Patent Application
20140120482
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates generally to an apparatus used to symbolize the union of two or more parties during a ceremony, such as a marriage, which combines the presentation and lighting of a candle with the pouring of colored granular material inside a vessel. Said vessel may serve as a lasting keepsake token after the event.
2. Prior Art
Contemporary ceremonies where two or more people join together in a personal relationship, such as a marriage or civil union, often include a ritual to symbolize the unity. The most popular rituals employ either a “unity candle” or “sand ceremony.” In the “unity candle” ceremony each person participating holds a small, lit candle of their own. Each person then brings the flaming portion of their candle simultaneously to the wick of a single, common, unlit candle, lighting this common candle. Although documentation for the origins of this method are sparse, such a ceremony was demonstrated on Nov. 17, 1981 in an episode of the fictional television program “General Hospital,” airing on the ABC television network in the United States, where the characters of Luke and Laura participated in a candle ceremony during their wedding scene. Kustka in U.S. Pat. No. 4,555,231 extended the idea of this unity candle by describing a design where multiple candles could be lit and united into one.
In the “sand ceremony” each person participating holds a small container of sand or similar granular material. This sand is uniquely colored for each person participating. Each person then takes a turn pouring a small amount of their sand into a common container, until all the sand has been poured or until the common container can no longer accept more sand. Once again the exact history of this type of ceremony is undocumented, although natives of the Hawaiian islands are chiefly attributed as long having practiced such a ritual at their equivalent of weddings. Awareness and adoption by the popular culture of the unity sand ceremony as described above occurred after such was employed during a wedding on an episode of “The Bachelorette,” airing on Dec. 6, 2003 on the ABC television network in the United States. Although pouring sand into a container may not appear to be a novel idea, inventions in this area have been codified, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,103, where Aloziem describes an apparatus to decoratively display colored sand in a glass container.
An existing issue is that marrying couples have had to choose either the “unity candle” or the “sand ceremony,” but not both. The apparatus of the present invention enables the marrying parties to combine the “unity candle” and “sand ceremony” into one ritual which provides a lasting physical memento of both actions. The marrying couples can thus experience the benefits of both the unity candle and colored sand during their ceremony, no longer having to choose between one or the other. An alternate attempt to fulfill this approach was presented by Adelusi-adeluyi in U.S. Pat. No. 8,505,725. Here the inventor describes what is predominantly a “sand ceremony apparatus” to permit the display and safe transport of a mix of colored sands in an aesthetically pleasing manner. As an accessory Adelusi-adeluyi postulates that a portion of the invention could be placed above the sand which is “suitable for the receipt of oil therein and a wick extending therefrom.” That is, a small oil lamp “can be suitable for use in a dual sand and unity candle ceremony.” What is important to note here is that the invention of Adelusi-adeluyi may use an oil-based lamp which is separated from the colored decorative sand. This is distinctly different from the present invention which utilizes a traditional candle that is in direct contact and surround by colored granules of sand.
The present invention is an apparatus that may be employed during a matrimonial ceremony, such as a wedding or civil union, which combines a unity candle and a sand-mixing ritual into one physical embodiment. The approach of the present invention is applicable to myriad sizes and shapes of containing vessels and candles, and the method of manufacture is uncomplicated. A hollow rigid vessel is provided which has walls which are preferably transparent. Inside this vessel exists a candle, a commonly accepted device consisting of a wax-like material surrounding a filament-like wick which, when ignited, provides a source of light and/or heat. The wick of the candle is in near proximity to an opening at the top of the vessel to enable the lighting of the candle when desired. The opening of the vessel is also sufficient to permit the pouring of granular material, such as colored sand, through the opening surrounding the candle, both being contained by the vessel. After the sand and candle ritual is performed, the present invention may be kept and displayed as a memento where the mix of colored granules and candle are all visible.
In the best mode, the apparatus consists of a candle pillar affixed inside a transparent of translucent enclosure. The pillar of said candle is positioned so as to be at or near the visual center of the enclosure, with the candle wick positioned near the mouth of the enclosure. The enclosure is made from glass, crystal, plastic or similar. In employing the invention during a marriage ceremony each person participating holds a small container filled with sand or other granular substance of a unique color. Each person then takes a turn pouring a small amount of sand into the enclosure of the present invention. The sand should be poured to create a layered look. That is, the different colors of sand should not be poured so that the grains are homogeneously intermixed. Once the sand pouring is complete each person will then hold an individual lit candle. With synchronicity each person will then bring the flaming end of his or her lit candle to the wick of the common candle until the wick of the common candle ignites into a self sustaining flame. Following the ceremony the flame of the common candle is extinguished, and the enclosure, now filled with sand, may be kept as a keepsake memento.
