WO2016028152A1

WO2016028152A1 - Candle provided with a cover

Info

Publication number: WO2016028152A1
Application number: PCT/NL2015/050586
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hendrikus Antonius Van Dijk
Original assignee: Hendrikus Antonius Van Dijk
Priority date: 2014-08-22
Filing date: 2015-08-21
Publication date: 2016-02-25
Also published as: EP3183325A1; DE202014006874U1

Abstract

The invention relates to an unburnt candle comprising a holder, a body of fuel, a wick and a cover, wherein the cover is adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of the fuel itself to the cover. Preferably, the cover is adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of liquefied fuel to the cover, the fuel being solidified after adhesion. The invention further relates to an apparatus for manufacturing such a candle.

Description

Title: Candle provided with a cover

The invention relates to a candle provided with a body to be consumed comprising a fuel, such as paraffin, and a wick, wherein a part of the wick which is to burn is situated in use at an upper surface of the body to be consumed.

Such candles are known per se. Examples of such candles are for instance pillar candles, block candles, floating candles and tealight candles. In contrast to dinner candles and dip candles, which at the part of the wick that is to burn are provided with a pointed end, the known pillar candles, block candles, floating candles and tealight candles, etc., possess an upper surface that may be of, for instance, substantially plane, slightly convex or slightly concave design.

It is known that the upper surface of the known candles upon burning of the candle can melt in part or in whole, in order to supply the flame of the candle at the wick with fuel, for instance in the form of molten paraffin. In particular in the known tealight candles, also referred to as tealights, which are provided with a, typically aluminum, holder for holding therein the body of paraffin to be consumed, the entire upper surface of the candle may have melted in use.

This fact has led to the situation that the upper surface of the known candle in practice has an appearance with little appeal to the imagination.

Mostly the upper surface is of substantially planar, slightly convex or slightly concave design, while possibly the fuel, for instance the paraffin, is provided in a color, which results in a monotonous upper surface. Also known are attempts whereby the upper surface has been provided with a relief pattern, for instance an image, so as to provide a less monotonous upper surface. It will be clear, however, that after melting of at least a part of the upper surface the original upper surface will be deformed, as a result of which the original appearance, for instance the image, will be deformed.

In WO2009/011587 a candle is disclosed which is provided with a body to be consumed comprising a fuel, such as paraffin, and a wick, wherein a part of the wick which is to burn is situated in use at an upper surface of the body to be consumed, which candle is further provided with a foil which abuts at least in part against the upper surface of the body to be consumed, wherein the foil is designed to be exclusively borne by the body to be consumed.

Thus the foil, since it abuts at least partly against the upper surface, can initially, that is, before the candle is burnt, give the upper surface of the candle a desired appearance, for instance by the presence of a printing on the foil. Since the foil is designed to be exclusively borne by the body to be consumed, the foil, upon consumption of the body to be consumed, will follow a falling level of the upper surface of the body to be consumed, without being hampered in this following movement. The foil, for instance in its entirety, will follow the upper surface of the candle, for instance when it comes down as a result of the fuel being burnt. This is because the foil is exclusively borne by the body to be consumed, shrinking in use, and not by other, possibly non- shrinking or differently shrinking, parts of the candle, such as the wick. To this end, for instance, the foil may be situated at some distance from the wick. Consequently, the foil will not, at least hardly so, deform in use. Thus, the original appearance of the upper surface of the body to be consumed remains intact completely, or at least to a large extent, during use of the candle.

It will be appreciated that it may be desired to reduce production cost of candles as much as possible. Nevertheless, it is also desired to provide the candle with attractive appearance.

According to an aspect, the candle can be manufactured by providing a holder. A wick is placed in the holder. A fuel that is solid at room temperature is poured into the holder in liquefied form. A cover, such as a foil or plate, is positioned onto the liquid fuel prior to solidifying. The fuel is allowed to solidify with the cover on top. Optionally, the cover comprises a hole for passing the wick therethrough.

According to an aspect, the candle can be manufactured by providing a holder. A wick is placed in the holder. A solid body of fuel is placed in the holder. At least a top part of the body of fuel is liquefied, such as by heating. A cover, such as a foil or plate, is positioned onto the liquid fuel prior to solidifying. The fuel is allowed to solidify with the cover on top. Optionally, the cover comprises a hole for passing the wick therethrough.

According to an aspect, the candle can be manufactured by providing a holder. A wick is placed in the holder. A solid body of fuel is placed in the holder. A cover, such as a foil or plate, is positioned onto the solid body of fuel. At least a top part of the body of fuel is liquefied, such as by heating. The heating may e.g. be performed by a placing head for placing the cover on the body of fuel, wherein the placement head includes a heater. The fuel is allowed to solidify with the cover on top.

According to an aspect, the candle can be manufactured by providing a solid body of fuel. At least a top part of the body of fuel is liquefied, such as by heating. A cover, such as a foil or plate, is positioned onto the liquid fuel prior to solidifying. The fuel is allowed to solidify with the cover on top.

Optionally, the cover comprises a hole for passing the wick therethrough

According to an aspect, an unburnt candle is provided. The unburnt candle comprises a body of fuel, a wick and a cover, wherein the cover is adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of the fuel itself to the cover. The cover can be adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of liquefied fuel to the cover, the fuel being allowed to solidify after adhesion. The unburnt candle can comprise a holder. The holder can be made of plastic, glass and/or metal, such as aluminium. The holder can be a cup. The cup can be a cup for a tealight. However, the cup can be any cup, e.g. a cup normally used for holding coffee milk.

Adhering the cover to the liquid fuel and allowing the fuel to solidify with the cover on top has many advantages. The cover does not need to be glued to the body of fuel. Hence, the adhesive can be dispensed with.

Moreover, there is no need for finding a suitable glue for adhering the cover to the body of fuel. It is noted that this also increases the types of fuel that can be used for the candle: for certain types of fuel it is difficult, or even impossible to find a proper glue. This also provides the advantage that the cover can be adhered to the body of fuel including mixed fuels, such as mixtures including one or more of paraffin, palm oil, stearin, and recycled candles. Especially with mixed fuels, cheaper fuels and/or recycled fuels, the surface of the body of fuel can be greasy or fatty and therefor less suitable for adhering thereto a cover using glue. Adhering the cover to the liquid fuel and allowing the fuel to solidify with the cover on top provides that also these candles can be provided with the cover adhered to the body of fuel.

Adhering the cover to the liquid fuel and allowing the fuel to solidify with the cover on top also has the advantage that one need not rely on stickiness of the solid body of fuel for allowing the cover to adhere to the body of fuel.

The cover aids in distributing heat within the solidifying fuel, so that the surface of the solidified fuel is more even, e.g. flatter, than without the cover. The fuel that is poured into the holder can be cheaper than the fuel that is provided as a solid body.

Preferably the cover is designed to be exclusively borne by the fuel.

Preferably, the cover abuts exclusively against the body of fuel. Thus it is effected in a simple manner that the foil is exclusively borne by the body to be consumed. Preferably, the cover is exclusively connected with the body of fuel. Thus it is effected in a simple manner that the foil is exclusively borne by the body to be consumed.

Preferably, a shape and dimension of the cover corresponds

substantially to a shape and dimension of the upper surface of the body of fuel.

Preferably, the cover is designed to float on the fuel, when this is in liquid form. In this way the cover can be simply placed on top of the liquefied fuel without a need to support the cover during solidifying of the fuel. In this way the cover can also give the upper surface the desired appearance in use, for instance with the body of fuel molten, and even after (partial)

consumption, for instance after resolidification of the body of fuel after burning of the candle.

It is noted that from FR 2 687 408 a candle is known where an upper surface of the paraffin body to be consumed and an upper edge of a holder in which the body to be consumed is accommodated are covered with a layer of lacquer which can float on the molten paraffin, in order to control molten paraffin flowing out of the holder when inclined. It will be clear that the layer of lacquer in the candle of FR 2 687 408 deforms strongly upon consumption of the candle, since the layer of lacquer is also connected with the upper edge of the holder, so that the original appearance of the layer of lacquer is lost in use. Moreover, in the candle of FR 2 687 804, a dimension of an opening in the layer of lacquer through which the wick extends increases according as the candle is burnt up further. This allows ingredients included in the paraffin, such as anti-odor or anti-insect constituents, to evaporate to an increasing extent through the enlarging opening at undesired times when the candle is not being burnt.

It will be clear that the candle according to the invention at the same time provides a solution to this last problem, when the cover is exclusively borne by the body to be consumed and hence will not, at least hardly so, deform, so that any opening in the cover through which the wick extends will not, at least hardly so, deform, and during the consumption of the candle will hardly if at all increase in dimension. This may further contribute to a prolongation of the burning time of the candle, since evaporation of the fuel can be controlled by the cover.

