Patent Application
20220390100
Not applicable.
The present disclosure generally relates to candle holders for wax candles and, more particularly, to reusable wax candle holder designed for multiple uses.
A scented candle has an ignitable wick embedded in wax. The candle illuminates and releases fragrances into a room when lit. A flame is used to light the wick and burn the candle, which melts and vaporizes a small amount of the wax. Dyes and fragrances can be mixed in with the wax for varying aesthetic appeal, and for releasing seasonal, therapeutic and pleasing scents. Glass jars are typically used as a candle holder for scented candles.
As the wax melts, the candle burns the vaporized wax as fuel and the volume of wax in the candle holder decreases. A portion of the wick that is not emitting the vaporized wax is consumed in the flame. The length of the wick decreases with the burn to an exposed portion where the vaporized wax is being burned. After the wax is burned to the bottom of the candle holder or the scent is no longer enjoyed, the glass jars are thrown away. The jars are typically thrown away after a single use.
The liquid wax in the jar is hot and can cause skin burns. A candle snuffer is generally used to avoid being burned or from having hot wax splash out of the jar while blowing out the flame. A candle snuffer can be a small metal cup on the end of a long handle. The snuffer is placed over the flame on the wick to cut off the oxygen supply to the flame.
Glass jars can crack by thermal shock from the candle flame. In particular, when the candle burns down to the end of the wick, the heat from the flame may be hot enough to crack the glass.
The subject matter claimed herein is not limited to embodiments that solve any disadvantages or that operate only in environments such as those described above. Rather, this background is only provided to illustrate one exemplary technology area where some embodiments described herein may be practiced.
There is a large amount of waste generated each day from used candle jars. In one aspect of the invention, a wax candle includes a candle holder having a cylindrical shape. The candle holder includes an aperture, top and inside surface and base. The aperture extends through the entire thickness of the base. The inside surface and base defining an inner space. A ridge is formed around the top surface and extends into the inner space of the candle holder. An inner liner is disposed in the inner space below the ridge and is configured to tightly fit against the inside surface of the candle holder. The inner liner includes a nodule sized to fit within the aperture to define a button.
In the present invention, the candle holder, or glass jar, includes a liner to help release the wax from the candle holder. The liner may be made from a nonstick and heat resistant material, such as silicon. With the liner placed in the candle holder, the wax residue is easily removed. A new wax block can be inserted into the candle holder.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter.
Various embodiments of the present invention will now be discussed with reference to the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope.
The Figures illustrate the reusable jar for scented candles in accordance with the various embodiments of the invention.
The present systems and methods include various embodiments of reusable candle holder for a wax candle. It is labor intensive to clean and reuse jars after use of the wax candle. The jars are cleaned by placing the used candle jar, with leftover wax residue, in a pot of boiling water. Once the wax melts, the user must take a paper napkin or towel and wipe the inside of the jar. In another method, the candle jar can be placed in a freezer to harden the wax. Once the wax freezes, the user can take a butter knife and chip off the frozen wax.
In the present invention, the candle holders are designed to be used in a much safer way. The candle holder can have a cylindrical shape with top and inside surfaces and a base. The base can include an aperture that extends through the thickness of the base. The inside surface of the candle holder and the base defines an inner space.
The candle holder or jar includes an inner liner made from a material such as silicon. The aperture in the base of the candle holder is configured to expose a portion of the inner liner at the bottom. The exposed inner liner in the bottom of the candle holder that extends through the aperture defines a button. The user can press the button to release the tension between the walls and the remaining wax residue or wax block to discharge the hardened wax.
The inner liner can be adhered to the walls of the glass jar so that is cannot be removed. In another aspect of the invention, the inner liner is not adhered to the walls but is designed to have a tight fit within the jar so as to not remove the inner liner when the button is pushed through the aperture. The inner liner does not need to come out and may be fixed inside during the candle replacement process. The jar may also include a ridge at the top rim to hold in the inner liner. The ridge may be sized to extend within the inner space of the jar about the same distance as the thickness of the inner liner.
