Abstract:
The invention includes an improved multiple component wax object that may be advantageously cubic or in another shape such as similar to tree bark that may be melted in a conventional warmer or candle melting device. Packaging for the cubic wax melts may be advantageously employed as a layered container for cooling as well as storing and transporting a group of wax melts. Packaging for the melts may also serve as discrete containers for several melts having different constituents.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 14/099,646, filed Dec. 6, 2013. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
     Not Applicable. 
     RESERVATION OF RIGHTS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as but not limited to copyright, trademark, and/or trade dress protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention pertains to improvements in candles and more particularly to those types of candles employed with plate warmers that melt the candle wax to emit the fragrance therefrom. Known art can be found in U.S. Class 219, subclass 445.1 and in Class 219, subclass 292 and in other classes and subclasses. 
     2. Description of the Known Art 
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that it is often desirable to dispense fragrances from candles without actually burning the candle. Devices such as candle warmers and plate warmers and the like have been developed to melt candles without using a flame, typically by an electrically powered burner that simply melts the candle. Other types of waxes without wicks and with fragrances may also be used with these systems. While conventional candles may be used with such systems, they do not work as well as smaller wax objects such as cubes or the like that are specifically made for such warmers. The wax objects are typically sized to melt completely and uniformly on the warmer and have a high concentration of fragrance per volume of the carrier (i.e. the wax). While it is known in the art to make candles with multiple components or layers of wax and/or fragrances, because of their smaller size, the combination of individual components has not been done with small wax objects for warmers. 
     Known art which may be relevant to the present invention includes the following patents with their abstracts, the teachings of which are incorporated by reference. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,772, issued to Tanner, et al., on Jun. 27, 2006, entitled Candle warming apparatus, is for a hot plate warming apparatus adapted to warm a candle or other object resting thereon, as well as to provide illumination that simulates the effects of a lighted burning candle. The apparatus may include an adjustable cord apparatus, a light source, and/or a component enabling attachment of other peripheral components. The light source is positioned proximal to the hot plate for providing illumination to an object or substance resting on the hot plate or housing. The adjustable cord apparatus provides electricity to the warming apparatus while allowing a user to alter the length of the cord that is extending from the warming apparatus. The apparatus also comprises a blower to facilitate heating of a candle placed thereon, as well as to cause scented particles emanating from the melted wax or wax-like substance to be better dispersed or dissipated into the surrounding air. The attachment component permits additional peripheral components or materials to be removably coupled to the warming apparatus, such as interchangeable face plates, covers, craft objects, or module objects. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,603, issued Furner, et al., on Apr. 20, 2010, entitled Multisensory candle assembly, is for a candle assembly that includes a support base with a melting plate upon which a meltable solid fuel rests and a wick holder to hold a wick and engage the meltable solid fuel, and a control unit having at least one electrical component to control at least one of a sound emitting system or a light emitting system. In another aspect, a candle assembly includes a sensor configured to detect the presence of a flame disposed on the wick and controls the at least one of the sound emitting system or the light emitting system, and a lock and key mechanism. Another candle assembly includes a replaceable container to hold a meltable fuel element with a wick and a first mating surface and a control unit having at least one electrical component to control at least one of a sound emitting system or a light emitting system. In another aspect, the control unit has a second mating surface complimentary to the first mating surface and a sensor configured to detect the presence of a flame disposed on a wick. The sensor controls the at least one of the sound emitting system or the light emitting system, and the first mating surface is configured to mate with the second mating surface in a pre-selected spatial orientation to permit the sensor to detect the presence of a flame. 
     Also, commercially available equipment and components may be relevant, including commercial plate warmers or candle warmers or the like. Such equipment may be used in implementing an exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
     None of these references, either singly or in combination, disclose or suggest the present invention. It is desirable to have an improved encryption system method for data to address the perceived shortcomings of the known art. 
     While it is evident from past attempts that devices for melting candles and wax are known, candles or wax particularly adapted for melting plates and similar devices where the wax objects are relatively small and easily melted at low temperatures and with differing colors and/or fragrances have not been used but are desirable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the perceived needs in the known art discussed above. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. The new wax objects of the present invention provide a small wax cubic that may be advantageously employed with conventional wax warmers and/or candle melting devices. 
     In one exemplary embodiment in accordance with the present invention an improved cubic wax object is provided that is highly fragranced but composed of multiple wax layers. 
     In another exemplary embodiment, the system may be used to provide irregularly shaped but thin wax objects similar to tree bark in appearance and highly fragranced that may also be advantageously employed with conventional wax warmers and/or candle melting devices. 
     In addition to providing the features and advantages referred to above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a data system that verifies the pickup and dropoff of materials. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a fragrance dispensing system that uses small uniform wax carriers with multiple wax components with discrete fragrances. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved wax object for melting. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a data system that may be easily retrofitted and adapted to existing devices. 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or become apparent by reviewing the following detailed description of the invention in conjunction with the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in which like reference numerals have been employed throughout wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing several wax melts in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the Poured and/or Pressed Multiple Component Wax Object in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing a double wax melt on a 2×3 package and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a triple wax melt on a 2×3 package and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a larger double wax melt on a 2×3 package and similar to  FIG. 2  and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a bark type wax melts adjacent a package and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view showing an empty 3×4 package with an open lid and showing wax melts therein and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view showing a 3×4 package with an open lid and showing wax melts therein and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view showing the packaging and with a wax melt removed from a 3×4 package with an open lid; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational view taken generally from the front side thereof; 
         FIG. 9  is a side elevational view with the top open and with the opposite side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a 3×4 wax melt package with a closed lid; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view taken generally from the bottom thereof 
         FIG. 11  is an end plan view taken generally from the front of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is an elevational view taken generally from the rear; 
         FIG. 13  is a side elevational view taken generally from the left side thereof with the opposite side being a mirror image thereof; 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of a clear package similar to  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view showing a 3×4 package with an open lid and showing wax melts therein and showing another exemplary embodiment thereof; and, 
         FIG. 16  is a perspective view showing the packaging and with a wax melt removed from a 3×4 package with an open lid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the perceived needs in the known art discussed above. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
     In one exemplary embodiment, a multi-colored cube of wax used for the purpose of home fragrance as best seen in  FIGS. 1-4 . The cubes  20  are used by melting in a simmering pot to disperse the fragrance encapsulated in the wax. The reason of this is so that the manufacturer can mix and match different fragrances within the cube itself. For instance a hazelnut and vanilla could be combined to create a toffee smell, or any other combination of color and fragrance. The colors run horizontally ( FIGS. 2-4 ), and can be made in 2 or 3 different colors and scents per cube. 
     In  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the wax cube  20  is a double pour having a top layer  22  and a bottom layer  24  while in  FIG. 3  the wax cube  20  is a triple pour having a top layer  26 , a middle layer  27  and a bottom layer  28 . The wax cubes  20  may be sold in a clam-shell package  30  or other suitable packing. An advantage of the clam-shell package  30  is that the wax melts can be poured directly into the package, which can be a plastic 2×3 package meaning it is 2 cubes across and 3 cubes wide. 
     The method of manufacture is either by pressing powdered wax on a rotary powder (tablet) press or by pouring scented and colored molten wax in a thermoformed plastic tray. Different colors are achieved by pouring one layer of scented and colored wax and letting the wax cool to below its melt point before pouring the next colored layer of wax, and repeating this until you get the desired number of colored/fragranced layers. Pouring the thermoformed plastic trays can be done on a static table or on an automatic candle filling line. 
     The powdered wax cubes are pressed either on a horizontal opposing ram press like a Weissbach candle press, or on a rotary tablet press like a Stokes. The different colors on the rotary press are achieved by introducing different colors by adjusting the cams of the table press to lower the bottom die before passing thru another powder filling station, until getting the correct layers of colored and scented wax into the barrel section of the die before compacting the cube with the top and bottom punch. 
     In another exemplary embodiment best shown in  FIG. 5 , irregularly shaped pieces of wax  40  similar to tree bark are provided. These pieces of wax  40  may be multi-colored and/or multi-fragranced with different colors and odor combinations. These pieces may be made by pouring molten wax into a large cooling pan to a depth of 1-3 inches. After the wax cools, the large solidified wax sheet is broken into many smaller pieces  40 . The breaking can be accomplished normally (with a mallet or a hammer) or with a machine, as desired. The resultant irregularly shaped pieces  40  may then be used as wax melts or the like. They can be easily packaged in a plastic bag  42  or the like that is sealed to preserve the fragrance in the melt. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment best seen in  FIGS. 6-14 , the clam-shell plastic packaging  50  is preferentially a 3×4 package which means it holds 3 cubes across and 4 cubes in width. Packaging for the cubic wax melts may be advantageously employed as a layered container for cooling as well as storing and transporting a group of wax melts. Most preferably, the wax is poured directly into the container  50  while a liquid with multiple layers as described hereinabove. The last layer  52  preferably covers the lateral package ribs  54  and transverse ribs  60  separating individual melts to thereby unite the individual melts  56  to enable their removal from the package as a group when desired. In use, the individual melts may be removed from the group and used singly or in combinations as described hereinabove. 
     In yet another exemplary embodiment best seen in  FIGS. 15-16 , the clam shell packaging  50  is preferentially a 3×4 package which means it holds 3 cubes across and 4 cubes in width. Packaging for the cubic wax melts may be advantageously employed as a layered container for cooling as well as storing and transporting a group of wax melts. Most preferably, the wax is poured directly into the container  50  (which could be layered as discussed previously) and it is preferably poured into individual rows of 4 melts. Thus, a 3×4 packaging  50  would contain 3 rows of 4 melts and with each row of 4 melts being poured individually. In this manner, a first row of 4 interconnected melts could be poured and then a second row of 4 interconnected melts and then a third row of interconnected melts. In this configuration, a first fragrance (or color or other desirable component) can be placed in the first row while a second fragrance (or other component) can be placed in the second row and a third fragrance in the third row. Thus, the user has multiple melts of varying components that may be separated from the other melts and combined with for example another desirable fragrance to produce a unique fragrance. 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology has been used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.