Abstract:
An oil candle with integrated aroma deck includes a candle main body, further including a fuel reservoir, an aroma deck with an aroma deck aperture, a flame shield, and aroma deck shoulder, a wick and a wick collar, such that the wick collar is inserted in place in the aroma deck aperture, with the wick extending into the fuel reservoir. The oil candle is refillable with lighting oil, and provides flame protection via the flame shield. The aroma deck is designed to hold a small amount of aromatic oil, which is warmed by a flame from the burning wick, and thereby emits a pleasant fragrance. The flame shield, aroma deck, and fuel reservoir can be made from borosilicate glass or other heat resistant materials. The oil candle can further include an inward protruding rim, and a snap-on cover with an attached wick collar cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    N/A 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to the field of oil lamps and candles, and more particularly to oil candles with inbuilt fragrance delivery. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Oil lamps and candles have been used for lighting purposes since ancient times. While before the advent of electricity, they were an important alternative to candles, in the modern age they mainly remain popular for the ambience associated with their use. For establishments that seek to promote a natural ambience associated with candle lighting, refillable oil candles can be more economical and easier to use than traditional wax based candles. 
         [0004]    Oil lamps and candles can furthermore include devices or methods for delivering an aromatic fragrance during their use. This can include using a special lighting oil that includes aromatic elements. However, such special fragrant fuel oil compositions can be expensive, and may produce excess soot or have other undesirable characteristics. 
         [0005]    Other designs use special chambers for containing aromatic oil, which is typically heated by a burning wick, and dispenses a fragrance upon heating of the aromatic oil. However, these devices are often bulky and they are typically designed so that the aromatic oil is above the lighted wick, such that the aromatic oil becomes very hot. Consequently, these types of designs can be both impractical, expensive, and dangerous in case of an accidental spill. 
         [0006]    As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for design of oil candles with integrated fragrance delivery. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing models for combining an oil candle with a mechanism for aromatic oil based fragrance delivery. 
         [0008]    In an aspect, an oil candle with integrated aroma deck functions as a one-piece refillable oil candle with a recessed fuel vessel, which utilizes a glass aroma deck with an aluminum wick collar, wick and flame shield. The fuel deck has a raised opening for the aluminum wick collar to rest while holding the wick. The aroma deck is designed to hold small amounts of fragrance oils that are warmed by the flame increasing the fragrance. 
         [0009]    In a related aspect, the aroma deck shoulder functions to support the wick collar, enclose a basin for fragrance oils, prevent any leakage of fragrance oils into the fuel, and prevent fragrance oils coming in contact with the aluminum wick collar. 
         [0010]    In a further related aspect, the oil candle with integrated aroma deck encompasses a single structure that contains a fuel reservoir, opening for wick collar and wick, aroma deck for throwing fragrance, and a flame shield in the form of extended upper walls that provide flame and wind protection. 
         [0011]    In a yet a further related aspect, the oil candle with integrated aroma deck provides flame protection, fragrance throw capabilities, attractive lighting, easy refilling, a large reservoir for extended burn times, viewable fuel level, and safe operation. 
         [0012]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodiments of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0013]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments in addition to those described and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0014]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating an oil candle with integrated aroma deck, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating an oil candle with integrated aroma deck, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a top view schematic diagram illustrating an oil candle with integrated aroma deck, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an oil candle with integrated aroma deck, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating an oil candle with integrated aroma deck, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrating an oil candle with integrated aroma deck, according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an upper perspective view of an example embodiment of a candle main body. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of another example embodiment of a candle main body. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention. 
         [0024]    The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive. 
         [0025]    In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of an oil candle with integrated aroma deck  100  with reference to  FIG. 1 , in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification. 
         [0026]    In an embodiment, an oil candle with integrated aroma deck  100  can comprise:
       a) A candle main body  110 ; which further comprises:
           i. A fuel reservoir  112 ; which can contain a liquid fuel  150 , such as a lamp oil;   ii. An aroma deck  116 ; positioned on top of the fuel reservoir  112 , such that it closes the fuel reservoir, such that the aroma deck  116  further comprises an aroma deck aperture  119 ;   iii. A flame shield  114 , connected to the top of the fuel reservoir  112 ;   iv. An aroma deck shoulder  118 , which is a ridge that protrudes from the aroma deck  116 , around the aroma deck aperture  119 , such that the aroma deck  116  is encased by the flame shield  114 , and the aroma deck shoulder  118 , and thereby forms a shallow basin that can hold an aromatic liquid  150 , such as an aromatic oil;   
           b) A wick  140 ;   c) A wick collar  130 ; further comprising:
           i. A collar body  132 , which can be an elongated hollow structure, for example in the form of a follow cylinder, further comprising a collar aperture through which the wick  130  can be mounted;   ii. A collar flange  134 , which is mounted around the collar body  132 , such that collar flange  134 , can rest on top of the aroma deck shoulder  118 , with the wick collar  130  inserted through the aroma deck aperture  119 .   
               
 
         [0036]    In a related embodiment, the wick collar  130  can be made from one piece, with a central collar aperture through a collar body  132 , which further includes a shape configured to be a collar flange  134 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 2  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 1  wherein the wick collar  130  with a wick  140  is installed in the aroma deck aperture  119 , such that the collar flange  134  rests on top of the aroma deck shoulder  118 , with a lower part of the wick collar  130  inserted through the aroma deck aperture  119 , such that the lower end  244  of the wick  140  is embedded in the liquid fuel  150 , and a flame  202  can burn from the upper end  242  of the wick  140 , which protrudes through an upward facing side of the wick collar  130 . 
