Hinged attachment to a spinning candle topper

• US 7,168,948 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Soy Basics, LLC
• Original Assignee: Soy Basics, LLC
• Inventors: Clark, Tom, Swearingen, James Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Jiping
• Application Number:
  US10/860,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040265760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 431/126, 431/288, 431/289, 431/291, 431/310, 362/35, 362/161, 362/163, 362/172, 362/177, 362/180, 362/181, 362/182, 362/232, 362/806, 404/12, 404/17, 404/22, 404/41, 446/210, 446/397
• US Class Current: 431/126
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 33/06 Artificial Christmas trees
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 1/10 Rotating shades

Abstract

A candle topper fits onto containerized candles, such as scented candles within a cylindrical apothecary jar, not only serving to enhance efficient combustion and add a decorative finish thereto, but also directing exhaust gases as a convective motive force to spin a fan. Thereby, hanging ornaments enhance the entertaining value of the candle topper.

Claims

1. A decorated containerized candle, comprising:

a vessel comprising a brim containing a fuel burnt at a wick positioned below an opening defined by the brim; and

a device comprising;

a base sized to overlay the opening of the vessel,

an exhaust aperture defined in the base registered to overlay the wick,

a spindle attached to the base and having an axle mechanism positioned above the exhaust aperture,

a fan rotatingly coupled to the axle mechanism comprising a plurality of fan blades,

a radially aligned pin guide formed in a selected one of the fan blades, and

a hanging ornament comprising a bent support comprising a horizontal pin recived in the pin guide and a vertical shaft attached to said horizontal pin allowed to tangentially swing about the pin guide.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pin guide includes a locking cut-out positioned to allow insertion of the horizontal pin with the vertical shaft rotated to a substantially horizontal position and comprising a blocking structure positioned to extend from the fan blade proximate to the vertical shaft when the vertical shaft is rotated to a substantially vertical position thereby blocking retraction of the horizontal pin.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the hanging ornament comprises a sound producing chime, the device futher comprising a stiker projecting up from the base proximate to a rotational path of the at least one sound producing chime.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an intake passage formed integral to the base communicating air to the wick.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of spacers positioned to raise the base above the brim defining intake apertures therebetween.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a chimney attached to the exhaust aperture and operably configured to guide convective motive forces from the exhaust aperture to the fan.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the chimney comprises a portion of the base to which the spindle is attached.