US2974509A - Candle - Google Patents

Description

March 14, 1961 A. J. PENKE 2,974,509

CANDLE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Eran-far A/aoar- J Pen/re wwa ZW 5 A. J. PENKE March 14, 1961 CANDLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1958 A /aoar- J pen/Te March 14, 1961 PENKE 2,974,509

CANDLE Filed Aug. 27, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A/adar I Pen/(8 tates 'nited CANDLE Filed Aug. 27, 1958, Ser. No. 757,588

2 Claims. (Cl. 67-225) This invention relates to an artistic candle and method of making the same, and more particularly to a candle having petal configurations formed around a central core which are adapted to open downwardly and to glow with a soft light as the candle is burned.

Various types of artistic and rose-like candles are currently available for use on special occasions or as decorative features in the home and in general these candles are of a solid construction with the candle flame aifording the sole source of light. The candle of the present invention simulates a flower such as a rose, and when the candle is lit the petals of the flower glow softly due to their translucent characteristic, and open gradually and successively as the candle burns down to provide an effect similar to the actual unfolding of a flower. The candle includes a hollow core which may be formed by applying whipped wax around a cylinder mold such as a glass rod or cylindrical bulb and the petals are applied to the core by a spatula or the like to form a corolla, the petals being similarly of whipped wax so that they have a translucent characteristic as described. Preferably, the wax from which the petals are made has a melting point which is higher than that of the wax for the core. The core and corolla are impressed upon a leafy base of similar material and the mold or center core is withdrawn. A solid wick equipped candle is provided to snugly fit in the core. The wick of this candle is held in a metal base impressed in the bottom of the candle. This metal base holds the wick upright even when the wick is surrounded with molten wax. Preferably, a wire is woven into the fiber of the wick to lend rigidity thereto, and this wire melts as the wick burns down. A few petals of whipped wax may 'besapplied around the lip of the candle to complete the flower design when the candle is inserted into the hollow of the core. A pocket is formed between the bottom of the candle and the bottom of the core due to the concave shape of the core bottom, and molten wax from the candle can drain into this pocket to solidify and hold the metal base of the candle in fixed position to insure an upright position for the wick.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention ot provide an artistic candle which resembles a flower its over-all configuration and is made of foamed wax so that the petals are translucent and glow as the candle slowly burns down.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artistic candle as described in which the petals will gradually and successively unfold outwardly and downwardly as the candle burns in a manner similar to the natural unfolding of a flower.

Another object of the invention is to provide an artistic candle as described having a central recess for removably receiving a candle of conventional type which may be provided with complementary petals adjacent its lip conforming to the flower-like pattern of the basic structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method atent O Patented Mar. '14, 19st 2 of making a candle of artistic type which includes the steps of whipping a batch of melted wax to a foam-like condition, dipping a cylindrical mold such as a glass rod or cylinder into the foamed material to provide a tubular core, applying petals of foamed wax to the core by means of a spatula or the like, as Well as inserting the flower-like structure thus formed into a softened base material of similar type to provide the completed article.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings in which:

Figure l is a front elevation of a candle according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to the view of Figure 1 showing the candle after its petals have opened;

Figure 3 is a fiont view of the cup-like central core of the candle and means for forming the same;

Figure 4 is a front view of the structure shown in Figure 2 in inverted position with petals applied thereto;

Figure 5 is a front view of the candle after application of the petals and before removal of the mold in assembly with a base therefor.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 5 after removal of the mold;

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a candle adapted to be removably received in the structure of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the structures shown in Figures 6 and 7 in assembled relationship; and

Figure 9 is a view similar to the View of Figure 8 showing the disposition of the petals after the candle has burned down somewhat.

Referring now to the drawings, the artistic candle 10 of the invention comprises a cup-shaped central core 12 as seen in Figures 3 to 5, a petalled structure or corolla 14 secured to the core 12, as seen in Figure 5, a base 16 supporting the core 12 and the corolla M and a candle 18 having petals 20 surrounding the lip thereof, the candle 18 being removably received in the core 12 as best seen in Figures 8 and 9.

Molded rose type candles are generally of a solid wax construction and burn conventionally without any glow or nimbus such as is afforded by the candle 10 of the invention. The glow afforded by applicants device is achieved by means of :a translucent characteristic in the wax used for the core and petal structures 12 and 1 t, and for this purpose these structures, and preferably, the base 16, are made of a whipped wax or parafiin. Since the candle element 18 is of conventional solid wax, a novel combination of solid and whipped wax elements is provided, as hereinafter further described.

In the manufacture of the candle of the invention, paraffin wax is melted to a liquid consistency in a suitable container (not shown). The wax is then permitted to set until a thin film or skimming appears over the top thereof. Thereupon it is whipped into a foam by means of a suitable beating mechanism, such as a mixer of standard type, molten wax being preferably added simultaneously to the batch. The wax will remain in a plastic state for a period of in the neighborhood of 20 minutes and while it is in this state a mold such as a cylindrical rod or glass tube is inserted into the batch to a depth of approximately the desired axial dimension of the candle. Preferably, a conventional light bulb of tubular shape is used to provide the mold, as designated by numeral 22 in Figures 3-5. The plastic material which adheres to the mold is formed into a shaped shell cup by means of a spatula or other suitable utensil to a radial thickness which may be approximately an eighth of an inch. The core 12 thus formed may be prevented from dripping by dipping it into a solution comprised of magnesium sulphate (epsom salts), dextrin and water in Q the proportions of, for example, one cup of magnesium sulphate and one cup of dextrin to seven cups of water.

The corolla or petalled structure 14 is formed from a foamed wax prepared in a manner as above described, with the exception that the wax or paraffin used therefor preferably has a melting point in the neighborhood of to 20 F. higher than the melting point'of the core material. In a preferred example, the paraflin of the core has a melting point of from 125 to 135 F. and the paratfin of the corolla has a melting point of from 135 F. to 145 F., it being understood that substantially 10 degrees difference in the melting point is thus provided, as above indicated. This melting point differential is effective in controlling dripping in the petals during their formation and also during burning of the candle, although it will be understood that the petals may be dipped in the aforementioned solution where a wax of somewhat lower melting point is used, or, if desired, when Waxes of the melting points described are used. And it is preferred that the core be intermittently chilled by dipping in the solution as petals are added in order to preserve its solidity. The core 12 and corolla 14 are, of course, permitted to set or are chilled by suitable means before assembly with the base 16. The cupshaped core 12 shown in Figure 3 is invented as seen in Figure 4 and the wax or foamed parafiin used for the corolla is applied by means of a spatula by dipping the spatula into the batch and forming successively overlapped petals 24 on the core 12. This overlapped relationship is similar to the shingling on a conventional roof and desirably is accomplished from the bottom of the cup-shaped core or matrix 12 to the top thereof in the position of the core shown in Figure 4 (or, in the normal position thereof shown in Figure 5, from the top of the cup down). Thus the manner of applying the petals may be compared to procedure used in frosting a cake.

The base 16 is similarly formed of foamed wax whose melting point may approximate that of the core material 12. Desirably, leaf-shaped segments 26 are applied in a form corresponding to a leafy bed whose diameter may approximate the diameter of the corolla 14 at its lower-- most point. The leaf-shaped segments are. applied by a spatula or similar utensil to a sheet of material such as cardboard or the like, and while the base is still in the plastic state the fused corolla and core structure is pressed into the base coaxially and centrally thereof as shown in Figure 5. Thus, the base 16 and the corolla 14 and core 12 form a unitary structure which is not subject to accidental separation, the adhesion of the parts being augmented by the foamed wax material used in the invention. Thereupon, the light bulb 22 is turned on and the heat emanating therefrom melts the interior surface of the recess 23 in the core to a slight extent and the bulb is easily removed from the core without damaging the parts. The article is then ready to receive the conventional candle element 18, which is of a solid wax construction. A plurality of petals 20 are preferably applied to the peripheral surface of the candle adjacent the upper lip 30 thereof by holding the candle in an inverted position and spreading on individual portions of paraffin as above set forth. The candle element 18 desirably has a diameter approximating but slightly less than the internal diameter of the recess 28 of the core and is inserted. into the recess as seen in Figures 8 and 9. The wick 32 of the candle 18 may be formed around a wire 34- to make it stand up in axial alignment with the candle element. A metal base 35 has a central lanced portion providing central tabs 35a clamping the bottom of the wick and upturned corners 35b providing peripheral tabs anchored into the wax body of the candle. The metal base and wick held thereby may be molded in any suitably shaped plastic cup and chilled to provide a candle which can melt down. completely and still have the wick surrounded by molten wax and standing in an upright position without touching the whipped wax petals.

As shown in Figure 8, when the candle 18 is inserted in the hollow core 12, the metal base 35 is above the round bottom of the core to provide a hollow pocket 37 which, as shown in Figure 9, fills with molten wax as the candle melts down. Then when this wax in the pocket solidifies, the metal base and candle are integrally locked to become part of the core.

The candle thus formed has the individual petals 24 turned upwardly and outwardly as shown in Figure 8 so as to resemble a flower in a partially open state. As the candle is burned, however, the radially inner and axially lower bases 36 of the petals are successively softened so that they open or unfold outwardly to a position as indicated in Figure 9. This drooping or exfoliation of the petals is accomplished without melting or dripping of the petals both because of the relatively higher melting point of the wax which may be used therefor and the fact that the petals are in effect fins which dissipate heat radially outwardly. Because of the lesser density and volume of material per cubic space which is produced by the foaming process, the petals are exceptionally translucent and the light from the candle 18 as it burns gradually downwardly will suffuse the petals with a soft nimbus or glow. It will also be appreciated that the structure described has the advantage of permitting the use of different candles in the recess 28 and the replacement of candles as desired within the core 12.

Alternatively, however, the petals 24 may be applied directly to the candle 18 in the manner indicated in Figure 7. In accomplishing this objective, the candle element 18 is desirably secured by inserting a pronglike utensil into the lower end thereof so that it may be held secure during the application of the petals, which may proceed in a manner as hereinbefore set forth. The finished structure may be dipped in the aforementioned solution, although it will be appreciated that in both embodiments the article may be manufactured without the use of such solution.

There has thus been provided an artistic candle wherein a central core supports a corolla of petals which are translucent and adapted to glow with a soft light as the candle is burned down. The candle is constructed of a combination of solid and foamed wax in a manner which permits the petals to open successively as the candle is burned. The entire structure is exceptionally beautiful in appearance, particularly in use, and suitable coloring agents are desirably added to the molten wax material used therein to add to the naturalistic appearance of the petals and base. For example, oil soluble dyes may be used for this purpose with stearic acid as a wetting? agent, and for smaller scale manufacturing operations ordinary coloring crayons will afford the desired effect. The candle may be used in a wide variety of settings and is calculated to enhance the enjoyment of any occasion. Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An artistic flower candle comprising a tubular wax core closed at its lower end and open at its upper end, a corolla of translucent wax petals having radially inner and axially lower ends fused to the core along the length thereof in surrounding relationship thereto, a candle 1n said core in spaced relationship thereto and having a lower melting point than said core, said candle having a metal base embedded in the bottom thereof, a wire containing wick having one end locked in said base and extending from the base axially through the candle beyond the opposite end thereof, the bottom of the candle being spaced above the bottom of the core to provide a wax receiving pocket wherein molten wax from the burning candle will solidify to lock the base to the core and hold the wick in upright position away from the petals, said core retaining molten candle wax therein and said radially inner and axially lower ends of the petals having softening points to cause the petals to droop as the candle in the core burns downwardly thereby simulating the opening of a flower in a progressive unfolding petal action.

2. An artistic flower simulating candle structure comprising a wax core having a wick extending axially therefrom, a corolla of wax flower simulative petals surrounding said core with successive petals extending one above the other axially along the core, said petals extending radially upwardly and with adjacent petals being angularly offset from one another to provide an overlapping, shingled relationship comparable to a rose petal overlap,

6 the bases of said petals being joined to said core and the wax of said petals having a higher melting point than the wax of said core to maintain their structural identity during the melting of the core, the wax of said petals having a softening temperature causing the petals to droop as the core burns downwardly to thereby progressively open up the petals from the core in an unfolding action simulating the opening of a flower.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 370,562 Schrnitt Sept. 27, 1887 1,554,524 Rhoads Sept. 22, 1925 2,308,738 Bauer et al. Jan. 19, 1943 2,354,343 Webber et al. July 25, 1944 2,478,202 Moore Aug. 9, 1949 2,486,469 French Nov. 1, 1949

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