U.S. patent application number 09/803217 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for gel candle in a flexible container.
Invention is credited to Long, Billilyn.
Application Number | 20020127507 09/803217 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25185921 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020127507 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Long, Billilyn |
September 12, 2002 |
Gel candle in a flexible container
Abstract
A gel candle in a flexible container with the container being
made from aluminum foil with a corrugated side wall ending at its
top end in a corrugated shoulder and an annular corrugated lip, and
having a bottom wall with an annular concave groove therein. The
container is filled with a candle gel having been liquified, then
having fragrance and liquid dye incorporated therein before being
poured into and solidified in the container; the latter being
sufficiently flexible to allow the candle gel to be removed without
damage.
Inventors: |
Long, Billilyn; (Clearwater,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAROLD D. SHALL
1101 BELCHER RD. SOUTH; SUITE B
LARGO
FL
33771
US
|
Family ID: |
25185921 |
Appl. No.: |
09/803217 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/291 ;
431/289 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23D 3/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/291 ;
431/289 |
International
Class: |
F23D 003/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1) A gel candle in a flexible container comprising in combination,
a) a flexible cup shaped container made from aluminum foil and
having a truncated conical form, with the top of the container
being larger than its bottom and with its top being open and its
bottom being closed and having a bottom wall, b) the portion of
said container between its top and bottom comprising a side wall,
and said side wall being corrugated for flexibility, c) a gel
candle contained within and filling said flexible cup, said gel
having been made from a clear oil based candle gel melted at a
temperature of between 180 and 200 degrees and having had fragrance
oil and liquid dye incorporated therein and then poured into said
cup and solidified, and d) said cup being flexible so as to be
deformable whereby said gel candle can be removed from said cup
without damaging said gel.
2) A gel candle according to claim 1 wherein said side wall of said
container at the top end of said container is formed with an
overturned corrugated annular lip.
3) A gel candle according to claim 2 wherein said side wall has an
annular corrugated shoulder immediately below said annular lip.
4) A gel candle according to claim 3 wherein said bottom wall has
an annular concave groove therein defining an annular shoulder
between said groove and said side wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1) Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to containerized gel
candles and more particularly to such candles wherein the container
has a flexible and expandible configuration.
[0003] 2) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Containerized gel candles are well know in the art, as
exemplified by U.S. Pat. Des. 411,891 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,329,
and their use has proliferate extensively. These prior devices have
a common undesirable characteristic in that the gel can only be
utilized in the manufactured containerized configuration. This
limitation on the configuration also limits the use of the gel,
since to remove the gel from the prior art containers requires that
the gel be disfigured or cut, or that the container be broken.
[0005] It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a
containerized gel candle wherein the gel can have a plurality of
uses. It is another object of this invention to provide such a
candle wherein the gel can be utilized in the container, either as
a source of fuel for a wick or as a source of fragrance from the
fragrant contained therein, or the gel can easily be removed from
the container without damage thereto because of the container's
flexible and expandible configuration and the flexibility of the
gel itself
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In order to accomplish the objects of this invention, a
light weight, flexible aluminum foil cup shaped container is
prepared which has a corrugated external periphery which is shaped
as a truncated cone having its larger end facing upwardly toward
the opening of the cup. The enclosed base of the cup has an annular
concave grove therein which not only serves to strengthen the cup
when the gel is being placed therein, but also serves to increase
the material available to be flexed at such time as the cup is
flexed to facilitate removal of the gel therefrom. The gel is
purchased in bulk from a supplier, placed in a suitable melting
arrangement, melted, and then poured into a flexible cup of this
invention where it cools and solidifies. The cup of gel is sold to
the consumer in this condition, and as such can be supplied with a
wick and burned as a candle, can be used in the cup itself as a
source of aromathermatric fragrance (the shape and size of the cup
is ideal to be used in the cup holder of a vehicle as a source of
air freshener), or the gel, either in its whole or a cut up
condition, can the be removed from the flexible container and
placed in a container of potpourri as a source of fragrance, or can
be placed in a heated substance dispenser such as a tea-light
burner, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,400, as a source of
fragrance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gel candle in a
flexible container according to this invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of the item shown
in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a top view of the item show in FIG. 1; and
[0010] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the item shown in FIG. 1
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0011] A gel candle in a flexible container is shown generally at
10, and includes a flexible aluminum container 12 filled with a gel
candle material 14. The container 12 is generally cup shaped and is
made of a light weight flexible non-flammable material, such as
aluminum foil, and has an overturned annular lip 16 carried by an
annular shoulder 18 at the upper end of the container 12. Both the
lip 16 and the shoulderl8 are formed with small vertically
extending corrugations which contributes to the flexibility
thereof. Depending from the shoulder 18 is the main body portion of
the container, which has a vertically corrugated peripheral surface
20 formed as a truncated cone with its truncated apex directed
downwardly, so that its upwardly directed end is open and larger
than its lower end, and its downwardly facing lower end is closed
by a bottom wall 22. The bottom wall 22, has an annular concave
grove 24 formed therein slightly inwardly from the junction thereof
with the surface 20, so that an annular strengthening shoulder 26
is formed therebetween. The shoulder 26 not only strengthens the
bottom wall 22, but also adds to the material available for its
flexibility when the cup is being deformed to allow removal of the
gel. A cup 12 meeting these requirements is manufactured by the
Handi-foil Corporation of 135 East Hintz Road, Wheeling Ill.
60090-6035. A preferred size of cup is referred to as a 4 ounce
cup, which is stated as having a 7.3 cm dia. by 3.3 cm. This cup
has the desired configuration to perform satisfactorily for this
invention.
[0012] The gel candle material 14 can be obtained from various
sources. One such preferred source is the Bitter Creek Candle
Supply, Inc of Route 4, Box 184, Ashland, Wis. 54806
(http://candlesupply.com/), who can supply gels from Penreco, the
latter selling a series of candle gels under the VERSAGEL (tm)
brand name. The particular gel chosen for its characteristics to be
used in the instant invention is a clear oil based candle gel
(which is claimed to burn five times longer than wax) obtained from
Bitter Creek under the designation "CMP Medium Densit",as this
product will hold the desired amount of fragrance. The gel melts at
approximately 180-200 degrees, which is preferably done in a
heat-controlled covered kettle, such as a "PRESTO KITCHEN KETTLE",
or a similar kettle of the "RIVAL" brand. Fragrance oils for use in
the gel is also obtainable from the same Bitter Creek Candle
Supply, Inc., and can be obtained in a wide variety of fragrances.
When the gel is molten in the kettle, the desired amount of
fragrance is introduced into and disbursed throughout the gel, as
by stirring. The oils used in to provide the desired fragrance are
referred to as Pure Fragrance Oils, and can be obtained in over 200
scents. These oils are also used for aromatherapy and are specially
formulated for use in candles, and can also be used in potpourri,
room sprays, incense, etc. The recommended amount by Bitter Creek
is to use is up to 5% (approx. 3/4 ounce per pound of CMP gel). It
has been found that 1/2 ounce of the oil base fragrance to each
pound of gel gives very satisfactory results. If a wick is used, it
is recommended by Bitter Creek Candle Supply, Inc, that Zink cored
Gelwicks or Coreless Cotton German container wicks be used, which
can be obtained from them.
[0013] The gel, as purchased, is a clear oil based gel; however as
well as adding fragrance as above described, color can be added to
obtain the desired color characteristics. The desired color gel can
be prepared by using a liquid candle dye obtainable from Bitter
Creek Candle Supply, Inc., and is used in the amount suggested by
them. For example, if a blue/sky color is desired, liquid dye Item
#dlblue is recommender at 0.05% to 0.01% concentration, and such
dye is also introduced into the gel when in its molten state in the
kettle, along with the introduction of the fragrance as explained
above.
[0014] Once the gel is molten and the desired color and fragrance
obtained, the gel 14 is poured into the aluminum foil cups 12. and
allowed to cool. The assembled product can be used as assembled,
as, for example, placed in the cup holder of an automobile to
provide aromatheric scent in the latter, or the solidified gel 14
can be easily removed from the flexible cup 12 and placed in a
potpourri burner, or into a tea-light burner, as a source of
aromatheraputical fragrance, or a wick can be provided to the gel
and the latter then ignited. The structure of the cup 12 , with its
corrugated sides and annularly grooved bottom, provides the desired
flexibility so that the cup can be deformed to allow the gel to be
removed in one piece if desired.
[0015] While only a single embodiment of this invention has been
shown and described, it is understood that many changes can be made
therein without departing from the scope of this invention as
defined by the following claims
* * * * *
References