Candle system for enhancing burning and improving volatiles performance and a manufacturing method for the same

Abstract

A system and a method for enhancing burning candle and improving volatiles performance with a tube having holes and/or cuts or a candle container having at least one inner-tube having holes and/or cuts, continuously supplying the fresh air through the holes and/or cuts, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick, and for manufacturing the same.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of candle system and more specifically to a system and a method for enhancing candle burning and improving volatiles' performance and further relates to a method for manufacturing the same. This invention further specifically relates to a system and a method to continuously supply the fresh air to near the foot of the burning wick and the top surface of candle in a candle container.

Candles have traditionally been used to lighten the dark and are still an important light source in some countries and still an important emergency light source even in the developed countries when the electric light source is shut off for any reason. In addition, candles are used to heat up some materials such as portable foods. Nowadays candles with volatiles are very common in providing fragrance, aromas, pesticides, and even anti-microbial compounds into the atmosphere for a wide variety of reasons. In addition to brightness of burning candle flame, fragrances and aromas from a candle are used to improve the feel or mood of a location and are often used to improve an original emotional response and also aid in the development of a specific emotional response. In addition, biologically active compounds such as pesticides and pest repellants are delivered by using candles which are still preferred because of their portability and cost vs. mood performance in many occasions.

However, one of the drawbacks of candle is that a part of solid candle wax is liquefied (to melting wax) while it is burning; wherein the m lting wax pool gradually becomes a rather large pool, and the melting wax often times drips from the top of the candle; wherein the candle becomes messy and ugly, and in some case the melting wax can even cause damages such as on furniture surfaces. Especially, the candle including oils such as fragrance oils possibly causes more damages such as the furniture surface. To avoid this kind of drawback due to the melting wax, either a candle unified with a container, or a candle sitting in a container (or holder) while burning, are getting more and more popular to avoid such dripping followed by damages. As an additional advantage, a highly decorated container enhances more atmospheric mood than only a candle itself. Instead of using a container, some people use a plate or a tray to avoid such damage with better burning of the candle because the candle is always exposed to the fresh air (“open-candle”), but dripping of the melting wax almost always takes place; wherein not only the amount of wax is being significantly lost for a long period of time without burning due to wasting dripped wax, but also the dripped melting wax again is solidified and it looks very ugly and makes bad atmospheric mood. Further as the worst scenario, the spread melting wax on the tray occasionally starts to vigorously burn even without wick and possibly becomes a serious fire hazard. Further, performance of scented open-candle is poorer than a candle in a container (‘closed-candle’) because the melting wax pool is occasionally broken and the wax drips to give inconsistent fragrance dispersion.

Accordingly, a candle in a bottle-like container (or holder) (‘closed-candle’) is very preferred by many consumers. Unfortunately, burning of a closed-candle is generally not very good because of its structural drawback to supply fresh airs (supply oxygens) compared to an open-candle. To improve burning, formulation of wax, type of wax and kinds of wick have been newly modified and developed. However none of these modifications can substantially improve the supply of fresh air to the foot of burning wick and the top surface of candle, which is a significant advantage for open-candles. Therefore an appropriate fragrance formula for scented candle in a container is very critical to maintain good burning due to rather shortage of the fresh air supply after burning for a while. In general, the longer period of time of candle burning, the poorer quality of candle burning because the candle's height and the wick gradually shorten and sinks into the bottom of container and in contrast the wax pool becomes larger and deeper, and as a result the supply of the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick and top surface of candle becomes gradually less and less.

Neither a system effectively, economically and continuously supplying the fresh air directly to the foot of the burning wick and candle is in the market nor is disclosed in literatures.

