Patent Application
20060147864
The present invention relates to the field of torches. More specifically it relates to torch assemblies having bases which can convert the torch from one that stands on a surface, to one that can hang from a bracket or hook or other suspension means.
Currently, in the marketplace, there are available a wide variety of torches which either are constructed to hang from a bracket or hook, or those which are set atop a post. There are none, however, with a specialized base member which allows a torch to be utilized in either a hanging position or standing atop a surface wherein the base serves a dual purpose. Although there are several related patent disclosures seen in the prior art, they generally relate to matter suspended in the air by a suspension means. The present invention is unique in that it related to a torch assembly means that includes a base which is capable of converting the torch body from being suspended in the air, to resting on a surface, to resting in the air atop a pole slidingly receptive of a second shorter pole or piece of conduit.
For example, one such patent is U.S. Pat. No. 288,853, issued to Pooge, which discloses a ring suspended by chains from a swivel having several horn shaped prongs suitable for hanging bags and a central twine holder.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 532,400, issued to Seys, only discloses a lantern with a disk like base, a central opening for the torch means, and upwardly disposed clips adapted to embrace both the base and glass cover. This particular disclosure shows a lamp-chimney or a cover for the torch means with complicated projecting flanges.
Another suspended assembly device shown in the prior art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,077,423, issued to Myers, which illustrates a plant holder comprising a soil receptacle with perforations to permit water overflow; a removable false bottom provided with holes to permit water passage; and a suspension means including wires, chains, and other suitable supporting means. While the device does include a suspension means, it does not include a supporting base that is invertible which could have allowed the plant to either seated atop feet on a surface or suspended in the air, nor does it disclose a torch body.
Another related utility patent, U.S. Pat. No. 1,419,307, issued to Richardson, only discloses a unique suspension configuration; it does not disclose a plurality of legs having hook means for removable securement to a suspension means, nor does it disclose a torch body that sits upon the base.
Yet another patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,228,577, issued to Croft, discloses a liquid carrier receptacle with means for mounting the receptacle from a vehicle. The means for mounting includes a triangular troy with suspension means chains attached at the corners. The tray's rim is preferably bent slightly upward.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,230,440, issued to Deutsch which discloses a rotating display device that is suspended from the ceiling. The Deutsch invention is different from the present in that the present invention does not claim a rotating display means or utilize only the suspension means.
Several design patents were found to be related to the present invention but only claimed suspension devices. None of the designs claimed have bases capable of being converted from suspension to two other support arrangements. Neither do the designs claim an affiliated torch body. For example, U.S. Pat. No. D77,225, issued to Danz, discloses a design for a flower pot including a suspension means attached to a lower base with several upwardly protruding spear means adapted to attach the suspension means.
U.S. Pat. No. D222,949, issued to Souder, discloses a suspension means associated with three bowl in descending order and size along the suspension means. The present invention can be easily distinguished from the Souder design because the Souder design requires that the suspension means be permanently affixed to each of the bowls via flanges and apertures attached to each bowl.
U.S. Pat. No. D243,145, issued to Zipser, discloses a combined water reservoir and holder for potted flowers and plants. The device has a tripod base with a triangular receiving body which may be suspended with chains.
Finally, although U.S. Pat. No. D274,394, issued to Elliot, discloses a series of pots supported by bases with hooked legs capable of being attached to a suspension means; nonetheless it does not have an invertible base design.
The Elliot design, unlike the present invention, does not claim that the assembly con be converted into a standing position upon a surface or suspended in the air atop a pole. Thus, no where seen in the prior art is a torch body with a separable, invertible base which may be set either on a table top, mounted on a pole, or it may be suspended via elongate suspension means to hang from a hook or pole.
The present invention consists of a torch body that has a relatively squat configuration in one of the preferred embodiments, and which is capable of retaining a quantity of oil. Of course, other types and arrangements of decorative metal torch bodies can be configured for the purpose of holding a quantity of oil. The base of the body is further provided with an annular ring or groove which is adopted to be secured to a supporting structure having a corresponding annular opening. The supporting structure is further provided with at least two or more hook like structures which are adapted to removably fit and retain a set of suspension means. The suspension means terminates in a structure capable of being held on a bracket or hook type member, such as a ring.
The torch body is preferably constructed from a durable and strong corrosion resistant material; including, but not limited to, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, other metallic alloys or anodized metals which are rust and corrosion resistant. In the instance of copper torches, the torch may be hand hammered over a wooden form to provide additional decorative effect to the torch body.
The torch body may be further provided with a screw in type wick holder on the top portion of the torch such that when the torch is handled and stored, the wick holder may not become easily dislodged or misplaced. Further, the wick may be removed or pushed into the base and a rubber or pliable gasket, seal or clasp may be inserted into, or over, the wick aperture so that the torch may be stored such that any oil left within the torch will not leak. The gasket, seal or clasp is especially important when the torch is being used during camping and/or hiking to prevent the oil from leaking from the torch body.
In another preferred embodiment, a corresponding tapped aperture is provided in the bottom portion of the torch body. The topped aperture is capable of securely threading onto a ground securement means such as a pole. The pole can then be either pushed directly into soft ground, or a second, shorter piece of pipe with a diameter smaller than the first pole can be hammered into hard ground and the first pole can be safely slid thereupon, thus allowing the torch body to be suspended in the air atop the pole at any chosen distance from the ground.
The foregoing, and other features and advantages of the present invention can be readily derived from the following detailed description of the drawings taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings present herein, and should be considered as within the overall scope of the invention.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a torch body having a separate base with a plurality of legs terminating in hooks that has a dual purpose such that the torch body can be either hanged from a suspension means removably attached to the hooks or, by inverting the torch base, it can be stood atop a surface resting on the hooks of the legs as though they were feet.
It is another primary object of the present invention to provide a separate wick holder that screws into the top of the torch body such that the torch body can be jostled, moved, or handled without fear that the wick holder can become dislodged or damaged in any way.
Yet another primary object of the present invention is to provide a torch body with an invertible base and a separate wick holder wherein a gasket, seal, plug or clasp can be inserted into the wick aperture in the top of the torch body. By inserting the gasket, seal, plug or clasp it is highly unlikely that the oil contained in the torch body will leak during storage.
Still another primary objective of the present invention is to provide a topped aperture in the bottom of the torch body which allows the torch body to be threaded onto a ground securement means, which may consist of a pole, for example.
Another primary object of the present invention is to provide for a dual method of suspending the torch body in the air atop a ground securement means. The ground securement means can either consist solely of a pole, which can, in and of itself, be simply pushed into soft or resilient ground, or the pole can be slipped over a second smaller diameter pole which has been driven into the ground. Such ground securement means may be commonly purchased at any hardware store, for any length and width of pole.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention can be readily derived from the following detailed description of the drawings taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings present herein and should be considered as within the overall scope of the invention.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, wherein:
In this particular embodiment, since torch body 56 is rectangular, an annular L shaped groove 58 is provided to all the torch body 56 to be securely slidingly received into a base, as shown by base 16 in
It is anticipated that the mounting poles 62 and 64 are preferably made from a metal such as galvanized pipe or conduit or copper water pipe, all of which are commonly and inexpensively readily available in the marketplace.
Although in the foregoing detailed description the present invention has been described by reference to various specific embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and alterations in the structure and arrangement of those embodiments other than those specifically set forth herein may be achieved by those skilled in the art and that such modifications and alterations are to be considered as within the overall scope of this invention. The claims should not be read as limited to the described order of elements unless stated to that effect. All embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.
