U.S. patent application number 10/641626 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-17 for candle system for enhancing burning and improving volatiles performance and a manufacturing method for the same.
Invention is credited to Nakatsu, Tetsuo.
Application Number | 20050037306 10/641626 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34136400 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050037306 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakatsu, Tetsuo |
February 17, 2005 |
Candle system for enhancing burning and improving volatiles
performance and a manufacturing method for the same
Abstract
A system and a method for enhancing burning candle and improving
volatiles performance with a tube having holes and/or cuts or a
candle container having at least one inner-tube having holes and/or
cuts, continuously supplying the fresh air through the holes and/or
cuts, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick,
and for manufacturing the same.
Inventors: |
Nakatsu, Tetsuo; (Chappaqua,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TETSUO NAKATSU
3 HILLSIDE PLACE
CHAPPAQUA
NY
10514
US
|
Family ID: |
34136400 |
Appl. No.: |
10/641626 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/291 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F23D 3/16 20130101; C11C
5/008 20130101; F23D 3/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
431/291 |
International
Class: |
F23D 003/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A candle burning system comprising a container having at least
one inner-tube with holes and/or cuts which allow the air and
melting wax to pass the inside of said inner-tube, wherein the
height of said inner-tube is higher than the height of said
container, wherein the horizontal plane area of said inner-tube is
in the range of 10 to 95% of the horizontal plane area of said
container.
2. Said horizontal plane area of said inner-tube in claim 1 is in
the range of 40 to 90% of the horizontal plane area of said
container.
3. Said inner-tube in claim 1, wherein said inner-tube is selected
from a cylinder-type or pipe-type, wherein the height of said
inner-tube is higher than the wall of said container.
4. Said inner-tube in claim 1 comprising at least one hole and/or
which allow the air and melting wax to pass the inside of said
inner-tube.
5. Said holes and/or cuts in claim 4 comprising more than four
holes and/or cuts, wherein said holes and/or cuts are designed for
the air and melting wax to pass evenly from any direction including
sides, top and bottom into the inside inner-tube, wherein the shape
of said holes and/or cuts is one and/or mixed in the wide variety
of shapes including such as round, square, rectangular, triangle,
polygonal, undetermined, and mixed-shape, wherein said the position
of holes and/or cuts is from the top to the bottom of said
inner-tube.
6. Said inner-tube in claim 1, is made of selected material from
such as glass, metal, wood, plastic, fiber and ceramic, but not
limited, wherein said inner-tube is such as clear, colored,
painted, crystal-like and mirror-like but not limited.
7. Said candle burning system, in claim 1, further comprising
candle wax, at least one wick in the inside of said inner-tube.
8. Said wax in claim 7 furth r comprising volatiles including such
as fragrance oils, essential oil, aromas, insect repellant,
medicine, and anti-microbial agent but not limited.
9. A method for burning candle, further comprising the steps of;
providing a wick in the inside of said inner-tube and at the bottom
of said container; setting wax into said container, burning said
wick, supplying the fresh air through said holes and/or cuts into
the inside of said inner-tube, and supplying the fresh air to the
foot of the burning wick and the top surface of candle.
10. A method for burning candle, according to claim 9, further
comprising the steps of opening the lower holes and/or cuts of said
inner-tube filled with said wax by lowering the level of said wax
by continuous burning and supplying the fresh air through said
lower holes and/or cuts into the inside of said inner-tube, and
supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning shorter
wick.
11. A method for burning candle, according to claim 1, further
comprising the steps of sitting a candle into the inside of said
inner-tube, burning said candle, filling the space between said
inner-tube and said container wall with melting wax through said
holes and/or cuts, supplying the fresh air through said holes
and/or cuts into the inside of said inner-tube, and supplying the
fresh air to the foot of the burning wick, opening the lower holes
and/or cuts of said inner-tube filled with said wax by lowering the
level of said wax by continuous burning and supplying the fresh air
through said lower holes and/or cuts into the inside of said
inner-tube, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning
shorter wick.
12. A method for manufacturing the same, comprising the steps of
making holes and/or cuts on the side wall of said inner-tube, and
sitting said inner-tube in the inside of said container for a
separate candle.
13. A method for manufacturing the same in claim 12, further
comprising the steps of setting a wick in the inside of said
inner-tube, and filling said container with melting wax.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to the field of candle
system and more specifically to a system and a method for enhancing
candle burning and improving volatiles' performance and further
relates to a method for manufacturing the same. This invention
further specifically relates to a system and a method to
continuously supply the fresh air to near the foot of the burning
wick and the top surface of candle in a candle container.