In one aspect of the invention, the inner liner may have a conical shape outer surface to match the inside wall of the candle holder. The inside of the inner liner can have a tapered conical shape that tapers from a thin wall at the top to a thicker wall at the bottom to enhance the ease of removing a wax block. The inner liner provides a non-stick surface to allow the wax, in liquid, solid or semi-solid form to be removed or replaced from the candle holder at any stage of use, whether at the beginning, middle or end of the use. Preferably, the used wax is removed in a solid state to prevent possible burns to the user. The inner liner can have a nodule at the bottom surface that is configured to fit within at least a portion of the aperture of the candle holder and define a button. The nodule can extend down into the aperture a distance that will allow the user to access the button. The distance may be a portion or the entire distance of the thickness of the aperture. The scented candle wax is replaced by pushing the button on the bottom of the candle holder to remove the old wax and placing a new candle refill inside the candle holder. The new candle can be a wax block that is sized to fit within the inner liner. The new candle is placed in the candle holder and may be used until spent, where the wax is discharged and replaced again. The remaining wax residue or remaining wax block can be replaced at any time.
In another aspect of the invention, the inner liner may include a well at the bottom. The extra thickness at the aperture provides additional volume in the wax to assist with the release of the remaining wax. The inner liner may also include a hollow ring around the aperture to provide flexibility at the point of release and ease of pushing the button. The wax block may also include a center bump that is designed to fit within the well of the inner liner.
The aperture at the bottom of the candle holder allows the users to discharge the used candle after use without taking out the entire inner inners and separating the inner liner from the candle holder. In the present invention, the inner liner is not required to be removed when replacing the wax block. If the inner liner is removed with the wax block, the inner liner may be difficult to reinsert, in particular, if the inner liner becomes deformed over time from exposure to the heat.
In a further aspect of the invention, the wax candle may include a design wrap that is sized to wrap around the outer surface of the candle holder. The design warp can include various personal designs and patterns. The design wrap may be affixed to the outer surface with a semi-permanent adhesive or have a removable slip-on design. The design wrap may also be placed between the inner liner and the candle holder. In this aspect of the invention, the candle holder can be manufactured from a transparent or semi-transparent material to allow the design wrap to be viewed
In another aspect of the invention, the wax candle may include a lid. When the lid is included as an option, the lid can cover the candle when not in use to protect the wax from the elements, defining a closed position. The lid can include a ridge on the bottom surface to press fit against the ridge of the candle holder when in the closed position. The lid ridge can also serve as stand when the lid is placed under the candle holder, defining an open position. By placing the lid under the candle holder, the heat from the candle is insulated from other surfaces to reduce the amount of heat transmitted to the surfaces and possible damage that the candle may cause to the surfaces. The lid can also include a center protuberance that extends above the top surface of the lid. The center protuberance, when place under the candle holder, is designed to extend inside the aperture and provide a lower support for the inner liner when in the open position. When the lid is place on top of the candle holder, the lid will act as a snuffer to put out the flame.
The candle is manufactured by placing wax chunks or shavings in a container or double boiler. The candle wax cannot be placed directly on the heat or the wax will catch fire or evaporate. The wax is heated until completely melted. A thermometer may be used melt the wax at proper temperature. Paraffin wax should be melted at temperatures between 122 and 140° F. (50 and 60° C.). Soy wax should be melted at temperatures between 170 and 180 degrees (76.6 and 82.2° C.). Beeswax should be melted at about a temperature of 145 degrees (62.7° C.) and should not exceed 175 degrees (79.4° C.). The wax is placed in a mold to form a wax block that is designed to fit within the inner liner and to create a center bump that is designed to fit within the well of the inner liner.
A fragrance can be added to the melted wax. The fragrance can be an essential oil, combination of fragrances or other scent additive. The fragrance is mixed with the wax until completely stirred in.
A color can also be added to the wax. The coloring should be an oil-based dye. Additional colors may be added to the melted wax to achieve the right consistency and to achieve a certain final desired color.
A wick is placed in the center of the candle mold. The wick can be placed in the center of the candle mold or at a desired location, or desired locations if placing more than one wick in the candle. The wick should be sized to extend above the top of the candle surface.
The mold is shaped to fit into the inner liner of the candle holder. The wax is poured into the mold and cooled. The wax should be cooled for about 24 hours for paraffin waxes. Soy wax generally takes about 4 to 5 hours to cool and Beeswax candles generally takes about 6 hours to cool. Longer cooling times are better and generally help the candles set up.
The wax is removed from the mold and the wick is trimmed to an acceptable starting length for the candle wicks. The length of the initial wick is sized to provide a proper burn of the flame when lit. If the wick is too long, the flame may be too large and release black smoke or soot.
The candle holder, or jar, can be manufactured from glass, tin, ceramic, aluminum or other material that is known to withstand the heat of a candle. These and other reports can be generated depending on the need and information tracked as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63139303 | Jan 2021 | US |
