Candle

Abstract

The candle (1) comprises: - one containment body (2) provided with one base portion (3), substantially flat and positionable, in use, resting on a supporting surface; - one candle element (4) positioned within the containment body (2); - lifting means (11) positioned within the containment body (2) and arranged between the base portion (3) and the candle element (4) and adapted to exert on the candle element (4) a lifting force which is inversely proportional to the weight of the candle element (4).

Description

[0001] CANDLE

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a candle.

[0004] To date, the use of candles for the purpose of lighting up a room and / or for the purpose of making the stay in that room more comfortable and evocative is becoming increasingly common.

[0005] Background Art

[0006] As is well known, candles consist of a main wax body and a wick, made of textile fibre and embedded in the main wax body so that one end of the same wick protrudes from the same main wax body.

[0007] When using the candle, a flame is set on the free end of the wick.

[0008] The wax, transported by capillary action within the wick, reaches the free end of the wick where it vaporizes, thanks to the heat generated by the flame, and mixes with oxygen, triggering a combustion which is self-powered by the main body wax itself which slowly bums away.

[0009] The use of candles of known type is, however, related to some drawbacks that are mainly linked to the high wastage of wax.

[0010] In detail, during the burning of the wick and wax, it may happen that the wax melts without burning, going to settle at the base of the candle.

[0011] To remedy at least some of these drawbacks, the use of candles comprising a vessel adapted to contain the main wax body is widespread.

[0012] The aforementioned vessel has an upper edge defining an upper opening through which the wick is made accessible from the outside and arranged in contact with air.

[0013] The use of such containment vessels makes it possible to limit the dispersion of dissolved, unbumed wax.

[0014] In fact, the dissolved and unbumed wax remains within the vessel and is involved in the combustion process, thus limiting the waste of wax.

[0015] Candles of the type just described do however have some drawbacks that are mainly related to the fact that it is not always easy to maintain combustion active. In this regard, it should be pointed out that as the wick and the main wax body are gradually burned, there is a shortening of the wick and the consequent gradual removal of the free end of the wick from the upper opening of the containment vessel.

[0016] Under such conditions, it may happen that the flame develops almost exclusively within the vessel where there is rapid oxygen depletion leading to rapid flame extinction.

[0017] Again, the fact that the free end of the wick is progressively moved away from the upper opening of the vessel may result in the wick ignition phase being difficult because the relevant free end is difficult to reach.

[0018] Description of the Invention

[0019] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a candle which allows maintaining combustion active even as the wax and wick are gradually consumed. Another object of the present invention is to devise a candle which allows promoting the use of the candle by making it possible to ignite the wick even when it is significantly consumed.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to devise a candle which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

[0021] The aforementioned objects are achieved by this candle having the characteristics of claim 1.

[0022] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of some preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a candle, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a candle according to the invention and according to a first embodiment;

[0025] Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the candle according to the invention, made according to the first embodiment and under a different condition of use from Figure 1;

[0026] Figure 3 is an axonometric view of a candle according to the invention and according to a second embodiment;

[0027] Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the candle according to the invention, according to the second embodiment and under a different condition of use from Figure 3.

[0028] Embodiments of the Invention

[0029] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a candle.

[0030] The candle 1 comprises: at least one containment body 2 provided with at least one base portion 3 substantially flat and positionable, in use, resting on a supporting surface; at least one candle element 4 positioned within the containment body 2.

[0031] The containment body 2 is substantially hollow and defines a housing compartment for the candle element 4.

[0032] With special reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, the containment body 2 has a substantially cylindrical conformation.

[0033] Alternative embodiments of the candle 1 cannot, however, be ruled out, wherein the containment body 2 has a different conformation and, e.g., is substantially shaped as a parallelepiped.

[0034] With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the base portion 3 has a substantially circular shape and is arranged centred to the axis of longitudinal development of the containment body 2.

[0035] The containment body 2 comprises at least one upper edge 5, facing upwards in use.

[0036] In detail, the upper edge 5 defines at least one access opening arranged opposite the base portion 3 and arranged centred to the axis of longitudinal development of the containment body 2.

[0037] The candle element 4 comprises a main body 6, made of solid combustible material, and a wick body 7, embedded within the main body 6 and provided with a free end 9, protruding from the main body 6.

[0038] Preferably, the main body 6 is made of combustible wax.

[0039] Conveniently, the candle element 4 comprises at least one top portion 10, facing upwards in use.

[0040] In more detail, the top portion 10 faces the upper edge 5 and the access opening. The main body 6 comprises the top portion 10.

[0041] The free end 9 of the wick body 7 is made protruding from the top portion 10.

[0042] The wick body 7 is imbibed with combustible wax and conveys, by capillary action, the same combustible wax towards the free end 9, which is placed in contact with air.

[0043] When a combustion initiation source, e.g. a flame, is brought to the free end 9, the wax vaporizes, due to the heat of the flame, mixes with oxygen from the air and combustion is initiated.

[0044] As combustion progresses, the main body 6 and the wick body 7 wear out, thus causing the free end 9 to gradually move away from the upper edge 5 and from the access opening.

[0045] According to the invention, the candle 1 comprises lifting means 11 placed within the containment body 2 and arranged between the base portion 3 and the candle element 4 and adapted to exert on the candle element 4 a lifting force which is inversely proportional to the weight of the candle element 4.

[0046] As combustion goes on, as previously described, there is progressive consumption of the candle element 4 which leads to a decrease in the weight of the candle element 4 itself.

[0047] The force exerted by the lifting means 11 is directed from bottom up and increases progressively as the weight of the candle element 4 decreases.

[0048] Conveniently, the lifting means 11 are adapted to maintain the top portion 10 where the upper edge 5 is located.

[0049] In other words, the lifting means 11 are adapted to maintain the free end 9 of the wick body 7 where the access opening is located.

[0050] In this way, it is possible to maintain the free end 9 exposed to air at all times, thus maintaining the oxygenation level of the free end 9 at an appreciable level and still improved over that in the prior art, even as the main body 6 is gradually consumed.

[0051] It is possible to state that the lifting means 11 with which the candle 1 is provided according to the invention allow improving the efficiency of the combustion process of the candle 1, compared with what occurs in the prior art.

[0052] The lifting means 11 with which the candle 1 is provided according to the invention allow combustion to be maintained active even when the candle element 4 has worn out.

[0053] Moreover, due to the presence of the lifting means, the free end 9 is always positioned where the access opening is located, thus being easily accessible from the outside, especially during the ignition phase of the wick body 7.

[0054] Conveniently, the containment body 2 comprises: at least a first chamber 12 adapted to contain the lifting means 11 ; and at least a second chamber 13 positioned on top of the first chamber 12 and adapted to contain the candle element 4.

[0055] The internal volume of the first chamber 12 increases inversely proportional to the decrease in weight of the candle element 4 and the internal volume of the second chamber 13 decreases directly proportional to the decrease in weight of the candle element 4.

[0056] With particular reference to the preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lifting means 11 comprise at least one spring element 14 allocated in the first chamber 12 and provided with a first end, associated with the base portion 3, and with a second end, associated inferiorly with the candle element 4.

[0057] Precisely, the second end is associated inferiorly with the main body 6.

[0058] Conveniently, the spring element 14 is movable between a loading position, wherein it is compressed, and an unloading position, wherein it is released with respect to the loading position.

[0059] Advantageously, the spring element 14 is maintained at the loading position by the candle element 4 and is movable from the loading position to the unloading position as a result of the decrease in weight of the candle element 4 as a result of the combustion of the candle element 4 itself.

[0060] The spring element 14 is adapted to extend in a substantially elastic maimer during the movement from the loading condition to the unloading condition and is adapted to lift the candle element 4. Figure 1 shows the spring element 14 at the loading position.

[0061] Figure 2 shows the spring element 14 at the unloading position.

[0062] The candle element 4 maintains the spring element 14 compressed by exerting a downward force on the latter that is directly proportional to the weight of the candle element 4 itself.

[0063] The candle element 4 shown in Figure 1 has a larger volume than the candle element shown in Figure 2.

[0064] As a result, the candle element 4 in Figure 2 is lighter than the candle element 4 in Figure 1, thus exerting less compressive force on the spring element 14 than the compressive force exerted by the candle element 4 in Figure 1.

[0065] Therefore, the spring element 14 in Figure 2 is less loaded than the spring element 14 in Figure 1 and, as a result, it stretches upwards by lifting the candle element 4.

[0066] In this way, the spring element 14 is adapted to maintain the top portion 10 where the upper edge 5 of the containment body 2 is located.

[0067] Figures 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment of the candle 1, wherein the components identical to the first embodiment have the same reference numbers as the first embodiment to whose detailed description reference is made in full. The second embodiment of the candle 1 differs from the first embodiment mainly in that the lifting means 11 comprise at least one compressed gas 15 housed in the first chamber 12 and adapted to expand in the first chamber 12 as a result of the decrease in weight of the candle element 4 as a result of the combustion of the candle element 4 itself.

[0068] According to a preferred embodiment, the compressed gas 15 is compressed atmospheric air.

