EVERLASTING CANDLE

BOUGIE PERPETUELLE

English Abstract

An everlasting candle comprising a wax body with a recessed hollow in its top
for receiving an insulating container, and a smaller holding container with an
annular rim
set within the insulating container and communicating with the insulating
container only by
the rim (thereby to provide an insulative airspace between the two
containers), the holding
container being suitably dimensioned to replaceably receive a tea light votive
candle. In
use, the replaceable tea light votive candle within the everlasting candle
burns with the
same flame as a conventional paraffin candle, and will be liquefied and
consumed during
use. However, since the main wax body of the everlasting candle is separate
and
insulated from the replaceable tea light votive candle, the wax body of the
everlasting
candle will not be liquefied or consumed. Preferably, the holding container is
constructed
of metal, and the rim of the holding container includes a groove into which
scented
aromatherapy oils or the like may be placed so as to diffuse into the air. The
heat of the
burning tea light votive candle warms the metal holding container, thereby
accelerating the
evaporation of the scented oil.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed are
as follows:
1. An everlasting candle comprising;
a wax body having a recessed hollow;
an insulating container set within the hollow;
a holding container with an annular rim set within the insulating container
and
communicating with the insulating container only by the rim, thereby to
provide an insulative airspace between the two containers; and,
a tea light votive candle,
the holding container being suitably configured and dimensioned to replaceably
receive the tea light votive candle.
2. The everlasting candle of claim 1 wherein the annular rim is made of a
material
having a relatively low specific heat capacity, and wherein the rim includes a
groove
for receiving scented oil.
3. For use with a conventional tea light votive candle, an everlasting candle
apparatus
comprising;
a wax body having a recessed hollow;
holding means for the tea light votive candle set within the hollow; and,
associated insulating means between the wax body and the holding means,
the holding means being suitably configured and dimensioned to replaceably
receive a tea light votive candle.

Description

CA 02392084 2002-06-27
EVERLASTLNG CANDLE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to candles, and in particular to a reusable
candle, the wax body of which is not consumed during use.
Background of the Invention
It is well known that the burning of conventional paraffin or other wax
candles
involves the liquefaction, deformation and consumption of the candle itself.
The
expectation of such deformation and consumption may make the decision of
whether or
not to light a conventional candle a' difficult one to make, particularly in
the case of
expensive ornamental candles. Liquified wax also frequently runs down the
sides of a
conventional candle, thereby creating a mess, damaging furniture, and
potentially
constituting a fire hazard.
Liquid fuel lamps that are made to appear like candles are also known in the
prior art, but their use entails other disadvantages that are discussed below.
Byway of
example, Canadian Patent No. 2,125;118 entitled Reusable Candle discloses a
lamp of
the sort having an internal reservoir structure that is re-fillable with a
liquid fuel. The body
of the lamp (that surrounds the internal reservoir) is made of wax so that the
lamp may
resemble a conventional candle.
It will be appreciated that the filling of liquid fuel candle lamps entails
some
hazard to the user because the liquid fuel is combustible and poisonous, and
may be
spilled and unintentionally set ablaze, or may present a poison hazard if
ingested. Filling
the reservoir of a liquid fuel candle lamp is also messy and prone to
spillage, and spilled
liquid fuel may ruin the finish of the wax body of the lamp or surrounding
articles. It is also
noted that the flame that is produced by a liquid fuel lamp is visibly
distinguishable from the
flame produced by a conventional paraffin candle, partly because the flame is
positioned
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CA 02392084 2002-06-27
above a protruding glass tube that holds the wick end sufficiently above the
wax body to
keep the latter from melting.
It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide an
everlasting
candle that looks and burns like a conventional candle, but whose body is not
liquified or
consumed during use.
Summar~i of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
everlasting candle comprising a wax body with a recessed hollow in its top for
receiving an
insulating container, and a smaller holding container with an annular rim set
within the
insulating container and communicating with the insulating container only by
the rim
(thereby to provide an insulative airspace between the underside and lower
side walls of
the holding container and the neighbouring inner walls and floor of the
insulating
container), the holding container being suitably dimensioned to replaceably
receive a
conventional tea light votive candle and to ensure that any molten wax from
the tea light
votive candle does not spill into the insulative airspace. The insulating
container is
preferably constructed of plastic or some other material having a high
specific heat
capacity to further preclude the transfer of heat through to the wax body. The
holding
container may be constructed of a similar material, but may ~Iso be
constructed of metal
or other materials without regard to specific heat capacity.
When lit, the replaceable tea light votive candle within the everlasting
candle
will, of course, bum with the same flame as a conventional paraffin candle,
and will be
liquefied and consumed during use. However, since the main wax body of the
everlasting
candle is separate and insulated from the replaceable tea light votive candle,
the wax body
of the everlasting candle will not be liquefied or consumed. In appearance,
the everlasting
candle of this invention is distinguishable from a conventional candle
(whether lit or not)
only by the presence of the rim of the holding container.
In a preferred embodiment, the holding container is constructed of metal, and
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CA 02392084 2002-06-27
the rim of the holding container includes a groove into which scented
aromatherapy oils or
the like may be placed so as to diffuse into the air. In use; the heat of the
burning tea light
votive candle warms the metal holding container, thereby accelerating the
evaporation of
the scented oil.
The insulating container may protrude slightly above the top of the wax body
(especially if the holding container is made of metal) so as to maintain the
holding
container sufficiently separate from the wax body as to prevent melting, and
the lip of the
insulating container andlor the rim of he holding container is, in a preferred
embodiment,
notched to allow warm air to escape from between the container walls and to
draw cooling
air in to replace it.
Brief Description of the Drawing
Figure 1 is a top plan view of an everlasting candle in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention; and,
Figure 2 is an elevational cross-section of the everlasting candle of Figure
1,
taken along the line A-A in Figure 1.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
As best seen in Figure 2, the everlasting candle 10 comprises a wax body 12
with a recessed hollow in its top, an insulating container 14 set within that
hollow, a holding
container 16 with an annular rim 18 set within the insulating container and
communicating
with the insulating container only by the rim, and a tea light votive candle
20 set within the
holding container. The annular rim; 18 includes a groove 22 for receiving
scented
aromatherapy oil or the like. The tea light votive candle 20 is, of course,
preferably situated
such that it is relatively flush with the top of the wax body 12 of
everlasting candle 10 in
order to maintain the appearance of a normal candle.
An insulative airspace 24 is maintained between the insulating container and
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CA 02392084 2002-06-27
the holding container so as to minimize the transfer of heat from a burning
tea light votive
candle 20 to the wax body 12, and the insulating container 14 may also be
constructed of
plastic or some other material having a. high specific heat capacity to
further lessen the
transfer of heat through to the wax body 12. In the preferred embodiment, the
holding
container 16 is constructed of metal (or some other material having a low
specific heat
capacity) so that the heat from a burning tea light votive candle 20 will warm
the holding
container 16, thereby accelerating the evaporation of scented oil from groove
22.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of
this invention
without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of
the invention
is to be construed in accordance with'the substance defined by the following
claims.
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Representative Drawing