Patent Application
20230141203
The present disclosure relates generally to candle design and manufacture.
Candles are commonly used for decorative purposes when unlit as well as for providing illumination and in many formulations pleasing aromas when lit. Typical candle design uses a wax body which may or may not be contained within a vessel and at least one wick embedded in the wax body. The wax body may be scented or unscented. The materials used in the production of many candles, however, may be environmentally problematic. Wax bodies made from petroleum-based paraffin both use an unsustainable source material in addition to producing potentially toxic byproducts when burned. Many of the substances used to provide scents in modern candles are also made from unsustainable and/or synthetic materials which produce potentially toxic byproducts during combustion. Even the non-combustible components of many candles may be environmentally problematic. Wicks are typically secured to a candle body using a metal ring which is commonly thrown away when the candle is fully consumed. Even if a vessel which holds the wax body is made from a recyclable material it is also frequently simply thrown away. These shortcomings of modern candle design and manufacture result in candles which use unsustainable resources to manufacture, produce potentially toxic air pollution when used, and leave behind waste once consumed that must be landfilled. It is evident that there is a continuing need for candle designs which use only sustainably sourced, biodegradable materials.
In one aspect, a candle design having a vessel with an upper body wall portion and a base portion defining a candle body volume, a wick fixably mounted to the vessel within the candle body volume by a securing plug, and a wax disposed within the candle body volume and surrounding at least a portion of the wick, where the vessel, wick, securing plug, and wax are all made from biodegradable and/or compostable materials. In one example the vessel is made from bamboo and the wax or combination of waxes used to make the candle are selected at least in part for their ability to adhere to bamboo. Such waxes include, but are not limited to, those made at least in part from coconut oils and include one or more of coco apricot crème, hemp coco soy, and combinations thereof. Optionally the waxes may include one or more fragrance compounds. The wicks may be made from cotton or wood and the securing plug from naturally occurring clays. In still other aspects, the bamboo vessel is coated with one or more layers of a flame retardant compound such as flame retardant compounds containing melamine.
A partial cross sectional view of a candle 10 according to one embodiment is shown in
Candles such as those described herein may be manufactured by first selecting and preparing a candle body vessel 30 such as those shown in
After any desired decorations are added to the vessel they are treated with one or more applications of a suitable flame retardant substance. In one example, the flame retardant substance is non-toxic, eco-friendly, and/or is sustainably produced. Such flame retardant substances include melamine compounds (one example of which is sold under the name Flamecheck M-111 by Flamecheck® International, LLC of Tucson, Ariz., USA) which typically work by insulating a coated substance from heat as well as evolving nitrogen gas when burned or charred which inhibits further combustion. One or more coats of a suitable fire retardant substance are applied evenly to all surfaces of the candle body vessel 30 including the upper edge 32, lower edge 40, exterior surface 36, and interior surface 34. Suitable application methods may include spray, brushing, dipping, and the like.
Once one or more applications of the flame retardant material have been applied and have dried or cured the candle may be constructed within the prepared candle vessel. First, a wick is set within the candle vessel body. The wick may be made from a variety of different sustainable, natural, and/or biodegradable materials including cotton or raw wood. Optionally raw wood wicks may be fabricated such that they produce an audible “crackling” sound when burned or they may be silent when burned. The amount and intensity of wick “crackle” may be controlled by the species of wood used, the moisture level in the wood, and the wax used in the candle. The wick is set by attaching it to the candle vessel within the vessel body using natural clay (which is fully compostable) rather than the traditional metal plate (which is not biodegradable or compostable). Once the wick is set the candle vessel body may be filled with wax. A variety of sustainably produced and biodegradable and/or compostable waxes may be used. In one example, the wax is selected at least in part for its ability to adhere to the bamboo of the candle vessel body. Natural waxes such as pure beeswax and palm oil wax which might be sustainably produced and biodegradable and/or compostable adhere to bamboo poorly which results in an unstable candle. Suitable waxes include, but are not limited to, coconut apricot crème (coco apricot crème), hemp coconut soy (hemp coco soy), and combinations thereof. Optionally one or more fragrance compounds may be added to the wax prior to casting a candle. In one particular example fragrance compounds are made from sustainably sourced materials and may be all natural, non-toxic, and/or fully biodegradable/compostable. The exact ratio of fragrance compound to wax may vary as desired. Typically fragrance is added up to 12% by weight, but more or less fragrance compound may be added depending on the characteristics of the wax used in a particular candle. Once any fragrance compounds have been added to the melted wax, the wax may be poured into the prepared candle vessel body to the desired level and allowed to cool. Once cooled the candle is finished and ready for use. Candles produced using these techniques are clean burning, producing minimal toxic byproducts when burned, and contain only biodegradable and/or compostable materials. Once the candle has reached the end of its useful life the remaining components (the vessel body, securing plug, and residual portions of the wick and/or wax) may be composted or recycled using normal means.
The previously described method may be used to produce variations of the candle shown in
A partial cross sectional view of a candle 60 according to another embodiment is shown in
The exact length of the cylindrical upper portion and a cylindrical lower portion may vary as desired. Bamboo canes or stems are generally hollow, but are solid at nodes as shown in
The present description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that nigh-infinite modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Other aspects, features, and advantages may be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
