CA2254159C - Thermal wax-extracting ear candle and method of production - Google Patents
Thermal wax-extracting ear candle and method of production Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2254159C CA2254159C CA002254159A CA2254159A CA2254159C CA 2254159 C CA2254159 C CA 2254159C CA 002254159 A CA002254159 A CA 002254159A CA 2254159 A CA2254159 A CA 2254159A CA 2254159 C CA2254159 C CA 2254159C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- rod
- strip
- ear
- beeswax
- order
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
- A61F11/00—Methods or devices for treatment of the ears or hearing sense; Non-electric hearing aids; Methods or devices for enabling ear patients to achieve auditory perception through physiological senses other than hearing sense; Protective devices for the ears, carried on the body or in the hand
- A61F11/006—Ear cleaners, e.g. curettes
Abstract
The ear candle is in the form of an elongated tubular member tapering in diameter toward an end which is adapted to be inserted into a human ear. The tubular member is composed of unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax which, when ignited burns and releases hot gas. The gas serves to heat and soften wax within the ear thereby aiding in the removal of the wax from the ear. The ear candle is made by providing a rectangular strip of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width and in which its warp is parallel to the side edges thereof. A rod having an area coated with melted beeswax and an uncoated area is placed such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area contacts the strip. The uncoated area of the rod is gripped and rotated in order to cause it to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns. The angle of the rod is adjusted while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an ear candle for the extract-ion of wax from an ear and to a method of production of the ear candle. More particularly the invention relates to an ear candle composed of unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax and to a method or production of the ear candle.
For many years ear candles have been used to extract wax within a human ear. The candle usually consists of a strip of fabric rolled into the shape of a hollow cone and held in such shape by means of an adhesive such as paraffin wax. The small-er end of the cone is inserted into an ear and the larger end is ignited. Smoke flows through the cone and into the ear where its heat causes wax within the ear to melt. The smoke also causes the pressure in the interior of the cone to drop below the pressure within the ear and melted ear-wax flows from the ear into the cone where it hardens and collects on the inside wall of the cone. The wax can be removed simply by withdrawing the cone from the ear.
Ear candles have been described in a number of patents of the United States such as nos. 3,099,263 to Palazzolo;
1,512,274 to Caramanico; 668,929 to Polish; 1,448,129 to Kudla; and 3,734,093 to Paurice. These and other patents indicate that material such as linen, silk, woollen sloth dipped in paraffin wax, woven cloth, fabrics and paper are suitable materials for the cone. In fact such materials have serious shortcomings. Linen in its original state is not readily available. Dyed linen is available but it is quite expensive and its dyes often give off noxious fumes when they burn. Silk and wool likewise give off noxious fumes. Polyester sputters and releases molten particles as it burns. Such particles are intolerable in an ear. As well, polyester gives off a choking smoke as it burns. Paper usually contains such material as rosin or glue and lime or kaolin to give it body and weight. Such materials give off noxious odours when they burn and, in some cases, toxins which can cause an allergic reaction or illness.
It has been found that unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax is suitable material for the cone of an ear candle.
The material burns cleanly without noxious fumes or toxins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly described, the ear candle of the invention in-cludes an elongated tubular member which tapers in diameter toward an end which is adapted to be inserted into a human ear. The tubular member is composed of unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax which, when ignited burns and releases smoke. The smoke serves to heat and soften wax within the ear thereby aiding in the removal of the wax from the ear.
The method of production of the ear candle involves the steps of providing a rectangular strip of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width and in which its warp is parallel to the side edges thereof;
providing a rod having an area coated with melted beeswax and an uncoated area; placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area con-tarts the strip; manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns; and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described with reference to the accom-panying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ear candle;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ear candle and human ear;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the strip of material, in enlarged scale, which makes up the cone of the ear candle. An area of the strip is enlarged to show the strands of thread which make up the warp and weft of the material;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the strip of material and a rod for impregnating the material with beeswax; and Figure 5 shows the manner in which the material is rolled into a cone.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figure 1, the thermal ear wax-extract-ing ear candle of the invention is indicated generally 10 and is made up of an elongated strip 12 which is wrapped around itself spirally to form a cone. The cone is hollow and tapers from an end 14 of relatively large diameter to an end 16 of relatively small diameter.
