Candle wick clipper

Abstract

A candle wick clipper having a narrow cutting end to reach a candle wick within a confined space and having a receptacle to contain and remove the cut debris removed from the candle wick. The candle wick clipper has two lever members pivotally attached together at an intermediate portion, and two half-barrel shaped receptacles at opposing ends of the lever members. Cutting blades are defined in the half-barrel shaped receptacles which mesh and close the end of the receptacles when the lever members are closed in order to cut the wick without dropping the residue excised from the wick.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/448,099, filed Feb. 20, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a candle wick clipper, and particularly to a candle wick clipper having an elongated basket shaped cutting end to allow easy cutting of a candle wick within a burned candle or within a jar or narrow candle holder while collecting the debris from the cut wick.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Candles are widely used for decorative purposes and for lighting, and have been so used throughout history. Candles come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are used in many different kinds, sizes, and shapes of candleholders. When a candle is new, its wick may need to be trimmed to a proper length for use. Also, as a candle is used it is desirable from time to time to trim the wick, both to keep the wick to a proper length for burning and to eliminate the charred and blackened portion of burned wick. A pair of ordinary scissors may suffice to cut a candle's wick, but this is not an ideal solution. Once cut, the burned and blackened debris removed from the wick may fall into the candle, into the candleholder, or elsewhere, creating an unsightly mess.

[0006] Additionally, because scissors typically cut most effectively when used in a position that is essentially perpendicular to the candle and wick, the wick may be difficult or impossible to reach with ordinary scissors if the candle is in a narrow container, or if the candle's wick has burned down inside the candle, as is common, especially with large candles. It is therefore desirable for a candle wick trimmer to catch and retain the trimmed debris from the wick and for the trimmer to be able to reach into a narrow opening.

[0007] Candle wick clippers have been developed over the years that attempt to solve these problems. Some clippers are a scissor-like device with a spoon or a box-like structure attached to catch the trimmed wick debris. One such device is described in the U.S. Pat. No. 18,713, issued Nov. 24, 1857 to Stow et al. The Stow wick trimmer is essentially a pair of scissors with a box attached to one of the scissor blades. A box top is affixed to the other blade such that when the scissors are closed to cut the wick, the box closes, catching the wick debris inside. This wick trimmer, however, is not suited for reaching a wick within a confined space.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 247,888, issued on Oct. 4, 1881 to C. H. Clark, describes a wick trimmer that is a scissor-like device, having spoon-shaped elements to grip the wick and a separate trimming element to trim the wick. Debris from the wick is removed by the trimming element and deposited into the spoons. This device, like the Stow device, is not suited for reaching a wick within a confined space. Also, since the spoons that catch the wick debris are not fully enclosed, the contents may be spilled.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,243,954, issued Jun. 12, 2001 to C. F. Bowers, shows a candle wick trimming device that may be used in a position that is inline with, and not perpendicular to, the candle and its wick. The primary purpose of this device is to cut the wick of a new and unused candle to a specific prescribed length prior to use. The cutting portion is offset from the cutting end of the trimmer so that, when used, the ends of the trimmer are positioned on the candle surface at the base of the wick. The blade, because it is offset, will cut the wick to its precise prescribed length. However, there is no mechanism to retain the cut piece of wick, which is allowed to fall freely from the device.

[0010] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus a candle wick clipper solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The candle wick clipper is a scissors-like device for clipping a candle wick, employing a barrel-shaped cutting end that both cuts a candle wick, and retains debris trimmed from the wick. Debris trimmed from the wick is retained within the barrel-shaped cutting end, preventing the debris from falling into the candle, a candle holder, or onto a surface where the candle is displayed.

[0012] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a candle wick clipper that will retain the clipped refuse from the wick, so that the refuse is not spilled into the candle, the candle container, or elsewhere.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a candle wick clipper that can be used to trim a candle wick within a confined space, such as within a narrow candle holder or within the candle itself after the wick has burned down inside the candle.

[0014] It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a candle wick clipper according to the present invention, with the candle wick clipper opened to receive a candle wick for cutting.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of a candle wick clipper according to the present invention, with the candle wick clipper closed to cut the candle wick and receive the cut piece of wick within.

[0018] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the cutting ends of the candle wick clipper.

[0019] FIG. 4A is an end view of the cutting ends of the candle wick clipper in a closed position.

[0020] Fig. 4B is an end view of the cutting ends of the candle wick clipper in an open position.

[0021] FIG. 5A is a section view along lines 5A-5A of FIG. 4A, showing the cutting ends in a closed position.

[0022] FIG. 5B is a section view along lines 5B-5B of FIG. 4B, showing the cutting ends in an open position.

[0023] FIG. 6 is an environmental, perspective view of a second embodiment of a candle wick clipper according to the present invention, with the candle wick clipper opened to receive a candle wick for cutting.

[0024] FIG. 7 is an environmental, perspective view of the candle wick clipper shown in FIG. 6, with the candle wick clipper closed to cut the candle wick and receive the cut piece of wick within.

