Stackable segmented candle system and method of use

A candle segment comprising a portion of a layered candle. Said candle segment comprises a candle wick, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a height. Said candle segment comprises a one or more protruding studs and a one or more stud cavities. Said one or more protruding studs and said one or more stud cavities are on opposite sides of said candle segment at said top surface and said bottom surface.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates generally to a stackable layered candle system and method of use. For more information on layered candles can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,888, U.S. Pat. No. 7,578,670, U.S. Pat. No. 7,789,808, US Patent Application Number 2006/0292509, and US Patent Application Number 2008/0268391. None of the disclosed inventions and patents, taken either singularly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant disclosure as claimed. Accordingly, an improved layered candle would be advantageous.

SUMMARY

A candle segment, a two or more candle segments and a candle segment manufacturing method are disclosed.

Said candle segment comprising a portion of a layered candle. Said candle segment comprises a candle wick, a top surface, a bottom surface, and a height. Said candle segment comprises a one or more protruding studs and a one or more stud cavities. Said one or more protruding studs and said one or more stud cavities are on opposite sides of said candle segment at said top surface and said bottom surface.

Said two or more candle segments comprising a layered candle. Said two or more candle segments comprise a first candle segment and a second candle segment. Said two or more candle segments each comprise a candle wick, a top surface, a bottom surface, a height and a composition. A bottom surface of said first candle segment is capable of attaching a top surface of said second candle segment.

Said candle segment manufacturing method comprising: attaching a first end of an extended candle wick around a rod, attaching a second end of said extended candle wick to a post of a candle tab, placing said candle tab at a bottom of a container while keeping said rod with said first end of said extended candle wick at the top of said container, pouring a liquid wax into said container, molding said a first candle segment form said liquid wax, said candle tab and said wick, and removing said first candle segment from said container when said liquid wax solidifies. Said first candle segment comprises a top surface and a bottom surface. Said first candle segment comprises a portion of a two or more candle segments comprising a layered candle. A bottom surface of said first candle segment is formed so as to nest into a top surface of a second candle segment among said two or more candle segments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1Aillustrates a perspective overview of a candle segment100and a candle wick102. In one embodiment, said candle segment100can comprise various sizes and compositions. In one embodiment, said compositions can comprise different colors as well as a variety of scents. In one embodiment, said candle segment100can be substantially cylindrical in shape but can be formed into various polygonal shapes as desired. In one embodiment, said candle segment100can be made of various types of waxes, including but not limited to, beeswax, soy, plant waxes, tallow, and gel. In one embodiment, said candle wick102is embedded centrally within said candle segment100with a section of said candle wick102exposed on the top of said candle segment100used for lighting said candle wick102. In one embodiment, said candle wick102can comprise a flat braided wick, a round braided wick, a square braided wick, a cored wick, a wooden wick, a specialty wick and/or a similar wick type as known in the art.

FIGS. 1B and 1Cillustrate a side view and top view of said candle segment100, respectively. In one embodiment, said candle segment100can comprise a top surface104, a bottom surface106, a height108, and a diameter110. In one embodiment, said height108and said diameter110can vary to result in different candle sizes and proportions as desired. In one embodiment, said height108and composition can be chosen so that said candle segment100will burn for a specific period of time. In one embodiment, said top surface104can have a concave shape while said bottom surface106can have a convex shape. In one embodiment, said top surface104and said bottom surface106can be similarly angled to permit nesting of said surfaces if one or more of said candle segment100was to be stacked on one another. In one embodiment, said surfaces can enhance said candle segment100aesthetics while providing a more stable foundation for nesting purposes.

FIGS. 1D and 1Eillustrate a bottom view and a perspective bottom view of said candle segment100respectively.

FIG. 2Aillustrates a perspective exploded overview of a layered candle200. In one embodiment, said layered candle200can comprise of a one or more layered candle segments. In one embodiment, said one or more layered candle segments can comprise a segment202a, a segment202b, a segment202cand a segment202d. In one embodiment, more or less of said one or more layered candle segments may be used. In one embodiment, said layered candle200can comprise one or more of said candle segment100(such as said segment202a, said segment202b, and said segment202c) and a base segment (such as said segment202d). In one embodiment, said one or more candle segments can be rearranged as desired (such as placing said candle segment202ain place of said candle segment202band vice versa). In one embodiment, said segment202dcan comprise a concave top surface and a flat bottom surface. Thus, in one embodiment, said base segment (or, as here, said segment202d) can create a stable footing for said layered candle200(when they are stacked). In another embodiment, said candle segment100can comprise a convex bottom surface and can be set into a stable base with a concave top surface. For example, in one embodiment, said layered candle200can further comprise a candle holder having a concave top surface capable of holding said layered candle200comprising a convex bottom surface.

Although not illustrated, it would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the said candle segment100and said layered candle200could work equally well by reversing the concave and convex portions.

In one embodiment, each of said segment202a, said segment202b, and said segment202ccan comprise a top surface with a concave shape and a bottom surface with a convex shape. In one embodiment, said segment202acan comprise a top surface206aand a bottom surface208a. In one embodiment, said segment202bcan comprise a top surface206band a bottom surface208b. In one embodiment, said segment202ccan comprise a top surface206cand a bottom surface208c(see bothFIGS. 2A and 2Dfor illustrations of these components). In one embodiment, said bottom surface208aof said segment202acan rest on said top surface206bof said segment202b. In one embodiment, said bottom surface208bof segment202bcan rest on said top surface206cof said segment202c. In one embodiment, said bottom surfaces can be mated to said top surfaces in series to form said layered candle200of various heights.

FIGS. 2B and 2Cillustrate a perspective overview and an elevated side view of a section cut of said candle segment100. In one embodiment, said top surface104of said candle segment100can comprise a center-point220and an upper wall surface222. In one embodiment, as said candle segment100melts, wax from said upper wall surface222will drain toward said center-point220. In one embodiment, said top surface104can comprise an incline226of said upper wall surface222in said concave portion of said top surface104. In one embodiment, said incline226can be low enough to control a flow of said wax as it melts into said center-point220. Accordingly, said wax can have sufficient time to burn off without extinguishing a flame at said candle wick102.

FIG. 2Dillustrates an elevated side cross-section of said layered candle200.FIG. 2Dis presented with candle wicks hidden (a discussion of candle wicks is included below). In one embodiment, said segment202acan comprise a tab230a; said segment202bcan comprise a tab230b; said segment202ccan comprise a tab230c; and said segment202dcan comprise a tab230d. In one embodiment, as said segment202ais burning out, it will burn down to said tab230aand stop. Thus, in one embodiment said tab230a(as with the other tabs described herein) can comprise a firewall. This trend can continue such that a user of said layered candle200may light a first among said layered candle200and minimize the risk that said user will forget to extinguish said layered candle200and thereby burn through the supply of wax in said layered candle200. It is therefore advantageous to break a candle into segments, as has been done with said layered candle200.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3Cillustrate a perspective overview, a perspective top view and a perspective cross-section side view of a container300, a rod302, an extended candle wick304, and a candle tab306, respectively. In one embodiment, said tab230a, said tab230b, said tab230cand said tab230d(as shown inFIG. 2D) can comprise one of said candle tab306. In one embodiment, said candle tab306can comprise a post308and a base310. In one embodiment, said post308can be located centrally on said base310. In one embodiment, said post308can be hollow to permit said candle wick102or other wicks to pass through (see infra) In one embodiment, said candle tab306can be used during formation of said candle segments as a wick stabilizer and as an endpoint for a burning wick. In one embodiment, said candle tab306can be used as a separator between one or more candle segments. In one embodiment, said candle tab306can comprise a firewall between said one or more candle segments.

In one embodiment, making said candle segment100can be formed in said container300by: attaching a first end of said extended candle wick304around said rod302, attaching a second end of said extended candle wick304to said post of said candle tab306, and pouring a liquid wax into said container300.

In one embodiment, said container300can comprise a lower surface312and a sidewall314. In one embodiment, said lower surface312can be concave and capable of molding said convex portion of said candle segment100.

FIG. 4illustrates a perspective sectional side view of a container300, a rod302, said extended candle wick304, an upper cast402, a lower surface312, and said candle tab306, respectively. In one embodiment, one or more of said candle tab306, said upper cast402, and said lower surface312can be arranged along the length of said extended candle wick304. In one embodiment, said extended candle wick can be suspended by said rod302within said container300. In one embodiment, once one or more of said candle tab306, said upper cast402, and said lower surface312are arranged in a desired position within said container300, wax can be poured into said container to form one or more of said candle segment100. In one embodiment, different types of scents, colors, or waxes can be used for one or more of said candle segment100. Once formation is complete, one or more of said candle segment100can be removed from said container300and separated accordingly. In one embodiment, one or more of said candle segment100can be rearranged to satisfy desired scent, color, or height preference.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5Dillustrate a perspective overview, a perspective bottom view, an elevated top view and an elevated side view of an alternative candle segment500. In one embodiment, said alternative candle segment500can comprise one or more protruding studs, a top surface504, one or more stud cavities, and a bottom surface508. In one embodiment, said top surface504can comprise of said one or more protruding studs. In one embodiment, said bottom surface508can comprise said one or more stud cavities. In one embodiment, said one or more protruding studs can comprise a first stud502a, a second stud502b, a third stud502cand a fourth stud502d. In one embodiment, said one or more stud cavities can comprise a first cavity506a, a second cavity506b, a third cavity506cand a fourth cavity506d. In one embodiment, said alternative candle segment500can comprise an equal number of said one or more protruding studs and said one or more stud cavities. In one embodiment, said one or more protruding studs can be in said bottom surface508and said one or more stud cavities can be in said top surface504(not illustrated here). In one embodiment, said one or more of said stud cavity506is arranged so that said alternative candle segment500can stack upon one another to permit said top surface504to make contact with said bottom surface508of another of said alternative candle segment500. In one embodiment, one or more of said alternative candle segment500may be stacked in this manner. Thus, in one embodiment said one or more of said alternative candle segment500can interlock onto one another.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C and 6Dillustrate a perspective overview, a perspective front side view, and two a sectional side views of a candle making assembly600. In one embodiment, said candle making assembly600can comprise a container601, said rod302, said extended candle wick304, an upper alternative cast602, and an alternative lower cast604, and said candle tab306. In one embodiment, said candle making assembly600can be used to make one or more of said alternative candle segment500. In one embodiment, said alternative candle segment500can be made in a substantially similar way to said candle segment100(see supra) with said alternative candle segment500.

In one embodiment, one or more of said alternative candle segment500can be stacked according to scent, color, size, desired height, or any other specification as desired.

FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7Cillustrate three perspective overviews of a layered candle700.FIG. 7Acomprises said layered candle700in an assembled configuration andFIGS. 7B-7Ccomprises said layered candle700in an exploded configuration. In one embodiment, said layered candle700can comprise a plurality of said alternative candle segment500.

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8Cillustrate three perspective lower views of a candle segment800and a second segment808. In one embodiment, said candle segment800can comprise an adhesive set802having an adhesive804and an adhesive sticker806. In one embodiment, said adhesive804can attach to a bottom surface803of said candle segment800. In one embodiment, said adhesive804can be protected by said adhesive sticker806as is well known in the art. In one embodiment, said adhesive804can attach said candle segment800to said second segment808or any other candle segment by: exposing said adhesive804, pressing said adhesive804between said candle segment800and said second segment808. In one embodiment, exposing said adhesive804can comprise removing said adhesive sticker806. In one embodiment, said candle segment800can be used in a layered candle814, as illustrated with said candle segment800, said second segment808and a third segment810.

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9Cillustrate a perspective lower view and a perspective overview of a candle segment900, and a perspective overview of said candle segment900attaching to a second segment920. In one embodiment, said candle segment900can comprise a top surface902and a bottom surface904. In one embodiment, said candle segment900can comprise a hook-and-loop set906having a hook portion908(illustrated as a zigzag pattern) and a loop portion910(illustrated as a hatch pattern). In one embodiment, said hook portion908can attach to said bottom surface904and said loop portion910can attach to said top surface902. In one embodiment, said hook-and-loop set906can be used to attach said candle segment900to said second segment920. For example, in one embodiment, said second segment920can comprise a hook portion922(similar to said hook portion908) which can attach to said loop portion910of said candle segment900.