U.S. patent application number 10/202763 was filed with the patent office on 2004-01-29 for candle wick extender.
Invention is credited to Pangle, Randy Lee.
Application Number | 20040018464 10/202763 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30769901 |
Filed Date | 2004-01-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040018464 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pangle, Randy Lee |
January 29, 2004 |
CANDLE WICK EXTENDER
Abstract
A wick extender is provided that may be used with candles that
have such short wicks that the candles are not easily lightable.
The wick extender includes a wick affixed to a rigid support
member.
Inventors: |
Pangle, Randy Lee;
(Carefree, AZ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Donald J. Lenkszus
DONALD J. LENKSZUS, P.C.
P.O. BOX 3064
CAREFREE
AZ
85377
US
|
Family ID: |
30769901 |
Appl. No.: |
10/202763 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/289 ;
431/325 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23D 3/16 20130101; F23D
3/18 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/289 ;
431/325 |
International
Class: |
F23D 003/16; F23D
003/18 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A candle wick extender, for use with a candle having a wick that
terminates at or proximate the top surface of the candle's wax,
comprising: a rigid support member; a wick; said wick being affixed
to said support member; whereby said support member is insertable
into said candle proximate said candle wick and supports said wick
proximate to said candle wick to effectively extend the length of
said candle wick.
2. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said
support member comprises a combustible material.
3. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said
combustible material does not produce toxic by-products when heated
or burned.
4. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 2, wherein: said
combustible material comprises wood.
5. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said
support member does not produce toxic by-products when heated.
6. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said
support member comprises metal.
7. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 6, wherein: said
support member is in an inverted U-shape.
8. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 6, wherein: said
support member is in an inverted U-shape.
9. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein: said
wick includes a first portion extending above said stake.
10. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 9, wherein:
said support member includes a portion extending below said wick
for insertion into said candle.
11. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said support member includes a portion extending below said wick
for insertion into said candle.
12. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, wherein:
said support is threaded through a portion of said wick.
13. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 12, comprising:
wax affixing said wick to said support.
14. A candle wick extender in accordance with claim 1, comprising:
wax affixing said wick to said support.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to candles, in general, and to wicks
which are placed on a candle to extend the use of candles when the
candle's existing wick is too short, in particular.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For centuries, candles have been used to provide a flame
that emanates light. In recent times, candles are utilized not for
primary lighting, but for artistic, aesthetic, and mood setting
purposes. In many instances, the candles also provide pleasing
aromas. In other applications, the candles are utilized to vaporize
insect repellents.
[0003] Typically, present-day candles utilize one or more wicks
generally situated in the center of the candle. Once ignited, the
wick or wicks begins to burn and to heat the wax that surrounds the
wick, which forms a molten wax pool. As the wax proximate to the
wick melts, it is absorbed by the wick, and is drawn by capillary
action into the flame where it is vaporized and burned into
constituent combustion products. As the wax in the wick proximate
to the flame burns away, more wax is drawn into the wick and up to
the flame. As wax from the molten pool surrounding the wick is
burned off, the flame moves down the wick. As the flame moves down
the wick, it melts the surrounding wax, which flows into the molten
pool. This process continues, and over time, in candles that have a
large enough outside diameter, a recess develops within a wall, in
the case of a single wick candle, or walls, in the case of
multi-wick candles, that are formed by the portion of the candle
that is not burned away by the flame. In turn, the level of the
molten pool of wax moves lower into the recess that forms within
the candle. The recess that forms within the candle and which is
surrounded by the remaining walls is termed the primary well.
[0004] Ideally, when candles are extinguished and re-ignited, they
are left to burn for a period of time that is long enough so that a
single well forms within the candle well or chimney. In less than
ideal situations, and as is often the case with large diameter
candle products, the candle is extinguished, re-ignited, and
re-extinguished without regard to whether it has burned for the
proper period of time so that only the single, primary well
develops.
[0005] When a flame on an ignited wick is smothered, the wick may
drown itself in the candle wax that has melted around it while the
wick was lit. The next time the candle is to be used, the molten
candle wax will have hardened over the wick and in order to use the
candle, the wick will have to be found and "dug out" of the
hardened wax. Another problem that may arise after an ignited wick
is smothered is that the wick may continue to burn down into the
candle wax such that the end of the wick will be deep within the
candle wax and not be able to be lit the next time the candle is to
be used. A much more general problem inherent in most candles is
that a wick will burn to the bottom or along one side of the candle
such that approximately eighty percent (80%) of the candle wax has
not melted. The remaining wax cannot be used since there is no
longer a wick to burn it.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the principles of the invention, a wick
extender for use with a candle having a wick that terminates at or
proximate the top surface of the candle wax is provided. A wick
extender in accordance with the invention comprises a rigid support
and a wick. The support member and the wick are affixed to each
other. The support member is insertable into a candle proximate the
candle's wick and supports the wick proximate to said candle wick
to effectively extend the length of the candle wick.
