Patent Publication Number: US-6711821-B1

Title: Heated candle-cutting device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to knives and more particularly pertains to a new heated candle-cutting device for cutting candles in order to extend the use of the candle. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of knives is known in the prior art. More specifically, knives heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art that have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,758; U.S. Pat. No. 3,869,794; U.S. Pat. No. 1,451,163; U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,217; U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,262; U.S. Pat. No. 5,774,995; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,522. 
     Although the advent of electricity made the dependency of candles for light less, it did not diminish their popularity. Today, people use candles for decoration and for setting a particular mood. A problem that persists with candles is that often a wick of a candle burns down to a point that the candle can no longer be used requiring the user to prematurely purchase a new candle. 
     For years people have tried to pour melted candle wax away from the wick in hopes of extending the life of the candle. The problem encountered is that the wick is eventually positioned in a bore extending into the candle. The heat from the ignited wick continues to melt the candle wax around the wick, suffocating the ignited wick, until the candle can no longer be effectively used. Devices have been invented that trim the wick of a candle in hopes of reducing the flame and extending the life of the candle. Other devices trim the wax away from the wick in hopes of reducing the amount of suffocating melted wax. Although the devices would extend the life of a candle, eventually the wick would burn so low that it would create a bore extending into the candle making the candle effectively unusable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of knives now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new heated candle-cutting device construction wherein the same can be utilized for cutting candles in order to extend the use of the candle. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new heated candle-cutting device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the knives mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new heated candle-cutting device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art knives, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     The inventive device includes an elongated handle that is grasped by a hand of a user. An elongated blade is mounted on the handle for cutting and removing a portion of a candle and a portion of a wick of the candle. A heating element is mounted in the blade for heating the blade making cutting the candle easier. A power source is coupled to the heating element for selectively providing power to the heating element. A switch is mounted to the handle for selectively controlling the power source to the heating element. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the heated candle-cutting device in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a new heated candle-cutting device apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the knives mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new heated candle-cutting device which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art knives, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new heated candle-cutting device for cutting candles in order to extend the use of the candle. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new heated candle-cutting device that employs a heated blade that cuts through a candle and wick more easily than a conventional knife. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new heated candle-cutting device that cuts a candle and the wick. The shortened wick and removed wax extends the effective use of the candle. The trimmed wick and candle also produces less black smoke and soot, thereby making the candle more attractive when lit. 
    
    
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new heated candle-cutting device according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a fractional frontal elevational view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a top planar view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 6 thereof, a new heated candle-cutting device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6, the heated candle-cutting device an elongated handle  12  for being grasped by a hand of a user. An elongated blade  15  is mounted on the handle  12  for cutting a candle. A heating element  18  is mounted in the blade  15  for heating the blade  16  to a temperature capable of melting the wax of a candle. A power source  19  is coupled to the heating element  18  for selectively providing power to the heating element  18 . A switch  20  is mounted to the handle  12  for selectively controlling the power source  19  to the heating element  18 . 
     The elongated handle  12  may have a first end  13 , a second end  14  and a peripheral wall  15  that extends therebetween. The blade  16  is preferably mounted on the first end  13  of the elongated handle. The handle may have a generally transverse rectangular cross section taken substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the handle. However, the elongated handle  12  may have a variety of shapes and sizes. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, as particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, the switch  20  may be mounted on the peripheral wall  15  of the elongated handle  12 . The switch  20  may be generally arcuate having a shape resembling a trigger. The switch  20  may comprise any type of switch such as, for example, a push-button or slide switch. 
     As particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, the elongated handle  12  may also include a guard member  22  for protecting a users finger from contacting the hot melted wax or the blade  16 . The guard member  22  may be mounted on the handle  12  and may extend over the switch  20 . The guard member  22  may be generally arcuate and it may have a pair of opposed ends  23  that are coupled to the peripheral wall  15  of the handle  12 . 
     The elongated handle  12  may comprise a substantially rigid material such as, for example, a plastic material. However, the elongated handle  12  may comprise a variety of materials. 
     As particularly illustrated in FIG. 1, the blade  16  may have a first end  25 , a second end  26  and a pair of opposed elongated edges  27 . In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the edges  27  is tapered and sharpened. In another embodiment of the present invention, both elongated edges  27  are tapered and sharpened permitting a user to use both elongated edges  27  to cut a candle. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, as particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2  and  4 , a scoop  30  is mounted on the first end  25  of the blade  16  for scooping a portion of the candle away from a wick extending through the candle. The scoop  30  may be generally arcuate and may have a pair of opposed ends  31  that are mounted to the first end of the blade  16 . The scoop  30  is preferably positioned generally adjacent to an end of the heating element  18  extending through the blade  16 , thus heating the scoop  30  permitting a user to more easily scoop a portion of the candle from around the wick. 
     The power source  19 , as particularly illustrated in FIGS. I and  3  may comprise an electrical cord for carrying an electric current to the heating element  18 . However, the power source  19  may also comprise fuel cells, batteries, propane or any other type of power source capable of heating the heating element  18 . 
     The heating element  18  may be elongated and may extend along a longitudinal axis of the blade  16 . The heating element  18  may comprise any material capable of converting power from the power source  19  to heat that is absorbed by and emitted from the blade  16 . The heating element  18  may comprise a copper, or aluminum material. However, any material capable of converting power from the power source  19  to heat may be employed. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an elongated second handle  40  is provided for grasping by a hand of a user. The elongated blade  16  is mounted on and extends between the first  12  and second  40  elongated handles for cutting a candle. The elongated blade  16  extends generally between ends of the first  12  and second  40  elongated handles. 
     As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a width of a central portion of the elongated second handle  40  may be generally less than a width of a pair of opposed ends of the elongated second handle  40 . The difference in the width of the elongated second handle  40  provides for a better grip by a hand of a user. 
     In use, the heated candle-cutting device  10  is heated by a user activating the switch  20 . The power source  19  heats the heating element  18  extending through the blade  16 . A user then places an elongated edge  27  against the candle to be cut. The heated blade  16  permits a user to more easily cut the candle. Once the candle is cut, the heated scoop  30  permits a user to scoop the candle wax away from around the wick so that it can me used. In an embodiment having a second handle  40 , a user may exert more downward force by using both handles when cutting a candle. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the heated candle-cutting device. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.