| Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flameUSPTO Application #: 20070184395Title: Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame Abstract: An apparatus for snuffing a candle or other element in a container. A base fits the container and includes shutter(s) for covering an opening. A shutter operator may include an arm preventing the shutter(s) from covering the opening when the arm is locked, and causing the shutter(s) to cover the opening when the arm unlocked. The shutter operator includes a closer for unlocking the arm, and may include a closing facilitator such as a spring for moving the arm to close the shutters. A timer may time a selectable period. An activation plate may respond to expiration of the period by activating the closer to unlock the arm. The apparatus may include timer marks. A time indicator may move relative to the marks to indicate time remaining and/or expired. The apparatus may include an opener for opening shutter(s) regardless of the selected period and/or without setting an expiration period. (end of abstract) Agent: Nora M. Tocups - Decatur, GA, US Inventor: James M. Taylor USPTO Applicaton #: 20070184395 - Class: 431033000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Combustion, Timer, Programmer, Retarder Or Condition Responsive Control, Of Extinguishing Means The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070184395. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS [0001] The inventions relate to the extinguishment of candles, incense, and other burning elements, and in particular, to the automatic extinguishment of candles after a preselected period of time. BACKGROUND [0002] Candles are often used in the home and elsewhere as part of decorating to provide a special ambiance and soft glow. Unlike other decorations, lighted candles present a flame and fire hazard to their environment. The dangers from lighted candles are generally eliminated with their extinguishment. The user, however, must remember to extinguish and to follow through on extinguishing all of the lighted candles to be rid of the danger. Overlooking even one lighted candle can lead to disaster. Besides the fire hazard posed by candles that are left burning, it may be considered wasteful to burn candles without need. [0003] Putting out a candle can be problematic. Blowing out, pinching, or snuffing are conventional methods of directly putting out a candle, and they each have their own problems. Blowing out a candle may require a strong directed breath of air that some people due to health or other reasons may be incapable of carrying out. Some candles are difficult to blow out even for healthy people. Blowing out a candle may result in an undesirable spray of candle wax and a mess to clean up. Attempts at blowing out a candle may even increase the fire hazard by spreading the flame to nearby flammable objects. Pinching a candle flame can be frightening and lead to burns. Snuffing out a candle requires special equipment. All of these problems grow in proportion to the number of candles to be extinguished. Moreover, the more candles there are, the more likely it is that a candle will be overlooked. [0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus to minimize the dangers posed by lighted candles and to avoid waste by providing a safe, convenient, and easy manner of extinguishing candle flames that will overcome the problems in the prior art. There is a need for an apparatus that alleviates a user's fear of forgetting or overlooking extinguishment of a candle at the end of its use. The needs also extend to other elements that are like candles like incense, and other burning fuel sources. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS [0005] Stated generally, the inventions relate to apparatuses and methods for extinguishing a burning source in a holder after a selectable period of time. For example, the inventions allow a user to schedule safe and easy extinguishment of burning candles. An exemplary embodiment may include shutters in a frame with the frame being sized to fit the holder so as to substantially block air from entering the holder when the shutters are substantially closed. A timer may be included for timing a selectable period of time. The timer may include settings for a respective plurality of periods of time. The timer responds to a selection of a setting for a period of time by timing the selected period. In response to the expiration of the selected period, a mechanism closes the shutters, thereby causing the extinguishment of the burning source. The mechanism may be used to close the shutters at any point, without setting the timer and/or without regard to the expiration of the selected period. The mechanism also may be used to open the shutters if they are closed. [0006] Advantageously, the inventions satisfy the need for an apparatus to minimize the dangers posed by lighted candles and other lighted elements and to avoid waste by providing a safe, convenient, and easy manner of extinguishing the flames. The inventions provide an apparatus that alleviates a user's fear of forgetting or overlooking extinguishment of a candle or other element. [0007] Another exemplary embodiment of the inventions may be an apparatus for snuffing a candle in a container after a period. This exemplary apparatus may include a base covering an open part of the container. The base may include at least a shutter for substantially covering an opening in the base. The base also may include a shutter operator for causing the shutter to substantially cover the base opening. The shutter operator may include an arm connected to the shutter. The arm prevents the shutter from covering the base opening when the arm is locked, and the arm causes the shutter to substantially cover the base opening when the arm is unlocked. The shutter operator also may include a closer for unlocking of the arm, thereby causing the shutter to substantially cover the base opening. Further, the shutter operator may include a closing facilitator such as a spring to move the arm when it is unlocked to facilitate substantial closing of the shutter. [0008] The exemplary apparatus also may include a timer for timing a period. The timer may be operative to time the period as a selected period from one of a plurality of periods. Timer marks may indicate respectively the plurality of periods available for selection. The exemplary apparatus may include a time indicator for setting the selected period. The time indicator may be operative to move with respect to the plurality of timer marks to indicate an amount of time (either expired and/or to go) with respect to the selected period. [0009] The exemplary apparatus may further include an activation plate that responds to expiration of the period by activating the closer to unlock the arm. Thus, in this exemplary apparatus, the timer may be set to time a period upon whose expiration the activation plate activates the closer of the shutter operator to unlock the arm, thereby causing the shutter to substantially cover the base opening and causing the snuffing of the candle in the container. [0010] Advantageously, the closer of the exemplary apparatus may be operative to unlock the arm in response to an unlock action other than the activation by the activation plate. For example, a user may provide an unlock action to close the shutters and thereby extinguish the candle without selecting a time period or without regard to any time left for expiration during a previously selected period. [0011] In addition, the exemplary apparatus may include an opener for opening the shutter. The opener is operative to open the shutter by moving the arm into a locked position, thereby causing the shutters to at least partially uncover the base opening. [0012] The inventions provide another alternative embodiment including an apparatus allowing for selective extinguishment of a burning element in a vessel. This exemplary embodiment includes a housing having an opening, and at least a shutter disposed to close the opening in the housing. A release is included to cause the shutter to substantially close. Activating the release causes the shutter to substantially close the opening in the housing, thereby extinguishing the burning of the element in the vessel. [0013] In this alternative embodiment, the release may include an actuator connected to the shutter, and a release pin responsive to activation to cause the actuator to cause the shutter to substantially close. The actuator may include an actuator arm connected to the shutter and a holder to hold the actuator arm so that the actuator arm causes the shutter to be at least partially open. The actuator arm may be operative to release itself from the holder in response to the causation of the release pin, whereby the release of the actuator arm from the holder causes the actuator arm to cause the shutter to substantially close. The actual also may include a closing facilitator connected to the housing and to the actuator arm. The closing facilitator may be responsive to the release of the actuator arm from the holder to facilitate the actuator arm in causing the shutter to substantially close. [0014] This alternative embodiment also may include a timer for timing a period of time. The release may be responsive to the expiration of the period of time to cause the shutter to substantially close, whereby setting the timer for the period of time causes the timer to cause the release after expiration of the period of time to cause the shutter to substantially close. Further, this alternative embodiment may include an activation plate responsive to the expiration of the period of time to activate the release pin to cause the actuator to cause the shutter to close. [0015] The inventions are described herein with reference to the attached drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the inventions. The inventions, however, can be embodied in many different forms and carried out in a variety of ways, and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth in this description and/or the drawings. The exemplary embodiments described and shown herein are only some of the ways in which to implement the inventions. Each of the elements of the inventions may be differently sized, shaped, and/or otherwise configured or configured with respect to another element or each other from the embodiments described and shown herein. The elements of the inventions may be assembled in an order different in whole or in part from the order described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventions poised for placement on a container. [0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 placed on a container. [0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the inventions on a container with the shutters open. [0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a side perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 with the shutters closed. Continue reading... Full patent description for Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Production of cementitious ash products with reduced carbon emissions Next Patent Application: Method and system for process gas entrainment and mixing in a kiln system Industry Class: Combustion ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.9061 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , |
||