Referring now to FIG. 1a, a burning candle container 11 includes a candle wax 12, a candle wick 13, a wax pool 14, and a candle flame 16. Candle wax 12 may contain volatiles, including such volatiles as fragrances, essential oils, insect repellents, insecticides, and anti-microbial compounds. During use, at the beginning in FIG. 1a, the outside air flows A1a drawn to the candle container spreads to the upward air flows A2a and the downward air flows A3a; wherein the upward air flows A2a is warmed and combined with the updraft air flows A5a, but in contrast the downward air flows A3a passes to the foot of the burning wick 13 and into the candle flame 16. Candle flame 16, as hot as 2000° C., warms air flows A2a, in combination with the combined pressure from surrounding air flows A3a of the container 11, create a broad and strong hot airflow as updraft A5a

At the beginning of the candle burning the top level 15 of the candle wax 12 is close enough to the upper edge of the container's wall to get a fresh air from the outside of the container 11, but as in FIG. 1b after burning for a while, the top level 15 of the candle wax 12 or the wax pool 14 gradually sinks in the container. Accordingly, the burning wick is farther from the fresh air and in addition the fresh air supply becomes poorer because the stronger updraft A5b takes the fresh air A1b and disperses to the air before the branched fresh air A3b reaches to the foot of the burning wick 13 area. Specifically, as if it is contradictive, the better burning, the poorer the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick. Accordingly to these air flows the candle flame 16 becomes smaller which means poor burning, and poor volatility of the volatiles from the wax pool 14 resulting in poor volatiles' performance. This phenomenon can be observed when the flame becomes smaller and the candle is shaken, the flame becomes bigger and brighter with more air.

As a result of the multiple disadvantages inherent with conventional delivery candle systems, manufacturers have been forced to respond by (1) changing the wax base material to a more expensive substance, (2) changing the wick material to a more expensive one having a lower temperature of combustion, (3) improving the thermal resistance of the active volatiles placed in the base material, (4) increasing the concentration of volatile components within the base material to an expensive and unnecessarily high concentration, and (5) placing hoods above the wick in attempts to minimize wick flare-ups and re-radiate heat downward to minimize irregular molten pool shapes.

Unfortunately, available commercial candle-base systems are only positioned to protect the candle flame from being blown out or for pleasing decoration or design purposes. Many candle hoods substantially decrease volatile performance because of inadequate design and use. There is not such a simple and feasible system to be able to supply the fresh air to the lower inside part of the candle container.

A candle hood, disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,439, is narrower at the top than the bottom and the candle is retained within walls extending above the molten pool level. Consequently, volatiles that escape from the molten pool are forced into a narrow cone containing the hot combustion gasses, and are thermally consumed. Volatiles that do escape the hot combustion gasses experience the additional turbulence resulting from the pressure gradient between the wide bottom and narrow top openings of the hood. In addition, the disclosed invention does not improve any air supply to the inside of candle container.

The candle holder taught by Lee in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,454 only diminishes fragrance or volatile performance in a number of ways. A retainer element is required that extends above the molten pool level and prevents the air from picking up the volatiles and transporting them away from the flame before combustion, while at the same time increasing the odds of combusting any volatiles which do escape from the molten pool. The volatile and smoke exit rate is so slow as to prevent almost any real distribution of fragrance within a room. The Lee system further minimizes performance volatile distribution by trapping the volatiles and combustion gasses below a bowl (and cup) thus creating a positive downward pressure and increased turbulence to further minimize volatile distribution. In addition, the Lee syst m does not improv any air supply to the inside of candle container.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the invention is to provide a system for better candle burning in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for constantly supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick of the candle in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide better performance of volatiles from the candle with volatiles.

Another object of the invention is to provide better fragrance performance from the candle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there is disclosed a system and a method for enhancing candle burning and improving volatiles comprising: a candle container with at least one inner-tube having at least one or preferably plural holes and/or cuts which allow the air and melting wax to pass the inside of the inner-tube; and wherein the height of the wall of inner-tube is higher than the height of the container wall.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is a candle burning enhancing system comprising a tube or a cylinder having holes and/or cuts in its lower part, which allow the air and melting wax to pass when it is used as an insert in the candle container.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is a candle burning system comprising: a candle in the container, the candle having a wick, the candle may-be including a plurality of volatiles disposed within the wax, the candle container including an inner-tube having holes and/or cuts which allow the air and melting wax to pass the inside of said inner-tube to pass the air and the melting wax.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is a candle burning method comprising putting separate candle (open-candle) from the container in the inside of the inner-tube of the container of the present or making unified candle (closed-candle) with the container, burning candle, fresh air supplying through the holes and/or cuts wherein each hole and/or cut is opened according to lowering level of the wax height to pass the air and the melting wax to supply the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick while the candle is burning.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments to the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. It is to be understood that in some instances various aspects of the invention may be shown exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention.

FIGS. 1a and 1b are schematic views of the air flows of the traditional candle in the container (closed-candle) while a candle is burning.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention for an open-candle (container and candle are separate type). A closed-candle is not shown, but both practically are the same composition, because after burning for a while both are indistinguishable.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention for an open-candle (container and candle are separate type). A closed-candle is not shown, but both practically are the same composition, because after burning for a while both are indistinguishable.

FIGS. 4a and 4b are schematic front view of the air flows of the present invention while a candle is burning; wherein in FIG. 4b the candle container 11 is rotated around 30 degree according to the present embodiment until the center of hole 27c reaches in the paper plane to show the air flows direction to the lower part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein. It is to be understood, however, that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure or manner.

Referring FIG. 2 the candle burning system comprises a candle container 11 and at least one inner-tube 27 in the inside of the container; wherein the inner-tube 27 comprises at least one, but preferably plural holes 27a, 27b, 27c and so on for passing the fresh air and melting wax from the space between the wall of the container 11 and the inner-tube 27 to the inside of the inner-tube 27; wherein the wick and candle wax of the candle sit in the inside of the inner-tube 27; wherein the height of the wall of the inner-tube 27 is higher than the height of the wall of the container 11; wherein the inner-tube 27 can be selected from cylinder-type and pipe-type but not limited; wherein the shape of the inner-tube 27 can be selected from such as round and square, but not limited; wherein the material of the inner-tube 27 can be selected from preferably non-combustible materials including such as glass, metal, and Teflon resin, but not limited; wherein the inner-tube 27 can have a wide variety of decorative options including such as crystal-cut glass, various colors, different clearness level, and mirror, but not limited; wherein the holes such as 27a, 27b, 27c and so on exist in the lower portion of the candle top surface through the bottom of the inner-tube 27; wherein the position of each hole such as 27a, 27b, 27c and so on preferably are not on the same perpendicular line; wherein the shape of holes 27a, 27b, 27c and so on can be selected from including round, square, triangle, even cut and their mixture but not limited; wherein the size, the shape and the position of each hole such as 27a, 27b, 27c and so on are arbitrary, but preferably they are designed to pass consecutively and equally the air and the melting wax from any direction and any height. The inner-tube can be either unified with the container or separated from the container. The separate inner-tube can be used with any appropriate container and candle.

According to the present embodiment, the user can select either unified inner-tube with the container or separable inner-tube from the container to employ the candle in the present invention. When the separate candle (open-candle) is selected, the open-candle must be able to sit in the inside of the inner-tube and its total volume should be reasonable versus the volume of the container to avoid any overflows of the melting wax; and the height of the open-candle is preferably shorter or slightly taller than the upper level of the hole 27a to achieve better burning. In general, while burning an open-candle in the container with the inner-tube of the present invention, the fresh air is constantly supplied to the inside of the inner-tube through holes 27a, 27b, 27c and so on because of the minus pressured inside of the inner-tube due to updraft A5 and further the existence of space as possible air passage between the inner face of the inner-tube and the open-candle. Meanwhile, after the open-candle starts to burn, the size of the open-candle wax pool gradually becomes larger, and accordingly the melting wax overflowing from the pool's wall drips to the space between the open-candle and the inner-tube 27 and some passes through the hole 27a to the space between the container 11 and the inner-tube 27 and some reaches to the bottom of the container and spreads around bottom. The more melting wax is being accumulated at the bottom and at some point the wax in the inside of inner-tube 27 and the wax between the inner-tube 27 and the wall of the container 11 become the same as a unified candle of the present invention.

