Candle accessory

Abstract

The candle accessory is a frame dimensioned and configured to overhang an upper edge of a candle. The frame has a first end and a second end and may have any shape, including frusto-conical, rectangular, square or oval. The first end is smaller than the second end and the second end is slightly larger than the upper edge of the candle. Thus, the second end of the candle accessory is dimensioned and configured to hang slightly past the top edge of the candle. In use, the candle accessory is placed on top of the candle and rests on the upper edge of the candle. Specifically, the upper edge of the candle slides just past the second end and abuts the sides of the candle accessory.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to candle accessories. In particular the candle accessory is a device used to compress the sides of a lighted candle as the wax melts.

2. Description of the Related Art

Candles come in a variety of sizes and shapes and serve an array of purposes. Candles are used during worship, to provide light for work, and to create an ambiance. A candle's life is based on how fast the wick burns. Generally, when candles burn deep, crates are created as the wax is melted away from a lighted wick. As time goes by, the craters get deeper and walls are formed around the wick. This not only hampers a user's ability to easily light the candle, but it also causes more of the candle to be wasted. Also, as the crater gets deeper, less time is provided for the user to use the candle. Furthermore, as the candle burns, the wax that melts tends to drip down the sides of the candle, causing an unsightly mess. A device is desired that will allow the wick to burn more evenly over a longer period of time and, thus, extend the length of time a candle can be used. Thus, a candle accessory solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The candle accessory is a frame dimensioned and configured to overhang an upper edge of a candle. The frame has a first end and a second end and may have any shape, including frusto-conical, rectangular, square or oval. The first end is smaller than the second end and the second end is slightly larger than the upper edge of the candle. Thus, the second end of the candle accessory is dimensioned and configured to hang slightly past the top edge of the candle. In use, the candle accessory is placed on top of the candle and rests on the upper edge of the candle. Specifically, the upper edge of the candle slides just past the second end and abuts the sides of the candle accessory.

Plates made of glass, stained glass, metals or other heat conductive material are disposed between the first end and the second end to form the sides of the frame. Rods are disposed between the plates. The rods serve to keep the plates in position and join the first end to the second ends. The rods are soldered to the first and the second ends to form the frame.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a candle accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an environmental side view of the candle accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section view of the candle accessory drawn along lines 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an environmental top view of the candle accessory according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of a candle accessory having right angles.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a candle accessory according to the present invention having an oval shape.

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a candle accessory, a first embodiment of which is designated as 10 in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the accessory 10 resting on top of a candle 30. The accessory is designed to rest on a lighted candle without encumbering a lighted wick 38.

Referring to FIG. 2, the accessory 10 is a frusto conical frame having an open circular first end 12, an open circular second end 14, rods 16 joining the first end 12 to the second end 14, and plates 18. The plates 18 and rods 16 are disposed between the first end 12 and the second end 14 to form the sides of the accessory 10. The rods 16 keep plates 18 in position. The rods 16 are soldered to both the first end 12 and the second end 14 and can form any design between the first end 12 and the second end 14. Plates 18 are made of glass, such as stained glass; metal; or other heat conductive material. In some instances, the rods 16 and plates 18 may form a collage of ornamental design, or may be designed to resemble Tiffany® style lampshades.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the accessory 10 is a frame dimensioned and configured to overhang an upper edge 34 of the candle 30. The first end 12 is smaller than the second end 14 and the second end 14 is slightly larger than the upper edge 34 of the candle 30. The second end 14 may be about a quarter-inch larger in diameter than the first end 12, forming a tapered or slanted frame body.

The accessory 10 rests on a circular candle 30. Specifically, the upper edge 34 of the candle 30 slides just past the second end 14 and abuts the sides of the candle accessory 10 defined by the plates 18 and the rods 16. As a result, the second end 14 of the candle accessory 10 slightly overhangs past the top edge 34 of the candle 30 and sides 32 of the candle.

