Magnetically retained wick system

Abstract

Candle vessel 1 comprising a wick 2 attached to magnetically responsive wick support 4, the magnetically responsive wick support attracted to magnet 5 which is beneath, within, on, or external to the

Description

(0001) Technical field: The invention relates to candle assemblies and vessels, and particularly to systems for retaining and positioning a wick support within a vessel to maintain wick alignment during burning and to facilitate vessel reuse. (0002) Background: Container candles commonly use a pressure-sensitive adhesive pad to secure a metal wick support to the interior base of the vessel; heat and molten wax can degrade adhesion, allowing the wick to drift from the intended position, and adhesive residues hinder cleaning and reuse after consumption. (0003) Background: It is known that some candle-making tools employ external magnetic elements or clamping devices to help position a wick support during pouring and setting of molten wax; such tools are generally used as temporary manufacturing aids and are removed once the wax has solidified. These tools are typically not integrated into the consumer candle vessel and are not intended to provide wick-position retention during burning or to support repeated refilling of the same container. (0004) Summary: By contrast, the present invention provides a vessel assembly with positioning means implemented as a permanent or semi-permanent feature to maintain a stable wick position during at least a portion of burning when the wax is molten and to facilitate adhesive-free refilling without separate alignment fixtures; in representative embodiments, a magnetic element located beneath, within, on, or external to the vessel and positioned adjacent the base region is configured to magnetically couple with a magnetically responsive portion of the wick support to establish a stable position and constrain lateral displacement. (0005) Brief description of the drawings: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vessel (1) with a wick (2), wax (3), a magnetically responsive wick support (4), a magnetic element (5), and a cavity (6) in a base region; Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating alignment toward a central target position using a single magnetic element. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a vessel (1) with a wick (2), wax (3), a magnetically responsive wick support (4), and a magnetic element (5) carried by a coaster (7) positioned adjacent the base region; Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating plural stable positions for three wicks defined by an equilateral triangular array of magnetic elements. (0006) Detailed description: A vessel (1) formed from glass, ceramic, or other rigid material includes an interior base surface that receives a wick (2) via a wick support (4), such as a metal tab; a magnetic element (5) is disposed beneath, within, on, or external to a base region of the vessel so that a magnetic field couples to a magnetically responsive portion of the wick support (4) to resist lateral displacement when wax (3) is molten. (0007) The magnetic element (5) may be located in a cavity (6) formed in or beneath the base and secured by press-fit, adhesive at the exterior, or a removable carrier that allows withdrawal for cleaning or replacement; a cover may be provided at the vessel exterior to maintain a flush, stable support surface. (0008) Suitable magnetic elements include rare-earth or ferrite magnets or magnetised components sized and positioned to provide sufficient restoring force against buoyant and lateral forces during burning; coatings may be applied for corrosion resistance. (0009) The wick support (4) may comprise a ferromagnetic or otherwise magnetically responsive portion integrally formed with or attached to a standard wick tab; dimensions and material selections provide reliable coupling while permitting safe thermal performance. In common candle-making terminology the wick support may be provided as a wick sustainer or wick tab. (0010) In a single-wick embodiment, one magnetic element (5) is arranged substantially centrally relative to the base region to define a stable position at or near the geometric centre; field strength is selected to counter displacement typical of the molten wax state. (0011) In multi-wick embodiments, plural magnetic elements are arranged to correspond to desired wick locations, such as an equilateral triangular array for three wicks, or as a continuous magnetic ring defining a locus of stable positions; this provides repeatable alignment for refills. A representative multi-wick arrangement is shown in Figure 4, wherein an equilateral triangular array of magnetic elements defines plural stable positions for corresponding wick supports (4). (0012) External implementations include a support, coaster, or docking ring positioned adjacent the base region and carrying the magnetic element (5) to couple with the wick support (4); this permits magnetic coupling without modifying the vessel body. An example external implementation is shown in Figure 3, wherein the magnetic element (5) is carried by a coaster (7) positioned adjacent the base region to couple with the wick support (4). (0013) Alternative positioning means may be employed with or without magnetic coupling, including mechanical locators such as a recess, boss, detent, or snap-fit at the interior base surface, friction-enhancing interfaces between the wick support and interior base, and weighted or ballast wick supports configured to resist lateral drift when wax is molten. (0014) Manufacturing methods include moulding the cavity (6) during forming, machining a recess post-forming, or integrating a separate base component housing the magnetic element (5) bonded to the vessel body; external supports may be formed as separate parts compatible with existing vessels. (0015) Safety and performance considerations include selecting magnetic element grade, spacing, and thermal isolation to avoid excessive heating and ensuring that coupling provides retention during at least a portion of burning while permitting normal wick function, including when the wax is molten, trimming, and extinguishing. (0016) As used herein, “magnetically responsive” includes ferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, and magnetised bodies; “positioning means” refers to structures and arrangements configured to establish a stable wick support position in the base region and to constrain lateral displacement when wax is molten, including magnetic coupling, mechanical locators, friction-enhancing interfaces, and ballast arrangements. (0017) While specific embodiments are described, features may be combined or substituted to achieve wick positioning and retention during burning; the scope extends to vessels, refills, and systems implementing the positioning means described herein.

