Patent Publication Number: US-7722352-B2

Title: Multi-piece candle fuel element

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/185,174, filed Jul. 20, 2005. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/978,744, filed Nov. 1, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/938,434, filed Sep. 10, 2004. This application is also is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/780,028, filed Feb. 17, 2004. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/197,839, filed Aug. 5, 2005. This application claims the benefit of all such previous applications and such applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

   REFERENCE REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not applicable 
   SEQUENTIAL LISTING 
   Not applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present disclosure relates to candles and multi-piece candle fuel elements. 
   2. Description of the Background of the Invention 
   Candles having multiple fuel sections are known. In one candle, an oil reservoir has a circumferential ring, or collar, that sits on top of a candle support cup. The collar has a plurality of radial heat fins that slant upwardly from the periphery of the candle support cup over a fuel charge carried therein. The radial arms are circumferentially spaced around the candle support cup and conduct heat from a flame on the candle to warm the oil reservoir. 
   Another candle has an outer wax portion separated from a concentric inner wax portion by a cylindrical shield. A wick is disposed centrally in the inner wax portion. When a flame is disposed on the wick, the inner wax portion is burned. The shield prevents the outer wax portion from being consumed, thereby leaving the outer wax portion intact around the shield. 
   Another candle is a composite candle having a central core with stacked-outer rings surrounding a central core. The central core is substantially a basic pillar candle having a wick extending longitudinally through a generally cylindrical wax fuel charge. A plurality of outer wax fuel elements or wax rings are disposed around the central core stacked one on top of another up the length of the central core. When the wick is lit with a flame, heat therefrom consumes and melts both the wax fuel charge of the central core and the outer wax rings in a usual fashion. The outer wax rings have various different properties such as colors, scents, shapes, etc., and may be combined in various ways according to the taste of the user. 
   SUMMARY 
   According to one aspect of the invention, a candle fuel element has a wick-holder assembly with a longitudinally disposed wick spaced from a heat-conductive element. The candle fuel element also has a first solid fuel charge disposed between the wick and the heat-conductive element and a second solid fuel charge slidably engaging and at least partly surrounding the wick-holder assembly. The heat-conductive element is disposed between the first solid fuel charge and the second solid fuel charge, and the heat-conductive element defines an opening adapted to allow fluid communication between the first solid fuel charge and the second solid fuel charge. 
   According to another aspect of the invention, a candle fuel element includes a wick, a wick-holder assembly with a longitudinally disposed wick receiver extending upwardly from a base, a plurality of heat fins extending upwardly from the base and spaced from the wick receiver, and a plurality of legs extending downwardly from the base. The heat fins move in response to heat from a flame on the wick. The candle fuel element further includes a first solid fuel charge defining an aperture and having a first characteristic. The wick receiver extends upwardly through the aperture and the heat fins are disposed around the first solid fuel charge. The candle fuel element also includes a second solid fuel charge that defines a second aperture and has a second characteristic. The heat fins are slidably received through the second aperture. Further, the heat fins define a lateral opening adapted to allow fluid communication between the first solid fuel charge and the second solid fuel charge. 
   According to a further aspect of the invention, a candle kit includes a wick-holder assembly having a longitudinally disposed wick spaced from a plurality of heat-conductive elements. The wick-holder assembly includes a heat-conductive material, and the plurality of heat-conductive elements moves in response to heat from a flame on the wick. The kit further includes a first solid fuel charge disposed between the wick and the heat-conductive elements, a second solid fuel charge that slidably engages and at least partly surrounds the wick-holder assembly and a third solid fuel charge that slidably engages and at least partly surrounds the wick-holder assembly. The first solid fuel charge and at least one of the second solid fuel charge and the third solid fuel charge of the kit form a theme. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a trimetric view of a wick-holder assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a plan view of the wick-holder assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view along the lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a bottom elevation view of the wick-holder assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a trimetric view of the wick-holder assembly of  FIG. 1  disposed in an operative position on a melting plate candle assembly; 
       FIG. 6  is a trimetric view of a wick-holder assembly according to another embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a trimetric view with portions cut away for clarity of a fuel element for a candle with an inner fuel charge, an outer fuel charge, and an additional fuel charge according to further embodiments of the invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a partially exploded view of the fuel element of  FIG. 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  is a trimetric view of a fuel element for a candle with an inner fuel charge and a heart-shaped outer fuel charge according to yet another embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 10  is a trimetric view of a star-shaped outer fuel charge according to still another embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Turning now to the drawings,  FIGS. 1-5  show a wick-holder assembly  10  that includes a wick-retention member  12  for retaining a consumable or non-consumable wick  14 , heat-conductive elements  18  extending upwardly from a base portion  16 , and legs  26  extending downwardly from the base portion  16 . The wick-retention member  12  extends upwardly from the base portion  16  and retains the wick  14  in an operative position during use. In other embodiments (not shown) the wick-retention member  12  is integral to and/or formed from one or more elements of the wick-holder assembly  10 , such as, for example, one or more heat-conductive elements  18 . The heat-conductive elements  18  may include a number of portions, including, for example, a first portion  20  and a second portion  22  that assist in moving the heat-conductive elements in response to thermal changes. Additionally, it is contemplated that the heat-conductive elements  18  may alternatively be immobile in response to thermal changes caused by heat from a flame or other source. A capillary rib  24  is disposed underneath and extending from the base portion  16  to maintain a capillary space as described herein below. 
   In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the wick-retention member  12  is a cylindrical tube having open top and bottom ends that is configured to retain a consumable or non-consumable wick  14  that is configured to burn a fuel charge via capillary action. As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the wick  14  extends vertically upwardly through the open top end of the wick-retention member  12  and downwardly through the open bottom end of the base portion  16  into a capillary space (not shown) defined by a support surface (not shown) that holds the capillary rib  24 , base portion  16 , and legs  26  of the wick-holder assembly  10 . 
   One or more portions of the heat-conductive elements  18 , including the first portion  20  and the second portion  22 , may be constructed of various materials having different thermal conductivity and/or different thermal expansion coefficients that respond to thermal changes and facilitate movement of the heat-conductive elements, for example, toward or away from a flame and as shown by an arrow A. Material useful in the present disclosure include, for example, a metal, such as aluminum, steel, nickel, magnesium, copper, iron, silver, zinc, tin, or titanium, a polyester, and a ceramic, and mixtures and combinations thereof, such as bronze, brass, copper and aluminum, and/or a copper-plated ceramic. Additionally, one or more heat-conductive elements  18  may be made of the same material or different materials. For example, one or more heat-conductive elements  18  may be constructed of a single material such as aluminum, steel, or copper, while one or more other heat-conductive elements may be constructed from two or more materials, such as a bi-metallic member having a copper portion and/or an aluminum portion, or a composite or bi-material such as polyester and aluminum or a plated ceramic material such as a metal-plated ceramic including, for example, copper plated ceramic. The other components of the wick-holder assembly  10  such as the wick-retention member  12 , the base portion  16 , the capillary ribs  24 , and/or the legs  26  may also be made of the same material as the one or more of the heat-conductive elements  18 , and in one embodiment, at least one of the heat-conductive elements, the base portion  16 , the capillary ribs  24 , or the legs  26  is a bi-metallic material such as copper and aluminum. 
   In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first portion  20  and the second portion  22  of the heat-conductive elements  18  are constructed and arranged to move in response to a heat source such as a flame  60  ( FIG. 5 ) disposed on the wick  14 . Movement of one or more portions  20 ,  22  of the heat-conductive element  18  can independently be in any direction including, for example, toward or away from the heat source, upward, downward, sideways, axially, spirally, and/or directly radially from, for example, the wick-retention member  12 . Movement of one or more portions  20 ,  22  of the heat-conductive element  18  further depends in one embodiment on the configuration and/or the amount of thermal expansion coefficient difference of the material used to construct the heat-conductive element. Moreover, movement of the heat-conductive element  18  may be influenced by the location and placement of the materials having different thermal, expansion coefficients within the heat-conductive element  18 . When containing materials allowing movement when exposed to heat, the shape, location, and/or distance of the heat-conductive element  18  from the heat source may also influence the movement of the heat-conductive element. For example, the heat conductive element  18  may include a two-ply bi-metallic strip having an outer ply of a first material and an inner ply of a second material. The outer ply has a first thermal expansion coefficient and the inner ply has a second thermal expansion coefficient. The first and second plies are arranged such that the heat conductive element  18  moves, for example, radially inwardly or outwardly, as the heat conductive element is heated by a flame. 
   The wick-holder assembly  10  may be disposed on any appropriate apparatus that is adapted to hold a fuel charge in conjunction with the wick-holder assembly of the present disclosure, such as the melting plate assembly  50  shown in  FIG. 5 . The melting plate assembly  50  includes a melting plate  52  supported by a base member  56 . The base member  56  may take any desired form suitable for supporting the melting plate  52 . The melting plate  52  includes a capillary lobe  58  that projects upwardly and is centrally disposed therein. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the wick-holder assembly  10  is operatively disposed on the melting plate assembly  50 , the capillary rib  24  of the wick-holder assembly rests on the capillary lobe  58  to create a capillary space (not shown) between the wick-holder assembly and the capillary lobe. The capillary space extends between the melting plate  52  and the wick-holder assembly  10  and generally includes the area between the capillary lobe  58  and the capillary rib  24 , the legs  26 , and/or the base portion  16 . A fuel charge (not shown for clarity), such as meltable candle wax material or liquid oil may be supported by the melting plate  52  in such proximity to the flame  60  on the wick  14  such that adequate heat transfer occurs between the flame and the fuel charge to maintain a liquid fuel source for the flame disposed on the wick until the fuel charge is mostly or entirely consumed. The capillary space allows the melted or liquid fuel to be drawn upwardly from the melting plate  52  between the wick-holder assembly  10  and the capillary lobe  58  toward the wick  14  to feed a flame  60  disposed thereon. 
   Illustratively, heat from the flame  60  melts the fuel charge by direct radiation, convection, and/or conduction through the heat-conductive elements  18  and conduction to the melting plate  52  to form a pool of liquid fuel (not shown), such as melted candle wax, adjacent to the capillary lobe  58 . The liquid fuel is drawn by capillary action through the capillary space from the melting plate  52  to the wick  14  to feed the flame  60 . The wick-holder assembler  10  may be used to maintain the wick  14  in an operative position after the fuel charge has been substantially melted. In one embodiment, one or more volatile active materials including, for example, a fragrance, a musk, and/or a scent, an odor masker, a perfume, a repellent including, for example, an insect repellent, is carried by at least one fuel charge for dispersion to the surrounding environment when the fuel charge is melted and/or warmed. The wick-holder assembly  10  may also be secured to the melting plate assembly  50  by any appropriate method know to those skilled in the art, including, for example, a magnet, an adhesive, a rivet, a tape, or a weld, and/or combinations thereof. Additional details and aspects of a melting plate candle assembly are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/123,372. 
   In another embodiment, the geometry of the heat-conductive element  18  is such that the heat-conductive element substantially surrounds or partly surrounds the wick-retention member  12  and, therefore, the flame  60  supported by the fuel charge. The heat conductive elements  18  have the shape of thin strips having wide radially inward surfaces, which at least partially protect the flame  60  from surrounding air currents. Adjacent heat conductive elements  18  are circumferentially spaced, thereby allowing some fluid or air and/or wax flow and visual lines to the flame  60  therebetween. The heat conductive elements  18  may have different contour shapes. For example, the wick-holder assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 6  has heat-conductive elements  18  that are generally S-shaped with an out-turned upper edge as opposed to a generally convex shape of the heat-conductive elements shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
   In operation, the geometry and/or the composition of one or more components of the wick-holder assembly  10  may be configured to control and/or regulate the temperature of the wick-holder assembly, the capillary space between the wick-holder assembly, a support surface holding the wick-holder assembly, such as the melting plate  52  of  FIG. 5 , and/or the movement of air surrounding a heat source, such as the flame  60  disposed on the wick  14 . The geometry of a component generally relates to, for example, positioning of the component on the wick-holder assembly  10 , movement of the component on the wick-holder assembly in response to heat generated from the flame  60 , size and/or shape of the component, and/or thickness of the component. 
   In one embodiment, the temperature of the wick-holder assembly  10  is controlled and/or regulated, by the shape and/or the positioning of the heat-conductive elements  18 . For example, to increase the temperature of the wick-holder assembly  10  while the flame  60  is lit, the heat-conductive elements  18  are shaped and/or positioned to move closer to the flame and/or to expose more surface area to the flame, which allows more heat to be transferred from the flame to the heat-conductive elements  18 . From the heat-conductive elements  18 , heat is then transferred to the other components of the wick-holder assembly  10 . The heat of the wick-holder assembly  10  may then be transferred to the fuel charge and/or the melting plate  52 , which facilitates melting and/or volatilization thereof. 
   In other embodiments, the capillary space between the wick-holder assembly  10  and the melting plate assembly  50  is defined and/or regulated by the geometry and/or the composition of one or more components of the wick-holder assembly. For example, in one embodiment, when one or more legs  26  are heated, one or more dimensions for example, a length, width, and/or height of the legs are configured to move in a direction that increases and/or decreases the capillary space. Illustratively, after the wick  14  is lit and begins to generate heat, one or more dimensions of the legs  26  and/or the capillary ribs  24  increases in response to the heat. The increased dimension in one embodiment reduces the capillary space and thereby restricts flow rate of the liquid fuel charge disposed in and/or traveling through the capillary space. Additionally, or alternatively, as the flame  60  begins to produce less heat and the legs  26  and/or the capillary ribs  29  begin to cool, the one or more dimensions of the legs and/or the capillary ribs begin to decrease, thereby allowing more fuel to pass through the capillary space. By regulating the flow rate of the fuel charge, the size and/or the burn rate of the flame  60  may be regulated by changing the amount of fuel supplied to the flame. 
   Furthermore, by reducing the effect of air currents surrounding the flame  60 , the thermal output of the flame may be maintained or enhanced in comparison to a flame without the protection of the heat-conductive element  18 . In one embodiment, by maintaining or enhancing flame performance, thermal generation can be increased and/or optimized to melt and/or volatilize a fuel charge. 
   Changing geometry of one or more components of the wick-holder assembly  10  via a thermal response may also be used to engage, interlock and/or secure the wick-holder assembly to an apparatus such as the melting plate assembly  50  shown in  FIG. 5 . For example, as is seen in  FIG. 3 , the legs  26  may be configured to move in a direction of arrow B to grip and release a complementary pedestal by the use of differing expansion properties of a bi-metal, for example, as the wick-holder assembly  10  warms and cools. Illustratively, after the wick  14  is lit, the heat-conductive elements  18  begin to warm, and heat is transferred to the base portion  16  and legs  26 . As the legs  26  begin to warm, different portions of the legs begin to expand at different rates correlated to the material of which the legs are composed. In one embodiment, the legs  26  begin to move in a direction toward the capillary lobe  58  and engage or grip a groove  62  in the melting plate  52 . When the flame  60  is extinguished and the wick-holder assembly  10  cools, the legs  26  contract and return to an original position. In this embodiment, the use of other attachment methods, such as a magnet, to secure the wick-holder assembly  10  to the melting plate  52  may not be necessary. 
   The wick-retention member  12  in one embodiment is made of a heat-transmissive material, such as a metal, which facilitates conductive heat transfer from the flame  60  to the melting plate  52 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the wick-retention member  12  is attached to the base portion  16  that includes one or more capillary ribs  24  and/or capillary channels (not shown). The shape of the capillary rib  24  shown is a raised rib extending partly around the base portion  16  and has a length, width, and/or height that facilitates capillary action of the melted and/or liquid fuel charge while the flame  60  is lit. Additionally, or alternatively, the capillary lobe  58  many have a capillary rib  24  and/or a capillary channel (both not shown), for example, on a top surface thereof, each of a shape and/or dimension to assist in the capillary movement of the melted or liquid fuel charge to the flame  60 . Any other shape and/or dimension of the capillary ribs  24  and/or the capillary channels is also contemplated as long as a capillary space may be created to facilitate movement of the melted or liquid fuel charge from the melting plate  52  to the wick  14 . 
   It is also contemplated that where the wick-holder assembly  10  has a plurality of components, members and/or elements, for example, two or more wick-retention members  12 , wicks  14 , base portions  16 , heat-conductive elements  18 , capillary rib  24 , and/or legs  26 , each component, member and/or element may be independently selected and configured in regard to positioning, geometry and/or composition to achieve a desired effect such as flame intensity, burn time of the fuel charge, and/or volatilization rate of a fragrance, insecticide, and the like. It is further contemplated that the candle fuel element  10  may have one or more components, members, and/or elements that are configured to perform one or more similar functions. In such a case, the candle fuel element  10  may in some embodiments be constructed to be without the component, member, and/or element whose function is being performed by another component, member, and/or element. Illustratively, the heat-conductive elements  18  may be configured to be connected directly to the wick-retention member  12 , thus serving one or more functions of the base portion  16  as described herein. In such an embodiment, the wick-holding assembly  10  may be constructed without the base portion  16  inasmuch as the heat-conductive element  18  is serving the function of the base portion  16 . 
   Now turning to  FIGS. 7-10 , a candle fuel element  100  includes the wick-holder assembly  10 , which retains the wick  14 , and heat-conductive elements  18  defining lateral openings  20  therebetween. The candle fuel element  100  further includes an inner fuel charge  102  made of a first wax-like solid fuel material  106  and an outer fuel charge  202  made of a second wax-like solid fuel material  204 . The inner fuel charge  102  has a central opening  104  that fits around the wick  14  and wick-retention member  12  (not visible) and an outer periphery that fits inside a circumference defined by the heat-conductive elements  18  that extend upwardly from the base portion  16 . The outer fuel charge  202  has a clearance hole  206  that is sized to fit closely around the outer periphery of the heat-conductive elements  18  and the legs  26 . When the outer fuel charge  202  is combined with the wick-holder assembly  10 , the outer fuel charge is in slidable contact with the legs  26  and/or heat-conductive elements  18 . The candle fuel element  100  is adapted for use with the meeting plate candle assembly  50  including the melting plate  52  with the pedestal or raised capillary lobe  58 . 
     FIG. 7  depicts a fully assembled candle fuel element  100  with both of the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  having a generally toroidal shape. The inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  may have one or more of several variable characteristics including, for example, different colors, scents, fuel types, shapes, volatile actives, and the like. The outer fuel charge  202  slides over the wick-holder assembly  10  and the inner fuel charge  102  so that a user may selectively combine different decorative shapes, fragrances, and/or colors of inner and outer fuel charges. For example, outer fuel charges  202  having different seasonal shapes among others, such as a heart or star shape as seen in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , respectively, may be used with the same wick-holder assembly  10  and the inner fuel charge  102 . Additional outer fuel charge  202  shapes may include, for example, a triangle, a square, a cylinder, a disk, a caricature, an outline, a profile, an animal, a flower, a leaf, a word, a symbol, a custom shape, for example, a shape chosen by the user from an on-line order form, a fruit shape, etc. While only illustrated herein as a generally toroidal shape, the inner fuel charge  102  may have any number of other shapes, which may or may riot be complementary to the inner periphery of the heat conductive elements  18 . In one embodiment, it is contemplated that various shape themes and fragrance themes may be associated, such as, for example, when an outer fuel charge  202  has the shape of a banana, the fragrance of that outer fuel charge may have a banana-scented fragrance therewithin. Further, kits including various inner fuel charge  102  and outer fuel charge  202  combinations that combine shape and/or scent themes are contemplated. Here, differently shaped and/or scented inner fuel charges  102  and outer fuel charges  202  may be mixed and matched to form varied shape and/or scent themes. Accordingly, themes that differ only by shape, for example, combinations of inner fuel charges  102  and the outer fuel charges  202  that have the same scent are envisioned. Further, additional optional fuel charges (not shown) may be provided in the kit to provide the user with various combinations to choose from for making a shape and/or scent theme and/or for stacking the various fuel charges to create the desired shape and/or scent themes. 
   The shapes and scents of the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  may be combined in any order to form user customizable themes. In this embodiment, it is contemplated that such customization may be performed by way of an interactive user interface such as, a webpage, an in store interactive kiosk, or a computer program that may be downloadable over the internet or through data storage media, such as a CD-ROM, to be installed on a user&#39;s computer. The contemplated interfaces allow the user to design the inner fuel charge  102  and/or the outer fuel charge  202  shapes and designate a volatile active material for either of the fuel charges if so desired. The user defined shape and fragrance themes may then be ordered from a manufacturer or supplier. 
   In another embodiment, the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  have different volatile active materials, for example, fragrances, and different melt times. For example, the inner fuel charge  102  may have a first fragrance and a first melt time and the outer fuel charge  202  may have a second fragrance and a second melt time wherein the first and second fragrances and first and second melt times are substantially different. In this example, the inner fuel charge  102  may substantially melt and release the first fragrance for a predetermined period of time before the outer fuel charge  202  begins to melt significantly and/or release a second fragrance contained therein. Illustratively a first melt rate corresponding to the first melt time may be substantially faster and/or slower than a second melt rate corresponding to the second melt time. In this way, the candle fuel element  100  may provide a temporal fragrance release feature such that one or more fragrances may be released separately in sequence over predetermined periods of time depending upon the fragrances contained within the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  and the corresponding melt rates of the inner fuel charge and the outer fuel charge. Further, the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  may include fragrance lamina (not shown), for example, an outer layer having a first fragrance that surrounds an inner core having a second fragrance. Each of the layers and cores may have different melt rates. In this way, multiple fragrances may be emitted separately from the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  when melted by the flame  60  on the wick  14 . 
   In yet another embodiment encompassed in  FIGS. 7-10 , the inner fuel charge  102  may have a first visual effect additive, such as a first colorant, and the outer fuel charge  202  may have a second visual effect additive such as a second colorant that is the same as or different from the first colorant. When the inner and outer fuel charges melt, the wax will combine in a single pool to form a third visual effect such as a third color or a mixture of the first and second color. For example, the inner fuel charge  102  may contain yellow dye, the outer fuel charge  202  may contain blue dye, and the resultant mixed pool of melted wax may have a green hue because of the mixing of the yellow wax and the blue wax or the waxes of the two fuel charges may only partly intermix such that the resultant pool has swirls of yellow wax and blue wax. In another variation, the first visual effect additive and the second visual effect additive may combine in the mixed pool to form an iridescent visual effect. In a further variation, one or both of the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  may include additives that cause a luminescent visual effect. For example, the inner fuel charge  102  may include a first visual effect additive and the second fuel charge  202  may include a second visual effect additive, which when combined together in the mixed pool of melted wax, undergo a chemical reaction that causes the pool of melted wax to be luminescent. The first and second fuel charges  102 ,  202 , in one embodiment, would not be luminescent independently without the mixing of the first and second additives. Other separate additives to the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202  may also be included to capitalize on the mixing effect of the two separate fuel charges into a common mixed pool of liquid. By using multi piece votives of different colors a visual affect can be created when the votives melt and mix together. Also, by including different materials in the votives, other effects such as illumination or glowing of the scented oil pool can be achieved when the votives melt together. 
   In a further embodiment seen in  FIG. 7 , an additional fuel charge  208  may be added to the candle fuel element  100  that at least partly surrounds the inner fuel charge  102  and outer fuel charge  202 . For example, the additional fuel charge  208  may be an at least partially transparent overlay that covers both the inner fuel charge  102  and outer fuel charge  202  or may be substantially opaque. Similar to the inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202 , the additional fuel charge  208  may include a wax-like solid fuel material, a volatile active material, and a third melt rate. Further, the additional fuel charge  208  may connect the inner fuel charge  102  to the outer fuel charge  202 . 
   In yet a further embodiment encompassed by  FIGS. 7-10 , at least one of the fuel charges  102 ,  202 , and  205  may have an inner core section  210  having a first property surrounded or encompassed by an outer covering section  212  that has a second property different from the first property. For example, the outer covering section  212  may be a solid wax, and the inner core section  210  may be a liquid fuel, such as oil, contained within the outer covering section. A fuel charge having a solid outer covering section  212  containing a liquid inner core section  212  may still be considered a solid fuel charge because it has a definite shape and form of the outer covering section, unlike a strictly liquid fuel charge, which has an amorphous shape and form. Another example is an inner core section  210  including discrete particles of fuel, such as pellets or uncompressed wax prill, and the outer covering section  212  is a compressed solid mass of the pellets or wax prill. In yet another example, the inner core section  210  may contain a first colorant and/or first volatile active, and the outer covering section  212  may contain a second colorant and/or second volatile active. In yet a further example, the inner core section  210  may include a fuel thickener, and the outer cover section  212  may not include a fuel thickener. Further examples may be found in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/197,839, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
   In an illustrative method of operation, the wick-holder assembly  10 , having an inner solid fuel charge  102  disposed between the heat-conductive elements  18  and the wick retainer tube (not shown) and wick  14 , is disposed in an operative position over the capillary pedestal  58  on the melting plate  52 , in a similar fashion as to that shown in  FIG. 5 . The outer fuel charge  202  is then slipped over the wick-holder assembly  10  through the clearance hole  206  such that the outer fuel charge rests on the melting plate  52  and is in contact with the legs  26  and/or the heat-conductive elements  18  of the wick-holder assembly. When the wick  14  is lit, heat therefrom quickly melts the inner fuel charge  102  while simultaneously heating the heat-conductive elements  18  and the legs  26  of the wick-holder assembly  10 . The heated heat-conductive elements  18  and the legs  26  begin melting the outer fuel charge  202  so that once the inner fuel charge  102  is consumed, liquefied fuel (not shown) from the outer fuel charge flows by capillary action up the capillary pedestal  58  into the wick  14  to feed the flame  60 . The liquefied fuel from the inner fuel charge  102  may flow outwardly through the lateral openings  20  between the heat-conductive elements  18 ; and, depending upon the volume of fuel in the outer fuel charge  202 , the liquefied fuel from the outer fuel charge may form a pool (not shown) around the wick-holder assembly  10  and flow radially inwardly toward the inner fuel charge through the lateral openings between the heat-conductive elements. The inner fuel charge  102  may provide sufficient melted fuel (not shown) to feed the flame  60  until the outer fuel charge is melted sufficiently to supply melted fuel to the flame. When an additional fuel charge  208  is present, the additional fuel charge is melted initially, at least in part, to expose the underlying inner fuel charge  102  and the outer fuel charge  202 . 
   INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
   The present disclosure provides a user with a candle fuel element that is responsive to thermal changes of a flame disposed on a wick. The candle fuel element may also speed melting of a fuel charge by moving heat-conductive elements toward the flame and enhancing heat transfer from the flame to the fuel charge. The candle fuel element may also surround the flame, which reduces the impact of breezes on the flame, therefore reducing the chances of the breeze extinguishing the flame. The candle fuel element may use any combination of a first inner fuel charge and a second outer fuel charge for fueling the flame upon a wick to provide varied and customizable visual and aromatic aesthetics. 
   Numerous modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is presented for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure and to teach the best mode of carrying out same. The exclusive rights to all modifications within the scope of the impending claims are reserved. All patents and patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.