Candle Wick Extractor Radial Cutter Hardened Wax
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Solution Overview
Problem
Candles with embedded wicks due to uneven burning and re-solidified wax pose challenges for relighting, as conventional tools are unsafe and inefficient for extracting wicks from hardened wax, leading to premature candle disposal.
Innovation Solution
A candle wick extractor with a tubular design and radial cutter, featuring a rigid ergonomic handle and a distal end with jagged or serrated edges for cutting through wax, allowing for safe and effective extraction of wicks from deep candle cavities, including those in containers, while creating a cavity to prevent smothering upon relighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tools (knives, spoons) are used to dig out the wick, then the wick can be exposed for relighting, but the tool may break the wick or cause burns to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction tool is segmented into distinct functional zones: a hollow cylindrical body for wax removal, a sharp distal edge for cutting through hardened wax, and a protective proximal edge. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with other components.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow cylindrical extraction tool serves as an intermediary device between the user and the embedded wick. Instead of directly manipulating the wick with hands or conventional tools, the user inserts the cylindrical tool to cut and remove surrounding wax, thereby exposing the wick safely without direct contact with hot wax or sharp instruments.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the wick burns deep into a larger diameter candle, then the candle can burn longer, but the wick becomes buried in molten wax requiring dangerous extraction methods
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction tool is designed with pre-positioned cutting edges at the distal end that automatically engage with and cut through hardened wax as the tool is inserted. This preliminary cutting action creates a clear path before the wick needs to be extracted, preventing the harmful effect of wick burial even after extended burning periods.
3Ease of operation
If knives or sharp instruments are used to free the wick, then the wick can be exposed, but the wick is likely to be broken off shorter
Solution Approach 1:
The hollow cylindrical body of the extraction tool is designed to fit over the wick and extract it by removing the surrounding hardened wax through its sharp distal edge. This extraction method cleanly removes obstructing wax without applying lateral forces that could snap or break the wick, preserving its full length for continued use.
4Manufacturing precision
If the aperture burned by the wick is too small for a human hand, then the candle can maintain proper burn characteristics, but conventional tools cannot access the wick
Solution Approach 1:
The extraction tool transitions the problem from a two-dimensional surface manipulation (scratching at the candle surface) to a three-dimensional internal operation. The hollow cylindrical tool is inserted vertically into the small burn cavity, using its length to reach the embedded wick deep within the candle, thereby accessing areas impossible to reach with conventional surface tools.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient extraction of wicks from hardened wax, extending candle life by allowing for easy relighting without the risk of burns or wax smothering, and accommodating various candle sizes and shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a tubular extension having a radial cutter on the distal end thereof... The second end has a diameter less than the first end and includes sharp edges along the distal end surface thereof... The second end terminates in a jagged, serrated or saw toothed edge to cut into and through candle wax
Implementation Method 2
A candle wick works by capillary action, by conveying, or 'wicking,' the fuel (wax) to the flame
Data Source
AI summary
A candle wick extractor, for use with a candle having a candle wick that terminates at, proximate to, or below the top surface of a candle's wax, comprised of a rigid ergonomic handle and a tubular extension having a radial cutter on the distal end thereof. The handle is comprised of a first portion having a hand grip that is ergonomically shaped for a user to grasp, and a second portion having the tubular extension and a cutter supported longitudinally therefrom. The tubular extension is generally a hollow body having a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to a portion of the handle, whereby the central bore of the tubular extension is accessible from the top of the handle. The second end of the tubular extension supports a cutter and is adapted to be inserted longitudinally into the top wax surface of the candle with the central bore positioned over the wick.