Preferably, the cover is nonflammable. This affords the advantage of providing a safe candle, with the appearance of the upper surface not being affected by the burning of the cover. Nonflammable is herein understood to mean that the cover in use is substantially not destroyed by the heat of the flame of the candle. Preferably, it holds that the cover is at least

nonflammable in the immediate vicinity of the wick, where the temperature of the cover, as a result of the heat of the flame, would otherwise exceed an ignition temperature of the cover. Preferably the cover is made of a material having a UL 94 V-l or V-0 flame classification. Preferably, the cover is made of a material that once ignited extinguishes flames within 60 seconds, more preferably within 10 seconds. The cover can e.g. be made of an nonflammable or flame-retarding plastic material. The cover can e.g. be made of lexan, PPs polypropylene, polyamide 6.6, nylon 6.6, polyimide, polycarbonate,

acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, epdm, cr/epdm, or the like.

Preferably, the cover is printable and/or has been printed. This affords the advantage that the upper surface of the candle may be provided with a desired appearance, such as a desired picture.

Preferably, the cover is substantially non- deform able in the plane in which the cover extends. The cover may for instance be inelastic. This provides the advantage that the original appearance of the cover, for instance the picture provided thereon, is not deformed in the plane of the cover, so that the original appearance is preserved. The cover may possibly be so flexible as to allow of deformation transversely to the plane in which it extends. In an embodiment, the cover consists of a layer of ink, lacquer and/or toner. Thus the ink, lacquer and/or toner can be applied to the body and be dried and/or hardened to form the cover before, while and/or after the fuel solidifies. In this way, the cover can be provided on the body in a simple manner.

In an embodiment, the cover comprises a plastic foil or metal foil. Such a cover can be manufactured cheaply and with it the upper surface can be provided with desired effects such as metallic luster, glitter, color, etc. The metal foil, in particular aluminum foil, provides the advantage of having good properties regarding nonflamm ability and processing ease, in particular in automated placement of the cover on the body to be consumed. Preferably the foil is made of a material having a UL 94 V-l or V-0 flame classification.

Preferably, the foil is made of a material that once ignited extinguishes flames within 60 seconds, more preferably within 10 seconds.

In an embodiment, the cover, such as the aluminum foil, is

manufactured from a roll of source material. Thus, the cover may have a tendency to curl according to the shape of the cover material on the roll. In an embodiment, the cover is placed onto the fuel with the concave side of the cover facing the fuel. This may prevent the cover from being released from the fuel during solidification, or at re-melting during use.

In an embodiment, the cover comprises a porous cover, as from paper or fabric, which is soaked in a, preferably nonflammable, substance such as a, preferably nonflammable, glue and/or a, preferably nonflammable, lacquer. Thus, in a simple manner, the preferably nonflammable cover is provided, while the porous cover can be formed from an inexpensive starting material. In an exemplary embodiment, the porous cover may for instance have been obtained from a, possibly preprinted, napkin, which provides as an advantage that such napkins are commercially available with a great diversity of printings, which for instance are well in line with occasions for which the candle with the cover on the upper surface is made available, such as festivities, such as Christmas, Easter, birthdays, etc.

If the cover has a good heat conductivity, as for instance in the case of the metal foil or plate, the cover may also contribute to the melting of the fuel while burning the candle, so that the fuel can be supplied to the wick in an efficient manner.

Preferably, the wick extends through an opening in the cover. Thus, an area around the wick may be provided with the cover, which may be beneficial to a fine appearance of the upper surface. Here too, the cover may be situated at a distance from the wick. It is for instance possible that a dimension, such as a diameter, of the opening is greater than a dimension, such as a diameter, of a cross section of the wick in a plane in which the cover extends. The diameter of the opening is preferably more than 0.1 and less than 10 mm, more preferably approximately 4 mm, greater than the diameter of the cross section of the wick. In this way, the cover can move freely relative to the wick very well, for instance in a downward direction when the candle is burning. Preferably, the diameter of the opening is 4-10 mm, for instance approximately 8 mm. It has been found that such a diameter permits a good transport of molten fuel via the wick through the opening.

In practice, the fuel, for instance the molten paraffin, may after some time flow through the opening onto the upper surface of the cover and there form a thin layer of the fuel. In case of the more flammable cover, this provides for an efficient protection from burning of the cover. Since only a thin layer of the fuel is thereby formed on the cover, the cover can still be deemed to substantially float on the fuel.

In an embodiment, the upper surface is substantially circular, as for instance in cylindrical pillar candles, floating candles and tealight candles.

It is possible that the cover covers substantially the whole upper surface around the wick, for instance the whole upper surface around the wick. Thus, less evaporation of the fuel occurs, which augments the life of the candle.

The invention further relates to a cover designed to be attached to an upper surface of a candle provided with a body to be consumed comprising a fuel, such as paraffin, and a wick, wherein the cover is provided with a hole for passing the wick therethrough.