[0002] Candles have traditionally been used to lighten the dark and
are still an important light source in some countries and still an
important emergency light source even in the developed countries
when the electric light source is shut off for any reason. In
addition, candles are used to heat up some materials such as
portable foods. Nowadays candles with volatiles are very common in
providing fragrance, aromas, pesticides, and even anti-microbial
compounds into the atmosphere for a wide variety of reasons. In
addition to brightness of burning candle flame, fragrances and
aromas from a candle are used to improve the feel or mood of a
location and are often used to improve an original emotional
response and also aid in the development of a specific emotional
response. In addition, biologically active compounds such as
pesticides and pest repellants are delivered by using candles which
are still preferred because of their portability and cost vs. mood
performance in many occasions.
[0003] However, one of the drawbacks of candle is that a part of
solid candle wax is liquefied (to melting wax) while it is burning;
wherein the m lting wax pool gradually becomes a rather large pool,
and the melting wax often times drips from the top of the candle;
wherein the candle becomes messy and ugly, and in some case the
melting wax can even cause damages such as on furniture surfaces.
Especially, the candle including oils such as fragrance oils
possibly causes more damages such as the furniture surface. To
avoid this kind of drawback due to the melting wax, either a candle
unified with a container, or a candle sitting in a container (or
holder) while burning, are getting more and more popular to avoid
such dripping followed by damages. As an additional advantage, a
highly decorated container enhances more atmospheric mood than only
a candle itself. Instead of using a container, some people use a
plate or a tray to avoid such damage with better burning of the
candle because the candle is always exposed to the fresh air
("open-candle"), but dripping of the melting wax almost always
takes place; wherein not only the amount of wax is being
significantly lost for a long period of time without burning due to
wasting dripped wax, but also the dripped melting wax again is
solidified and it looks very ugly and makes bad atmospheric mood.
Further as the worst scenario, the spread melting wax on the tray
occasionally starts to vigorously burn even without wick and
possibly becomes a serious fire hazard. Further, performance of
scented open-candle is poorer than a candle in a container
(`closed-candle`) because the melting wax pool is occasionally
broken and the wax drips to give inconsistent fragrance
dispersion.
[0004] Accordingly, a candle in a bottle-like container (or holder)
(`closed-candle`) is very preferred by many consumers.
Unfortunately, burning of a closed-candle is generally not very
good because of its structural drawback to supply fresh airs
(supply oxygens) compared to an open-candle. To improve burning,
formulation of wax, type of wax and kinds of wick have been newly
modified and developed. However none of these modifications can
substantially improve the supply of fresh air to the foot of
burning wick and the top surface of candle, which is a significant
advantage for open-candles. Therefore an appropriate fragrance
formula for scented candle in a container is very critical to
maintain good burning due to rather shortage of the fresh air
supply after burning for a while. In general, the longer period of
time of candle burning, the poorer quality of candle burning
because the candle's height and the wick gradually shorten and
sinks into the bottom of container and in contrast the wax pool
becomes larger and deeper, and as a result the supply of the fresh
air to the foot of the burning wick and top surface of candle
becomes gradually less and less.
[0005] Neither a system effectively, economically and continuously
supplying the fresh air directly to the foot of the burning wick
and candle is in the market nor is disclosed in literatures.
[0006] Referring now to FIG. 1a, a burning candle container 11
includes a candle wax 12, a candle wick 13, a wax pool 14, and a
candle flame 16. Candle wax 12 may contain volatiles, including
such volatiles as fragrances, essential oils, insect repellents,
insecticides, and anti-microbial compounds. During use, at the
beginning in FIG. 1a, the outside air flows A1a drawn to the candle
container spreads to the upward air flows A2a and the downward air
flows A3a; wherein the upward air flows A2a is warmed and combined
with the updraft air flows A5a, but in contrast the downward air
flows A3a passes to the foot of the burning wick 13 and into the
candle flame 16. Candle flame 16, as hot as 2000.degree. C., warms
air flows A2a, in combination with the combined pressure from
surrounding air flows A3a of the container 11, create a broad and
strong hot airflow as updraft A5a
[0007] At the beginning of the candle burning the top level 15 of
the candle wax 12 is close enough to the upper edge of the
container's wall to get a fresh air from the outside of the
container 11, but as in FIG. 1b after burning for a while, the top
level 15 of the candle wax 12 or the wax pool 14 gradually sinks in
the container. Accordingly, the burning wick is farther from the
fresh air and in addition the fresh air supply becomes poorer
because the stronger updraft A5b takes the fresh air A1b and
disperses to the air before the branched fresh air A3b reaches to
the foot of the burning wick 13 area. Specifically, as if it is
contradictive, the better burning, the poorer the fresh air to the
foot of the burning wick. Accordingly to these air flows the candle
flame 16 becomes smaller which means poor burning, and poor
volatility of the volatiles from the wax pool 14 resulting in poor
volatiles' performance. This phenomenon can be observed when the
flame becomes smaller and the candle is shaken, the flame becomes
bigger and brighter with more air.
