Abstract:
Disclosed is an appliance which accommodates scented candles of different sizes within a hollow surround and allows for the heating of said candle without burning the candle, thereby releasing the aromatic fragrance of the candle. An adjustable rack supports candles of different sizes and shapes above the heating element. The rack is adjusted between a plurality of positions, said portion respectively adapted to support candles of different configurations.

Description:
RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional No. 60/673,922 filed Apr. 22, 2005, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to candle warmers and has particular application to components of the candle warmer which enables it to be used with candles of various sizes and shapes.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Candle warmers are used to enable a household to enjoy the fragrance of scented candles without the need for burning the candle, thereby avoiding the risk of fire or other damage which may result from the presence of an open flame. For use with the candle warmers, the scented candles include a shell, which may be a glass container, normally in standard widths of 4″. The shell contains the wax which is melted when the candle burns or is heated. Some suppliers provide decorative candles which have greater diameter or different sizes or shapes such as ovals. Although numerous patents show devices for releasing aromatic fragrance by the use of light bulbs or hot plates, those patents do not show a holder which may accommodate candles of two different sizes to position the candle over a heat source. Also, while some candle holders accommodate candles of different sizes, these patents do not show a warming device for centering different sized candles over a heat source. The instant invention provides a way to heat scented candles of different sizes without burning the candle itself.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention enables a single candle warmer appliance to be used for standard diameter candles as well as candle containers having different diameters or different shapes such as ovals. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention provides a rack which may fit within a surround which, in one position will firmly support a 4″ candle centrally within the surround and in a second position will support candle containers having a diameter larger than the standard 4″ diameter. In another embodiment, in one position the rack may hold a pair of round candles and in another position holds a candle of a different shape such as an oval. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The invention will be described more fully in connection with the drawings, in which:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a candle warmer embodying the present invention;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view to illustrate the interior of the surround including the heating element and the rack made in accordance with the first embodiment of this present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rack of  FIG. 2  removed from the surround;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the rack;  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a rack in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a plan view of the rack of  FIG. 5  in a position to support two cylindrical candle containers; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the rack of  FIG. 5  inverted so as to support an oval container. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the warmer consists of a base  21  on which is mounted an upstanding hollow surround  22 . Mounted on the floor  23  of the base  21  within the surround is a lamp socket  25  having a lamp bulb  26 . The lamp bulb is energized by electricity supplied by a cord  27 . The socket and lamp constitute a heating element which is confined to the lower area of the enclosure within the surround  22 . It has been found that a 60-watt bulb provides sufficient heat to melt a candle within the surround. In the illustrated embodiment the surround  22  comprises a cylindrical shell which is perforated to provide a decorative design which renders the shell translucent.  
         [0014]     An adjustable support for a candle J is provided on the base to support the candle above the bulb with sufficient clearance to enable the circulation of heat under the candle and along the sides between the outside of the candle J and the inside of the surround  22 . The socket  25  supports the bulb  26  above floor  23  of the base  21  within the surround  22 . The adjustable candle support comprises a wire rack  31  having horizontal support segments  32  and upstanding spacers  33  positioned around the periphery of the support segments  32 . Further, the support is adjustable to provide multiple receivers for different size candles in two positions. Each position accommodates a different candle size or shape. The receiver, while in one position, may be inverted so as to expose the receiver in the other position. Also, by having the support segments elevated from the floor  23 , and spaced from the surround  22 , the heat from the heat source is able to circulate under the candle and between the candle and the surround. In the present instance, there are four spacers  33  spaced at 90° about the outer periphery of the support segments  32 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , each spacer  33  has a wide leg  35  and a narrow leg  36 . The distances between the distal ends of the legs  35  and  36  and the support segments  32  are the same and this distance is indicated by the dimension C in  FIG. 4 . The dimension C is sufficiently large to space the support segments  32  above the heating element when the distal ends of either of the legs  35  and  36  are at rest on the floor  23  of the base  21 . The dimension C is sufficient to provide space for venting the heating element.  