The present invention may be implemented with any size or style of enclosure the practitioner chooses applicable. A vase-type enclosure composed of nearly transparent glass walls may be employed as enclosure 10. Enclosure 10 should have an opening 10′ oriented toward the top of the apparatus. Opening 10′ should be of sufficient diameter to permit the placement of a candle through 10′ into the interior portion of 10. Opening 10′ should also be of sufficient diameter to permit the pouring of granular material, such as sand, through 10′ into the interior volume contained by 10. Candle pillar 14 should be composed of a material similar to those of commonplace candles available to consumers, such as wax, paraffin or similar substance capable of supporting combustion. Candle wick 16 should be composed of a material, such as braided cotton or similar, and be embedded inside 14.
One method to assemble this apparatus is to apply heat to the bottom of the enclosure 10. Common candle pillar 14 is placed inside 10. The bottom of 14 will melt due to the heat at the bottom of 10. The melting candle wax forms candle base 12. 14 is held in position until heat is removed and 12 is allowed to cool and solidify. For aesthetic reasons 14 should appear to be in a vertical or near vertical position, although this is not a requirement. Wick 16 should be in near proximity to opening 10′. The apparatus, consisting of the enclosure 10 and the common candle 14 affixed within 10, is ready for use in the ritual ceremony.
The exact order of operation and materials employed for and during the ritual ceremony, as well as the type of event where the apparatus is being demonstrated, may be varied by the practitioner. However in best mode, the enclosure 10 with unlit candle 14 will be placed in view of the audience being served. Those persons directly participating in the ceremony, such as a bride and groom, should each be given an amount of granular material (e. g. sand) inside a container that each participant holds separately. The granular material for each participant should be of an apparent color or consistency distinct from that of the other participant or participants. One of the participants should then pour a fractional amount of the granular material from their own assigned container through enclosure opening 10′ into enclosure 10. The next participant should do a similar action by pouring granular material from their own assigned container through 10′ into enclosure 10. The procedure then repeats, with each participant taking a turn at pouring their granular material into enclosure 10, until enclosure 10 is deemed sufficiently full, or until the participants have exhausted their supply of individualized granular material. In the best mode the granular material should be poured into 10 in such a manner that the different granular materials form visually distinct regions, rather than becoming homogenized into granular material of singular appearance. A sufficient length of 14 should also remain visible above 20 and 22 allowing direct access to wick 16.
Immediately following the conclusion of the pouring of the granular material, each participant should be given a separate lit candle of their own. Each participant then simultaneously brings the lit portion of their individual candles to the proximity of unlit wick 16, until such time as 16 is able to achieve self sustaining combustion in conjunction with candle pillar 14. Each participant may then dispose of their individual candles, while permitting 16 to continue combustion. At this point the active portion of the ritual may be concluded. However the enclosure 10, with colored granular material 20 and 22 and candle 14 inside, may be relocated and displayed for an indefinite period as a memento of the occasion. In best mode the candle wick 16 should be extinguished while a sufficient length of 14 remains visible above 20 and 22.
Alternative embodiments exist which provide slight differences in the construction or configuration of present invention, all of which continue to be encompassed by the scope and spirit of the present invention. Although discussion of the best mode described pouring the granular material prior to the lighting of the candle wick 16, the present invention is also applicable to the practitioner choosing to light candle wick 16 before pouring of the granular materials 20 and 22. The best mode discussion also presented a method to apply heat to the bottom of 10, which would cause the bottom of candle 14 to melt and form candle base 12. However the practitioner may also choose as an alternative to place a separate piece of wax or wax-like material into 10, initiate the melting of this separate wax piece to form candle base 12, and then orient 14 onto 12 inside 10. Candle base 12 need not necessarily be a wax-like material. 12 could also be a hardening plastic, resin, epoxy or similar which fulfills the purpose of securing candle 14 into a position within 10.
Variations and combinations of the embodiments presented in
Accordingly, the reader will understand that the present invention provides a novel combination of two previously separate and distinct rituals utilized particularly at ceremonies of marriage. The previous “unity candle” and “sand ceremony” rituals have been separately practiced by uniting couples for decades. The present invention now facilitates a means for uniting couples or uniting families to enjoy the spectacle and benefits of both a sand ceremony and a unity candle being practiced together. In particular the apparatus of the present invention becomes a memorable keepsake that may be cherished and displayed by the family after the formal event has ended.
The present invention is readily fabricated using existing technologies of vase formation and candle making Although the description above has presented some specificities about shape, style and choice of materials, these should only be considered aids to visualization of the construction and operation of the device. By no means should said specificities be interpreted as limitations of any embodiment. The scope of the invention should be judged by the claims of this patent and their legal equivalents.
This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61,719,386, filed 2012 Oct. 27 by the present inventor.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61719386 | Oct 2012 | US |