The cone is formed of unbleached cotton. The cotton is impregnated with beeswax which serves as an adhesive to hold the cotton to the required conical shape.
With reference to Figure 2, the large end 14 of the cone is ignited so as to produce a hot gas or smoke within the cone. The small end of the cone is then inserted into an ear 20. After insertion the head is tilted so that the long-itudinal axis of the cone is roughly vertical or within about degrees of the vertical. The axis should be roughly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the outer ear. At that angle smoke flows through the interior of the cone and into the ear.
Wax within the ear softens or melts when it is contacted by the smoke and may be removed by means of a cotton swab.
The method of production of the ear candle is described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. With reference first to Figure 3, the first step in the production is to provide a rectangular strip 32 of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width. Preferably the length of the strip will be about 25 inches and the width 1 1/2 inches.
The strip should be free of creases and wrinkles and if there are any, they can be removed by ironing both sides of the material. Ironing also serves to stiffen the material so that the candle retains its shape as it burns. If the candle loses its shape it may flop over and burn the ear or neck of the person whose ear is being candled. The strip may be fur-ther stiffened by spraying it with distilled water before it is ironed.
The elongated strands of thread 34 which make up the warp of the material extend parallel to the side edges 36, 38 of the strip and the strands 38 which make up the weft are normal to those edges.
With reference to Figure 4, a rod 40, such as a chop-stick, has an area 42 coated with melted beeswax while the remainder is uncoated. The rod may be coated simply by dipping it in a container of melted beeswax. The rod is placed such that it is adjacent to and approximately parallel to end edge 44. The coated area contacts the strip while the uncoated area is beyond the strip.
With reference to Figure 5, the uncoated area of the rod is gripped manually and rotated in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns 50.
The angle of the rod is adjusted while it is rotated in order to cause a portion 52 of the strip in one turn to overlap a portion 54 in an adjacent turn. The two should not overlap each other by less than approximately one half of the width 56 of the strip. Adjacent to the small end of the cone the two will overlie each other by considerably more than one half of the width of the strip.
The temperature of the beeswax should be maintained in the range of about 200 degrees F. to about 210 degrees F. If the temperature is higher, the beeswax tends to migrate to the outside wall of the cone and form clumps, If the temperature is lower, the beeswax does not penetrate the cotton evenly but forms clumps on the inside wall of the cone. Clumps of beeswax are not desirable because they do not burn at the same rate as the cotton which surrounds them. It is difficult to control the process of ear-wax extraction when the rate of burning of the candle is not uniform.
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiments and method illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
This invention relates to an ear candle for the extract-ion of wax from an ear and to a method of production of the ear candle. More particularly the invention relates to an ear candle composed of unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax and to a method or production of the ear candle.
For many years ear candles have been used to extract wax within a human ear. The candle usually consists of a strip of fabric rolled into the shape of a hollow cone and held in such shape by means of an adhesive such as paraffin wax. The small-er end of the cone is inserted into an ear and the larger end is ignited. Smoke flows through the cone and into the ear where its heat causes wax within the ear to melt. The smoke also causes the pressure in the interior of the cone to drop below the pressure within the ear and melted ear-wax flows from the ear into the cone where it hardens and collects on the inside wall of the cone. The wax can be removed simply by withdrawing the cone from the ear.
Ear candles have been described in a number of patents of the United States such as nos. 3,099,263 to Palazzolo;
1,512,274 to Caramanico; 668,929 to Polish; 1,448,129 to Kudla; and 3,734,093 to Paurice. These and other patents indicate that material such as linen, silk, woollen sloth dipped in paraffin wax, woven cloth, fabrics and paper are suitable materials for the cone. In fact such materials have serious shortcomings. Linen in its original state is not readily available. Dyed linen is available but it is quite expensive and its dyes often give off noxious fumes when they burn. Silk and wool likewise give off noxious fumes. Polyester sputters and releases molten particles as it burns. Such particles are intolerable in an ear. As well, polyester gives off a choking smoke as it burns. Paper usually contains such material as rosin or glue and lime or kaolin to give it body and weight. Such materials give off noxious odours when they burn and, in some cases, toxins which can cause an allergic reaction or illness.
It has been found that unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax is suitable material for the cone of an ear candle.
The material burns cleanly without noxious fumes or toxins.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Broadly described, the ear candle of the invention in-cludes an elongated tubular member which tapers in diameter toward an end which is adapted to be inserted into a human ear. The tubular member is composed of unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax which, when ignited burns and releases smoke. The smoke serves to heat and soften wax within the ear thereby aiding in the removal of the wax from the ear.
The method of production of the ear candle involves the steps of providing a rectangular strip of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width and in which its warp is parallel to the side edges thereof;
providing a rod having an area coated with melted beeswax and an uncoated area; placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area con-tarts the strip; manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns; and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described with reference to the accom-panying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ear candle;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ear candle and human ear;
Figure 3 is a plan view of a portion of the strip of material, in enlarged scale, which makes up the cone of the ear candle. An area of the strip is enlarged to show the strands of thread which make up the warp and weft of the material;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the strip of material and a rod for impregnating the material with beeswax; and Figure 5 shows the manner in which the material is rolled into a cone.
Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to Figure 1, the thermal ear wax-extract-ing ear candle of the invention is indicated generally 10 and is made up of an elongated strip 12 which is wrapped around itself spirally to form a cone. The cone is hollow and tapers from an end 14 of relatively large diameter to an end 16 of relatively small diameter.
The cone is formed of unbleached cotton. The cotton is impregnated with beeswax which serves as an adhesive to hold the cotton to the required conical shape.
With reference to Figure 2, the large end 14 of the cone is ignited so as to produce a hot gas or smoke within the cone. The small end of the cone is then inserted into an ear 20. After insertion the head is tilted so that the long-itudinal axis of the cone is roughly vertical or within about degrees of the vertical. The axis should be roughly aligned with the longitudinal axis of the outer ear. At that angle smoke flows through the interior of the cone and into the ear.
Wax within the ear softens or melts when it is contacted by the smoke and may be removed by means of a cotton swab.
The method of production of the ear candle is described with reference to Figures 3 to 5. With reference first to Figure 3, the first step in the production is to provide a rectangular strip 32 of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width. Preferably the length of the strip will be about 25 inches and the width 1 1/2 inches.
The strip should be free of creases and wrinkles and if there are any, they can be removed by ironing both sides of the material. Ironing also serves to stiffen the material so that the candle retains its shape as it burns. If the candle loses its shape it may flop over and burn the ear or neck of the person whose ear is being candled. The strip may be fur-ther stiffened by spraying it with distilled water before it is ironed.
The elongated strands of thread 34 which make up the warp of the material extend parallel to the side edges 36, 38 of the strip and the strands 38 which make up the weft are normal to those edges.
With reference to Figure 4, a rod 40, such as a chop-stick, has an area 42 coated with melted beeswax while the remainder is uncoated. The rod may be coated simply by dipping it in a container of melted beeswax. The rod is placed such that it is adjacent to and approximately parallel to end edge 44. The coated area contacts the strip while the uncoated area is beyond the strip.
With reference to Figure 5, the uncoated area of the rod is gripped manually and rotated in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns 50.
The angle of the rod is adjusted while it is rotated in order to cause a portion 52 of the strip in one turn to overlap a portion 54 in an adjacent turn. The two should not overlap each other by less than approximately one half of the width 56 of the strip. Adjacent to the small end of the cone the two will overlie each other by considerably more than one half of the width of the strip.
The temperature of the beeswax should be maintained in the range of about 200 degrees F. to about 210 degrees F. If the temperature is higher, the beeswax tends to migrate to the outside wall of the cone and form clumps, If the temperature is lower, the beeswax does not penetrate the cotton evenly but forms clumps on the inside wall of the cone. Clumps of beeswax are not desirable because they do not burn at the same rate as the cotton which surrounds them. It is difficult to control the process of ear-wax extraction when the rate of burning of the candle is not uniform.
