Patent Publication Number: US-2002004664-A1

Title: Ear candle enhancer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention is directed to a device for use with an ear candle to clean the ear canal of a user and, more particularly, to an ear candle holding device which extends between the end of an ear candle and the user&#39;s ear canal while maintaining a sealed passage therebetween.  
       [0003] 2. Background of the Invention  
       [0004] Ear candles have been used for thousands of years to remove excessive ear wax, debris, and other undesirable substances from the ear canal. It is believed that this method of cleaning the ear canal, commonly referred to as “ear candling,” originated with the ancient Egyptians who used hollow reeds. The modern day candle is made of muslin cloth strips, dipped in wax, and coiled into a long slender cone having a length of approximately 12 inches.  
       [0005] Use of ear candles to remove excessive ear wax and other debris from the ear canal helps to maintain and/or improve the quality of a person&#39;s hearing. Over time, the effects of allergies and sicknesses (colds, flu, sinus problems, etc.) can cause a build up of wax and other debris in the ear canal. Also, extensive use of various appliances, including telephones and hearing appliances (hearing aids), can induce build up of wax in the ear canal. Eventually, the build up of wax and other debris can be so great as to cause a natural “ear plug” that can dramatically alter a person&#39;s hearing capabilities. In many instances, an effective cleaning of the ear canal using ear candles can lead to a much larger range of hearing frequency, thereby eliminating the need for a hearing aid. Ear candles are also used to enhance drainage of toxins that may be attempting to escape the body through the ear canal. For instance, the Eustachian tube connects the middle ear with the nose and throat. Should the Eustachian tube become clogged with excessive ear wax, an infection may develop. Infection can also occur when one of the body&#39;s systems is trying to purge toxins from inside the body, in liquid form, through the ear canal.  
       [0006] In use, the top end of the ear candle is lit, and as it burns, smoke begins to billow out of the bottom of the cone-shaped ear candle. The bottom end is then placed snugly into the ear canal to form an air tight seal between the open bottom end of the ear candle and the ear canal. As the ear candle continues to burn, air is forced back up through the hollow, cone-shaped ear candle, creating a warm air current through the ear candle towards the top burning end. This results in a warm vacuum, creating suction at the bottom end of the ear candle and within the ear canal. The warm air melts the ear wax and the created suction pulls the wax and other debris from within the ear canal and through the bottom end of the ear candle. The liquid wax hits the sides of the cooler candle, the wax solidifies on the sides of the inside of the candle. As the ear candle continues to burn, some of the ear wax is burned off while the remainder collects within the hollow candle, particularly near the bottom end.  
       [0007] Ear candling has proven to be far more effective than other conventional methods of cleaning the ears. For instance, repeated water cleansings tend to create a prolonged moist environment that can invite growth of bacteria and fungus which may lead to an infection of the middle or inner ear. Also, because wax is a natural repellant of water, cleaning the ear canal with water is not entirely effective in removing ear wax and other debris. Moreover, water inevitably becomes trapped in the ears after cleansing, causing an annoying noise and minor discomfort.  
       [0008] While ear candling is a highly effective method for cleaning the ear canal, there are some problems which are encountered when using ear candles. Specifically, as the ear candle burns down and becomes shorter, the flame on the end of the candle burns close to the ear and hair of the user. This can certainly create a concern for both the comfort and safety of the user. For this reason, many users of ear candles tend to extinguish them early, leaving a significant portion of the ear candle unused. This in turn requires use of a greater number of ear candles to accomplish a complete ear cleaning. Another problem associated with ear candles is the difficulty in obtaining a good seal between the candle and the ear canal in order to maintain a vacuum. Also, as wax begins to melt within the candle, the hot wax can sometimes return to the user&#39;s ear canal causing severe discomfort and possible injury.  
       [0009] The present invention is specifically designed to overcome the problems encountered while using ear candles to clean the ear canal. Moreover, the present invention is designed to increase the overall effectiveness and efficiency of ear candling, while providing for greater comfort and safety throughout the ear cleaning process. In particular, the device of the present invention provides the following benefits:  
       [0010] 1. Creates a stronger and more sustained vacuum between the ear candle and ear canal for greater efficiency and effectiveness. This results in greater amounts of ear wax and other debris being removed per candle.  