         [0015]     In the present instance, the rack  31  is formed from two spacers connected at their mid-point at a connection  38 , as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Each spacer has a narrow leg  36  and a wider leg  35  terminating in a support segment  32 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the diagonally opposite legs  36  are spaced apart by a dimension indicated at A and the wider legs  35  are spaced apart a smaller distance indicated by the dimension B. In the present instance, the dimension B corresponds to the standard diameter of a jar candle and the dimension A is larger so as to be able to cradle a candle container having a larger diameter but still space the outer wall of the container away from the surround  22 . Thus, the legs  36  define a large diameter receptacle for receiving a candle container of with a dimension larger than the standard dimension. A larger than standard candle container may be mounted in the warmer when the support  31  is mounted as shown in  FIG. 4 . When it is desired to mount a standard candle container in the warmer, the rack is removed and inverted so that the legs  35  are facing upwardly to cradle the standard candle container.  
         [0016]     Further, each spacer is made up of a piece of bent wire as described above. Each short length of wire may be referred to as a run. Accordingly, several different runs are present in each spacer in order to support the candle. More specifically, each spacer has a continuous length of wire  49  bent so as to have a terminal  51  portion with a reverse bend  52  bent back to form a vertical run  53  which combines with the portion  49  to provide the narrow leg  36  and at the opposite end of the run  53 , the wire is bent back upon itself with a reverse bend  54  to provide an intermediate portion  50  which combines with the vertical run  53  to form the wider leg  35 , wherein the terminal run  51  is perpendicular to the base, the reverse bend  52  is parallel with the base, the vertical run  53  is perpendicular with the base, and the reverse bend  54  is parallel with the base. The straight run is the simplest form of wire, however each run does not have to be a straight piece of wire. Rather, the runs could be modified to serve an ornamental purpose.  
         [0017]     The candle warmer may accommodate other sizes and shapes of candles by simply replacing the rack within the surround.  FIG. 5  illustrates a second embodiment of the rack. In this embodiment, the rack  41  has four upstanding outer spacers  43  positioned around the outer periphery of the support segments  42 . In addition, there are intermediate spacers  44  projecting from the support segments  42  intermediate the spacers  43 . Each outer spacer  43  has a wide leg  45  and a narrow leg  46 . The intermediate spacers  44  project in the same direction as one set of legs in the present instance the narrow legs  46  and, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the intermediate spacers  44  cooperate with the narrow legs  43  to provide support for two cylindrical candle containers of small diameter as indicated at J 1 . Inverting the rack  41 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , enables an elliptical candle container J 2  to be supported on the support segments  42  between the wide legs  45 . As in this first embodiment, the vertical extent of the legs  45  and  46  are equal to each other and will position the support segments  42  above the floor of the base by the dimension C in  FIG. 4 . The rack  41  is made from two spacers  47  of wire connected at two points  48 . As in the example described above, several runs are present in each spacer to support the candle. Each spacer is a continuous length of wire bent so as to have a terminal  56  portion with a bend  63  and a run  61  perpendicular with the base, a reverse bend  57  bent back to form a vertical run  58  which combines with the run  61  to provide the narrow leg  46  and at the opposite end of the run  58 , the wire is bent back upon itself with a reverse bend  59  to provide an intermediate portion  60  which combines with the vertical run  58  forming the wider leg  45 , wherein the terminal run  56  is parallel to the floor, the run  61  is perpendicular with the base, the reverse bend  57  is parallel with the base, the vertical run  58  is perpendicular with the base, the reverse bend  59  is parallel with the base, and the intermediate portion  60  is perpendicular with the base. The run  60  is connected to a run of the support  42  by a bend  64 . At the inner end of the support run, the intermediate spacer  44  is provided by vertical runs  62  and  62 ′ which are connected by a reverse bend  63 . Beyond the reverse bend  63 , the support  42  has runs which are the mirror image of the runs  56  through  64 . These runs are identified with reference numbers  64 ′- 56 ′.  
         [0018]     The surround  22  can be any one of a variety shapes for enclosing the heating apparatus. For instance, the surround may be a circular shape, as shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , for use in conjunction with a rack  31  that accommodates a circular candle. A surround of this shape would also be adapted for use with the rack shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . However, the surround may also be an oval shape, for example, when used with the second embodiment of the rack that accommodates an oval candle or a pair of candles, as shown in  FIGS. 5-7 . The surround can also be made out of various materials. In the present instance, the surround  22  is formed of sheet metal and is perforated with an ornamental design  55  so that the warmer may serve as a night light while maintaining the candle wax in a melted state within the container or containers. The surround may be made of a translucent material. Further, the surround may be perforated to enable the dissemination of the heat and aroma generated by the heat source. Additionally, the heat source in this instance is a light bulb, but other heat sources may be accommodated below the spacer  32 .  
         [0019]     While particular embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention.