Patent Publication Number: US-2003235797-A1

Title: Candle wick

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] Not applicable.  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002] Not applicable.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0004] The present invention relates to candle wicks. More particularly, the present invention relates to candle wicks manufactured from coffee filters that have been processed through an alcohol extraction method. The candle wicks manufactured from the coffee filters treated in the alcohol bath produce a larger flame and less non-combustible materials.  
       [0005] 2. Brief Description of the Related Art  
       [0006] Candle wicks are made from absorbent material adapted for the transfer of a liquid by capillary action. Traditional candle wicks have been manufactured from cotton materials embedded with metals such as lead or zinc. The metal components embedded in the wick act to provide a stiffness effect for the wick. However the presence of these materials increases the levels of non-combustible substances in the candle and results in a smaller flame size. These charred materials can accumulate near the wick resulting in unsightly residue on or near the candle. On the other hand, non-metal core wicks may have a tendency to wilt, bend, or submerge in the melted wax portion. Information relevant to attempts to address this problem can be found in the following U.S. patents. These references mentioned in this background section are not admitted to be prior art with respect to the present invention.  
       [0007] An example of a non-metal core wick for use in a gel candle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,331 to Schwarz et al. Schwarz et al. discloses a method for manufacturing gel candles having a non-metal core wick that stands upright an is not bent, wilted, or submerged in the gel candle body. The method includes inserting a wick-clip having a non-metal core wick into the composition in the container before the composition in the container begins to transform into a gel.  
       [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,196 to Rockwell et al. discloses a fray-resistant wick made-up of an elongated fiber core with a web surrounding the core, and a jacket surrounding the web. The core or jacket may comprise a fiber glass yarn, and the web a thermoplastic resin such as such as polypropylene. The method of making the fray resistant wick comprises forming an elongated core of the fiber material and surrounding the core with the web, and then surrounding the web with the jacket.  
       [0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,939,005 to Materna describes a wick holder and wick that is positioned at the bottom of a container. A sleeve/shroud is then positioned in the cavity to protect them during molding. Molten wax is poured into the cavity outside the sleeve, and the wick is centered using the sleeve after the wax has been added. While the wax is only partially hardened the sleeve is then removed so that the remaining molten wax then surrounds the wick.  
       [0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,497,187 to Yamaguchi describes a burning wick for hydrocarbons and the like manufactured by continuously forming two wick bodies by two juxtaposed raschel knitting machines, and then fastening the two bodies together transversely along those spaced lines by wrap yarns or other linking yarns.  
       [0011] Each of these references suffers from the disadvantage of not pre-treating the wicks with an alcohol bath. The alcohol bath functions to remove materials from the wick so that the non-metal wick produces a larger flame and less non-combustible residue. The limitations of the prior art are overcome by the present invention as described below.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] The present invention is directed to a candle wick satisfying the needs identified above. The invention is a candle wick made from coffee filter paper soaked in an alcohol bath, thus producing a wick having an increased flame size and less non-combustible residue. The invention also is directed a method wherein coffee filters are placed in an alcohol bath, dried, cut and twisted into the desired shape, placed in a molten wax bath, and then removed for drying.  
       [0013] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for an improved non-metal candle wick.  
       [0014] It is further object of the present invention to provide a method of producing non-metal candle wicks.  
       [0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of producing non-metal candle wicks with an increased flame size.  
       [0016] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method of producing non-metal candle wicks with less non-combustible residue.  
       [0017] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a method of producing non-metal candle wicks with an increased flame size and less non-combustible residue.  
       [0018] These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood from a consideration of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims: 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is an oblique view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the candle wick is incorporated in a candle.  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is an enlarged oblique view of a twisted wick produced according to the method of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the method of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0022] With reference to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention may be described. The present invention is a non-metal candle wick produced from cotton coffee filters and a method of manufacturing candle wicks from coffee filters which have been processed through an alcohol extraction method. The candle wicks manufactured from the coffee filters treated in an alcohol bath produce a larger flame and less non-combustible residue.  
     [0023]FIG. 1 is an oblique view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the candle wick  10  is incorporated in a candle  20 . An enlarged view of a twisted candle wick  10  with twisted coils  30  is shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0024] The method of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 2.  
     [0025] According to the method of the present invention, a coffee filter provides the starting material for the production of the non-metal candle wick  10 . A suitable coffee filter for the practice of the present invention has been found to be “Dollar General Brand”. The filter is desirably manufactured from cotton fiber. The coffee filter is placed in a stainless steel container approximately four inches in depth. According to the first step  40 , the coffee filter is then bathed in a solution of clear 50% isopropyl alcohol for approximately five minutes. In following step  50 , the filter is then removed from the alcohol solution and placed on a solid flat surface for drying.  
     [0026] After the cotton coffee filter is completely dry, the filter is cut apart in next step  60  into useable sections measuring ½ to ¾ inches in width. The size of the section is dependent on the size of the candle wick  10  desired.  
     [0027] In further step  70 , the cotton coffee filter sections are twisted in an upward motion forming a long strand of coils  30  until the candle wick has tightened to a maximum degree.  
     [0028] The twisted coffee filter sections are subsequently soaked in molten wax for approximately one minute in step  80 . The coffee filter sections are removed from the wax for complete drying in final step  90 .  
     [0029] The wicks  10  made by the method described above may then be used in the manufacture of candles  20  using techniques well known in the art.  
     [0030] While the preferred embodiment of the invention is described above, other alternatives are intended to be within the scope of the invention. For example, the container could be made of glass or plastic. Also, additional fragrance or insect repellant could be incorporated into the molten wax.