks consists of a mixture of cotton, nylon and polyester threads, bound together with a fine wire, such as a strand of fine copper wire similar to that from a flexible electric cord, or with a fine string. A central core of wire may serve as a .spine.
The wick support means preferably includes an intermediate yoke, bridging between the dish and the wick, to support the lower end of the wick in extending relation below the bottom of the dish, such that in use, when the candle is alight, the wick projects downwardly into a pool of molten wax located substantially on the main axis of the candle. Particulars of manufacture follow below.
A yoke characteristically has a number of outwardly extending supporting arm portions that secure it to the adjacent, surrounding dish, while serving to regulate the rate of heat transfer from the wick to the dish, and thence to the underlying candle body.
The portion of the wick above the yoke carries the flame, without itself being consumed, while the portion beneath the yoke and dish is submerged in or connected in wicking relation with the pool of melted wax, and is not exposed to the flame, serving to wick-up the molten wax into the upper, combustion zone of the candle flame.
The provision of metal elements in the structure of the wick provides structural stiffness, together with heat transfer capability, to transfer heat from the candle flame to the underlying wax pool. Manufacture of different embodiments of the wick is detailed below.
Candles in accordance with the invention burn economically and in very stable fashion.
In situations where assemblies of candles are used, the consistency of their burning rates enables such candles to burn in relative symmetry, at substantially equal rates.
The use of a superimposed wick permits the production of extremely low cost wickless candle bodies, which may be cast in molds or extruded. Candles having an unusually long burning life may be readily made.
The adoption of a wickless candle body facilitates an almost unlimited variety of candle shapes, generally based upon a central cylindrical body with a cross-section approximating the plan view of the wick dish. It will be understood that the wick dish and cylindrical candle body may have a plan shape other than circular.
One form of candle body dispenses with the need for a candle holder, a base portion of the candle being significantly larger transversely than the upper, combusting portion of the candle.
The enlarged base portion provides stability to the candle, and is not consumed when the candle burns right to the bottom, with the candle dish having consumed the central portion of the base, while leaving a protective anulus of wax surrounding the wick assembly tray.
The wick support dish can be economically manufactured from the top and bottom portions of recycled pop, beer and miscellaneous other pop cans, preferably of aluminum or other light alloy.
The residual wall of the can may be used in the manufacture of a yoke portion for the wick suspension, also for decorative overlays, such as animal symbols through which the candle flame emerges, as well as superficial decoration portions suspended from the wick dish, or commercial promotional “banners”, which may include the original labelling of the can product.
An optional decorative overlay may be removably mount
Basichas Alfred
Eggins Douglas W.
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