Patent Publication Number: US-2016236858-A1

Title: Packaging system with sealing lid for a votive candle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/117,595, filed on Feb. 18, 2015, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to votive candles. More specifically, the invention relates to a packaging system for a votive candle, which includes a sealing lid for engagement with a votive candle mold. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Votive candles are generally cylindrically shaped candles that are typically about 2 inches tall by one and a half inches in diameter, although a votive candle can be significantly taller and wider. Votive candles are commonplace in churches and home altars where they are often burnt as a votive offering in an act of prayer. Scented and/or colored votive candles are also very popular for enhancing the ambiance of many different types of functions, occasions or holidays. 
     Votive candles are typically made from various types of wax, such as paraffin wax, beeswax and vegetable wax. Votive candles come in a wide variety of colors and will often contain fragrance oils, which produce fragrances typically associated with fruits, spices flowers, herbs, perfumes and the like. 
     The candles are traditionally formed by pouring hot liquid wax, fragrance oils and other ingredients into open topped, generally cup shaped molds. The molds themselves are often composed of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, that is formed by means of an injection molding process to contain the shape of a votive candle. Once the votive candles have been formed in the mold, they are typically removed from their molds for packaging and shipment. 
     Generally, about 12 to 18 of the bare votive candles are placed in a box for shipment to wholesale and retail sales outlets. Alternatively, the candles can be shrink-wrapped prior to being placed in boxes in order to better preserve the integrity of their color, shape and fragrance. 
     There are, however, problems associated with these prior art packaging systems. The packaging of bare candles in boxes does not provide much protection for individual candles during shipping, and does not allow for the candles to be individually labeled or bar coded. Additionally, candles of different colors or fragrances cannot be mixed together for shipment without degrading their integrity. Also, the fragrance oils within the candles can out-gas and evaporate away. Moreover, potential customers who handle the candles can get their fingerprints on the candles, which can also compromise the candles color or fragrance. 
     Shrink-wrapping the candles individually will improve protection to some extent, but the candles can still be damaged during shipment and the shrink-wrap provides only limited surfaces for labeling or bar coding. Also, shrink-wrapping equipment is expensive and time consuming. Additionally, the fragrance oils can often bleed through the shrink-wrap. Moreover, potential customers cannot easily smell the fragrance or see the color of a shrink-wrapped votive candle when evaluating the candle prior to purchase. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an inexpensive packaging system for votive candles, which provides improved protection during shipment, allows for shipments of individual candles and/or shipments of groups of mixed candles. Additionally, there is a need for the packaging system to provide surfaces that can be individually labeled or bar coded. Moreover, there is a need for the packaging system to allow potential customers to smell, see and otherwise evaluate the candles prior to purchase without compromising the integrity of the candles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In an embodiment, a packaging system for a votive candle is provided. The Packaging system includes a votive candle mold and a lid. The mold includes a closed bottom, a generally cylindrical first sidewall, and an annular rim. The generally cylindrical first sidewall is integrally connected to the bottom and extends upward therefrom. The annular rim extends radially outward from a top portion of the first sidewall and runs along the entire perimeter of the first sidewall. The lid includes a closed top; a generally cylindrical second sidewall, and a plurality of protrusions spaced circumferentially about the second sidewall. The second sidewall is integrally connected to the top and extends downward therefrom. The second sidewall is sized to fit over the annular rim of the mold. The protrusions extend radially inward toward the center of the lid. The protrusions of the lid are sized and spaced to cooperate with the rim of the mold to provide a sealing engagement between the lid and mold to fully enclose and protect the votive candle during shipment and to impede evaporation of any fragrance oils in the candle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packaging system for a votive candle in accordance with the present invention, which includes a sealing lid for engagement with a votive candle mold; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the sealing lid of the packaging system of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the sealing lid fully engaged with the mold of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an expanded cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  taken along the circular arrow labeled “4,5,6” with the lid and mold disengaged; 
         FIG. 5  is an expanded cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  taken along the circular arrow labeled “4,5,6” with the lid and mold partially engaged; and 
         FIG. 6  is an expanded cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  taken along the circular arrow labeled “4,5,6” with the lid and mold fully engaged. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the methods, systems, and devices specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 1-6  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a packaging system  10  for a votive candle in accordance with the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the packaging system includes a votive candle mold  12  and a sealing lid  14  for engagement with the mold  12 . In this particular illustration, the lid  14  is disengaged with the mold  12  and about to be assembled thereon. 
     The mold  12  is generally cup shaped and has a closed bottom  16  which is integrally connected to a generally cylindrical first sidewall  18  extending upwardly from the bottom  16 . The top portion of the cylindrical wall  18  opens into an annular rim  20 . The annular rim  20  extends radially outward from the top end of the wall  18  and runs along the entire perimeter of the wall  18 . Mold  12  is typically composed of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, that is formed by means of an injection molding process to have inside dimensions which define the shape of votive candle  22 . 
     Votive candle  22  is typically formed by pouring hot liquid wax, fragrance oils and other ingredients into open topped, generally cup shaped mold  12  or other similar molds. The hot liquid wax is then allowed to cool and solidify within the mold  12  to complete the formation of votive candle  22 . 