The invention further relates to an assembly of an unburnt candle as described above, and a package for holding the unburnt candle in the package. Also, the invention relates to an assembly of a plurality of unburnt candles as described above and a package for holding the unburnt candles in the package. The package may e.g. be a box or a carton. The package may also be a foil wrap. In an embodiment the package is at least partly

transparent to allow to see the foil(s) from outside the package. The package has the advantage that the unburnt candles can easily be stored and sold. The package may contain any number of unburnt candles, such as one, two, three, four, six, eight or ten unburnt candles.

The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a candle.

According to an aspect, there is provided a method for manufacturing a candle, comprising providing a holder, and providing a unburnt wick and a fuel that is solid at room temperature in the holder. A cover, such as a foil or plate, is positioned onto the fuel. The fuel is liquefied and allowed to solidify with the cover on top. Optionally, the cover is exclusively borne by the solidified fuel. Preferably a part of the wick which is to burn is situated in use at the upper surface of the fuel body.

Thus a method is provided for manufacturing an unburnt candle according to the invention. It will be clear that it is possible that the cover is then designed to float on the fuel, when this is in liquid form.

Preferably, applying the cover to the upper surface of the fuel comprises laying the foil exclusively against the fuel. Thus it is effected in a simple manner that the cover is exclusively borne by the fuel. In an embodiment, applying the cover comprises applying a layer of ink, lacquer and/or toner on the fuel, and drying and/or hardening the ink, lacquer and/or toner.

In an embodiment, the method further comprises providing the cover as a finished cover before the cover is applied to the fuel. Thus the cover can be provided as a semimanufactured product and be combined with the fuel and the unburnt wick to form the candle according to the invention. Here, a dimension and/or shape of the cover can be adapted to a dimension and/or shape of the candle, before the cover is applied to the body. Accordingly, the cover can for instance be cut or punched before the cover is applied to the fuel.

Preferably, the dimension and/or shape of the cover corresponds substantially to the dimension and/or shape of the upper surface of the consumable fuel body. Thus, substantially the whole upper surface may be covered with the cover.

Preferably, the method comprises providing an opening in the cover for passing therethrough at least a part of the unburnt wick.

Preferably, the method comprises treating the cover with a substance for rendering the cover nonflammable, at least that part of the cover which in use is situated in the immediate vicinity of the wick.

The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a candle provided with a holder, a fuel, such as paraffin, an unburnt wick, wherein a part of the unburnt wick is situated in use at an upper surface of the body of fuel, and a cover which abuts at least partly against the upper surface of the body of fuel, comprising a cover placing unit for applying the cover to the upper surface of the fuel. Thus the candle provided with the cover can be manufactured in an automated manner.

Preferably, the cover placing unit is designed for melting at least an upper surface of the fuel. Thus, in a simple manner, the cover can be applied in an automated manner to the molten upper surface of the fuel of the candle. In an embodiment, the foil placing unit comprises a placing head which is designed for taking up the cover at a first location and applying the cover to the upper surface of the fuel at a second location. Preferably, the cover placing unit is provided with positioning means for aligning the candle without the cover relative to the placing head. Thus an accurate positioning of the candle without the cover relative to the placing head is achieved, so that the cover can be applied to the fuel while accurately positioned. The placing head can include a heating element, such as an electric resistor.

Preferably, the placing head comprises aligning means for aligning the cover relative to the placing head. Thus the cover can be accurately positioned relative to the placing head, so that the cover can be applied to the fuel while accurately positioned.

In an embodiment, the apparatus is furthermore provided with an erecting unit for placing the wick substantially vertically upright. Thus it can be effected in an automated manner that the wick is upright before the cover is applied, so that the wick can be passed through an opening in the cover.

The invention will presently, by way of non-limiting example, be elucidated in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. la is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a candle according to the invention;

Fig. lb is an exploded view of the candle shown in Fig. la;

Fig. lc is a cross section of the candle shown in Fig. la;

Fig. Id is a cross section of an assembly of the candle shown in

Figs, la-lc and a holder;

Figs. 2a-2f are schematic representations of second through seventh embodiments of a candle according to the invention; and

Figs. 3a and 3b are schematic representations of an embodiment of an apparatus for manufacturing a candle according to the invention. Fig. la shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a candle 1 according to the invention. Fig. lb shows an exploded view of the candle 1 shown in Fig. la. Fig. lc shows a cross section of the candle 1 shown in Fig. la. The candle 1 comprises a body 2 of fuel, which fuel is consumed upon burning of the candle 1. In this example, the fuel comprises paraffin. In this example, the body 2 of fuel is manufactured from paraffin. However, the candle may also comprise a different fuel, such as for instance beeswax or other type of wax, or a gel. The fuel is contained in a holder 16.

The candle 1 furthermore comprises a wick 4. In this example the wick 4 is designed as a taper, for instance of cotton. In Fig. lb it can be seen that in this example the wick 4 is further provided with a base 6 for holding the wick upright. The base 6 may for instance be manufactured from a metal, such as aluminum. In Fig. la it can be seen that a part of the wick 4 which is to burn is situated in use at an upper surface 8 of the body 2. In this example, the wick extends externally of the body 2, from the upper surface 8. In this example the wick 4 is situated substantially on the centerline L of the candle 1. In this example, the upper surface 8 is substantially circular.

In the example of Figs, la and lb, the candle 1 is furthermore provided with a cover 10. The cover 10 is placed on the upper surface 8 of the body 2, such that the cover 10 is exclusively borne by the body 2. The cover 10 then abuts against the upper surface 8. In the example of Figs, la-lc, the wick 4 extends through an opening 12 in the cover 10. In this example, the cover 10 covers the whole upper surface 8 around the wick 4.

In this example, the body 2 comprises paraffin. In use, the wick 4 will be heated, for instance with a match, for causing the paraffin to melt. Near the wick 4, a part of the body 2 will melt and be sucked up by the wick by capillary action. Thus the fuel is supplied to the wick to feed a flame there.

In this example, the cover 10 is nonflammable, that is, the cover is resistant to the heat of the flame of the candle, and is substantially not destroyed thereby. It will be clear that in general it holds that, preferably, the cover is at least nonflammable in the immediate vicinity of the wick, where the temperature of the cover, as a result of the heat of the flame, would otherwise exceed an ignition temperature of the cover. To that end, the cover may for instance be wholly or partly manufactured from a plastic

nonflammable for this purpose or a metal, such as aluminum.

During manufacturing of the unburnt candle the cover is adhered to the body 2 of fuel by adhesion of the fuel itself to the cover. The cover can be adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of liquefied fuel to the cover, the fuel being solidified after adhesion. Thereto, the fuel, at least an upper surface portion of the fuel is liquefied. This may be done by pouring liquid fuel in the holder 14, or by melting a solid fuel.

In this example, the cover 10 is designed to float on the fuel, when this is in liquid form. Thus the cover will be borne by the upper surface 8 both when it is solid and when it is liquid.

The cover 10 may for instance be printed with a picture to give the upper surface 8 of the candle 1 a fine appearance. In this case, the picture will be visible when the body is solid and when the body is liquid. Moreover, when the cover is nonflammable, the picture will remain visible, possibly un deformed, even until the candle has been used up.

In this example, the cover 10 is substantially non-deformable in the plane in which the cover extends. The cover may be deformable transversely to the plane in which the cover extends. The cover may thus be, for instance, flexible and inelastic. Thus the cover 10, in use, can abut against the upper surface 8 and to a certain extent follow a contour of the upper surface. A dimension of the opening 12 in the cover 10, however, will for instance remain substantially constant, so that the cover, in this example, continues to cover the whole upper surface. Thus an appearance that the upper surface had prior to a first use of the candle 1, for instance a picture on the cover, can continue to be perceived, substantially undeformed, during use of the candle 1. In this example, the holder 16 is designed as a thin-walled tray, for instance of metal, such as aluminum. Thus the candle can for instance be designed as a tealight.

In the example it holds that the cover 10 is free of connection with the holder 16. The cover 10 is thus not fixedly connected with the holder 16. The cover 10 is thus not borne by the holder 16. In this example, the cover is not connected with the wick 4 either. Thus the cover is not borne by the wick 4. Therefore it holds in this example that the cover is exclusively borne by the body 2 of the candle 1. This provides the advantage that if the candle 1 is used, whereby a height of the body of fuel, for instance a level of the fuel in the holder 16, decreases, the cover 10, floating on the upper surface 8 of the fuel which shrinks in the height direction, can follow the upper surface and thereby move towards a lower side of the body, for instance towards a bottom 24 of the holder 16. As a result, the cover 10, in use of the candle 1, for instance in the holder 16, will be situated at all times at the upper surface 8 of the fuel as it diminishes. As indicated hereinabove with respect to Figs, laic, the cover can then abut on the upper surface while being substantially free of deformation, so that for instance any picture on the cover can be perceived, undeformed, during, substantially, the whole life of the candle 1, possibly in the holder 16.

