I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a method of manufacturing incense into specific shapes and designs which allows the burn to follow a trail or route predetermined by the embedded template and allows the incense shape/design to burn independent of a heat source. These shapes can be used in religious rituals, festivities, or for other incidents or situations where incense would be appropriate, so that novelty and amusement can be derived from the incense and specific value can be applied to the incense, and thus enhance the presence the incense represents as well as augment the incident or situation where the incense is being used.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Incense has traditionally been manufactured in stick, coil, loose powder and cone form. Once lit, these types of incense burn arbitrarily and simultaneously over the whole incense piece with no predictable pattern. They usually have no visual connotation to the purposes behind their use. For example someone could do a ritual incorporating religious icons placed around them and have a stick of incense for aroma, but the physical appearance of the incense would have no direct connection to the ritual; for the purpose of the ritual, the incense has absolutely no aesthetic value.
This present invention, for the purpose of this example, would be a piece of incense created by using a template to form it's base and coating it with wood powders to create a burnable shape which might comprise a design of religious significance. Therefore, the incense is more durable and the role of the incense has been elevated from merely providing accompanying scent to the ritual to simultaneously complementing the ritual for which it is being used visually. Hence, its aesthetic contribution enhances the ritual experience.
Past incense makers have extruded incense dough into shapes; however, even when the dough is thoroughly dry, the shapes break apart and crumble easily and are therefore not stable enough to be packaged and sold to the general public. This present invention solves that problem by adding a template which forms the base of the incense shape and when coated with the wood powders and dried thoroughly, creates a sturdy, rigid form of incense in a variety of designs that is far more durable and hence suitable for shipping. An added benefit to this present invention is that unlike some other incense shapes made from dough, this present invention, while having the template, still burns without the use of a separate heat source such as charcoal or an electric burner.
The purpose of the present invention is to, among other things; provide a creative, novel way to incorporate sacred imagery and unique designs together with traditional incense for use in meditation, as a point of concentration and in various religious rites. The images that this incense represent, as described above, are integral for these purposes, as is the presence and use of incense. This invention successfully marries these two crucial elements together for a novel approach to the purposes listed. Another purpose of this present invention is to create a rigid support for incense to be shaped around so the incense shape/design will be more sturdy and durable enough to withstand the rigors of handling and shipping to the general public.
The present invention is a method for embodying an incense-coated template in a variety of ornate and complex designs or patterns by cutting a template of the desired shape or design by hand or machine; sprinkling the shape with water until sufficiently moistened; sprinkle coating the shape with a wood powder mixture; lightly sprinkling the shape with water again to “set” the wood powders; allowing the shape to dry thoroughly; repeating these steps until the coating is at the desired thickness and completely encases the template; coating the shape with a fragrance in various forms; sprinkle coating the shape with a colored powder and then sprinkling the shape with water to set the color; allowing the shape to dry thoroughly.
Refer to
Even though this invention has been described by employing the process stated in the preferred embodiment, it is understood that an array of materials, variations, substitutions and modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 12456035 | Jun 2009 | US |
Child | 13999998 | US |