Automatic candle snuffer
The automatic candle snuffer is a mechanical timer driven device that extinguishes a candle in a jar after a user selectable time interval. A clamp mounts the candle snuffer to the mouth of the jar. The snuffing mechanism is a spring driven gear housing shaped to cover the mouth of the jar in the closed position, but which rotates around a stationary pin to uncover the jar. The gear housing contains a spring-driven timer, which drives a plurality of gears. Rotating the upper portion of the gear housing relative to the lower portion winds a timing spring, while rotating the entire housing around the pivot pin uncovers the mouth of the jar and winds a return spring. When the timer spring is unwound, a release mechanism frees the gear housing allowing the return spring to rotate the gear housing until the mouth of the jar is covered.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to candle accessories, and in particular, to an automatic candle snuffer that extinguishes a candle automatically after a preset interval.
2. Description of the Related Art
Although electric lighting displaced the use of candles as the main source of lighting in the late 19th century, candles are still very frequently used. Candles are used to provide lighting during emergency situations when the normal supply of electrical power is interrupted, and also to add mood or ambiance to a setting during seasonal celebrations, or at other times when it is desired to establish an atmosphere. Scented candles are used to provide fragrances to a room for festive and other special occasions. Some candles are provided with special chemicals that are purported to provide therapeutic benefits when the chemicals are released through burning the candles. For all of the above reasons, the use of candles has remained popular, even during modern times.
All burning candles have the common feature that they present an open flame. When left unattended the open flame of a candle can cause a fire that has the potential to cause extensive property damage, and that can even result in injury or death. While people often light candles with the intention of extinguishing them later, it is not uncommon that candles are left burning through being forgotten, or because the person who lit the candle has fallen asleep.
One solution to the problem has been to enclose the candle in a jar. While this does limit the possibility of accidental contact with the flame by flammable materials, the risks associated with burning candies are not completely eliminated by enclosing the candle. Unattended candles may be accidentally upset, exposing the flame and spilling hot wax, which results in a fire or burn hazard. Also, when a candle burns inside a container for long periods of time, the container is heated, presenting a burn hazard and a possible source of ignition for a fire.
In order to reduce the hazard, various extinguishing devices employing timers have been developed. An exemplary device is described in Japanese Patent No. 6-74,443, published on Mar. 15, 1994. The '443 patent describes an electrically-operated timer mechanism using a solenoid actuator to extinguish a flame.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, an automatic candle snuffer solving the aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe automatic candle snuffer is a device with a mechanical timer that extinguishes a candle in a jar after a user-selectable time interval. A clamp mounts the candle snuffer to the mouth of the jar. A stationary pin attached to the clamp serves as a pivot point for the snuffing mechanism. The snuffing mechanism is a spring-driven gear housing shaped to cover the mouth of the jar in the closed position, but which rotates around the stationary pin to uncover the jar. The mechanism employs two springs; a timer spring and a return spring. The gear housing contains a spring-driven timer, which drives a plurality of timer gears. Rotating the upper portion of the portion of the gear housing relative to the lower portion of the gear housing winds the timing spring. Rotating the gear housing around the pivot pin to uncover the mouth of the jar winds the return spring. When the jar is uncovered, the candle housed in the jar may be lit.
A release mechanism for returning the gear housing in the uncovered position is attached to the timer gears. Releasing the gear housing allows the timer spring to gradually unwind, rotating the gears. When the timer spring is unwound, the release mechanism releases the gear housing, and the return spring then rotates the gear housing until the mouth of the jar is covered. When the mouth of the jar is covered, the burning candle consumes the oxygen in the jar, and the candle flame is extinguished once the oxygen is depleted.
In an alternative embodiment, the automatic candle snuffer is mounted within a decorative candle shade. A timing mechanism includes a gear train operative to move a snuffing lid between a position opening the mouth of the jar and a position covering the mouth of the candle jar, the timing being determined by the spring constant of a timer spring.
These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTSThe present invention is an automatic candle snuffer for extinguishing a lit candle automatically after an interval of time. The candle snuffer employs a spring that is wound by the user. When the spring unwinds, a gear train is triggered to close the mouth of a jar housing the burning candle.
A first embodiment of the invention is shown in
Referring to
An alternative embodiment of the invention will be described by referring to
The snuffer plates 62a and 62b may be of any shape that can cover the mouth of the jar 58 when in the closed position, and that will uncover the mouth of the jar 58 when the reset lever 54 is in the latched position.
