GB2412426A

GB2412426A - A Candle and an Associated Candleholder, and a Method of Making the Candle in the Candleholder

Info

Publication number: GB2412426A
Application number: GB0506036A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michaela Teresa Yates; Marc Silvanus Dorey Yates; Victoria Jane Yates
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-03-25
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2005-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-24
Also published as: WO2005093026A3; GB0506036D0; GB2412426B; WO2005093026A2; GB0406675D0

Abstract

A candle assembly 1 has a candle 5 within a container 3. The container has a circular projection 32 that engages with a corresponding recess 22 formed in a base 2, which restricts lateral movement. A shade 4 surrounds the container and engages in a groove 25 around an annular rib 21 formed on the base 2, to restrict lateral movement of the shade. Apertures 41, 25 allow the flow of air into the lower part of the shade. The candle assembly also includes a close-fitting wick cater 7 within the container which inhibits movement of multiple wicks 6. The candle is made by pouring molten wax into a cavity defined by the container, the cavity including the wicks and the associated wick cater. A magnetic element is arranged below the cavity at the base of the container, and the wick carrier has parts subject to magnetic attraction, such as a wick clip. This avoids movement of wicks during pouring of the molten wax. The shade, base and container may all be made of glass.

Description

24 1 2426 - 1 CANDLES, CANDLE CONTAINERS AND METHODS OF

MANUFACTURE THEREOF

l'he present invention relates to candles, candle containers and methods of manufacture thereof.

Candles have been known for thousands of years and are still popular in the home today. The basic "pillar" candle has not changed much over the years.

However, there have been very many designs of candle holders and, for example, candles in glass containers. Nevertheless, such known designs do not generally lend themselves to case of use, versatility, cleanness of burn and ease of 1 0 re-use.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention aim to provide candles that are Improved in these respects.

According to one aspect, the invention provides a candle assembly comprising: a base having first and second engagement portions; a container that contains a candle and has a third engagement portion that engages said first engagement portion with the container supported on the base, thereby to prevent or restrict lateral movement of the container with respect to the base; and 2 0 an outer piece that surrounds said container and has a fourth engagement portion that engages said second engagement portion with the outer piece supported on the base, thereby to prevent or restrict lateral movement of the outer piece with respect to the base. - 2 -

Preferably, at least one air passage is provided in said outer piece to allow the flow of air into said outer piece.

Preferably, at least one said air passage is provided between said base and said outer piece to allow the flow of air into said outer piece at the lower part of said outer piece.

Preferably, at least one said air passage is provided by at least one aperture or recess in or adjacent said fourth engagement portion.

Preferably, at least one said air passage is provided by at least one ridge in or adjacent said second engagement portion, which ridge cooperates with said 0 fourth engagement portion to define said air passage.

Preferably, said outer piece is provided with a decorative pattern.

Preferably, said base is of glass.

Preferably, said container is of glass.

l'rcferably, said outer piece is of glass.

Preferably, said outer piece extends above the top of the container.

Preferably, said outer piece is of a solid material.

Preferably, said base, container and outer piece are of substantially circular cross-secton. - 3

Preferably, said first and third engagement portions comprise at least one complementary recess and projection.

Preferably, said recess Is on said base and said projection is on said container.

Preferably, said second and fourth engagement portions comprise respective abutment faces on said base and outer piece.

Preferably, said second engagement portion comprises an upstanding rim and said fourth engagement portion comprises an open lower end of said outer piece.

0 Preferably, said open lower end of said outer piece is positioned outside said upstanding rim.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a candle assembly comprising a candle and a container for the candle, wherein the candle comprises a body of wax, a wick carrier at the base of said body and a plurality of wicks mounted on the wick carrier and running through said body, and the container is adapted to receive the candle as a close fit at the base of the candle such that said wick carrier is a close fit with the base of the container, thereby to prevent or restrict movement of the wick carrier with respect to the container, such that the distance of each wick from the inner wall of the container is substantially fixed.

2 0 In the context of this specification the term "wax" is used conveniently to denote any suitable solid combustible medium from which a candle may be made and which melts as the candle burns. - 4

Preferably, said wick carrier has at least three abutment portions to abut the inner wall of the container.

Preferably, said container is substantially cylindrical.

Preferably, said container is of circular cross-section.

Said wick carrier may have a plurality of pre-formed wick clips mounted on it.

