WO2002023091A1

WO2002023091A1 - Automatic candle snuffer

Info

Publication number: WO2002023091A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/001962
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sam Norryd
Original assignee: Sam Norryd
Priority date: 2000-09-13
Filing date: 2001-09-13
Publication date: 2002-03-21
Also published as: SE0003256D0; SE516114C2; AU2001288164A1; SE0003256L

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic light extinguisher comprising a holder (2) adapted to fix the same (1) in position on a candle, and a lid or a cap (4) which via a swing arm (5) is pivotably attached to the holder (2) and a trigger mechanism (6) arranged to swing the arm with the cap (4) downwards over the flame (7) of the candle (3) so as to extinguish it when the candle (3) has burnt itself down sufficiently. The trigger mechanism (6) operates with two springs, one (8) resiliently biasing a projection (10) into contact with the wall surface of the candle (3), and one (11) resiliently biasing the swing arm (5) and its cap (4), the projection (10), when in its active position, locking the spring arm (5) with its cap (4) in its upwards directed position, remote from a candle flame (7) and, when in its inactive position, not occurring until the candle has burnt down past the projection (10), which is then in a substantially horizontal position, releases the swing arm (5) with its cap (4) which is then by the biased spring instantaneously swung down over the candle flame (7) so as to extinguish it.

Description

Automatic candle snuffer

The present invention relates to an automatic candle light extinguisher comprising a holder adapted to fix the same in position on a candle,^' and a lid or a cap which via a swing arm is pivotably attached to the holder and a trigger .mechanism arranged to swing the arm with the cap downwards -over the flame of the candle so as to extinguish it when the candle has burnt itself down sufficiently.

In the market today there exist several different designed automatic candle light extinguishers, most of which comprises a Special trigger mechanism based on a traditional single spring design. The foremost disadvantage of such a single spring mechanism is that its cap, used to extinguish the candle flame, carries out a continuos movement towards the wick of the candle. Use is there made of a sensor blade or pin the task of which is to cut through the stearin edge in order to permit the cap to flip down over the wick, said part being integral with the cap. This entails two critical stages the first one of which is ^'when the candle is become so hot and soft that the blade cuts through the stearin edge. The cap will then carry out a continuos movement towards the wick while simultanously successively suffocating the flame. The latter will then make the cap sooty, unless the process is accelerated by a stronger spring. The second stage is that the cutting movement will be so quick that the • wick will be flattered and splash stearing, namely when the spring is to strong. This is especially critical at the devices where the cap must be sufficiently shallow in order to operate as desired. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a new type of automatic candle light extinguisher which eliminate the shortcomings existing in the prior art devices . The features characterising the invention are set out in the claims -below.

Thanks to the invention there has now been provided an automatic candle light extinguisher which in an excellent way satisfies said purpose and, in addition thereto, also offers relatively simple and low cost manufacturing. The automatic candle light extinguisher according to the present invention is, in contrast to the prior art, provided with a two-spring trigger mechanism which makes it possible for the cap used instanteously to flap down over the wick. This means that the cap is first maintained in its idle position waiting for the occurrence of critical point in the movement of a projection forming part of the trigger mechanism an supervises the height reduction of the candle whereupon it flaps down directly, suffocating the flame at a constant speed. This function can only be performed with the aid of a separate spring for the projection sensing the height reduction of the candle and influencing the movement of the cap, and another spring for the cap movement towards the wick. In this way the candle light extinguisher according to the invention can never accumulate soot. Thanks to the co-operation of two springs the momentary movement to which the candle is subjected when the cap flaps down can, during the manufacturing be controlled and adjusted in a satisfactory manner.

A second important difference between the prior art solutions and the candle light extinguisher according to the invention is the special design making it possible for the cap to rest in a position at an angle of 90° from its lowered, or extinguishing position. In many prior art designs the cap is positioned at an angle of 270° as related to its lowered position. Thanks to the solution according to the invention the cap can be made deeper which counteract stearin splashing of the impact. Another advantage of candle light extinguisher according to the invention, which uses an angle of 90° instead of one of 270°, is that the wear of the springs used is reduced which significantly increases the operational lifetime of the springs. Another advantage of having the cap standing in a 90° position instead of 270° is the risk situation which can arise, especially on a Christmas table, because articles adjacent to the candle light extinguisher could easily obstruct the movement of the cap. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic lateral view showing the automatic candle light extinguisher according to the invention and including a magnified picture of the trigger mechanism in the- state where the projection in contact with the candle is completely tense,

Fig. 2 is a lateral view of the candle light extinguisher shown in fig. 1, including a magnified partial view of the trigger mechanism, the projection being pushed downwards concurrently with the candle burning down,

Fig. 3 is a lateral view of the candle light extinguisher shown in figs. 1 and 2, including a partial view of the trigger mechanism when the projection is completely pressed down and actuates the trigger mechanism,

Fig. 4 is a lateral view of the candle light extinguisher shown in figs. 1-3 where the arm and its cap are out of contact with the cam curve of the projection and swung down towards the candle in order to extinguish the flame,

Fig. 5 is an exploded, perspective lateral view showing the components of the trigger mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a perspective lateral view showing the components in fig. 5 as seen from the opposite side.

As appears from the drawings, they illustrate a preferred embodiment of an automatic candle 'light extinguisher 1 according to the present invention, comprising a holder 2 keeping the automatic candle light extinguisher in a fixed position on a candle 3. The. automatic candle light extinguisher 1 does further comprise a lid or cap 4, which via a swing arm 5 is pivotably mounted on the holder 2, and a trigger mechanism 6 arranged to swing the cap 4 down over the flame 7 of the candle 3 and to extinguish it when the candle 3 has burnt down sufficiently low.

The trigger mechanism 6 has two-spring mode of operation. A spring 8 is biased to keep a projection 10 in contact with the outer side of candle 3 and a spring 11 is biased to keep the swing arm 5 and its cap 4 directed towards the candle, while said projection 10 in its active position maintain swing arm 5 and its cap 4 in its spring-biased upwards directed resting position. When the candle 3 has burnt down past the projection 10 and the latter is in a substantially horizontal position, the swing arm 5 with its cap 4 is released and its biased spring does then quickly swing it down over and extinguishes the candle flame. The trigger mechanism 6 includes swingable parts, namely the projection 10 and the swing arm 5 with its cap 4, which are piovotably journalled in side walls 12 and 13 attached to the holder 2.

The projection 10 and the swing arm 5 do each have a cam curve, 14 ^'and 15, respectively, which co-operate by the cam surface 14 on the projection 10 exerting a pressure against the cam surface 15 of arm 5 as long as the trigger mechanism 6 is not actuated. The arm 5 and its cap 4 are held fixed in the active, spring-biased position until projection 10 is substantially horizontal which occurs when the cam surface 15 on the swing arm 5 is released from the cam surface 14 on the projection 10 which occurs when the candle has burnt down sufficiently far.

A pivot 16 for the projection 10 in the side walls 12, 13 is located slightly inside and above s pivot 17 of the swing arm 5, the curve 15 of which is resiliently in contact with the cam surface 14 of projection 10 during the rotational movement of projection 10 and its cam surface 14 through an angle of about 90°, whereupon the cam surface 14 on the projection 10 releases swing arm 5 which, acted upon by its spring force, automatically turned bringing the cap 4 above candle flame 7. In the embodiment shown, the swing arm 5 has a curved section 18 shortly from and above its pivot 17 and serving as a stop for the swing arm 5 when the projection 10 has released the arm, whereby the latter and its cup 4 cannot swing down on to the candle 3 more than about 90°.

The mode of operation of the candle extinguisher, or candle guard 1, according to the invention is as follows. The projection 10 is in contact with the side surface of the candle and locks the swing arm 5 supporting the cap 4. When the candle burns down and past the projection 10, the latter will by its spring 8 be swung downwards since a thin side layer of the candle becomes soft and thin. The trigger mechanism 6 is, however, not activated until the projection 10 has been pushed down to an essentially horizontal position. When this happens, the swing arm 5 carrying cap 4 is released. The swing arm 5 is also spring-biased towards the candle 3. Upon actuation of the trigger mechanism cap 4 is automatically shut down over the flame 7, which is then extinguished.

Claims

1. Automatic candle light extinguisher comprising a holder (2) , adapted to fix the snuffer (1) in position on a candle, and a lid or a cap (4) which via a swing arm (5) is pivotably attached to the holder (2) and a trigger mechanism

(6) arranged to swing the arm with its cap (4) downwards over the flame (7) of the candle (3) so as to extinguish it when the candle (3) has burnt itself down sufficiently, characterized in that the trigger mechanism (6) operates with two springs, one (8) resiliently biasing a projection (10) into contact with the wall surface of the candle (3), and one (11) resiliently biasing the swing arm (5) and its cap (4), the projection (10), when in its active position, locking the spring arm (5) with its cap (4) in its upwards directed position, remote from a candle flame (7) and, when in its inactive position, not occurring until the candle has burnt down past the projection (10), which is then in a substantially horizontal position, releases the swing arm (5) with its ^" cap (4) which is then by the biased spring instantaneously swung down over the candle flame (7) so as to extinguish it.

2. Candle light extinguisher according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (10) in the area of its swingable mounting in the side walls (12, 13) of holder (2) exhibits a curved cam surface (14) adapted to co-operate with an opposite, curved cam surface (15) at the mounting place of the swing arm (5) in the side walls (12, 13) , said first cam surface (14) on .the projection (10) exerting a pressure on swing arm (5) in order to keep it in its active, spring-biased, position until the projection (10) is substantially horizontal.

3. Candle light extinguisher according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (10) pivot (16) in the side walls (12, 13) is located shortly inside and above the pivot (17) of the swing arm (5) , the cam surface (15) of which being in resilient contact with the projection when the latter along with its cam surface (14) is rotated through about 90°, after which the cam surface of the projection releases the swing arm (5) which, moved by its spring force, is together with the cap (4) swung down over the candle flame.

4. Candle light extinguisher according to claim 3, characterized in that the swing arm (5) slightly inside and above its pivot (17) includes a curved section (18) which, when the projection (10) has released the swing arm (5) , serves as a stop preventing the swing arm (5) with its cap (4) to swing down over the candle (3) more than about 90°.