[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the support
is threaded through a portion of said wick. A wax layer affixes
said wick to said support.
[0008] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the support
member comprises a combustible material that does not produce toxic
by-products when heated or burned.
[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the combustible material
comprises wood.
[0010] In another embodiment of the invention, the support member
comprises metal. The metal support member may be in an inverted
U-shape.
[0011] In accordance with other aspects of the invention, the wick
includes a first portion extending above the support member, and
the support member includes a portion extending below the wick for
insertion into a candle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0012] The invention will be better understood from a reading of
the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention
taken in conjunction with the drawing figures in which like
reference designations are utilized to identify like elements, and
in which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a top view of a prior art candle to which the
invention may be advantageously applied;
[0014] FIG. 2 is cross section of the candle of FIG. 1, taken along
lines 1-1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a device in accordance with the principles of the
invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a candle taken in cross-section and into
which the device of FIG. 3 is inserted; and
[0017] FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a second device in accordance with
the principles of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a representative candle 1 is
shown to which the devices of the invention may be advantageously
applied. Candle 1 includes a wick 2. Candle 1 has been used and a
recess or well 3 has been formed in candle 1. Wick 2 for any one of
a number of reasons terminates at or just below the wax surface 4
of recess or well 3. With wick 2 so positioned, it is impossible to
light candle 1 without digging out the area around wick 2.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a first wick extender 300 in accordance
with the principles of the invention. Wick extender 300 includes a
support member 301 which carries a wick 302. Wick 302 is a wax
coated wick of the same type utilized in candles. Support member
301 is threaded through wick 302 and further secured to support
member 301 by a wax coating. Support member 301 in the preferred
embodiment is made of wood and to assure that burning of the wick
extender does not introduce any toxicity into the environment.
Support member 301 is in the general shape of one half of a
toothpick. Wick 302 includes a portion 303 that extends above
support member 301. Wick support member 301 includes a portion 305
that extends below wick 302. In the illustrative embodiment, the
top portions 303 is approximately 1/2 inch, as is the length of
portion 305.
[0020] To utilize wick extender 300 in a candle such as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, wick extender 300 is pressed into candle 1. Support
member 301 is rigid enough so that it will press into the wax of
candle 1. Support member 301 is inserted into candle 1 such that
wick 302 is proximate wick 2 of candle 1, as shown in FIG. 4. As
wick 302 is burned, it acts as an extension of wick 2 such that as
wax is consumed, eventually wick 2 will be exposed to a length that
will permit candle 1 to be snuffed out and relit. It should be
noted that wick extender 300 is shown with a portion of wick 302
below surface 4 of candle 1. The positioning of wick extender 300
is not critical so long as wick 302 is at or below surface 4 and is
proximate wick 2.
[0021] FIGS. 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the invention. Wick
extender 500 includes a support member 501 which carries a wick
502. Wick 502 is a wax coated wick of the same type utilized in
candles. Support member 501 is threaded through wick 502. Wick 502
is affixed to support member 501 by a wax coating 504. Support
member 501 in the preferred embodiment is made of metal wire that
is sufficiently rigid to be inserted into the wax of candle 1. The
metal is selected to assure that heat produced by burning of wick
502 or candle wick 2 does not introduce any toxicity into the
environment. Support member 501 is in the general shape of an
inverted "U". Wick 502 includes a portion 503 that extends above
support member 501. Wick support member 501 includes a portion 505
that extends below wick 502.
[0022] To utilize wick extender 500 in a candle such as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, wick extender 500 is pressed into candle 1 in the
same manner as wick extender 300 is inserted into candle 1. Support
member 501 is rigid enough so that it will press into the wax of
candle 1. Support member 501 is inserted into candle 1 such that
wick 502 is proximate wick 2 of candle 1. As wick 502 is burned, it
acts as an extension of wick 2 such that as wax is consumed,
eventually wick 2 will be exposed to a length that will permit
candle 1 to be snuffed out and relit.
[0023] Although the invention has been shown and described in terms
of two embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various modifications may be made to the embodiments
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
Different materials may be substituted for those employed in the
illustrative embodiments, for example. In addition, other support
shapes may be substituted for the U-shape shown. For example, a
straight rigid wire may be utilized.
[0024] It is not intended that the invention be limited in scope to
only the embodiments shown. It is intended that the invention be
limited in scope only by the scope of the claims appended
hereto.
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