It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the preferred embodiments and method illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope and purview of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (4)
1. A thermal wax-extracting ear candle comprising: an elongated tubular member tapering in diameter toward an end which is adapted to be inserted into a human ear, said tubular member being composed of unbleached cotton impregnated with beeswax which, when ignited burns and releases hot gas, said gas serving to heat and soften wax within the ear thereby aiding in the removal of the wax from the ear.
2. A method of production of a thermal wax-extracting ear candle comprising the steps of: providing a rectangular strip of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width and in which its warp is parallel to the side edges thereof; providing a rod having an area coated with melted beeswax and an uncoated area; placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area contacts the strip; manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns;
and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn.
and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn.
3. A method of production of a thermal wax-extracting ear candle comprising the steps of: providing a rectangular strip of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width and in which its warp is parallel to the side edges thereof; ironing said trip in order to stiffen it;
providing a quantity of melted beeswax; inserting a rod into said beeswax such that a portion of said rod is coated with melted beeswax and the remainder of said rod is uncoated;
placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area contacts the strip;
manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns; and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn by no less than approximately one half of the width of the strip.
providing a quantity of melted beeswax; inserting a rod into said beeswax such that a portion of said rod is coated with melted beeswax and the remainder of said rod is uncoated;
placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area contacts the strip;
manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns; and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn by no less than approximately one half of the width of the strip.
4. A method of production of a thermal wax-extracting ear candle comprising the steps of: providing a rectangular strip of unbleached cotton which has a length in the range of 15 to 20 times its width and in which its warp is parallel to the side edges thereof; ironing said trip in order to stiffen it;
providing a quantity of beeswax heated to a temperature in the range of about 200 degrees F. to about 210 degrees F;
inserting a rod into said beeswax such that a portion of said rod is coated with melted beeswax and the remainder of said rod is uncoated; placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area contacts the strip; manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns; and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn by no less than approximately one half of the width of the strip.
providing a quantity of beeswax heated to a temperature in the range of about 200 degrees F. to about 210 degrees F;
inserting a rod into said beeswax such that a portion of said rod is coated with melted beeswax and the remainder of said rod is uncoated; placing the rod such that it is adjacent to one end edge of the strip and such that its coated area contacts the strip; manually gripping the uncoated area of the rod and rotating it in order to cause the strip to wrap itself spirally around the rod in a number of turns; and adjusting the angle of the rod while it rotates in order to cause the portion of the strip in one turn to overlap the portion in an adjacent turn by no less than approximately one half of the width of the strip.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002254159A CA2254159C (en) | 1998-11-16 | 1998-11-16 | Thermal wax-extracting ear candle and method of production |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002254159A CA2254159C (en) | 1998-11-16 | 1998-11-16 | Thermal wax-extracting ear candle and method of production |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2254159C true CA2254159C (en) | 2001-01-30 |
Family
ID=4163028
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002254159A Expired - Fee Related CA2254159C (en) | 1998-11-16 | 1998-11-16 | Thermal wax-extracting ear candle and method of production |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2254159C (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1555001A1 (en) * | 2004-01-14 | 2005-07-20 | Chi-Ho Cynn | A swab for removal of water inside the ears |
| CN100423703C (en) * | 2002-04-16 | 2008-10-08 | 金文法 | Plant candle for ear and its prepn |
| EP4151188A1 (en) * | 2021-09-20 | 2023-03-22 | Ibernova Aragón, S.L. | Tool for removing earwax from the ear canal |
-
1998
- 1998-11-16 CA CA002254159A patent/CA2254159C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN100423703C (en) * | 2002-04-16 | 2008-10-08 | 金文法 | Plant candle for ear and its prepn |
| EP1555001A1 (en) * | 2004-01-14 | 2005-07-20 | Chi-Ho Cynn | A swab for removal of water inside the ears |
| EP4151188A1 (en) * | 2021-09-20 | 2023-03-22 | Ibernova Aragón, S.L. | Tool for removing earwax from the ear canal |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20171116 |
|
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20171116 |