1\ candle assembly according to the second aspect of the invention may also be in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

In a third aspect, the present invention provides a candle comprising a body of wax, a wick carrier at the base of said body and at least one wick mounted on said wick carrier and running through said body, wherein the wick carrier has a plurality of radial edge portions coinciding with corresponding radial edge portions of said base.

Preferably, said wick carrier has at least three said radial edge portions.

In a candle or candle assembly as above, said wicks may be equidistant from one another.

In a candle or candle assembly as above, said body may be cylindrical.

In a candle or candle assembly as above, said body may be of circular cross-secton. - 5

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of making a candle in a container having a cavity, the method comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic element at the base of the container, below the cavity; placing a wick carrier at the bottom of the cavity, the wick carrier having at least one wick mounted thereon and comprising at least a portion of material that is subject to magnetic attraction by said magnetic element; pourmg molten wax into said cavity; and allowing the wax to solidify in the container, with the wick passing 0 through the wax, thereby to form said candle.

Preferably, said container is a mould and the method includes the subsequent step of removing the candle from the mould.

Preferably, said magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

Said magnetic element may be an electromagnet.

Said magnetic element may be incorporated in the base of the container.

Said magnetic element may be separate from the container, and the container placed over said magnetic element.

Preferably, said wick carrier has a plurality of wicks mounted thereon.

Preferably, said cavity is substantially cylindrical.

2 0 Preferably, said cavity is of circular cross-section. - 6

The invention extends to a candle made by a method as above.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a candle assembly; Figure 2 is a plan view of a container of the assembly of Figure 1, showing wicks in a wick carrier; Figure 3 is a cross-sectonal view of a candle mould, containing the 0 wicks and wick carrier of Figures 1 and 2; and Figure 4 is a plan view of a wick carrier with pre-formed wick clips.

It is possible to classify candles broadly into three different categories - pillar candles, votives and container candles. Pillar candles are selfsupporting and are usually burnt on a stand. Votive candles (which are sometimes referred to as refills) are typically small moulded scented candles with a single wick (rarely more than 35 mm in diameter and 50mm in height) which are designed to be dropped into and burnt in a glass container. The wick in a votive candle is maintained in an upright position by the use of a wick clip or sustainer, which is normally a small metal disc with a central upstanding barrel into which the wick 2 0 is crimped. Votives are particularly popular as scented candles because, as they burn withm the container, they create a molten pool across the container which enables their scent to be released. Because of their small size, and that of the container in which they are burnt, there is a limited amount of space for the wick - 7 clip to move around the base of the votive container and therefore any such movement does not affect the burn of the small votive candle significantly.

Container candles are candles which are made in the container in which they are then sold. They are generally larger and the wick clip is usually fixed to the base of the container with adhesive which provides stability to the wicks during manufacture and burning. As a consequence, container candles are invariably single use and not refillable.

Scented candles used in the illustrated embodiments of the invention are best described as a large scale votive candle or refill. They are designed to be 0 burnt in relatively large glass containers designed specifically for this purpose.

The wax used is entirely natural and biodegradable. The larger a candle made with natural wax is, the more likely that it will be necessary to use multiple wicks to ensure that a molten pool of wax is created across the whole of the votive container and thereby release the scent.

The candle assembly 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a glass base 2 upon which is mounted a glass container 3 and an outer glass shade 4 that IS open at top and bottom and, in this example, has the shape of a bowl. A votive candle 5 with three wicks 6 is placed inside the container 3. The three wicks 6 are mounted in a wick carrier 7.

2 o The glass shade 4 is provided at intervals with apertures 41 in its lower part to allow the passage of air from the exterior to the interior of the shade 4, which reduces air turbulence around the candle flames and therefore results in a cleaner burning flame. Without the apertures 41, air entering the container and shade 4 from above would create turbulence, an uneven burn of the candle and 2 5 possibly ultimate failure of the candle. Apart from this, the base 2, container 3 and bowl 4 are of circular cross-section, being rotationally symmetrical about the - 8 vertical axis Y-Y. Figure 2 shows just the container 3 and wicks 6 in the wick carrier 7. The lme A-A in Figure 2 illustrates the general plane of the cross sectional view of Figure 1.

The provision of the apertures 41 is particularly important because the top of the container 3 does not extend above the top of the bowl 4. By having the venting, and therefore the entirely enclosed container 3 within the bowl 4, there are created a number of artistic and decorative possibilities in producing a shaded candle.