[0008] As a result of the multiple disadvantages inherent with
conventional delivery candle systems, manufacturers have been
forced to respond by (1) changing the wax base material to a more
expensive substance, (2) changing the wick material to a more
expensive one having a lower temperature of combustion, (3)
improving the thermal resistance of the active volatiles placed in
the base material, (4) increasing the concentration of volatile
components within the base material to an expensive and
unnecessarily high concentration, and (5) placing hoods above the
wick in attempts to minimize wick flare-ups and re-radiate heat
downward to minimize irregular molten pool shapes.
[0009] Unfortunately, available commercial candle-base systems are
only positioned to protect the candle flame from being blown out or
for pleasing decoration or design purposes. Many candle hoods
substantially decrease volatile performance because of inadequate
design and use. There is not such a simple and feasible system to
be able to supply the fresh air to the lower inside part of the
candle container.
[0010] A candle hood, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,439, is
narrower at the top than the bottom and the candle is retained
within walls extending above the molten pool level. Consequently,
volatiles that escape from the molten pool are forced into a narrow
cone containing the hot combustion gasses, and are thermally
consumed. Volatiles that do escape the hot combustion gasses
experience the additional turbulence resulting from the pressure
gradient between the wide bottom and narrow top openings of the
hood. In addition, the disclosed invention does not improve any air
supply to the inside of candle container.
[0011] The candle holder taught by Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,454
only diminishes fragrance or volatile performance in a number of
ways. A retainer element is required that extends above the molten
pool level and prevents the air from picking up the volatiles and
transporting them away from the flame before combustion, while at
the same time increasing the odds of combusting any volatiles which
do escape from the molten pool. The volatile and smoke exit rate is
so slow as to prevent almost any real distribution of fragrance
within a room. The Lee system further minimizes performance
volatile distribution by trapping the volatiles and combustion
gasses below a bowl (and cup) thus creating a positive downward
pressure and increased turbulence to further minimize volatile
distribution. In addition, the Lee syst m does not improv any air
supply to the inside of candle container.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The primary object of the invention is to provide a system
for better candle burning in the container.
[0013] Another object of the invention is to provide a method for
constantly supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick
of the candle in the container.
[0014] Another object of the invention is to provide better
performance of volatiles from the candle with volatiles.
[0015] Another object of the invention is to provide better
fragrance performance from the candle.
[0016] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of
illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is
disclosed.
[0017] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention,
there is disclosed a system and a method for enhancing candle
burning and improving volatiles comprising: a candle container with
at least one inner-tube having at least one or preferably plural
holes and/or cuts which allow the air and melting wax to pass the
inside of the inner-tube; and wherein the height of the wall of
inner-tube is higher than the height of the container wall.
[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there
is a candle burning enhancing system comprising a tube or a
cylinder having holes and/or cuts in its lower part, which allow
the air and melting wax to pass when it is used as an insert in the
candle container.
[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there
is a candle burning system comprising: a candle in the container,
the candle having a wick, the candle may-be including a plurality
of volatiles disposed within the wax, the candle container
including an inner-tube having holes and/or cuts which allow the
air and melting wax to pass the inside of said inner-tube to pass
the air and the melting wax.
[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there
is a candle burning method comprising putting separate candle
(open-candle) from the container in the inside of the inner-tube of
the container of the present or making unified candle
(closed-candle) with the container, burning candle, fresh air
supplying through the holes and/or cuts wherein each hole and/or
cut is opened according to lowering level of the wax height to pass
the air and the melting wax to supply the fresh air to the foot of
the burning wick while the candle is burning.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The drawings constitute a part of this specification and
include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be
embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some
instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated
or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.
[0022] FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views of the air flows of the
traditional candle in the container (closed-candle) while a candle
is burning.
[0023] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention for an
open-candle (container and candle are separate type). A
closed-candle is not shown, but both practically are the same
composition, because after burning for a while both are
indistinguishable.
