Patent Application
20060115781
The present invention relates to a candle system that includes a candle cover or other decorative element. In particular, the invention relates to a candle system that includes a candle cover that is configured to cover a top of a candle or provide a decorative element to enhance the appearance of the candle.
Candles are popular for home use, as well as in restaurants and other places where people wish to provide light, or simply a soothing and pleasant atmosphere. Candles can also be used as a means to deliver scents, such as air freshening smells or other agreeable odors. Many shapes and sizes of candles have been developed over the years. For example, there are jar candles, and other similar candles where the candle-burning element is formed within a solid structure. These candles are designed to burn within the solid structure and as the candle burns, the sides of the candle are not exposed. Also, height of the structure (e.g., the jar) does not change as the candle burns.
Various types of lids have been proposed for candles that have a solid structure surrounding the candle element. For example, some jar candles have lids that cover the top of the jar. These lids are removable and replaceable on the jar housing to maintain the original appearance of the jar candle when the candle is not in use.
However, jar candle lids and the like are designed to mate with a solid structure that encloses a candle, such as a top rim of ajar. Some stand-alone candles also differ from jar candles in that the height of the stand-alone candle varies with burn time.
Accordingly, there is a need for a candle cover that can effectively cover a stand-alone candle in a decorative manner.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for a candle system that includes a stand-alone candle and a candle cover that can be secured to the candle, or otherwise adapt to cover a stand-alone candle.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a candle system. The system includes a candle and a candle cover. The candle has a top surface and a side surface. The candle has a portion of its sides exposed and includes at least one wick on the top surface. The candle cover fits over the wick(s) and includes an extending portion that extends from the top surface of the candle downward along the side of the candle. The candle cover is removably secured to the candle, such that the candle cover is replaceable after the candle has been burned.
In another aspect of the invention, a candle system includes a candle and a candle cover. The candle has a top surface and at least one side surface. The candle has at least a portion of its sides exposed and includes at least one wick on the top surface of the candle. The candle cover fits over the wick(s) and is removable and replaceable. The candle cover can be secured to the candle, and is useable with varying heights of the candle.
In yet another aspect of the invention, a candle system includes a candle and a wrap-around element. The candle has a top surface and a side surface, and at least a portion of its side surface is exposed. The candle includes at least one wick on the top surface of the candle. The wrap-around element includes a base portion and two fabric arm members extending from the base portion at an angle of about 180 degrees to each other. The fabric arm members each include a hook and loop element at one end so that the wrap-around element is configured to be removably and replaceably secured to the candle. A decorative element may be attached to the base portion.
In another aspect of the invention, a candle system is provided that includes a candle and a candle cover. The candle has a top surface and a side surface. The candle has at least a portion of its side surface being exposed and includes at least one wick on the top surface of the candle. The candle cover is configured to cover the wick(s) and is removable and replaceable.
In yet another embodiment, a candle system includes a candle and a decorative side element. The candle has a top surface and a side surface, and has at least a portion of its side surface exposed. At least one wick is on the top surface of the candle. A decorative side element is configured to attach, detach, and reattach to the side surface of the candle cover.
This invention is directed to a candle system that includes a stand-alone candle. In the context of this invention a stand-alone candle means a candle that is not entirely confined within ajar or other solid structure. In other words, the candle has at least a portion of its side surface exposed. In a preferred embodiment, the candle is a stand-alone wax candle that at least a portion of its wax side surface exposed. The candle may have its wax sides entirely exposed. However, it is understood that the candle could be partially held within a solid structure and partially exposed. The candle cover of the present invention can be used with stand-alone candles of many different wax types, including beeswax, paraffin wax, soy wax, vegetable wax, palm wax or synthetic beeswax.
Some candles with exposed sides experience a height reduction over time through the burning of the wick(s). Sometimes the reduction is very slight, other times it is more significant. The present invention can be particularly useful with candles that experience such a height reduction, since the candle cover's functionality is not dependent upon the height of the candle. Of course, it is not necessary for the candle to burn to a lower height to use the candle cover of the present invention.
In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a candle cover that is configured to be secured to a stand-alone candle. In the context of this invention, the term secured means attached by any means other than, or in addition to, gravity. For example, the candle cover can be secured to the candle indirectly by wrapping portions of the candle cover around the candle. The candle cover may be further secured to the candle by attaching two different ends of wrapped portions of the candle cover together by tying, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, or any other method that permits detachment and reattachment of the two ends. Alternatively, the candle cover could be secured directly to the candle by pins, tacks, reusable adhesives (such as double-sided tape), or any other method that permits detachment and reattachment of the candle cover to the candle. Finally, the candle could be secured to the candle by using a lid-like arrangement on the top surface of the candle, with or without a direct means of attachment such as pins. That is, the candle cover could be placed on a candle like a lid for a hatbox. The methods of securing the candle cover to the candle are discussed in more detail below with reference to the figures.
For different candle shapes, the side surface of the candle will take different forms. The side surface may include four discrete side portions set at angles to each other for a square or rectangle shape as viewed from above. The side surface may be one continuous curving surface for a cylindrical candle. The single side surface of a cylindrical candle can be divided into different portions by imagining one or more lines across the diameter of the top surface of the candle and extending the ends of the diameter lines vertically downward along the side surface. The different portions of the side surface of a candle will be mentioned herein in relation to the position of extension members of certain embodiments of the candle cover of the invention.
The candle includes at least one wick. The candle may contain at least three wicks.
Candle cover 20 includes a bow with decorative flowers. Candle cover 30 includes a bow with a single flower and decorative berries. Candle cover 40 includes a bow with beaded fruit. Although the decorations on the candle cover shown in
After burning, candlewicks often exhibit unsightly burn residue, such as black soot and the like. Accordingly, it is preferable that the candle cover is large enough to cover the wick(s) of the candle for which it is to be used. In a preferred embodiment, the wick(s) would be completely covered when the candle system is viewed from above. It is obvious that the candle cover could be formed in a variety of shapes and still effectively cover all of the wicks of a candle, such as those shown in
In one embodiment, the candle covers 20, 30, 40 include extending portions 60 that extend from the top surface of the candle downward along the side surfaces of the candles. In the preferred embodiment, the extending portions 60 are two arm members that extend downward along opposing portions of the side surface of the candle. In a preferred embodiment, the two arms of the extending portions 60 extend beneath the candle and attach to one another (see
The extending portions are preferably made of a flexible material, such as fabric. The preferred method of attachment of the extending portions is that of a hook and loop fastener system. This method is preferred because a wide landing zone (e.g., the area of the hooks or loops) can be used to provide some flexibility in the point of attachment, permitting the effective length of the extension portions to be adjustable. The wide-area landing zone can be formed by one long piece of a landing zone (that is, either the hook or loop fastener material), or it can be formed by several areas of separate landing zones (that is, either the hook or loop fastener material).
The extending portions can also be formed of other flexible materials, such as wire. Wire, or a similar material, may be preferred in some cases, because it is capable of being secured to itself, or other materials by simply twisting the wire. Therefore, no other fasteners would be necessary.
Although
The candle cover may include more than two extension portions in other embodiments. For example, the candle cover could have three, four, or five extension portions. These extension portions may be attached to each other or the candle on the bottom side of the candle, or be attached to the side of the candle, as discussed herein.
The extension portions can be formed integral with the candle cover. For example, the candle cover can be a bow with two ribbons extending out of the bow area to form the extension portions. Alternatively, the candle cover could be formed of different parts that are connected together by any of a number of means. For example, a ribbon may be tied to a bow to form the two extension portions extending away from the bow. Also, a decorative element may be secured to the extension arms by hot melt glue or other adhesives. The decorative element could also be removable and replaceable. Alternatively, the candle system could be designed such that a number of interchangeable decorative elements can be used on a single candle system.
In another embodiment, the candle cover may be secured to the candle without extension arms.
Because candle cover 120 attaches directly to the top of a candle, candle cover 120 can be removed and replaced at various times throughout the life of the candle, without regard to the current height of the candle.
In yet another embodiment, the candle cover may include a lip portion that extends downward along the side of the candle.
Candle cover 140 can have a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible base. Depending on the structure of the decorative element, it may be preferable to use a rigid base. For example, if the decorative element is relatively heavy, it may be desired to have a rigid base to support the decorative element. Alternatively, the base could be flexible, which would permit the candle cover to adapt to a surface that has burned in an irregular manner.
Candle cover 140 attaches directly to the top of a candle and, thereby, permits the candle cover 140 to be removed and replaced at various times throughout the life of the candle, without regard to the current height of the candle.
In another embodiment, the candle cover may not be secured to the candle, but instead rests on top of the candle.
The candle cover 178 includes a bow 184 having multiple loops 186, 188, 190, 192, and 194 that are visible in the drawing. Of course, many different types of bows may be incorporated into a candle cover according to the present invention, including those with any number of loops ranging from two loops to eight or more loops. The candle cover 178 shown in
Decorative elements are attached to the base portion. In
In another embodiment of the invention, a candle system includes a candle and a decorative side element that can be attached to the exposed side of a candle. The decorative side element can attach to the side of the candle using a wrap-around element as shown in
One method of creating a candle system, such as the candle system 170, will now be described, with reference to the numbered parts of
Then various decorative items such as flowers 196, 198 and berry arrangements 200, 202 can be attached to the candle cover 178. Examples of attachment techniques that can be used are glue, wire fasteners, double-sided tape, snaps, or hook and loop fasteners. It is possible, though not required, to attach the decorative elements in a way that allows removal and reattachment for changeability of the decorative elements.
Hook and loop fasteners or other attachment devices may then be placed on the ends of the extension members. Other attachment devices include tacks, adhesive, snaps, or wire fasteners. The attachment devices at the ends of the extension members will preferably be selected to permit attachment, detachment and reattachment of the extension members to each other or to the candle itself. Alternatively, no attachment device may be necessary on the extension members if the extension members are attached to each other by tying or twisting.
To form the candle system, the candle cover is placed on the top surface of a candle, and, if the candle cover includes two extension portions, then the two extension portions are positioned to extend down the side surface of the candle. The candle is lifted or tipped up so that the ends of the extension portions can be positioned under the candle and attached to each other. The finished candle system includes the candle cover positioned on the top surface of the candle, positioned over the wick or wicks of the candle.
For a candle having one wick, the wick is usually positioned in the center of the top surface of the candle. For this type of candle, a candle cover of minimal size will cover the single wick when positioned over it. For a candle have multiple wicks, the wicks are often positioned so that the wicks are equidistant from the center of the top surface of the candle. For this type of candle, the candle cover will be large enough to cover all of the wicks. By way of example, a candle may have multiple wicks at locations about quarter way to halfway from the center of the top surface to the edge of the top surface. A candle cover for this type of candle will cover the portion of the surface area of the top surface of the candle extending from the center of the candle to about quarter way to halfway to the outer edge of the top surface, so that all of the wicks are covered. In one embodiment, the candle cover is configured to cover at least four square inches of the top surface of a candle when it is placed on the top surface of the candle. In other embodiments, the candle cover is configured to cover at least six or eight square inches of the top surface of the candle.
During use of a candle system of the present invention, a user may burn a candle for a desired period of time and then extinguish the flame. After the candle material of the top surface has cooled and resolidified, a candle cover may be placed on the top surface of the candle and secured to the candle by any of the many securing methods described above, thereby covering the burned wick or wicks of the candle and creating an decorative display.
Of course any combination of the above embodiments could be used. For example, a candle cover could include two arm members (e.g., two ribbons) that extend only partially down the side of the candle and which attach to the side of the candle by two pin elements that are disposed on the end areas of the two arm members.
A number of benefits are realized by the present invention. First, the candle cover can be easily removed when the candle is to be burned, and then easily replaced when the candle is no longer in use. Second, the candle can maintain its original decorative appearance, even after it has been partially burned. Third, unsightly burn marks can be covered up. Fourth, the candle covers of the present invention are adjustable and/or adaptable to the height of the candle and, therefore, can be used without regard to the current height of the candle.
The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
