WAX GRID APPARATUS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/724,040, filed Nov. 22, 2024, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

1. Field of the Inventions

The present inventions generally pertain to paraffin wax, and more particularly to methods and systems for removing hardened paraffin wax from a container.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known that paraffin wax is used in beauty salons for cosmetic purposes to treat a person's skin. The paraffin wax is typically packaged in hand-held plastic packages that are delivered to the salon for use. The packaged paraffin wax is in a solid form, much like the consistency of a candle. When the paraffin wax is needed, the salon will cut off the plastic packaging, and then place the wax into a warmer where it is warmed into a liquid-like or flowable consistency. The wax can then be easily dipped out of the warmer and applied to the customer's skin in a known manner.

It has been determined that it would be more efficient and economical to deliver the paraffin wax to beauty salons in larger, bulk containers, such as a container around the size of a five-gallon bucket, for example. Proceeding in this fashion, however, creates a problem to be solved, namely, how to extract the hardened paraffin wax from the bulk container. The present inventions as discussed hereinbelow have been developed to address and solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

In one aspect, present inventions may include a wax grid apparatus comprising: a wax container; and a wax grid system including a first grid layer, the first grid layer including a first notches-up wall panel, a second notches up wall panel, a first notches-down wall panel and a second notches-down wall panel, each of the notches-up wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending down from an upper edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending down from the upper edge of the wall panel, and each of the notches-down wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the first and second notches-up wall panels are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, and the first and second notches-down wall panels are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the first and second notches-up wall panels are disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to the first and second notched-down wall panels. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels define nine wax forming compartments. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that each of the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels includes an upper left tab and an upper right tab. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that each of the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels includes a lower left notch and a lower right notch. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the left generally vertical notch on the first notches-up panel is engaged with the left generally vertical notch on the first notches-down panel; the right generally vertical notch on the first notches-up panel is engaged with the left generally vertical notch on the second notches-down panel; the left generally vertical notch on the second notches-up panel is engaged with the right generally vertical notch on the first notches-down panel; and the right generally vertical notch on the second notches-up panel is engaged with the right generally vertical notch on the second notches-down panel. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the left generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-up panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge is generally perpendicular to an upper edge of the notches-up panel, and the outer edge is upwardly inclined away from the inner edge; the right generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-up panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge is generally perpendicular to the upper edge of the notches-up panel, and the outer edge is upwardly inclined away from the inner edge; the left generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-down panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge is generally perpendicular to a lower edge of the notches-down panel, and the inner edge is downwardly inclined away from the inner edge; and the right generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-down panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge is generally perpendicular to the lower edge of the notches-down panel, and the inner edge is downwardly inclined away from the inner edge. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the apparatus may further include a horizontal divider panel including a plurality of flow apertures and a plurality of notches disposed around a periphery of the horizontal divider panel, the notches facilitating engagement of notches-up and notches-down wall panels below the horizontal divider with corresponding notches-up and notches-down wall panels resting on an upper surface of the horizontal divider panel. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that upper left and upper right tabs on the notches-up and notches-down panels below the horizontal divider panel engage through the notches disposed around the periphery of the horizontal divider pane with corresponding lower left notches and lower right notches in the notches-up and notches-down panels resting on top of the horizontal divider panel.

In another aspect, the present inventions may include a wax grid apparatus comprising: a wax container; and a wax grid system including a first grid layer, the first grid layer including a first notches-up wall panel, a second notches up wall panel, a first notches-down wall panel and a second notches-down wall panel, each of the notches-up wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending down from an upper edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending down from the upper edge of the wall panel, each of the notches-down wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel, and the first and second notches-up wall panels are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, the first and second notches-down wall panels are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, and the first and second notches-up wall panels are disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to the first and second notched-down wall panels. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that each of the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels includes an upper left tab and an upper right tab, and each of the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels includes a lower left notch and a lower right notch. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the left generally vertical notch on the first notches-up panel is engaged with the left generally vertical notch on the first notches-down panel; the right generally vertical notch on the first notches-up panel is engaged with the left generally vertical notch on the second notches-down panel; the left generally vertical notch on the second notches-up panel is engaged with the right generally vertical notch on the first notches-down panel; the right generally vertical notch on the second notches-up panel is engaged with the right generally vertical notch on the second notches-down panel; the left generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-up panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge is generally perpendicular to an upper edge of the notches-up panel, and the outer edge is upwardly inclined away from the inner edge; the right generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-up panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge is generally perpendicular to the upper edge of the notches-up panel, and the outer edge is upwardly inclined away from the inner edge; the left generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-down panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge is generally perpendicular to a lower edge of the notches-down panel, and the inner edge is downwardly inclined away from the inner edge; and the right generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-down panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge is generally perpendicular to the lower edge of the notches-down panel, and the inner edge is downwardly inclined away from the inner edge. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the apparatus may further include a horizontal divider panel including a plurality of flow apertures and a plurality of notches disposed around a periphery of the horizontal divider panel, the notches facilitating engagement of notches-up and notches-down wall panels below the horizontal divider with corresponding notches-up and notches-down wall panels resting on an upper surface of the horizontal divider panel. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that upper left and upper right tabs on the notches-up and notches-down panels below the horizontal divider panel engage through the notches disposed around the periphery of the horizontal divider pane with corresponding lower left notches and lower right notches in the notches-up and notches-down panels resting on top of the horizontal divider panel. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the wax grid system further includes a second grid layer and a horizontal divider panel; the second grid layer including a first notches-up wall panel, a second notches up wall panel, a first notches-down wall panel and a second notches-down wall panel; each of the notches-up wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending down from an upper edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending down from the upper edge of the wall panel; and each of the notches-down wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel.

In another aspect, the present inventions may include a wax grid apparatus comprising: a wax container; and a wax grid system including a first grid layer, a second grid layer, and a horizontal divider panel, the horizontal divider panel resting on top of the first grid layer and the second grid layer resting on top of the horizontal divider panel; each of the first and second grid layers including a first notches-up wall panel, a second notches up wall panel, a first notches-down wall panel and a second notches-down wall panel, each of the notches-up wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending down from an upper edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending down from the upper edge of the wall panel, each of the notches-down wall panels including a left generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel, and a right generally vertical notch extending upwardly from a lower edge of the wall panel, and the first and second notches-up wall panels are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, the first and second notches-down wall panels are spaced apart and generally parallel to one another, and the first and second notches-up wall panels are disposed in generally perpendicular relationship to the first and second notched-down wall panels. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that each of the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels includes an upper left tab and an upper right tab; each of the first and second notches-up wall panels and the first and second notches-down wall panels includes a lower left notch and a lower right notch; the left generally vertical notch on the first notches-up panel is engaged with the left generally vertical notch on the first notches-down panel; the right generally vertical notch on the first notches-up panel is engaged with the left generally vertical notch on the second notches-down panel; the left generally vertical notch on the second notches-up panel is engaged with the right generally vertical notch on the first notches-down panel; the right generally vertical notch on the second notches-up panel is engaged with the right generally vertical notch on the second notches-down panel; the left generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-up panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge is generally perpendicular to an upper edge of the notches-up panel, and the outer edge is upwardly inclined away from the inner edge; the right generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-up panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge is generally perpendicular to the upper edge of the notches-up panel, and the outer edge is upwardly inclined away from the inner edge; the left generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-down panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge is generally perpendicular to a lower edge of the notches-down panel, and the inner edge is downwardly inclined away from the inner edge; and the right generally vertical notch on the first and second notches-down panels includes an inner edge and an outer edge, the outer edge is generally perpendicular to the lower edge of the notches-down panel, and the inner edge is downwardly inclined away from the inner edge. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that the horizontal divider panel includes a plurality of flow apertures and a plurality of notches disposed around a periphery of the horizontal divider panel, the notches facilitating engagement of notches-up and notches-down wall panels below the horizontal divider with corresponding notches-up and notches-down wall panels resting on an upper surface of the horizontal divider panel. Another feature of this aspect of the present inventions may be that upper left and upper right tabs on the notches-up and notches-down panels below the horizontal divider panel engage through the notches disposed around the periphery of the horizontal divider pane with corresponding lower left notches and lower right notches in the notches-up and notches-down panels resting on top of the horizontal divider panel.

Other features, aspects and advantages of the present inventions will become apparent from the following discussion and detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a specific embodiment of a wax container with a specific embodiment of a wax grid system positioned therein before wax is poured into the container.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one layer of a wax grid system in accordance with one aspect of the present inventions.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a specific embodiment of a notches-up wall panel to be used to form a specific embodiment of a wax grid system in accordance with one aspect of the present inventions.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a specific embodiment of a notches-down wall panel to be used to form a specific embodiment of a wax grid system in accordance with one aspect of the present inventions.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a specific embodiment of a horizontal divider panel to be used to form a specific embodiment of a wax grid system in accordance with one aspect of the present inventions.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of specific embodiment of a wax grid system in accordance with one aspect of the present inventions.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the left side of the wax grid system shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the wax grid system shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a container with the wax grid system shown in FIGS. 6-8 positioned therein, and showing liquid wax being dispensed from a tube into the container.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of what is shown in FIG. 9, but after the wax container and wax grid system has been filled with wax that has hardened.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a panel removal tool for use in removing the notches-up and notches-down wall panels from the wax container shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the wax container with hardened wax as shown in FIG. 10, and illustrates a panel removal tool as shown in FIG. 11 being used to engage an upstanding tab on one end of a notches-down wall panel and starting the process of pulling the panel out of the wax container.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 12, but now showing the panel removed and suspended above the container by two panel removal tools.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a wax block removal tool for use in removing blocks of hardened wax from the wax container and wax grid system as shown for example in FIGS. 10-13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 10, but with the panels on the top layer of the grid system removed, and showing a block of hardened wax suspended above the wax container and being held by the wax block removal tool after the wax block removal tool has been used to stab and engage the wax block while it was still in the container.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a layer of interlocked grid panels in a collapsed or relatively flat configuration to save on shipping costs.

While the inventions will be described in connection with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the scope of protection is not intended to limit the inventions to those embodiments. On the contrary, the scope of protection is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the inventions as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals denote identical elements throughout the several views, and referring initially to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of a specific embodiment of a wax container 10 having a specific embodiment of a wax grid system 12 disposed within the wax container 10. FIG. 1 shows the wax container 10 and wax grid system 12 before liquid wax is poured into the container, as will be discussed below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a perspective view of a specific embodiment of one layer 14 of the wax grid system 12 is shown. In this specific embodiment, the layer 14 may include two notches-up wall panels 16 engaged with two notches-down wall panels 18, each of which is resting on top of a horizontal divider panel 20. In a specific embodiment, the wall panels 16/18 and the divider panel 20 may be made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. In a specific embodiment, the thickness of the panels 16/18/20 may be in the range of 1/16 to ⅛ inches. In a specific embodiment, the two notches-up wall panels 16 may be spaced apart from each other and disposed in generally parallel relationship to one another. In a specific embodiment, the two notches-down wall panels 18 may be spaced apart from each other and disposed in generally parallel relationship to one another. In a specific embodiment, the two notches-up wall panels 16 and the two notches-down wall panels 18 may be disposed in generally perpendicular relationship with respect to each other, and may also be engaged with each other in a “tic-tac-toe” configuration to form nine wax block forming compartments, as discussed further below. As shown in FIG. 16, the interlaced notches-up panels 16 and notches-down panels 18 may be collapsed into a collapsed configuration 148 to save on shipping costs.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a side view of a notches-up wall panel 16 is shown. In a specific embodiment, the notches-up wall panel 16 may be in a generally rectangular shape, and may include a left edge 23, a right edge 25, a lower edge 27, and an upper edge 29. In a specific embodiment, the panel 16 may include a lower left notch 22, a lower right notch 24, an upper left tab 26, an upper right tab 28, a left generally vertical notch 30, and a right generally vertical notch 32. In a specific embodiment, the upper left tab 26 may include a grasping aperture 34, and the upper right tab 28 may include a grasping aperture 36. In a specific embodiment, the lower left notch 22, the lower right notch 24, the upper left tab 26, and the upper right tab 28 may each be generally square or rectangular in shape. In a specific embodiment, the upper left tab 26 may be of a size and shape so as to be received within the lower left notch 22 of an adjacent notches-up wall panel 16 that is positioned immediately above the below upper left tab 26. In a specific embodiment, the upper right tab 28 may be of a size and shape so as to be received within the lower right notch 24 of an adjacent notches-up wall panel 16 that is positioned immediately above the below upper right tab 28.

In a specific embodiment, the left generally vertical notch 30 may extend downwardly from the upper edge 29 and include an inner edge 38 and an outer edge 40. In a specific embodiment, the inner edge 38 may be generally vertical, or generally perpendicular to the upper edge 29. In a specific embodiment, the outer edge 40 may be inclined away from the inner edge 38, such as at an angle in the range of 1 to 15 degrees, so as to form a generally V-shaped left notch 30. In a specific embodiment, lower ends of the inner edge 38 and the outer edge 40 may terminate in a lower slot 42 at a lower end of the left generally vertical notch 30. In a specific embodiment, the lower slot 42 may have a width approximately equal to the width of mating notches-down panels 18, as will be discussed below.

