Patent Application
20070026352
The present invention relates to the field of candle illumination. In particular, the present invention relates to a melting plate candle that includes a melting plate designed to efficiently burn fuel.
Wax candles come in many varieties, such as tapers, pillar candles, container candles, and votive candles. Usually, such candles leave an amount of unconsumed wax at the end of the useful life thereof.
Some have attempted to minimize the amount of wax fuel left unused at the end of the candle's life. For example, one votive candle has a cup with a conically tapered bottom wall draining toward a central recess that causes melted wax to flow toward a central wick to provide complete consumption thereof. A cylindrical tube with apertures through the side wall extends upwardly from the recess and surrounds and supports the wick until the wax has been completely consumed. In another example, a wax burner in a flat-bottomed container includes a wick disposed in a hollow metal vertical tube with upper and lower radial heat fins. Holes through the tube side wall allow complete consumption of wax in the container.
In container candles, however, it was observed that sudden flare-ups, or “flash-over,” sometimes occurred when the wax level became very low. Some have tried to prevent flash-over by causing the container candle to self-extinguish before all the wax has been consumed. For example, one container candle includes an anti-flash sustainer having an upwardly extending neck that holds a wick and a flat or concave base. The lower end of the neck is sealed so that the flame will automatically extinguish after the melted wax drops below the top of the neck. The sustainer may be mounted upon an upwardly extending pedestal on the container floor to further increase the amount of unconsumed fuel in the bottom of the container. In another container candle, a conventional wick holder is located within a raised disk-shaped locating recess in the bottom wall of the container. A raised peripheral lip around the locating recess prevents wax from flowing to the wick after the wax has dropped below the level of the lip, thereby leaving unconsumed fuel in the bottom of the container surrounding the raised locating recess. Unfortunately, such designs directed at minimizing flashover events sacrifice efficient fuel consumption by leaving the unconsumed wax at the end of the candle's life.
In one embodiment, the candle includes (a) a plate having a first surface; (b) a wick holder assembly having a wick and a second surface that is complementary to the first surface, wherein the wick has a top region and a bottom region; (c) fuel; and (d) a capillary space formed between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the capillary space has an inlet side and an outlet side and the outlet side is at an edge of the second surface; wherein the inlet side of the capillary space is proximate to the fuel and the outlet side of the capillary space is proximate to the bottom region of the wick.
In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a wick holder assembly for a candle on a plate that includes a capillary recess or a capillary pedestal, including: (a) a capillary base having a top surface and a bottom surface; (b) a tube extending upward from the top surface of the capillary base; (c) a bottom reservoir defined within the capillary base for holding fuel; (d) a wick disposed through the tube in fluid communication with the top surface of the capillary base; (e) an aperture through the bottom surface; wherein the fuel included in the bottom reservoir travels via the aperture to a capillary space formed between the capillary base and the capillary recess or pedestal through which the fuel can flow to the top surface of the capillary base.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the candle includes: (a) a plate having a first surface, wherein the plate comprises a heat-conducting material and an insulating base portion; (b) a wick holder assembly having a wick and a capillary base that includes at least part of a second surface that is complementary to the first surface, wherein the wick has a top region and a bottom region and the capillary base is configured to include a bottom reservoir and a top reservoir; (c) meltable fuel; and (d) a capillary space formed between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the capillary space has an inlet side and an outlet side and the outlet side is at an edge of the second surface; wherein the inlet side of the capillary space is proximate to the meltable fuel and the outlet side of the capillary space is proximate to the top reservoir, and the bottom region of the wick contacts the top reservoir.
In one embodiment of a melting plate candle of the present disclosure, a charge of meltable fuel melts in the vicinity of a flame disposed on a wick and forms a pool on the melting plate. The end of the wick may be held at a relatively constant height, so the flame does not move significantly downward from its initial position. As a result, a consistent flame may be maintained by the melting plate candle at a substantially defined, invariant position relative to structural features of the melting plate candle.