       [0011] 2. Allows the user to burn more of each ear candle, thereby reducing the number of ear candles needed to complete an ear cleaning procedure, and thus lowering the overall cost of the ear cleaning procedure.  
       [0012] 3. Provides an increased length between the ear canal and the ear candle, thereby allowing for hot ear wax to solidify on return from the ear candle towards the ear canal and reducing the risk of hot ear wax returning into the ear.  
       [0013] 4. Provides protection from the ash and flame of the candle by positioning the candle further away from the user&#39;s ear and hair.  
       [0014] 5. Provides for greater comfort and a more efficient seal with the inside of the user&#39;s ear, thereby resulting in greater tolerance when multiple ear candles are needed to complete an ear cleaning procedure.  
       [0015] 6. Extra length provided by the device position the ear candle further from the ear, hair and head of the user, thereby making it easier to use ear candles without the assistance of others.  
       [0016] 7. Extra length provided by the device also positions the flame further away from the user&#39;s ear, thereby reducing the intensity of the heat that reaches the ear cavity and making it possible to use more ear candles in succession during an ear cleaning procedure. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0017] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a side view of the device of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a side view of the device shown attached to an ear candle;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 2; and  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the device in use and extending between an ear candle and the ear canal of a user.  
     [0022] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0023] Referring to the several views of the drawings, the ear candle enhancer device is shown and is generally indicated as  10 . The device  10  is specifically intended for use with an ear candle  100  in order to clean the ear canal  120  of a user&#39;s ear  130 . The ear candle is typically made of muslin cloth strips which are dipped into wax (e.g., beeswax) and coiled into a long slender cone of approximately  12  inches in length, with a top open end  104  and a bottom open end  106 . Typically, the top open end  104  has a circumference of approximately one-half inch to three quarters of an inch, while the bottom open end  106  is of smaller circumference so that the hollow ear candle tapers slightly from the top end  104  to the bottom end  106 .  
     [0024] The device  10  includes a base member  12  defined by a hollow tubular body  14  having a proximal end zone  16  terminating at a first open end  18  and a distal end zone  20  terminating at a second open end  22 . A passageway  24  extends through the hollow tubular body between the opposite first and second open ends. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular body  14  is provided with a length ranging between 1 inch to 20 inches and can be cut to any desired size. The circumference of the tubular body is preferably in the range of between ⅛inch to 2 inches.  
     [0025] Holding means  30  are provided on the distal end zone  20  of the base member for releasably holding the bottom end zone of the ear candle therein so that the bottom open end of the ear candle is disposed in free flowing communication with the second open end  22  of the tubular body and the passageway  24  extending therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, the holding means  30  includes a segment of tubing  32  fitted over the distal end zone  20  of the base member  12  and snug about an outer surface of the distal end zone so as to maintain a sealed engagement therewith. A portion  34  of the tubular segment  32  extends beyond the second open end  22  of the tubular body and is split longitudinally on opposite sides, as at  36 , in order to accommodate receipt of various size ends of ear candles therein. Once the bottom end  106  of the ear candle is received and nested within the extending portion  34  of the tubular segment  32 , as shown in FIG. 2, a rubber band  40  is placed about the split extending portion  34  of the tubular segment in a manner which holds the end of the candle within the extending portion of the tubular segment.  
     [0026] It is preferable that the tubular segment  32  be of a greater flexibility than the tubular body  14  of the base member  12 . The tubular segment fitted to the distal end zone is preferably in the range of between ⅛inch to 12 inches in length and can be cut to any size within that range, as desired by the user. Further, in a preferred embodiment, the circumference of the tubular segment is between ⅛inch to ¾inch and length ranges between ⅛inch and 12 inches. It should be noted that while the circumference of the base tubular body  14  may be greater than the circumference of the tubular segment  32  in a relaxed state, the flexible elastomeric material of the tubular segment  32  permits stretching so that the tubular segment can be fitted over the distal end zone  20  of the tubular body of the base member in snug engagement therewith, as described above.  
     [0027] The proximal end zone  16  of the tubular body  14  is fitted with seal means  50  for sealing engagement with the user&#39;s ear canal  120 . In a preferred embodiment, the seal means comprises a segment of flexible tubing  52  which is fitted over the proximal end zone  16  of the tubular body  14  in snug fitting relation thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible tubing  52  has a length ranging between ⅛inch to 12 inches and can be cut to any size within that range, as desired by the user. The flexible tubing segment  52  further includes a circumference ranging between ⅛inch to ¾inch. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible tubing segment  52  is of greater flexibility and elasticity than the tubular segment  32  on the opposite distal end zone. The segment of flexible tubing  52 , defining the seal means  50 , is specifically intended to be inserted within the user&#39;s ear  130  for sealing engagement with the ear canal  120 . The soft flexible rubber material of the tubing segment  52  is particularly ideal for maintaining an air tight seal with the ear canal to thereby maintain vacuum within the device during the entire time that the ear candle is burning, thereby improving the efficiency of removing ear wax and other debris from the ear canal. And, unlike inserting the end of an ear candle within the ear which is still and can scratch the inner ear canal when attempting to make an air tight fit, the soft pliable material of the seal means on the device provides a more comfortable and safer engagement with the inner ear.  
     [0028] In use, the ear candle  100  is first attached to the device  10  by inserting the bottom end  106  of the ear candle within the tubular segment  32  of the holding means  30 . To do this, the rubber band  40  is first moved away from the extending portion  34  and towards the tubular body  14 . This can be done by simply rolling the rubber band  40  downwardly along the tubular segment  32 . Next, the split extending portion  34  is separated to permit gentle insertion of the bottom end  106  of the ear candle within the tubular segment  32  until the bottom end  106  is snug therein. Next, the rubber band  40  is gently rolled upwardly along the tubular segment  32  until the rubber band is wrapped around the split extending portion  34  and the bottom end  106  of the ear candle received therein. This secures the ear candle to the device  10 . It should be noted that attachment of the ear candle to the device should be done gently and with care, as ear candles are delicate and can collapse, which would restrict the vacuum flow through the bottom open end  106  and through the candle.  
     [0029] Once the ear candle is fitted to the device  10 , the top end  104  of the ear candle is lighted, preferably using a cigarette lighter. Soon after the ear candle is lit, white smoke begins to flow out of the open end  54  of the tubing segment  52 . When this happens, the segment of tubing  52  is placed within the ear and positioned until the smoke stops escaping from the ear. When properly positioned in the ear, the smoke is forced to rise up through the passageway of the device and through the ear candle, thus creating an air current or vacuum flow which is needed to clean the ear. At this point, the user should hear a crackling noise in the ear caused by the warm air current melting the ear wax. If the user does not hear the crackling noise, it may mean that there is an ineffective seal between the seal means  50  and the ear canal  120 . The user should continue to manipulate the device until the seal means  50 , and particularly the open end  54  of the segment of tubing  52 , creates an air tight seal within the inner ear canal. Otherwise, a lack of a crackling noise may indicate that there is a clog either in the device  10  or within the ear canal  120 . This will need to be cleared before proceeding any further with the ear candling procedure.  
     [0030] As the ear candle continues to burn down creating an ash, the ash may fall off of the candle. Thus, it is preferable to use a drop cloth or towel to protect the area and clothing of the user. When the ear candle has burned down to about  2  inches from the bottom end  106 , the ear candle should be extinguished by dunking the burning flame into a container of water. Once extinguished, the remaining portion of the ear candle can be removed from the device  10  and placed on a paper plate or napkin for disposal.  
     [0031] At this stage, another ear candle should be attached to the device  10  and lighted as quickly as possible so that melted and loosened wax in the ear canal does not have time to harden. It is important to note that the first candle begins to loosen the wax or debris within the ear canal, and the remaining candles gain efficiency with each successive one, to effectively remove all wax and debris from the ear canal. Typically, four to six ear candles are needed to complete an ear cleaning procedure for one ear. It is advisable to wait at least  48  hours before repeating treatment in the same ear. Also, it is advisable to wait at least  24  hours before treating the other ear in the event that the user experiences a temporary reduction in hearing immediately following the cleaning procedure. Typically, if there is a reduction in the hearing, it lasts for no more than one day.  
     [0032] While the instant invention has been shown and described in accordance with a practical and preferred embodiment thereof, it is recognized that departures from the instant disclosure are contemplated within the spirit of the invention and, therefore, the scope of the invention should not be limited except as defined within the following claims as interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.