Abstract:
A device to regulate the burning of a candle is provided using a passive extinguisher that requires no mechanical parts or human intervention. The device is formed as tongs that form, when closed, a hollow cylindrical extension that can securely hold a burning candle. When the burning candle burns into the cylindrical extension, the flame is extinguished by operation of oxygen deprivation.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device for holding a candle that extinguishes a burning wick without mechanical or human interaction 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Burning a candle presents an obviously safety hazard. Candles have an open flame burning from a wick and melted wax. The flame may overheat more wax than is needed to burn and cause the liquid hot wax to drip down from the top of the candle. If the dripping wax caught fire or if the candle tipped over indoors, a potential house fire could result. 
     Technology to improve the utilitarian aspects of burning a candle include various devices for holding a candle and automatically extinguishing the flame using mechanical means. Some devices attempt to automatically regulate the burning of a candle by using clamps or sharp edges, combined a moving or spring-loaded mechanism to cut off the burning wick when the wax candle burns down to a pre-set level. Some may snuff out the candle from lowering a device onto the burning wick once the candle recedes to a certain height. These mechanisms control the wick of the candle by loading a candle into either a spring-activated slide that cuts off the burning wick when the candle wax recedes below the trigger and releases the spring or attempt to extinguish the flame by a cup or plate above the candle that lowers down to the wick as the wax of the candle melts and burns away. However, these types of devices are subject to numerous problems and problematic assumptions. Spring-loaded clamps are assumed to work but may or may not close and cut the wick properly. The candle may burn lop-sided that either holds the mechanism open too long for the cutting part to properly extinguish the flame or will not allow a device to lower adequately and snuff out the flame. 
     Other candle holders attempt to extinguish a candle flame passively without using mechanized or spring-loaded slides against extinguish the wick. However, the prior devices create a potential fire hazard by not providing a passive candle extinguisher that provides an adequate enclosure around a burning candle so when the candle burns down, the flame is deprived of oxygen and extinguishes. 
     What is needed is a simple and reliable holder for a candle that consistently and automatically extinguishes the flame reliance on moving parts of mechanical extinguisher devices. The holder should extinguish a candle flame passively by the candle burning down into an enclosure that then suffocates the flame due to lack of oxygen. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention, as described in the preferred and alternative embodiments, includes a two-piece holding device that securely holds a cylindrically-shaped wax or similar candle. The two pieces are connected by a rod on a stand and by a spring that holds the two pieces together. A candle is held securely, yet allows a user to manually open the holder and to adjust the candle length held in the holder by freely passing it through a holed area without damaging the candle. The wo parts of the holding device are rotated about a pin joint similar to a pair of tongs or scissors. The spring maintains pressure against each of the two parts of the holding device such that the device is normally closed. When the two tongs of the device are closed, each part forms half of a bowl section that catches dripping wax from the candle. 
     The embodiments of the present invention also regulate the burning of a candle using a passive extinguisher that requires no mechanical parts or human intervention. A hole in the holding device is formed in the bowl when the two movable parts are closed. Each movable part forms half of the bowl and therefore half of the hole. Underneath the holding device, when the clamp is oriented properly with the top, bowl-side facing away from the ground, the hole is formed out of a both halves of a cylindrical extension on each part of the holding device. The extension is formed as a nearly-straight hollow cylinder away from the device&#39;s bowl area. When the holding device is opened, the cylindrical extension halves open in two at which time they may be positioned on either side of a candle and then closed, thereby securing the candle inside the cylindrical extension. When the candle burns down inside extension, the lack of adequate oxygen in the enclosed space to fuel the burning wick causes the flame to extinguish. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the nature of the present invention, its features and advantages, the subsequent detailed description is presented in connection with accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of the preferred embodiment for a candle holder with a candle that are both mounted on a stand; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation diagram of the one part of the preferred embodiment for a candle holder; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan elevation diagram of the combined parts for the preferred embodiment for a candle holder; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevation diagram of one part of the preferred embodiment for a candle holder; 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of an alternative embodiment for a candle holder with a candle that are both mounted on a stand; 
         FIG. 6  is a side elevation diagram of the one part of the alternative embodiment for a candle holder; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan elevation diagram of the combined parts for the alternative embodiment for a candle holder; and 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevation diagram of one part of the alternative embodiment for a candle holder. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of a candle holder  20  with a passive flame extinguisher is illustrated while mounted on a stand. A candle  10  is coiled upon a base  12  that is elevated from a surface by a plurality of legs  14  attached to the base  12 . A rod  16  is attached to base  12  and rises vertically such that it remains in-place with adequate rigidity and strength to support holder  20 . Candle  10  is cylindrically shaped but flexible to allow it to coil around rod  16  and stack up vertically upon itself. Candle holder device  20  is attached to rod  16 , near the end distal to base  12 , and held in place by cap  18 . Candle holder  20  is preferably attached so that it is supported underneath the holder on the rod, to prevent the holder  20  from dropping down the rod, and allows holder  20  to support and end of candle  10 . The holder  20  should swivel around rod  16  to provide rotational adjustment when drawing candle  10  up from the base  12 . 
