WO2006065998A2

WO2006065998A2 - Safety wick assembly for effusion lamps

Info

Publication number: WO2006065998A2
Application number: PCT/US2005/045425
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Mcminn
Original assignee: Casey Pottery, Llp
Priority date: 2004-12-17
Filing date: 2005-12-16
Publication date: 2006-06-22
Also published as: US20060134573A1; WO2006065998A3; WO2006065998A9

Abstract

An improved effusion lamp which includes a wick assembly secured to a wick assembly carrier member, and, in turn, the wick assembly carrier member is secured to an oil vessel (with or without an intervening collar interface member) are configured for secure engagement to significantly reduce oil spillage in the event of accident toppling of the effusion lamp.

Description

APPLICATION UNDER THE PATENT

COOPERATION TREATY

TITLE: SAFETY WICK ASSEMBLY FOR EFFUSION LAMPS

INVENTOR: McMINN, David

CITATION TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This is a CONTINUATION application with respect to

U.S. Application, Serial No. 11/076,311, filed 09 MARCH

2005 (09.03.2005), and a CONTINUATION-IN-PART of U.S.

Application Serial No. 11/017,199, from which priority is

claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120 and under provisions of the

Patent Cooperation Treaty.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of The Invention

The present invention relates to oil-based lamps and

wick assemblies.

2. Background Information

Effusion lamps have become a very popular home

accessory in recent times. Effusion lamps are scented oil

lamps which are usually decorative as well as scent

generating means. Current designs for effusion lamps

involve a decorative oil vessel with a wick receptacle and an wick assembly (see Fig. 1) which slides telescopically

into the vessel's wick receptacle.

A serious problem with current effusion lamp design

relates to the probability that a toppled lamp

(particularly a burning one) will ignite a catastrophic

fire. This, in turn, arises from the design feature that

involves the mere sliding engagement between the wick

assembly and the lamp vessel (or, if a vessel collar is

used, a loose arrangement between all three components) . If

the lamp is toppled, there is nothing to prevent the wick

from disengaging with the vessel and .the oil spilling.

Again, if at the time of the mishap, the lamp was burning,

the oil will likely ignite with very serious consequences.

A new design is needed to address the safety concerns

described above. The lack of safer design is believed to

arise from a failure of present designers to appreciate a

subtle but important distinction between effusion lamps and

conventional fibrous wick-based oil lamps. In the latter

case, oil can somewhat readily flow through the fibrous

wick, which extends from the oil vessel through the wick

assembly to the exterior of the lamp. As a result, and

without an appreciation for the fact that the catalytic wick stone acts as a cap of sorts to prevent oil flow

through the wick assembly, one might assume that little

would be gained in terms of safety by merely securing the wick assembly to the oil vessel.

The present inventor has recognized the important

distinctions between conventional oil lamp and effusion

lamp designs, and the safety opportunities that the wick

stone member presents, if utilized as herein later

described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the

present invention to provide an improved effusion lamp. It

is another object of the present invention to provide an

effusion lamp of a design which affords enhanced safety by

reducing the likelihood of accidental oil spillage.

In satisfaction of these and other related objectives,

Applicant ' s present invention provides an improved effusion

lamp which replaces current wick assembly and oil vessel

interface with a much safer design. The design of the

present invention involves a wick assembly that is secured to a wick assembly carrier member and, in turn, the wick

assembly carrier member and oil vessel (with or without an

intervening collar interface member) are configured for

secure engagement. The result of this design is that

significant oil spillage is unlikely in the event of

accident toppling of the effusion lamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a

wick assembly support member with a catalytic wick assembly

in position for intended use in the context of an effusion

lamp.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of a

wick assembly support member, as in Fig. 1, but with the

catalytic wick assembly removed, and showing the wick

assembly support member's engagement with effusion lamp oil

vessel collar member.

Fig. 3 is cross-sectional overview of the pressed

metal screw cap.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the pressed metal

screw cap with the sub-assembly wick top. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pressed metal

screw cap and showing its relationship with a braided

cotton wick.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the effusion lamp

10 of the present invention is not shown it its entirety,

as the oil vessel portion of the lamp 10 is not separately-

depicted, but such is well understood in the art to be a

liquid-tight receptacle for retaining the oil used with

effusion lamps, and can assume appearances and

configurations of near limitless variations.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention

includes (in addition to the oil vessel) a catalytic wick

assembly 12. Catalytic wick assembly 12 includes a fibrous

wick member 14 and an attached catalytic wick stone member

16 secured to the fibrous wick member 14.

An elongate wick assembly support member 18 includes

a wick passage conduit 20 defined substantially through an

axial centerline thereof. The fibrous wick member 14 passes

through wick passage conduit 20, with the catalytic wick stone member 16 resting at the outer opening of the wick

passage conduit 20 as shown in Figure 1.

A wick stone retainer 22 secures catalytic wick stone

member 16 to the elongate wick assembly support member 18

as shown in Figure 1.

The outer, substantially annular surface 24 of

elongate wick assembly support member 18 is . at least

partially endowed with a contour which includes threads 24.

Referring principally to Figure 2, threads 24 are

configured to threadingly engage with complimentary threads

26 of a vessel collar member 28.

Vessel collar member 28 is intended to serve as an

interface linkage between the elongate wick assembly

support member 18 and the wick orifice of an oil vessel

(not shown) with which interior threads 30 designed to

threadingly engage.

In an alternative embodiment (see Figs. 3, 4, and 5) ,

elongate wick assembly support member 18 is frictionally,

or "press-fit" into vessel collar member 28, thereby

eliminating threads 26.

In yet another alternative (not illustrated in the

figures) is the oil effusion lamp vessel permanently attached with or to the separate wick assembly support

member 18 and thereby forming a coherent unitary structure.

Once catalytic wick assembly 12 is secured to elongate wick

assembly support member 18, elongate wick assembly support

member 18 is secured to vessel collar member 28, and vessel

collar member 28 is secured to the oil vessel 32, or,

whether the wick assembly support member is continuous with

or separate but permanently attached to the oil effusion

lamp, a substantially "spill and fire-proof" effusion lamp

is the result.

Although the invention has been described with

reference to specific embodiments, this description is not

meant to be construed in a limited sense. Various

modifications of the disclosed embodiments, as well as

alternative embodiments of the inventions will become

apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to

the description of the invention. It is, therefore,

contemplated that the appended claims will cover such

modifications that fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. An improved effusion lamp comprising:

an effusion lamp vessel configured for receiving an

maintaining a measure of effusion lamp oil, and

having a wick orifice,-

a catalytic wick assembly comprising a fibrous wick

member and a catalytic wick stone member

secured to said fibrous wick member;

an elongate wick assembly support member having a

wick passage conduit defined substantially

through an axial centerline thereof, said wick

passage conduit being sized for, extension of a

length of said fibrous wick member

therethrough, and, at a first end of said wick

assembly support member, having wick stone

securement means for securing said wick stone

member to said elongate wick assembly support

member, an generally annular outer surface of

said elongate wick assembly having vessel

engagement means for securely registering said elongate wick assembly support member with said

wick orifice of said effusion lamp vessel.

2. The effusion lamp of claim 1 wherein said

vessel engagement means are threads and wherein said wick

orifice of said effusion lamp vessel is configured with

complimentary threads for threaded engagement between

said effusion lamp vessel and said elongate wick assembly

support member.

3. The effusion lamp of claim 1 wherein said wick

assembly support member is continuous with the oil

effusion lamp.

4. The effusion lamp of claim 1 wherein said wick

assembly support member is separate from but permanently

attached to the oil effusion lamp.