Abstract:
A candle topper fits onto containerized candles, such as scented candles within a cylindrical apothecary jar, not only serving to enhance efficient combustion and add a decorative finish thereto, but also directing exhaust gases as a convective motive force to spin a fan. Thereby, hanging ornaments enhance the entertaining value of the candle topper.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    The present application hereby claims the benefit of the provisional patent application entitled CANDLE TOPPER, Ser. No. 60/480,944, filed on Jun. 24, 2003. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates, in general, to devices that decorate containerized candles, and especially those utilizing convective air current therefrom as a motive force.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Containerized candles have long been used as a source of light. Recently, scented candles in apothecary jars or similarly shaped vessels have become widely used. Due to restrictions imposed by the jar, these containerized candles tend to accumulate soot from combustion inefficiencies. In addition, the candle is made from a combination of paraffin wax and scented oils that also have a tendency to create smoke. Recently, various lids for candle apothecary jars have been widely used that include a central exhaust aperture surrounded by intake openings for the purpose of optimizing combustion to prevent soot formation. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,336, a rotating cover plate allows for adjustments in the amount of air drawn into the candle to further control the temperature inside the candle apothecary jar. In U.S. Pat. No. 6,382,962, various dimensions are taught for an exhaust vent and a plurality of inlet vents to assist in creating laminar airflow and thus enhanced combustion.  
           [0004]    In addition, such vent plates have been used to enhance the aesthetics of apothecary jar candles, such as described in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. D471,299; D466,236; D462,132; D465,587 and D473,330 wherein the shape of the apertures is decorative. In U.S. Pat. Appln. Pub. No. 2003/0129558 A1, more economical and decorative molded poly resin reliefs overlay the venting plate with certain attachment features provided to avoid excess heat being transferred from the venting plate base.  
           [0005]    As an alternative, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,589,047; 6,585,510 and 6,663,384, feet along an under surface of a venting plate lift up the venting plate to form inlets for air to enter a candle apothecary jar, with air exhausting up through the center of the venting plate. In part, this approach reduces the thermal conduction from the jar to the candle topper to protect ornamentation thereon. Significantly, also taught is an annular baffle that is generally believed to be necessary or at least advantageous to direct incoming air downward toward the wick to maintain laminar flow. These developments have allowed increasingly more decorative use of apothecary jar candles without discoloration due to overheating of the decoration or due to soot from inefficient combustion.  
           [0006]    For a long time, another approach to creating entertainment and decoration from a light source is to use the motive force of the air flow generated thereby to rotate an object. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,140,092, an open candle or light bulb rotates a lamp shape. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,725, a similar lamp shade rotation is described. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,185,953, a floating carrier wick for use with liquid fuel includes a bladed rotor to cause rotation. It is also known to rotate a decorative object, such as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 154,285; 290,489; 352,646; 563,077; 589,173; 842,351; D274,367; D280,608; 6,135,603; and D330,345. However, in each instance, these generally known spinning decorations are driven by an open heat source that is unencumbered by a container.  
           [0007]    While these spinning devices have long been well received, it would be desirable to incorporate advantages of apothecary jar candles that avoid a mess of dripped wax, and reduce the likelihood of damage or injury due to contact with the open flame of an exposed candle. Yet, the tendency for such apothecary jar candles to burn inefficiently may discourage their use as a convective motive force.  
           [0008]    Consequently, a significant need exists for a spinning decorative device that is adapted for use with an apothecary jar candle.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    The invention overcomes the above-noted and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing a base that is positioned upon a containerized candle and that directs exhaust air therefrom onto a fan to rotate decorations attached thereto. We discovered that the base causes sufficient convective motive force to be generated from the containerized candle such that spinning decorations are possible, enhancing the decorative possibilities without losing the convenience.  
           [0010]    In one aspect of the invention, a device is useful for decorating a containerized candle that has a vessel with a brim containing a fuel burnt at a wick positioned below an opening defined by the brim. A base is sized to overlay the opening of the vessel. Defined in the base is an exhaust aperture registered to overlay the wick. A spindle attached to the base and having an axle mechanism positioned above the exhaust aperture allows a fan, which is rotatingly coupled to the axle mechanism, to be spun by the exhaust gases from the wick (i.e., convective motive force).  
           [0011]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention shall be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0012]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a candle topper consistent with aspects of the present invention shown disassembled from a containerized candle, which is shown partially cut away.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a side view in cross section taken along line  2 - 2  of the candle topper assembled onto the containerized candle of FIG. 1 illustrating air flow therethrough to rotate a fan.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a side view in cross section taken along line  3 - 3  through an annular portion of a base of the candle toper of FIG. 1 illustrating a horizontal intake passage defined therein.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a bottom view taken along line  4 - 4  of the candle topper of FIG. 1.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a top view taken in cross section along line  5 - 5  of the candle topper of FIG. 1.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a bottom view taken in cross section along line  6 - 6  of an ornament attachment and fan of the candle topper of FIG. 1.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a side view in elevation of a candle topper having a hollow chimney portion with a plurality of exhaust orifices and having contact surfaces that center and raise a base defining intake apertures with the jar.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a bottom view taken along line  8 - 8  of the candle topper of FIG. 7.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a side view in cross section of a left portion of a candle toper having annularly pivoting ornament attachments integral to a fan.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a top view of the fan of the candle topper of FIG. 9.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a detail view of a pivoting end of a hanging ornament detached from the ornament attachment of the fan of FIG. 9.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a detail view of the hanging ornament attached to the fan of FIG. 9.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a side view in cross section of a left portion of a candle topper having outwardly pivoting ornament attachments integral to a fan.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a top view of a fan having outwardly pivoting ornament attachments integral to the fan of the candle topper of FIG. 13.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 15 is a side view in cross section of an alternate sound producing hanging ornament and striker for the candle topper of FIG. 13. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0028]    Turning to the drawings, wherein like numerals denote like components throughout the several views, in FIGS. 1-6, a candle topper  1 , consistent with the present invention, entertains and decorates a containerized candle  12  by converting heated exhaust gases therefrom into a rotational motion.  
         [0029]    With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, while a candle topper  10  may be sized to accommodate many different styles of vessels, in an illustrative version, the containerized candle  12  has a cylindrical apothecary jar  14  having an opening  16  at its top defined by a brim  18 . Intake air enters through the opening  16  to a burning wick  20  whereat fuel  22  (e.g., paraffin, vegetable-oil based wax, lamp oil) is burned.  
         [0030]    With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and  6 , exhaust gases from the wick  20  create a vertically directed convective motive force that impinges upon a horizontal fan  24 , which is comprised of a plurality of fan blades  26  centrally attached to a fan hub  28 . Extending horizontally from the fan hub  28  below the fan blades  26  is a support plate  30  from which a plurality of hanging ornaments  32  (FIGS. 1 and 2) are attached. In FIG. 6, the support plate  30  includes a plurality of support arms  34  that minimize deflection of the rising exhaust gases, depicted as arrows  35  in FIG. 2, away from the fan blades  26 .  
         [0031]    With reference to FIGS. 2-4, one way in which intake air, depicted as arrows  36  in FIG. 2, may enter the opening  16  of the jar  14  is for inlet passages  38  to be integrally formed into a base  40  of the candle topper  10 . Alternatively, it should be appreciated that intake openings are spaced around the top of the base  40 . Below, a further alternative whereby intake air is allowed to enter under the base  40  will be described.  
         [0032]    With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a fan support  42  is depicted as vertical triangles  44  joined along a vertical central axis of the base  40  to which they are attached. Exhaust apertures  46  are formed in the base  40  within the spaces defined between the vertical triangles  44 . The fan support  42  terminates at its apex in a spindle  48  that is received within the fan hub  28  to form a low friction rotation point, or axle mechanism  49 , for the fan  24 .  
         [0033]    In FIGS. 1 and 5, the base  40  is also shown as supporting fixed ornaments  50  that are spaced away from the hanging ornaments  32 . In FIGS. 1, 2 and  4 , the base  40  also includes an inner plurality of downwardly projecting, concentric segmented circular ridges (“inner ridges”)  52  registered to within the brim  18  of the jar  14  for stabilizing the candle topper  10 . In FIG. 4, an outer plurality of downwardly projecting, concentric segmented circular ridges (“outer ridges”)  54  are shown to register to the outside of the brim  18  as an alternative or an addition to the inner ridges  52 .  
         [0034]    In FIGS. 7 and 8, a candle topper  110  is similar to that described above with several exceptions. First, a hollow fan support  124  has a hollow chimney opening at its bottom at a central exhaust aperture  146 . A plurality of exit ports  158  allow exhaust gases, depicted by arrows  135  (FIG. 7) to exit the hollow fan support  124  toward the fan  24 . Such a hollow fan support  124  may be used to allow for the fan  24  to be vertically raised while providing sufficient convective motive force for rotation. Second, the base  40  and hollow fan support  124  are advantageously formed from a heat resistant material, such as ceramic. Fixed ornamentation  150  may be economically and decoratively formed from a poly resin material in a ring-like shape that circumferencially rests upon the base  40 . Third, one of a plurality of inner ridges  152  extend downward from an inward portion of a respective spacer  160  to stabilize the candle topper  110 . Insofar as inlet air, depicted as arrows  136  in FIG. 7, is not able to enter the opening  16  at each spacer  160  and inner ridge  152  combination, the combination presents a narrow profile as compared to each inlet aperture  138  defined between adjacent spacers  160 , base  40  and brim  18 .  
         [0035]    In FIGS. 9-12, another candle topper  210  is shown that is similar to that described above for FIGS. 7 and 8 with an exception in an advantageous attachment approach for rotating ornamentation. In particular, a support plate is omitted by instead incorporating a fan  224  wherein some of its constituent fan blades  226  include a hanging ornament attachment fixture, depicted as a radially-aligned pin guide  270 . Each hanging ornament  272  terminates at its apex in a horizontal pin  274  that is inserted into the pin guide  270 . With particular reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, a locking cutout  276  formed into the fan blade  226  adjacent to the pin guide  270  receives a rigid vertical shaft  278  of the hanging ornament  272  after the horizontal pin  274  is inserted into the pin guide  270 , preventing inadvertent disengagement of the hanging ornament  272 . Not only does this eliminate parts count and assembly time for the candle topper  210 , but also the movement of the hanging ornament  272  may be limited in this instance. In particular, a rotating decorative object, depicted as a toy train  280 , attached to the rigid vertical shaft  278  will rotate around the hollow fan support  124  within a fixed circle, resisting centripetal force. Thus, fixed ornaments such as depicted gift boxes  282  are not damaged and uninterrupted rotation is maintained.  
         [0036]    In FIGS. 13 and 14, yet another candle topper  310  is depicted that is similar to that described above for FIGS. 9-12 with the exception that concentric pin guides  370  are formed into respective fan blades  326  of a fan  324 . Economic manufacture is again realized by being able to form fan  324  from sheet material and by forming a corresponding pin  374  on a hanging ornament  372  by bending its rigid vertical shaft  378  perpendicularly. Ease of assembly with prevention of inadvertent disengagement is provided by cutting apertures as an “L” shaped recess  384  on an outer side and counter clockwise side of the pin guide  370 . Thereby, the hanging ornament  372  is allowed to rotate outwardly with increasing rotational speed, which in FIG. 13 allows a rotating decorative object, depicted as a child seated on a carnival swing  380 , to more closely simulate the actual carnival ride.  
         [0037]    In FIG. 15, yet another candle topper  410  is depicted that is similar to that described above for FIGS. 13 and 14 with the exception that a fixed ornament, depicted as a striker  482  is positioned to contact a sound producing object of a hanging ornament  472 , depicted as a metal chime  480 , as the latter swings outwardly with increased rotational speed.  
         [0038]    While the present invention has been illustrated by description of several embodiments and while the illustrative embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications may readily appear to those skilled in the art. For example, although hanging ornaments have been illustrated here, applications consistent with aspects of the invention may include ornaments that extend upwardly from a fan, either central thereto or a plurality spaced annularly.  
         [0039]    As another example, although a centrally positioned single wick has been illustrated for clarity and for general applicability, some applications, consistent with aspects of the invention, may include a chassis of sufficient size to overlay a candle having multiple wicks, with an exhaust aperture defined in the chassis either sufficiently large to register to all of the wicks or being multiple exhaust apertures.  
         [0040]    As yet a further example, while a centered spindle is shown for clarity, one or more fans may be positioned offset to an exhaust aperture. In addition, a fan my be positioned with its axis of rotation being horizontal, having one lateral portion exposed to exhaust gases, with perhaps the other lateral portion exposed to intake air to further enhance its motive force.  
         [0041]    In yet an additional example, while a spindle within a fan hub performs as an axle mechanism, especially when the hanging ornaments are well balanced about the fan hub, applications consistent with the present invention may include other axle mechanisms, including those capable of supporting an unbalanced load.  
         [0042]    In yet a further example, It should be appreciated that in some instances a containerized candle may be substituted with other sources of a convective motive force, such as by an incandescent light bulb, for example in locations where a flame is not appropriate or desirable.