In a specific embodiment, the right generally vertical notch 32 may include an inner edge 44 and an outer edge 46. In a specific embodiment, the inner edge 44 may be generally vertical, or generally perpendicular to the upper edge 29. In a specific embodiment, the outer edge 46 may be inclined away from the inner edge 44, such as at an angle in the range of 1 to 15 degrees, so as to form a generally V-shaped right notch 32. In a specific embodiment, lower ends of the inner edge 44 and the outer edge 46 may terminate in a lower slot 48 at a lower end of the right generally vertical notch 32. In a specific embodiment, the lower slot 48 may have a width approximately equal to the width of mating notches-down panels 18, as will be discussed below.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a side view of a notches-down wall panel 18 is shown. In a specific embodiment, the notches-down wall panel 18 may be in a generally rectangular shape, and may include a left edge 50, a right edge 52, a lower edge 54, and an upper edge 56. In a specific embodiment, the panel 18 may include a lower left notch 58, a lower right notch 60, an upper left tab 62, an upper right tab 64, a left generally vertical notch 66, and a right generally vertical notch 68. In a specific embodiment, the upper left tab 62 may include a grasping aperture 70, and the upper right tab 64 may include a grasping aperture 72. In a specific embodiment, the lower left notch 58, the lower right notch 60, the upper left tab 62, and the upper right tab 64 may each be generally square or rectangular in shape. In a specific embodiment, the upper left tab 62 may be of a size and shape so as to be received within the lower left notch 58 of an adjacent notches-down wall panel 18 that is positioned immediately above the below upper left tab 62. In a specific embodiment, the upper right tab 64 may be of a size and shape so as to be received within the lower right notch 60 of an adjacent notches-down wall panel 18 that is positioned immediately above the below upper right tab 64.

In a specific embodiment, the left generally vertical notch 66 may extend upwardly from the lower edge 54 and may include an inner edge 74 and an outer edge 76. In a specific embodiment, the outer edge 76 may be generally vertical, or generally perpendicular to the lower edge 54. In a specific embodiment, the inner edge 74 may be inclined away from the outer edge 76, such as at an angle in the range of 1 to 15 degrees, so as to form a generally V-shaped left notch 66. In a specific embodiment, upper ends of the inner edge 74 and the outer edge 76 may terminate in an upper slot 78 at an upper end of the left generally vertical notch 66. In a specific embodiment, the upper slot 78 may have a width approximately equal to the width of mating notches-up panels 16, as will be discussed below.

In a specific embodiment, the right generally vertical notch 68 may include an inner edge 80 and an outer edge 82. In a specific embodiment, the outer edge 82 may be generally vertical, or generally perpendicular to the lower edge 54. In a specific embodiment, the inner edge 80 may be inclined away from the outer edge 82, such as at an angle in the range of 1 to 15 degrees, so as to form a generally V-shaped right notch 68. In a specific embodiment, upper ends of the inner edge 80 and the outer edge 82 may terminate in an upper slot 84 at an upper end of the right generally vertical notch 68. In a specific embodiment, the upper slot 84 may have a width approximately equal to the width of mating notches-up panels 16, as will be discussed below.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a top view of the horizontal divider panel 20 is shown. In a specific embodiment, the horizontal divider panel 20 may be in a generally rectangular shape, and may include a left edge 86, a right edge 88, a rear edge 90, and a front edge 92. In a specific embodiment, the left edge 86 may include a left rear notch 94 and a left front notch 96. In a specific embodiment, the right edge 88 may include a right rear notch 98 and a right front notch 100. In a specific embodiment, the rear edge 90 may include a left rear notch 102 and a right rear notch 104. In a specific embodiment, the front edge 92 may include a left front notch 106 and a right front notch 106. In a specific embodiment, each of the notches 94-106 may be generally rectangular in shape, and may be of a size and shape to allow the various panel tabs 26/28/62/72 to extend therethrough as shown in FIGS. 6-8, discussed below.

In a specific embodiment, the divider panel 20 may include one or more apertures to allow liquid wax to flow therethrough, as discussed below. In a specific embodiment, the divider panel 20 may include a left rear aperture 110, a central rear aperture 112, a right rear aperture 114, a left middle aperture 116, a central aperture 118, a right middle aperture 120, a left front aperture 122, a central front aperture 124, and a right front aperture 126. In a specific embodiment, the center aperture 118 may be larger than the other flow apertures. In a specific embodiment, each of the apertures may be circular holes. As discussed further below, the apertures allow fluid flow paths for liquid wax to flow downwardly within the wax container and the various wax forming compartments. In addition, these apertures facilitate air circulation to facilitate hardening of the wax while minimized formation of air pockets in the hardened wax.

