U.S. patent number 3,730,674 [Application Number 05/163,841] was granted by the patent office on 1973-05-01 for candle.
Invention is credited to Bette L. Gross.
United States Patent |
3,730,674 |
Gross |
May 1, 1973 |
CANDLE
Abstract
A candle having a wick embedded therein or attached thereto
wherein the wick has a memory or self-movement characteristic
during burning of the candle enabling disposition of the wick
within the candle in many different arrangements.
Inventors: |
Gross; Bette L. (Holly,
MI) |
Family
ID: |
22591804 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/163,841 |
Filed: |
July 19, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/288; 431/325;
431/125 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C11C
5/006 (20130101); F21L 19/00 (20130101); F21V
37/0095 (20130101); F21V 37/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C11C
5/00 (20060101); F21V 37/00 (20060101); F21L
19/00 (20060101); F23d 013/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;431/125,288,325 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dority, Jr.; Carroll B.
Claims
I claim:
1. A candle having a memory wick which moves along a predetermined
horizontal path as the candle is burned.
2. A candle having at least one wick associated therewith which is
capable of self-movement in a predetermined path at least part of
which is horizontal as the candle is burned.
3. The candle as defined in claim 2 wherein said predetermined path
is spirally arranged.
4. The candle as defined in claim 2 wherein said wick comprises a
memory wick which tends to coil when released by the burning
candle.
5. The candle as defined in claim 4 wherein the wick is formed at
least partially from a plastic material.
6. The candle as defined in claim 4 wherein the wick comprises a
burnable wick member associated with a plastic element.
7. The candle as defined in claim 4 wherein the wick comprises a
spring wire telescoped within an elongated tubular cotton
element.
8. The candle as defined in claim 2 wherein said wick is
configured, arranged and dimensioned relative to said candle in
order to maintain the end of said wick to be burned in an upright
position as the candle is burned and said wick moves along its
predetermined path.
9. The candle as defined in claim 2 including a plurality of wicks
which burn in various directions.
10. The candle as defined in claim 9 wherein at least one pair of
wicks also crosses each other's path during burning.
11. The candle as defined in claim 2 including a plurality of wicks
at least one of which burns toward at least one other wick.
12. The candle as defined in claim 2 including a plurality of wicks
which burn at different levels.
13. The candle as defined in claim 2 including at least one wick
which burns in a spiral direction.
14. A plurality of candles as defined in claim 2 each being
separately mounted in a candle holder at different levels.
15. The candle as defined in claim 2 wherein the candle has a
predetermined height sufficient to enable a wick extending
transverse to the height of the candle to burn the wax of the
candle in the vicinity of and above the wick.
16. A candle having a memory wick which is arranged to move along a
predetermined horizontal path, the end of said wick being
maintained in an upright position as the candle is burned.
17. A candle as set forth in claim 16 in combination with a
complementarily shaped holder.
18. The combination as defined in claim 17 including a holder
having a plurality of channel-shaped sections each containing a
complementarily shaped candle therein.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Candles, as first known to man, were made from crude cylinders of
wax or solid fatty matter rolled around a vegetable fiber or
twisted cloth which formed the wick. While the origin of the first
candle, as distinct from early torches or lamps which have Old
Testament origin, is not specifically known, early writings
indicate that the Romans knew of and used the candle. It was not
until the Middle Ages; however, that the candle was used to any
great degree. The candle was used as one primary source of light
from the Middle Ages until the development of the oil lamp which
occurred in the 18th century, the oil lamp itself being replaced by
the modern electric light in the late 19th century. During the
periods of the candles' great use, the making of candles was an
important duty of most housekeepers. Today, modern candle making
facilities produce candles of various shapes, sizes and colors as
compared with the limited designs that could be produced by manual
processes.
From the first use of candles up to the present time, candles have
always been burned vertically. If, for some reason, a standard
candle is placed on its side or the wick, when the candle is erect,
falls over, the candle's flame may be extinguished. This is due to
the wick falling in or being covered by the liquid wax which causes
the flame to be "drowned." While a standard candle will burn if
held or supported at an angle from the vertical as is known, the
liquid wax from the burning candle uncontrollably pours therefrom
causing an unwanted mess. Standard candles have, by necessity,
burned vertically, that is, from the top to the bottom.
It is an object of the invention to provide a candle which burns in
a manner not heretofore possible.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a candle
which can burn in one or more various directions or paths which are
arranged in a preselected pattern either during manufacture of the
candle or thereafter by the ultimate user.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a candle
wherein the burning wick is constantly maintained in the desired
predetermined attitude.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
candle which can be made in many new and unusual designs and forms
in conjunction with complementarily shaped candle holders, if
desired.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are
attained by the provision of a candle which includes a wick which
moves as the candle is burned. The candle may include one or more
wicks which are arranged in predetermined directions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a candle construed in accordance
with the teachings of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the candle illustrated in FIG.
1 and depicting in phantom lines the manner in which the wick can
move during buring of the candle;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a wick element in the shape of a
spiral prior to being embedded in a candle;
FIGS. 4 - 6 are side elevational views, partly in section, showing
burning of the candle at three separate stages of its burning
cycle;
FIG. 7 is a top plan view of another form of candle which
illustrates in dotted lines a plurality of wicks embedded in the
candle;
FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8 -- 8 of FIG. 7 and
illustrating one manner of holding the wicks relative to the
candle;
FIG. 9 is a top plan view of yet another form of candle which
includes a pair of wicks, shown in dotted lines, which are arranged
to burn in opposite directions as well as cross each other's path
during burning;
FIG. 10 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of candle
illustrated in FIG. 9 and showing a manner in which the wicks can
be designed to cross each other's path as the candle is burned;
FIG. 11 is a top plan view of yet another form of candle which is
configured in a spiral form;
FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of the spirally formed candle
shown in FIG. 11 and also showing the possibility of embedding the
spirally formed wick in an inverted frusto-conically shaped
candle;
FIG. 13 is a top plan view of a circular form of candle depicting
the use of a plurality of circularly arranged wicks embedded
therein;
FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the circular candle form
depicted in FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a top plan view of a cross-shaped candle having a
plurality of wicks embedded therein which represents yet another
form of candle coming within the purview of the present
invention;
FIG. 16 is a diamond shaped candle having a plurality of wicks
embedded therein representing still yet another form of candle
design;
FIG. 17 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of an
interfitting spirally shaped candle which is mounted in a candle
holder;
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of still another candle design
wherein a plurality of wicks are arranged in step-like fashion
illustrated in dotted lines;
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a Christmas tree shaped candle
holder having a plurality of channel shaped sections at various
levels each containing circular candles constructed on the lines of
FIGS. 13 - 14;
FIG. 20 is a side elevational view depicting a cake-shaped candle
having a plurality of wicks in dotted lines which are arranged to
burn at different levels and in both horizontal and vertical paths,
and
FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a crescent-shaped candle design
within the scope of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention is characterized by a new and different form
of candle which permits movement of the wick as the candle is
burned. It thus distinguishes from standard candles which permit
burning of the wick only after wax has been consumed to expose
subsequent sections of the wick for further burning. As is known,
standard candles burn only in a vertical or slightly off vertical
direction from top to bottom. The candle of the present invention;
however, can burn in one or more different directions as arranged
in a preselected pattern either during manufacture or thereafter by
the ultimate user. In the discussion that is to follow, it will be
understood that the unique candle of the present invention thus
generally distinguishes from standard candle designs developed many
centuries ago and still in common use today.
The rate of burning of standard candles has been controlled by the
size of the candle and wick, its shape, and the type of wax
including added hardening agents. As is known, a candle of a small
cylindrical shape, such as a cake candle, will burn quite fast
since the wax from the liquid pool readily flows over the side of
the candle permitting exposure of the wick for subsequent burning
of the candle. It will also be apparent that the type of wax
including hardening and smell inhibiting agents can affect the rate
at which a candle burns. The impreciseness of the above factors has
made it difficult to regulate the time in which it takes to burn a
candle. Also, the inherent limitations in the top to bottom burning
of standard candles has limited the form of candle design.
In order to understand the structural and functional differences of
the candle of the present invention from standard candle designs, a
specific description of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 21
of the drawings will now be given.
According to the present invention, there is provided in the first
illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1 - 6, a candle 10 which is
generally horizontally arranged and has a rectangular shape. The
specific composition of the candle wax is not important insofar as
the present invention is concerned, it being understood that any of
the wax compositions presently used for standard candles may also
be used with the candle of the present invention. The candle 10
also includes a wick 12 which is embedded in the candle and has one
end 14 which may project through the top surface 16 of the
rectangularly shaped candle 10 to permit exposure of the end 14 for
lighting purposes. A well or depression 18 extends down from the
top surface 16 of the candle in the immediate vicinity of the end
14 of the wick 12 to facilitate the collection of candle wax during
burning. The well is not essential, however, since the candle will
form its own well when lit as will become apparent. It will be
further understood that the size and shape of the candle 10 and the
surface through which the end 14 of the wick 12 projects may be
varied to suit the particulars desired.
The wick 12 comprises a memory or self-movement wick which moves as
the candle is burned. The wick 12 must therefore be constructed in
a manner which will permit it to return to its initial state as the
candle is burned.
In the prior art standard form of candle, two main types of wicks
are utilized. One, of course, is the regular cotton or string wick.
The other wick, to overcome limpness and possible incorrect
straightness in casting the candle, has a low temperature wire in
the center of the cotton or string wick portion. This type of wick
is commonly known as a wire wick. Either type of wick can be used
in constructing the memory or self-movement wick 12. The memory or
self-movement wick 12 can be produced by making the wire from the
wire wick type of wick with spring wire characteristics enabling
the wick to develop an initial coil condition as is represented by
FIG. 3 of the drawings. The memory or self-movement wick 12 can
also be produced by telescoping or associating either the string or
wire wick within a hollow plastic tube or U-shaped configuration
which is preformed with memory characteristics. One preferred
example of a plastic material which provides the desired memory
characteristic is polyethylene. In addition to its memory
capability, this plastic material is capable of being consumed in
the flame of the candle along with the string or wire wick. Other
types of memory or self-movement wicks can be utilized with the
candle of the present invention.
In order to understand how the memory or self-movement wick 12
moves in a predetermined path during burning of the candle 10,
reference is made to FIGS. 2 and 4-6 of the drawings. FIG. 2 of the
drawings represents burning of the candle at various stages which
are individually shown in FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings.
After the candle 10 is lit by applying a match or lighter to the
exposed end 14 of the wick 12, the candle is ignited and starts to
burn as is illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings. As the burning
wick 12 wants to coil, it will burn an oval pool of wax as the heat
from the flame melts more wax in the direction of the wick. The
coiling wick 12 is released by the liquid pool of wax that is
formed by the heat of the flame thereby exposing more wick for
burning of the candle. The burning of the candle from the initially
lighted state is represented by the phantom illustrations in FIG. 2
and FIGS. 5-6 of the drawings. In these figures, a cross sectional
representation of a generally elliptically shaped depression in the
candle 10 is depicted. This depression is formed by the burning
memory wick 12 as it moves in its predetermined path during burning
of the candle. The liquid wax that remains behind the moving wick
will solidify as at 21 as best seen in FIGS. 5-6, for the purpose
of leaving covered any other wicks that may still be in position
below the burning wick.
It will be noted in comparing FIGS. 4-6, for example, that as the
burning wick 12 moves through various stages, the end 14 of the
wick is maintained in a predetermined attitude. This is due to the
combination of a tendency of the wick 12 wanting to coil and the
wick being restrained in that coiling movement until the solid wax
immediately ahead of the wick 12 is melted. As movement of the wick
occurs, the wick itself is consumed by the flame thus causing a
disposition of the remaining end 14 of the wick 12 in the desired
predetermined attitude for burning.
The rate of burning of candle 10, as compared with the standard
form, can be controlled with a greater degree of accuracy. This
results, in part, from the ability to determine the rate of burning
from the tightness of the coil or memory imparted to the wick 12.
Through suitable empirical tests, the actual rate of burning of
candles can be determined and used in candle design such as where
it may be desired to burn different wicks at different rates. This
will also become better understood in the embodiments to be
described below. In the burning of the candle 10, it is to be noted
that the elliptical pocket or depression 20 which is formed as the
candle is burned also serves to collect or catch the molten wax
which is not consumed during burning. As a result, a candle which
is cast in a sufficient width to allow pooling of the wax within
the confines thereof during burning, acts as its own holder. This
permits the outer surfaces of the candle to be decorated, thus
obviating the need for a candle holder. This is yet another
advantage that is not achieved by standard candles.
The wick 12 can be embedded or attached to the candle 10 during
manufacture or alternatively, the candle 10 and wick 12 can be
associated in a preselected pattern by the ultimate user who may
desire burning of the candle in a particular design for special
occasions, e.g., a numerical pattern to represent a person's
age.
In the description of the embodiments that is to follow similar
numerals with alphabetical suffixes used in sequence will be
applied to parts similar to the FIGS. 1-6 embodiment.
In FIGS. 7-8 of the drawings, there is shown a similarly shaped
rectangular candle 10a having two memory wicks 12a embedded
therein. The pair of wicks 12a are arranged in parallel
relationship with opposite ends 14a exposed for lighting. In this
embodiment, the parallel portions of the wicks 12a are secured to
the candle 10a by a staple-like fastener 22 which traps the wicks
12a in a depression 24 formed in the bottom or lower surface 26 of
the candle 10a. It will be apparent that other types of methods may
be employed for securing or otherwise embedding the wicks 12a
relative to the candle 10a. When each of the ends 14a are lit, the
flames from the burning and moving wicks 12a will pass each other
as they burn from one end of the candle to the other.
In addition to burning in opposite directions and passing each
other, the wicks 12b of the candle 10b in the FIGS. 9-10 embodiment
are also designed to cross over and move from the front or rear and
the top or bottom, as the case may be. This may be achieved by the
use of a through passageway 28 formed in the candle 10b as best
illustrated in FIG. 10 which will permit the wicks 12b to change
positions after the cross over and move from either the front or
rear and the upper or lower level or path of the candle 10b, as the
case may be. It is to be understood that the passageway 28, while
useful, is not necessarily required in cross over wick
configurations since the wicks will cross each other's paths in any
case.
The FIGS. 11-12 embodiment illustrate a candle 10c can be designed
to burn in a spiral path. Specifically, the candle 10c is formed in
a spiral arrangement, such that the candle 10c will burn from top
to bottom in a spiral path.
In the embodiments of FIGS. 13-14, FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the candles
are generally the same with the exception that the wicks follow
paths which are determined by the geometrical design of the
candles. Specifically, the circular candle of FIGS. 13-14 has a
plurality of arcuate wicks 12d embedded in the candle 10d. In the
illustrated design, each of the arcuate wicks 12d will burn
approximately one quadrant of the circle. Four arcuate wicks 12d
are provided in the illustrated embodiment and are arranged to burn
in the same direction. It will be apparent that different
directions may be desired for an adjacent or opposite wick 12d.
Further, it will be apparent that a circular candle 10d can be
designed with a plurality of concentric arcuately shaped wicks 12d
which could be arranged to burn in any preselected pattern that is
desired.
In the FIG. 15 embodiment, the candle 10e is in the shape of a
cross suggesting the possibility of utilizing the candle for
religious occasions. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two
wicks 12e which have a right-angle shape. Each of the wicks 12e are
provided at opposite ends with exposed end portions 14e to enable
all four legs of the cross to be lit at one time. The two flames
from each right-angularly shaped wick 12e will meet above and below
the central portion of the cross-shaped candle 10e when the candle
has been completely burned. It will, of course, be apparent that
the wicks 12e can be designed in a cross-shaped candle so that the
wicks burn from the center of the cross outward to each of the
legs. It will be further apparent that the cross is symbolic of
only one religious denomination; other religious symbols such as
the Star of David may be designed and utilized with equal
facility.
The FIG. 16 embodiment shows a diamond shaped candle 10f with four
memory wicks 12f arranged as illustrated.
An entirely different form of candle is illustrated in the FIG. 17
embodiment. The candle 10g in this embodiment includes a spirally
arranged wick 12g which is supported within a bowl or holder. As
the wick 12g burns in its spiral path, it will provide a three
dimensional setting during burning. The holder or bowl 29 may
collect any liquid wax which subsequently solidifies at the bottom
of the holder or bowl.
Another type of candle holder design is illustrated in FIG. 19 of
the drawing. The holder 30 in this embodiment is in the the shape
of a Christmas tree and is provided with a plurality of
channel-shaped rings which are arranged at different levels. Each
of the channel-shaped rings 32 are complimentarily configured to
receive a circular candle 10i generally of the type depicted in
FIGS. 13-14 of the drawings. Since each of the circular candles 10i
are at different levels, the candles 10i are of different sizes to
permit reception within the complementary shaped channel 32 of the
Christmas tree shaped holder 30. The wicks 12i will move in an
arcuate path much in the same way that the wicks travel in the
FIGS. 13-14 embodiment. It will be apparent that other geometrical
designs are possible such as a spirally shaped candle mounted on a
Christmas tree holder or other designs which may be appropriate for
holidays and special occasions.
A further illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown
in FIG. 20 of the drawing. The candle 10k is in the shape of a
layer or tiered cake design with each of the wicks 12k, below the
top layer or tier, arranged to move both in a vertical and then in
a horizontal path during burning.
The last illustrated embodiment of the present invention is shown
in FIG. 21 of the drawings. In that figure, a crescent-shaped
columnar candle 10l is illustrated with the wick 12l extending
transversely relative thereto in the vicinity of the bottom of the
candle. During burning of the candle, the lit wick causes melting
of the wax in an arcuate path above the wick to produce the
crescent shaped design that is illustrated. The wax that is melted
produces a weeping or falling effect which can produce an unusual
aesthetic effect, particularly when viewed from the non-melted or
rounded side of the candle, since it will provide a glowing or
illuminated appearance together with weeping or falling effect
resulting from the melted wax that falls along the crescent-shaped
interior of the candle. The candle 10l may be produced with a
preformed crescent-shaped interior or may be formed in an initial
columnar shape, as shown in the dotted lines in FIG. 21, which
develops the crescent-shaped interior as the candle is burned. The
base 34 of the candle 10l is preferably designed to collect flowing
melted wax within the confines thereof.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the design
possibilities for various shapes of candles is virtually limitless
due to the capability of burning candles in one or more paths or
directions at the same or different levels. Further, the rate of
burning candles can be much more accurately controlled than was
heretofore obtainable. As a result, the candle of the present
invention opens up new horizons in the field of candle
illumination.
* * * * *