         [0038]    In a related embodiment,  FIG. 3  shows a top view of the aroma deck  116  encased by the flame shield  114  on an outer periphery, and the aroma deck shoulder  118  on an inner periphery. 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows the aroma deck aperture  119  in a center point location of the aroma deck. In alternative embodiments, the aroma deck aperture  119  may be in an off-center position. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  shows a circular shape of the candle main body  110 , as seen from a top cross-sectional view, such that each of the flame shield, aroma deck, and fuel reservoir are circular. In alternative embodiments, the shape may be quadratic, rectangular, oval, or some other curved or pointed shape. 
         [0041]    In a related embodiment,  FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of an oil candle with integrated aroma deck  100 , wherein the wick collar  130  with a wick  140  is installed in the aroma deck aperture  119  (not visible), such that the collar flange  134  rests on top of the aroma deck shoulder  118 , with the wick collar  130  inserted through the aroma deck aperture  119  (not visible), such that the lower end of the wick  140  is inside the fuel reservoir  112 . 
         [0042]    In a related embodiment,  FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an oil candle with integrated aroma deck  100 , before the wick collar  130  with a wick  140  is installed in the aroma deck aperture  119 , with the wick  140  inserted through the aroma deck aperture  119 , such that the lower end of the wick  140  is inside the fuel reservoir  112 . 
         [0043]    In various embodiments, the flame shield  114 , aroma deck  116 , and fuel reservoir  112 , can each be made of an opaque material, such as ceramic or a metal, or transparent material, such as glass.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show an embodiment, wherein the flame shield  114 , aroma deck  116 , and fuel reservoir  112  are transparent, made from a heat resistant glass. 
         [0044]    In related embodiments, the flame shield  114 , aroma deck  116 , and fuel reservoir  112  can be manufactured using borosilicate glass, in the form of heat resistant compositions of glass including silica and boron trioxide, available under a plurality of trade names, such as Borcam, Borosil, Suprax, Kimax, Pyrex, Endural, Schott, and Refmex. 
         [0045]    The wick collar  130  can be made from a ceramic, borosilicate glass, brass, aluminum, stainless steel, or other heat resistant material. 
         [0046]    In further related embodiments the wick collar  130  can be made from a heat resistant material with low thermal conductivity, including a ceramic material such as the cubic crystalline form of zirconium dioxide, whereby transfer of heat from a burning wick  140  to the aroma deck  116  is reduced, such that heating of the aromatic liquid  150  mainly happens via heat radiation from a flame of the burning wick  140 , thereby heating an upper surface of the aromatic liquid  150 , which causes an increased evaporation of the aromatic liquid  150 , without excessive heating of the aromatic liquid  150 . A low thermal conductivity can be below 5 watts per meter kelvin. Heat resistant materials include materials tolerant to exposure up to at least 600 degrees Celsius. 
         [0047]    In an embodiment, the aroma deck  116  and the aroma deck shoulder  118  can be made from one piece of material. For example the aroma deck shoulder  118 , can be formed from one piece of molten glass during manufacturing, such that the aroma deck is made of one disk shaped glass, wherein a ridge is formed from the glass around a central aperture, thereby creating an aroma deck shoulder  118 , enclosing an aroma deck aperture  119 . 
         [0048]    In an embodiment, illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the upper rim  617  of the flame shield  114  can be connected to a protruding rim  602  that protrudes inwards and downwards from the upper rim  617  of the flame shield  114 , which can serve to contain the aromatic liquid  150  in case the oil candle with integrated aroma deck  100  is accidentally toppled over during use. The inward protruding rim  602  can be a softly curved part of the flame shield formed in glass, as shown, or it can be a separate structure. 
         [0049]    In a related embodiment, the oil candle with integrated aroma deck  100  can further include a snap-on cover  612 , which can snap on the top  617  of the flame shield  114 , for storage or transportation. Related to this, a wick collar cover  614 , can be connected to and protrude downward from the snap-on cover  612  and covers the wick collar  130  and wick  140 , thereby securing the wick collar  130  and wick  140  in place. As shown the wick collar cover  612  can for example be an elongated hollow cylinder. The wick collar cover can also serve as a convenient tool for extinguishing a burning wick  140 . 
         [0050]    In a related embodiment a plug can be used to close the aroma deck aperture without a wick collar  130  and wick  140  installed, for example to secure it for transportation, such that the plug can be a stopper to prevent fuel leakage. 
         [0051]      FIG. 7  shows an upper perspective view of an example embodiment of a candle main body  710 , manufactured in a double wall glass construction utilizing softly rounded curves. The aroma deck shoulder  718  is formed as part of the aroma deck  716  glass construction. Also showing are the curved flame shield  714 , and the aroma deck aperture  719 . 
         [0052]      FIG. 8  shows a side perspective view of another example embodiment of a candle main body  810 , manufactured in a single wall glass construction utilizing softly rounded curves. The aroma deck shoulder  818  is formed as part of the aroma deck  816  glass construction. Also showing are the curved flame shield  814 , and the aroma deck aperture  819 . 
         [0053]    Both  FIGS. 7 and 8  show embodiments where the fuel reservoir  812  and the flame shield  714   814  are parts of one integral structure. 
         [0054]    The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0055]    Many such alternative configurations are readily apparent, and should be considered fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.