Abstract:
A candle snuffer has a handle and head, and a suction mechanism that pulls a gas from the head and through a filter. Snuffer heads can be painted or otherwise decorated, and in especially preferred embodiments snuffer heads can be detachable and interchangeable. The suction mechanism is preferably motorized, and preferably has a rather small operating capacity. The filter can be upstream or downstream of the motor, and preferably filters out particles down to 5 μm in size.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention is candle snuffers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Candles have been used for thousands of years, and for much of that time people have used candle snuffers to extinguish the flames. In some instances candle snuffers have included sophisticated functions, including for example U.S. Pat. No. 1,941,082 to Benziger (December 1933) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,309 to Phare (September 1994). The Benziger patent teaches a candle snuffer having a bulb that can be squeezed to provide a puff of air used in extinguishing the flame. Phare contemplates using gas from a CO 2  cartridge to extinguish the flame. 
         [0003]    These and all other extraneous materials discussed herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. 
         [0004]    One aspect that was not addressed by Benziger and Phare was reduction in smoke emitted by the snuffed out candle wick. That issue was squarely addressed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,581 to Harrison (July 2001), which teaches extinguishing a candle by subjecting the flame to a water mist. The &#39;581 device was apparently not commercially successful, however, presumably because users don&#39;t necessarily want water on their candles or surrounding objects, and also because the mist doesn&#39;t necessarily work very well in eliminating smoke. 
         [0005]    Thus, there is still a need for a candle snuffer that reduces or even eliminates smoke from extinguishing candles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides apparatus, systems and methods in which a candle snuffer has a handle and head, and a suction mechanism that pulls a gas from the head and through a filter. 
         [0007]    The snuffer head can comprise any suitable material(s), but in preferred embodiments comprises a non-flammable ceramic material or a metal. Snuffer heads can advantageously be painted or otherwise decorated, and in especially preferred embodiments snuffer heads can be detachable and interchangeable. 
         [0008]    The suction mechanism and filter can be placed in any suitable location relative to head, but are preferably placed within the handle. Although not strictly necessary, the snuffer head and the handle can be coupled by a gas conduit of a suitable length, preferably between about 5 to 10 cm long. The conduit could alternatively be much longer, as for example in a candle extinguisher embodiment for snuffing candles in chandeliers, or atop shelving. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as including their endpoints. 
         [0009]    The suction mechanism is preferably motorized, and preferably has a rather small operating capacity. Thus, in especially preferred embodiments, the suction mechanism has an operating capacity of no more than 8000 cm 3  per minute, and emits a noise of less than 70 db during normal operation. 
         [0010]    The filter can be upstream or downstream of the motor, and preferably filters out particles down to 5 μm in size. 
         [0011]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a vertical cross-section of a preferred candle snuffer. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a metal preferred snuffer head, showing an opening for coupling to the gas conduit and handle. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a ceramic snuffer head, showing painted decoration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    In  FIG. 1 , a candle snuffer  100  generally comprises a snuffer head  110 , a gas conduit  120  and a handle  130 . 
         [0016]    Snuffer head  110  is shown here as having a typical frustoconical shape and size, which in this case has a base that measures about 3 cm wide and about 4-5 cm tall. Those skilled in the art will of course appreciate that other shapes and sizes would also work, including full cones, shapes with oval or rectangular, hexagonal or other horizontal cross-sections. 
         [0017]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , snuffer head  110  has a rim  114  that defines an opening for receiving an end of the gas conduit  120 . In this instance, coupling between the head  110  and the conduit  120  is accomplished by a snap fitting, and is orientation specific by virtue of the gas conduit  120  having a projection  122  that mates with a cutout  112  in the head  110 . All manner of other couplings are also considered, including for example a simple screw fitting in which the rim  114  and gas conduit  120  have mating threads (not shown). 
         [0018]    Snuffer head  110  can include any suitable material or materials, including especially metals (including alloys), ceramics, and composites. Of particular interest are snuffer heads having painted, etched or other decorations. Snuffer head  300  in  FIG. 3  has a decorative design  316  which should be interpreted euphemistically as all possible designs. 
         [0019]    Gas conduit  120  is preferably about 5 to 10 cm long, but could also measure up to a meter or even longer, as for example in a candle extinguisher embodiment for snuffing candles in chandeliers, or atop shelving. At the other extreme, the head and the handle could juxtapose one another, and in that instance the gas conduit would simply be the opening between head and the handle. Contemplated gas conduits can be made from any suitable material(s), including once again metal(s), ceramic(s), and/or composite(s). 
         [0020]    Handle  130  generally includes downstream extensions  132 A,  132 B of the gas conduit  120 , batteries  134 A,  134 B, a suction mechanism  136 , a filter  138 , and a switch  139 . Each of these components can be conventional, and their cooperation to achieve the purposes of the device is well within the skill of the art given the teachings herein. Thus, housing  130  includes electric wiring (not shown) that couples the batteries  134 A,  134 B with the switch  139  and the suction mechanism  136 . 
         [0021]    Suction mechanism  136  includes a motor  136 A and a fan  136 B. Motor  136  A is preferably a low capacity motor, sufficient to provide sufficient suction capacity, but low enough to reduce noise, battery drain and cost. To that end preferred motors cooperate with the fan  136 B to pull no more than 8000 cm 3  of air per minute, and emits a noise of less than 70 db during normal operation. These limitations are not, of course, strictly necessary to practice the inventive subject matter, and for example motors are contemplated that pull ≦2000, ≦4000, ≦12,000, and ≦24,000 cm of air per minute. Similarly, motors are contemplated that emits noises of ≦30, ≦50, ≦80, ≦90 db. Still further, to facilitate long battery, and user convenience, switch  139  can advantageously include a timer that automatically shuts down power to the motor after a given time period, such as ≦5, ≦7, ≦10. or ≦20 seconds. 
         [0022]    Filter  138  is preferably a HEPA filter, but in any event is sufficient to filter out at least 50%, more preferably at least 80%, and most preferably at least 95% of the mass of smoke particles encountered by the filter at some point in the life of the filter. In especially preferred embodiments the filter  138  can filter out particles having a diameter of ≦5 microns (μm), more preferably particles with diameters of ≦3 μm, and most preferably particles with diameters of ≦2 μm. 
         [0023]    Those skilled in the art should also appreciate that each of the elements shown herein is representative of all components that would satisfy the requirements. Thus, batteries  134 A,  134 B can be replaced by any suitable power supply, including for example a single battery, a capacitor (not shown), a power cord (not shown) that could be connected to utility current (not shown), and so forth. Similarly, suction mechanism  136  could be replaced by other mechanisms (e.g. a bellows) that do not involve a fan. Those skilled in the art should also appreciate that various components can be user replaceable. Thus, the batteries  134 A,  134 B and the filter  138  should all be considered as user replaceable, even though the Drawing does not expressly depict doors or other mechanisms for users to access and replace those components. 
         [0024]    It should also be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.