PATENT ABSTRACT
A candle structure comprises a fan, wherein the heated air generated by a candle may propel the fan. The candle is housed in a container having a bottom wall and a side wall. The side wall is formed with vents located above the candle so that adequate air needed to permit the candle to combust can be drawn through the vent, thereby to enhance propulsion of the fan. The fan serves to impart a new functional and aesthetically pleasing characteristic to the basic candle structure by distributing the heat and the scent generated by the candle, while concurrently rotating decorative elements.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention relates to a candle structure, having a decorative animated sculpture, that is housed in a vented container that enhances the animated motion. More particularly the invention is directed to a candle housed in a vented container and a fan driven by rising heat from the burning candle.  
           [0003]    2. Discussion of Related Art  
           [0004]    The fundamental concepts and processes for making candles are well known. Candles typically have both utility and ornamental appeal. For example, the warm glow of a candle may provide light and heat. A scented candle may also provide a scent or an aroma and may mask odors, and a candle may generally serve as a decorative device. However, it is desirable to develop new ways of imparting novel, functional and aesthetically pleasing characteristics to the basic candle structure. U.S. patent application Publication No. 20020066687, for example, discloses a container with a lid comprising a decorative member which is a sports-related item, wherein the container may hold candles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,032,360 discloses an apparatus comprising a base with a candle mounted on it, and a container open at both ends located above the candle, wherein the container houses activated charcoal to filter odor-filled air.  
           [0005]    The present invention further addresses the need to provide new functional and aesthetically pleasing characteristics to known candle structures.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention provides for a candle structure having a decorative animated sculpture. The candle itself is housed in a vented container. At least one fan is mounted on the container above the candle, wherein heated air generated by and rising from the candle may continuously drive the fan. The fan may further serve to distribute the heat, and the scent or aroma generated by the candle. The fan may also serve to impart a new and aesthetically pleasing characteristic to the basic candle structure by carrying a decorative sculpture that rotates with it. The vents in the container permit air to readily reach the candle to aid in combustion of the candle fuel, and to enhance the flow of thus heated rising air to drive the fan.  
           [0007]    In accordance with one aspect, the present invention is directed to a candle structure having a container comprising a hollow body with a bottom wall, with the hollow body defining an opening opposite the bottom wall, the container further comprising a cover or lid that can be removably mounted on the opening in the hollow body. The container further houses a candle, and is formed with at least one side vent or opening. The lid comprises at least one top vent or opening at a point where the lid is mounted on the opening in the hollow body. At least one fan is mounted on the lid on a bearing to permit it to be driven to rotate by rising heated air from the burning candle. The hollow body, lid and fan may further incorporate decorative elements. For example, a decorative sculpture may be mounted on the fan to be rotated with it. The candle may further comprise decorative elements, and/or a scent.  
           [0008]    Thus, in accordance with this aspect, when the candle is lit, the surrounding air is heated, and the heated air rises and drives the fan. The air that aids combustion of the candle fuel can be readily replenished by unheated air drawn into the container through the vents in the hollow body, and vents in the lid, producing a “chimney-like” effect. In accordance with this aspect, the fan may further serve to distribute the scent and the heat from the candle.  
           [0009]    In accordance with another aspect, the present invention is directed to a candle structure having a container comprising a hollow body with a bottom wall, with the hollow body defining an opening opposite the bottom wall. The container is provided a cover or lid that can be removably mounted on the opening in the hollow body. The container further houses a candle, and is formed with at least one side vent or opening within the hollow body. At least one fan can be mounted through a bearing on the lid. The hollow body, lid and fan may incorporate decorative elements. The candle may further have decorative elements, and/or a scent.  
           [0010]    In accordance with this aspect, when the candle is lit, the surrounding air is heated, and the heated air rises and drives the fan. The air that aids combustion of the candle fuel is readily replenished by unheated air drawn into the container through the vents in the hollow body, again by a “chimney-like” effect. In accordance with this aspect, the fan may further serve to distribute the scent or heat from the candle. Movement of the fan may also move decorative elements.  
           [0011]    In accordance with yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a candle structure having a container comprising a hollow body with a bottom wall, with the hollow body defining an opening opposite the bottom wall. The container carries a lid that can be removably mounted on the opening in the hollow body. The hollow body is formed with at least one side vent or opening within the hollow body. The lid is formed to provide at least one top vent or opening at a point where the lid is mounted on the opening in the hollow body. At least one fan can be carried for rotation on a bearing mounted with the lid. The hollow body, lid and fan may also incorporate decorative elements.  
           [0012]    In accordance with this aspect, when a candle is mounted in the vented container and lit, the surrounding air is heated, and the heated air rises and drives the fan to rotate. The air within the container is replenished by unheated air drawn into the container through the vents in the hollow body, and vents in the lid. In accordance with this aspect, the fan may also distribute scent and heat from the candle, and the fan can drive decorative elements carried on it.  
           [0013]    An advantage of the present invention is that the vents allow for continuous replenishment of the air within the container, thereby providing a continuous source of heated air to drive the fan and any decorative elements attached thereto. Another advantage of the present invention is that the rotating fan may distribute heat and scent generated by the burning candle. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention will best be appreciated with reference to the detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the candle structure having a container carrying at least one fan, in accordance with the present invention. Both the hollow body and the lid are formed with at least one vent, and decorative elements have been added to both the fan and the lid.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the candle structure, in accordance with the present invention, wherein the lid has been removed. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    The present invention is directed to a candle structure having an advantageously vented container and comprising at least one fan, wherein the heated air generated by a burning candle in the container may continuously drive the fan to rotate. The vents serve to continuously replenish the air in the container to aid combustion of the candle fuel. The fan may further serve to distribute the heat and the aroma generated by the candle. The fan may also serve to impart a new and aesthetically pleasing characteristic to the basic candle structure by concurrently rotating decorative elements mounted on it.  
         [0018]    While the present invention may take the form of a number of exemplary embodiments, for ease of explanation, one such embodiment will be described in detail.  
         [0019]    Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate the same element throughout the views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a candle structure including a vented container  10 , comprising a hollow body  20  with a bottom wall  30  and a side wall  32 . As shown, the body is generally cylindrical, but, of course, may take other shapes. At least one and preferably a large number, such as eight, side vents  35  are formed in the side wall  32  of the hollow body  20 .  
         [0020]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the hollow body  20  also defines a top opening  40  opposite the bottom wall  30 .  
         [0021]    The candle structure including a vented container  10  further comprises a cover or lid  50  that can be removably mounted in the opening  40 . The lid  50  includes a side wall  55  that also is generally cylindrical. However, the side wall  55  of the lid may take other shapes, such as one which matches that of the hollow body. The lid side wall  55  supports a frame  57  that includes a number of radially extending legs  59  that are joined at the central vertical axis of the lid. A needle  61 , which is one component of a needle bearing, is mounted on the junction of the legs  59  of the frame  57  to project upwardly substantially along the axis of the lid, and thus the hollow body  20 , when the lid  50  is mounted on it.  
         [0022]    As shown in FIG. 1, the lid  50  also includes a lightweight fan  65  having a number of blades  66  and a needle bearing socket  68  at its center that receives the needle  61  mounted on the legs  59 , as illustrated in FIG. 2.  
         [0023]    As illustrated in FIG. 1, the candle structure including a vented container  10  further comprises at least one top vent  80  at the location where the lid  50  is mounted in the opening  40 . As illustrated in FIG. 2, in this exemplary embodiment, the top vents  80  are formed by at least three feet  85  attached to the bottom  56  of the side wall  55  of the lid  50 . When the lid  50  is placed in the opening  40  of the hollow body  20 , the feet  85  elevate the lid  50  above the hollow body  20 , thereby creating the top vents  80 .  
         [0024]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, the candle structure  10  further comprises a candle  100  with a bottom portion  110  and a top portion  120 , wherein the bottom portion  110  of the candle  100  is substantially in contact with the bottom wall  30  of the hollow body  20 . The top portion  120  of the candle  100  comprises at least one wick  150 . The candle may further comprise an aroma or a scent. The candle structure  10  may further comprise a written message of the outer surface of the candle  100 , the hollow body  20 , and/or the lid  50 .  
         [0025]    As illustrated in FIG. 2, when the wick  150  in the top portion  120  of the candle  100  in the candle structure  10  is lit, the heated air generated around the flame rises, and is constantly replenished by ambient air drawn into the candle structure  10 , through the side vents  35 , and the top vents  80 . The rising hot air propels the fan  65 , on the lid  50 , as illustrated in FIG. 1. The fan  65  may then distribute the heat, and the scent or aroma generated by the candle, thereby generating a functional and aesthetically pleasing result.  
         [0026]    The hollow body  20  and the bottom wall  30  may be made in any suitable shape and/or configuration, and may be made from any suitable material, such as non-flammable plastic or glass. The hollow body  20  may be made in any suitable color or transparency, and is preferably clear. The hollow body  20  may comprise suitable decorative elements. The side vent  35  may be made in any suitable shape or configuration and is preferably round or oval. The side vent  35  may be of any suitable size, and is preferably of sufficient size to allow adequate replenishment of combustion air to the container. The opening  40  opposite the bottom wall  30  of the hollow body  20  may be of any suitable size, shape or configuration, and does not need to conform to the size, shape or configuration of the bottom wall  30 .  
         [0027]    The lid  50  may be of any suitable size, shape, configuration, color or transparency, and may comprise suitable decorative elements. The lid  50  may be made of any suitable material, and is preferably made of a non-flammable material. The fan  65  may be of any suitable configuration, and may comprise a number of different decorative elements. The top vent  80  is of any suitable shape or configuration, and is preferably also of sufficient size to allow adequate replenishment of the combustion air in the container. The top vents  80  may be created in any suitable manner, and may preferably be created by attaching feet  85  to the bottom  56  of the side wall  55  of the lid  50 .  
         [0028]    The candle  100  also can be made in any suitable configuration, including cylindrical, circular, quadrilateral and polygonal, and in any variation thereof, and is preferably cylindrical, which configuration is also known as a pillar candle or column candle. The candle  100  can be made from known materials, and is preferably made from wax or paraffin. The candle may comprise means for evenly or selectively melting the candle, such as the positioning of the one or more wicks  150  within the candle  100 , or this may be achieved by the composition of the candle  100  itself.  
         [0029]    Although shown and described are what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the candle in accordance with the invention, it is apparent that departures from specific designs and methods described and shown will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is not restricted to the particular constructions described and illustrated, but should be constructed to encompass all modifications that may fall within the scope of the following claims.