       FIG. 3  shows an elevation plan of exemplary candle holder device  20  constructed as a clip comprises of two halves, or tongs, the first tong comprising a first head part  24  connected to arm  26  and the second tong comprising a head part  28  connected to arm  30 . Both parts  24  and  28  are slidably assembled by rotational joints  38  for part  28  that slides over rotational joint  40  of part  24 . When aligned, both joint parts create hole  42  that receives mounting rod  16 . This is further illustrated in elevation plan views in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Joint  40  slides underneath joint  38  to create a rotational joint of clip  20  that is mountable to rod  16 . Part  24  and part  28  are held together in a normally closed position by spring element  42  that is a single semi-circular wire applying tension against each of parts  24  and  28 . One end of spring  42  is secured to part  24 . It then passes freely through arm  26  at opening  44  and passes freely through arm  30  at opening  46  after which it attaches part  28  as shown in the  FIG. 3 . Arm openings  44  and  46  form rectangular openings that allow the element  42  to move back and forth when the clip  20  is manually opened by squeezing arms  26  and  30  together. 
     In order to catch wax dripping from a candle, the head of each of the tongs forming the holding device  20  forms a bowl. Part  24  is formed with a semi-circular bowled part  32  that combines with the semi-circular bowled part  34  of head part  28 . When held together with spring  42 , the two parts  32  and  34  come together to form a bowl. In profile view of  FIG. 4 , the base edge of bowl  34  is shown in hidden lines and in  FIG. 2 , the base edge of bowl  32  is shown with hidden lines. Bowl parts  32  and  34  each have a semi-circular area cutout at the bottom of the bowl so that when the two head parts are closed together, a hole  36  is formed that can receive and hold a candle. 
     Under the device  20 , each head part forms one-half of a cylindrical extension that forms the hole  36 .  FIG. 4  illustrates the side view of part  28 , where the half cylindrical extension  48  extends in a taper away from bowl part  34 . Hole diameter  36  is shown with hidden lines.  FIG. 2  illustrates an inverted side elevation of part  24  and arm  26 . Part  24  has cylindrical extension half  47  extending away from bowl  32 . When extension members  47  and  48  are brought together by closing parts  24  and  28 , a cylindrical extension  21  is formed creating hole  36  from its hollow interior that can receive and securely clamp a candle. This is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     A burning candle placed in extension  21  will eventually recede in length to a point where the wick is burning from inside of the extension  21 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of candle  10  held securely in the cylindrical member  21 , which is formed by each part  47  and  48  clamping together around the candle  10 . Additional lengths of candle  10  may be subsequently drawn through extension  21  by squeezing arms  26  and  30  together manually, thereby opening the head parts  24  and  28 , and pulling a portion of coiled candle  10  to an upright position. A portion of candle  10  is positioned between cylindrical extension halves  47  and  48  and the handles  26  and  30  released. Extension halves  47  and  48  close on opposite sides of a candle portion and thereby secure the candle in holding device  20 . 
     After the wick of candle  10  is lit, the portion of candle  10  held by holder  20  will burn down into the cylindrical member  21 . Hot wax dripping from the candle will collect in the bowl area formed by parts  32  and  34  around the candle portion. After burning down the exposed portion of coiled candle  10  into cylindrical member  21 , the flame will experience oxygen deprivation and extinguish itself. Cylindrical extension member  21  must extend an adequate length  49  from bowl parts  32 , 34  so that when a candle burns down into the interior of the cylinder, the flame experiences oxygen depravation and extinguishes passively. Extinguishing therefore occurs without any further mechanism or manual interaction. 
     An important aspect of cylindrical extension member  21  is the length of the formed cylinder  49  extending from bowl parts  32  and  34 . If the extension  21  has a length  49  that is too short, then a candle flame will not experience adequate oxygen deprivation to extinguish thereby defeating the purpose of a passive flame extinguisher. For example, candle holders in the prior art have used extensions of approximately one-quarter inch or less, which is an inadequate length to extinguish a typical candle safely. Lengths of greater than ¼ inch of extensions for the preferred and alternative embodiments provide consistent extinguishing of a candle that has a ⅜ inch diameter that is held in a ⅜ diameter hole  80 . Thus, an extension length  89  that is at least as long as the diameter of hole  80  is a proper ratio for safely extinguishing flames of a burning candle held by the device. An extension length approximately twice the length of cylindrical extension diameter also provides passive flame extinguishing for the devices of the preferred and alternative embodiments. For example, an extension member  21  with a 5/16 inch diameter candle in hole  36  would cause a normal candle flame to consistently extinguish in a cylindrical member  21  with length 13/16 inches long  49 . Exact lengths of extension  21  can vary according to the type of candle wax used in a candle for the present device and a type of wick. Generally, a length  49  of approximately a quarter-inch or less was found not to consistently extinguish a burning candle flame passively and therefore created a risk of burning through the holder  20  creating a fire hazard. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an alternative embodiment of a candle holder  56  with a passive flame extinguisher is illustrated while mounted on a stand. A candle  50  is coiled upon a base  52  that is elevated from a surface by a plurality of legs  54  attached to the base  52 . A mounting rod  55  is attached to base  52  and rises vertically such that it remains in-place with adequate rigidity and strength to support holder  56 . Candle  50  is cylindrically shaped but flexible to allow it to coil around rod  55  and stack up vertically upon itself. Candle holder device  56  is attached to rod  55 , near the end distal to base  52 , and held in place by cap  60 . Candle holder  56  is preferably attached so that it is supported underneath the holder on the rod  55 , to prevent the holder device from dropping down the rod, and allows holder  56  to support and an end of candle  58 . The holder  56  should swivel around rod  55  to provide rotational adjustment when drawing candle  50  up from the base  52 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an elevation plan of exemplary candle holder device  56  constructed as a clip comprises of two halves, or tongs, the first tong comprising a first head part  62  connected to arm  66  and the second tong comprising a head part  64  connected to arm  82 . Both parts  62  and  64  are slidably assembled by rotational joints  76  for part  64  that slides over rotational joint  74  of part  62 . When aligned, both joint parts create hole  88  that receives mounting rod  55 . This is further illustrated in elevation plan views in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . Joint  74  slides underneath joint  76  to create a rotational joint of clip  56  that is mountable to rod  55 . 