     Sealing lid  14  has a closed top  24 , which is integrally connected to a generally cylindrical second sidewall  26  extending downwardly from the top  24  and running along the entire perimeter of the top  24 . The lid  14  is typically composed of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, that is formed by means of an injection molding process to have inside dimensions which fit over the annular rim  20  of mold  12 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , second sidewall  26  has a plurality of circumferentially spaced protrusions  28 . Protrusions  28  are spaced substantially equidistant about sidewall  26  and extend radially inward toward the center  30  of lid  14 . The protrusions  28  are sized and spaced to cooperate with rim  20  to provide a sealing engagement between lid  14  and mold  12 , such that candle  22  is fully enclosed and evaporation of any fragrance oils contained in candle  22  is greatly reduced. 
     The preferred embodiment for this sealing engagement is to have multiple protrusions  28  arcuately spaced substantially equal-distance apart along the perimeter of the lid&#39;s second sidewall  26 . Additionally, it is preferred that each protrusion  28  extends longitudinally along the sidewall  26  over an arc  32  which is less than one third of the arcuate spacing between the protrusions. Though there may be protrusions  28  in many different quantities, the preferred embodiment is to have four protrusions  28  on sidewall  26 . More specifically, there should be four protrusions  28  wherein the centers of the protrusions  28  are preferably arcuately spaced between 75 to 105 degrees apart along sidewall  26 , more preferably between 80 to 100 degrees apart and most preferably between 85 to 95 degrees apart. Each protrusion  28  should extend longitudinally along the sidewall  26  for an angular arc  32  that is preferably between 10 to 30 degrees, more preferably between 15 to 30 degrees and most preferably between 15 to 25 degrees. With the preferred embodiment having such sizing and spacing of its protrusions, the lid  14  of the preferred embodiment will be flexible enough to fit around the rim  20  during engagement, but will be rigid enough to snap back into shape to maintain a sealing engagement between lid  14  and mold  12  once the lid  14  is fully engaged. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the packaging system  10  is illustrated wherein the lid  14  is fully engaged with the mold  12 . In this particular illustration, the lid  14  and mold  12  form the sealed package system  10 , which fully encloses votive candle  22  for shipment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , an expanded cross-sectional view of packaging system  10  taken along the circular arrow labeled “4,5,6” of  FIG. 3  is illustrated with the lid  14  and mold  12  disengaged. The lid  14  is sized such that the inner surface of the second sidewall  26  fits over the outer distal edge of annular rim  20 , while the protrusions  28  extend inwardly enough to contact the upper surface of rim  20  during engagement. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , an expanded cross-sectional view of packaging system  10  taken along the circular arrow labeled “4,5,6” of  FIG. 3  is illustrated with the lid  14  and mold  12  partially engaged. As illustrated, the lid  14  flexes outwardly as the protrusions  28  slide around the outer distal edge of the annular rim  20  during engagement. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an expanded cross-sectional view of the packaging system  10  taken along the circular arrow labeled “4,5,6” of  FIG. 3  is illustrated with the lid and mold fully engaged. As illustrated, the lid  14  has flexed back to its original shape as protrusions  28  snap onto rim  20  and contact the lower surface of rim  20 . With the protrusions  28  in contact with the lower surface of rim  20  a sealing engagement between lid  14  and mold  12  is provided such that candle  22  is fully enclosed for shipment and any fragrance oils contained in candle  22  are impeded from evaporating away. 
     In use, the packaging system  10  as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6  has many advantages over the prior art. The sealing lid  14  and mold  12  provide a sealed enclosure for votive candle  22  that protects it during shipment and greatly reduces out-gassing of fragrance oils. The candles  22  can be shipped individually, or in mixed groups without compromising their fragrance, color or shape. No additional equipment, such as shrink-wrapping machinery, is required. Additionally, labels or bar codes can be placed anywhere on the surface of the mold  12  or lid  14 . 
     Once the votive candles  22  have reached the wholesale or retail outlets, they can be put on display in there fully enclosed packaging system  10 . In this way, potential buyers can remove the sealing lids to evaluate such features as fragrance and color without getting finger prints on the candles  22 . Moreover, once the potential buyers have finished with their evaluation, the lids  14  can be snapped back onto the mold  12  to fully enclose, reseal and protect the candles  22  and to further preserve the candle&#39;s fragrance and color. The re-sealable feature of the snap-on lid  14  to the mold  12  can also be used to further protect and preserve the candle during use when the flame has been extinguished and the candle is only partially consumed. Additionally, with the packaging system  10  being typically made of a polycarbonate material, both the lid  14  and mold  12  are recyclable. 
     One skilled in the art would recognize that the packaging system  10  could be used for more than just votive candles. The packaging system could be used for any substance that can be poured into a mold, or is gelatinous in texture. These types of substances are often used in the cosmetic industry. By way of examples, such substances would include lip balm, bees wax for hands or the like. 
     Although the invention has been described by reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims.