Message candle

Abstract

A candle that contains a secret message that is displayed as the candle is consumed can be made by placing a non-burnable plate substantially horizontal in the candle with the plate having the message inscribed. As the candle burns down, the message becomes revealed without waiting for the candle to entirely burn down. Stock candles can be sold with messages being added at the time of sale or after sale by placing the plate on the stock candle and then adding more wax. Usually a wick passes through an orifice in the plate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to candles and more particularly to candles containing a message or drawing being visible at a predetermined time when consumed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Candles and soap bars containing objects or encapsulated messages are known by the consumers. Patent Nr.GB2323096 shows a candle where a message is placed vertically in a candle and where the candle can be read after most or the entire candle is burned down. Patent Nr. DE 19940202 describes a candle where a message has been placed vertically in a candle and where the message can be read once the candle has entirely burned down. Patent Nr. U.S. Pat. No. 6,435,694 consists of two containers. The first container contains the candle and is placed in a larger container. The decoration or the message is then placed between the walls of the two containers. A message being placed in so called gel candle (transparent candles) is described in patents EP1188815 and published application Nr. US 2002150854.

What is needed is a candle that differs in the way that the message can be read whilst the product is used (whilst the candle is burning), it has not to be packed in foil or any other kind of protection, that the message is not visible as long as the candle is not lit and that the complete message is readable instead of having to wait until most of the candle is burned down. The aim is to create a surprising effect on the person who receives and lights the candle. In our case the printed plate is always placed horizontally so that it can be read or seen in its entirety as soon as the wax above is melted. Another difference compared to the named inventions is that the plate has to have a hole at its centre in order to get it to sink horizontally and to stay stable whilst the candle burns down and so to allow the message or the drawing to visible at all time when the candle is burning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a candle containing one or more message(s), good wishes or drawing(s). The aim is to create some suspense and a surprising effect or to create a more romantic atmosphere to sending a message. For example: John Smith offers his friend a candle containing the message: “Will you marry me!” John Smith's girlfriend will light the candle and as soon as the pool of melted wax is near enough to the printed plate, she will be able to read the message through the melted (and transparent) wax.

The message or drawing can be printed onto a non-burnable plate which will stay on top of the non melted wax.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of a container (1) containing wax (2) and a wick (3) in its center.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a non-flammable plate printed with the words “message”

FIG. 3 is a drawing of the process of inserting the plate in the container on top of the wax (4).

FIG. 4 is a drawing of the candle after the plate has been inserted in the container.

FIG. 5 is a drawing describing the process of adding wax on top of the candle having the plate with the message inserted. Hot Wax (5) is added to the candle.

FIG. 6 is a drawing of the invention as it looks when the wax has just been added on top of the plate. The wax is still liquid and thus transparent (6).

FIG. 7 is a drawing of the finished product after the wax has cooled down. No message is visible yet.

FIG. 8 is a drawing of a hart shaped container (7) where the candle has just been lit and the wax (8) being still solid (or cold), the message is not visible yet.

FIG. 9 describes the candle after 5 minutes burning. The wax layers (9) on top of the candle is getting liquid, the bottom layer (10) of wax is still solid and supports the plate with the messages (11). The message is slowly starting to get visible.

FIG. 10 describes the candle after 10 minutes burning. The upper layer wax (12) is totally liquid and transparent; the message (13) is clearly visible, the layer of wax underneath the plate (14) is solid and supports the message (13).

FIG. 11 describes the candle being nearly consumed to the end. The message is still visible, the candle is still burning.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

When a candle is burning, the wax closest to the flame, or source of heat, will melt and create a pool. The size of the pool will depend on the nature of the wax and on the type and size of the wick. Soft wax with a lower melting point will create a larger and deeper pool than hard wax would do (FIG. 3 nr. 8).

The time necessary for the message to be visible will depend on the choice of the wax used and will depend on the size of the layer of wax put on top of the plate. The thinner the layer of wax, the faster the message will be visible. The softer the wax, the faster will the wax melt and get transparent. Other properties such as the choice of wick, the color of the wax or the color of the print onto the plate will have an influence onto the time necessary for the message or the drawing to be visible.

The message can be set horizontally in the candle as the candle melts horizontally and so that the message is readable without having to wait until the candle is completely burned down. While this is the preferred way of setting the plate, many other orientations of the message is within the scope of the present invention.

The message will usually stay in the candle until the candle is completely burned down.

The plate onto which the message or drawing is inscribed enables the messages to sink with the candle. After the candle has burned down, the device onto which the message has been printed can be either disposed of or kept as a souvenir.

The plate onto which the message or drawing is printed can contain a hole in its center which will surround the wick in order to give it enough stability and to allow it to sink with the wax and to allow the candle to burn until it is completely consumed.

The plate onto which the message is printed or written on can be of any printable, write-able, heat resistant and flame resistant material.

Any kind of wax (of natural or of mineral origin) and any blend of wax can be used as material for manufacturing the candle.

Any non-burning material can be used for manufacturing the plate onto which the message will be inscribed. Inscribing the message can by printing, engraving or by any other method of registering the message on the plate.

Any type of heat resistant and flame resistant container can be used to enclose the candle, the container can be either transparent or non transparent. Any shape and size can be used for the container.

The message candle can be either sold as a complete and finished product or as a semi-finished product where the purchaser of the product has to complete the product by writing his own message onto the supplied plate and or signing the message underneath the printed message. In this later case a small amount of wax (in a bag, box or tube) is supplied in order to cover the plate where the message is printed or written onto. This action can take place at the time of sale or after sale.

The type of message or drawing can be of any type. Funny, romantic, wicked, good wishing, seasonal, as an advertisement, or as a price or any other type of message.

Claims

1. A candle containing a message or drawing comprising a body of wax having a central wick, said candle containing a plate inscribed with a message or drawing, said plate being substantially horizontal, said message or drawing becoming visible through melted wax as said candle is consumed.

2. The candle of claim 1 wherein said wick passes through an orifice in said plate.

3. The candle of claim 1 wherein said message is placed in said candle when said candle is sold.

4. The candle of claim 3 wherein extra wax is added to said candle when said message is placed into said candle.

5. The candle of claim 1 wherein said plate is non-burnable.

6. The candle of claim 1 wherein said plate is metal.

7. A candle containing a message or drawing comprising a body of wax having a central wick, said candle containing a substantially horizontal plate of non-burnable material, said plate containing a message with said wick passing through an orifice in said plate, whereby said message becomes visible as said candle burns.

8. The candle of claim 7 wherein said plate is metal.

9. A method of displaying a message while a candle burns comprising the steps of:

inscribing a message on a non-burnable plate;

mounting said non-burnable plate substantially horizontal in a candle mold;

passing a wick through an orifice in said non-burnable plate;

pouring wax into said mold;

removing said finished candle from said mold.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

lighting said candle;

observing said candle as said wax melts, whereby said message becomes visible at a point in time as said candle is consumed.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said non-burnable plate is metal.