     Head parts  62  and  64  are held together in a normally closed position by spring element  78  that is preferably a bent U-shaped wire applying a biased force against each of the handle arms  84  and  82 . One end of spring  78  is inserted into arm  77  at indent  84  and the opposite end is inserted into arm  68  at indent  82 . Arm indents  82  and  84  form openings that allow the spring  78  to move when the clip  56  is manually opened by squeezing arms  66  and  82  together. 
     In order to catch wax dripping from a candle, the head of each of the tongs forming the holding device  56  forms a bowl. Head part  62  is formed with a semi-circular bowled part  70  that combines with the semi-circular bowled part  72  of head part  64 . When held together with spring  78 , the two parts  62  and  64  come together to form a bowl. In profile view of  FIG. 8 , the base edge of bowl  72  is shown in hidden lines and in  FIG. 6 , the base edge of bowl  70  is shown with hidden lines. Bowl parts  70  and  72  each have a semi-circular area cutout at the bottom of the bowl so that when the two head parts are closed together, a hole  80  is formed that can receive and hold a candle portion  58 . 
     Each head part forms one-half of a cylindrical extension  57  that extends from under the device  56  and forms the hole  36 .  FIG. 8  illustrates the side view of part  64 , where the half cylindrical extension  86  extends in a taper away from bowl part  72 . Hole diameter  80  is shown with hidden lines.  FIG. 6  illustrates an inverted side elevation of the other tong comprising head part  62  and arm  66 . Part  62  has cylindrical extension half  87  extending away from bowl  70 . When extension members  86  and  87  are brought together by closing parts  62  and  64 , a cylindrical extension  57  is formed, thereby creating hole  80  from its hollow interior that can receive and securely clamp a candle  58 . This is shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     A burning candle placed in extension  21  will eventually recede in length to a point wherethe wick is burning from inside of the extension  21 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a portion of candle  10  held securely in the cylindrical member  21 , which is formed by each part  47  and  48  clamping togetheraround the candle  10 . Additional lengths of candle  10  may be subsequently drawnthrough extension  21  by squeezing arms  26  and  30  together manually, thereby opening the head parts  24  and  28 , and pulling a portion of coiled candle  10  to an upright position. A portion ofcandle  10  is positioned between cylindrical extension halves  47  and  48  and the handles  26  and  30  released. Extension halves  47  and  48  close on opposite sides of a candle portion and thereby securethe candle in holding device  20 . 
     After the wick of candle  50  is lit, the portion  58  held by holder  56  will burn down into the cylindrical member  57 . Hot wax dripping from the candle will collect in the bowl area formed by parts  70  and  72  around the candle portion. After burning down the exposed portion of coiled candle  50  into cylindrical member  57 , the flame will experience oxygen deprivation and extinguish itself. Cylindrical extension member  57  must extend an adequate length  89  from bowl parts  70  and  72  so that when a candle burns down into the interior of the cylinder  57 , the flame fully extinguishes. Extinguishing therefore occurs without any further mechanism or manual interaction. 
     An important aspect of cylindrical extension member  57  is the extending length  89  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . If the extension  57  has a length  99  that is too short, then a candle flame will not experience adequate oxygen deprivation to extinguish, thereby defeating the purpose of a passive flame extinguisher. For example, candle holders in the prior art have used extensions of approximately one-quarter inch or less, which is an inadequate length to extinguish a typical candle safely. Lengths of greater than ¼ inch of extensions for the preferred and alternative embodiments provide consistent extinguishing of a candle that has a ⅜ inch diameter that is held in a ⅜ diameter hole  80 . Thus, an extension length  89  that is at least as long as the diameter of hole  80  is a proper ratio for safely extinguishing flames of a burning candle held by the device. For example, an extension member  57  with a 5/16 inch diameter hole  80  would also allow an average candle flame from a 5/16 inch candle to consistently extinguish in a cylindrical member  57  with a length of 13/16 inches. 
     Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.