The candle accessory 10 is designed to fit a single candle 30 and to compress the sides 32 of the candle 30. As the wax of a lit candle 30 melts, the weight of the accessory 10, the slanted sides of the accessory 10 and the heat conducive nature of the plates 18 and the rods 16 allow the candle 30 to soften and the wax to be compressed towards the center. The accessory 10 ensures that the wick 38 burns at a constant level by forcing the wax to melt evenly, forming a wide pool of liquid wax across the top of the candle 30 as opposed to forming deep craters around the burning wick 38.

The positioning of the accessory 10 on the top edge 34 of the candle 30 also prevents drips from falling down the sides 32 of the candle 30. Thus, by using the accessory 10, the wax on the candle 30 melts at an even pace, the candle 30 lasts longer and less wax is thrown away when the candle 30 is exhausted. The accessory 10 has the added benefit of allowing a user to easily light the wick 38, since it prevents the formation of deep craters near the wick 38.

Not all candle wicks burn at the same rate. Some wicks burn faster because the wick is thinner. Candles having more than one wick may burn at varying rates. The accessory 10 can be used with multi-wick candles and can offset wicks that burn faster than neighboring wicks. For instance, if one wick on a multi-wick candle is burning quicker than other wicks, the accessory 10 may be positioned on a tilt over the wicks until the wax burns at an even rate and the crater is erased.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative candle accessory embodiments 100 and 200, respectively. Candle accessory 100 has right angles and is pyramidal, having a square shaped or rectangular top and bottom opening to fit square- or rectangular-shaped candles. Accessory 100 has a first end 112, a second end 114, rods 116 and plates 118. The candle accessory 200 is oval designed to fit oval-shaped candles. Candle accessory 200 has a first end 212, a second end 214, rods 216 and plates 218. The candles accessories 10, 100 and 200 can be made in varying shapes, sizes and colors.

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

Claims

1. A candle accessory, comprising:

a heat-conductive frame;

said frame having an open first end, an open second end and a plurality of evenly spaced rods connecting the open first end to the open second end, said open second end having a perimeter larger than the perimeter of the open first end; said frame including a plurality of individual plates disposed between said rods, each of said plurality of plates joining adjacent rods and joining the first end to the second end;

wherein the frame is dimensioned and configured for placement over the upper end of a candle with the open second end of said frame being disposed around the candle and slightly below the candle's upper edge, and the open first end of the frame being disposed above a candle;

whereby the frame will be supported on the candle by the plates and the rods bearing against the candle's upper edge, so that as the wax of the candle melts the weight and heat conductive nature of the frame will soften the candle wax and compress the sides of the candle toward the candle's center.

2. (canceled)

3. The candle accessory according to claim 1, wherein the frame is frusto-conical in shape.

4. The candle accessory according to claim 1, wherein the frame is oval in horizontal section.

5. The candle accessory according to claim 1, wherein the frame is square-shaped in horizontal section.

6. The candle accessory according to claim 1, wherein the frame is rectangular in horizontal section.

7. (canceled)

8. The candle accessory according to claim 1, wherein the plates are made of glass.

9. The candle accessory according to claim 1, wherein the plates are made of stained glass.

10-12. (canceled)

13. The combined candle and candle accessory according to claim 19, wherein the plates are made from glass.

14. The combined candle and candle accessory according to claim 19, wherein the plates are made from stained glass.

15. The combined candle and candle accessory according to claim 19, wherein the plates are made from metal.

16-18. (canceled)

19. A combined candle and candle accessory, comprising:

a candle having an upper end and a base end, said upper end including an upper edge;

a candle accessory, said candle accessory comprising; a heat-conductive frame; said frame having an open first end, an open second end and a plurality of evenly spaced rods connecting the open first end to the open second end, said open second end having a perimeter larger than the perimeter of the open first end; said frame including a plurality of individual plates disposed between said rods, each of said plurality of plates joining adjacent rods and joining the first end to the second end;

wherein the frame is disposed on and supported by the upper edge of the candle upper end with the open second end of said frame being disposed around the candle and slightly below said candle's upper edge, and the open first end of the frame being disposed above said candle;

whereby the frame is supported on the candle by the plates and the rods bearing against the candle's upper edge, so that as the wax of the candle melts the weight and heat conductive nature of the frame softens the candle wax and compresses the sides of the candle toward the candle's center.