Mix and match stackable candle

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/740,166, filed 2005 Nov. 28 by the present inventors.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LIST OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to illumination devices utilizing wax or wax like substances wherein illumination is sustained by use of one or more wicks, specifically to an improved candle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—PRIOR ART

Illumination devices such as candles have been in use for well over a thousand years. During this time, the candle making process started with a wick or wicks that was/were coated with wax or wax like substances to create a finished candle. The process of coating the wick or wicks has evolved over time from simply repeatedly dipping the wick(s) to very sophisticated molding, compressing, and other wax adhering techniques.

The one attribute all of these techniques lack is the ability to alter the candle once it has been cast. The embedded wick effectively precludes alterations of the candle's characteristics. If an individual wanted to change the color, fragrance, shape, etcetera, they would have to destroy the candle—melt it down and redo the whole process.

This lack of being able to significantly alter a candle limits the creative opportunities. It stifles the ability to create and recreate at will by stacking and combining an unlimited number of colors, fragrances, shapes, etcetera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Several objects and advantages of the Mix and Match Stackable Candle are:

(a) to provide the ability to stack and restack complex shapes to create candles having great visual appeal and unlimited utility;

(b) to provide the ability to stack and restack wax sections of several distinct fragrances that when lit create a wondrous symphony of scents;

(c) to provide the ability to stack and restack an infinite rainbow of colors that can be modified quickly and easily to suit the needs of any occasion, event, celebration, or personal taste.

Further objects and advantages are to provide a conservation of candle making materials and energy. This conservation is achievable because if a particular section of a candle is undesirable, then just that candle section needs to be replaced. This saves having to destroy the entire candle and remake it from scratch. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention, an illumination device, a new and improved candle, comprising section(s) of wax having hole(s) through each section for the insertion of a wick and stacked to create a candle that can be rearranged and restacked at any time.

The Mix and Match Stackable Candle provides the ability to quickly and easily create candles of boundless combinations of colors, shapes, sizes, scents, etcetera.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a wax section with a hole extending all the way through the section.

FIG. 2 shows an example of four different colored sections stacked one upon the other with a wick inserted to create a candle.

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of FIG. 2 with wick extending through the stacked candle's full length.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of a wax section with holes for four wicks extending all the way through the section.

FIG. 5 shows an example of different shaped sections stacked four high with four wicks inserted to create a candle.

FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of FIG. 5 with four wicks extending through the stacked candle's full length.

FIG. 7 shows the base section of a candle that consists of multiple colors, multiple shapes, multiple stacks, multiple heights, and multiple wicks.

FIG. 8 shows the first section for each stack added to FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 shows the second section added to each stack.

FIG. 10 shows the third section added to the center stack.

FIG. 11 shows the fourth section added to the center stack.

FIG. 12 shows the wick holes created in each of the five stacks.

FIG. 13 shows the wicks inserted in each of the respective stacks.

FIG. 14 shows an alternate view of the finished candle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION—FIGS. 2,5, AND FIG. 7 THROUGH FIG. 14

FIG. 2 exemplifies a simple stacked arrangement consisting of four sections and one wick. The four sections (sections 1-4) are of the same shape and size, but each is a different color and each has a different fragrance. Section 1's color is red and its fragrance is cinnamon. Section 2's color is yellow and its fragrance is lemon. Section 3's color is green and its fragrance is spearmint. And, Section 4's color is blue and its fragrance is baby powder.

This example demonstrates the versatility of being able to stack sections with very different characteristics, in this case different colors, and different fragrances, to create a candle uniquely pleasing to the candle's creator. In addition, by being able to quickly and easily rearrange the candle sections, the candle's creator can experiment with different section combinations until the perfect combination is reached.

FIG. 5 also illustrates a simple stacked arrangement with four sections except that this time the arrangement has four wicks. In addition, the stacked sections do not all have the same shape. Section 5 has a square shape, a red color, and a cherry fragrance. Section 6 has a cylindrical shape, a yellow color, and a rose fragrance. Section 7 has a square shape, a green color, and an evergreen fragrance. Section 8 has a star shape, a blue color, and a blueberry fragrance.

Again, this example demonstrates the versatility and the vast variety of creative options available to the Mix and Match Stackable Candle. Once again, let it be emphasized that this above described arrangement can be restacked and reconfigured at will.

FIG. 7 through FIG. 14 present a systematic example of an easy to create candle with a complex configuration the creation consisting of five candle stacks built on a single candle base.

• • FIG. 7 shows the candle's base section.
  • FIG. 8 shows the addition of the first section for each of the five stacks.
  • FIG. 9 shows the addition of the second section for each of the five stacks.
  • FIG. 10 shows the addition of the third section for the center stack.
  • FIG. 11 shows the addition of the fourth section for the center stack.
  • FIG. 12 shows the creation of the holes for the wicks in each one of the five stacks. The hole for each stack extends through the bottom of the base section shown in FIG. 7.
  • FIG. 13 shows the candle after the wicks have been inserted in each one of the five stacks.
  • FIG. 14 shows an alternative-viewing angle of the finished candle. This candle consists of multiple section shapes, multiple wicks, multiple colors, multiple fragrances, and multiple stacks, all resting on a single base section.
    Advantages

From the descriptions above, a number of advantages of our Mix and Match Stackable Candle become evident:

(a) The ability to easily mix sections of different shapes, colors, fragrances, etcetera in the same candle is clearly a distinct advantage.

(b) The ability to restack and rearrange a candle comprised of independent sections is certainly another clear advantage.

(c) The opportunity to save energy and effort by replacing a single section of a candle if the design criteria is/are changed instead of having to destroy the entire candle and then start from scratch.

(d) The stackable sections can also be produced with interlocking grooves, channels, notches, or other physical protrusions and indentations on their upper and lower surfaces to enhance the stability of the stacked sections.

Operation—FIGS. 2, 5, 14

The manner of using the Mix and Match Stackable Candle is identical to that for candles in present use. Namely, once the candle has reached it desired completed configuration the wick or wicks protruding from the top of the candle is/are ignited. After the candle has been lit, it provides illumination in the manner typically associated with a burning candle.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope.

Accordingly, the reader will see that the Mix and Match Stackable Candle can provide creative options never before available. It has the innate ability to reflect a design change at a moment's notice and can be instantly restacked and rearranged without wasting energy, time, or material. One presentation could be the production of kits containing multiple fragrances, colors, etcetera. This packaging would allow the user to assemble candles meeting their personal preferences. This compositional creativity can provide a great sense of satisfaction and enjoyment.

Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently expressed embodiments of this invention.

For example, the above presentations primarily used simple shapes. Shapes of far greater complexity abound that could be used. Shapes such as animals, birds, fish, plants, zodiac signs, letters, numbers, logos, names, symbols, in addition to anything that can be configured three dimensionally provide a virtually limitless range of Mix and Match Stackable Candle compositional elements. Add to this the varieties of color, fragrance, size, translucency, texture, etcetera and you have creative opportunities limited only by the mind.

In addition, the Mix and Match Stackable Candle can be utilized for more than merely decorative or pleasure producing effects. By incorporating insect repellents, fumigants, deodorizing chemicals, germicidal compounds, and the like, these candles can serve to better the physical environment in which we live.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than merely by the examples given.