Meltable fuels contemplated include fuels such as paraffin, beeswax, montan wax, carnauba wax, microcrystalline wax, polyvinyl acetate, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, fatty esters, and gels incorporating such fuels. The charges of the meltable fuel may be shaped into forms such as pucks, donuts, chips, slivers, balls, pellets, shavings, particulates, cubes, discs, three dimensional shapes, and wafers, or in any other shape suitable to its function as candle fuel. The fuel used in the context of the present invention may also include volatile or substantially volatile materials such as, without limitation, fragrances, air fresheners, deodorizers, odor eliminators, odor counteractants, insecticides, insect repellants, miticides, herbals, medicinal substances, disinfectants, sanitizers, mood enhancers, aroma therapy compositions, and the like. The charges of the meltable fuel may be colored for the purpose of decoration and/or identification. The shape of the charge of meltable fuel may be designed to fit any given configuration of melting plate and/or wick holder assembly, including without limitation intended, those disclosed herein. For example, the sides of a charge may be shaped complementarily in order to fit the interface between the melting plate and the wick holder assembly using one or more pieces thereof. Preferably, the charge of meltable fuel is a single piece that is molded or cut to fit at or near the wick holder assembly. As a general rule, the fuel used preferably has a melting temperature above ambient, but below the temperature of the fuel's combustion such as that of the flame itself.
In one embodiment, the melting plate candle includes a melting plate that may support one or more charges of a meltable solid and/or gel fuel and a wick holder assembly with a wick holder that is in contact with a wick. Alternatively, or in addition, the melting plate may be filled with a liquid fuel. The wick holder assembly may further have heat transfer elements, such as heat fins, to improve heat transfer from a flame on the wick to both the meltable fuel and the melting plate with which the fuel is in contact, thereby heating the fuel over a relatively large surface. This, in turn, provides for more rapid melting of the meltable fuel and a more uniformly heated pool of melted fuel, which further provides efficient evaporation of the volatile materials that may be present in the fuel as well as an improved rate of fuel consumption.
The melting plate and/or wick holder assembly preferably includes a heat-conductive material, such as, for example, a metal, although any material is contemplated for use. Preferably, the heat conductive material is substantially nonflammable. In one embodiment, the melting plate is made of polished aluminum due to its relatively high heat conductivity, low combustibility, light weight, and aesthetically pleasing appearance. Further, the melting plate may include a non-heat conductive body with a heat conductive laminate applied thereto. Preferred heat conductive laminates include, without limitation, a thin layer of metal, such as foil prepared from any meltable metal, including, for example, aluminum.
The melting plate and wick holder assembly therefore provide improved heat transfer from the flame on the wick to the meltable fuel. The melting plate may also be shaped so as to direct the melted or liquefied fuel to a point where fluid communication is established with the wick, such as, a capillary lobe, channel, surface, or a depression of the wick holder assembly or with which the wick holder assembly is in contact. In one embodiment, the melting plate is bowl shaped, but may be any other functionally appropriate shape including, for example, a funnel, a plate with an inclined inner surface, a plate with fluid channels therein, a plate with capillary grooves, and the like, having one or more points where a liquid can pool. The melting plate may also be shaped to control the shape and depth of the pool of fuel, which is burned at the flame that is disposed at the wick.
In another embodiment, the candle includes preferably a plate, also called a melting plate or a heat-conductive plate herein, having a first surface that is at least a part of a capillary recess or a capillary pedestal included on the top of the plate. The first surface is fashioned particularly with respect to a second surface that is included in a wick holder assembly. The wick holder assembly is in contact with the plate and preferably includes a wick holder having a wick that is supported by a capillary base. The capillary base preferably includes at least a part of the second surface by which it is in contact with the plate, an internal bottom reservoir, and an external upper reservoir. The wick itself has a top region and a bottom region. The candle also includes a preferably meltable fuel that is situated within or adjacent to the wick holder assembly; more preferably the meltable fuel is located in the bottom reservoir of the capillary base. A capillary space is preferably formed between the first surface and the second surface, wherein the capillary space has an inlet side and an outlet side and the outlet side is preferably at an edge of the second surface. The inlet side of the capillary space is preferably proximate to the fuel and the outlet side of the capillary space is preferably proximate to the bottom region of the wick. Accordingly, the wick is in fluid communication with the fuel of the bottom reservoir that, upon melting, enters the inlet of the capillary space, exits the outlet thereof onto the upper reservoir, and from there preferably enters the bottom region of the wick. The plate itself optionally includes a retaining ridge that preferably serves to course the melted fuel toward the inlet side of the capillary space, or to retard the flow of the melted fuel away therefrom.