Referring with FIG. 4a, after the aforementioned burning of an open-candle or aft r a short while burning of closed-candle, when the fresh air flows Ala reaches to near the wall of the inner-tube 27, the air flows A1a spreads to upward flows A2a and downward flows A3a, and the downward air lows A3a heads to the hole 27a because of the minus pressured inside of the inner-tube due to updraft A5a and passes to the inside of the inner-tube 27. In contrast to the upward air flows A2a is incorporated into the updraft A5a.

Referring to FIG. 4b, when the candle burning is continued, the wax level of the candle lowers and lowers, and the lower hole 27b, 27c and so on become available as passage of the fresh air and the melting wax; wherein when the fresh air flows A1b reaches to near the wall of the inner-tube, the air flows A1b spreads to upward flows A2b and downward flows A3b, and the downward air flows A3b spreads to the downward air flows A3b and A4b heads to each holes, 27a, 27b, 27c and so on because of the minus pressured inside of the inner-tube due to updraft A5b and passes to the inside of the inner-tube 27; wherein some air passes to the inside of the inner-tube 27 through the hole 27a and the rest of the air A4b passes further downward and passes to the inside of the inner-tube 27 through the hole 27c, since as aforementioned further continuous burning can open the lowest hole 27c available to directly supply the fresh air to the foot of the burning further shortened wick; wherein since in a preferred composition holes 27a, 27b, 27c and so on are not on the same perpendicular line of the inner-tube 27, the branched air flows A4b can further down toward the hole 27c with less passing the fresh air through upper hole 27a to the inside of the inner-tube 27. As a result, the whole wax can be constantly, continuously, effectiv ly and brightly burned until all wick is gone. The hole 27b has the same function but the air flows are not described and not shown in FIG. 4b.

A unified candle (closed-candle) can be manufactured in the steps comprising; setting the inner-tube in the container, setting at least one wick in the middle of the inner-tube, pouring the melting wax into the container to fill the inside of the inner-tube and the space between the inner-tube and the container, and leaving the wax to solidify. In general manufacturing, the holes 27a, 27b and 27c and so on are filled with the wax. Actual burning and performing of the closed-candle is almost the same as described for the separate type candle (open-candle). Briefly, according to continuous burning the holes of the inner-tube from upper to lower will be one by one available as passage of the air and the melting wax since the wax between the inner-tube and the container would melt by heating through the inner-tube and the top level of the wax lower to open the holes. Accordingly, the fresh air can pass the holes to directly supply the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick.

As the aforementioned method, the present invention can supply the fresh air constantly to the surface of the pool and near the foot of the burning wick. As the inner-tube 27 has also the chimney function, the constant updraft A5a and/or A5b can be achieved from the surface of the wax pool, and accordingly the performance of volatiles is dramatically increased. More specifically, according to the aforementioned fresh air supply to the foot of the burning wick, a more efficient and constant updraft can be achieved and accordingly the volatiles in the candle can be efficiently and constantly dispersed to the air. In addition, the inner-tube 27 keeps the melting wax pool 14 warmer whil burning as an “inner-jacket” effect, and accordingly the volatiles in the wax pool can be further more efficiently and constantly dispersed to the air.

Embodiment 1:

The present invention is manufactured by the following method, but not limited. For example, the 12 holes with 8 mm diameter are made by using the electric drill on the sidewall of the plastic inner-tube 57 mm diameter×70 mm height. The four holes are placed at the upper portion of the inner-tube every 90 degree at ca. 20 mm lower from the top edge, another 4 holes are placed at the lower portion of the inner-tube every 90 degree and 30 degree turned from the upper holes at ca. 32 mm lower from the top edge, and more 4 holes are drilled at the lowest portion of the inner-tube every 90 degree and 60 degree turned from the upper holes at ca. 52 mm lower from the top edge. The above inner-tube can be applied with an appropriate size container, for example, 75 mm diameter×70 mm height glass jar, for an appropriate pillar-type candle, for example, 50 mm diameter×50 mm height to be sit in the inside of the inner-tube.

