US20070122760A1

US20070122760A1 - Fireplace candle

Info

Publication number: US20070122760A1
Application number: US11/603,821
Authority: US
Inventors: Paula Dycus
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-11-29
Filing date: 2006-11-24
Publication date: 2007-05-31

Abstract

The fireplace candle provides a simulation of a burning wood log in a fireplace. The fireplace candle is adapted for mounting to a ceramic log. The fireplace candle includes a container for holding wax candle elements. A mount extends from the container to hold the candle behind the simulated log so that the container is out of view. The wicks of the candle elements extend above the logs so that when the wicks are lit, flames are visible above the simulated log. The wicks are of varying heights to enhance the simulation. The mount includes one or more mounting tabs engaging a bark pattern deposed on the surface of the simulated log. The mounting tabs may be a resilient material shaped to provide a tensioning grip on the log, and/or a malleable material that can be manipulated to fit into crevices within the bark pattern of the simulated log.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/740,270, filed Nov. 29, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fireplaces and candles, and more particularly to a fireplace candle that simulates burning fireplace logs.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many people burn wood in fireplaces in their homes. Burning wood provides heat for warming a room during cold weather. The flames from the burning wood generate a pleasing aesthetic display. Some people also enjoy the smell of burning wood given off by the fire.
Burning wood in a fireplace does produce some effects that homeowners do not particularly enjoy. Burning wood in a fireplace generates an ash residue. Disposal of the ash residue or soot in the fireplace can be a tedious and dirty task. Soot and other fire byproducts, such as creosote, accumulate in the chimney, requiring that the chimney be periodically cleaned. Creosote may be highly flammable under certain conditions, and failure to properly clean the chimney may result in a dangerous chimney fire.
One way to avoid the undesired effects associated with burning wood in a fireplace while enjoying the desired effects is to simulate a fireplace fire without actually burning wood. When simulating a fireplace fire, simulated logs may be provided, such as ceramic logs designed to have a visual appearance similar to a wooden log. A source of flame that does not generate ash is provided to simulate the visual effect of burning wood. For example, natural gas-fueled or propane-fueled flames may be generated in the vicinity of one or more simulated logs, providing an appearance visually similar to burning wooden logs.
The gas flame-based fireplace simulation provides heat and the visual appearance of a wood log burning fire, but does not provide the burning wood smell. In situations where alternate means of heating rooms of a dwelling, such as a central heating system, are available, the heat generating qualities of the fireplace are less important than the visual and olfactory aesthetic qualities. In those cases, the ceramic log/gas flame simulation will not be a satisfactory substitute for a wood log fire.
Thus, a fireplace candle solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The fireplace candle provides a simulation of a burning wood log in a fireplace. The fireplace candle is adapted for mounting to a ceramic log. The fireplace candle includes a container for holding wax candle elements. One or more mounts extending from the container hold the candle behind the simulated log so that the container is out of view. The wicks of the candle elements extend above the logs so that when the wicks are lit, flames are visible above the simulated log. The wicks are of varying heights to enhance the simulation. The wicks can also be of the type that produces a crackling sound that simulates the sound of burning wood. The mount includes one or more mounting tabs for engaging a bark pattern disposed on the surface of the simulated log. The mounting tabs may be a resilient material shaped to provide a tensioning grip on the log. The mounting tabs may be made from a material that is also malleable so that the tabs can be manipulated to fit into crevices within the bark pattern of the simulated log. The mounting tabs are made of the same material as the container, usually aluminum or tin, but is not limited to these materials.
The container may be refillable, so that when the candle elements are expired, the candle tins can be refilled with replacement multi-wicked candles. The wax of the candle elements may be soy-based, but is not limited to soy-based material and may be other candle material, such as paraffin wax or beeswax. The wax is infused with a fragrant oil that generates the desired aroma when the candle element is lit. The aroma may emit an odor simulating the aroma of burning wood, although other scents may be chosen. When the container is of the refillable version, the thickness of the material forming the container is approximately 0.23 gauge material. For disposable versions, the thickness can be reduced below 0.23 gauge.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a fireplace candle attached to a simulated log according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a fireplace candle according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a candle holder for a fireplace candle according to the present invention.
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a fireplace candle for simulating the visual appearance and smell associated with burning logs in a fireplace. The fireplace candle 20 is described by referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.
Referring first to FIG. 1, a fireplace candle 20 in accordance with the present invention is attached to a simulated ceramic log 30 resting on the floor of a fireplace 32. The fireplace candle comprises a container 22, a container mount or mounts 24 for attaching the candle 20 to the simulated log 30, and one or more candle elements 26. As viewed from the entrance to the fireplace 32, the container 22 is mounted behind the ceramic log 30 so that the view of the container 22 is obscured by the ceramic log 30. The candle container 22 is attached to the log via one or more mounting tabs 24. The mounting tabs 24 support the candle container 22 in position behind the log by engaging the bark pattern of the log 30. The mounting tabs 24 curve over the surface of the log 30, and are made from a resilient material. Sliding the tabs 24 over the log 30 generates a gripping force by tensioning the curved mounting tabs 24. The generated gripping force holds the candle container 22 in position behind the log 30.
The candle container 22 has a cavity open at the top of the container 22. The candle container 22 may be made of a foil material, such as aluminum, tin or any material sufficiently heat-resistant to withstand temperatures generated by burning candles and melted wax. Disposed within the cavity are one or more candle elements 26. Each candle element 26 is a wax candle with one or more candlewicks. The candle wax may be tinted to have a color similar to a simulated log, such as brown or gray, so that the candle elements are less discernable in the vicinity of the log 30.
The wax of the candle elements 26 may contain an aromatic agent that releases aromatic vapors when the candlewicks are lit and the wax burns. For example, the wax of the candle elements may be paraffin wax, soy wax, or beeswax. The wax is infused with a fragrant oil that generates the desired aroma when the candle element is burned.
The fragrant oil may emit an odor simulating the aroma of burning wood. For example, oils producing a pine or a sandalwood aroma may be chosen. Alternatively, fragrant oils emitting any other desired scent of aroma may be selected. Examples of fragrant oils known in the art include oils emitting vanilla, cinnamon, lavender, and cherry blossom aromas.
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the details of an alternative mounting arrangement for the fireplace candle may be appreciated. As described above the fireplace candle 20 comprises a candle container 22. The container 22 defines an open cavity within which one or more wax candle elements 26 are disposed. The candle element(s) 26 may have one or more wicks. The fireplace candle illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises four candle elements 26. The candle elements 26 collectively have four wicks 28 a, 28 b, 28 c, and 28 d. The candle element wicks 28 a-28 d may be of different heights, so that when the candle's wicks 28 a-28 d are lit, the flames appear at varying heights above a simulated log, providing a more realistic simulation of flames on a burning log. The wicks 28 a-28 d are made so that the wicks 28 a-28 d will slowly burn down to the top of the candle elements 26 so that the wax of the elements 26 begins vaporizing at different times and will therefore be at different levels once the wicks 28 a-28 d have burned down to the candle elements 26. Such wicks 28 a-28 d are known in the art.
The fireplace candle 20 further comprises a mounting tab 24 attached to the candle container 22. The mounting tab 24 of the container 22 is made of a malleable material. For example, the mounting tab 24 may be made of metal foil (such as aluminum or tin) of sufficient thickness to support the weight of the candle container 22 and the candle elements 26, and sufficient thinness to be malleable. The malleable mounting tab allows the mounting tab 24 to be manipulated around the bark pattern of a ceramic log (30 of FIG. 1) or wedged into a crevice in the bark pattern to hold the container in position behind the simulated fireplace log as shown in FIG. 1. The container 22 of the fireplace candle 20 may also be made of the same material as the mounting tabs 24 to allow for one-piece construction. The thickness of the container 22 may be greater than the thickness of the mounting tabs 24, if necessary.
FIG. 3 shows the malleable mounting tab 24 in a flattened condition. The mounting tab 24 is sufficiently large to provide support for the weight of the candle container 22 and the candle elements 26 when the tab 24 is molded to grip the bark pattern of a simulated ceramic log. For example, the mounting tab 24 may be a malleable aluminum foil tab of a trapezoidal shape with a base dimension B of approximately 2½ inches, a top dimension A of about two inches, and a tab height of approximately 1 ¼ inches. A single mounting tab 24 dimensioned as described is sufficient to hold candle elements 26 filling a candle container 22 approximately five inches long, by 1½ inches wide, by 1¼ inches deep. The dimensions provided are representative dimensions provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the invention to the detailed dimensions.
The fireplace candle 20 may be refillable, or alternatively, may be disposable. When the container 22 is of the refillable type, the thickness of the container 22 is approximately 0.23 gauge. For disposable versions, this thickness can be reduced. When the candle elements 26 have extinguished, new wicks 28 a-28 d are suspended in the container 22, and new wax is poured into the container 22 around the wicks 28 a-28 d, thereby forming new candle elements 26. For disposable containers, once the wax has cooled and hardened, the container 22 can be flexed to allow the remaining wax to be removed from the container 22. This allows the metal foil of the container 22 to be recycled for environmental purposes.
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A fireplace candle, comprising:

a candle holder body defining a cavity having an open top;

at least one candle element disposed within the cavity; and

at least one mounting tab attached to the candle holder body, the mounting tab being adapted for attaching the candle holder body to a simulated fireplace log.

2. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one candle element comprises a wick and a wax body infused with a fragrant oil providing a scent when the wick is lit.

3. The fireplace candle according to claim 2, wherein said scent is an aroma of burning wood.

4. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting tab is made of a malleable material so that said tab is bendable to engage bark of the simulated log to support said container and said candle element.

5. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting tab consists of a single mounting tab.

6. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one mounting tab comprises two mounting tabs.

7. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one candle element comprises at least two candle elements.

8. The fireplace candle according to claim 7, wherein each of said candle elements comprises a wick, each said wick having different lengths.

9. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one candle element comprises three candle elements.

10. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one candle element comprises four candle elements.

11. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said candle holder body is made of aluminum foil.

12. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said mounting tab is made of aluminum foil.

13. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said mounting tab and said candle holder are formed as a one-piece unit.

14. The fireplace candle according to claim 13, wherein said one-piece unit is made of aluminum foil.

15. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one candle element comprises a wick and a wax body, the wax body having a tinted color.

16. The fireplace candle according to claim 15, wherein said color is brown.

17. The fireplace candle according to claim 15, wherein said color is gray.

18. The fireplace candle according to claim 1, wherein said candle holder body has a thickness of approximately 0.23 gauge.

19. A fireplace candle, comprising:

a candle holder body defining a cavity having an open top;

at least one candle element disposed within the cavity; and

means for mounting the candle holder body to a simulated fireplace log.

20. A fireplace candle, comprising:

a candle holder body defining a cavity having an open top;

at least one candle element disposed within the cavity, the candle element having a plurality of wicks of different height, the wicks burning at an equal rate to simulate fireplace flames of different height; and

at least one mounting tab extending from the candle holder body, the mounting tab being adapted for attaching the candle holder body to a simulated fireplace log.