Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
Fr~ t I If ~R. 21. lg~30 1: 18 PM P 3/33
2~12~2~
SWAG CENTERPIECE WI~H TAPER CANDLE/CHIMNEY ~LASS INSERT
The pre~en~ inven~ion rela~eB ~ener~lly ~o a
mount, and more particularly to ~ m~unting d~vice or adaptar
for uee w;th ~ ~Andle ~n~ in a centerpi~ce arran~ement 8
thAt R ~Ap~r ~andle and chimney ~lae~ can be used for m~r~
v~rsati~ity, v~rie~y ~nd economy.
~ .
~çksL~Q~ r$
Art1~icial centerPi~c~ Rrran~ements are typ~cally
used on t~ble~ and ~he llke for deG~rative purpo~e~. Such
cent~rpiece ~rr~n~emen~ of~en include a candl~ And
surroundin~ candle r~ng on which ~r~;o;al ~lower~, leAves
and ~he l~kc are attached. The candle r1ng8 ha~ baen
ava~lable for years And gener~ly con~i~t o~ one pl~ic
ring member, or sever~l tiered ring mem~er~ ~f different
diameter~l eaGh havlng mountlng peg~ ~h~reon to ~h~ch the
arti~lc1al flow~rs) leAvee and the like ~re ~ttAche
26 In order to vary the Appear~nce of ~U~h
centerpiece Arr~ngeme~s to fik the o~casion. ~he ean~1~ or
~lowerR ~an be chany~d. Chan~ln~ the artif~lal flowers ~n
the candle ring can be both expensive an~ time con~um~ng.
Heretofore, candle rings tr~dit;~n~lly h~ve ~eRnl~dApted ~or
u~e wlth col~mn or plllar ~ndles, wh~ch are re~a~tY~lY
bulky and expensive and tend to be l~ss read~lY aY~ilable
FFCil: * ~lRf~ 1. 1990 1: le P~l P 4/33
~2~32~1
and/or only ~vallable in limited colors and ~tyles. Beeau~e
these candle rin~s h~ve b~en previously 11m~ted to ~ ~ngle
s-lze candle, the k~n~s of centerp7ec~ arran3ement~ po~ible
have not been R~ v~ri~d or ver~R~ile ~ they ml~ht have
besn.
Some centerp~ece ~rrangement~ wo~ld be much ~re
attractive with the r~la~ively taller, lee-~ axpen~tve and
more readlly available taper candles, but there h~s not ~een
avn~la~le heretofore ~n adApter by wh~eh 6uch candles Go~ld
be used with candle rlngs in 3 way that enables the u~er to
utll~ze either p~ r ~r taper c~ndls~ a~ desire~ ~lth a
particular eAndle ring for maximu~ variety and versatillty.
Nor has ~here been available hsre~ofor~ An adapter
by whl~h a taper candle and chlmney ~lass coul~ ~e util;~e~
l~ as d~ired w~th a particular can~le rin~ for even more
variety an~ versatility.
A need hAs thus arisen ~or a taPer can~le bar
whi~h CAn be lns~rted ;nto ~n exi~in~ candle ring en~blin~
th~ use of taper c~ndle and chimney yla~ and when removed,
revertlng ~he ~andle ring ~ack ~r Use with orlginal p71lar
candle, while stlll maintain-7n~ the ori~inal ~nt~rpiec~
style design.
F~OII : * MhF~. 91. l9g0 1: lg Pl1 P 5/33
2~:~2~2~
SUmm~ e~ InYen~i~n
The present inventlon comprlses an ~d~pter b~r
th~t overcomes ~he ~ore~oing nnd oSh~r diff~cul t i e8
~s~o~;At~3d wi~h th~ pr10r ~r~. In ac~or~an~e wlth the
in~en~ion, t~ere i~ providcd a taper ~an~le bar wh~ch i8
adapted for ua~ w~th ~ candle rlny ~o ~hat e~ther a p;llar
candla or one or more tap~r c~ndles can b~ utilize~ ~s
des1red wi~hout ch~n~in~ candle rin~.