Preferably, the cover 10 has already been prepared for the candle 1 prior to adhering the cover to the liquefied fuel. To this end, a dimension and/or shape of the cover 10 may already have been adapted to a dimension and/or shape of the candle 1, before the cover 10 is applied to the fuel. It is for instance possible that the dimension and shape of the cover correspond substantially to the dimension and shape of the upper surface 8 of the candle. Thus the cover 10 has been prepared to cover substantially the whole upper surface 8. Herein a distance of the edge of the opening 12 to the wick 4 and a distance (or lack thereof) of the outer edge of the cover 10 to the holder 16 can be chosen to optimize burning of the candle, e.g. to optimize burning time. It will be appreciated that these distances can easily be determined through routine experimentation. .

Preferably, the cover 10 has then already been provided with the opening 12 for passing at least a part of the wick 4 therethrough before the cover is placed on the fuel.

It is also possible that the cover is designed for changing an

appearance thereof during the burning of the candle. The cover may for instance comprise a dye which changes color under the influence of

temperature. The cover will then have a different appearance depending on whether the candle is burning or not. It is then also possible that the color(s) and the changed color(s) have been chosen such that a picture on the foil changes under the influence of the temperature, for instance in that particular parts of the picture change from a foreground color to a

background color and vice versa. Such a change of the appearance may be reversible. Instead of being sensitive to the temperature of the flame, the changeable dye may for instance be sensitive to the light of the flame.

Changing of the appearance may also be achieved in that the cover comprises multiple lacquer layers, while at least the outer lacquer layer evaporates or disappears otherwise or becomes transparent, under the influence of the heat (and/or light) of the flame of the candle. Thus, for instance after the candle has burnt for some time, an image formed by the outer lacquer layer will have disappeared and an image of a further lacquer layer, present under the outer lacquer layer, will be visible. Such a change of the appearance can be irreversible. For instance by providing a multiplicity of such lacquer layers, moving images may be simulated on the cover.

The body of fuel may be scented. The fuel may include an ingredient such as a fragrance, an anti-odor constituent and/or an anti-insect

constituent. It is also possible that the cover includes an ingredient such as a fragrance, an anti-odor constituent and/or an anti-insect constituent. The ingredient may e.g. be included in a lacquer, paint or coating of the cover. The cover may be arranged for releasing the ingredient under the influence of the heat (and/or light) of the flame of the candle.

Figs. 2a-2f show schematic representations of second through seventh embodiments of a candle 1 according to the invention.

In Fig. 2a the opening 12 in the cover 10 is designed as a slot which extends from the wick 4 as far as a circumferential edge 28 of the cover. The slot provides the advantage that the cover can be simply positioned with respect to the wick when placing the cover.

In Fig. 2b the cover is designed as an assembly of a first partial cover 10a and a second partial cover 10b. The partial covers 10a and 10b in this example abut against each other laterally, along seams 30a and 30b. Thus the partial covers 10a, 10b in this example cover substantially the whole upper surface 8, and the partial covers 10a, 10b can be simply placed on the liquefied fuel surrounding the wick.

In Fig. 2c the cover is also designed as an assembly of a first partial cover 10a and a second partial cover 10b. In this example, the partial covers 10, 10b together do not cover the whole upper surface.

In Fig. 2d the cover is also designed as an assembly of a first partial cover 10a and a second partial cover 10b. In this example, the partial covers 10a, 10b together do not cover the whole upper surface. In this example the partial cover are provided with a figurative shape, here a heart shape. It will be clear that since in this example the partial covers 10a, 10b are situated at a relatively greater distance from the wick 4, it may be of lesser relevance for the partial covers 10a, 10b to be nonflammable. It will also be clear that the partial covers 10a, 10b can move relative to each other in the plane of the upper surface 8 if at least one partial cover is floating on the molten fuel. In that case, the original appearance of the upper surface 8 of before the first use of the candle lmay be lost.

In Fig. 2e the cover 10 does not extend over the whole upper surface 8, but does extend around the wick 4. Figs. 3a and 3b show schematic representations of an embodiment of an apparatus 40 for manufacturing a candle 1 according to the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises conveying means 42, in this example designed as a moving belt. By means of the moving belt42, candles 1, Γ are conveyed in the direction of the arrow D.

The apparatus 40 comprises a cover placing unit 44 for placing the cover 10 on the upper surface 8 of the liquefied fuel of the candle 1 The liquefied fuel is contained within the holder 20. The cover placing unit 44 in this example comprises three placing heads 58 for taking up the cover 10 before it has been placed on the fuel, and applying the cover to the body 2 to be consumed.

