US20090233249A1 - Self-extinguishing candle - Google Patents
Self-extinguishing candle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090233249A1 US20090233249A1 US12/077,031 US7703108A US2009233249A1 US 20090233249 A1 US20090233249 A1 US 20090233249A1 US 7703108 A US7703108 A US 7703108A US 2009233249 A1 US2009233249 A1 US 2009233249A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- candle
- wick
- fire
- suppressant material
- layer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F23—COMBUSTION APPARATUS; COMBUSTION PROCESSES
- F23D—BURNERS
- F23D3/00—Burners using capillary action
- F23D3/02—Wick burners
- F23D3/16—Wick burners using candles
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Fats And Perfumes (AREA)
Abstract
A self-extinguishing candle having at least one layer of dry fire-suppressant material is disposed adjacent to the candle wick. The fire-suppressant material extinguishes a flame burning down the wick on contact. Providing the candle with layers of the fire-suppressant material between layers of the candle body allows the candle to self-extinguish then be relighted after removal of excess fire-suppressant material.
Description
- The invention relates to self-extinguishing candles and methods for their manufacture.
- Recent trends in home decor have seen an upswing in candle sales. In the U.S. alone, annual sales of candles for decorative, lighting and religious purposes topped 2 billion dollars in 2007. At the same time, however, residential fires stemming from candle use have increased drastically, with more than twice as many incidents being reported in 2005 than in 1990. According to the National Fire Protection Association, falling asleep was a factor in 12% of home candle fires and 26% of the associated deaths in 2005. Overall, candle-related fires now account for about 4% of all residential fires in the U.S.
- Despite the pressing need for enhanced candle safety, the art has yet to develop simple, cost-effective means to provide candles with means to self-extinguish after periods of use or inattention. Many approaches to the problem include structures adjacent to the candle wick that deprive the flame of oxygen when the candle has burned to a predetermined level. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,293,984 employs a series of wicks separated by a “bare core.” When each wick burns down to the bare core portion of the candle, the flame no longer has material to burn and goes out. The next wick in line can then be lighted.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,888 utilizes a single wick surrounded at points along its length by tubular members. When the wick burns down to the level of each tubular member, it purportedly becomes deprived of fuel and the flame is extinguished. Removing the tubular member exposes the wick for relighting.
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,496,307 also utilizes a tubular member, but as a repository for a combustible fuel. The candle wick extends through the tubular member, which can be adjusted to increase or decrease the wick's access to fuel. Denying the wick access to fuel causes the flame to go out.
- Another commercial design snuffs the candle wick at its base by providing a sleeve therearound of polyethersulfone and polyvinylchloride. When heated, the polymer sleeve (disposed within a tubular member) expands and exerts pressure on the wick, cutting off capillary flow until the flame extinguishes.
- Despite such innovations, the risk of fires from candle use has remained high, making flameless candles (electric or battery-powered products) increasingly popular. However, no such product exactly duplicates the appearance, warmth and appeal of conventional wick candles.
- In contrast to the prior art, the invention provides a simple, user-modifiable self-extinguishing candle and method for its manufacture.
- A candle consisting of a meltable solid wax body and a wick disposed therethrough is provided with at least one layer of a dry fire suppressant material adjacent to the wick. When the wick burns down to the layer of dry fire suppressant material, contact therewith causes the flame to be extinguished.
- In one embodiment of the invention, the fire-suppressant material is a known chemical fire-suppressant powder of silica, alumina or titania.
- In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fire-suppressant material is a bicarbonate composition of sodium, calcium, potassium, aluminum or halide (e.g., borate). An especially convenient fire-suppressant material is baking soda.
- The self-extinguishing candle of the invention may be manufactured by forming the candle body in layers with a bore for insertion of a wick therethrough, or by forming the candle over a layer of the fire-suppressant material in a container, such as a jar. The dry fire suppressant material is applied around the bore or, where the wick is placed into a candle form before formation of the candle body (e.g., with melted wax), around the wick. In this embodiment, the fire-suppressant material is preferably applied as a ring all around the wick, and may extend diametrically outward toward the candle body's outer edge.
- Being heat-resistant, the fire-suppressant material will not dissolve or melt in contact with melted candle wax, and so the wax may be applied directly over the fire-suppressant material. If multiple layers of fire-suppressant material are desired (so the candle may be extinguished and relighted repeatedly), the manufacturing process may be repeated until the candle is of the desired size and shape.
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FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a candle having a layer of fire-suppressant material disposed between layers of wax. -
FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of a container candle having a layer of fire-suppressant material disposed at the bottom of the container beneath the candle body. - Turning to
FIG. 1 , an exemplary candle of the invention is illustrated. The candle has abody 1 formed of a meltable solid, such as a paraffin wax or wax/polymer mixture.Body 1 is defined by acylindrical wall 2 andvertical layers conventional wick 4 is disposed vertically therethrough. Sandwiched in betweenlayers suppressant material 5. Dry fire-suppressant material is disposed onwax layer 3′ to form aring 5 aroundwick 4. - In this embodiment of the invention, the fire-
suppressant material ring 5 extends aroundwick 4 and outwardly to coverwax layer 3′, ending at the outer diameter of the ring in contact with the inner surface ofcylindrical wall 2. It will be apparent to those in the art, however, that the circumference ofring 5 need not extend all the way outwardly tocylindrical wall 2, but may be of lesser diameter, renderingcylindrical wall 2 thicker; e.g., for molding of a decorative design onto the outer surface ofbody 1, or for co-molding of ornamental items, such as leaves, thereinto. - For use in pillar and taper candles, a relatively
thinner wall 2 will allow the user to slice through the candle at the joinder of the ring of fire-suppressant material and the wax layer beneath (e.g., betweenring 5 andlayer 3′), to allow the candle to be relighted after the flame is extinguished on contact with the fire-suppressant material. If desired, the user may shake or rinse off any fire-suppressant material remaining on the surface of the wax layer beneath. - For jar or votive candles with multiple layers, the fire-suppressant material can be scooped or shaken out to expose a layer of wax beneath for reuse of the candle. Alternatively, as shown in
FIG. 2 , a jar, votive or other container candle can simply have a layer of fire-suppressant material 6 disposed on the bottom of container 7 beneath candle body 1 (and in contact with wick 4), which will extinguish the flame once the wick has burned down to its base. -
Ring 5 need only have a circumference of sufficient diameter to ensure that sufficient material is in contact with the wick to extinguish a flame burning therethrough on contact. At a minimum, it is preferable for the ring to have a diameter equivalent to the thickness of the wick. The diameter of the ring will therefore be larger for larger wicks, and for wicks with enhanced burn characteristics, such as metal core wicks, or smaller for thinner wicks, such as a 15-18 ply flat braid wick. - The thickness of
ring 5 is shown inFIG. 1 as being substantially equal to the thickness ofwax layers layers - Chemical dry fire-suppressant materials are known in the art, and are suitable for use in the invention, including powders of silica or metals (e.g., alumina or titania). Surprisingly, more commonly available materials may also be used as fire-suppressant materials in candles of the invention, in particular sodium, aluminum, calcium, potassium or halide bicarbonate compositions. Conveniently,
ring 5 may be formed of aluminum bicarbonate, known commonly as baking soda, such as ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. -
Layers ring 5 may be alternately provided into a candle form in a fashion similar to the method used to craft candles of layered colors. The base layer of the candle (formed on the bottom of the candle form) is of a wax or wax composite (e.g., paraffin/polymer), preferably of at least the thickness ofwall 2. A layer of fire-suppressant material provided over a base having the thickness ofwall 2 will allow the candle to extinguish before reaching the metal tab typically provided at the base of a wick (not shown). Being heat-resistant, the fire-suppressant material will not dissolve or melt in contact with melted candle wax, and so the melted wax may be applied directly over the fire-suppressant material and allowed to cool thereon. - If multiple layers of fire-suppressant material are desired (so the candle may be extinguished and relighted repeatedly), the manufacturing process may be repeated until the candle is of the desired size and shape. The layers of fire-suppressant material can be spaced apart so the candle burns for a pre-determined period of time before the flame is extinguished. The topmost layer of the candle will be formed of wax.
- The invention having been fully described, its practice is illustrated by the examples below, in which standard abbreviations for measurement values are used. The examples shall not be read to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
- A 4 inch long 18 ply flat braided wick with a distal metal tab was centered in a 2.5 h×2.5 w tin candle form. A 0.25 inch layer of ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda was applied around the wick to cover the bottom of the candle form. Commercially available candle wax (paraffin) was melted and poured into a to a thickness of 2 inches. The wick was trimmed to a length of 0.25 inches above the top layer of cooled wax.
- The wick of the candle described in Example 1 was lit and allowed to burn normally. In approximately 11 minutes, the wick had burned through the wax. On contact with the baking soda, the flame went out, and remained extinguished.
