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  Self-extinguishing candleUSPTO Application #: 20060292509Title: Self-extinguishing candle Abstract: A self-extinguishing candle is provided which, in a preferred configuration, comprises a candle having a wick with a series of alternating combustion and non-combustion zones. In use, the wick will burn through the combustion zone, and will be extinguished on reaching the non-combustion zone. The non-combustion zone is preferably provided by a physical or chemical means, and the candle can be re-lit by removal of the non-combustion means. A safer candle is provided that will self-extinguish on a regular basis. (end of abstract) Agent: Gowan Intellectual Property - Oakville, ON, CA Inventors: S. Dolly Reisman, Pertti H. Naskali, Neil C.C. Gray, William D. Lougheed USPTO Applicaton #: 20060292509 - Class: 431289000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Combustion, Candle, E.g., Taper, Etc., Having Structure Additional To Wax And Wick The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060292509. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/165,512, filed Jun. 24, 2005, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of candles, and in particular, relates to a candle which is capable of extinguishing itself automatically. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Candles have been known for centuries and typically comprise a wick surrounded by a solid core of a combustible material which acts as a fuel. On heating by the flame of the candle, the combustible material in the area surrounding the burning wick is liquified so as to provide fluid material to the wick in order to support combustion. As the fuel is consumed, a portion of the wick is burnt so that the wick height above the candle remains relatively constant as the candle burns. [0004] Since the use of a candle requires an open flame, safety precautions are required in order that the burning flame is monitored. However, frequently, a candle is lit and then left unsupervised for hours until the solid fuel is consumed, or until the user remembers to attend to the candle. [0005] This not only wastes the candle fuel, but can cause several obvious safety hazards. [0006] Various attempts have been made to provide mechanisms to automatically extinguish candles that have been left unattended. Mechanical devices are known which are attached to the candle. These are commonly spring biased and act to move an arm or cover in place to extinguish the candle once the candle has burned to a selected level. An example of this type of candle is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 312291. Numerous modifications to this type of device have been described and claimed, including, for example the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,572,365 in which a digital timer is utilized to close a candle housing after a selected period of time in order to extinguish the candle contained therein. [0007] These devices, however, all require the candle to be connected to the mechanical device and/or require various timers to be set and maintained. This detracts from the aesthetic appearances of a candle, and can be limited in utility if, for example a larger candle is used than that for which the timer mechanism is designed. [0008] Also, the predictability of the time until extinguishment can be variable depending on the nature of the device. For example, the nature of the solid fuel, the diameter of the candle, and even the composition of the wick material itself can affect the burn rate of a candle and can make estimation of the candle burn time difficult. [0009] In GB 1405705, a candle is provided wherein a series of extinguishing agents is trapped within the solid fuel material, in the vicinity of the wick. In use, the candle will burn to the point where the extinguishing material, such as, for example, water, is released from the solid fuel material, in order to snuff out the candle. While this approach provides a candle with a controllable self-extinguishing feature that does not require the use of outside mechanical devices, its production can be difficult in order to provide a series of zones within the solid material that contain the extinguishing material. [0010] It is noted that in a preferred option, the extinguishing material is housed within a series of ampoules which are attached to the wick prior to formation of the candle by pouring in the molten solid fuel material. [0011] However, this approach requires that the ampoule remain intact and connected in the correct location adjacent to the wick. Also, care must be taken to avoid premature release of the extinguishing material onto the wick during production and/or use in order to avoid operational difficulties in using the candle. [0012] As such, while this approach provides some advantages over the mechanical devices, it would be desirable to provide further improvements therein. [0013] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a self-extinguishing candle which avoided the use of external mechanical devices, and which avoided the use of ampoules of extinguishing materials which are to be located in the solid fuel material. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0014] Accordingly, it is a principal advantage of the present invention to provide a self-extinguishing candle which avoids the use of external mechanical devices. [0015] It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a self-extinguishing candle which is free from having zones of extinguishing agent located within the solid fuel component of the candle. [0016] It is a still further advantage of the present invention to provide a self-extinguishing candle which is easily and rapidly produced using conventional equipment and current candle-making techniques. [0017] The advantages set out hereinabove, as well as other objects and goals inherent thereto, are at least partially or fully provided by the self-extinguishing candle of the present invention, as set out herein below. [0018] Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention provides a self-extinguishing candle comprising a wick, and a fuel material which surrounds said wick, characterized in that said candle has at least two separate combustion zones separated by a non-combustion zone wherein said candle is extinguished, and wherein said non-combustion zones is provided by a non-combustion zone within said wick, or by termination of said wick within said candle. [0019] In a preferred embodiment, the wick includes the non-combustion zone. According, the present invention also provides a self-extinguishing candle, as hereinabove described, wherein said wick has at least two separate combustion zones along its length, and said combustion zones on said wick are separated by a non-combustion zone on said wick. [0020] As a result, the candle can burn the wick in a first combustion zone, but on reaching the non-combustion zone, the candle is extinguished. However, the candle can be re-lit by removing the non-combustion zone of the wick, or byre-lighting the wick at a point beyond the non-combustion zone. Preferably, the wick has a plurality of combustion and non-combustion zones. Continue reading... Full patent description for Self-extinguishing candle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Self-extinguishing candle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. 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