Resistage Candle Device

Abstract

A candle device, which has similar characteristics to a color coded electrical resistor, is provided with a plurality of colored bands each signifying a different number in accordance with the international color code arrangement. The candle wick symbolizes the wire connection at the end of the resistor. The numerical information identified in the color-bands on the surface of the candle device by mere visual observation thereof, indicates a number, for example, the numerical age of a person at a birthday party.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a novel way of noting any occasion commemorative of someone's or something's age, for example: birthdays and anniversaries.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Previously, several techniques have been used to convey the concept of age. Traditionally the number of candles symbolized the age. Other ideas such as candles of different colors or shapes to signify varying value, or candles in the shape of numerals have been used. In short, novel candles or ways to arrange them are of lively consumer interest. Adults tend to shy away from candles in quantity because they do not wish to "advertise" their age.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Resistage candle in the embodiments disclosed herein represents a number by the color and arrangement of the bands on the wick end of the candle. The Resistage candle could be produced in an infinite number of sizes.

The color bands used follow the international resistor color code. This internationally recognized numerical/color relationship is, however, not well known to the average layman. Hence, the novelty of the invention to those who know, the meaning of the color bands is immediately obvious and subtle. To those who do not know the color code it is easy to learn and understand. A single candle can signify any age from 1 to 100000000000 years, months, or any other time interval.

The term "RESISTAGE" as used herein is a combination of the term RESISTOR and AGE. It is particularly useful to signify age to those who are "resisting" their advancing "age."

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a Resistage candle device which portrays a visual and attractive representation to commemorate an exact time interval. For example, a single candle device would designate the numerical age of an individual at a birthday party by the mere visual reading of the color code on the candle device.

Additionally, the candle device of the present invention in most of the embodiments includes the use of conventional length candles that are presently commercially available. The Resistage candle device per se comprises an elongated housing associated with a candle. The outer visual surface of the Resistage candle device constitutes a wall of a solid color, for example, white. The elongated housing has a plurality of colored sectional areas thereon and spaced a short distance from each other along the white wall to aid in the visual observation thereof. Each of the colored sectional areas has a color that is separate and distinct from any other sectional area. It is readily apparent that the colored sectional areas signify the time interval by the mere visual observation of the Resistage candle device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become better understood and its numerous advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the various figures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a resistor that is utilized in the electrical field;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the Resistage candle device according to the present invention and illustrates the same in position upon a holder or incorporating its own holder;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a birthday cake supporting the Resistage candle device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4a is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the Resistage candle device, said view having parts broken away and in section;

FIG. 4b is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the Resistage candle device in relation to a cake;

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 5b is an exploded view of the third embodiment of the Resistage candle device in relation to a cake;

FIG. 6a is a fourth embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 6b is an exploded view of the fourth embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 7a is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 7b is an exploded view of the fifth embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 8a is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the Resistage candle device mounted on a cake;

FIG. 8b is a top view of the sixth embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 8c is an end view of the sixth embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 9a is a perspective view of the seventh embodiment of the Resistage candle device;

FIG. 9b is an exploded view of the seventh embodiment of the Resistage candle device in relation to a cake;

FIG. 10a is a perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the Resistage candle device; and

FIG. 10b is an exploded view of the eighth embodiment of the Resistage candle device in relation to a cake.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Although specific forms of the invention have been selected for illustration in the drawings, and the following description is drawn in specific terms for the purpose of describing those forms of the invention, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an electrical component identified in the electrical field as a conventional composition type resistor, that is, a device for introducing resistance into an electrical circuit.

A composition resistor normally has a color code arrangement that appears on its outer surface which identifies the resistance value thereof. This internationally recognized numerical color code is established by the Radio Manufacturers Association. In this code, the color of the first band (or dot) nearest to the end of the resistor designates the first digit. The color of the second band (or dot) on the resistor designates the second digit, and the color of the third band (or dot) on the resistor indicates the number of ciphers after the first two digits. The colors used to designate different numbers are as follows:

0 Black 1 Brown 2 Red 3 Orange 4 Yellow 5 Green 6 Blue 7 Violet 8 Gray 9 White

Thus a resistor with a first red band, second black band and a third black band (no ciphers) would be 20 ohms, whereas one with a green first band, black second band and yellow third band would be 500,000 ohms.

