GB2196017A - Candles - Google Patents

Abstract

Candles are described in which a central open region is defined wholly within a way body. A wick extends through a top portion of the candle, and traverses or extends around the open region to or towards the base. The overall shape of the candle may be predominantly two dimensional or three dimensional, and the walls of wax surrounding the open region can be adapted to collapse or deform in different ways to achieve a variety of decorative effects. The invention also contemplates the use of optic fibre wicks, and of additional wicks which may or may not be encased in the walls of wax surrounding the open region.

Description

SPECIFICATION Candles This invention relates to candles, and particularly to a range of candles providing a variety of decorative effects.

Traditionally, a candle consists of a solid body of wax in which a wick is encased, the wick extending from the top of the candle to the base. Candles are made in different shapes and sizes, and the size of the wick and its path through the body of wax is normally matched with the candle shape to obtain clean burning of the candle. Clean burning is accomplished when substantially all the wax is burned as the wick is consumed, with a minimum of melting alone. Some candles are though, designed to melt some wax without burning to create a decorative effect around the candle or its support with solidifying streets of wax cascading from the region of the burning wick.

According to the present invention a variety of different decorative effects in a burning candle are achieved by the specifid design of the body of wax, and the orientation of the path of the wick therethrough. Primary to the creation of these effects is the definition in the body of wax of an open region across or around which the wick extends in its path from the top to the base of the candle. The open region may be defined in either two or three dimensions. Thus, in one variant the open region extends from one face of the body to the other. In this variant the characteristic shape of the candle is essentially defined in two dimensions with the wax body having two substantially parallel flat faces.

If the wick traverses the open region of the candle, a length of it will be visible from either face. The wick though may extend around the open region in one or both sides. A single wick may be split within the top of the body of wax to form additional wicks which extend around the open region on both sides. As is described in more detail below, a main wick which traverses the open region may be combined with one or more additional wicks in the sides of the candle, and such a main wick may itself be split irl the open region to form secondary wicks. The arrangement of the wick or wicks determines the manner in which the candle will burn with different decorative effect. Various of these effects are described herein.

In another variant of the invention, the open region is defined wholly within the body of wax. It can be wholly enclosed; i.e., surrounded by a solid wall or walls of wax. Alternatively, the wall or walls can have openings therein through which the open region can be observed. Similar variations to those referred to above in the path or paths of the wick in the candle can likewise be adopted in this variant of the invention; i.e., around or traversing the open region, but developed in three dimensions rather than predominantly in two.

When a candle according to the invention is first lit, it burns normally as the mass of wax at the top of the candle is consumed. Towards the end of this burning stage, melted wax will flow across the open region. As the upper mass of wax is consumed, it is supported by the walls of wax extending around the open region to the base.

When the wick extends around the open region on one or more sides thereof, the wax of the candle will be consumed only in the vicinity of the burning wick or wicks. Thus, if only a single wick extends around the open region to the base then the wax forming the other side or sides will remain, and only melt as a consequence of the heat generated by the single flame. If a plurality of wicks extend around the open region, then an equivalent plurality of flames will develop in the respective portions of the candle.

When the or the main wick traverses the open region, the burning wick in the open region will heat and soften the wax walls at the sides thereof. The shape and mass of these walls will determine exactly how they respond, but in preferred embodiments of the invention these walls will have an overall convergence towards the base such that they fall open under their own weight. Thus, the candle shape may simulate a flower having petals which progressively diverge or open as the candle burns. The manner of such divergence can be predetermined by the nature of the wax walls defining the open region. In the first variant described above this divergence will be predominantly in the overall plane of the candle. Where a single wall surrounds the open region as in the second variant, then the manner of such divergence will be less predictable.However, by dividing the wall into sections, either separate or connected by a thinner wall portion, then the thinner portions (if present) will soften and break first, and the larger sections diverge in a more ordered manner. By wholly separating the wall portions, the manner of their movement upon softening will be more readily apparent.

