Self-extinguishing relightable wick for use on candles and the like

Abstract

A self-extinguishing wick for use in a candle has a flame extinguishing compound contained in an area within the self-extinguishing wick. The flame extinguishing compound produces a blowing reaction, and that blowing reaction extinguishes a flame on that self-extinguishing wick.

Description

This application claims priority based on provisional application 60/919,935 filed Mar. 26, 2007

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to candles but more particularly to a self extinguishing candle that can be relit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Candles have of course been around for centuries and have probably been the cause of thousands of fires. Unattented candles keep on melting until the hot flammable wax drops onto a flammable object or surface which can ignite an uncontrollable fire.

To solve this problem, some candle manufacturers have devised various means by which a candle can self-extinguish. Some use a segmented wick which makes the flame extinguish itself when it can no longer burn along the wick, while others use a non-flammable mixture for the body of the candle in lieu of a traditional flammable mixture and which produces a similar self-extinguishing result.

The following patents show examples of self-extinguishing candles:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,694 assigned to Pennzoil Product Company, Houston, Tex.

A flame retardant in the candle, located at suitable location so as to automatically extinguish the candle at that location. Thus, if it is desired that the candle be self-extinguish at, for example, one inch from the bottom, a first layer of a polymeric candle composition including a flame retardant may be poured to the one inch height. After cooling of that first layer, a subsequent layer of the polymeric candle composition without the flame retardant can be layered over the first layer. In operation, the candle burns normally until reaching the area in which the flame retardant has been incorporated, at which point the candle self extinguishes. Flame retardants are known in the art. When the flame reaches the non-combustable material (gel), it extinguishes. This candle cannot be re lit.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,318 assigned to “The Dial Corporation”, Scottsdale, Ariz.

The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for automatically extinguishing a flame at a predetermined point on a candle wick, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for restricting the fuel flow to the lower end of a candle wick. When the flame reaches a piece of metal embedded in the candle, it extinguishes. This candle cannot be re lit.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,066,329 and 6,471,731 “Pennzoil Product Company”, Houston, Tex.

A flame retardant in the candle, located at suitable location so as to automatically extinguish the candle at that location. Thus, if it is desired that the candle be self-extinguish at, for example, one inch from the bottom, a first layer of a polymeric candle composition including a flame retardant may be poured to the one inch height. After cooling of said first layer, a subsequent layer of the polymeric candle composition without the flame retardant can be layered over the first layer. In operation, the candle burns normally until reaching the area in which the flame retardant has been incorporated, at which point the candle self-extinguishes. This candle cannot be relit.

The drawback in such systems is that once extinguished, the candle cannot be relit unless one removes enough flammable substance (wax) to find the next segment of wick or carves away the layer of non-flammable substance to reach the next layer of flammable paraffin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:

To provide for a self-extinguishing wick that can be relit without having to perform any special procedures other than relighting the wick using usual means as are known in the art..

To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises a flame extinguishing compound contained in an area within said self-extinguishing wick The self-extinguishing wick can be relit after being extinguished by said flame extinguishing compound. The flame relighting compound aiding in relighting said self-extinguishing wick after having been extinguished by said extinguishing compound. The flame relighting compound being contained in an area within said self-extinguishing wick located underneath said flame extinguishing compound.

The flame extinguishing compound consists in a mixture of 50% potassium nitrate, 36% sugar, and 14% water and aroma.

The flame relighting compound consists in compounds similar in nature to those found in the igniting compound of matches.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Side cutaway view of a candle and showing the self-extinguishing wick with its extinguishing and relighting components.

FIGS. 2a-c Side cutaway views of the candle in various parts of the extinguishing process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A candle (10) has a body (12) made out of candle making compound and featuring a self-extinguishing wick (14). A flame extinguishing compound (16) is contained or embedded within the self-extinguishing wick (14) itself. Any of a variety of means can be used to inject the flame extinguishing compound (16) into the self-extinguishing wick (14). Wicks of the prior art being usually made of an absorbant material, it is easy to inject a variety of substances in solution that can readily be absorbed by simple dipping or by pressure injection into the self-extinguishing wick (14) which is also made of similar base material, except of course for the self-extinguishing compound as will be described later.

The flame extinguishing compound (16) embedded within the self-extinguishing wick (14) operates by providing a temporary zone of non combustible compound which prevents any further combustion. Because all the necessary flammable elements are still present—that is the self-extinguishing wick (14) and the body (12) with its flammable components—the candle can be relit by way of an accelerator (17) which is also embedded into the self-extinguishing wick (14) in a fashion similar to the way the flame extinguishing compound (16) is embedded and located at a location just underneath the extinguishing compound (16). The accelerator (17) is made out of chemical components similar to those found in matches. In this manner, the effect of the remaining extinguishing compound (16) is counteract by this accelerator (17) which results with the self-extinguishing wick (14) being successfully relit with a match or lighter or any such means well known in the art.

The flame extinguishing compound (16) can be made out of a variety of compounds in order to produce the desired result. What has been tested as of now and appears to be working well is a mixture of 50% potassium nitrate, 36% sugar, and 14% water and aroma.

As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A self-extinguishing wick for use in a candle comprising:

a flame extinguishing compound contained in an area within said self-extinguishing wick;

said self-extinguishing wick can be relit after being extinguished by said flame extinguishing compound;

said flame relighting compound aiding in relighting said self-extinguishing wick after having been extinguished by said extinguishing compound;

said flame relighting compound being contained in an area within said self-extinguishing wick located underneath said flame extinguishing compound.

2. A self-extinguishing wick as in claim 1 wherein:

said flame extinguishing compound consists in a mixture of 50% potassium nitrate, 36% sugar, and 14% water and aroma.

3. A self-extinguishing wick as in claim 1 wherein:

said flame relighting compound consists in compounds similar in nature to those found in the igniting compound of matches.