Patents by Inventor Thomas Szymczak

Thomas Szymczak has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20070183932
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices for dispensing air treatment chemicals. There is a substrate bearing a first volatile air treatment chemical that is capable of being dispensed from the substrate when the substrate is heated, and an indicator unit holding a volatile indicator chemical separate from the first volatile air treatment chemical such that the volatile indicator chemical is capable of being dispensed from the unit when the unit is heated. The extent of dispensing of the first volatile air treatment chemical can be indicated by a visible cue whose appearance results from the dispensing of the volatile indicator chemical. In one form the unit also holds a second air treatment chemical. In another the indicator unit is a replaceable cartridge positionable more remote from the heater than the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Joel Adair, Brian Davis, Gopal Ananth, Thomas Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20060093979
    Abstract: The present invention relates to container candles, such as melting plate candles, which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Inventors: Padma Varanasi, Joel Adair, Guy Daley, Thomas Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20060057521
    Abstract: A candle assembly includes a melting plate having a capillary pedestal, a wick holder that fits over the capillary pedestal, a wick that is carried by the wick holder, and a fuel element that fits over the wick and wick holder and rests on the melting plate. The fuel element includes a duct therethrough for receiving the wick holder. The fuel element is adapted to prevent improper insertion of the wick holder into the duct. The duct is adapted to facilitate successful initial ignition and sustained burn of the wick by having a width that is selected to ensure that melted fuel material engages the wick when dripping down the duct. A capillary well disposed between the wick holder and the capillary pedestal may be adapted to promote a successful relight after an initial burn of the candle assembly. A candle holder, such as including the melting plate supported by a base, may be adapted to promote laminar air flow thereacross during a burn in a substantially calm atmospheric environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Chris Kubicek, Cory Nelson, Robert Gray, Thomas Szymczak, Elizabeth Jameson, Georgia Tenhagen
  • Publication number: 20060057530
    Abstract: A fuel charge for use with a melting plate candle assembly includes an outer shell of fuel material surrounding an inner core of fuel material having different properties than the fuel material of the outer shell. The outer shell is substantially solid and may contain fuel additive that slows capillary flow of liquid fuel to the flame through the wick. The inner core may include liquid fuel, discrete solid fuel particles, or a solid fuel mass. The fuel additive is disposed in the fuel charge so as to slow migration of liquefied fuel to a flame on a wick only after a substantial portion of the fuel charge has been liquefied by heat from the flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Chris Kubicek, Thomas Szymczak, Kara Lakatos, Padma Varanasi, Joel Adair
  • Publication number: 20060057529
    Abstract: A candle assembly includes a support base, a melting plate having a capillary pedestal, a wick holder that fits onto the capillary pedestal, and a fuel element that fits over the wick holder. The wick holder includes a sleeve having first and second open ends. A wick fits into the sleeve and extends between the open ends. The sleeve has a constricted portion, which is disposed between the open ends and has a cross-sectional area less than any other cross-sectional area between the open ends. The constricted portion reduces an effective capillary fluid flow capacity of the wick between the open ends, which may thereby regulate how quickly fuel is consumed when the candle assembly is burning. A capillary well disposed between the wick holder and the capillary pedestal may be adapted to promote a successful relight after an initial burn of the candle assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Chris Kubicek, Cory Nelson, Thomas Szymczak
  • Publication number: 20060057524
    Abstract: The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate. The wick holder also provides capillary fins by which liquified fuel is transported from said support plate to said flame, Said wick holder further engages said capillary pedestal in such a locking manner as to resist accidental removal from said pedestal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventors: Elizabeth Jameson, Chris Kubicek, Thomas Szymczak, Padma Varanasi, Joel Adair
  • Publication number: 20050067439
    Abstract: Apparatus for placing contents of a first container in fluid communication with a delivery apparatus includes an actuating element carried by the delivery apparatus and a valve element carried by the first container. At least one of the actuating element and the valve element defines a flow path from the first container to the delivery apparatus when the actuating element and the valve element are engaged with one another. The actuating element is engageable with a circular cylindrical valve of a second container to prevent flow of contents of the second container into the delivery apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Inventors: Paul Furner, Kenneth Michaels, Thomas Szymczak, Edward Kunesh, David Mather, David Houser, William McCracken