[0025] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0026] The present invention is a candle wick clipper, designated generally as 10 in the drawings. The candle wick clipper 10, as shown in FIG. 1, comprises a pair of elongated lever members 20, 30, each having handle ends 22, 32, intermediate portions 24, 34, and cutting ends 26, 36. The lever members 20, 30 are pivotally attached to one another generally within the intermediate portions 24, 34 at 50. Cutting ends 26, 36 terminate in widened, half-barrel shaped portions 28, 38. As can be seen in FIGS. 1-2, when the cutting ends 26, 36, along with the widened half-barrel shaped portions 28, 38, are closed together, the widened half-barrel shaped portions meet to form a barrel shaped receptacle.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 3, the widened, half-barrel shaped portions 28, 38 have cutting blade members 42, 44 that act in cooperation with one another such that when the cutting ends 26, 36 are closed together, the cutting blade members 42, 44 meet to cut a candle wick disposed therebetween and to form a closure to the barrel shaped receptacle formed by widened, half-barrel shaped portions 28, 38. As shown in further detail in FIGS. 4A-4B and FIGS. 5A-5B, cutting blade members 42, 44 preferably interact in an overlapping manner, similar to scissor blades, when closed. The cutting edge of the cutting blade members 42, 44 may be a straight edge, a rounded edge, a V-shaped edge as illustrated, or a serrated or other shape suitable for cutting. As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4B, cutting blade member 42 forms a sector of a circular disc with the cutting edge subtending a minor arc of less than 180° and defining a V-shaped edge pointing towards half-barrel portion 38, while cutting blade 44 forms a corresponding sector of the circular disc having a cutting edge subtending a major arc greater than 180° corresponding to the minor arc defined by cutting edge 42, the cutting edge of blade 44 defining a V-shaped recess complementary to the V-shaped edge defined by blade 42.

[0028] Turning now to FIGS. 6 and 7, an alternative embodiment of a candle wick clipper 100 is shown. Similar to the candle wick clipper 10 described above, the candle wick clipper 100 comprises a pair of elongated lever members 120, 130, each having handle ends 122, 132, intermediate portions 124, 134, and cutting ends 126, 136. The lever members 120, 130 are pivotally attached to one another generally within the intermediate portions 124, 134 at 150. Cutting ends 126, 136 terminate in widened, half-barrel shaped portions 128, 138, each defining a hollow interior space 160, 162. Cutting blades 142, 144 are shown with rounded, rather than V-shaped, cutting edges. The cutting edge of cutting blade 142 is convex, and complementary to a concave cutting edge of cutting blade 144.

[0029] The cutting ends 126, 136 have defined therein, for at least a portion of their length, semi-circular channels 164, 166 that join, and extend, the hollow interior spaces 160, 162 of the widened half-barrel shaped portions 128, 138 of the cutting ends 126, 136. As can be seen in FIGS. 6-7, the cutting ends 126, 136, along with the widened half-barrel shaped portions 128, 138, form, when closed together, an extended receptacle defined by the semi-circular channels 164, 166 of the cutting ends 126, 136, along with the hollow interior spaces 160, 162 of the widened half-barrel shaped portions 128, 138. With the semi-circular channels 164, 166 of the cutting ends 126, 136 extending from the hollow interior spaces 160, 162 of the widened half-barrel shaped portions 128, 138, the candle wick clipper 100 can accommodate a candle wick of extended length, such as a new candle with a new and uncut wick.

[0030] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A candle wick clipper, comprising:

first and second lever members, each lever member having a handle end, an intermediate portion, and a cutting end, the intermediate portions of the lever members being pivotally joined together, the lever members pivoting between opened and closed positions;

a first half-barrel shaped receptacle disposed on the cutting end of said first lever member, a hollow interior space being defined in said first half-barrel shaped receptacle; and

a second half-barrel shaped receptacle disposed on the cutting end of said second lever member, a hollow interior space being defined in said second half-barrel shaped receptacle;

whereby said first and second half-barrel shaped receptacles cooperatively form an enclosed barrel shaped receptacle when said first and second lever members are moved into said closed position.

2. The candle wick clipper according to claim 1, wherein a semi-circular channel is defined in the cutting end each of said first and second lever members, whereby a receptacle is formed between said cutting ends by said semi-circular channels when said first and second lever members are moved into said closed position.

3. The candle wick clipper according to claim 2, wherein for each of said first and second lever members said semi-circular channel extends to and joins said hollow interior space of said first and second half-barrel shaped receptacles, respectively, in order to form a single, extended length receptacle for receiving a cut end of an extended length wick.

4. The candle wick clipper according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first cutting member disposed on said first half-barrel shaped receptacle; and

a second cutting member disposed on said second half-barrel shaped receptacle;

wherein said first and second cutting members meet when said first and second lever members are moved into said closed position.

5. The candle wick clipper according to claim 4, wherein said first and second cutting members overlap when said first and second lever members are moved into said closed position.

6. The candle wick clipper according to claim 4, wherein said first and second cutting members form an end closure for said enclosed barrel shaped receptacle when said first and second lever members are moved into said closed position.

7. The candle wick clipper according to claim 4, wherein said first cutting member is a blade formed as a sector of a circle subtending a minor arc and defining a V-shaped blade, and said second cutting member is a blade formed as a sector of a circle subtending a major arc corresponding to the minor arc and defining a V-shaped recess complementary to the V-shaped blade formed by the first cutting member, said first and second members meeting and overlapping when said first and second lever members are in the closed position, defining a circular disc closing the barrel shaped receptacle.

8. The candle wick clipper according to claim 4, wherein said first cutting member is a blade formed as a sector of a circle subtending a minor arc and defining a convex rounded blade edge, and said second cutting member is a blade formed as a sector of a circle subtending a major arc corresponding to the minor arc and defining a concave rounded blade edge complementary to the convex rounded blade edge formed by the first cutting member, said first and second members meeting and overlapping when said first and second lever members are in the closed position, defining a circular disc closing the barrel shaped receptacle.