Patent Publication Number: US-2007122760-A1

Title: Fireplace candle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/740,270, filed Nov. 29, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to fireplaces and candles, and more particularly to a fireplace candle that simulates burning fireplace logs.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Many people burn wood in fireplaces in their homes. Burning wood provides heat for warming a room during cold weather. The flames from the burning wood generate a pleasing aesthetic display. Some people also enjoy the smell of burning wood given off by the fire.  
      Burning wood in a fireplace does produce some effects that homeowners do not particularly enjoy. Burning wood in a fireplace generates an ash residue. Disposal of the ash residue or soot in the fireplace can be a tedious and dirty task. Soot and other fire byproducts, such as creosote, accumulate in the chimney, requiring that the chimney be periodically cleaned. Creosote may be highly flammable under certain conditions, and failure to properly clean the chimney may result in a dangerous chimney fire.  
      One way to avoid the undesired effects associated with burning wood in a fireplace while enjoying the desired effects is to simulate a fireplace fire without actually burning wood. When simulating a fireplace fire, simulated logs may be provided, such as ceramic logs designed to have a visual appearance similar to a wooden log. A source of flame that does not generate ash is provided to simulate the visual effect of burning wood. For example, natural gas-fueled or propane-fueled flames may be generated in the vicinity of one or more simulated logs, providing an appearance visually similar to burning wooden logs.  
      The gas flame-based fireplace simulation provides heat and the visual appearance of a wood log burning fire, but does not provide the burning wood smell. In situations where alternate means of heating rooms of a dwelling, such as a central heating system, are available, the heat generating qualities of the fireplace are less important than the visual and olfactory aesthetic qualities. In those cases, the ceramic log/gas flame simulation will not be a satisfactory substitute for a wood log fire.  
      Thus, a fireplace candle solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The fireplace candle provides a simulation of a burning wood log in a fireplace. The fireplace candle is adapted for mounting to a ceramic log. The fireplace candle includes a container for holding wax candle elements. One or more mounts extending from the container hold the candle behind the simulated log so that the container is out of view. The wicks of the candle elements extend above the logs so that when the wicks are lit, flames are visible above the simulated log. The wicks are of varying heights to enhance the simulation. The wicks can also be of the type that produces a crackling sound that simulates the sound of burning wood. The mount includes one or more mounting tabs for engaging a bark pattern disposed on the surface of the simulated log. The mounting tabs may be a resilient material shaped to provide a tensioning grip on the log. The mounting tabs may be made from a material that is also malleable so that the tabs can be manipulated to fit into crevices within the bark pattern of the simulated log. The mounting tabs are made of the same material as the container, usually aluminum or tin, but is not limited to these materials.  
      The container may be refillable, so that when the candle elements are expired, the candle tins can be refilled with replacement multi-wicked candles. The wax of the candle elements may be soy-based, but is not limited to soy-based material and may be other candle material, such as paraffin wax or beeswax. The wax is infused with a fragrant oil that generates the desired aroma when the candle element is lit. The aroma may emit an odor simulating the aroma of burning wood, although other scents may be chosen. When the container is of the refillable version, the thickness of the material forming the container is approximately 0.23 gauge material. For disposable versions, the thickness can be reduced below 0.23 gauge.  
      These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a fireplace candle attached to a simulated log according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of a fireplace candle according to the present invention.  
       FIG. 3  is a rear perspective view of a candle holder for a fireplace candle according to the present invention. 
    
    
      Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      The present invention is a fireplace candle for simulating the visual appearance and smell associated with burning logs in a fireplace. The fireplace candle  20  is described by referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 .  
      Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a fireplace candle  20  in accordance with the present invention is attached to a simulated ceramic log  30  resting on the floor of a fireplace  32 . The fireplace candle comprises a container  22 , a container mount or mounts  24  for attaching the candle  20  to the simulated log  30 , and one or more candle elements  26 . As viewed from the entrance to the fireplace  32 , the container  22  is mounted behind the ceramic log  30  so that the view of the container  22  is obscured by the ceramic log  30 . The candle container  22  is attached to the log via one or more mounting tabs  24 . The mounting tabs  24  support the candle container  22  in position behind the log by engaging the bark pattern of the log  30 . The mounting tabs  24  curve over the surface of the log  30 , and are made from a resilient material. Sliding the tabs  24  over the log  30  generates a gripping force by tensioning the curved mounting tabs  24 . The generated gripping force holds the candle container  22  in position behind the log  30 .  
