Candle Holding Device

Abstract

A candle holding device consisting of a supportive base plate the top side of which carries a cylindrical candle holder. A plurality of triangular wedge members are disposed on the inner face of the cylindrical candle holder, each having a blade edge tapering toward the holder center to decrease its effective diameter and enable it to receive and hold candles of varying cross sectional size. Projecting from the underside of the base plate are a plurality of triangular blade members commonly affixed along the holder axis, and which together taper to a common point for insertion into a thickness of supporting material. The base plate extends laterally beyond the holder and blade configuration to provide stabilizing support when inserted, and each base plate is frangibly connected to the base plate of at least one other candle holding device.

Description

The invention is related generally to candle holding devices, and is specifically directed to a low cost device capable of insertion into supporting material and adapted to receive and retain candles of varying cross sectional size. The invention also contemplates the frangible connection of a plurality of such devices in predetermined decorative configurations.

Candle holding devices are a necessary element in the floral arrangement art. To perform the most efficient function in this connection, the candle holding device should be adapted to offer firm support in any arrangement which employs basic materials, and it should be constructed to receive and hold candles of varying size. An additional desirable feature is the connection of a plurality of candle holding devices in a desired decorative configuration, which obviates the need for individual holder placement and conserves the floral arranger's time.

One of the most basic materials used in present day floral arranging is styrofoam, which can be obtained in or formed into various shapes and thicknesses. One of the primary advantages of styrofoam in floral arranging is its ability to provide a stable support for flowers and other arrangement elements in a dry environment. Other materials similar to styrofoam offer support when partially or fully immersed in water. Such materials, when placed in the bottom of a flower container, absorb and become saturated with water, thus providing the necessary moisture to inserted flowers while at the same time offering firm and continuous support.

My inventive candle holding device is intended for use with decorative arrangements employing styrofoam or a similar suitable material as a base, and is constructed for supportive insertion into the base material. To provide, stable, non-tipping support, the candle holding device comprises a base plate the underside of which carries a downwardly projecting triangular blade configuration terminating in a point to permit insertion into the base material. The blades extend radially to resist twisting movement of the candle holding device; and the base plate, which extends laterally beyond the triangular blades, engages and rests on the styrofoam top surface to regulate insertion depth and offer stable support.

The upper surface of the base plate carries a cylindrical candle holder, the inner surface of which has affixed thereto a plurality of triangular wedge members which together decrease the effective diameter of the cylindrical holder and thereby adapt it to receive and hold candles of various cross sectional sizes.

An additional feature is the frangible connection of the holder base plate with the base plate of at least one other holder. The base plate can take various forms so that the frangible connection results in a desired decorative configuration; e.g., s straight line or arcuate segment of devices. Obviously, many decorative configurations are possible, and the use of preformed arrangement obviates formation by placement of individual devices and saves considerable time in creation of the floral arrangement.

By virtue of its simple construction, the inventive candle holding device is easily molded from plastic, thus providing an extremely low cost, integral candle holder capable of providing strong and stable support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a candle holding device embodying the inventive principle, the device shown inserted into a suitable supportive material;

FIG. 2 is a top plan of the inventive candle holding device;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan of the candle holding device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view in top plan of a plurality of inventive candle holding devices frangibly connected in a straight segment; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan of a plurality of inventive candle holding devices frangibly connected in a circular configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With initial reference to FIGS. 1-4, a candle holding device embodying the inventive principle is represented generally by the numeral 11. Device 11 comprises a base plate 12, a cylindrical candle holder 13 affixed to and projecting upwardly from the top face of base plate 12 and a triangular blade configuration 14 which projects downwardly from the base plate underside.

Candle holder 13 is preferably cylindrical, having a wall thickness (FIG. 4) sufficient to offer unyielding support to a candle 15 (FIG. 1). Disposed on the inner face of cylindrical candle holder 13 at its juncture with base plate 12 are a plurality of triangular wedge members 16 (FIGS. 2 and 4) each having a longitudinal blade edge 17 that converges toward the center of device 11. By virtue of this construction and arrangement, the wedge members 16 together progressively decrease the effective diameter of holding member 13, thus enabling it to receive and retain candles of varying cross sectional sizes. It will be appreciated that forcible insertion of the candle 15 into holding member 13 will cause the blade edges 17 to cut into the candle sides in retaining engagement, although its diameter is less than that of the holding member 13.

Blade configuration 14 consists of four triangular blade members 18 which are commonly affixed essentially along the central axis of the device 11 in spear-head fashion, terminating at a point 19. As shown in FIG. 1, this particular blade configuration enables the device 11 to be easily inserted into supporting material, such as a thickness of styrofoam 21. As best shown in FIG. 1, base plate 12 extends laterally beyond the individual blade members 18 whereby its underside rests on the top surface of styrofoam 21 to provide lateral stability for the device and regulate insertion depth. With device 11 inserted to styrofoam 21, it will become apparent that tipping and twisting movements of the candle 15 will be entirely resisted.

The base plate 12 of FIGS. 1-4 is rectangular in shape and its side edges are beveled or chamfered, as at 22, to permit it to be frangibly connected to the base plate of at least one other candle holding device 11. With reference to FIGS. 5, a plurality of devices 11 are shown to be frangibly connected at 23, such connections resulting in a straight line configuration the entirety of which is usable in a decorative arrangement.

In FIG. 6, an alternative candle holding device 11a is shown having base plates 12a each forming an arcuate segment to collectively define a circular configuration when frangibly connected as at 23a.

The frangible connections 23 and 23a comprise a thin, partial connection between adjacent chamfered edges 22, permitting the individual devices 11 and 11a to be broken apart and used individually if necessary. It will be appreciated that the base plate of the candle holding device can take any desired shape, and a plurality of devices can be frangibly connected to form any number of desired decorative configurations.

Claims

I claim:

1. A candle holding device, comprising:

a. a base plate;

b. a plurality of blade members projecting downwardly from the underside of the base plate and tapering to a common point for insertion into a thickness of supporting material;

c. a cylindrical candle receiving member projecting upwardly from the top side of the base plate;

d. and retention means for engageably receiving and retaining candles of varying cross sectional size, the retention means comprising a plurality of individual wedge members each having a longitudinal blade edge, the wedge members being disposed at the juncture of the base plate and candle holding member with the blade edges projecting radially inward to progressively decrease the effective diameter of the candle holding member;

e. the base plate extending laterally beyond the blade members whereby its underside can engage and rest on the supporting material upon insertion of the blade members to provide non-tipping support.

2. The device defined by claim 1, wherein each wedge member is triangular in shape and tapers in thickness towards said longitudinal blade edge.

3. Apparatus for holding a plurality of candles in a desired configuration, comprising:

a. a plurality of candle holding devices each comprising

i. a base plate of predetermined thickness;

ii. insertion means projecting downwardly from the underside of the base plate and terminating in a point for insertion into a thickness of supporting material;

iii. a cylindrical candle receiving member projecting upwardly from the base;

iv. the base plate extending laterally beyond the insertion means whereby the underside of said base plate can engage and rest on the supporting material upon insertion;

b. and means for frangibly connecting the base plate of each candle holding device to the base plate of at least one other candle holding device, said frangible connecting means comprising a portion of material of lesser cross sectional size than that of the base plate.

4. The apparatus defined by claim 3, and further comprising retention means disposed inside each candle receiving member for engageably receiving and retaining candles of varying cross sectional size.

5. The apparatus defined by claim 4, wherein the retention means comprises a plurality of individual wedge members each having a longitudinal blade edge, the wedge members being disposed at the juncture of the base plate and candle holding member with the blade edges projecting radially inward to progressively decrease the effective diameter of the candle holding member.

6. The apparatus defined by claim 5, wherein each wedge member is triangular in shape and tapers in thickness toward said longitudinal blade edge.

7. Apparatus for holding a plurality of candles in a desired configuration, comprising:

a. a plurality of candle holding devices each comprising

i. a base plate;

ii. insertion means projecting downwardly from the underside of the base plate and terminating in a point for insertion into a thickness of supporting material;

iii. a cylindrical candle receiving member projecting upwardly from the base;

iv. the base plate extending laterally beyond the insertion means whereby the underside of said base plate can engage and rest on the supporting material upon insertion;

b. the base plate of each candle holding device having at least one chamfered edge, and said base plates are frangibly connected between adjacent chamfered edges.

8. The device defined by claim 1, wherein the blade members are triangular in shape and commonly affixed along the cylindrical axis of the candle receiving member.

9. The device defined by claim 1, wherein the base plate is flat.

10. The apparatus defined by claim 3, wherein the base plate is rectangular, and the plurality of candle holding devices are frangibly connected in a straight line.

11. The apparatus defined by claim 3, wherein the base plate comprises an arcuate segment, and the plurality of candle holding devices are frangibly connected in a circular configuration.