Multiple Wick Candle Assembly with Resilient Ladder Filament

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional candle wicks either produce an unreasonably high flame or inconsistent burn environment, leading to sooting and safety hazards, while increasing the number of wicks to achieve a larger wax pool increases manufacturing costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

A candle wick assembly with multiple individual wicks that separate when lit, connected by a resilient ladder filament, allowing for a broader, stable flame and increased wax pool size while maintaining a single wick manufacturing process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a single conventional wick is used to produce a large liquid wax pool, then the wax pool size is increased, but the flame height becomes unreasonably high causing sooting and safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid wax pool sizeVSAvoidsooting and safety hazards

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides a single wick into multiple separate wicks (typically three) that are positioned in a triangular configuration. Each wick independently draws liquid wax and produces a separate flame, collectively creating a large wax pool while maintaining lower individual flame heights that reduce sooting and safety hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If multiple spaced-apart wicks are used to increase liquid wax pool size, then the wax pool size is increased, but manufacturing costs and complexity increase due to multiple wick insertions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid wax pool sizeVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate wicks into a single integrated wick assembly where three individual wicks are positioned in a triangular configuration and held together by a circumferential binding. This unified assembly can be inserted into the candle as a single unit, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the benefits of multiple spaced-apart wicks for increased wax pool size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If multiple independent wicks are used to increase wax pool size, then the wax pool size is increased, but burn consistency deteriorates due to air turbulence and flame height fluctuation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewax pool sizeVSAvoidburn consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wick system into multiple independent wicks positioned in a triangular configuration, where each wick operates independently to draw liquid wax and produce a flame. This segmentation creates a more stable burn environment by distributing the combustion load and reducing air turbulence compared to single or dual wick configurations, thereby improving burn consistency while maintaining a large wax pool.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution achieves a larger, uniformly sized wax pool with a lower flame height, reducing sooting risks and maintaining comparable burn rates to single wick candles, while being producible using conventional single wick manufacturing techniques, thus offering cost and performance benefits.

Implementation Method 1

a ladder filament connecting the pair of candle wicks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical connection: Mechanical Fastener

Implementation Method 2

the heat melts the wax which then travels up the wick by capillary action and is vaporized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 3

Upon lighting a candle wick, the heat melts the wax which then travels up the wick

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction and radiation: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 4

the heat melts the wax which then travels up the wick by capillary action and is vaporized

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS11781089B2Multiple wick candle assemblies and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2023.10.10 FIL TEC HOLDINGS INC

AI summary

Multiple candle wicks include a wick construction having at least one pair of substantially parallel elongate candle wicks which are laterally separated from one another, and a ladder filament connecting the pair of candle wicks. The ladder filament extends back and forth between the candle wicks (e.g., at substantially 90° relative to the elongate axes of the wicks) and is of sufficient flexural stiffness so as to resiliently bias the pair of candle wicks from a compacted position and into a spread position following release of an applied bending force. A multiple candle wick assembly includes such a wick construction whereby the crossing portions of the ladder filament are bent around an exterior circumferential portion of an elongate core element so as to assume a general U-shape around the exterior circumferential portion thereof and to place the candle wicks into the compacted position thereof. An applied wax coating will retain the wicks in such compacted position until lit whereby the coating melts and the wicks are resiliently biased into the spread position thereof.