Referring to FIG. 12, a perspective view of a specific embodiment of a wax grid system 12 is shown that has been constructed from a plurality of notches-up wall panels 16, notches-down wall panels 18, and horizontal divider panels 18. It can now be seen how the respective left/right notches 30/32 of the notches-up panels 16 are interlaced in mating finger-life fashion with corresponding left/right notches 66/68 of the notches-down panels 16 to form grid-like sections, each layer of which forms nine wax forming compartments. In the specific embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the wax grid system 12 includes twenty-seven (27) wax forming compartments. FIG. 12 also illustrates how the various upper left and right tabs of the panels are disposed within corresponding lower left and right notches of corresponding panels, and also within the various slots 94-108 around the periphery of the horizontal divider 20. Positioning the tabs in those slots 94-108 prevents the outer portions of the various panels adjacent the interior of the wax container from being bent or flexed one way or the other.

Looking at FIG. 7, which is an side view looking from the front left of the wax grid system 12 shown in FIG. 6, and also with reference to FIG. 6, it can be seen how the inclined outer edges 40 and 46 of the notches 38/32 on the notches-up wall panels 16 are positioned relative to the notches 66/68 of the notches-down wall panels 18. The function of the inclined edges 40/46 is to allow the upper halves of the notches-down panels 18 to flex outwardly when liquid wax is poured into the wax forming compartments. By the same token, as shown in FIG. 8, which is a side view looking from the front right of the wax grid system 12 shown in FIG. 6, it can be seen that the inclined inner edges 74/80 of the notches-down wall panels 18 function to allow the lower halves of the notches-down panels 18 to flex inwardly when liquid wax is poured into the wax forming compartments. The vertical sections of the panels prevent adjacent portions of panels from flexing or bending inwardly. The above-discussed functionality and design assists in formation of wax blocks in the wax forming compartments in slightly wedge-shaped configurations to facilitate removal of the wax blocks after the wax has hardened, as more fully discussed below.

With reference to FIG. 11, a panel removal tool 128 is shown. In a specific embodiment, the panel removal tool 128 may include a handle 130 attached to an elongated rod 132 having a hook 134 at a distal end thereof. With reference to FIG. 14, a wax block removal tool 136 may include a handle 138 attached to an elongated rod 140 having a barbed end 142 at a distal end thereof. The purpose and manner of use of the panel removal tool 128 and wax block removal tool are discussed below.

In use, the wax grid system 12 is positioned inside the wax container 10, as shown in FIG. 1. Next, as shown in FIG. 9, liquid wax 144 is poured into the wax container 10 and allowed to flow down through the various apertures in the horizontal dividers 20 until the wax level is near the upper edges of the top layer of panels, as shown in FIG. 10. Next, after the wax has hardened, a panel removal tool 128 is used by placing its hook 134 into one of the apertures 70/72 of the tabs 62/64 on one of the notches-down wall panels 18 and then lifted to start pulling the panel 18 out of the wax container 10. As shown in FIG. 13, two panel removal tools 128 are used to lift the panel 18 out of the wax container 10. The wax container 10 as shown in FIG. 13 shows an empty space where the removed panel 18 had previously been located in the container 10. The panel removal tools 128 are then used to remove the remaining three panels in the top layer of the wax grid system 12. Note that the notches-down panels 18 are removed first, and then the notched-up panels 16 are removed. FIG. 15 shows the wax container 10 after all four of the panels 16/18 in the top layer of the wax grid system 12 have been removed, and after a wax block removal tool 136 has been used to stab and engage the central wax block 146, and then used to pull it up and out of the wax container 10.

The present inventions provide numerous advantages over the current state of the art. Using the present inventions is more efficient and results in greater volumes of melted wax available for use in less time and with less work. This allows salons to more quickly and more efficiently serve more customers. Use of the present inventions also results in cost savings to beauty salons. Paraffin wax can be sold in bulk at prices that are far less than current paraffin wax prices for one-pound packages. Using the present inventions also reduces costs in terms of labor and handling.

It is to be understood that the inventions disclosed herein are not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, exact materials, or embodiments shown and described. Although specific embodiments of the inventions have been described, various modifications, alterations, alternative constructions, and equivalents are also encompassed within the scope of the inventions. Although the present inventions may have been described using a particular series of steps, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the scope of the present inventions is not limited to the described series of steps. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. It will be evident that additions, subtractions, deletions, and other modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the inventions as set forth in the claims set forth below. It should also be understood that relative terms such as “upper” and “lower” and “upwardly” and “downwardly” are simply to provide frame of reference and should not be taken as limiting to any particular orientation. Accordingly, the inventions are therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. None of the claim language should be interpreted pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the word “means” is recited in any of the claim language, and then only with respect to any recited “means” limitation.