[0024] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention for an
open-candle (container and candle are separate type). A
closed-candle is not shown, but both practically are the same
composition, because after burning for a while both are
indistinguishable.
[0025] FIGS. 4a and 4b are schematic front view of the air flows of
the present invention while a candle is burning; wherein in FIG. 4b
the candle container 11 is rotated around 30 degree according to
the present embodiment until the center of hole 27c reaches in the
paper plane to show the air flows direction to the lower part.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0026] Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are
provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present
invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific
details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but
rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for
teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in
virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or
manner.
[0027] Referring FIG. 2 the candle burning system comprises a
candle container 11 and at least one inner-tube 27 in the inside of
the container; wherein the inner-tube 27 comprises at least one,
but preferably plural holes 27a, 27b, 27c and so on for passing the
fresh air and melting wax from the space between the wall of the
container 11 and the inner-tube 27 to the inside of the inner-tube
27; wherein the wick and candle wax of the candle sit in the inside
of the inner-tube 27; wherein the height of the wall of the
inner-tube 27 is higher than the height of the wall of the
container 11; wherein the inner-tube 27 can be selected from
cylinder-type and pipe-type but not limited; wherein the shape of
the inner-tube 27 can be selected from such as round and square,
but not limited; wherein the material of the inner-tube 27 can be
selected from preferably non-combustible materials including such
as glass, metal, and Teflon resin, but not limited; wherein the
inner-tube 27 can have a wide variety of decorative options
including such as crystal-cut glass, various colors, different
clearness level, and mirror, but not limited; wherein the holes
such as 27a, 27b, 27c and so on exist in the lower portion of the
candle top surface through the bottom of the inner-tube 27; wherein
the position of each hole such as 27a, 27b, 27c and so on
preferably are not on the same perpendicular line; wherein the
shape of holes 27a, 27b, 27c and so on can be selected from
including round, square, triangle, even cut and their mixture but
not limited; wherein the size, the shape and the position of each
hole such as 27a, 27b, 27c and so on are arbitrary, but preferably
they are designed to pass consecutively and equally the air and the
melting wax from any direction and any height. The inner-tube can
be either unified with the container or separated from the
container. The separate inner-tube can be used with any appropriate
container and candle.
[0028] According to the present embodiment, the user can select
either unified inner-tube with the container or separable
inner-tube from the container to employ the candle in the present
invention. When the separate candle (open-candle) is selected, the
open-candle must be able to sit in the inside of the inner-tube and
its total volume should be reasonable versus the volume of the
container to avoid any overflows of the melting wax; and the height
of the open-candle is preferably shorter or slightly taller than
the upper level of the hole 27a to achieve better burning. In
general, while burning an open-candle in the container with the
inner-tube of the present invention, the fresh air is constantly
supplied to the inside of the inner-tube through holes 27a, 27b,
27c and so on because of the minus pressured inside of the
inner-tube due to updraft A5 and further the existence of space as
possible air passage between the inner face of the inner-tube and
the open-candle. Meanwhile, after the open-candle starts to burn,
the size of the open-candle wax pool gradually becomes larger, and
accordingly the melting wax overflowing from the pool's wall drips
to the space between the open-candle and the inner-tube 27 and some
passes through the hole 27a to the space between the container 11
and the inner-tube 27 and some reaches to the bottom of the
container and spreads around bottom. The more melting wax is being
accumulated at the bottom and at some point the wax in the inside
of inner-tube 27 and the wax between the inner-tube 27 and the wall
of the container 11 become the same as a unified candle of the
present invention.
