Combustion body which produces a multi-colored flame

Abstract

A cylindrically shaped combustion body of several metals or compounds like alkaline, metal or copper, which when burned produce multi-colored flames without a wick or liquid contents, and holds the flame in a stable position. As the cylindrically shape combustion body burns up, a spring mechanism pushes it upward through a tube, and a claw-like restraining device at the top of the tube keeps the combustion body from emerging out of the tube. Thus, the tip of the combustion body is held just above the rim of the tube, and the flame remains in a constant position, even as the combustion body burns shorter.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a wickless cylindrically shaped combustion body which contains alkaline metal, alkaline earth metal, and copper, which when burned produce multi-colored flames.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

It is known in the prior art to present a combustion body or candle having a metallic compound mixed with wax such that when the candle burns a vivid colored light is emitted. Typically, lithium or copper can be used with the wax to produce this effect. These candles can be placed on a table or the like. A problem arose, however, in that the candle burned too fast. The entire top face of the candle would burn and in a short time the desirable effect from its unusual light was finished. This problem is common to wickless combustion bodies or candles. The present invention teaches a means to burn a cylindrically shaped wickless combustion body including the metallic compound, which presents the flame reaction, from the top slowly downward. As a result, a vivid color flame by the flame reaction can keep emitting light for tens of minutes, and can be used as a decorated source of light.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has a combustion control ring that has a claw-like restraining device that expands internally in the top part of the combustion body. The flame in the combustion body is prevented from spreading sideways.

The purpose of this invention is to avoid a scattering of the flame. The combustion of the flame is held at a constant position.

This invention has accomplished the above-mentioned purpose by being equipped with three claw-like restraining devices attached to the edge of the tube of the combustion equipment, and installing a spring that expands and contracts in tube. Even if the combustion body shortens, the combustion body is always pushed upward on the device by the spring installed in the bottom, and can burn with the claw-like restraining device in the top of the device while always staying in the top of the tube.

The cylinder shape combustion body can be burnt to the last minute with the tube in hand, and if the tube is fixed in a stand, the coloring flame will keep burning in a constant position. Burning ash is prevented from dispersing by installing an ash receiver on the upper side part of the tube. Heat in the upper part of the tube can also be dissipated by the ash receiver. To burn the combustion body by the method above-mentioned, it is necessary to insert the combustion body in the tube with the top part of the combustion body stopped with the claw-like restraining device in the upper part of the tube and the bottom of the combustion body pushed with a spring. Therefore, it should have the structure that either the claw-like restraining device or the spring of the tube can be detached. The former is a structure to compose the tube of a main body and detachable cap, and to install claw-like restraining device in the cap. Alternatively, the base can be made detachable.

The structure at the present invention makes burning possible when holding the apparatus or at a high position on a table by lengthening the tube, and installing the spring base in the middle part. Moreover, when the tube is not long, the spring base can be installed in the bottom of the tube. When the tube is installed on a stand, the upper surface of the stand can be used as the spring base. In this case, the tube is prevented from coming off the stand to the surface by a slot and projection in the tube.

The cap and stand are attached to the tube by using a slot on the tube and corresponding projections on the cap or base which engage the slots in the tube. Rotation of the cap or stand hold those components on the tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus of the present invention showing a detachable cap and base.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the tube of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the present invention having the spring base midway in the tube.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the figures, especially FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of the invention can be described. FIG. 1 shows a cylindrically shaped combustion body 1 which comprises metallic compounds pressed together with wax, and possibly other solid fuel. The metallic compounds may vary depending on the color of the flame desired. For example, copper sulfate produces a green flame; sodium nitrate produces a red colored flame; and potassium iodate yields a purple colored flame. The combustion body 1 or candle is disposed in a tube 2 which serves as a holder. A spring 3 is provided, which is a coil spring having a free length longer than tube 2 and placed between the combustion body 2 and a spring base 4. The spring base 4 is made of metal and has flanges 10 at each end. A guide pin 11 is located at the center of spring base 4. A stand 5 is provided which is preferably ceramic and the stand 5 is fixed by any suitable means to the bottom of spring base 4.

Tube 2 has three restraining devices, generally designated as 7 on its top end. These restraining devices 7 or prongs are claw-like and will prevent the combustion body 1 from projecting significantly from the tube 2 when the entire apparatus is in use. The prongs 7 are tilted at an angle extending upwardly from the top of tube 2. An ash receiver 8 is mounted toward the top end of tube 2, and is designed to receive some of the residue from the combustion of combustion body 1. An oval shaped base 9 on tube 2 is provided. The base 9 having two oval projections generally designated as 12.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, combustion body 1 and spring 3 will be inserted into tube 2 from the bottom and the guide pin 11 placed through the bottom of spring 3. The oval base 9 will be pushed against spring base 4 with the oval projections 12 extending therefrom. When spring base 4 is rotated 90 degrees, oval projections 12 will be held by flanges 10, thereby attaching spring base 4 to the bottom of tube 2. The stand 5 can then be attached to the spring base with double backed tape, for example. In this arrangement, the top part of the combustion body 1 is held just slightly above the rim of the tube 2 by the claw-like prongs 7. When the top of the combustion body 1 is lit, colored flame is produced depending on the metallic compound pressed with the wax of the combustion body. Only the very top part of the combustion body 1 burns due to the restraining nature of prongs 7. As combustion body 1 burns, some ash generated therefrom will fall into ash receiver 8. Even though the combustion body 1 is continually shortening due to combustion, it continues burning, being pressed upwardly by the spring 3 against the prongs 7.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. In this embodiment, the spring 3 is inserted from the upper end of tube 2 along with the combustion body 1. Splinters 16 bent inwardly from the bottom of tube 14 serve as a receiver for spring 3. The top of the tube 14 has three L-shaped slots, generally designated as 20, spaced equidistantly around the circumference of the tube 14. A cap 15 is provided having prongs 7 as in the previously described embodiment, but also having projections 17 which are adapted to be disposed in the L-shaped slots of tube 14. A slight rotation of cap 15 will “lock” the cap 15 in place on top of tube 14.

In the above-mentioned example of the second embodiment, the cap 15 is removed and the spring 5 and the combustion body 1 are inserted in the tube 14, and the combustion body 1 is pushed down into the tube 14 by the cap 15. The cap 15 is connected with the main body by inserting the projections 17 of the cap 15 in L-shaped slots 20 and then rotated. Because the cap 15 is pushed up by the expansion power of the spring 3, the projections 17 will be fixed in slots 20. Thus, the cap 5 will not be pushed off. The tube 14 can be held by hand or placed on the stand 5. The tip of the combustion body 1 located just above the rim of the tube 14 can be ignited. In the alternative embodiment, the stand 5 has a support pipe 19 and flat disc 18 welded together. The tube 14 can be placed inside pipe 19 for support.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment in which the main body of tube 2 is lengthened, and the spring base 5 can be fixed in the middle of the tube 2. In this example, splinters 16 are bent internally as also shown in FIG. 4, but the splinters 16 are placed in the middle of tube 2. The reference numeral 21 represents a point on tube 2 at which splinters 16 can be placed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for producing a multi-colored flame comprising,

a) a combustion body containing compounds which yield a multi-colored flame when burned;

b) a tube for receiving said combustion body, said tube having a restraining device at its top end for restraining said combustion body;

c) a spring disposed in said tube, said spring contacting said combustion body and urging said combustion body against said restraining device of said tube;

d) a base that supports said tube and said spring disposed in said tube.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a plate attached to said base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tube includes a detachable top portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes a bowl mounted on said tube for catching ash from said combustion body.