Two alternative ways of providing air passages at the bottom of the 0 bowl 4 are shown in Figure 1. At the right hand side of the figure, there is shown an aperture 41 at the bottom of the bowl 4. At the left hand side of the figure, there is shown a ridge 26, which may be of one of a plurality provided at intervals around a groove 25 in which the bowl 4 rests, thereby to support the bowl 4 above the bottom of the groove 25 and allow air to flow below those parts of the bowl 4 that are not in engagement with the edges 26. Either or both of these ways of providing air passages may be adopted - as may other

suitable ways.

Votive candle are usually quite small - rarely more than 35 mm in diameter. In contrast to this, the votive candle 5 in Figure 1 is much larger, and 2 0 may have a diameter of at least 70 mm and perhaps up to 150 mm - for example mm. For the reasons previously stated, it is necessary to provide (in this example) three wicks 6, which are substantially equidistant from one another and from the inner wall 31 of the container 3.

To this end, the wicks 6 are mounted in the wick carrier 7, each in a 2 5 respective one of three arms 71 having an abutment surface 72 that abuts the - 9 inner container wall 31. With three substantially symmetrically disposed abutment surfaces 72, the position of the wick carrier 7 within the container 3 is substantially fixed, thereby fixing in turn the spacing of each wick 6 from the inner wall 31 of the container 3. In practice, a small amount of tolerance (and minor movement of the wick carrier 7) may be permitted - for example, less than 5% of the internal diameter of the container 3 - and preferably less than 2%. The main purposes of the relatively close fit of the wick carrier 7 within the container 3 are to ensure that the wicks are centrally positioned in the candle so as to result in a uniform burn and molten pool, and when the wax of the candle 0 5 is fully molten, either during manufacture as well as whilst the candle IS burning, the positions of the wicks 6 remain substantially constant, with respect to each other and the container wall 31. It is also important from a safety aspect that the flames of the burning wicks do not come into contact with the container glass, which might cause it to crack and break.

In the illustrated example, when the wax of the candle 5 is fully molten, it is possible for the wick carrier 7 to rotate about the vertical axis YY.

However, in this particular example, this would not pose a problem, since the spacing of the wicks 6 from the inner container wall 31 and from each other remains substantially constant. In other embodiments, rotation of the wick 2 0 carrier 7 about the vertical axis Y-Y may be inhibited. This may be important where the container 3 is not of circular cross-section.

The wick carrier also allows the candle to be manufactured without using adhesive to fix the position of the wicks, which would give rise to the problem of the wicks not drawing up the last remnants of wax as it finished burning. - 10

The wick carrier 7 may be provided with barrels or other means for securing the wicks 6 directly - e.g. by crimping. Alternatively, the wick carrier 7 may be provided with recesses or other means to receive commercially manufactured wick clips positioned substantially equidistant from one another and from the abutment surface 72. Figure 4 shows such an arrangement, wherein each wick 61S mounted in the barrel 75 of a wick clip 74 that is disposed under the wick carrier 7, with the barrel 75 a close friction fit in a respective hole formed in the wick carrier 7.

The base 2 is preferably made of a solid piece of glass with substantial thickness to dissipate heat generated by burning of the candle 5, and thereby protect a surface on which the candle assembly 1 is placed. For example, the maximum height of the base 2 as seen in Figure 1 may be at least 10%, 15%, or 20% of the maximum diameter of the base 2. If the base has a diameter of lOOmm, its maximum thickness may be 15mm.

The upper part of the base 2 is formed with an annular rib 21 that defines an inner recess 22 of circular cross-section and an outer rim 23, also of circular cross-section.

The bottom of the container 3 is formed with a circular projection 32 that engages within the circular recess 22 of the base 2. The bottom part of the 2 o glass shade 4 engages around the rim 23 and rests in the annular groove 25 formed on an annular side portion 24 of the base 2.

Thus, once assembled as shown in Figure 1, the lntereogaging parts 22, 32 restrict or prevent lateral movement of the container 3 with respect to the base 2, thereby giving stability to the assembly. Likewise, lateral movement of 2 5 the glass shade 4 with respect to the base 2 is restricted or prevented by - 11 engagement of the lower part of the shade 4 around the outer rim 23 of the base 2.

The candle assembly 1 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 has numerous advantages. As noted above, the base 2, container 3 and shade 4 interengage to form a stable assembly. The relative thickness of the base 2 protects an underlying surface from heat of the molten wax and burning candle 5 - as does the extra thickness of the circular projection 32 on the container 3. The close fit of the wick carrier 7 within the container 3 retains the wicks in their desired positions when the wax of the candle 5 is molten during manufacture and whilst 0 burning.

The candle assembly 1 may be used either with or without the glass shade 4, which may be provided with a decorative pattern and be exchangeable with other glass outer pieces of different shapes and/or designs and/or colours.

The decorative pattern could be a pattern or colour applied to the surface of the shade or a pattern formed integrally in the shade.

The separate base 2, container 3 and shade 4 facilitate cleaning of the candle assembly and easy lighting and re-lighting. The various interengaging parts of the base 2, container 3 and bowl 4 may have different configurations.

Where the glass shade is used, it may also be regarded as an additional 2 0 safety feature in that the container 3 is isolated from a user / viewer by the glass shade 4 which remains at a lower temperature.

The base, container and outer decorative piece need not be of circular cross-section. They may be of any desired shape. Alternative means may be provided for supporting an outer piece such as 4 above a base such as 2, such - 12 that one or more passage is provided to admit air into the lower part of the assembly. The shade or bowl 4 may be provided with air passages at higher levels, and/or may be provided with holes as part of its decoration.

It is possible to form the candle 5 directly in the container 3. However, the candle 5 is preferably pre-formed and inserted into the container 3 as a solid item such that, when expended, it may be replaced by another pre-formed candle. Preferably, the candle 5 is made of a clean-burning wax such as, for example, soy vegetable wax. 'I4he number, dimensions and positioning of the wicks 6 are selected to ensure a full burn of wax across the width of the 0 container 3 while being virtually smokeless and requiring minimal trimming.

The candle mould 10 that is shown in Figure 3 affords a particularly convement way of making the candle 5.

The mould 10 is, for example, made of metal, composite material, plastic or other appropriate material and defines a cavity 11 in which the candle 5 is formed. A permanent magnet 15 is mounted in the base 12 of the mould 10 and holds the wick carrier 7, which is of a suitable metal, at the bottom of the cavity 11, with the three wicks 6 upstanding. Flakes of soy vegetable wax are melted down and the molten wax IS poured into the mould cavity 11 and left to solidify. It may take several hours to fully harden. During the pouring and 2 0 solidifying process, the magnet 15 retains the wick carrier 7 firmly at the base of the cavity 11 and therefore securely at the base of the eventual candle 5. Once solidified, the candle 5 is removed from mould 10 and is ready to be used in the container 3 of the candle assembly 1 of Figure 1.

In a modification of the embodiment of Figure 3, the magnet 15 IS a 2 5 separate item positioned below the mould 10. Thus, the mould 10 may be 13 placed upon the magnet 15 for the initial pouring and solidifying process. Once the wax has set sufficiently, the mould 10 may be removed from the magnet 15 and set to one side until the wax is fully hardened. In another embodiment, the magnet 15 may be an electromagnet rather than a permanent magnet. Thus, it may be switched on to secure the wick carrier 7 until the wax has sufficiently solidified, and then switched off to assist eventual removal of the candle from the mould 10.

The mould 10 and magnet 15 may be so arranged that the magnet 15 may be inserted into and removed from the mould 10, or secured to and released 0 from the mould 10, as desired.

Any suitable number of wicks such as 6 may be mounted on the wick carrier such as 7, depending upon the size and configuration of the candle assembly, and the burning properties of the wicks and wax. The wick carrier ensures that the mutual spacing of the wicks is preserved, as well as the spacing between wicks and container wall, when the wax is molten.

In the illustrated embodiments, the outer surface of the candle 5 and the inner wall of the container 3 are of substantially matching cylindrical and circular shape. However, they may be of differing shapes, with the wick carrier 7 a relatively close fit at the base of the container 3.

2 0 In this specification, the verb "comprise" has its normal dictionary meaning, to denote non-exclusive inclusion. That is, use of the word "comprise" (or any of its derivatives) to include one feature or more, does not exclude the possibility of also including further features. - 14

The reader's attention is directed to all and any priority documents identified in connection with this application and to all and any papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any 2 0 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. - 15

Claims

1. A candle assembly comprising: a base having first and second engagement portions; a container that contains a candle and has a third engagement portion that engages said first engagement portion with the container supported on the base, thereby to prevent or restrict lateral movement of the container with respect to the base; and an outer piece that surrounds said container and has a fourth engagement portion that engages said second engagement portion with the outer piece supported on the base, thereby to prevent or restrict lateral movement of the outer piece with respect to the base.