[0029] Referring with FIG. 4a, after the aforementioned burning of
an open-candle or aft r a short while burning of closed-candle,
when the fresh air flows Ala reaches to near the wall of the
inner-tube 27, the air flows A1a spreads to upward flows A2a and
downward flows A3a, and the downward air lows A3a heads to the hole
27a because of the minus pressured inside of the inner-tube due to
updraft A5a and passes to the inside of the inner-tube 27. In
contrast to the upward air flows A2a is incorporated into the
updraft A5a.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4b, when the candle burning is continued,
the wax level of the candle lowers and lowers, and the lower hole
27b, 27c and so on become available as passage of the fresh air and
the melting wax; wherein when the fresh air flows A1b reaches to
near the wall of the inner-tube, the air flows A1b spreads to
upward flows A2b and downward flows A3b, and the downward air flows
A3b spreads to the downward air flows A3b and A4b heads to each
holes, 27a, 27b, 27c and so on because of the minus pressured
inside of the inner-tube due to updraft A5b and passes to the
inside of the inner-tube 27; wherein some air passes to the inside
of the inner-tube 27 through the hole 27a and the rest of the air
A4b passes further downward and passes to the inside of the
inner-tube 27 through the hole 27c, since as aforementioned further
continuous burning can open the lowest hole 27c available to
directly supply the fresh air to the foot of the burning further
shortened wick; wherein since in a preferred composition holes 27a,
27b, 27c and so on are not on the same perpendicular line of the
inner-tube 27, the branched air flows A4b can further down toward
the hole 27c with less passing the fresh air through upper hole 27a
to the inside of the inner-tube 27. As a result, the whole wax can
be constantly, continuously, effectiv ly and brightly burned until
all wick is gone. The hole 27b has the same function but the air
flows are not described and not shown in FIG. 4b.
[0031] A unified candle (closed-candle) can be manufactured in the
steps comprising; setting the inner-tube in the container, setting
at least one wick in the middle of the inner-tube, pouring the
melting wax into the container to fill the inside of the inner-tube
and the space between the inner-tube and the container, and leaving
the wax to solidify. In general manufacturing, the holes 27a, 27b
and 27c and so on are filled with the wax. Actual burning and
performing of the closed-candle is almost the same as described for
the separate type candle (open-candle). Briefly, according to
continuous burning the holes of the inner-tube from upper to lower
will be one by one available as passage of the air and the melting
wax since the wax between the inner-tube and the container would
melt by heating through the inner-tube and the top level of the wax
lower to open the holes. Accordingly, the fresh air can pass the
holes to directly supply the fresh air to the foot of the burning
wick.
[0032] As the aforementioned method, the present invention can
supply the fresh air constantly to the surface of the pool and near
the foot of the burning wick. As the inner-tube 27 has also the
chimney function, the constant updraft A5a and/or A5b can be
achieved from the surface of the wax pool, and accordingly the
performance of volatiles is dramatically increased. More
specifically, according to the aforementioned fresh air supply to
the foot of the burning wick, a more efficient and constant updraft
can be achieved and accordingly the volatiles in the candle can be
efficiently and constantly dispersed to the air. In addition, the
inner-tube 27 keeps the melting wax pool 14 warmer whil burning as
an "inner-jacket" effect, and accordingly the volatiles in the wax
pool can be further more efficiently and constantly dispersed to
the air.
[0033] Embodiment 1:
[0034] The present invention is manufactured by the following
method, but not limited. For example, the 12 holes with 8 mm
diameter are made by using the electric drill on the sidewall of
the plastic inner-tube 57 mm diameter.times.70 mm height. The four
holes are placed at the upper portion of the inner-tube every 90
degree at ca. 20 mm lower from the top edge, another 4 holes are
placed at the lower portion of the inner-tube every 90 degree and
30 degree turned from the upper holes at ca. 32 mm lower from the
top edge, and more 4 holes are drilled at the lowest portion of the
inner-tube every 90 degree and 60 degree turned from the upper
holes at ca. 52 mm lower from the top edge. The above inner-tube
can be applied with an appropriate size container, for example, 75
mm diameter.times.70 mm height glass jar, for an appropriate
pillar-type candle, for example, 50 mm diameter.times.50 mm height
to be sit in the inside of the inner-tube.
[0035] Embodiment 2:
[0036] The present invention is manufactured as described in
Embodiment 1 and then the aforementioned inner-tube is sit in the
inside container, for example, 75 mm diameter.times.70 mm height
glass jar, and an appropriate length of wick is set in the inside
of the inner-tube followed by filling with an appropriate volume of
melting candle wax either with or without volatiles, and being
solidified for use.
[0037] Embodiment 3:
[0038] Th container of the pres nt invention is compared with
traditional candle container. Two commercial scented candles in the
container (closed-candle) were purchased from a local supermarket.
Both candle waxes and wicks are removed from the containers and are
melted. The inner-tube is set to the bottom of one of the
containers and the melting wax are poured into both containers with
the same formula of commercial candle. After two hours, both
candles' performances are compared.
1 Test Candle Control Candle Time (with a inner-tube having holes)
(no inner-tube) 0 Very good burning with brighter Very good burning
with flame bright flame 2 hours Very good burning and strong Poor
burning with poor updraft with very good fragrance fragrance
performance performance
[0039] While the invention has been described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the
invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it
is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *