U.S. patent number 3,767,355 [Application Number 05/215,836] was granted by the patent office on 1973-10-23 for candle holding device.
Invention is credited to David B. Anderson, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,767,355 |
Anderson, Jr. |
October 23, 1973 |
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.
Inventors: |
Anderson, Jr.; David B.
(Crystal, MN) |
Family
ID: |
22804600 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/215,836 |
Filed: |
January 6, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/295; 248/156;
431/296; 248/530 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
21/0824 (20130101); F21V 35/00 (20130101); A47G
7/07 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47G
7/07 (20060101); A47G 7/00 (20060101); F21V
35/00 (20060101); F23d 003/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;431/289,295,296
;248/39,44,156 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dority, Jr.; Carroll B.
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.
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.
* * * * *