Reduced smoking wick and candle

Abstract

Wicks and candles with reduced smoke production. In presently-preferred embodiments, the wick includes a flame-retardant material that is dispersed substantially uniformly throughout at least a portion of the wick. The flame retardant material may be distributed throughout the wick or selectively in the sheath or core of the wick. In an alternative embodiment, the flame-retardant material may be uniformly dispersed in only a portion of the strands of the wick. The flame-retardant material is included a concentration that reduces smoke production, malodor production, or afterglow in the wick or candle after the candle is extinguished. Presently-preferred components of the flame-retardant material include inorganic salts that include bromine, phosphorus, or boron, organohalogens, or phosphorus-containing compounds.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 642,137 filed Jan. 6, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Candles have been used for centuries as light sources and more recently to impart pleasant odors into the air through the use of fragrances added to the candle wax. Early fabricated candles produced significant quantities of smoke and soot as they burned. As technology has improved in the manufacture of candles, the burning characteristics have also improved. Most modern candles today burn very cleanly without excessive smoking as they burn. [0003] While most modern candles do not smoke when burning, even the cleanest candles tend to produce significant quantities of smoke when the flame is blown out. The smoke that is produced when a candle is blown out occurs as a result of the incomplete combustion of the wax that remains in the wick being poorly combusted by the embers remaining within the wick. The s...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Early fabricated candles produced significant quantities of smoke and soot as they burned.

While most modern candles do not smoke when burning, even the cleanest candles tend to produce significant quantities of smoke when the flame is blown out.

The smoke that is produced when a candle is blown out occurs as a result of the incomplete combustion of the wax that remains in the wick being poorly combusted by the embers remaining within the wick.

This smoking is unpleasant, especially when the primary purpose of a fragranced candle is to produce a pleasant odor in the air.

The candle snuffer is not easy to use and requires that it be cleaned after each use using a tissue or paper towel.

A candle snuffer is an inconvenience for someone who does not wish to have to store and clean a device to prevent their candle from smoking when extinguished.

Additionally, convenience would require a separate snuffer in proximity of every candle, which in many households is an undue expense and storage problem.

The incorporation of a flame retardant into the fuel does not prevent the candle from smoking when blown out.