The flame at the top of the wick will move across the open region relatively quickly, and much of the movement of the walls at the sides thereof will take place with the flame originating at the base of the candle. However, much of the wax consumed while the walls are diverging will be that which has flowed down the wick from the top. After the divergence or deformation of the candle walls is complete, then the candle will continue to burn conventionally until the wick and adjacent wax have been consumed.

As described above, the invention also contemplates the provision of additional wicks in the candle which are wholly encased within the body of wax, but extend at least partially around the open region. These may either extend to the top of the candle for separate lighting, or merge within the candle top such that separate flames develop as the top mass of wax is consumed. This does of course result in a faster burning candle, and a different pattern of movement in the second burning stage when the walls are softened. Normally, the shape of the walls or wall portions containing such additional wicks will be chosen such that divergence of the walls is restricted, preferably such that once the principle flame is within the open region the additional wicks burn more quickly. This minimizes the risk of burning candle portions falling under their own weight and spreading molten wax.

It is of course not essential that the wall or walls surrounding the open region in a candle according to the invention converge towards the base. Particularly in the embodiments just described where additional wicks are used, there can be some benefit in adopting an overall candle shape in which the base is broader than the top. With such shapes, wall portions containing such additional wicks can be substantially vertical, or even with an outer surface or surfaces which diverge towards the base, whereby a cluster of candles can apparently be created from one original. This variant of the invention is particularly suited to embodiments in which wicks extend around, but do no traverse, the open region.

In another feature of the invention, optic fibre wicks can be used. These comprise a length or lengths of one or more optical fibres wrapped in a flammable wick material. As the wick material burns, the optic fibre or fibres melt or burn such that the wick as a whole is progressively consumed. The light of the flame is transmitted down the optic fibre or fibres, and can be diverted therefrom to illumi nate other parts of the candle. Specifically such wicks can be used in candles according to the invention to illuminate the open region thereof, and this is particularly effective where the open region is substantially or wholly en closed by one or more walls of wax.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with refer ence to the accompanying drawings.wherein:- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first em bodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of Fig. 3; Figure 5 is a top perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of Fig. 7; Figure 9 is a schematic partially broken perspective view of a portion of an optic fibre wick; Figure 10 is a side view of a fifth embodiment of the invention; and Figure ii is a sectional view taken along line E-E of Fig. 10.

Each of the two embodiments shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is a candle shaped in predominantly two dimensions with substantially parallel sides. That of Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a main body 2 of wax having the two dimensional shape of an heart, which body 2 encloses an open region 4 also in the shape of an heart. A wick 6 extends substantially vertically through the candle, and is exposed where is traverses the open region 4. The wick 6 thus extends through three identifiable portions of the candle; a top 8, a central portion 10, and a base 12. When initially lit, the wick will burn as in a conventional candle through the top portion 8. As the lowering flame falls towards the open region 4, melting wax will flow down the wick to the base 12, and the shape of the candle will transform to that of a "V".The wick will continue to burn, rather more quickly and with a larger flame, and the heat generated will cause the side walls of the candle comprising the portion 10 to soften. Under their own weight, the legs of the "V" will fall open, and by the time the wick has been consumed substantially to the level of the base 12, the legs of the "V" will have collapsed substantially to the level of the surface upon which the base is supported.

The actual shape taken up by the collapsed legs will depend on the mass of wax of which they consist, and different resultant shapes can thus be predetermined. Once the wick has burned to the base 12, its final stage of burning will be as in a traditional candle.

The wick 6 in Fig. 1 can split within the open region 4 to form secondary wicks as indicated at 6'. Wax flowing from the top portion of the candle will also flow down these secondary wicks, and the flame will divide into three as it progresses passed the point of division. This modification will increase the amount of heat generated as the candle burns in the second portion 10, and increase the rate at which the legs of the "V" collapse.

In the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, an essentially similar construction is illustrated except that the overall shape of the body 2 of wax and the opening 4 is that of a diamond rather than an heart. In this embodiment though, the wick 6 diverges to form two additional wicks 14 and 16 which are wholly encased in the wax body 2, but extend around the open region 4. The inclusion of these additional wicks alters the manner in which the candle burns. In the first stage, the wick ini tially burns quite normally, but as it diverges three wicks are progressively exposed. As a result the rate of consumption of wax is increased and particularly, that on either side of the open region is directly consumed by the flame from the additional wicks 14 and 16.By appropriate selection of dimensions, the progress of the three flames can be controlled, and the collapse of the walls on either side of the open region 4 can likewise be varied. For example, a situation can be created whereby a single initial flame splits into three, and then eventually converges into one before the candle is totally consumed. If desired, the portion of the main wick which traverses the open region 4 may be omitted.

While in the two embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 the overall shape of the candle is the same as that of the open region, different shapes can of course also be adopted. It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the candle and the mass of wax used in the different portions thereof will to a large extent determine the manner in which the candle will burn.

Different dimensions will produce different effects, and the inclusion of additional wicks will add another parameter to those which will determine the actual result.

Figs. 5 to 8 broadly illustrate how the invention as described with respect to Figs. 1 to 4 can be developed in three dimensions.

The view of Figs. 5 to 8 are broadly similar to those of Figs. 1 to 4 respectively. In the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6, the overall shape of the body of wax 2 is substantially spherical, but wholly encloses the open region 4. The wall 18 of the body 2 which defines the open region 4 is divided into ten sections 20, separated by windows 22. The wick 6 is shown as being divided to form additional wicks at 24, each of which is encased in a respective wall section 20.

As with the embodiments already described, the candle of Figs. 5 and 6 is effectively divided into three portions 8, 10 and 12. As the candle burns the top portion 8 will be consumed and towards the end of that burning stage molten wax will flow down the wick 6 across the open region 4. The additional wicks 24 will at this stage have started to burn, and by the time the top portion 8 has been consumed and the wick 6 is burning in the central portion 1-0, there should be ten separate flames at the ends of the additional wicks 24 as well as that of the wick 6. In this embodiment, the additional wicks 24 do not merge with the wick 6 in the base, al though they could of course do so, but when eventually the base of the candle is burning alone, all the flame will effectively merge.As with the embodiment of Figs. 3 and 4, the portion of the main wick which traverses the open region 4 may be omitted.

The candle shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is de signed such that there will be little or no spreading of the wall sections 20 as the wick 6 burns in the open region 4. The wall sections 20 are sufficiently spaced from the centre of the open region 4 where the flame will be located, and the additional wicks 24 will in any event ensure that the wall sections 20 burn relatively quickly. However, this stage of the candle burning may be altered by varying the respective dimensions, and additionally if a spreading effect is particularly desired the additional wicks may terminate at an intermediate stage in the wall sections 20, or of course be omitted altogether. Also, the windows 22 may be omitted, whereby the walls surrounding the the open region is continuous.

In some embodiments though, the windows 22 may comprise thinner webs of wax which melt and dissipate quite quickly as the flame burns in the open region to produce yet a further variation on the decorative effect of the burning candle.

The embodiment of Figs. 7 and 8 illustrates a variant in which the open region is wholly enclosed in the body 2 of wax, but is particularly adapted to provide a divergence or spreading of the wall of wax surrounding the open region 4. In this case the candle is deiberately designed as being top-heavy, and as the wick 6 burns a substantial amount of wax will remain above and around it. When the top portion 8 is consumed, the wall will collapse around the open region 4 as the candle burns in the portion 10. The wall may be weakened at suitable spaced planes to predetermine the manner in which is collapses or diverges around the base 12, and because of the substantial mass of wax still around the top of the candle, the manner of the collapse of the wall will be rather quicker than in the embodiments previously described.Again though, this will of course depend on the dimensions of the candle and the respective portions thereof including those of the open region 4.

As noted above, the invention contemplates the use of optic fibre wicks. A section of such a wick is illustrated schematically in Fig.

9. It comprises a bunch 26 of optical fibres defining a core which is encased in a sleeve or tube 28 of conventional wick material. Se parate optic fibres 30 from the bunch 26 diverge therefrom through the sleeve 28 as shown such that when the wick burns light from the flame is transmitted down the bunch 26 and emitted from the separate ends of the fibres 30. The optic fibres themselves will be consumed as the wick burns. Such a wick can be incorporated in any of the embodiments of the invention so far described, and the effects thereof will be readily appreciated. In the em bodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 the effect will be to create separate specks of light in the open region, and in those of Figs. 5 to 8 to gener ally illuminate the body of the candle from within.This effect will be apparent immedi ately the wick is first lit, and will continue throughout the burning of the candle depending only on the numbers of unconsumed separate optic fibres 30 that diverge from the main bunch 26. In some cases, such divergent optic fibres 30 can also emit light in the base of the candle.

The embodiment of Figs. 10 and 11 comprises a pyramid or cone shaped candle in which the wall of wax at the sides of the open region 4 is specifically designed not to collapse outwardly as previously described.

This design may of course also be adopted in a substantially two dimensional candle of the kind described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

In the candle of Figs. 10 and 11 the main wick 6 divides into additional wicks 14 and 16, and the progressive burning of the candle is substantially as follows. When the candle is lit the wick 6 burns in traditional fashion until it divides and the additional wicks 14 and 16 burn separately. As burning progresses, a cluster of separate candles will effectively appear defined by the additional wicks 14 and 16. The wall of wax surrounding the open region 4 will not collapse either ouwardly or inwardly, and if desired the wall may be divided into discrete sections to enhance the creation of "separate" candles. If desired, the main wick may extend across the open region 4, as shown at 6", to maintain a central flame.

From the above description of embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that candles according to the invention may take a wide variety of different shapes and forms.

For example, a candle can be in the shape of an animal. Those described merely illustrate some of the ways the invention may be exploited, and a candle-maker will be readily able to achieve different effects within the scope of the invention. Particularly, different rates and manners of collapse of the wall around the open region can be achieved by varying the dimensions thereof, as can different rates of burning of the additional wicks if used. Additional wicks can be spliced to a main wick or be interwoven therewith without difficulty, and of course the additional wicks can be quite separate from the main wick if desired. If desired, the wick or wicks can also be treated such that the flame or flames can have different colours.

Claims (14)

1. A candle comprising a body of wax having a top and a base and defining an open region substantially central therein with a wick extending from the top towards the base, the wick being encased in the wax at the top and in the base of the body and extending around said open region therebetween.

2. A candle comprising a body of wax having a top and a base and defining an open region substantially central therein with a wick extending from the top to the base, the wick being encased in the wax at the top and in the base of the body and traversing said open region therebetween.

3. A candle according to Claim 2 wherein the open region extends from one side of the body to the other and the length of wick traversing the open region is visible.

4. A candle according to Claim 2 wherein the wick divides in the open region into a primary and at least one secondary wick.

5. A candle according to any of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the open region is defined wholly within the body of wax.

6. A candle according to Claim 5 wherein the open region is wholly enclosed within the body of wax.

7. A candle according to Claim 5 wherein the wall of the wax body defining the open region has openings therein.

8. A candle according to any preceding Claim wherein the wick comprises an optical fibre.

9. A candle according to any preceding Claim including at least one additional wick encased in the wax of the body and extending around said open region.

10. A candle according to Claim 9 wherein said at least one additional wick divides from a main wick at a point within the top of the body of wax.

11. A candle according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 having a plurality of said additional wicks.

12. A candle according to any preceding Claim wherein the cross-section of the base of the candle is greater than that of the top.

13. A candle according to any preceding Claim wherein the cross-section of the base of the candle is less than that of the top.

14. A candle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.