For the purpose of practicing the present invention, the color code arrangement that appears on the outer surface of the resistor may be utilized as a novel manner of indicating an exact time interval such as the age of an individual, organization, town, city or the like. Within the scope of the present invention, the color code arrangement may be modified to provide a more commercially accepted device.

What is common to all of the foregoing embodiments is the provision therein that the candle device includes a plurality of colored bands each signifying a different number according to the international resistor color code. More specifically, the candle device of the present invention is coined "Resistage" which is an original expression which is a combination of the term "Resistor" and "Age." To an individual who is "resisting.times. his advancing "age" the term "Resistage" is deemed particularly applicable.

The structural combination illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a conventional type electrical resistor having a cylindrical body 20 and wire connections 22 at each end of the resistor. In practicing the principles of the present invention, the two bands 24 and 26 may represent the first two digits in the number and the third band 28 may be designated the number of zeros (ciphers) in the number.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated an embodiment of the present invention that comprises a cylindrical shaped candle 30 having a wick 32 at its upper end and a fluted holder or base member 34 for supporting the lower end of the candle. The wick 32 corresponds to wire connection on the resistor. And the body of the candle 30 corresponds to the body of the resistor. The base 34 having a stepped-in frustoconically shaped body portion which tapers downwardly and inwardly from the candle 30 would be positioned on the upper surface of a cake.

The candle 30 may be formed, for example, by a candle decorating machine and by the processes well known in the art. Thereby the decorative effect on candle 30 can be achieved by including a decorative distribution of color in the colored bands. Further, the colored bands 36,38,40 on candle 30 according to the present invention could be selectively colored circular bands or rings made of plastic or metal. These rings could be slidably mounted on the candle body 30 and at the same time be constructed of desired cross-section dimensions whereby said rings would be frictionally and securely mounted thereon.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that the bands 36,38,40 could be manufactured and sold separately from the candle and that said bands could be used repeatedly, provided they are not integrated permanently with the original candle. Obviously, the bands and the candle could also be manufactured and sold as an integral unit if desired.

Referring to FIG. 3, it will be seen, that the candle 30 of FIG. 2 has been inserted in a birthday cake 42. It is readily apparent from this embodiment that the use of a single Resistage candle device is a more practical application than the use of a plurality of birthday candles. The Resistage candle is a vivid and lively representation of one's age and solves the long-time problem of multiple candles in a convenient and intelligible manner.

Referring to a second embodiment of the present invention in FIGS. 4a and 4b a short length candle 44 having a wick 46 is impaled on an upwardly protruding spike 48 that is mounted on a cylindrical supporting housing 50 having horizontally arranged colored sections 52,54,56. The cylindrical housing 50 which may be made of a plastic or metallic material is closed at the top thereof by a flat disk member 58 that extends beyond the periphery of the housing. The extended disk portion 58 provides an endless ledge or flange for intercepting wax drippings from a lighted wick 46.

It is to be especially noted that as the short length candle 44 burns down, the candle will approach the flat disk member 58. Very rapidly the flame of the candle will, thus, extinguish itself on the disk member. The flat disk member 58 may be cleaned of the candle residue or replaced and then a fresh candle may be inserted on the spike 48 for further use of the candle device.

With particular reference to FIG. 4b, it is to be noted that positioned below the cylindrical housing 50 in the exploded view thereof, are three separate and distinct sectional bands or rings 60,62,64 made of plastic or metal. Each band consists of an upper colored portion and a lower spacer portion, for example, of a white color, to function as the color code arrangement previously described. The bands 60,62,64 have cross-sectional diameters slightly greater than the diameter of the housing 50. This will enable the bands 60,62,64 to surround the housing 50 as shown in FIG. 5a. The housing 50 with the bands thereon is frictionally mounted in base 66 and the candle 44 impaled on spike 48 to complete the assembly of the resistor candle device prior to its insertion in a cake 42.

Further carrying out the invention and referring to the third embodiment of the present invention in FIGS. 5a and 5b, a long length candle 68 is frictionally mounted in a fluted base 66. As shown in FIG. 5b, the cylindrical housing consists of an upper flat washer-like member 70 for intercepting wax drippings, and three separate and distinct bands or rings 72,74,76 as described above in connection with the second embodiment. However, the cylindrical housing 50 of FIGS. 4a and 4b is omitted in this embodiment. The bands 72,74,76 together with the wax-receiving ring member 70 are slidably mounted to surround the candle 68 as shown in the assembled view of FIG. 5a.

In the fourth embodiment of the Resistage candle device, FIGS. 6a and 6b illustrate a long-length candle 78 that is mounted in a fluted holder 80 and that is substantially surrounded along most of its length except near the top portion thereof by a hollow cylindrical housing 82 having a series of indentations 84,86,88 to support a series of colored circular bands or rings 90,92,94 therein. As shown in the exploded view FIG. 6b, there are three separate and distinct bands or rings 90,92,94 for carrying on the function previously described in the above embodiments.

In the invention as expressed in the fifth embodiment of the Resistage candle device, FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate three short-length candles 96,98,100 superimposed upon one another. The lower sectional areas of each candle are constructed with enlarged cylindrical portions 102,104,106 having bores 108,110,112 extending short distances upwardly from the bottoms of the cylindrical portions. The said bores are readily adapted to receive one of the candles 96,98,100 and are frictionally fitted therein. Further, the enlarged cylindrical portions 102,104,106 have external colored surfaces thereon for the color code purpose previously described. The tapered base 34 incorporates an upper cylindrical section 114 which is inserted into bore 112.

In the sixth embodiment of the Resistage candle device, FIGS. 8a,8b and 8c illustrate an elongated model of an electrical resistor horizontally positioned on a cake 42. The model has a cylindrical body 116 and has a plurality of colored bands or rings 118,120,122 mounted thereon for the purpose previously described. The body 116 has a pair of perforated tab members 124,126 integrally formed on the body. The tab members are preferably mounted on opposite sides thereof as shown in FIG. 8b and are adapted to receive short-length candles 128,130 in the openings provided on the tab members. These candles hold the assembly onto the cake 42.

FIGS. 9a and 9b, being the seventh embodiment of the Resistage candle device, illustrate a model of an electrical capacitor vertically positioned on a cake 42. The model has a polygonal shaped body 134 and has a plurality of circular shaped recesses 136,138,140 for frictionally supporting respectively therein a plurality of circular shaped colored disk members 142,144,146 for the purpose previously described. The body 134 has a bore 148 extending therethrough and adapted to receive a long length candle 150 therein.

In the eighth embodiment of the Resistage candle device, FIGS. 10a and 10b illustrate an elongated model of an electrical component having a substantially flat upper surface 152 horizontally positioned on a cake 42. The model has a rectangular body 156 and has a plurality of separable elongated band members 158,160,162 adapted to be resiliently mounted on the upper surface 152. The separately mounted band members 158,160,162 terminate in upturned flanges adjacent the sidewalls of body 156 as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b. Thus the band members are readily snapped into position on the body 156. Further, there are provided a plurality of bores 164,166,168 extending from the upper surface 152 through the body 156 whereby a plurality of candles 170,172,174 may be inserted therein for supporting on the cake 42.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a substantially cylindrical shaped candle device for commemorating or designating an exact time interval constituting a substitute for a plurality of candles or the like for commemorating or designating an exact time interval such as the age of an individual, organization, town,

said candle device including a plurality of short length individual candle members;

a central wick means embedded in said candle members;

each said candle member mounted in a superimposed relationship to one another to form a single vertically extending device;

each said candle member having an upper sectional portion and a lower sectional portion;

each lower sectional portion of a respective candle member being enlarged and having a greater diameter than its upper sectional portion;

each said lower sectional portion of a candle member having an open-bottomed bore;

each said bore being of a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of an upper sectional portion whereby an upper portion of a respective candle member may be inserted in the adjacent bore of another candle member to form a coupled relationship therebetween; and a support member having a lower conical portion tapering towards the base of the support member for insertion in the birthday cake;

said support member having an upper cylindrical sectional portion insertable into the bore of the lowermost candle member;

each said upper sectional portion having an outer solid color sidewall;

the outer sidewall of each said lower sectional portion having a color separate and distinct from another lower portion sidewall;

said separated formed bands of color signifying the exact time interval by the mere observation of the candle device.