The snuffer plates 62a, 62b need not be semicircles, but may have any desired shape as long as the snuffer plates complement each other to cover the mouth of the jar 58 to effectively seal off oxygen from the candle flame. For example, the snuffer plates 62a, 62b may be formed from any mating shapes that fit together to form a disk.
The amount of time required to extinguish the candle is determined by the number of turns the thumb crank 52 is wound. An indicator may be provided on the candle shade 50 or on the thumb crank 52 to indicate the time the candle will burn.
By referring to
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An automatic candle snuffer, comprising:
- a clamp adapted for mounting to a mouth of ajar housing a candle;
- a gear housing having an upper housing and a lower housing disposed beneath the lower housing, the gear housing being dimensioned and configured for covering the mouth of the jar in a closed position;
- a stationary pin attached to the clamp, the stationary pin having an upper portion extending through the lower gear housing and a stationary gear attached to the upper portion;
- a first gear train disposed within the gear housing having a gear engaging the stationary gear on the upper portion of the stationary pin;
- a return spring mounted to the first gear train, the return spring being a spiral spring wound by rotation of the upper and lower gear housing on the stationary pin to uncover the mouth of the jar;
- a second gear train disposed within the gear housing and attached to the upper gear housing, rotation of the upper gear housing relative to the lower gear housing actuating the second gear train;
- a timer spring mounted to the second gear train, the timer spring being a spiral spring wound by rotation of the upper gear housing relative to the lower gear housing;
- an escape mechanism engaging the first gear train for holding the return spring in the wound position;
- a release mechanism attached to the second gear train, the release mechanism being pivotally mounted to disengage the escape mechanism when the timer spring is unwound so that the return spring unwinds to actuate the first gear train, rotating the gear housing about the stationary pin to cover the mouth of the jar.
2. The automatic candle snuffer according to claim 1, further comprising a reset pin extending through the gear housing, the reset pin being coupled to the escape mechanism so that pressing the reset pin disengages the escape mechanism, thereby unwinding the return spring to rotate the first gear train in order to rotate the gear housing to the cover the mouth of the jar.
3. The automatic candle snuffer of claim 1, wherein said clamp comprises:
- a pair of curved jaws adapted for engaging the mouth of the jar;
- a torsion spring connected to the jaws, the spring biasing the jaws together to grip opposing sides of the mouth of the jar; and
- finger grips extending from the jaws, the torsion spring being disposed between the finger grips.
4. An automated candle snuffer, comprising;
- a candle shade having a slot defined therein, the slot having a latching detent at one end of the slot, the candle shade being adapted for mounting to a mouth of ajar housing a candle;
- a lever slidably engaging the slot, the lever attached to a first spring biased to return the lever to an unlatched position at the end of the slot opposite from the latching detent;
- a first gear connected to the lever;
- at least one second gear engaging the first gear;
- a lid adapted for covering the mouth of the jar;
- an arm connecting the lid to the at least one second gear whereby moving the lever to the latched position the rotates the first and second gear moving the arm to move the lid to uncover the jar and whereby moving the lever to the unlatched position the first and second gear moving the arm to move the lid to cover the jar;
- a gearbox having a mainspring and a gear train connected to the mainspring;
- means for winding the mainspring;
- a release mechanism attached to the gear train operable to move the reset lever out of the latching detent when the mainspring is unwound, rotating the lid to the closed position covering the mouth of the jar in order to extinguish the candle in the jar.
5. The automated candle snuffer of claim 4, wherein the candle shade is made of ceramic material.
6. The automated candle snuffer of claim 4 wherein, the lid comprises two plates having complimentary shapes adapted to cover the mouth of the jar, and said at least one second gear comprises two gears, each of the two gears being attached to one of the plates, respectively, wherein the two gears rotate the two complementary plates towards each other to close the mouth of the jar in the closed position.
7. The automated candle snuffer of claim 6, wherein the plates are semicircular plates.
8. The automated candle snuffer of claim 4, wherein the lid comprises a one-piece disk for covering the mouth of the jar.
9. An apparatus for extinguishing a candle in a container comprising:
- means for securing the apparatus to a mouth of the container;
- a cover adapted for covering the mouth of the container;
- spring-driven timer means for gradually rotating the cover between an open position uncovering the mouth of the container and a closed position covering the mouth of the container after a selected time interval.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said cover comprises a pair of complementary members, the complementary members being rotated to abut each other in the closed position in order to cover the mouth of the container.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2007
Inventors: David Burton (Ballston Spa, NY), Jay Salmon (Saratoga Springs, NY), Robert Hayes (Ft. Edward, NY)
Application Number: 11/197,455
International Classification: F23Q 25/00 (20060101);