Candle holder

• US 5,683,239 A
• Filed: 03/31/1995
• Issued: 11/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gorham Bronze
• Original Assignee: Gorham Bronze
• Inventors: Cardosi, Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Price, Carl D.
• Application Number:
  US08/414,287
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 431/296, 431/291, 362/161, 362/162, 362/163, 362/180, 362/313, 362/314, 362/315, 362/174, 362/175, 362/176, 362/177, 362/178, 362/179
• US Class Current: 431/291
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 35/00 Candle holders
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/16 using candles

Abstract

A candle holder having a base with a seat for receiving a candle, a housing, a cover, and spring-loaded connecting means for detachably connecting the housing and the cover to the base. Air passage means formed in the base and the cover allow movement of air into and out of the housing; throughholes formed in the cover direct entering rain away from the candle. The base and cover are preferably made of bronze or some other substantially rust-resistant metal; the housing is made of an optically transparent or translucent material. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a heat shield is positioned inside the housing to evenly distribute heat from a burning candle and prevent the formation of hot spots. The base may be provided with adapters for attachment to a cemetery marker or insertion into the ground.

Claims

1. A candle holder, comprising:

a base having a seat formed thereon for receiving a candle;

a housing having an open upper end and an open lower end;

a cover having a central throughhole; and

spring-loaded means attached to said base for detachably connecting said housing, said cover, and said base so that said lower end engages said seat and said upper end engages said cover, said connecting means including

a retainer pivotably attached to said base;

a rod having a first end and a second end, said rod passing through said throughhole;

a first stop attached to said first end of said rod;

a second stop attached to said second end of said rod;

a spring disposed about said rod between said first stop and said cover so that, when said retainer is pivoted to an approximately perpendicular position with respect to said base, said spring exerts an upward thrust on said first stop and said retainer to retain said housing and said cover on said base.

2. The candle holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said base has first air passage means formed therein.

3. The candle holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover has second air passage means formed therein.

4. The candle holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing is made of an optically transparent or translucent material.

5. The candle holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said base and said cover are made of a substantially rust-resistant metal.

6. The candle holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said cover slopes with respect to said base, and wherein said cover has a plurality of throughholes formed therethrough, said throughholes being approximately perpendicular to said base.

7. The candle holder as recited in claim 1, wherein said base and said cover are made of bronze.

8. A candle holder, comprising:

a base having a seat formed thereon for receiving a candle;

a housing having an open upper end, an open lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface;

a heat shield engaging said inner surface of said housing;

a cover having a central throughhole; and

spring-loaded means attached to said base for detachably connecting said housing, said cover, and said base so that said lower end engages said seat and said upper end engages said cover, said connecting means including

a retainer pivotably attached to said base;

a rod having a first end and a second end, said rod passing through said throughhole;

a first stop attached to said first end of said rod;

a second stop attached to said second end of said rod;

a spring disposed about said rod between said first stop and said cover so that, when said retainer is pivoted to an approximately perpendicular position with respect to said base, said spring exerts an upward thrust on said first stop and said retainer to retain said housing and said cover on said base.

9. The candle holder as recited in claim 8, wherein said base has first air passage means formed therein.

10. The candle holder as recited in claim 8, wherein said cover has second air passage means formed therein.

11. The candle holder as recited in claim 8, wherein said housing is made of a material selected from the group consisting of optically transparent materials and optically translucent materials.

12. The candle holder as recited in claim 8, wherein said housing is made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.

13. The candle holder as recited in claim 8, wherein said base and said cover are made of bronze.

14. The candle holder as recited in claim 8, wherein said heat shield is made of metal, and wherein said heat shield has a plurality of throughholes formed therein.

15. A candle holder, comprising:

a base having a seat formed thereon for receiving a candle, said base having an upwardly extending flange, said upwardly extending flange having air passage means formed therein;

a housing having an open upper end, an open lower end, an inner surface, and an outer surface, said housing made of an optically transparent or optically translucent material;

a heat shield engaging said inner surface of said housing;

a cover having a central throughhole and a downwardly extending flange, said downwardly extending flange having air passage means formed therein;

a retainer pivotably attached to said base;

a rod having a first end and a second end, said rod passing through said throughhole;

a first stop attached to said first end of said rod;

a second stop attached to said second end of said rod; and

a spring disposed about said rod between said first stop and said cover so that, when said retainer is pivoted to an approximately perpendicular position with respect to said base, said spring exerts an upward thrust on said first stop and said retainer to retain said housing and said cover on said base.

16. The candle holder as recited in claim 15, wherein said cover has a plurality of substantially vertical throughholes formed therein, said throughholes positioned to direct water passing therethrough away from said candle.

17. The candle holder as recited in claim 15, wherein said base and said cover are made of bronze.

18. The candle holder as recited in claim 15, further comprising means attached to said base for attaching said base to a substrate.

19. The candle holder as recited in claim 15, wherein said base has an upper surface and a lower surface, further comprising a downwardly extending spike removably attached to said bottom surface of said base.

20. The candle holder as recited in claim 15, wherein said housing is made of a material selected from the group consisting of glass and plastic.