Claims (10)
1. A self-extinguishing candle comprising a meltable body, a wick, and at least one layer of a dry fire-suppressant material, wherein the dry fire-suppressant material is disposed adjacent to the wick.
2. The candle according to claim 1 , wherein the dry fire-suppressant material is a powder.
3. The candle according to claim 2 , wherein the powder is a sodium, aluminum, calcium, potassium or halide bicarbonate composition.
4. The candle according to claim 3 , wherein the biocarbonate composition is potassium bicarbonate.
5. The candle according to claim 1 , wherein the dry fire-suppressant material is disposed in a ring around the wick.
6. The candle according to claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the ring of dry fire-suppressant material is at least equal to the diameter of the wick.
7. The candle according to claim 1 , wherein the meltable body comprises at least two circumferential horizontal layers of the meltable body joined by a vertical wall, with a layer of the dry fire-suppressant material sandwiched therebetween.
8. The candle according to claim 7 , wherein the meltable body comprises a paraffin wax.
9. The candle according to claim 1 , wherein the candle is disposed within a container.
10. The candle according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one layer of fire-suppressant material is disposed within the container beneath the candle body.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/077,031 US20090233249A1 (en) | 2008-03-17 | 2008-03-17 | Self-extinguishing candle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/077,031 US20090233249A1 (en) | 2008-03-17 | 2008-03-17 | Self-extinguishing candle |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20090233249A1 true US20090233249A1 (en) | 2009-09-17 |
Family
ID=41063429
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/077,031 Abandoned US20090233249A1 (en) | 2008-03-17 | 2008-03-17 | Self-extinguishing candle |
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US (1) | US20090233249A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100239877A1 (en) * | 2006-11-07 | 2010-09-23 | Tempra Technology, Inc. | Method for adding a fusible material to a container wall |
US10295176B1 (en) * | 2016-04-05 | 2019-05-21 | Helen N. Corkwell | Self-extinguishing candle wick safety system |
KR102193075B1 (en) * | 2020-06-16 | 2020-12-18 | 박진하 | Method for Preparing Candle or Gypsum Fragrance with Porous Surface |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4036577A (en) * | 1976-02-26 | 1977-07-19 | Veitel Robert D | Candle snugger |
US4496307A (en) * | 1983-07-29 | 1985-01-29 | Valley Candle Mfg. Co., Inc. | Candle including flame adjustment means and automatic flame extinguisher means |
US20020022205A1 (en) * | 2000-06-07 | 2002-02-21 | Penreco | Self extinguishing candles and method of making same |
US7040888B2 (en) * | 2004-06-10 | 2006-05-09 | Lisa Lynn Keiffer | Smart wick |
US7073497B2 (en) * | 2004-06-10 | 2006-07-11 | Dennis John D | Candle arrangement |
US20060292509A1 (en) * | 2005-06-24 | 2006-12-28 | Reisman S D | Self-Extinguishing Candle |
-
2008
- 2008-03-17 US US12/077,031 patent/US20090233249A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4036577A (en) * | 1976-02-26 | 1977-07-19 | Veitel Robert D | Candle snugger |
US4496307A (en) * | 1983-07-29 | 1985-01-29 | Valley Candle Mfg. Co., Inc. | Candle including flame adjustment means and automatic flame extinguisher means |
US20020022205A1 (en) * | 2000-06-07 | 2002-02-21 | Penreco | Self extinguishing candles and method of making same |
US7040888B2 (en) * | 2004-06-10 | 2006-05-09 | Lisa Lynn Keiffer | Smart wick |
US7073497B2 (en) * | 2004-06-10 | 2006-07-11 | Dennis John D | Candle arrangement |
US20060292509A1 (en) * | 2005-06-24 | 2006-12-28 | Reisman S D | Self-Extinguishing Candle |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20100239877A1 (en) * | 2006-11-07 | 2010-09-23 | Tempra Technology, Inc. | Method for adding a fusible material to a container wall |
US9108789B2 (en) * | 2006-11-07 | 2015-08-18 | Tempra Technology, Inc. | Method for adding a fusible material to a container wall |
US11072481B2 (en) | 2006-11-07 | 2021-07-27 | Tempra Technology, Inc. | Container wall with fusible material and method for adding the fusible material to the container wall |
US10295176B1 (en) * | 2016-04-05 | 2019-05-21 | Helen N. Corkwell | Self-extinguishing candle wick safety system |
KR102193075B1 (en) * | 2020-06-16 | 2020-12-18 | 박진하 | Method for Preparing Candle or Gypsum Fragrance with Porous Surface |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |