Abstract:
A composite candle structure is provided. A variety of color-scented hollow wax discs and a center filler wax form a laminated candle body providing a permanent base with mixed aroma for supporting a collection of removable tea-light candles in matching colors and scents. Each layer of wax disc may be distinguished by its color and scent and further by an inscribed pattern of words or messages for a spectator to read and get inspired. Also, a user can make swift changes among various illuminative as well as aromatic effects due to the simple fitting of interchangeable tea-light sections.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    A. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to wax candles. More particularly, the present invention relates to a laminated candle that holds a selection of interchangeable aromatic candle sections so as to provide variable illumination combined with inspirational messages and colors. 
         [0003]    B. Description of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Candles provide warm ambient lights as they are combusted and can quickly fill a large space with a beneficial aroma infused at manufacture. They are relatively simple to manufacture using petroleum material like paraffin, natural products of stearin, beeswax, gel of resin and mineral oil, or some plant waxes. Candles are produced in various colors, shapes, sizes and scents. Most candle productions generally start with the liquification of the solid fuel by the controlled application of heat and ends with the insertion of a wick. The liquid fuel is poured into a mold to produce pillar candles, a fireproof jar to produce container candles, or a wick is repeatedly immersed in the liquid to create a dipped taper. Often, fragrance oils are added to the liquid wax prior to pouring. Natural scents of essential oils may be used to make some premium candles. Candles may also be colored by the addition of some sort of coloring agent. In practical terms this is almost always an aniline-based dye, although pigments can be used in some circumstances. 
         [0005]    It is also known to mold a stack of sectional pillars to form a candle assembly. U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,313 discloses a candle constructed of individual wax members, which are stacked one over another and strung by wick through holes formed in the wax members so that the wax members may form a strung pillar candle while permitting a user to realign the wax members about the wick to take various irregular lateral shapes. The wax members have respective colors and scents to form a combination candle. 
         [0006]    However, the candle of &#39;313 patent suffers from its limitation in reconfigurations. Specifically, the order of wax members in a stack and thus their sequence to burn is firmly set between bottom and top knots of the wick which need to be carefully positioned to provide the reconfiguration without tipping over. Its rigid structure makes it difficult to reconfigure an already determined sequence of stack of the wax member. In other words, the candle falls short of offering a user ability to determine what scent of candle at its top burn at any moment. Instead, the candle structure requires the user to figure out ways to restring the candle by untying and tying the knots of the wick, rearranging the wax members, and restring them through the tight wick holes with the ideal distance kept between the two knots so that the wax members are not too loose or not too tight against each other to keep the right flexibility. Without sophisticated positioning of the knots the candle will not work properly. Overall, it calls for an overly complex manipulation of a supposedly simple piece of candle. 
         [0007]    There is clearly a need to improve the combination candle operation involving only steps intuitive to the masses. 
         [0008]    In view of this and other shortcomings of the prior art advancements, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a decorative pillar candle and a pool of easily replaceable tea-light candle sections wherein the majority of the candle is reused over a lengthy period for a decorative support of the dedicated combusting sections of tea-lights for illumination. With provided tea-lights at hand, no special consideration is necessary to vary the lighting effect through combinations of scent, color and pattern. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to incorporate into each candle lamination an individual color and a pattern design matching with scented tea-light candle sections to enhance the expression of a created theme of the candle through more diversified ways than before. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    A variable candle according to the present invention generally comprises a composite wax base having a predetermined number of hollow discs laminated in a longitudinal stack and a group of interchangeable fuel sections each contained in a transparent pot shaped to mate with the wax base, each of the fuel sections having a wick inserted therein. 
         [0011]    The wax base is in the form of a pillar having elongated side walls and flat top and bottom surfaces and the hollow discs are made of two or more different wax compositions including distinctive mixtures of coloring agent and fragrance. On the outer surfaces of the hollow discs designed patterns are inscribed for conveying a meaning to be carried and highlighted by the candle. A wax filler extends partially though the hollow space of the discs and fused thereto but stopped short of the top surface of the pillar wax base to leave a top recess for receiving the removable fuel section therein. 
         [0012]    Each layer of the wax discs is distinguished by its color and scent before and after combustion of the candle and further by an inscribed pattern of word or message for an illuminated spectator to read and get inspired. The inscribed pattern is provided with colored ink. The fuel sections are formed of the same materials used to make the hollow discs so that the fuel sections correspond to the layers of the wax discs in number as well as composition. The fuel section positioned in the top recess of the wax base protrudes above the flat top surface of the wax base to facilitate removal and replacement of the fuel sections. 
         [0013]    The transparent pot containing the fuel section has three or more legs for raising the pot from the bottom of the top recess to avoid a vacuum pull acting against its removal due to a tight fit between the pot and recess of the wax base. 
         [0014]    The laminated candle pillar provides a permanent base with mixed aroma for supporting a collection of the tea-light candles in matching colors and scents. Each layer of the wax discs may be distinguished by its color and scent and further by an inscribed pattern of words or messages for an illuminated spectator to read and get inspired. Also, a user can make swift changes among various illuminative as well as aromatic effects due to the interchangeable tea-light sections in differentiated colors. 
         [0015]    The manufacture of the inventive candle starts with providing a specially designed mold for making the multiple layered structure of the candle body. A dual mold may be used for forming both the core and the layers consecutively. Alternatively, because the main purpose of the core is to partially fill the hollow center of the layers, it can be made of waste wax independently of molding the layers and supplied from elsewhere so that the layers in liquid state are molded thereto. In such case, the core may be a simple pillar having flat top and bottom without the sleeve. The layers at the top area will seat the tea-light. Then, molding the core may be skipped and the manufacturing process may start with pouring the liquidized layers. 
         [0016]    The same composition for a layer may be used to make the matching tea light candle, which is contained in a designated clear pot printed with the same message as inscribed in the main candle body. The main candle body is isolated from a flame to work as a durable candleholder for the tea-lights. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a variable candle according to the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view with a vertical section of the center of the candle of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partly sectional view of a mold for making the variable candle of the present invention showing a first step of molding the central core. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a partly sectional view of the mold of  FIG. 3  in its second step of molding surrounding layers of the variable candle. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Similar reference numbers denote corresponding features throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    A variable candle  10  according to the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  has a composite structure comprising generally of a main pillar portion  11  and a removable tea-light section  12  in a pot  13  to be seated in a top recess  14  formed in the main portion  11 . There are a variety of tea-light sections  12   a - 12   c  from which a user may select to burn to illuminate a space with extra enhancements unique to the present invention. The recess  14  has such a depth to protrude the pot  13  above the top of the main pillar  11  so that a user may easily grasp it for removal or replacement. 
         [0024]    The main portion  11  of the candle  10  has a multitude of wax layers  15  having different combinations of color and scent. In the embodiment illustrated, ten layers  15  are integrally formed in a cylindrical form although other regular or irregular polygonal shapes are contemplated by the present invention. 
         [0025]    Adjacent wax layers  15  of such as every three in the main portion  11  may have a gradation of changing colors and scents infused to wax materials layers at the manufacture. 
         [0026]    Each wax layer  15  may be a disc structure with its center hollowed out to receive a known dimension of tea-light candle  12   a - 12   c,  approximately 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter including its pot. Manufacture of the tea-lights  12   a - 12   c  follows the well-known methods in the art except that the same fuel compositions used for the respective wax layers  15  are used in making the respective tea-lights and are equally labeled with the same inspirational words illustrated. 
         [0027]    Pots  13   a - 13   c  for the tea-lights  12   a - 12   c  may be of a clear material like glass or acryl and contain the respective tea-light wax cores  12   a - 12   c  with wicks  16  and are printed at its surface with inscriptions  17  in relation to the color-scent enhancements designed by a candle designer. 
         [0028]    The pots  13   a - 13   c  are provided with tiny legs  18  to work as a raiser means for facilitating removal of the pots out of the top wax layer  15  avoiding a vacuum pull that may be created between the pot  12  and the recess  14  in a tight fit. 
         [0029]    To the interior walls of the hollow center throughout the wax layers  15  a filler core  19  is fused integrally leaving the recess  14  at the top for receiving the tea-light  12 . The core  19  is generally solid and may extend over the recess  14  forming a thin annular sleeve  20  that covers a top portion of the interior walls of the wax layers  15  at one hand and to snugly receive the tea-light  12  at the other hand. Or a top section of the wax layers  15  may define the top recess  14  for seating the tea-light  12  at least partially. 
         [0030]    The core  19  may be molded of a plain wax of any kind with or without a color or scent. A mixture of melted waste waxes is preferably used for the core  19  to help conserve the natural resources by recycling the petroleum product of paraffin in particular. 
         [0031]    Visually, each layer  15  is distinguished by its color from the adjacent layer  15 . For example, the top layer  15  may be blue and bordered by a green layer, which is then neighboring a light green layer. Facing one side of the main portion  11  are word inscriptions  17  of positive nature formed on each of the layers  15 . Inscription can be performed during or after the molding of layers  15 . A mold having its interior surfaces embossed with any desired carvings may form the words on the exterior surfaces of the candle  10  at the same time of molding the wax layers  15 . 
         [0032]    Engraving may be performed on the cured surfaces of the finished candle  10 . The carvings should not be limited to words but they may be logos, any pictorial diagrams or combinations of the same that convey a meaning to highlight by the own light of the candle  10 . 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the variable candle  10  is made in a dual mold  30  for forming both the core  19  and the layers  15  in succession. Alternatively, because the main purpose of the core  19  is to partially fill the hollow center of the layers  15 , it can be made of recycled wax separately from the molding of layers  15  and supplied from elsewhere as a component introduced to join the layers  15  as they are molded. In such case, the core  19  may be a simple pillar having flat top and bottom without the sleeve  20 . The layers  15  at the top area will seat the tea-light  12 . Then, molding the core  19  may be skipped and the manufacturing process may start with pouring the melted wax for the layers  15  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 3 , the mold  30  includes a lower metal mold  31  elongated longitudinally and opened at a top end  32 . The lower mold  31  has a seat  33  for a plunger section  34  that corresponds to the shape of the recess  14  in the finished main candle portion  11 . The plunger head  34  on the seat  33  is moved up and down by a lower actuator  35  to release a completed candle product from the mold  30  at a final step. 
         [0035]    The mold  30  also includes an upper metal mold  36  for supplying melted filler wax  37 . The upper mold  36  has a nozzle  38  in the center and is provided with an integral sleeve  39  draping down to abut upwardly facing bottom walls of the lower mold  31  about the plunger head  34 . The sleeve  39  in transverse section is tapered toward its lower end to facilitate releasing the finished core  19  (see  FIG. 4 ). 
         [0036]    The upper mold  36  may be moved in and out of the lower mold  31  by an upper actuator not shown. The upper mold  36  may be fully lowered into the lower mold  31  until it is stopped by a shoulder  40  formed in the lower mold  31  near the top end  32  while at the same time the sleeve  30  of the upper mold  36  abuts the bottom walls of the lower mold  31 . 
         [0037]    Therefore, a closed space  41  to form the core  19  is collectively created by the upper and lower molds  36 ,  31  and the protruding plunger head  34 . Then, a measured amount of melted wax is injected at the nozzle  38  into the same space. Shown in  FIG. 3  is a half-poured wax to grow into the filler core  19 . The hot wax is cooled before retracting the upper mold  36  in preparation for the layer  15  molding process. 
         [0038]    Isolated by the sleeve  39  of the upper mold  36  is an elastomeric liner  42  attached to the inside of the lower mold  31  to form the exterior of the main portion  11  of the candle  10  as is described below with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0039]    The liner  42  may be prepared out of an elastic material in the shape of a sleeve with flexible embossing  43  formed on its exterior wall, which is turned inside out to define an interior molding surface when the liner  42  is attached to the inner surface of the lower mold  31 . Then, the internal embossing of the lower mold  31  may be imprinted on the exterior surfaces of the wax layers  15  as they are being molded. 
         [0040]    With the filler core  19  formed or positioned in the center of the lower mold  31 , there is created an annular space  44  between the core  19  and the liner  42  for molding the layers  15 . 
         [0041]    In this embodiment, three different molds are provided to make the laminated outer layers  15  having three color-scent varieties in sequence. Each layer mold  45  has a number of downwardly extending nozzles  46  for injecting one of the wax compositions in a molten state. 
         [0042]    The mold  45  is shown introduced into the lower mold  31  to add a layer of wax composition on top of two layers  15  that have been poured and fused to the core  19 . 
         [0043]    Depending on the pattern of color and scent desired for the candle  10 , the subsequent molds similar to the mold  45  take turn to fill up the molding space  44  building up the ten layers  15  fused to each other and to the core  19 . 
         [0044]    Next, the respective layers  15  and the core  19  are cured into an integral body of candle  10 . Since the candle  10  shrinks as it cools and due to the fact that the mold liner  42  is elastic, the candle  10  may be easily disengaged from the flexible embossing  43  and removed from the mold  30  by the actuator  35 . 
         [0045]    Finally, printing ink having a contrasting color to the candle  10  such as black is applied across the candle  10  over the inscriptions  17  by brush or roller to render the inscriptions more visible. 
         [0046]    As described above, the variable candle according to the present invention has the replaceable candle sections that are neatly integrated into the layered candle body to save the lighting cost of the consumers through prolonged life of the candle while permitting the user-friendly variations of the lighting effect. 
         [0047]    Therefore, while the presently preferred form of the candle has been shown and described, and several modifications thereof discussed, persons skilled in this art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined and differentiated by the following claims.