Patent Application
20050227191
The invention relates to a cutting tool, particularly a cutting tool for trimming candlewicks.
Candles have become fashionable home accessories. A candle flame provides a relaxing and calming environment, and burning a scented candle contributes a pleasing fragrance to the experience.
Popular types of candles include jar candles (including votives), in which the candle wax is poured into a glass jar or container. The candle burns down into the jar. Other popular types of candles include pillar candles having multiple wicks, in which each candle flame forms its own “well” or depression in the candle wax.
Candles will burn slowly and have a long life if the candlewick is trimmed occasionally. Candlewicks are preferably trimmed to a length of about an eighth-inch to about a quarter-inch. A candle with too-long a wick burns with a large, smoky flame. The large flame consumes the candle quickly, and smoke discolors walls and ceilings. A large flame also burns scent, rather than allowing the candle to release scent into the room.
Candlewick trimmers are cutting tools specifically designed for trimming candlewicks. One common type of candlewick trimmer is formed from two flat plates. One plate has a through-hole that receives the wick. The other plate is movably mounted on the one plate and has a cutting edge. The cutting edge passes over the through-hole to cut the wick.
Although plate-type candlewick trimmers are useful tools, they have difficulty trimming jar candles and multiple-wick candles. The jar or the top of the candle well prevents the candlewick trimmer from reaching the wick, or prevents the trimmer from being held perpendicular to the wick for a proper cut. Even if the wick can be reached, the length of the cut is gauged by eye and the wick may be cut too long or too short.
Hence there is a need for an improved candlewick trimmer for use with jar candles and multiple-wick candles that cuts the wick to proper length.
The present invention is an improved candlewick trimmer for use with jar candles and multiple-wick candles. The trimmer cuts the wick to proper length when pressed against the candle.
A candlewick trimmer in accordance with the present invention includes an elongate housing and a lever pivotally mounting to the housing. The lever includes a cutter extending from the pivot having a cutting edge in the housing and spaced from one end of the housing. An actuator or trigger outside of the housing is connected to the lever (or preferably forms part of the lever) and moves the cutting edge across the opening to cut the wick.
The end of the trimmer is preferably sized to fit into candle jars and candle wells. The length of the trimmed candlewick is determined by the predetermined distance of the cutting edge from the housing end.
In use, the housing is pressed against the candle. The free end of the candlewick extends through the opening and into the interior of the housing. The surface of the opening preferably centers the wick in the housing. Squeezing the actuator moves the cutting edge across the opening and cuts the wick to proper length.
Although the candlewick trimmer of the present invention is preferably sized for use with jar candles and multiple-wick candles, the trimmer can also be used to trim the wick of most any other type or style of candle.
In yet other possible embodiments of the present invention the candlewick trimmer can include a lighter and a candle tool, such as a candle snuffer or wick manipulation tool, to form a combination candle maintenance tool. The housing can be removably mounted on conventional lighters.
The candlewick trimmer of the present invention has a number of advantages over conventional candlewick trimmers. The trimmer readily trims the wicks of jar candles and multiple-wick candles, and cuts the wick to proper length by merely pressing the end of the trimmer against the candle. The trimmer housing can be readily mounted on other candle tools or candle lighters to form combination candle maintenance tools. And the trimmer can trim the wicks of many other types and styles of candles.
Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying 2 drawing sheets illustrating two embodiments of the invention.
A lever 28 is pivotally mounted to the housing 12 by a pivot pin 30 journaled in tubular member 16. Lever 28 includes a cutter 32 in the housing extending from the pivot pin towards the plug member 22, and an actuator 34 outside of the housing adjacent housing end 16. Cutter 32 has a cutting edge 36 closely spaced from plug member 22. A helical coil spring 38 is compressed between the housing and the lever. Spring 38 urges the lever 28 to a first operating position shown in
In use, housing 12 is axially-aligned with the wick of a candle 40 (shown in phantom in
The conical surface of the bore 26 assists in guiding and centering the wick within the housing. Squeezing actuator 34 rotates the lever counterclockwise as viewed in
The length of the trimmed candlewick is established by the distance of cutting edge 36 from end 18. Preferred embodiments of the illustrated trimmer 10 trim the wick to a length of between about one-eighth inch and about one-quarter inch. Different removable plug members 22 could be provided to extend end 18 away from the cutter for longer cuts, or the dimensions of the plug 22 and the spacing of the cutting edge 36 from the adjacent end of the tubular member 20 can be modified for different trim lengths.
Actuator 34 is located on the opposite side of pivot pin 30 from cutting edge 36. In other possible embodiments actuator 34 can be located on the same side of the pivot pin as cutting edge 36. In such embodiments actuator 34 could extend through an opening or slot in a side of tubular member 20.
In yet other embodiments trimmer device 116 could be permanently mounted to the lighter 112 or the candle tool 114 could be mounted on candlewick trimmer 10. Other types or forms of candle tool 114 can be provided, including wick manipulation tools or other types of wick trimmers.
While I have illustrated and described preferred embodiments of my invention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.
