Candle assembly and fuel element therefor
First Claim
1. A fuel element adapted for use with a candle assembly having a wick retained by a wick holder including a wick retainer and an upwardly extending heat fin disposed on each of two opposite lateral sides of the wick retainer, the fuel element comprising:
- a body of substantially solid fuel material defining an empty duct extending between an upper surface of the body and an empty cavity larger than the duct defined by a lower surface of the body, wherein the duct is adapted to receive the wick, the wick retainer, and the heat fins therethrough in an assembled condition;
wherein the duct comprises a slot having a first width in a width dimension, a first length in a length dimension at the upper surface greater than the width, and a second length at the cavity, and wherein the first length is less than a largest lateral dimension between opposite edges of the heat fins and the second length is larger than the largest lateral dimension between the opposite edges of the heat fins; and
wherein the first width ensures that melted fuel material from the body entering the duct will contact the wick in the assembled condition and wherein the length dimension continuously tapers from the upper surface to the cavity.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A candle assembly includes a melting plate having a capillary pedestal, a wick holder that fits over the capillary pedestal, a wick that is carried by the wick holder, and a fuel element that fits over the wick and wick holder and rests on the melting plate. The fuel element includes a duct therethrough for receiving the wick holder. The fuel element is adapted to prevent improper insertion of the wick holder into the duct. The duct is adapted to facilitate successful initial ignition and sustained burn of the wick by having a width that is selected to ensure that melted fuel material engages the wick when dripping down the duct. A capillary well disposed between the wick holder and the capillary pedestal may be adapted to promote a successful relight after an initial burn of the candle assembly. A candle holder, such as including the melting plate supported by a base, may be adapted to promote laminar air flow thereacross during a burn in a substantially calm atmospheric environment.
247 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A fuel element adapted for use with a candle assembly having a wick retained by a wick holder including a wick retainer and an upwardly extending heat fin disposed on each of two opposite lateral sides of the wick retainer, the fuel element comprising:
-
a body of substantially solid fuel material defining an empty duct extending between an upper surface of the body and an empty cavity larger than the duct defined by a lower surface of the body, wherein the duct is adapted to receive the wick, the wick retainer, and the heat fins therethrough in an assembled condition; wherein the duct comprises a slot having a first width in a width dimension, a first length in a length dimension at the upper surface greater than the width, and a second length at the cavity, and wherein the first length is less than a largest lateral dimension between opposite edges of the heat fins and the second length is larger than the largest lateral dimension between the opposite edges of the heat fins; and wherein the first width ensures that melted fuel material from the body entering the duct will contact the wick in the assembled condition and wherein the length dimension continuously tapers from the upper surface to the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A candle assembly comprising:
-
a fuel element having a slot extending between an upper surface of the fuel element and a cavity defined by a lower surface of the fuel element and made of fuel material that is substantially solid at room temperature; and a wick carried by a wick holder including an upwardly extending wick receiver and an upwardly extending heat fin disposed on each of two opposite lateral sides of the wick receiver and disposed through the slot; wherein the slot has a first width adapted to ensure that liquid passing through the slot engages the wick, a first length at the upper surface that is longer than the first width and shorter than a maximum lateral dimension of the heat fins, and a second length at the cavity that is longer than the maximum lateral dimension of the heat fin and wherein the slot continuously tapers from the second length to the first length. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A fuel element adapted for use with a candle assembly having a wick retained by a holder, the fuel element comprising:
-
a body of substantially solid fuel material; an empty cavity defined by a bottom surface of the body, wherein the cavity includes an upper cavity wall; and a slot extending between the upper cavity wall and a top surface of the body; wherein the slot has a width dimension and a length dimension larger than the width dimension, a first length at the upper cavity wall and a second length at the top surface of the body that is shorter than the first length, wherein the length dimension continuously tapers from the upper cavity wall to the top surface of the body.
-
Specification