# US 8,465,275 B2 · Candleholder and method

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- Number: US 8,465,275 B2
- Document ID: US8465275B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/734,056
- Filed: 2008-10-09
- Published: 2010-08-19
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-10-09
- Applicants: Suzetta Vonzell
- Inventors: Suzetta Vonzell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465275B2

## CPC

- F23D 3/16: using candles
- F21S 19/00: Lighting devices or systems employing combinations of electric and non-electric light sources; Replacing or exchanging electric light sources with non-electric light sources or vice versa
- F21V 35/00: Candle holders
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining
- F23D: BURNERS
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A candle with a smooth exterior surface is configured so that it has a size and shape to substantially fill a hollow interior of the receptacle. The receptacle has an open mouth and a hollow interior having a smooth surface. The smooth exterior surface of the candle and smooth interior surface of the receptacle are in contact and slide past each other upon inserting the candle into the hollow interior to seat the candle on a moveable platform that is near a base end of the receptacle. After the candle is partially burned so an outer end thereof is burned away and displaced from the open mouth of the receptacle, the platform is advanced inward to move the outer end of the candle towards the open mouth to reposition the displaced outer end nearby the open mouth of the receptacle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A candleholder including
a base having a top and a bottom,
a hollow candle receptacle on the top of the base, and
a moveable platform,
said base, receptacle and platform aligned so that said base, when its bottom is placed to rest on a substantially horizontal surface, a candle within the receptacle is in an upright substantially vertical orientation,
said candle receptacle having an open mouth as an entryway to an interior of the receptacle,
said platform mounted to be manually moved to advance the platform towards the open mouth of the receptacle,
a cover member removably seated in the open mouth when the candleholder is oriented vertically, said cover member including a battery-energized light therein enclosed within a light transmitting housing, the cover member has opposed sides, one side facing inward towards the open mouth when the cover member is seated in the open mouth, said one side including the light transmitting housing so, when the cover member is placed to rest on a substantially horizontal supporting surface with the other side facing the horizontal supporting surface, the cover member is inverted so the light transmitting housing is exposed to the view of an observer.

### Claim 2

A candleholder including
a candle receptacle having a sidewall enclosing a hollow receptacle interior with a smooth interior surface and open mouth,
said hollow interior holding therein a candle having a body portion that substantially fills the hollow receptacle interior and has an outer end at or nearby the open mouth of the receptacle, an inner end of the candle at or nearby a base end of the receptacle, and an exterior sidewall surface in contact the smooth interior receptacle surface,
said candle body portion being moveable within the receptacle in response to the application of pressure against the inner end of the candle to advance the outer end of the candle towards the open mouth of the candle receptacle, the smooth contacting surfaces of the receptacle and the candle sliding past each other,
a plunger member at the inner end of the candle and mounted to move inward and push the candle towards the open mouth, and
means for manually advancing the plunger member inward,
where the advancing means comprises a key member detachably attached to a cover member that removably fits over the open mouth of the receptacle, said key member when detached being manually inserted through a key hole to engage the plunger member and advance said plunger member by manually manipulating the key member.

### Claim 3

The combination comprising
a candle having a body with an inner end and an outer end, said inner and outer ends connected by a smooth exterior surface and said body having a predetermined original height, a predetermined cross-sectional configuration, and predetermined dimensions, and
a candleholder including a base, a hollow candle receptacle on the base, and a moveable platform,
said candle receptacle having an open mouth as an entryway to a receptacle interior with a predetermined cross-sectional configuration substantially of the same shape and dimensions as said cross-sectional configuration of the candle and a height that is greater than the predetermined original height of the candle, said interior having a smooth surface and said smooth exterior surface of the body of the candle and the smooth interior surface of the receptacle being in contact and sliding past each other as the candle is received within the interior of the receptacle, and
with the base resting on a horizontal surface, the candle is within the receptacle in an upright substantially vertical orientation with the inner end of the candle resting on the platform and the outer end of the candle being nearby said open mouth prior to igniting a wick of the candle, so that as the body of the candle is consumed by burning, the outer end of the candle recedes inward and away from the open mouth of the receptacle, reducing the original height of the candle to a reduced height,
said platform mounted to be manually moved to advance the platform towards the open mouth of the receptacle after burning the candle to lower the original candle height to the reduced height, said smooth exterior surface of the body of the candle and the smooth interior surface of the receptacle being in contact and sliding past each other as the outer end of the candle is repositioned to nearby said open mouth,
said cover member is removably seated in the open mouth when the candleholder is oriented vertically, and said cover member including a battery-energized light therein enclosed within a light transmitting housing, the cover member has opposed sides, one side facing inward towards the open mouth when the cover member is seated in the open mouth, said one side including the light transmitting housing so, when the cover member is placed to rest on a substantially horizontal surface with the other side facing a horizontal supporting surface, the cover member is inverted so the light transmitting housing is exposed to the view of an observer.

### Claim 4

A candleholder including
a base,
a hollow candle receptacle on the base, and
a moveable platform,
said base, receptacle and platform being aligned along a centerline of the candleholder,
said base having a bottom that, when placed to rest on a substantially horizontal surface, a candle within the receptacle is in an upright substantially vertical orientation,
said candle receptacle having an open mouth as an entryway to an interior of the receptacle, said receptacle interior having a smooth surface, a predetermined cross-sectional configuration that corresponds in shape and dimensions to a candle to be placed in said interior, and a predetermined height that is greater than the maximum original height of said candle, said smooth receptacle interior surface contacting an exterior surface of the candle as said candle is inserted into the interior of the receptacle, an inner end of the candle resting on the platform after inserting the candle,
said platform mounted to be manually moved to advance the platform towards the open mouth of the receptacle, said exterior surface of the candle and the smooth interior surface of the receptacle being in contact and sliding past each other as the outer end of the candle is repositioned,
a cover member is removably seated in the open mouth when the candleholder is oriented vertically, said cover member including a battery-energized light therein enclosed within a light transmitting housing, the cover member has opposed sides, one side facing inward towards the open mouth when the cover member is seated in the open mouth, said one side including the light transmitting housing so, when the cover member is placed to rest on a substantially horizontal supporting surface with the other side facing the horizontal supporting surface, the cover member is inverted so the light transmitting housing is exposed to the view of an observer.

### Claim 5

A candleholder including
a candle receptacle having a sidewall enclosing a hollow receptacle interior with a smooth interior surface and open mouth,
said hollow interior holding therein a candle having a body portion that substantially fills the hollow receptacle interior and has an outer end at or nearby the open mouth of the receptacle, an inner end at or nearby a base end of the receptacle, and an exterior sidewall surface in contact the smooth interior receptacle surface,
said candle body portion being moveable within the receptacle in response to the application of pressure against the inner end of the candle to advance the outer end of the candle towards the open mouth of the candle receptacle, the smooth contacting surfaces of the receptacle and the candle sliding past each other,
a plunger member at the second end and mounted to move inward and push the candle towards the open mouth, and
means for manually advancing the plunger member inward,
the advancing means comprises a plurality of cam elements, said cam elements stacked one upon the other with an inner most cam element next to the plunger member, said cam elements mounted to each other to be repositioned relative to each other to vary the height of the stacked cam elements to advance the candle towards the open mouth of the candle receptacle.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The candleholder of claim 5 where the receptacle and stacked cam elements are aligned along a centerline of the candleholder.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The candleholder of claim 5 where each individual cam element includes a ramp section having a first side with a track therein and a second side with a finger thereon beneath a terminal end of the track, each said finger of one stacked cam element being within the track of another stacked cam element directly beneath said one stacked cam element.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The candleholder of claim 5 where
the stacked cam elements are free to rotate relative to each other in one direction and said candleholder includes
a base comprising a cap member and a foundation member that upon
connection of said members provide a housing for the stacked cam elements, with a cam element adjacent the foundation member attached thereto so that rotation of the foundation member in the one direction causes said adjacent cam element to rotate,
each cam element being essentially identical in configuration and including at
least one ramp section having a first side with a track therein terminating in a stop member at a terminal end of the track and a second side with a finger thereon beneath each terminal end of a track,
each said finger of one stacked cam element being within the track of another
stacked cam element that is directly beneath said one stacked cam element, so that rotation of the foundation member in said one direction causes the cam element adjacent the foundation member to rotate in said one direction to lift a stacked cam element immediately above said cam element adjacent the foundation as the finger in said lifted cam element rides in the track of the rotating cam element adjacent the foundation member.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The candleholder of claim 5 where the receptacle is mounted to a base, said base comprising inner and outer members being detachably connected to provide a housing for the stack of cam elements, said cam elements being initially assembled in a stored position where the stack height is essentially at a minimum and essentially the entire stack is within the base.

### Claim 10

A candleholder including
a base,
a candle receptacle on the base and having a hollow interior, and
a moveable platform,
said base, receptacle and platform being aligned along a centerline of the candleholder,
said base having a bottom that, when placed to rest on a substantially horizontal surface, a candle inserted within the interior of the receptacle is in an upright substantially vertical orientation,
said hollow interior having an open mouth as an entryway to the interior of the receptacle, said receptacle interior having a smooth surface, a predetermined cross-sectional configuration that corresponds in shape and dimensions to a candle to be placed in said interior, and a predetermined height that is greater than the maximum original height of said candle, said smooth receptacle interior surface contacting an exterior surface of the candle as said candle is inserted into the interior of the receptacle, an inner end of the candle resting on the platform,
said platform mounted to be manually moved to advance the platform towards the open mouth of the receptacle, said exterior surface of the candle and the smooth interior surface of the receptacle being in contact and sliding past each other as the outer end of the candle is repositioned,
a plurality of cam elements stacked one upon the other and aligned along said centerline, with an inner most cam element next to the plunger member, said cam elements mounted to be repositioned relative to each other to vary the height of the stacked cam elements to increase the pressure against the inner end of the candle and advance the candle towards the open mouth of the receptacle,
said base comprising inner and outer members detachably connected to provide a housing for the stack of cam elements, said cam elements being initially assembled in a stored position where the stack height is essentially at a minimum and is substantially enclosed within the base,
said plunger member moving into the interior of the receptacle as the cam elements are periodically manually repositioned to press said plunger member against the inner end of the candle and advance the candle inwardly.

### Claim 11

A candleholder including
a candle receptacle having opposed first and second open ends connected by a sidewall, said sidewall enclosing a hollow receptacle interior with a smooth surface,
said hollow interior holding therein a candle having a body portion that substantially fills the hollow receptacle interior except for a vacant portion nearby the first open end, said candle having an outer end at or nearby the first open end of the receptacle, an inner end at or nearby the second open end of the receptacle, and an exterior sidewall surface initially in contact with substantially the entire smooth interior receptacle surface, said outer end receding from the first open end as the candle burns to reduce the area of contact between said surfaces,
said candle body portion being moveable within the receptacle in response to the application of pressure against the inner end of the candle to advance the outer end of the candle towards the first end of the candle receptacle, the smooth contacting surfaces of the receptacle and the candle sliding past each other,
a plunger member at the second end and mounted to bear against the inner end of the candle and to push the candle in a linear direction towards the first end in response to the application of pressure to the inner end as the plunger member advances in said linear direction,
a base including at least one hand actuated member that is mounted to be manually rotated and is operably connected to the plunger member to advance the plunger member in said linear direction into the interior and for the plunger member to apply pressure against the inner end of the candle and advance the candle towards the first end of the candle receptacle, and
a cover member carried in the open mouth that includes a battery-energized light enclosed within a light-transmitting container,
where the cover member is moveable between a first position seated within the first end to direct illumination from the battery-energized light inward into the interior of the receptacle and an inverted second position seated within the first end to direct illumination from the battery-energized light outward away from the interior of the receptacle.

### Claim 12

A candleholder including
a candle receptacle having opposed first and second open ends connected by a sidewall, said sidewall enclosing a hollow receptacle interior with a smooth surface,
said hollow interior holding therein a candle having a body portion that substantially fills the hollow receptacle interior except for a vacant portion nearby the first open end, said candle having an outer end at or nearby the first open end of the receptacle, an inner end at or nearby the second open end of the receptacle, and an exterior sidewall surface initially in contact with substantially the entire smooth interior receptacle surface, said outer end receding from the first open end as the candle burns to reduce the area of contact between said surfaces,
said candle body portion being moveable within the receptacle in response to the application of pressure against the inner end of the candle to advance the outer end of the candle towards the first end of the candle receptacle, the smooth contacting surfaces of the receptacle and the candle sliding past each other,
a plunger member at the second end and mounted to bear against the inner end of the candle and to push the candle in a linear direction towards the first end in response to the application of pressure to the inner end as the plunger member advances in said linear direction,
a base including at least one hand actuated member that is mounted to be manually rotated and is operably connected to the plunger member to advance the plunger member in said linear direction into the interior and for the plunger member to apply pressure against the inner end of the candle and advance the candle towards the first end of the candle receptacle, and
a cover member carried in the open mouth that includes a battery-energized light enclosed within a light-transmitting container,
where the cover member has a leveled side that facilitates resting said cover member on a horizontal surface upon removal from the first end by placing said side in contact with the horizontal surface.