Patent Publication Number: US-2020300458-A1

Title: Candle safety system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/820,326, filed Mar. 19, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a candle safety system that can be used in a variety of different ways. More particularly, the present invention relates to a candle safety system that enables users to extinguish candles. The candle safety system is designed to enable users to safely extinguish candles without blowing on the candles. Additionally, the candle safety system can be automated and include a timer to release a locking mechanism to extinguish a candle by depriving the fire of the candle of oxygen. The candle safety system can also be controlled remotely. 
     Background Information 
     Many users enjoy using candles for the light they provide. Others enjoy scented candles for the pleasurable smells. Many users enjoy both the light and smells of candles. One drawback is that users need to be present to extinguish the candle. Another drawback is that users may forget to extinguish candles. 
     SUMMARY 
     It has been found that a need exists for a candle safety system that allows users to extinguish a candle or candles without blowing it or them out. The need also exists for an automated system that can extinguish a candle to extend the life of the candle and to assure that the candle is timely extinguished. 
     Additionally, it has been found that there exists a need for a candle safety system that can remotely extinguish a candle. 
     It has also been found that there exists a need for a candle safety system that can timely extinguish a candle automatically. 
     In view of the state of the known technology, inone aspect of the invention, a candle safety system comprises a body portion configured to hold a candle or candles, a gate configured to open and close the body portion where closing the body portion creates a lack of oxygen, a timer to control the closing of the gate. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the body portion of the candele safety system can be sized or shaped in several different ways to accept candles of various sizes and shapes. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the candle safety system is linked to one or more other candle safety systems. The candle safety systems can be linked wirelessly, using existing electrical wiring or network wiring. The candle safety systems can be linked in any number of ways available to connect to other electronic appliances and devices. 
     Further, by including a reservoir portion, the candle safety system can provide the user an easy place to capture used wax to recycle and create new candles. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective views of one embodiment of a candle safety system. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the candle safety system of  FIG. 1  with the gate in the open position. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the candle safety system of  FIG. 1  illustrating the gate moving to the closed position. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the candle safety system of  FIG. 1  with the gate in the closed position. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic representation of one embodiment of the candle safety system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Selected embodiments will now be explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following descriptions of the embodiments are provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
       FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention. The candle safety system  1  comprises a body portion  10 , a reservoir portion  20 , and a timer  30 . The components of the candle safety system  1  such as the body portion  10 , gate  11 , reservoir portion  20 , timer  30 , and others can be made of various materials. The different components of the candle safety system  1  can be made of metal. Preferably, at least some of the components of the candle safety system  1  are made of a heat-resistant material such as ceramic. More preferably, at least some of the components of the candle safety system  1  are made of a fireproof material. 
     The body portion  10  is the main portion of this embodiment and has sides and a bottom to hold a candle  18  and an opening to allow the candle to remain lit. The body portion  10  can also include a reservoir portion  20  to collect wax. The reservoir portion  20  can be connected in a variety of ways to the body portion  10  including being connected directly under the body portion  10  or directly behind the body portion  10 . The reservoir portion  20  will also have an opening that will allow easy removal of any collected melted wax. The timer  30  is attached to the body portion  10  and enables a user to set a release of the gate  11  at a set time period. The timer  30  can be mechanical or electronic. The timer  30  allows the user to set a predetermined amount of time after which the timer  30  will send a signal to an element on the body portion  10 . After the body portion  10  receives a signal to close the gate  11 , the gate  11  is closed. In another view the disclosed embodiment is shown with a gate  11  in the open position. The candle safety system  1  comprises a body portion  10 , a gate  11 , a set of tracks  12  for the gate  11 , a set of springs  13 , and a magnetic strip  14 . The gate  11  can be made of any material. The gate  11  can be made of metal. The gate  11  is attached to the body portion  10 . Preferably, the gate  11  is made of a heat-resistant material, and more preferably, a fire-resistant or fireproof material. The gate  11  moves along a set of tracks  12  set in the body portion  10 . The gate  11  in the open position compresses a set of springs  13  attached to the body portion  10 . The set of springs  13  can be in attached in line with the tracks  12  or set in a different manner. The set of springs  13  is compressed when the gate  11  is in the open position. The gate  11  is released manually or after a set amount of time. The springs  13  push the gate  11  along the track  12  into a closed position. The magnetic strip  14  is attached to the gate  11  and is configured to attract and attach to the body portion  10 . The gate  11  in the closed position extinguishes the candle  18  by depriving the flame of oxygen. The magnetic strip  14  provides additional support to create a better closure or seal so that the flame is deprived of oxygen quickly. 
     In another view the disclosed embodiment is shown with a gate  11  in the closed position. The gate  11  in the closed position covers the candle  18  and does not allow oxygen to feed the candle flame or lessens the oxygen available for the candle. The magnetic strip  14  attached to the gate is configured to better seal or close the opening over the candle portion  18 . The seal need not be perfect or airtight. The seal only needs to be sufficient to extinguish the candle. Further, the motion of the gate  11  moving from the closed to the open position can also potentially extinguish the candle flame. 
       FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a disclosed embodiment of the invention. The candle safety system  1  comprises a body portion  10 , a gate  11 , a set of tracks  12  for the gate  11 , a set of springs  13 , a set of locks  15 , a timer  30 , and a magnetic strip  14 . The gate  11  in the open position compresses a set of springs  13 . The set of locks  15  is attached to the body portion  10  and maintains the gate  11  in the open position until the user releases the gate  11 . The user can release the set of locks  15  to place the gate  11  in a closed position manually. The user can release the set of locks  15  to place the gate  11  in a closed position remotely. The user can release the set of locks  15  to place the gate  11  in a closed position at a predetermined time period by setting the timer  30 . The springs  13  push the gate  11  along the track  12  into a closed position. The magnetic strip  14  is attached to the gate  11  and is configured to attach to the body portion  10 . The gate  11  in the closed position extinguishes the candle  18  by depriving the flame of oxygen or by extinguishing the flame due to the motion of the gate  11  from the open to the closed position—the movement in the air may blow out the candle. The magnetic strip  14  provides additional support to create a better closure or seal so that the flame is deprived of oxygen. 
       FIG. 3  is another perspective view of a disclosed embodiment of the invention. The candle safety system comprises a body portion  10 , a gate  11 , a set of tracks  12  for the gate  11 , a set of springs  13 , a set of locks  15 , a timer  30 , and a magnetic strip  14 . As the gate  11  moves along the tracks  12  of the body portion  10 , the gate  11  should start to cover the opening of the body portion  10  where the candle flame sits. The magnetic strip  14  is configured to connect with the body portion  10  when the gate  11  is in the closed position. Conversely, the magnetic strip  14  can be a part of the body portion  10 . 
       FIG. 4  is another perspective view of a disclosed embodiment of the invention in the closed position. As the gate  11  moves along the tracks  12  of the body portion  10 , the gate  11  should start to cover the opening of the body portion  10  where the candle  18  flame sits. The magnetic strip  14  is configured to connect with the body portion  10  when the gate  11  is in the closed position. Other ways of better closing the gate  11  can be used such as a tab and slot connection, or a hook closure, or another comparable closure mechanism known to those skilled in the art. No closure is necessary. The gate  11  in the closed position can sufficiently extinguish the flame without any closure. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a disclosed embodiment of the invention. The candle safety system  1  comprises a body portion  10 , a gate  11 , a set of tracks  12 , a sensor  31 , a candle  18 , a transmitter  32 , a receiver  33 , a power source  16 , a motor  17 , a release  21 , a reservoir  20 , and a connection  34  to another candle safety system  2  which can include one or more candle safety systems. The body portion  10  comprises tracks  12  for the gate  11  to close. The motor  17  is configured to close the gate  11 . However, a motor  17  is not needed for all embodiments. In certain embodiments, the spring can use portions of the body portion a The sensor  31  monitors the temperature levels in the body portion  10 . The sensor  19  can also monitor levels of different gases and other chemicals. The sensor  19  can also monitor electronic data. The sensor  19  can also monitor smoke data. The transmitter  32  and receiver  33  are configured to communicate and cooperate with other candle safety systems. The transmitter  32  and receiver  33  is also configured to communicate with a user or users. The power source  16  can be a plug for power or batteries or other power source. One potential power source would be a power source that charges electrically using heat. The release  21  is configured to transfer melted wax to a reservoir  20  which removes wax from the body portion  10 . The melted wax can be reused or easily thrown away. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     General Interpretation of Terms 
     In understanding the scope of the present invention, the term “comprising” and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements, components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms, “including”, “having” and their derivatives. Also, the terms “part,” “section,” “portion,” or “element” when used in the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a plurality of parts. Also as used herein to describe the above embodiments, directional terms refer to those directions of a vehicle equipped with the pet food container. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the present invention should be interpreted relative to a vehicle equipped with the pet food container. 
     The term “configured” as used herein to describe a component, section or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. 
     The terms of degree such as “about” and “approximately” as used herein mean a reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the end result is not significantly changed. 
     While only selected embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, the size, shape, location or orientation of the various components can be changed as needed and/or desired. Components that are shown directly connected or contacting each other can have intermediate structures disposed between them. The functions of one element can be performed by two, and vice versa. The structures and functions of one embodiment can be adopted in another embodiment. It is not necessary for all advantages to be present in a particular embodiment at the same time. Every feature which is unique from the prior art, alone or in combination with other features, also should be considered a separate description of further inventions by the applicant, including the structural and/or functional concepts embodied by such feature(s). Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.