GB2337813A - Candle holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A candle-containing device comprises a glass holder (1), candle wax (9) and a wick (10) terminating in a sustainer (14). The holder (1) includes a raised portion (4) which prevents the sustainer (14) from moving through the molten wax to a position where the candle flame may excessively heat the holder.

Description

2337813 Improvements in or relating to Organic Compositions This invention

relates to candles and, more particularly, but not exclusively, is concerned with candles for decorative and/or air purifying purposes.

Candles are known comprising a candle holder formed of glass or like material in the form of a cup-shaped vessel having base and side walls and containing candle wax with a wick passing through the candle wax. One end of the wick terminates above the free surface of the wax so that it can be lit in use and the second end of the wick is mounted in a sustainer to prevent the wick floating when the wax is completely molten in use.

The sustainer is generally in the form of a metal disc having a central aperture in which the end of the wick is secured.

Although such sustainers generally prevent the wick floating in the molten wax, they are not ordinarily such as to remain in a fixed position in the vessel and thus there is the problem that they may move over the internal surface of the base of the vessel particularly if the vessel is inclined. In such circumstances, the candle flame at the first end of the wick may approach the side wall of the vessel and, indeed, may actually contact the side wall. In such circumstances, there is a risk that the heat from the flame may cause the material of the vessel to become excessively hot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a candle-containing device in which this disadvantage is overcome.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a candle-containing device comprising a candle holder in the form of a cup-shaped vessel having side walls and a base adapted to receive or containing a candle comprising candle wax having a wick passing through the candle wax and having a first end terminating above the free surface of the wax for lighting and a second end mounted in a sustainer to prevent the wick floating when the wax is molten, the base of the vessel having a lower portion upon which the sustainer rests which lower portion is within a raised portion preventing the sustainer moving through the molten wax to a position where heat from the candle flame may cause excessive heating of the side walls.

The vessel is preferably formed from glass or a similar material, for example a ceramic or plastic material. The vessel is preferably translucent. More preferably the vessel is made substantially from glass. The vessel is cup-shaped which is to say it is substantially hemispherical, cylindrical or conical in shape.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the cup-shaped vessel is generally circular in section and the raised portion is a circular raised portion. This raised portion merely needs to be sufficiently pronounced to restrain movement of the sustainer over the internal surface of the base.

The candle-containing device according to the invention preferably comprises the candle holder _) containing the candle. The candle holder is preferably arranged so that the wick of the candle remains substantially at the centre of the candle holder when the candle burns down. This is preferably achieved by using a sustainer whose dimensions are such that it just fits within the raised portion of the base so that the sustainer is substantially prevented from moving. In the case where the raised portion is a concentric circular raised portion, the sustainer is preferably either circular in shape or in the form of a truncated circle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the ratio of (i) the upper internal diameter of the vessel as defined below, to (ii) the lower internal diameter of the vessel as defined below is from 1.2 to 3, more preferably from 1.5 to 2.5 and most preferably about 2.2. In this way, when the sustainer contacts the raised portion surface, the candle flame is sufficiently spaced from the side wall of the vessel to minimise the possibility of the heat of the candle flame excessively heating the side walls. It is preferable for the arrangement of the side walls to be such that the candle flame cannot approach them more closely than about 5 mm.

The upper internal diameter of the vessel (i) is measured internally at the height of the wax when it becomes molten enough to allow the sustainer to move about. In the case where the vessel is not circular in cross-section, the diameter is the shortest distance across the centre of the vessel between two opposing points on the internal surface of the wall. The height of the wax when it becomes molten will depend upon the type of candle wax, the ambient temperature of the room in which the candle is burnt and the length of the wick.

n The height is generally from 5 to 20 mm from the lower portion of the base.

The lower internal diameter of the vessel (ii) is the diameter of the lower portion of the base within the raised portion. In the case where the vessel is not circular in cross-section, the diameter is the shortest distance across the centre of the vessel between two opposing points on the internal surface of the raised portion which points are in the same vertical plane as the two points used to measure the upper internal diameter (i).

If desired, the ratio of (iii) the internal diameter of the vessel measured at a point higher than the height of the wax when it becomes molten, to (ii) the internal diameter of the circular raised portion may be less than the ratio of (i) to (ii). This is because the side wall at such position will be spaced from the candle flame in the vertical direction by a distance sufficient to avoid heating by the candle flame since the candle wax only becomes completely molten when most of the candle has burnt away and thus the flame will be in the lower portion of the vessel.

On the other hand, if desired, the ratio of (iii) to (ii) may gradually increase beyond the value of (i) to (ii) so that the side wall generally tapers outwardly.

The external surface of the base generally includes a supporting surfaceengaging portion to support the holder on a supporting surface such as a table or the like and preferably the diameter of this engaging portion is greater than the diameter of the circular raised portion.

The base is generally formed from thicker glass than the side wall to provide support for the holder. It is preferable that there is a gradual tapering in the thickness of the glass between the base and side walls to avoid the formation of hot spots. The candle wax used in the invention is generally any candle wax known in the art. It is preferably coloured and/or scented.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a vertical crosssection through a first embodiment of a candle-containing device in accordance with the present invention, Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section through a second embodiment of a candle-containing device in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section through a third embodiment of a candle-containing device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a candle-containing device comprising a candle holder in the form of a cup-shaped vessel 1 comprising a base and side walls 2 and 3. The vessel is generally circular in horizontal section and generally tulip-shaped. The 30 vessel is formed from glass or a similar material which is likely to become excessively hot from the candle flame. The internal surface of the base 2 and the internal surface of the side wall 3 exhibit a slight discontinuity where they meet and form a concentric circular raised portion 4. The vessel has an internal diameter (d) at position 5 which is about one third of the way along the internal vertical height (h) of the vessel as measured from the internal surface of the base 2. This internal diameter (d) is the maximum internal diameter of the vessel and, in the embodiment shown, this is about 78 mm whereas the diameter of the circular raised portion 4 is about 35 mm. Thus the ratio of these diameters is about 2.2. The internal height (h) is about 70 mm and the portion 5 is at a distance of about 20 mm along the height (h).

At location 6 which is at a distance of about 45 mm from the internal surface of base 2, the internal diameter of the vessel reduces to about 64 mm and then increases again to about 68 mm. at the rim 7.

The vessel includes an external base surface 8 adapted to support the holder on a supporting surface and this external surface 8 has a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the circular raised portion surface 4 and in the embodiment shown is 40 mm.

Located within the vessel 1 is scented candle wax 9 and a wick 10 is provided passing through the candle wax. It has a first end 11 terminating above the level of the wax for lighting and a second end 12 located in an aperture 13 in a sustainer 14 in the form of an aluminium disc having a diameter of about 10 mm.

In use, the first end 11 of the wick 10 is ignited and the candle then slowly burns away giving off a pleasant scented aroma. For much of the time, the majority of the wax 9 is in solid form but as the wick burns down, there comes a point when the whole of the remaining wax is molten. The weight of the sustainer 14 prevents the wick from floating in the molten wax. Although the sustainer 14 is able to move over the internal surface of the base 2, this movement is restricted by the raised portion 4. The limit position of movement of the sustainer 14 is shown by dotted lines 15. As can be seen, in this position, the flame (shown by dotted line 16) is still appropriately spaced from the side wall 3 of the vessel. More particularly, it is adequately spaced from the side wall 3 in a horizontal direction at location 5 and adequately spaced from the side wall at location 6 in the vertical direction. Thus, there is less possibility of heat from the candle flame excessively heating the glass of the holder.

Referring now to Figure 2, corresponding parts to parts of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals.

In this case, the vessel is similarly of circular horizontal section but the side wall 3 generally tapers outwards from the base 2 to the rim 7. The vessel has an internal diameter (d) at a position 17 which is about one third on the way along the vertical height (h). In the embodiment shown, height (h) is about 73 mm, the position 17 is at a distance of about 23 mm above the internal surface of the base 2 and the internal diameter (d) is about 54 mm. The diameter of the circular raised portion is about 35 mm and thus the ratio of (d) to this diameter is about 1.54. The internal diameter at location 18 at a distance of about 45 mm above the internal surface of base 2 is about 64 mm. The internal diameter at rim 7 is about 72 The diameter of the external base surface 8 is 42mm As in the previous embodiment, horizontal movement of the sustainer 14 over the internal surface of base 2 is limited by the raised portion 4 so that heat from the candle flame cannot excessively heat the glass or 10 similar material of which the holder is made.

Referring now to Figure 3, corresponding parts to parts of Figure 1 are denoted by like reference numerals. The candle-containing device illustrated is identical to the candle-containing device depicted in Figure 1 except that a larger sustainer 19 is used which just fits within the raised portion 4 on the internal surface 2 so that the sustainer is substantially prevented from moving. The sustainer 19 is formed from aluminium and about 30 mm wide at its widest point and 20 is in the form of a truncated circle.

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Claims (9)

1. A candle-containing device comprising a candle holder in the form of a cup-shaped vessel having side walls and a base adapted to receive or containing a candle comprising candle wax having a wick passing through the candle wax and having a first end terminating above the free surface of the wax for lighting and a second end mounted in a sustainer to prevent the wick floating when the wax is molten, the base of the vessel having a lower portion upon which the sustainer rests which lower portion is within a raised portion preventing the sustainer moving through the molten wax to a position where heat from the candle flame may cause excessive heating of the side walls.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cup-shaped vessel is generally circular in section and the raised portion is a circular raised portion.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the ratio of (i) the upper internal diameter of the vessel which is the diameter of the vessel measured internally at the height of the wax when it becomes molten enough to allow the sustainer to move about, to (ii) the internal diameter of the circular raised portion is from 1.2 to 3.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the ratio of (iii) the internal diameter of the vessel measured at a point higher than the height of the wax when it becomes molten, to (ii) the internal diameter of the circular raised portion is less than the ratio of (i) to (ii) defined in claim 3.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the vessel includes a side wall which generally tapers outwardly from the base.

6. A device according to any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the holder includes an external surface having a supporting surface-engaging portion to support the holder on a surface wherein the engaging portion has a diameter greater than that of the circular raised 10 portion.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claim wherein the candle wax is scented.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the candle-holder is arranged so that the wick of the candle remains substantially at the centre of the candle holder when the candle burns down.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described in Figure 1, 2 or 3 of the accompanying drawings.