      The candle container  22  has a cavity open at the top of the container  22 . The candle container  22  may be made of a foil material, such as aluminum, tin or any material sufficiently heat-resistant to withstand temperatures generated by burning candles and melted wax. Disposed within the cavity are one or more candle elements  26 . Each candle element  26  is a wax candle with one or more candlewicks. The candle wax may be tinted to have a color similar to a simulated log, such as brown or gray, so that the candle elements are less discernable in the vicinity of the log  30 .  
      The wax of the candle elements  26  may contain an aromatic agent that releases aromatic vapors when the candlewicks are lit and the wax burns. For example, the wax of the candle elements may be paraffin wax, soy wax, or beeswax. The wax is infused with a fragrant oil that generates the desired aroma when the candle element is burned.  
      The fragrant oil may emit an odor simulating the aroma of burning wood. For example, oils producing a pine or a sandalwood aroma may be chosen. Alternatively, fragrant oils emitting any other desired scent of aroma may be selected. Examples of fragrant oils known in the art include oils emitting vanilla, cinnamon, lavender, and cherry blossom aromas.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 2 and 3  the details of an alternative mounting arrangement for the fireplace candle may be appreciated. As described above the fireplace candle  20  comprises a candle container  22 . The container  22  defines an open cavity within which one or more wax candle elements  26  are disposed. The candle element(s)  26  may have one or more wicks. The fireplace candle illustrated in  FIG. 2  comprises four candle elements  26 . The candle elements  26  collectively have four wicks  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c , and  28   d . The candle element wicks  28   a - 28   d  may be of different heights, so that when the candle&#39;s wicks  28   a - 28   d  are lit, the flames appear at varying heights above a simulated log, providing a more realistic simulation of flames on a burning log. The wicks  28   a - 28   d  are made so that the wicks  28   a - 28   d  will slowly burn down to the top of the candle elements  26  so that the wax of the elements  26  begins vaporizing at different times and will therefore be at different levels once the wicks  28   a - 28   d  have burned down to the candle elements  26 . Such wicks  28   a - 28   d  are known in the art.  
      The fireplace candle  20  further comprises a mounting tab  24  attached to the candle container  22 . The mounting tab  24  of the container  22  is made of a malleable material. For example, the mounting tab  24  may be made of metal foil (such as aluminum or tin) of sufficient thickness to support the weight of the candle container  22  and the candle elements  26 , and sufficient thinness to be malleable. The malleable mounting tab allows the mounting tab  24  to be manipulated around the bark pattern of a ceramic log ( 30  of  FIG. 1 ) or wedged into a crevice in the bark pattern to hold the container in position behind the simulated fireplace log as shown in  FIG. 1 . The container  22  of the fireplace candle  20  may also be made of the same material as the mounting tabs  24  to allow for one-piece construction. The thickness of the container  22  may be greater than the thickness of the mounting tabs  24 , if necessary.  
       FIG. 3  shows the malleable mounting tab  24  in a flattened condition. The mounting tab  24  is sufficiently large to provide support for the weight of the candle container  22  and the candle elements  26  when the tab  24  is molded to grip the bark pattern of a simulated ceramic log. For example, the mounting tab  24  may be a malleable aluminum foil tab of a trapezoidal shape with a base dimension B of approximately 2½ inches, a top dimension A of about two inches, and a tab height of approximately 1 ¼ inches. A single mounting tab  24  dimensioned as described is sufficient to hold candle elements  26  filling a candle container  22  approximately five inches long, by 1½ inches wide, by 1¼ inches deep. The dimensions provided are representative dimensions provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the invention to the detailed dimensions.  
      The fireplace candle  20  may be refillable, or alternatively, may be disposable. When the container  22  is of the refillable type, the thickness of the container  22  is approximately 0.23 gauge. For disposable versions, this thickness can be reduced. When the candle elements  26  have extinguished, new wicks  28   a - 28   d  are suspended in the container  22 , and new wax is poured into the container  22  around the wicks  28   a - 28   d , thereby forming new candle elements  26 . For disposable containers, once the wax has cooled and hardened, the container  22  can be flexed to allow the remaining wax to be removed from the container  22 . This allows the metal foil of the container  22  to be recycled for environmental purposes.  
      It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.