The capillary base preferably fits into a corresponding structure on the plate. In the case where the capillary base has a convex bottom, the plate preferably includes a capillary recess into which the capillary base fits. Alternatively, in the case where the capillary base has a concave or scooped in bottom, the plate preferably includes a capillary pedestal onto which the capillary base fits. Either way, the first surface included on the plate at and/or in the capillary recess or capillary pedestal is complementary to the second surface included on the capillary base.
Preferably, the first surface and the second surface releasably lock together. In this embodiment, each of the first and second surfaces includes interlocking features therefor. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the first surface includes a first snap-on detent member that engages a second snap-on detent member included on the second surface. In another preferred embodiment, the first and second surfaces have complementary spiral protrusions such that the second surface screws into or onto the first surface, as appropriate.
The plate preferably includes an insulating space disposed between the heat-conducting material and a support base. The insulating space can be a void or it can include heat-insulating material, such as, without limitation, ceramic, styrofoam, cellulose, and the like. By this inclusion of insulating space, the melting plate can more readily be transported and placed on any surface without concern that the heat of the candle will mar the surface.
The wick holder assembly preferably includes a tube extending from a capillary base. The tube serves to hold a wick in place such that a top region of the wick extends up from the tube and the bottom region of the wick extends down toward the upper surface of the capillary base. The upper surface of the capillary base preferably has a flat or concave surface so that melted or otherwise liquefied fuel that is deposited there is able to flow into the bottom region of the wick. The fuel is thus able to flow to the top of the wick and supply a flame disposed at the top region of the wick when the wick is ignited. This upper surface of the capillary base is also referred to herein as the upper reservoir, which is consonant with the function it serves in preferably being in contact with the bottom region of the wick and so providing the wick with liquefied fuel. As further noted elsewhere, the capillary base can have a convex or a concave bottom surface, or combination thereof, depending on whether the capillary base is intended to fit (a) into a capillary recess (appropriate, then, for a convex bottom surface) or (b) onto a capillary pedestal (appropriate, then, for a concave bottom surface) or (c) into a capillary recess where the capillary base includes a top structure that extends laterally beyond the horizontal dimensions of the capillary recess. With respect to scenario (c), the contents stored within the cavity defined by the top structure (the bottom reservoir, that is) would first come into direct contact with the top surface of the plate outside of the capillary recess prior to entry into the inlet of the capillary space formed between the capillary base and the capillary recess. In contrast, scenario (a) would require that the contents of the bottom reservoir would contact the bottom of the capillary recess where the capillary space inlet would be found, and thus travel by capillary action to the upper reservoir via a wall of the capillary recess that extends up from the top surface of the plate. Accordingly, the liquefied fuel is thereby delivered to the upper reservoir where it then comes into contact with the bottom region of the wick.
The wick holder assembly preferably further includes a bottom reservoir for holding fuel. The bottom reservoir is defined by a cavity within the capillary base, which can have a convex bottom or a concave bottom. Alternatively, the bottom reservoir is an open concavity below the upper surface of the capillary base, which is further described below.
The open concavity preferably has a peg extending centrally that connects at the upper underside of the capillary base. More preferably, the peg includes a central longitudinal bore that opens at its bottom that is seated in the capillary recess and extends up to the top surface of the capillary base that defines the upper reservoir. Fuel stored within the open concavity, upon melting or otherwise liquefying, will first come into contact with the top surface of the plate, enter the inlet of the capillary surface and head down to the outlet thereof at the edge of the peg. From that point, the liquid fuel heads up the bore of the peg by capillary action and is then deposited on or at the upper reservoir located on the top surface of the capillary base.
The capillary base having a convex bottom includes preferably an internal void that further includes, optionally, a first aperture toward or at its bottom and/or a second aperture toward or at its top. The first aperture serves, for example, to place the contents of the bottom reservoir in fluid communication with the bottom of the capillary recess when the capillary base is seated therein. The second aperture serves, for example, to provide a direct path for the wick to extend therethrough and be in fluid communication with the contents of the bottom reservoir. Where only the first aperture is in place in this embodiment, liquid fuel will first contact the bottom of the capillary recess, there enter the inlet of the capillary space and travel up to the outlet thereof, which is located at the edge of the top surface, i.e., the upper reservoir, of the capillary. Accordingly, for this embodiment, the capillary recess includes a wall that extends up from the top surface of the plate in order to define an outlet of the capillary space formed between the capillary base and the capillary recess. The outlet so defined is situated such that the liquid fuel collects on or at the upper reservoir, i.e., the upper surface of the capillary base.
Where the capillary base having a convex bottom includes the second aperture and not the first aperture, then the fuel will travel to the upper region of the wick by way of the lower region of the wick directly from the bottom reservoir. Any fuel in the bottom reservoir that is below the level of the bottom of the wick will not be used. If, however, the first aperture is also included, then liquid fuel in the bottom reservoir has two paths to the upper region of the wick: first, via direct entry into the wick where it extends into the bottom reservoir; and second, via indirect entry into the wick, as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The capillary base having a concave bottom is preferably designed to seat onto a capillary pedestal. The capillary base of this embodiment preferably includes at least one aperture at the bottom of the capillary base, thus placing the bottom reservoir in fluid communication with the top and/or side of the capillary pedestal, or the top surface of the plate immediately adjacent to the capillary pedestal, or any two or all of the recited locations. Surrounding the capillary pedestal is preferably a wall that arises up from the top surface of the plate. The wall has a shape and dimension such that its inner surface forms part of the aforementioned first surface of the plate, and is situated so that the first surface is disposed relative to the second surface included on the capillary base to form the capillary space. The inlet of the capillary space is located at the bottom edge of the concave bottom of the capillary base where that portion of the second surface included on the capillary base forms a capillary space with the first surface included on the plate and wall thereof. From that point, the liquid fuel travels up toward the upper surface of the capillary base in similar fashion as described above with respect to the indirect entry of the liquid fuel in the capillary base having a convex bottom, as set forth above.
The wick holder assembly of the present invention preferably also includes a snap fit detent on the bottom surface of the capillary base. Preferably, the wick holder assembly further includes a heat fin. The heat fin transmits heat from a flame disposed on the top portion of the wick to, preferably, the plate, or, more preferably, fuel stored in the bottom reservoir, or, yet more preferably, to a charge of fuel that is located in the vicinity of the wick holder assembly. The heat fin preferably has a single surface; more preferably, the heat fin has multiple surfaces, such as, for example, two surfaces, three surfaces, four surfaces, or more. Most preferably, the heat fin includes two surfaces. The surface or surfaces of the heat fin preferably faces the upper or top region of the wick.
The wick holder assembly preferably further comprises an aliquot of additional fuel that is proximate to the top region of the wick. Upon igniting the top region of the wick, the first fuel to become available is the aliquot of additional fuel, which is also referred to commonly as a “bump”. The bump preferably provides sufficient fuel so that a sufficient amount of heat is generated and transmitted to the meltable fuel of the bottom reservoir and/or the meltable fuel adjacent to the wick holder assembly such that a sufficient amount of the meltable fuel melts, arrives at the upper reservoir, and contacts the bottom region of the wick in time to provide fuel to the flame before the bump fuel is exhausted. The aliquot of additional fuel can be a meltable solid or a gel or a liquid prior to igniting the wick; preferably, the additional fuel is a meltable solid.
Turning now to the figures,
The melting plate 18 rests upon a preferably non-conductive base 11, but alternatively may use legs (not shown) of non-conductive and/or insulating material. The purpose of the non-conductive material is to insulate a surface 16 from heat from the melting plate, such as, for example, a table or other heat-sensitive surface upon which the melting plate candle 1 may be placed. In the embodiment illustrated in
The melting plate 18, or any embodiment thereof, is preferably made from any suitable material, the suitability of which is a function of being substantially heat conductive yet also being substantially nonflammable. More preferably, the suitable material is nonflammable. Representative suitable heat conductive materials include, without limitation, brass, aluminum, steel, copper, stainless steel, silver, tin, bronze, zinc, iron, clad materials, heat conductive polymers, ceramics, glass, and/or any other suitable heat conductive material, and combinations thereof. Further, the melting plate preferably includes a coating of a surface tension-modifying material applied thereto for purposes of preparing a self-cleaning and/or easily cleaned melting plate, as well as to facilitate flow of melted fuel to, for example, a capillary depression, channel, or other surface in contact with the wick. As an example of a suitable surface-tension-modifying material, a polytetrafluoroethylene coating may be applied to the melting plate surface to provide a coating that has a smooth wetting surface upon which molten wax will generally flow more easily as compared to an uncoated surface. Further, the coated surface facilitates removal of residual wax from the melting plate.
As shown in
A wick 3 contemplated for use in the context of the present invention is preferably a conventional consumable wicking material, such as, without limitation, cotton, cellulose, nylon, paper, or the like. By capillary action, liquid fuel transfers through the wick to the flame disposed thereon. Alternative preferred wicks 3 are substantially non-consumable, such as those composed of porous ceramics and/or pourous metals, fiber glass, metal fiber, compressed sand, glass, metal, and/or ceramic microspheres, foamed and/or porous glass, and/or natural and/or man-made materials, such as pumice, perlite, gypsum, chalk, and the like. Further, composite wicks that include consumable and non-consumable wicking materials are usefully employed in the context of the present invention.
The wick 3 may be situated at any location on or near the melting plate, provided that at least some of the heat of a flame disposed on the wick is transferable to the stored fuel charge 4. The stored fuel charge is preferably located in contact with the melting plate; alternatively, the fuel charge can be included in a wick holder assembly (described further below), which, in one embodiment, is configured so that the heat of the flame is transferred thereto and the melted fuel optionally contacts the plate. The heat contained in the plate preferably serves to melt the meltable fuel and/or maintain the liquid quality of the fuel once melted until the melted fuel is transported to the flame and consumed. The heat transference is accomplished via radiation, convection, and/or conduction of the heat energy from the flame to the wick holder assembly and the plate. Accordingly, the wick 3 may be centrally located in the melting plate 2 or located off-center. A plurality of wicks 3 is also envisioned in another embodiment of the present invention.
In yet another embodiment, a starter bump 6 on the meltable fuel charge 4 is preferably provided in close proximity to the wick 3 to facilitate the lighting of the wick. The starter bump serves to provide a ready source of liquid fuel to the wick 3 when a match or other appropriate source of flame is employed to ignite the wick, which source of flame will melt the starter bump and thus create an initial pool of liquid fuel. In this embodiment, the starter bump 6 may be molded directly into the shape of the meltable fuel charge 4; alternatively, the starter bump 6 may be added after molding of the meltable fuel charge. The starter bump is also referred to herein as an aliquot of additional fuel, which, in another embodiment, serves to provide sufficient heat to melt a sufficient amount of the meltable fuel over a sufficient period of time such that the flow of melted fuel preferably reaches the flame before the additional fuel of the bump is fully consumed.
In another embodiment of a melting plate candle 20 shown in
The wick holder assembly 21 preferably includes a wick holder 5, the wick 3, and a heat fin 9. The heat fin 9 facilitates heat transfer from the flame on the wick to a meltable fuel charge 4. The meltable fuel charge 4 preferably has a cutout portion 30 through which the wick holder assembly 7 may pass. Alternatively, the meltable fuel charge 4 is preferably placed adjacent the wick holder assembly 21 on one side thereof (not shown). In yet another alternative, the meltable fuel charge 4 is preferably provided in multiple pieces of meltable fuel that can be placed about the wick holder assembly 21. More preferably, the multiple pieces of the meltable fuel are appropriately shaped (not shown) to both fit together when placed about the wick holder assembly 21. Any configuration of the meltable fuel charge 4 is suitable so long as it places the wick 3 and the heat fin 9 each in close proximity to a top surface of the meltable fuel charge, and/or includes conductive material for transferring the flame's heat to the fuel charge; or otherwise facilitates heat transfer to the meltable fuel charge, irrespective of the number of pieces of which the fuel charge is composed. Here, the meltable fuel charge 4 is shown as a wax puck having a void slot at its center; other shapes and sizes are contemplated as described herein.
Operationally, the melted wax flows to the bottom surface of the heat-conductive melting plate, where it ultimately enters the inlet (not shown, but is co-extensive with the undercut 24) to the capillary space (also not shown) that is formed between the concave underside of the wick holder assembly 21 (i.e., the underside of the capillary base 7) and the upper surfaces 22, 23 of the capillary pedestal 26 upon seating the wick holder assembly 21 thereon. The melted wax then travels via capillary action to the angled upper surface 22 and then to the upper, substantially horizontal surface 23 of the capillary pedestal. The wick 3 has an upper region (visible in the drawing of the wick holder assembly 21) and a lower region (obscured by the tube 5 that is disposed between the heat fins 9a, 9b and upon the top surface of the capillary base 7. The lower region of the wick 3 preferably contacts the substantially horizontal surface 23 of the capillary pedestal 26. Accordingly, the melted fuel of the fuel charge enters the wick 3 via its lower region, and is then consumed by the flame (not shown) disposed at the upper region of the wick 3.
In a further embodiment of a melting plate candle 100 and a wick holder assembly 102 shown in
A bottom portion of the wick 3 preferably rests on a top surface of the convex capillary base 36 or may protrude through an aperture 136 in the convex capillary base to allow fluid communication with a bottom surface thereof. When the wick holder assembly 102 is placed within the capillary recess 106 of the melting plate candle 100, a capillary space 32 is formed between the bottom surface of the convex capillary base 36 and the top surface of the capillary recess 106 through which liquid fuel (not shown) may be drawn by capillary action from the melting plate 18 to the bottom portion of the wick 3 to effectively consume substantially all of the liquid fuel. Alternatively, or in addition, an aperture 52 in the side of the wick holder 5 may be disposed adjacent the top surface of the convex capillary base 36 to allow liquid fuel in the depression on the top surface of the convex capillary base to supply the wick 3.
Although a recessed shape is illustrated in
In other embodiments (not shown), when the capillary recess includes a complex pattern or shape, one portion of the shape may be configured for placement of the wick holder assembly, for example, at the head of an animal-shaped depression or at a predetermined point in some other feature to provide an artistic and/or aesthetically pleasing effect. In this way, the placement of one or more wick holder assemblies may form part of a design incorporating the melting plate surface and/or one or more capillary recesses. The capillary recess and capillary base may also be shaped to have only one operative fit to facilitate proper insertion of the capillary base into the capillary recess.
As shown in
In yet another embodiment, illustrated in
Unmelted but meltable fuel is stored preferably in the bottom reservoir 703. An amount of fuel (unmelted but meltable) is also placed in the top reservoir 702. When the wick (not shown) is lit and a flame 705 is disposed thereupon, there is enough additional fuel present in the top reservoir for the flame to heat the wick holder assembly. At least some of the fuel located in the bottom reservoir then melts and flows out from under the edge 707 of the wick holder assembly 700, thus engaging the edge 707. In a preferred embodiment, the wick holder assembly 700 includes capillary channels 704, in which case the melted fuel engages one end of the capillary channel. Accordingly, the melted fuel flows up the wick assembly 700 by capillary action and collects in the top reservoir 702. The melted fuel in the top reservoir contacts the bottom portion of the wick, travels up the wick until it is consumed by the flame 705.
Melted fuel that emerges from the edge 707 of the capillary top can also flow back toward the peg 701. The peg 701, in one embodiment, includes a hollow longitudinal bore that extends from its distal end up to its proximal end where it connects to the underside of the capillary base 710. Further, the capillary base 710 includes an aperture at or toward the base of the upper reservoir 702 such that the hollow bore of the peg 701 is continuous with the aperture of the capillary base top surface. The distal portion of the peg 701 that extends beyond the plane defined by the capillary base edge 707 is preferably seated in a capillary recess (not shown), thereby forming a capillary space.
Operationally, the melted fuel flows toward the top of the capillary recess where the inlet for the capillary space is. The melted fuel then flows down the capillary space to the bottom surface of the capillary recess at the point of the outlet from the capillary space. The melted fuel can then do an about-face at the bottom edge of the peg 701 and flow up the longitudinal bore of the peg up to the upper reservoir. At the upper reservoir, the bottom region of the wick is preferably in contact with the melted fuel that transited through the peg bore, then up the wick to be consumed by the flame.
The various melting plates and wick holder assemblies described herein can also be used with other wick assemblies and melting plates, respectively, such as those disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/978,744, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
In many embodiments, the candles disclosed herein may allow a candle to completely consume a wax fuel charge while maintaining the candle flame at the top of the wick holder, thereby maintaining a pre-selected height above the bottom of the melting plate. The candles may also rapidly form a large pool of melted wax or heated liquified fuel that accelerates dispersion of volatile materials contained in the fuel into the surrounding environment.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/780,028, filed Feb. 17, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/747,545, filed Dec. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,707. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/978,744, filed Nov. 1, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/938,434, filed Sep. 10, 2004. Each of these patent applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10780028 | Feb 2004 | US |
| Child | 11529080 | Sep 2006 | US |
| Parent | 09747545 | Dec 2000 | US |
| Child | 10780028 | Feb 2004 | US |
| Parent | 10978744 | Nov 2004 | US |
| Child | 11529080 | Sep 2006 | US |
| Parent | 10938434 | Sep 2004 | US |
| Child | 10978744 | Nov 2004 | US |
