GB2272968A

GB2272968A - Candle boat

Info

Publication number: GB2272968A
Application number: GB9322148A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hugh Kinder
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-11-24
Filing date: 1993-10-27
Publication date: 1994-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2013-10-27
Also published as: GB9322148D0; GB2272968B

Abstract

A candle boat is a floatable candle shaped like a boat which has a metal 'sail' 4 which deflects air currents 6 rising from the candle flame 5, so pushing the candle boat along. It has a piece of wire 9 incorporated into the wax 'hull' 2 which forms both the ballast for the keel and the 'mast' 3 to hold the metal sail. <IMAGE>

Description

Candle Boat This invention relates to a floating candle.

Floating candles are commonly available alternatives to the normal house candle. They are usually placed in a bowl of water and allowed to drift freely.

However, they do not propel themselves along.

The invention provides a body capable of floating stably in water and having a heat source generally below an at least partially inclined deflector which may be arranged to look like a sail, whereby convection from the heat source propels the body when floating. Preferably the heat source is a candle wick set in candle wax. The body may be formed entirely of candle wax.

A mast for supporting the sail may be incorporated into the body and may be a metal elongate member providing also a stabilising ballast for the body. The metal member and the wick may be both incorporated together into an integral wax body during the casting of molten wax into a mould.

In a specific form this is a new version of the floating candle, whereby the candle is cast into the shape of a boat, and a piece of wire is incorporated into the wax so that at one end it forms a weight for the 'keel' and at the other it protrudes from the wax to form a 'mast', able to support a metal 'sail'. The metal 'sail' and 'mast' are bent over the site of the candle flame so that hot air rising from the flame will be deflected by the curved 'sail', so pushing the boat along.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing showing my candle boat in perspective: Referring to the drawing the candle boat comprises a solid wax 'hull' 2, which doubles as a floating candle, a wick 1, a piece of wire 9, which forms both a ballast 7 for the wax keel 8 and a 'mast' 3 with metal 'sail' 4 attached.

The hull is made using a two part boat-shaped mould. The wire is placed into the mould and held in position. The same is done with the wick. Molten wax is poured into the mould and allowed to harden. The metal sail is then attached by piercing the sail at the top and bottom and passing the wire through the two holes.

The boat is then floated, kept upright by the weighted keel. The wick is lit and air currents 6, rising from the flame 5, are deflected by the top of the metal sail.

This provides just enough power to push the boat gently along. The strength of the air currents can be increased by using a larger wick, although a large flame on a small boat is more likely to smoke, since it will itself touch the metal sail.

It will also burn the candle down more quickly. The size of the wick should be varied according to the size of the candle boat and its sail. The amount of rising hot air will thus always be just sufficient to make the boat move. Then, as the candle burns, the candle boat will hollow out and become more buoyant. It may then sail a little faster.

The hull of the candle boat has a special low rim 10 which is below the surface of the water when the candle boat is floating. This low rim makes contact with the side of the bowl (or other receptacle used to float the candle boat) before the top edge, thus pushing the boat off the side and lessening the effect of surface tension on the candle boat in drawing it to the side of the bowl.

The 'candle boat' can be made steerable by the addition of a metal rudder (not shown). Alternatively it can be made so that it travels in a circle; this is done by making a mould with a specially curved keel (not shown).

The candle boat is a novel alternative to the floating candle, providing the same or similar amount of light, but driving itself gently along. It can be of any size, within sensible limits. It is not a new method of power for real, life-size boats.

Claims

1. A candle boat including a body capable of floating stably in water and having a heat source generally below an at least partly inclined deflector which may be arranged in he manner of a sail, whereby convection from the heat source propels the body when floating.

2. A candle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the heat source is a candle wick set in candle wax.

3. A candle as claimed in Claims 2 wherein the body is entirely formed of candle wax.

4. A candle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, shaped and weighted in such a way as to allow an outer-most edge of the body to be below the surface of the water when afloat.

5. A candle as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein an elongate piece of metal provides both a generally vertical mast-like support for a sail-like deflector and ballast for the body.

6. A candle substantially herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.