Claims

1. A candle vessel assembly comprising: a vessel having a base region; a wick support for a wick; and a magnetic element disposed beneath, within, on, or external to the vessel and positioned adjacent the base region and a magnetically responsive portion of the wick support arranged to magnetically couple, the magnetic coupling establishing a stable position that constrains lateral displacement of the wick support during at least a portion of burning when adjacent wax is molten.1 A. A candle vessel assembly comprising: a vessel having a base region; a wick support for a wick; and a magnetic element disposed within or beneath the base region and a magnetically responsive portion of the wick support arranged to magnetically couple, the magnetic coupling establishing a stable position that constrains lateral displacement of the wick support during at least a portion of burning when adjacent wax is molten.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is located within or beneath the vessel base region.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is located in a vessel sidewall.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the magnetic element is carried by a separate support positioned adjacent the base region, the separate support comprising a coaster, sleeve, or docking ring.

5. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the wick support comprises a magnetic element and the vessel comprises a second magnetic element arranged to magnetically couple.

6. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the vessel comprises a magnetically responsive insert, layer, or coating at the base region configured to enhance magnetic coupling.

7. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic element comprises an electromagnet or an electro-permanent magnet.

8. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic coupling provides a holding force sufficient to resist displacement during normal handling and during at least a portion of burning when the wax is molten.

9. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the base region comprises a cavity housing the magnetic element, and the magnetic element is removable from the cavity for cleaning or replacement.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the magnetic element is retained in the cavity by a press-fit, adhesive at an exterior surface, a carrier, or a cover that maintains a flush exterior support surface.

11. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of magnetic elements are arranged as an array or as a continuous magnetic ring to define plural stable positions corresponding to multiple wick supports.

12. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic elements define a magnetic field having a stable equilibrium at a target position in a plane of the base region, the equilibrium providing a restoring force against lateral displacement of the wick support when the wax is molten.

13. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic element is arranged substantially centrally relative to the base region to define the stable position at or near a geometric centre of the vessel.

14. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic element is arranged off-centre and the magnetic field defines the stable position at a predetermined non-central location.

15. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic element and the magnetically responsive portion are thermally isolated from a flame and from direct contact with wax during burning.

16. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the wick support comprises a ferromagnetic tab.

17. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the magnetic element comprises a rare-earth or ferrite magnet.

18. A refill candle comprising a magnetically responsive wick support configured to magnetically couple to a magnetic element associated with a vessel to establish a stable position that constrains lateral displacement of the wick support during at least a portion of burning when adjacent wax is molten.

19. A method comprising: placing a wick support in a vessel having a magnetic element associated with a base region; and effecting magnetic coupling between the magnetic element and a magnetically responsive portion of the wick support to establish a stable position that constrains lateral displacement of the wick support during at least a portion of burning when adjacent wax is molten; and removing the wick support after use prior to refilling.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising positioning a plurality of wick supports at plural stable positions defined by an array or continuous ring of magnetic elements.A

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