Candle snuffer

Abstract

A candle snuffer which extinguishes a burning candle flame without residual smoke and also embodies a lighter holder, used to light the candle. The candle snuffer is fabricated from a wire member and a pair of quenching tabs disposed on each end of the wire member. The pair of quenching tabs oppose each other and are sufficiently spaced apart to define a gap to interpose the candlewick of the burning candle flame there between, whereby when the pair of quenching tabs are urged together into contact with the candlewick by squeezing the pair of arms, the burning candle flame is instantaneously quenched without residual smoke. The lighter holder is comprised of a metal casing, placed at the opposite end.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to a burning candle flame extinguishing device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a candle snuffer for use in extinguishing a flame of a burning candle without creating smoke and adds the convenience of a lighter in the same tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The widespread use of candles is a very popular and pleasant endeavor for personal enjoyment and for ceremonial applications. Extinguishing a flame of a burning candle is typically accomplished by blowing it out or by using a bell shaped candle snuffer. These methods create lingering smoke which adversely affects persons allergic to smoke such as those with asthma or with other respiratory conditions. Furthermore, the problem with blowing out candles is that there is a potential danger of accidentally getting burned from the hot candle wax which, more often than not, is sprayed over a table setting and onto other places where it is unwanted, making it difficult to clean off a tablecloth or other articles or on other places where it is deposited. Heretofore, candle users have used two tools to accomplish the enjoyment of a candle; one tool to light the flame and another to extinguish it. The addition of a lighter casing to a candle snuffer provides great convenience, as the source of the flame and the extinguishing tool are now in one place.

Whereas prior art devices provided only the candle snuffer and not the lighter case, there is a need for an improved candle snuffer which is simple in design, practical, economical, and provides both the lighting and the extinguishing functions.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,737 to Ray discloses a tong-like candle snuffer having various wettable snuffing surfaces of wire mesh, wood and ceramic materials. Such a device relies upon a water supply for wetting the wettable snuffing surfaces and is impractical.

U.S. Des. Pat. No. 406,409 to Rubino shows an ornamental candle snuffer.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,081 to Stewart discloses a squeezable-type and tweezer-like candle snuffer with removably attachable wax pads attached to the tip of the tweezer-like device. The wax pads could ignite making the design dangerous to use. Also, separately attachable pads are not practical and are inconvenient to attach and to use.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,858 to Conner, et al. discloses a candle snuffer which extinguishes a burning candle flame without residual smoke and simultaneously trims a charred end of a candlewick. The trimming function is unnecessary, as current candle-making methods make candle trimming obsolete.

In view of the above mentioned problems and limitations associated with conventional candle flame snuffing devices, it was recognized by the present inventor that there is an unfulfilled need for an improved candle snuffer which serves both the candle lighting and extinguishing functions in one attractive, practical, economical tool.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a candle snuffer that eliminates the residual smoke emitted from the candlewick of a quenched candle flame and also embodies a lighter holder, used to light the candle, thereby improving upon the aforementioned problems of prior art devices.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a candle snuffer which may be manufactured from readily available materials by conventional manufacturing processes.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide a candle snuffer that is simple and attractive in design, simple to manufacture, low in cost and fun to use.

This invention results from the realization that there is a great need for an improved candle snuffer. The resulting invention provides a user the capability of conveniently being able to enjoy using candles without the problem of lingering residual smoke and odor caused when a candle is extinguished as well as the convenience of having the source of the flame and the extinguishing tool in one place.

The candle snuffer is fabricated from a wire member, a casing to house a standard disposable lighter, and a pair of arms extending from the casing and terminating at a pair of knees. A pair of legs angularly extend from the pair of knees. A pair of quenching tabs are disposed on each end of the wire member such that the pair of quenching tabs oppose each other and are sufficiently spaced apart to define a gap to interpose the candlewick of the burning candle flame there between, whereby when the pair of quenching tabs are urged together into contact with the candlewick by squeezing the pair of arms, the burning candle flame is instantaneously quenched without residual smoke.

In a second aspect of the invention, the pair of legs extend at an angle of about 30 degrees from the pair of knees wherein the pair of legs are shorter than the pair of arms. A pair of quenching tabs are integrally formed from the wire member.

In a third aspect of the invention, a metal casing houses a standard disposable lighter used to light the candle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the accompanying drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a candle snuffer of the instant invention shown with a burning candle flame of a candle having a candlewick, each candle portion shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Looking more particularly to the drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a preferred embodiment of a candle snuffer which is generally indicated at 22. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a candle snuffer 22 of the instant invention shown with a burning candle flame 46 of a candle 50 having a candlewick 48, each candle portion shown in phantom. It is understood that the candle snuffer 22 can extinguish the burnt end portion of a candlewick without residual smoke.

As seen in FIG. 1, the candle snuffer 22, constructed from a wire member 24, between a first end 38 and a second end 40 of the wire member 24 and a pair of arms 26, 28 extending from the casing 16 and terminating at a pair of knees 30, 32. The pair of arms 26, 28 are squeezed and are alternately released. A pair of legs 34, 36 angularly extend from the pair of knees 30, 32. Preferably, the pair of legs 34, 36 are shorter than the pair of arms 26, 28. A pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 are disposed on each end 38, 40 of the wire member 24 such that the pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 oppose each other and are sufficiently spaced apart to define a gap to interpose the candlewick 48 of the burning candle flame 46 there between. When the pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 are urged together into contact with the candlewick 46 by squeezing the pair of arms 26, 28, the burning candle flame 46 is instantaneously quenched without residual smoke. The casing 16 includes a tubular body 18. The body 18 has a first end 12 and an opposed end 28. A securing collar 14 can be removably positioned in the first end 12 of the body 18. The collar 14 is placed over the lighter 10 so as to secure the lighter 10 within the body 18.

The candle snuffer 22 may be fabricated from readily available materials and by conventional metal fabrication techniques. For example, the wire member 24, from which the candle snuffer 22 may be made, is a material chosen from the group consisting of steel, iron, brass, copper and aluminum. For ease of manufacture and for durability, the wire member 24 may preferably have a diameter of about {fraction (3/16)} inch (0.5 cm). The pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 may be integrally formed on the ends 38, 40 of the wire member 24 by swaging. The formed pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 are preferably elongated in shape and have a flat face. The pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 have a thickness less than the diameter of the wire member 24. It is understood that jigs and fixtures can also be used to facilitate forming and bending of the wire member 24 to define the candle snuffer 22 of FIG. 1. Furthermore, although not necessary for operation, the wire member 24 of the candle snuffer 22 may, preferably, have a flame resistant coating such as a paint.

To use the candle snuffer 22, a user simply brings the pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 into mutually opposing relationship with each other on either side of the candlewick 48 of the burning candle flame 46 by urging the pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 together into contact with the candlewick 48 by squeezing the pair of arms 26, 28 formed on the wire member 24 whereby the burning candle flame 46 is instantaneously quenched without residual smoke.

Surprisingly, the instant invention provides an added advantage whereby it recognizes a problem and adequately and completely addresses an unfulfilled need in that a candle snuffer 22, in the manner disclosed, in effect, provides a convenient device which eliminates residual smoke and provides the desired above mentioned advantages and benefits to a user. Furthermore, the candle snuffer 22, simultaneously provides the candle lighting tool as well as the extinguishing tool.

It is understood that the candle snuffer 22 may be constructed in a wide variety of sizes, colors and style variations. For example, the preferred 30 degree angle and the length of the pair of legs 34, 36 allows the pair of quenching tabs 42, 44 to conveniently access the candlewick 48 of the candle 50 which would normally not be readily reachable. Such a difficult-to-reach, recessed candlewick 48 is one that is in a relatively deep container such as a votive candle holder and ajar (not shown). The candle snuffer 22 can also be used on oil lamps having a wick in the manner as described above. One practical advantage of the invention is that it provides a convenient, practical, low cost, candle snuffer 22 which allows a user to conveniently extinguish a burning candle flame without residual smoke. A further advantage of the invention is that the candle snuffer 22 is designed for ease of manufacture by standard methods and by using readily available materials.

Of course, a wide variety of further uses and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art.

As disclosed, it is apparent that the instant invention can provide other options. One skilled in the art will realize that the foregoing discussion outlines the more important features of the invention to enable a better understanding of the instant invention and to instill a better appreciation of the inventor's contribution to the art. It must be clear that the disclosed details of construction, descriptions of geometry and illustrations of inventive concepts are mere examples of possible manifestations of the invention.

Although the invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art undoubtedly will find alternative embodiments obvious after reading this disclosure. With this in mind, the claims are intended to define the scope of protection to be afforded the inventor, and those claims shall be deemed to include equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A candle snuffer which extinguishes a burning candle flame without residual smoke and also contains a lighter holder, used to light the candle. Said candle snuffer comprising:

a wire member, with a flame resistant coating, having a first end and a second end;

a casing to house a standard disposable lighter;

a pair of arms extending from said casing and terminating at a pair of knees;

a pair of legs, shorter than said pair of arms, angularly extending from said pair of knees at an angle of about 30 degrees;

a pair of quenching tabs integrally formed from said wire member wherein said pair of quenching tabs are elongated in shape and have a flat face; and have a thickness less than a diameter of said wire member; and

said pair of quenching tabs disposed on said first end of said wire member and on said second end of said wire member such that said pair of quenching tabs oppose each other and are sufficiently spaced apart to define a gap to interpose the candlewick of the burning candle flame there between, whereby when said pair of quenching tabs are urged together into contact with the candlewick by squeezing said pair of arms, the burning candle flame is instantaneously quenched without residual smoke.

2. The candle snuffer of claim 1 wherein said candle snuffer is fabricated from a material chosen from the group consisting of steel, iron, brass, copper and aluminum.

3. The candle snuffer of claim 1 wherein said flame resistant coating is a paint.