Color changing candle

• US 6,537,335 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Symrise Gmbh & Co. Kg (Symrise AG)
• Original Assignee: Dragoco Gerberding & Co AG (Symrise AG)
• Inventors: McManus, Marjorie, Friars, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Toomer, Cephia D.
• Application Number:
  US09/414,789
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 442/75, 431/288
• US Class Current: 44/275
• CPC Class Codes: C11C 5/004 dyes, pigments; products giving a coloured flame

Abstract

A candle having a selectively and reversibly variable color pattern. In one embodiment, the candle comprises a solid transparent gel with a thermochromic or photochromic pigment dispersed evenly throughout. The candle main body changes from a first color to a second color, or from colored to transparent, or from transparent to colored, in response to heat or light from the candle flame, and reverts to the original color or absence of color upon extinguishing the flame. The candle comprises (a) a solid combustible matrix, and (b) a reversible thermochromic or photochromic composition blended into said solid combustible matrix.

Claims

1. A candle comprising:

a) a solid combustible matrix selected from the group consisting of animal waxes, bees waxes, plant waxes and mineral waxes,

b) at least one color-fast coloring agent,

c) at least one micro-encapsulated reversible thermochromic material, and

d) a wick

wherein after the candle is lit, the solid combustible matrix includes a melted portion and a solid portion,

wherein said coloring agent (s) and said at least one micro-encapsulated reversible thermochromic material are blended into said solid combustible matrix, and wherein said at least one reversible material produces a visible color change in the solid portion of the combustible matrix exposed to heat produced by the candle flame; and

wherein components (a)-(d) form a homogeneous mixture.

2. A candle comprising:

a) a solid combustible matrix,

b) at least one color-fast coloring agent,

c) at least one micro-encapsulated reversible thermochromic material, and

d) a wick

wherein after the candle is lit, the solid combustible matrix includes a solid portion and a melted portion

wherein said coloring agent (s) and said at least one micr-oencapsulated reversible thermochromic material are blended into said solid combustible matrix, and wherein said at least one reversible material produce a visible color change in the solid portion of the combustible matrix exposed to heat produced by the candle flame; and

wherein said solid combustible matrix is a clear gel.

3. A candle as in claim 2, wherein said clear gel is comprised of one or more polyamide resins, which may be present in a total amount of about 40-70% by weight of the matrix, and one or more 12-hydroxystearic acid ester solvents, which may be present in a total amount of about 10-70% by weight of the matrix.

4. A candle as in claim 2, wherein said clear gel is prepared from a liquid base material comprised of hydrogenated polyisobutene and N-acyl glutamic acrid diamide, the hydrogenated polyisobutene being comprised of a higher viscosity component having an average number of repeating units of about 23 and a lower viscosity component having an average number of repeating units of about 6 to 8.

5. A candle as in claim 2, wherein said thermochromic material is a solubilized mixture consisting essentially of a reaction medium, an electron-donating coloring organic compound and an electron-accepting organic compound.

6. A candle comprising:

(a) a solid combustible matrix,

(b) at least one color-fast coloring agent,

(c) at least two thermochromic materials of different color, and

d) a wick

wherein after the candle is lit, the combustible matrix includes a melted portion and a solid portion,

wherein said at least one color-fast coloring agents and said at least two thermochromic materials of different color are blended into said solid combustible matrix, and wherein said thermochromic materials are each present in an amount sufficient to produce a visible color change in the solid portion of the combustible matrix selected from the group consisting of animal waxes, bees waxes, plant waxes and mineral waxes exposed to heat produced by the candle flame.

7. A candle comprising:

(a) a solid combustible matrix,

(b) at least one color-fast coloring agent,

(c) at least two thermochromic material of different color, and

(d) a wick

wherein said at least one color-fast coloring agent and said at least two thermochromic material of different color are blended into said solid combustible matrix, and wherein said thermochromic, materials are each present in an amount sufficient to produce in the solid combustible matrix a visible color change in the portion of said candle exposed to heat produced by the candle flame, and

wherein said solid combustible matrix is a clear gel.

8. If A candle as in claim 7, wherein said clear gel is comprised of one or more polyamide resins, which may be present in a total amount of about 40-70 by weight of the matrix, and one or more 12-hydroxystearic acid ester solvents, which may be present in a total amount of about 10-70% by weight of the matrix.

9. A candle as in claim 7, wherein said clear gel is prepared from a liquid base material comprised of hydrogenated polyisobutene and N-acyl glutamic acid diamide, the hydrogenated polyisobutene being comprised of a higher viscosity component having an average number of repeating units of about 23 and a lower viscosity component having an average number of repeating units of about 6 to 8.