2. A candle assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one air passage is provided in said outer piece to allow the flow of air into said outer piece.

3. A candle assembly according to claim 2, wherem at least one said air passage is provided between said base and said outer piece to allow the flow of air into said outer piece at the lower part of said outer piece.

4. A candle assembly according to claim 2 or 3, wherein at least one said air passage is provided by at least one aperture or recess in or adjacent said fourth engagement portion.

2 o

5. A candle assembly according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein at least one said air passage is provided by at least one ridge in or adjacent said second engagement portion, which ridge cooperates with said fourth engagement portion to define said air passage. - 16

6. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherem said outer piece is provided with a decorative pattern.

7. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said base is of glass.

8. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherem said container Is of glass.

9. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said outer piece is of glass.

10. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein 0 said outer piece extends above the top of the container.

11. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said outer piece is of a solid material.

12. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said base, container and outer piece are of substantially circular crosssection.

13. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and third engagement portions comprise at least one complementary recess and projection.

14. A candle assembly according to claim 13, wherein said recess is on said base and said projection is on said container.

15. A candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said second and fourth engagement portions comprise respective abutment faces on said base and outer piece.

16. A candle assembly according to claim 15 wherein said second engagement portion comprises an upstanding nm and said fourth engagement portion comprises an open lower end of said outer piece.

17. A candle assembly according to claim 16, wherein said open lower end of said outer piece Is positioned outside said upstanding rim.

18. A candle assembly comprising a base, container and outer piece, 0 substantially as hereinbefore described With reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. A candle assembly comprising a candle and a container for the candle, wherein the candle comprises a body of wax, a wick carrier at the base of said body and a plurality of wicks mounted on the wick carrier and running through said body, and the container is adapted to receive the candle as a close fit at the base of the candle such that said wick carrier is a close fit with the base of the container, thereby to prevent or restrict movement of the wick carrier with respect to the container, such that the distance of each wick from the inner wall of the container is substantially fixed.

2 0 20. A candle assembly according to claim 19, wherem said wick carrier has at least three abutment portions to abut the inner wall of the container.

21. A candle assembly according to claim 19 or 20, wherein said container is substantially cylindncal. 18

22. A candle assembly according to claim 19, 20 or 21, wherein said container IS of circular cross-section.

23. A candle assembly according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the wick carrier has a plurality of pre-formed wick clips mounted on it.

24. A candle assembly according to any of claims 1 to 18 and also according to any of claims 19 to 22.

25. A candle comprising a body of wax, a wick carrier at the base of said body and at least one wick mounted on said wick carrier and running through said body, wherein the wick carrier has a plurality of radial edge portions 0 coinciding with corresponding radial edge portions of said base.

26. A candle according to claim 25, wherein said wick carrier has at least three said radial edge portions.

27. A candle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

28. A candle or candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said wicks are equidistant from one another.

29. A candle or candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body is cylindrical.

30. A candle or candle assembly according to any of the preceding claims, 2 0 wherein said body is of arcular cross-section.

31. A candle assembly comprising a candle in a container, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

32. A method of making a candle in a container having a cavity, the method comprising the steps of: providing a magnetic element at the base of the container, below the cavity; placing a wick carrier at the bottom of the cavity, the wick carrier having at least one wick mounted thereon and compusmg at least a portion of material that is subject to magnetic attraction by said magnetic element; 0 pouring molten wax into said cavity; and allowing the wax to solidify in the container, with the wick passing through the wax, thereby to form said candle.

33. A method according to claim 31, wherein said container IS a mould and the method includes the subsequent step of removing the candle from the mould.

34. A method according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said magnetic element is a permanent magnet.

35. A method according to claim 32 or 33, wherein said magnetic element is an electromagnet.

2 0

36. A method according to any of claims 32 to 35, wherein said magnetic element is incorporated in the base of the container. -

37. A method according to any of claims 32 to 36, wherem said magnetic element Is separate from the container, and the container is placed over said magnetic element.

38. A method according to any of claims 32 to 37, wherein said wick carrier has a plurality of wicks mounted thereon.

39. A method according to any of claims 32 to 38, wherein said cavity is substantially cylindrical.

40. A method according to any of claims 32 to 39, wherein said cavity is of circular cross-section.

0

41. A method of making a candle in a container having a cavity, the method being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

42. A candle made by a method according to any of claims 32 to 41.