US3761702A - Internally illuminated candle - Google Patents

Abstract

An internally illuminated candle burnable from the top having a cavity within wax of the candle and a light structure positioned for illuminating the cavity and diffused passage of light through candle wax. The candle is made to glow with an esthetically pleasing internal light. It has a non-flamable barrier at the base of the wick.

Description

United States Patent [191 Andeweg 1 Sept. 25, 1973 INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED CANDLE FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1 1 lnvemori Frits Andeweg 7737 Royal LIL, 327,549 3 1919 Germany 431/22; D ll 5 30 1,032,053 6/1953 France 240/10 [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 App]. No.: 212,107

Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Michael L. Gellner Atl0rneyWarrcn H. Kintzinger [57] ABSTRACT An internally illuminated candle burnable from the top having a cavity within wax of the candle and a light structure positioned for illuminating the cavity and diffused passage of light through candle wax. The candle is made to glow with an esthetically pleasing internal light. It has a non-flamable barrier at the base of the wick.

14 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures PATENTEUSEPZSISB SHEET 10? 2 INVENTOR.

ITS J. ANDEWEG ATTORNEY FIGS.

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VW W A INTERNALLY ILLUMINATED CANDLE This invention relates in general to wax candles, and in particular, to internally illuminated candles each with a light source illuminating a cavity within wax of a candle capable of being burned from the top in a conventional manner.

Candles come in many shapes and sizes that are very attractive indeed. Visualize, if you will, how much more beautiful most, if not all, candles would be if, in addition, to a burnable top they were made to glow with an internal light. Such internal glow through the candle wax of the candle would greatly enhance the esthetic beauty of candles whether they are burning or not. Candles so illuminated may employ flashing or otherwise varied lighting, including color varied internal lighting, to provide infinitely variable illuminated candles beautiful as centerpiece candles. They are so striking in many uses as to command the center of attention so much as to be in greater demand than conventional candles without internal illumination.

It is therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide candles capable of burning from the top conditioned for internal illumination.

A further object is to provide illumination light source means in any of a variety of light generating devices adapted for generating the internal illumination for such candles howsoever they may be conditioned for internal illumination.

Another object of such candles is that the illumination light source be a non-flammable light source.

Still another object is that some of light sources include a power source such as a battery with the light source and battery contained as a unit within the candle.

A further object is to provide for light diffusion within a candle and to provide light source means external to the candle shining to the candle interior and diffusion within the candle for the desired internally illuminated effect.

Features of the invention useful in accomplishing the above objects include, in internally illuminated candles, an internal cavity within the stem or-body of the candle and a light source structure that supplies light diffused through wax of the candle body or wax stem. The internal cavity may protrude into the candle body from the base or in some versions from a side of the candle body depending on the different structural -candle shapes and possible applications desired. Further, the cavity may be shaped as desired for different candle wax thickness and thickness varied intensity of internal illumination. The light source, such as a light bulb, may be inserted within the candle cavity along with a power supply or have electric power wires extending to the exterior to a power source. The light source may be external to the candle with generally a focusing structure directing a focused beam of light to light diffusing or reflecting structure within the candle. Internal diffusing structure within the candle may be merely shaping of the candle body wax cavity end upon which a directed beam of light shines, a plastic or glass sheath or solid inserts within the candle cavity, and/or light reflectors or multi-faceted crystals also supported within the candle body cavity.

Specific embodiments representing what are presently regarded as the best modes of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a side elevation view of a candle with a standard wick burnable from the top;

FIG. 2, a side elevation view of a candle burning from the top that is also glowing from internal illumination;

FIG. 3, a cut away and sectioned side view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing interior detail of a candle body interior cavity extended from the base of the candle and including an inserted electric light with base that may include a self contained battery or possibly have wire connections extended to the exterior;

FIG. 4, a bottom view of the candle of FIG. 1 showing a candle body interior cavity therein;

FIG. 5, a partially cut away and sectioned view of a candle with an internal cavity extended to the body interior from a body side;

FIG. 6, a partially cut away and sectioned view of a candle with the internal cavity extended to the body interior at a slant from the body side;

FIG. 7, a partially cut away and sectioned view of a candle with a disc of non-flammable material beneath the lower end of the wick and above an internal cavity containing more than one non-flammable light source;

FIG. 8, a cut away and sectioned view of a candle with an internal cavity that includes an inserted sheath of non-flammable plastic, glass or other material as required;

FIG. 9, a view of a candle in section showing a tapered cavity;

FIG. 10, a view of a candle in section with a light transmitting material insert illuminated from beneath;

FIG. 11, a view of a candle in section with a multifaceted crystal supported within the candle body cavity and lighted by light directed from below;

FIG. 12, a view of a rectangular candle in section with a rectangular cavity;

FIG. 13, a bottom view of the candle body of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14, a partially cut away and sectioned view of a candle with an internally illuminated hollow wax body mounting a burning candle section support at the p;

FIG. 15, a bottom view ofthe candle body of FIG. 14; and

FIG. I6, a partially cut away and sectioned view of a candle with a wax body hollow from the top.

Referring to the drawings:

Thecandle 20 of FIG. 1 has awax body 21 and awick 22 for burning extended from the top of thewax body 21. Thecandle 20, in addition to having a burnabletop wick 22, is equipped to glow from within with a typical glowing area such as illustrated in FIG. 2. In order that thecandle 20 may have such an internal glow thewax body 21 is equipped with aninternal cavity 23 extended upward within thecandle body 21 as shown in FIG. 3 wherebody 21 is in section but inserts incavity 23 are not in section. Thecavity 23 is of adequate size and extends upward for a material distance such that alight bulb 24 and a self contained battery powersupply pack assembly 25mounting bulb 24 are completely contained therein over thecandle 20 supportingsurface 26. With thiscandle 20 theinternal cavity 23 is circular in a cross section as shown in the bottom view of FIG. 4 although it could be rectangular or some other shape if required for some desired lighting effects or purposes as may be imposed. The candle body 2I could also be rectangular cross-section instead of circular in cross section.

With thecandle 30 of FIG. shown only in side elevation sectioned view, similar to FIG. 3, having awax body 31 and a burnabletop wick 32 theinternal cavity 33 extends horizontally from the side of thebody 31 to the interior. Alight bulb 24 and battery powersupply pack assembly 25, such as used with the candle of FIG. 3, are inserted into theinternal cavity 33.

The candle embodiment of FIG. 6 is quite similar to that of FIG. 5 with acandle wax body 41 having awick 42 and acavity 43 extended to the body interior at a slant from the body side.Light bulb 24 and battery powersupply pack assembly 25 may be used with this embodiment.

In the candle of FIG. 7 thecandle body 51 includes anon-flammable disc 52 at the lower end of wick 53 to prevent burning of the wick into the internal cavity 54 with dropping of melted wax and wick remnants into the cavity 54. The internal light source structure 55 is shown to support a plurality ofelectric light bulbs 56, 57, and 58 of different sizes and shapes. Thebulbs 56, 57 and 58 may be of the same size and power or not and of the same or different colors as may be desired for different effects. While the internal light source structure 55 may include a self contained battery power pack alternately power supply line connections may be instead provided extending to an external power source, detail not shown.

With thecandle 60 of FIG. 8 thewax body 61 has aninternal cavity 62 lined by a sheath of none-flammabletransparent material 63 about which the candle wax may be poured as the candle is formed. The shealh of non-flammabletransparent material 63 prevents thewick 64 from burning down into theinternal cavity 62. Further, thesheath 63 may have special light distributing or filtering qualities for light emanating from a light source contained therewithin or for light directed therein from an external source.

In the candle of FIG. 9 thecandle wax body 71 has a taperedcavity 72 extended from the bottom of the body and ending in a domed top 73 at the bottom of wick 74.

With the candle of FIG. 10 thewax body 81 has acavity 82 filled by a tapered body ofmaterial 83 terminating in a domed top 84 under the bottom ofwick 85. While the tapered body ofmaterial 83 in some inting and distributing qualitites than the wax ofbody 81 it is, in many instances, a plastic body either inserted in place or the candle wax may be poured about thebody 83 as the candle is formed. The taperedbody 83 may also be a glass material, in any event, it may be any of various colors, and may assume other shapes such as to fit other candle body cavities. In FIG. 10 a below the candle bottomlight bulb source 86 is mounted incandle mounting base 87 that may be a self contained power source for thelight bulb 86 within areflector 88 positioned to direct light up through the body ofmaterial 83 or have apower line 89 for supply of power from an external source.

With thecandle 90 of FIG. 11, much the same as the embodiment of FIG. 10, some identification numbers are the same as a matter of convenience, amultifaceted crystaline body 91 is inserted incavity 82. Light fromlight bulb 86 is also directed byreflector 88 illuminatescrystaline body 91 for responsive crystaline body internal illumination of the candle wasbody 81.

stances would also be wax having greater light transmit- The candle of FIG. 12 may be much the same as the candle of FIGS. 1-4 with, however, thebody 101internal cavity 102 being illuminated from below by a below the candle bottomlight bulb source 86 such as used with the candles of FIGS. 10 and 11. Here, again thecandle mounting base 87 uses a light bulb positioned within areflector 88 for directing light upward within thecandle cavity 102. Thecandle body 101 and thecavity 102 ofcandle 100 are shown to be both rectangular in cross section by the bottom view of thecandle 100 of FIG. 13. However, either the body itself or the cavity could be square, rectangular, or round or other shape and any mix thereof as desired.

The candle of FIGS. 14 and 15, shown in side elevation sectioned view in FIGS. 14 similar to FIG. 3, hasburnable wax portion 111, with awick 112, mounted in aholder 113 supported on the top of awax body 114. Thewax body 114 has acenter cavity 115 extended therethrough from top to bottom into which the downward dependingbottom extension 116 ofholder 113 extends from the top. Thebottom surface 1 17 ofholder 1 13 is, with some candles, a highly reflective surface shaped to optimize reflected light to the candle body wall for optimized internal illumination of the candle. While thecandle body 114 and thecavity 115 could both be circular in cross section, or both rectangular, thebody 114 is shown to be circular and thecavity 115 rectangular in the bottom view of FIG. 15. Furthermore, the light source structure may be any one of those shown with the embodiments of FIGS. 3, 7, 10, 11, 12 within, as shown, or from below thecandle body 114, or even with an internal suspended light source as shown with the candle embodiment of FIG. 16.

With thecandle 120 of FIG. 16 awax body 121, in side elevation sectioned view, is shown to have aninternal cavity 122 extended downwardly from the top of thebody 121 within which the bottom extension 116' of holder 113' is received.Holder 113 mountsburnable wax portion 111, with awick 112, on the ofwax body 121, and supports a self contained battery powersupply pack assembly 25, supplying power forlight bulb 24, with a bonding adhesive holding theassembly 25 on the bottom of theextension 116.

It should be noted that various combinations of features of the various embodiments could be combined in various other combinations as may be desired in attaining various attractive esthetic effects in internally illuminating wax candles having a burnable top portion. Some of applicants candles have been equipped with a rotating colred glass or plastic sheath mounted to rotate around a light source contained within a candle wax body cavity and driven by rising heated air from a light bulb, and in other cases such a sheath may be driven in rotation by a motor (detail not shown).

Whereas this invention is herein illustrated and described with respect to a plurality of embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes may be made without departing from the essential contributions to the art made by the teachings hereof.

I claim:

1. In a candle structure having a wick for burning at the top and adapted for internal illumination: a candle body structure; a burnable candle wax portion supported by said candle body structure generally at the top of said candle body structure; said wick being imbedded within said burnable candle wax portion and extending from the top of said burnable candle wax portion; a cavity of substantial size within said candle body structure generally below said burnable candle wax portion; non-flammable barrier means positioned below the bottom of said wick in the region of the top of said cavity; said candle body structure including a candle wax body substantially surrounding said cavity; and with said cavity of sufficient size, shaped and positioned to receive internal illumination means for internal illumination of substantially the entire candle body by a light source independent of said wick burning at the top of the candle.

2. The candle structure ofclaim 1, wherein nonflammable light source means is contained within said cavity.

3. The candle structure ofclaim 2, wherein said nonflammable light source means includes a plurality of non-flammable light sources.

4. The candle structure ofclaim 2, wherein a combined light source and a power supply is contained in said cavity.

5. The candle structure of claim 4, wherein said cavity is a downward extending cavity from th top of said body structure; and said combined light source and power supply is contained in said cavity below said burnable wax portion 6. The candle structure of claim 5, wherein said burnable wax portion is held by holder means mounted on said body structure; and said combined light source and power supply is suspended from said holder means.

7. The candle structure of claim 5, wherein said cavity extends through said candle body structure from top to bottom; and said burnable wax portion is held by holder means mounted on said candle body structure.

8. The candle structure ofclaim 1, wherein said cavity is irregularly shaped with varied candle body structure wall thicknesses provided for varied light intensities through the candle body structure wall when internal illumination is provided in said cavity.

9. The candle structure ofclaim 1, wherein said cavity extends through said candle body structure from top to bottom; said burnable wax portion is held by holder means mounted on said candle body structure; and with light spreading means on the underside of said holder means.

10. The candle structure ofclaim 1, wherein light spreading means is contained within said cavity.

11. The candle structure of claim 10, wherein said light spreading means is a multi-faceted crystal for spreading light to and through the walls of said candle wax body that originates from a light source positioned for dircting light to said crystal.

12. The candle structure of claim 10, wherein said light spreading means is a transparent material insert in said cavity.

13. The candle structure of claim 12, wherein said light spreading means is a solid transparent material insert completely filling said cavity; and light source means is positioned to direct light into and through said insert.

14. The candle structure of claim 12, wherin said light spreading means is a'transparent non-flammable material sheath inserted in said cavity.

Claims (14)

1. In a candle structure having a wick for burning at the top and adapted for internal illumination: a candle body structure; a burnable candle wax portion supported by said candle body structure generally at the top of said candle body structure; said wick being imbedded within said burnable candle wax portion and extending from the top of said burnable candle wax portion; a cavity of substantial size within said candle body structure generally below said burnable candle wax portion; non-flammable barrier means positioned below the bottom of said wick in the region of the top of said cavity; said candle body structure including a candle wax body substantially surrounding said cavity; and with said cavity of sufficient size, shaped and positioned to receive internal illumination means for internal illumination of substantially the entire candle body by a light source independent of said wick burning at the top of the candle.

2. The candle structure of claim 1, wherein non-flammable light source means is contained within said cavity.

3. The candle structure of claim 2, wherein said non-flammable light source means includes a plurality of non-flammable light sources.

4. The candle structure of claim 2, wherein a combined light source and a power supply is contained in said cavity.

5. The candle structure of claim 4, wherein said cavity is a downward extending cavity from th top of said body structure; and said combined light source and power supply is contained in said cavity below said burnable wax portion

6. The candle structure of claim 5, wherein said burnable wax portion is held by holder means mounted on said body structure; and said combined light source and power supply is suspended from said holder means.

7. The candle structure of claim 5, wherein said cavity extends through said candle body structure from top to bottom; and said bUrnable wax portion is held by holder means mounted on said candle body structure.

8. The candle structure of claim 1, wherein said cavity is irregularly shaped with varied candle body structure wall thicknesses provided for varied light intensities through the candle body structure wall when internal illumination is provided in said cavity.

9. The candle structure of claim 1, wherein said cavity extends through said candle body structure from top to bottom; said burnable wax portion is held by holder means mounted on said candle body structure; and with light spreading means on the underside of said holder means.

10. The candle structure of claim 1, wherein light spreading means is contained within said cavity.

11. The candle structure of claim 10, wherein said light spreading means is a multi-faceted crystal for spreading light to and through the walls of said candle wax body that originates from a light source positioned for dircting light to said crystal.

12. The candle structure of claim 10, wherein said light spreading means is a transparent material insert in said cavity.

13. The candle structure of claim 12, wherein said light spreading means is a solid transparent material insert completely filling said cavity; and light source means is positioned to direct light into and through said insert.

14. The candle structure of claim 12, wherin said light spreading means is a transparent non-flammable material sheath inserted in said cavity.

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