Candle assembly including a fuel element with a locating recess and a melting plate with a locating protrusion

• US 7,654,822 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Westphal, Nathan R., Soller, Douglas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister; Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): SAVANI, AVINASH A
• Application Number:
  US11/182,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 431/289, 431/253, 431/291, 431/292, 431/126, 431/288, 431/294, 431/295, 431/296, 431/297, D26/9, 442/75, 445/19
• US Class Current: 431/289
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 35/00 Candle holders
• CPC Class Codes: F23D 3/16 using candles

Abstract

A melting plate candle assembly includes a melting plate with a locating protrusion, which engages a fuel element in a predefined orientation when in a preferred operative position. In one operative position, the bottom surface of the fuel element is disposed on the melting plate, and a capillary space is formed between a capillary pedestal on the melting plate and a capillary recess in the bottom surface of the fuel element. The locating protrusion provides positive indication that the fuel element is properly disposed in the operative position.

Claims

1. A fuel element adapted for use with a melting plate candle assembly, the candle assembly including a melting plate having a capillary lobe and a plurality of ribs, wherein the ribs extend radially from the capillary lobe and at least one rib comprises a raised secondary shaped portion having a height taller than other portions of the rib, the fuel element comprising:

a fuel charge comprising a meltable fuel material;

a capillary recess disposed in an outer surface of the fuel charge, the capillary recess adapted to receive the capillary lobe in the operative position;

a wick carried by a wick holder, the wick being disposed in the fuel charge and in fluid communication with the capillary recess so as to be disposed above the capillary lobe in the operative position; and

a plurality of locating recesses disposed in a bottom portion of an outer surface of the fuel charge, wherein the locating recesses are complementary to the ribs and the raised secondary shaped portion;

wherein the fuel element is adapted to have an operative position on the melting place, in which a capillary space is formed between the fuel charge and the capillary lobe when the ribs are disposed in the locating recesses and airflow is substantially blocked between the capillary recess and at least one of the plurality of locating recesses, the capillary space adapted to transfer liquid from the melting plate to a wick disposed above the capillary lobe.

2. The fuel element of claim 1, wherein the wick holder further comprises a heat fin disposed at least partially in the fuel charge and a capillary skirt disposed in the capillary recess, the capillary skirt adapted to form the capillary space in the operative position.

3. The fuel clement of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion of the fuel charge is adapted to contact a portion of the melting plate surrounding the capillary lobe in the operative position.

4. The fuel element of claim 1, wherein the fuel charge comprises candle wax and a volatile active.

5. The fuel element of claim 1, wherein the plurality of locating recesses comprises a plurality of grooves adapted to receive in the operative position the complementary plurality of ribs defined in the melting plate.

6. A fuel element adapted for use with a melting plate candle assembly, the fuel element comprising:

a fuel charge comprising a meltable fuel material;

an exterior surface of the fuel charge having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a centrally located primary cavity disposed in the bottom surface of the fuel charge, the primary cavity extending through the fuel charge and adapted to receive a wick holder; and

a plurality of secondary cavities located adjacent the primary cavity and extending radially outwardly, wherein at least one of the plurality of secondary cavities comprises a first height dimension and a second height dimension greater than zero, wherein the first height dimension is different from the second height dimension, and wherein the first and second height dimensions extend at most part way through the fuel charge.

7. The fuel element of claim 6, wherein the first height dimension comprises a distance between the top surface of the fuel charge and an intermediate wall.

8. The fuel element of claim 6, wherein the plurality of secondary cavities are complementary to ribs located adjacent a capillary pedestal.

9. The fuel element of claim 8, wherein the first height dimension is sized to be complementary to raised nibs located on the ribs.

10. The fuel element of claim 9, wherein the second height dimension is sized to correspond to a tapered upper edge of the ribs.

11. The fuel element of claim 10, wherein the secondary cavities extend radially with respect to the primary cavity.

12. A fuel element adapted for use with a melting plate candle assembly having a capillary pedestal and raised locating ribs, the fuel element comprising:

a fuel charge having a meltable fuel material;

an exterior surface of the fuel charge having a top surface and a bottom surface;

a centrally located primary cavity disposed in the bottom surface of the fuel charge adapted to receive a wick holder and the capillary pedestal; and

a plurality of straight grooves located adjacent the primary cavity for receiving the locating ribs, wherein the straight grooves extend radially and are spaced from the centrally located primary cavity such that the grooves are not in fluid communication with the primary cavity.

13. The fuel element of claim 12, wherein the straight grooves comprise a top wall that extends from an interior portion of the fuel charge toward the exterior surface of the fuel charge and wherein the top wall of at least one of the plurality of grooves comprises a depression, wherein the depression is adapted to be complementary in shape to a raised portion on the ribs.

14. The fuel element of claim 12, wherein the plurality of straight grooves comprises at least two grooves that extend at an approximate right angle with respect to each other.

15. The fuel element of claim 12, wherein the top wall of the plurality of straight grooves is sloped to correspond to a tapered upper edge of the ribs.