The taper ~andle bar o~ ~he fir~t em~odiment
compri~ an e~on~a~e base pla~e o~ suf~ici0nt ~n3th to
spa~ th~ ins1de top diame~r of ~h~ c~n~l~ r1ng~ ~ne or two
taper holder6 are mounted in spac~d-apart, symmctric~l
relatlonsh~p on the plate. E~ch t~pcr holder prefer~bly
includes wedges or g~sset~ ~h~re1n ~or ~ecur1ng ~h~ c~ndle
t5 in place. Cl~ps are prov~ded at oppoe1te snd~ of ~he pl~e
for releasable eng~gemen~ with th~ canJle r1ng. E~ch Cl ip
1s preferably notche~ ~o rece1ve a rad;al plece in the
cAndle rin~ to achiev~ a "~uc~le'` ~ffect ~or balance and
stability.
A ~eco~d smbod1ment, whloh i6 adapt~d for use ~ith
smaller candle r1ngs, inclw~e~ a sin~le candle hol~er ~nd a
ci rcular bRse p~ate thAt re~eiv~s the ~andl~ r~n~ ~hereov~r
and rests on ~h~ underlyiny sur~ for ~t~b~ y. Cl ~p~
are provided About the candl~ hol~er ~ r releasRble
en~a~gement wi~h the cand~e r1n~a and to ~eçure the candle
rin~ itself,
FR~ * I~I~R. 21. 1~0 1:~0 P~l P 6/33
~2~2~
A third embod~ment incl~de~ a ~inyle candle
holder, n b~se pl~te w1th Oppo6ite c~ ~p8 for releas~le
en~a~ement with the underlying can~le ring, an~ a
circumferentj~l arrangament of tang~ about thc ~an~le holder
6 for recctving a chlmn~y 91R3S.
I~ ~e~ired, the c~ndle rln~ can be modiPied to
include r~dial extension6 or runners wlth prong~ therson to
rece;ve addition~l artificial flowers, l~ave~ and ~he like
for more versatil1ty in a swag cer,terpisce ~rr~ngement.
s~ ~ ~
F~ R. 21. lgg0 1: 20 Pl1 P 7/33
,
-6-
_r~l5~ 9~51~ L~7~inQ~
A better understandin~ of the inventi~n ~n be had
by referenc~ to the followin~ ~etailed ~e~CriptiOn in
conjunctlon ~ith the a~Gompunying Draw~nys, whereln;
Fi~ per~p~ctive vlew o~ ~ centerplece
~rran~e~ent in~ludin~ the taper cQndle b~r o~ the invcn~ion;
Flg. 2 is a side v~ew of a c~n~le rin~ w1th khe
t~per candle b~r o~ th~ fir~t embodlment;
Fl~ top view ~her~o~:
Fig. 4 i~ a partial bo~tom v~ew thereo~;
Fi~. 5 i~ an ~nlar~ed p~rtlal sec~;on vi~w taken
~lon~ ~ines 6-5 of Fi~. ~ in ~he dlrection ~ the arrows;
Fig. 6 ;s a side vlew of a t~per c~ndle bar o~ ~h~
second embQd~menti
~i~. 7 is ~ top view thereo~;
t~ n ~nlaryed pAr~ial sectlon v~ew taken
along lin~ 8-8 of Fl~. 7 in th~ d~rection o~ ~ha ~rrows;
Fi8. ~ ls a side view o~ ~ o~ndle r~g with the
taper candle~chimney ~la~s bar of the ~hlrd embodlment
Fig. 10 ~ a tap v1ew ~h~reo~;
Fig. ll ls a s;de vi~w o~ A modifled candle r~g
wlth the taper candle bar of the ~ir~t embodiment;
Fig. 1~ l~ a ~ide Yiew (P~rt~ally eu~w~y~ of a
mod;f1ed ~andle ring w1th the -Aper çandle/chimneY ~lass bar
2~ of the third embo~im~nt: ~nd
F1g. 13 ie a partial top view ~hereof.
- , . ~ , .
FF~it1 ~ R. ~1. 19~10 1:21 PM P 8/33
--6--
~ iled Ds6~r~tlon
Referring now to the Dr~winy~, where~n l~ke
reference numer~l~ de~tgnate like or corresponding part~
threughout ~he Yiew~, and p~rticularly r~ferring tQ Ft~.
1-6, thers is ~hown a cen~erp~ece ~rrangement 10
incorporattng ~he tapar ~andle bar of ~he 1nv~nt1~n. Th~
centerpiece arrnngement 1~ inclw~es a pa;r o~ taper o~ndles
12 and artif;cla~ ~lower~ 1~. Th~ ~lower~ 14 ~e m~un~ed on
A candle ring 16, And the candle~ 12 are suppor~ed by the
taper cAndle bar 18 of the ~lret embodiment of ~he 1nventlon
wh;ch ;s attached to the ~op o~ the c~ndls r~ng, a~ w~ll be
expla~ned more fully here~n~fter.
~ he candle rin~ 16 ~8 of sub~tantl~llY
convent;onal, tlered construction. The candle rin~ 16,
which ls typ~Gally o~ molded pl~6~iC, incl~de~ three
generally concentr~c ring members 20, 2~ and 24
inter~onnected by gener~lly radia1 ~poke~ n~ mem~ers 20
and 2~ are ~nterconnected ~y ctrcum~eren~t Rl 1 y ~pac~ p~r~
spokes 21, ~nd rlng members 22 ~nd 24 ar~ ~imilarly
~o interconnected by ~p~ke~ 23. Prongs 2~, ~7 ~n~ 2~ are
provlded on r;ng members ~0, 22 an~ ~ resPectlv~lY~ for
Attachmen~- o~ the ar~;flclal flower~ 14, leave~ and ~he like
there~o. The oandle ring 1~ i6 ~d~p~ed for plAce~en~ over a
pillar c~ndle ~not shown~ wh~h e~tends up~ardlY through the
.. . .. ... . . .. .. ..... ... .. . ..
2 ~ 1 2 !~
FF~CI~ 11hR. 21. 19g0 1: ~1 Pl~ P 9/33
uppsrmo~t, lnn~r ring msmber 24, whlch i6 typlc~lly about
3.0 inches in dinme~er.
If deslr~d, the csndle ring 16 oan be modified to
lnclude radlAl ex~ens10ne or runners 90 in order to form a
6 Rwag centerpjece, See Fig. 11. In the pre~erred embodlm~nt
AS 1llustrated, two r~dial runners 90 extend outw~rdly from
the lower m~st ring member ~0 ~rom oppo~i~e ~i~es of the
~andla ring ~6. If deslred, however, ons ~r suitabl0 nwmber
of runners 90 ~ay be used. Pron~s ~ are prov1~ed on tho
runner~ for attachmen~ of add1tional arti~i~ial f10wers,
leaves and the like tnot ~hown) thereto. Two ~ro~p8 of
three prongs g~ are provided alon~ eAch r~nner ~0, with one
group o~ two ~ron~s baing provl~ed at the outer end of tho
runner ~s best seen ~n Fi~. i3. The r~nners ~0 ~nd pron~s
92 thereon may ~e molded from pl~s~ic in~egr~l wi~h ~he
candle rin~ 16 however, in the preferred omb~lment, each
runn~r 3~ ls mol~d around a me~al wlre ~4 ~or
re~n~oreemen~. The reinforcing w~ res 94 pre~erably extend
su~stantially the ent~re lsn~th o~ runners 90.
If ~ne or two taper candl~ n~tead o~ a pi l l~r
c~ndle are desiredJ the ~per candle ~ar 18 ~an b~ u~ed with
candle rin~ 16~ ~he candle ~aper bar 18 ;nolude~ ~ pla~0 ~0
which is ad~pted to ~pan ~he inn~r rin0 2~ of ~he ~andle
r;ng t~ A pair of candle holders 3~ are provid~d on pl~
26 30 in ~pAced-apArt, ~mm~rical rala~ionsh~p wi~h respec~ to
the midp~in~ o~ ~he plat~ ~r ~ta~ y. Each hold~r ~2
232~
FF?Oll ~ R. 21. 1990 1:~2 Pl~l P10/33
preferably include~ wedge~sh~pe~ gu8eete 34 thereln as best
seen ln Fi~s. 3 and 61 to help ~ecure th0 ~ap~r candle~ 12
in place. The can~le bar 18 i~ pra~erably constructed from
molded plastic. Althou~h ~he cand~e bar 18 inoludes two
symmetric~lly po6itioned candle holder6 32, a ~lngle ~entr~l
holder could be used l~stead.
Clip~ 3~ ~re provided ~t oppoei~e end~ of the
plate 30 of ~he t~per oandle bar 18 ~or ang~emenS with ~he
candle ring 16. In particular, ~he elips 36 are adapt~d to
~nap over the inner r;ny me~ber 24. In ~hQ pre~erred
embodimen~, each ~l~p 36 includes a central notch 38 th~rein
for recaiving spoke~ 23 in ~hs eandle riny 16 t~ provlde A
"buc~lc" effect for added ~abi1ity. Slnce the ~poke 23 in
candle rln~ 16 ~re ~rrAnged in oPpo~lte, di~metr~ pair~,
this Also helps assure proper centerin~ and b~lance of the
taper candle bar ~8 on candle r~ng 16. For purpvs~ o~
clar~ty, the candles l~ have be~n omltted ~rom F~gs. 3 and
.
If deslr~, a prong 40 ~n also be provlde~ on
platc 30 midway ~tween holder~ 3~ ~or ~ hment o~ An
art~f~ci~l flower 14 diree~ly to ~he taper candle b~r 1~.
Referriny now to Fi~sl 6-~ there ~ ~h~wn ~ tap~r
~andle ~r 50 incorpora~ing ~ ~econd embod~ment o~ the
inven~ion, Th~ taper candl~ bar SO ;s par~icul~rlY ~dapted
26 for use w~th a relatlvely ~m~ller ~andl~ r~ng 82, ~uch as
1~5 inch can~le rin~, comprisin~ a ~in~le r1n~ m~mber 54
.. , .. , . " ... ~ . ., .. ..... ... . ... , ,. ~,
2~i?~2~
F~IJ~ . 2 1 . 1 ~'30 1: ~3 P11 P l l /33
with pron~ thereen ~er rsce~v1n~ ~rti~1ci~1 flowers,
leaves ~nd the 1ike in a e~ntRrpiece arran~ement ~h1ch has
be0n omittad for cl ar i ty .
The taper c~ndle bar 50 ~n~ludes a ba~ plate 68
~hich 1~ ~rcular, inete~d o~ alongate, And which is ~dapted
to f;t wikhin the r;ny mem~er 54 o~ t~l~ c~n~le ring ~2. In
Additior" tile b~se p7ate 68 i~ of sw~icient depth in order
te extend through ~he candle r1ng 52 and re8t directly on
the underlyin~ surfR~e. The ~a~e plat~ 52 is prefer~bly
enlar~ed for addlt~onal ~tabillty. A generallY cylindr;cal
candle holder 60 is centrAlly 8e~ured ~o the ba$e plAte 6~.
Opposing paire of wedge-~hap~d gus~et~ 62 are prov1ded
therein for eny~gement wi~h ~he base end o~ a s~n~le tap~r
candle 12. For purposes o~ cl~ri~y, th~ candl~ 12 has b~n
om~tted from ~igs. 7 Rnd 8.
The taper candle bar 50 al~o includes three ol~ps
64 loca~ed ~t even circum~erentially ~pa4ed-apart position~
a~out the candle holder ~C. The G1 ;P~ B4 ~re anyled
downwardly and outwardly to en~ge th~ ring 54 of the candl~
rin~ 52, wh;ch &n~ps down oVer ~he c~ndle bar 50, between
the clips and on~o the baae pla~o S~, ~n ord~r t~ provid2
fur~her 6tabilizat;on ~or the ~ap~r candle bar 50. The
outsi~e d;~meter of the candle hol~er 60 i~ pref~r~bly
sliyhtly smaller than the inside d1ame~er o~ rln~ member 64
2~ ~o allow ~or d~formatlon o~ ~h~ ring ~Urin~ eonne~tion or
dis~onnection.
