Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02475868 2004-07-27
LIQUID FUEL CANDLE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to candles, and in particular to reusable liquid
fuel candles having a wax body that 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, defornnation and consumption of the candle itself.
The
expectation of such deformation and consumption may make it difficult to
decide whether
or not to light a conventional wax candle, particularly in the case of
expensive ornamental
candles. Liquified wax also frequently runs down the sides of lit conventional
wax candles,
thereby creating a mess, and potentially damaging furniture or even
constituting a fire
hazard. it is, of course, also well know; that conventional wax candles are
normally
secured on candle holders in order to ameliorate these latter hazards and
disadvantages
(and in many cases also to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the candle),
but it
nevertheless remains that conventional paraffin or other wax candles are
deformed and
consumed during use.
Liquid fuel candles that are fashioned to appear like conventional wax
candles while for the most part avoiding the principal drawback of
conventional wax
candles (namely the consumption of the candle itself during use) are also
known.
Canadian Patent No. 2,125,118 to Maclea et aL, entitled Reusable Candle,
discloses a
liquid fuel candle that has a hollowed core at one end for receiving an
internal reservoir and
wick structure that is refillable with a liquid fuel. The body of the candle
(that surrounds the
internal reservoir) is made of wax so that the liquid fuel candle of Maclea
may resemble a
conventional wax candle, and so that it may be secured on a candle holder in
the same
way as would be a conventional wax candle.
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Although liquid fuel candles of the kind disclosed by Maclea may address the
deformation and consumption issues inherent to conventional wax candles, it
has been
found that the placement of the liquid fuel reservoir within the core of such
liquid fuel
candles presents new difficulties. In particular, the volumetric capacity of
the internal fuel
reservoir is necessarily limited relative to the size of such candles. This
limits the burn time
of a given prior-known liquid fuel candle between refills, and also
effectively precludes the
creation of particularly slender liquid fuel candles of this sort.
Additionally, refilling the fuel
reservoir of a liquid fuel candle of the sort disclosed by Maclea is messy and
prone to
spillage, and spilled liquid fuel may ruin the finish of the wax body of the
candle or
surrounding articles.
It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide a reusable
liquid fuel candle that looks like a conventional candle, but that avoids the
drawbacks of
conventional wax candles and known liquid fuel candles discussed above.
Summary of the Invention
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
liquid fuel candle comprising a wax body having a hollowed core, and a base
releasably
or permanently associated with the wax body at one end thereof. The base is
formed and
dimensioned to resemble a conventional candle holder, and defines a reservoir
within
which liquid fuel may be stored. A wick threaded through the hollowed core of
the wax
body communicates at one end with the liquid fuel within the base, and
projects at its
second end slightly beyond the top of the wax body, where it is situated
within an insulator
that prevents the wick from contacting the outer surface of the wax body. In
some
embodiments, the insulator is embedded into the tap of the wax body, but the
insulator
may also simply be held in position atop the wax body by gravitational force
or by other
means.
The liquid fuel is drawn by capillary action into the wick, and the insulator
prevents the flame from liquefying or consuming the wax body when the second
end of the
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wick is lit. Since the liquid fuel is stored within the reservoir provided by
the associated
base (and not within the wax body as in prior known liquid fuel candles), the
wax body may
be very slender and thin without compromising burn time. Overall burn time may
also be
enhanced relative to prior-known liquid fuel candles as the reservoir within
the base can
readily be made quite large without compromising the aesthetic qualities of
the inventive
liquid fuel candle.
In embodiments of the invention where the wax body is permanently
associated with the base, the base preferably also includes a re-sealable
opening through
which the reservoir may be safely re-filled without risking the spillage of
liquid fuel over the
wax body.
The insulator may preferably be constructed of a material having a high
specific heat capacity in order to lessen the transfer of heat through to the
wax body, and
t5 may in some embodiments include or be associated with a conduit formed of a
separate
heat resistant material (such as glass) surrounding the wick at or near its
second end. In
such embodiments; the interposition of t1 ~e heat resistant conduit between
the flame and
the insulator avoids or lessens possible heat damage to the insulator during
use of the
liquid fuel candle. In some embodiments, the insulator also includes grooves
or channels
cut therethrough to permit air to communicate between the outside atmosphere
and the
liquid fuel reservoir to eliminate possible vapour lock.
in some embodiments, a diffuser ring ar tray into which scented
aromatherapy oils or the like may be placed (so as to diffuse into the air)
may be affixed
to or associated with the insulator. In use, the heat generated by the nearby
flame
accelerates the evaporation and dispersion of the scented oil.
The wick may be forrroed of fibreglass fibres or other suitable materials, and
in some embodiments may be surrounded by a housing placed into the hollowed
core of
the wax body. Such wick hausing may help prevent possible contamination of the
wax
body with the liquid fuel, and may also help to insulate the wax body from
heat generated
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when the wick is lit.
fn other embodiments, the liquid fuel candle may comprise more than one
wax body, wick and insulator associated with a single base, thereby to give
the visual effect
of an arrangement of conventional wax candles set upon an elaborate candle
holder. In
such embodiments, a single reservoir of liquid fuel may be shared among
several wax
bodies and flames.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevational cross-section of a liquid fuel candle in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a partial ~;ide elevational cross-section of the liquid fuel
candle of
Figure 1; and,
Figure 3 is an enlarged crass-sectional view ef th2 insulator of the liquid
fuel
candle of Figure 1.
Detailed Description of Preferred Cmbodiments
Referring to the Figures, the liquid fuel candle 10 comprises a wax body 12
defining a hollowed core 14. The wax body 12 is attached releasably or
permanently to
base 16 at one end of the wax body 12, and the base 16 is formed and
dimensioned to
resemble a conventional candle holder. Base 16 defines a reservoir 18 within
which liquid
fuel 20 may be stored, and also includes a re-sealable filling hole 22 in
embodiments (as
shown) where the wax body 12 and base 16 are permanently attached to one
another.
A wick 24 preferably formed of fibreglass fibres is threaded through hollowed
core 14 of wax body 12, and communicates at one end with liquid fuel 20 within
base 16.
At its second end, wick 24 projects slightly beyond the top of wax body 12,
and is there
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situated within an insulator 26 that prevents wick 24 from contacting the
outer surface of
wax body 12. Housing 28 separates wick 24 from hollow core 14 of wax body 12
in order
to avoid possible contamination of wax body 12 with the liquid fuel 20. In the
illustrated
embodiment, insulator 26 is constructed of a material having a high specific
heat capacity
in order to lessen the transfer of heat through to the wax body, and includes
glass conduit
30 that surrounds wick 24 at or near its second end. The interposition of
conduit 30
between the second end of wick 24 and insulator 26 helps to avoid possible
heat damage
to insulator 26 when wick 24 is lit, and also serves to crimp wick 24 in order
to tidy the
flame produced when wick 24 is lit. Insulator 26 also includes grooves 32
(best seen in
l 0 Figure 3) to permit air to communicate between the outside atmosphere and
liquid fuel
reservoir 18 to eliminate possible vapour lock. Optional annular diffuser ring
34 into which
scented aromatherapy oils or the like may be placed (so as to diffuse into the
air when the
liquid fuel candle is lit) sits atop insulator 26, and surrounds conduit 30.
As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing
disclosure, many alterations and rnodifications are possible in the practice
of this invention
without depar ring f~-cm the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly; the scope
of th a invention
is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following
claims.
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