Candle assembly and fuel element therefor
AssigneeS.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Crapser, Thomas A. Helf, Tommy Mikic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A candle assembly comprises a fuel element having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a channel extending through the fuel element from the first surface to the second surface. A support structure is adapted to support the first surface of the fuel element within a central portion of the support structure. A wick retainer has a flat portion with a centralized conduit extending outwardly from a top surface of the flat portion. A wick has a first end disposed within the wick retainer, wherein the wick and wick retainer are embedded in the fuel element prior to use such that a second end of the wick extends outwardly beyond the second surface of the fuel element.
Claims18
A candle assembly, comprising:
- a fuel element having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a channel extending through the fuel element from the first surface to the second surface;
- a support structure adapted to support the first surface of the fuel element within a depression of the support structure and wherein the second surface of the fuel element protrudes outwardly beyond the depression in a pre-operative state;
- a wick retainer having a flat portion with a centralized conduit extending outwardly from a top surface of the flat portion;
- and
- a wick having a first end that extends outwardly beyond the second surface of the fuel element and a second end disposed within the wick retainer, wherein the wick and wick retainer are embedded in the fuel element prior to use.
A fuel system for a candle assembly, comprising:
- a fuel element having a first surface, a second surface disposed opposite the first surface, and a channel extending through the fuel element from the first surface to the second surface;
- and
- a wick retainer having a flat portion with a centralized conduit extending outwardly from a top surface of the flat portion, wherein the conduit of the wick retainer includes an opening in a surface thereof spaced above the flat portion that allows molten fluid to access a second end of a wick, and
- wherein the wick has a first end that extends outwardly beyond the second surface of the fuel element and the second end is disposed within the wick retainer.
A method of providing a candle assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a support structure having a surface surrounding a depression in a central portion thereof;
- providing a fuel element comprised of a fuel having a volatile material therein, wherein the fuel element includes a wick retainer and a wick disposed therein and wherein the fuel element includes a surface that protrudes outwardly beyond the depression;
- providing the wick retainer with a flat portion and a conduit extending outwardly from the flat portion, wherein the flat portion includes a plurality of depressions extending away from the conduit to create a first capillary path below the wick retainer when the fuel element with wick and wick retainer are disposed within the depression of the support structure;
- and
- creating a second capillary path through the wick retainer such that the capillary path supplies fuel to the wick when a flame is present on the wick, thereby allowing substantially all of the fuel to be depleted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.