Embodiment 2:

The present invention is manufactured as described in Embodiment 1 and then the aforementioned inner-tube is sit in the inside container, for example, 75 mm diameter×70 mm height glass jar, and an appropriate length of wick is set in the inside of the inner-tube followed by filling with an appropriate volume of melting candle wax either with or without volatiles, and being solidified for use.

Embodiment 3:

Th container of the pres nt invention is compared with traditional candle container. Two commercial scented candles in the container (closed-candle) were purchased from a local supermarket. Both candle waxes and wicks are removed from the containers and are melted. The inner-tube is set to the bottom of one of the containers and the melting wax are poured into both containers with the same formula of commercial candle. After two hours, both candles' performances are compared.

	Test Candle	Control Candle
Time	(with a inner-tube having holes)	(no inner-tube)
0	Very good burning with brighter	Very good burning with
	flame	bright flame
2 hours	Very good burning and strong	Poor burning with poor
	updraft with very good fragrance	fragrance performance
	performance

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A candle burning system comprising a container having at least one inner-tube with holes and/or cuts which allow the air and melting wax to pass the inside of said inner-tube, wherein the height of said inner-tube is higher than the height of said container, wherein the horizontal plane area of said inner-tube is in the range of 10 to 95% of the horizontal plane area of said container.

2. Said horizontal plane area of said inner-tube in claim 1 is in the range of 40 to 90% of the horizontal plane area of said container.

3. Said inner-tube in claim 1, wherein said inner-tube is selected from a cylinder-type or pipe-type, wherein the height of said inner-tube is higher than the wall of said container.

4. Said inner-tube in claim 1 comprising at least one hole and/or which allow the air and melting wax to pass the inside of said inner-tube.

5. Said holes and/or cuts in claim 4 comprising more than four holes and/or cuts, wherein said holes and/or cuts are designed for the air and melting wax to pass evenly from any direction including sides, top and bottom into the inside inner-tube, wherein the shape of said holes and/or cuts is one and/or mixed in the wide variety of shapes including such as round, square, rectangular, triangle, polygonal, undetermined, and mixed-shape, wherein said the position of holes and/or cuts is from the top to the bottom of said inner-tube.

6. Said inner-tube in claim 1, is made of selected material from such as glass, metal, wood, plastic, fiber and ceramic, but not limited, wherein said inner-tube is such as clear, colored, painted, crystal-like and mirror-like but not limited.

7. Said candle burning system, in claim 1, further comprising candle wax, at least one wick in the inside of said inner-tube.

8. Said wax in claim 7 furth r comprising volatiles including such as fragrance oils, essential oil, aromas, insect repellant, medicine, and anti-microbial agent but not limited.

9. A method for burning candle, further comprising the steps of; providing a wick in the inside of said inner-tube and at the bottom of said container; setting wax into said container, burning said wick, supplying the fresh air through said holes and/or cuts into the inside of said inner-tube, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick and the top surface of candle.

10. A method for burning candle, according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of opening the lower holes and/or cuts of said inner-tube filled with said wax by lowering the level of said wax by continuous burning and supplying the fresh air through said lower holes and/or cuts into the inside of said inner-tube, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning shorter wick.

11. A method for burning candle, according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of sitting a candle into the inside of said inner-tube, burning said candle, filling the space between said inner-tube and said container wall with melting wax through said holes and/or cuts, supplying the fresh air through said holes and/or cuts into the inside of said inner-tube, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning wick, opening the lower holes and/or cuts of said inner-tube filled with said wax by lowering the level of said wax by continuous burning and supplying the fresh air through said lower holes and/or cuts into the inside of said inner-tube, and supplying the fresh air to the foot of the burning shorter wick.

12. A method for manufacturing the same, comprising the steps of making holes and/or cuts on the side wall of said inner-tube, and sitting said inner-tube in the inside of said container for a separate candle.

13. A method for manufacturing the same in claim 12, further comprising the steps of setting a wick in the inside of said inner-tube, and filling said container with melting wax.