FFC~ I`lRR 21. lg90 1: 24 Pl~l PlZ/33
- ~ O-
Referrin~ now ~o Figs. g an~ 10 th~re ;s ~hown a
taper candle~chimney 91~ bar 70 lncorporRtin0 ~ third
embod1m~n~ of ~he tnven~ion. Th~ bar 70, wh1ch l~
particularly adap~ed ~or u~e w1th a tiered c~nd~e rln~ llke
rln~ 1~ shown here1n, include~ a base pla~e 72 o~ gener~lly
c~rculAr con~iyuration. The per~phery of the b~ pla~e 7
i ~ SCA l l oped ~s ~hown ~or clearanoe with the prongs 28 on
the top rtn~ member 24 of candle ring 18. A pa;r of eliPs
74 are provided at oppo~ite end~ of plate 72 for
snap-releas~ble enga8ement w;th ~he ;nn~r r~ng member 24.
Clips 74 Pre similar in con-~truction ~nd ~unction ~o olip~
36 of the candle bar 18 herein. ~ ~0nerally cylindrical
candle holder 7~ ls o~ntral1y ~ecur~d ~o ba~e plate 72.
Opposing pairs of wedge-~haPed 8u~set~ 78 ~re provided
therein ~or ~nga~emen~ with the ba~e end of a ~ingl~ tap~r
c~ndle 12. In addltion, a plural~ty o~ curved tan3s ~0 Are
provided In c~rcumferential arr~n~men~ a~ou~ ~he c~ndle
holder 76 for receivin~ a ch~mney ~lass ~2 thereon. A~
illu~tra~ed, four such tan~s ~o ~re ~1ized, however, Rny
sultable nwmber can be u~ed. Tha taper cAn~le/~himney gla~
~ar 70 i8 pre~erably ~f ;nteyr~l m~lded pla~ti~
con6tru~tion.
~ -~. 12 ~hows the taper candl~/chimn~y ~la~ bar
70 moun~ed ~n a mo~1fied eandle ~1n~ 1~ ;ncorpor~tin~
2~ runner~ ~0 in ord~r to form ~ ~wa~ centerP;e~e.
2 ~ 2 ~
FF~Clil: * l~ 1. 19'~0 1:24 Pl~l P13/33
From the fore~oing, ~t wlll thu~ be ~pparent ~hat
the present invention co~pr;ses ~ ~aper candle bAr having
nu~erous adv~nt~ges over th~ prlor arkr On~ pr~m~ry
advantage is ;mproved ver~atility 80 ~hat ~1ther c~lumn or
t~par candles Gfln ~e use~ w7~h ths ~me candle ring, and
withowt ~h~ngin~ ~h~ candle rin~ or the ~or~l arran~emen~
~hereon, which ;n turn ~ncre~e versat~l~ty o~ the overall
cen~erpiece ~rangement If desire~, a chimney gl~ss can
also be used. I~ desir~d, the candle ring can al~o be
modified to include runner~ in ord~r to ~orm a ~ag
centerp~ece for even more ver~atll~ty. other adva~ta~es
will be evident to those sk~lled 1n the art.
Althou~h part~cular embodimQnts of the invention
have bQen illustrated in the acoomp~ny;ng ~r~wing~ and
t~ ~e6cr~bed in ~he foregoin~ Deta~led De~rip~lOn, it w;ll be
understood tha~ the inven~ion ~ not limited onl~ to ~he
embo~im~n~s disclos~d, b~ n~ended to ~mbrace any
alternatives, eq~ivalent~, modi~icRti~ns ~nd/or
re~rrangemen~ o~ elements fall~n~ within ~h~ scope o~ the
;nvention a~ defined by th~ fo~lowin~ ClRime.