In this example, the entire body of fuel is assumed to be in liquid form, e.g. just after filling the holder 20 with liquid fuel. It is also possible that the body of fuel is solidified just prior to the step of placing the foil, and that the upper surface of the fuel is liquefied, e.g. by means of a heater 50. The heater may e.g. be an infrared source, or a flame positioned over the candle 1, e.g. just prior to the position where the foil is placed. It is also possible that the placing head 58 itself is heated. Thereto the placing head 58 can include a heating element, e.g. an electrical heating element. When the foil is resistant to heat it is also possible that the heater is positioned behind the position where the foil is placed. In that case, the foil is heated and transfers the heat to the fuel so as to liquefy a top layer of the fuel. It will be appreciated that providing a foils having good capability of conducting heat, such as a metal foil, e.g. an aluminium foil, provides the advantage that the heat is efficiently transferred to the fuel.

The cover placing unit 44 in this example furthermore comprises a stop 46. During conveyance of the candle 1, the stop 46 is at such a position that conveyance of the candle 1 is not hindered. In this example, the stop 46 is lifted, such that the candle 1 can pass under the stop. During placement of the foil 10 on the candle 1, the stop 46 is positioned such that the candle 1 is stopped. In the example, the moving belt 42 keeps moving continuously, so that the candle 1 slips over the belt while the foil is being placed. It will be clear that a further candle Γ will simply move with the belt 42 during the placement of the foil 10 on the first -mentioned candle 1. The stop 46 in this example is moreover so designed that the candle is aligned with respect to the placing head 58. To that end, the stop can for instance have a V-shape, in top plan view, in which the candle's outer circumference, circular in this example, is captured. The stop 46 accordingly functions as positioning means for aligning the candle with respect to the placing head 58.

A multiplicity of the foils 10, 10', 10", 10"', 10"" are placed in the apparatus 40 in a cylindrical container 48. The foil is taken up by means of a suction mouth 52 of the placing head 58. The suction mouth 52 retains the foil 10 by means of reduced pressure.

When the foil 10 has been provided on the suction mouth 52, the placing unit 44 is rotated for positioning the placing head 58 in downward direction until the foil 10 is positioned onto the upper surface 8 of the candle 1 (see Fig. 3b).

In the example of Figs. 3a and 3b, the suction mouth 52 is provided with a cavity for receiving therein the wick 4 of the candle 1. Thus the foil 10 can be placed on the liquefied upper surface of the body 2 to be consumed, while the wick 4 has already been provided on the body to be consumed.

If desired, the apparatus 40 may furthermore be provided with an erecting unit 62 for placing the wick 4 substantially vertically upright before the candle 1 is provided with the foil 10. In this example, the erecting unit comprises two wedges which are on opposite sides of the wick 4. If the wick does not stand upright, the wick will butt against an inclined surface of at least one of the wedges and be placed substantially upright. If desired, the candle Γ may be rotated when it passes the wedges. To this end, there may be arranged, for instance, a lateral friction surface, along which the upstanding outer circumference of the holder of the candle Γ scrapes to impart an axial rotation to the candle 1'. Rotation of the candle 1' promotes the upright placement of the wick 4 and reduces the chance of a candle passing the erecting unit 62 without the wick 4 being placed upright. It will be clear that placing the wick 4 upright facilitates placing the foil 10 on the upper surface 8 of the candle 1.

In the example of Figs. 3a and 3b, the apparatus 40 as such is represented. It is possible that the apparatus 40 is included in-line in a system for producing candles, as for instance tealights. The candle is therefore provided with the foil in-line. The system here may comprise further apparatuses, such as for instance an apparatus for filling the holder with liquid fuel, an apparatus for placing the wick in the body to be consumed, an apparatus for providing the finished candles with an outer package, etc.

In general, an aluminum foil is favorable, inter alia in view of the extent of nonflammabihty. Preferably, such an aluminum foil 10 has a thickness of between approximately 20 and 120 ιημ, more preferably approximately 50 ιημ.

Herein, the invention is described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein, without departing from the essence of the invention. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, alternative embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described in these separate embodiments are also envisaged.

The invention is not in any way limited to the examples described above. It is for instance possible that the holder 16 is made available in a color and/or pattern, for instance one which is in line with a color and/or pattern of the foil. The holder, for instance the thin-walled aluminum tray, may for instance be lacquered or anodized in color.

In the examples, the body to be consumed is represented as a substantially cylinder-shaped body having a substantially plane upper surface. It will be clear that also other shapes of the body are possible, such as, for instance, but not exclusively, a bar shape, square, triangle, star, etc..

In the example of Figs. 3a and 3b, the foil is placed on the body to be consumed in accordance with Figs, la- Id. It will be clear that the apparatus 40 is also suitable to place the foil on the body to be consumed in accordance with Figs. 2a-2f. In Figs. 3a and 3b the wick is already present in the holder when placing the cover. It will be appreciated that it is also possible to place the cover on the body of fuel without the wick present. It is for instance possible to present the solid body of fuel, without a wick and not contained in a holder, melting a top surface of the body of fuel and adhering the cover to the liquefied fuel. It is possible that in this case the body of fuel already includes a bore for passing therethrough a wick, or that the bore is provided after adhering the cover.