[0069] The candle element 4 maintains the compressed gas 15 compressed by exerting a downward force thereon that is directly proportional to the weight of the candle element 4 itself.

[0070] The candle element 4 shown in Figure 3 has a larger volume than the candle element shown in Figure 4.

[0071] As a result, the candle element 4 in Figure 4 is lighter than the candle element 4 in Figure 3, thus exerting less compressive force on the compressed gas 15 than the compressive force exerted by the candle element 4 in Figure 4.

[0072] The compressed gas 15, as the weight of the candle element 4 gradually drops, gradually expands in the first chamber 12 pushing the candle element 4 upwards. In this way, the compressed gas 15 is adapted to maintain the top portion 10 where the upper edge 5 of the containment body 2 is located.

[0073] Conveniently, the lifting means 11 comprise at least one sealing element 16 placed between the first chamber 12 and the second chamber 13 and adapted to prevent the compressed gas 15 from flowing out of the first chamber 12.

[0074] In other words, the first chamber 12 is substantially closed.

[0075] Preferably, the lifting means 11 comprise at least one substantially flat separating element 17 arranged, in use, substantially horizontal and adapted to separate the first chamber 12 from the second chamber 13 and to hold the candle element 4.

[0076] The compressed gas 15 is adapted to push the separating element 17 upwards during the expansion thereof in the first chamber 12.

[0077] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the separating element 17 has a substantially circular conformation.

[0078] Again, with reference to Figures 3 and 4, the sealing element 16 has a substantially annular conformation and is placed between the containment body 2 and the separating element 17.

[0079] Precisely, the sealing element 16 is associated with the perimeter edge of the separating element 17 and is movable together with the latter during the expansion of the compressed gas 15.

[0080] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that due to the presence of the lifting means, it is possible to maintain the top portion of the candle element close to the upper edge of the containment body, even when the candle has been consumed as a result of combustion.

[0081] In this way, it is possible to maintain the free end of the wick always where the access opening of the containment body is located, that is, always exposed to air and oxygen, so as to improve the combustion of the candle itself. In addition, the fact of maintaining the free end of the wick where the access opening of the containment body is located allows the same free end to be accessible from the outside at all times, thus promoting the candle ignition phase.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Candle (1), comprising: at least one containment body (2) provided with at least one base portion (3), substantially flat and positionable, in use, resting on a supporting surface; at least one candle element (4) positioned within said containment body (2); characterized by the fact that it comprises lifting means (11) positioned within said containment body (2) and arranged between said base portion (3) and said candle element (4) and adapted to exert on said candle element (4) a lifting force which is inversely proportional to the weight of said candle element (4).2) Candle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said candle element (4) comprises at least one top portion (10), facing upwards in use, and by the fact that said containment body (2) comprises at least one upper edge (5), facing upwards in use, said lifting means (11) being adapted to maintain said top portion (10) where said upper edge (5) is located.3) Candle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said containment body (2) comprises: at least a first chamber (12) adapted to contain said lifting means (11); and at least a second chamber (13) positioned on top of said first chamber (12) and adapted to contain said candle element (4).4) Candle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said lifting means (11) comprise at least one spring element (14) allocated in said first chamber (12) and provided with a first end, associated with said base portion (3), and with a second end, associated inferiorly with said candle element (4).5) Candle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said spring element (14) is movable between a loading position, wherein it is compressed, and an unloading position, wherein it is released with respect to said loading position.6) Candle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said spring element (14) is maintained in said loading position by said candle element (4) and is movable from said loading position to saidunloading position as a result of the decrease in weight of said candle element (4) as a result of the combustion of said candle element (4) itself7) Candle (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said spring element (14) is adapted to extend substantially elastically during the movement from said loading condition to said unloading condition and is adapted to lift said candle element (4).8) Candle (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that said lifting means (11) comprise at least one compressed gas (15) housed in said first chamber (12) and adapted to expand in said first chamber (12) as a result of the decrease in weight of said candle element (4) as a result of the combustion of said candle element (4) itself.9) Candle (1) according to claim 8, characterized by the fact that said lifting means (11) comprise at least one sealing element (16) positioned between said first chamber (12) and said second chamber (13) and adapted to prevent said compressed gas (15) from flowing out of said first chamber (12).10) Candle (1) according to one or more of claims 8 to 9, characterized by the fact that said lifting means (11) comprise at least one substantially flat separating element (17) arranged, in use, substantially horizontal and adapted to separate said first chamber (12) from said second chamber (13) and adapted to hold said candle element (4), said compressed gas (15) being adapted to push said separating element (17) upwards during the expansion thereof in said first chamber (12).

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