In the examples the candle includes a wick. It is also possible that alternatively, or additionally, the candle includes an electric light source, such as a light emitting diode (LED). The candle may then include a power source, such as a battery. The body of fuel and the cover may still be embodied as described hereinabove.

All such variants are understood to fall within the framework of the invention.

For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include

embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word 'comprising' does not exclude the presence of other features or steps than those listed in a claim.

Furthermore, the words 'a' and 'an' shall not be construed as limited to 'only one', but instead are used to mean 'at least one', and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage.

Claims

1. Unburnt candle comprising a body of fuel, a wick and a cover, wherein the cover is adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of the fuel itself to the cover.

2. Unburnt candle according to claim 1, wherein the cover is adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of liquefied fuel to the cover, the fuel being solidified after adhesion.

3. Unburnt candle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover is exclusively borne by the body of fuel.

4. Unburnt candle according to any one of claims 1-3, further including a holder holding the body of fuel.

5. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a shape and dimension of the foil substantially correspond to a shape and dimension of the upper surface of the body to be consumed.

6. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil is designed to float on the fuel, when this is in liquid form.

7. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil is nonflammable.

8. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil is nonflammable at least in the immediate vicinity of the wick.

9. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil is printable.

10. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil is substantially non-deformable in the plane in which the foil extends.

11. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil comprises a plastic foil or metal foil.

12. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wick extends through an opening in the foil.

13. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper surface is substantially circular.

14. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the foil covers substantially the whole upper surface around the wick.

15. A candle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body of fuel includes a mixed fuel, such as a mixture including one or more, preferably two or more, of paraffin, palm oil, stearin, and recycled candles.

16. A foil designed to be adhered to the body of fuel of a candle by adhesion of the fuel itself to the cover.

17. A foil according to claim 16, provided with a hole for passing the wick therethrough.

18. A foil according to claim 16 or 17, wherein a shape and dimension of the foil substantially correspond to a shape and dimension of the upper surface of the body to be consumed.

19. An assembly of an unburnt candle according to any one of the preceding claims 1-15, and a package for holding the unburnt candle in the package.

20. An assembly of a plurality of unburnt candles according to any one of claims 1-15 and a package for holding the unburnt candles in the

package.

21. Method for manufacturing an unburnt candle, comprising: providing a body of fuel having at least a liquefied top part, positioning a cover, such as a foil or plate, onto the liquid fuel prior to solidifying, and allowing the fuel to solidify with the cover on top.

22. Method according to claim 21, wherein the step of providing the body of fuel includes: providing a holder and pouring a fuel that is solid at room temperature into the holder in liquefied form.

23. Method according to claim 21, including: providing a solid body of fuel and liquefying at least a top part of the body of fuel.

24. Method according to claim 23, including: providing a holder, and placing the solid body of fuel in the holder.

25. Method according to claim 22 or 24, including placing a wick in the holder.

26. Method according to any one of claims 21-25, wherein the step of providing the body of fuel includes providing the body of fuel including a mixed fuel, such as a mixture including one or more, preferably two or more, of paraffin, palm oil, stearin, and recycled candles.

27. Method for manufacturing a candle, comprising providing a holder, providing a unburnt wick and a fuel that is solid at room temperature in the holder, positioning a cover, such as a foil or plate, onto the fuel, liquefying the fuel and allowing the fuel to solidify with the cover on top.

28. An apparatus for manufacturing an unburnt candle comprising a holder, a body of fuel, a wick and a cover, wherein the cover is adhered to the body of fuel by adhesion of the fuel itself to the cover, comprising

a foil placing unit for applying the foil to the upper surface of the body of fuel.

29. An apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the foil placing unit comprises a placing head which is designed for taking up the foil at a first location and applying the foil to the upper surface of the body to be

consumed at a second location.

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the foil placing unit is provided with positioning means for aligning the candle without the foil with respect to the placing head.

31. An apparatus according to claim 29 or 30, wherein the placing head comprises a suction mouth for therewith taking up the foil.

32. An apparatus according to any one of claims 28-31, wherein the apparatus is further provided with heating means for liquefying an upper surface of the body of fuel of the candle.

33. An apparatus according to any one of claims 28-32, furthermore provided with an erecting unit for placing the wick substantially vertically upright.

34. An apparatus according to any one of claims 28-33, furthermore provided with conveying means for supplying the candle without foil to the foil placing unit and/or discharging the candle with the foil from the foil placing unit.