Patent Abstract:
A device for trimming candles which have burnt and left an upwardly extending rim portion, the device comprising, in one embodiment, a housing, a blade assembly mounted thereon and at least one blade member in the blade assembly, the blade being movable between first and second positions so as to trim wax from the upwardly extending rim portion.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a candle trimmer and more particularly, relates to a device for trimming the wax ends of candles.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The number of candles sold over the past few years has increased greatly as they have gained status as a decorative item. As such, there is a far greater variety of candles now available than what previously existed. In particular, candles having a relatively large diameter are very popular. However, a problem which exists with such candles is that the burning is uneven with an outer unburned rim portion surrounding an inner portion which has been used as a fuel. As a result, the appearance is frequently deemed to be unattractive.  
           [0003]    To date, the only method known to Applicant of attempting to rectify the appearance of the candle has been to use a sharp device such as a knife or a razor blade to remove the outer rim. This is extremely difficult to accomplish by hand and often a ragged uneven appearance results.  
           [0004]    A further disadvantage of attempting to trim the upstanding unburned rim portion surrounding the central portion is the safety factor. The wax forming the upstanding rim can be relatively hard and a sharp knife is required. Naturally, slippage is possible and severe injury can result.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for trimming candles and in particular, for trimming candles having an unburned rim portion.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a candle trimmer which is both easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.  
           [0007]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for trimming candles wherein the candles have an upwardly extending rim portion, the device comprising a housing, a blade assembly mounted to the housing, and the blade assembly including at least one blade, the at least one blade being movable between first and second positions, the arrangement being such that when the device is placed in position on a candle having an upwardly extending rim, and when the blade is moved from the first position to the second position, the at least one blade is operative to remove wax from the upwardly extending rim.  
           [0008]    In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for trimming a candle, the device having a relatively thin filament, the ends of the filament being connected such that the filament can form a loop about a candle. Actuating means are provided to tighten the filament such that it will be drawn to the candle. Preferably, clamp members are provided for supporting the candle.  
           [0009]    Preferably, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the housing has a generally dome shaped configuration with a generally frustraconical side wall terminating in an annular generally cylindrical skirt. The skirt does not extend through 360° for reasons which will be discussed hereinbelow.  
           [0010]    Conveniently, the housing may be molded of a plastic material and may have ridges or other like gripping surfaces formed on an exterior surface thereof.  
           [0011]    The blade assembly is designed to be retained by the housing. To this end, there may be provided different means such as a groove within the annular skirt. In a preferred embodiment, there are provided a plurality of tab members which are designed to retain the blade assembly in a desired position during operation but which will also permit the ready removal of the blade assembly for purposes of accessing wax material which has been removed from the candle.  
           [0012]    As aforementioned, the blade assembly is preferably retained by the housing in a desired position whereby at least one blade extends substantially horizontally. The blade assembly is movable from a first position to a second position by rotation within the housing such that a blade on the blade assembly will trim the upstanding unburned rim on the candle. In this respect, a number of different blades may be provided and they may be positioned according to the size of the candle to be trimmed.  
           [0013]    Separate blade members such as metallic knives may be integrated into the blade assembly which is preferably in the form of a generally circular disk. Alternatively, by utilizing sufficiently hard plastic material, the blade may be formed intrically as a portion of the disk.  
           [0014]    Preferably, there is provided an actuating means for turning the blade assembly to thereby remove the upstanding wax rim. Such actuating means may comprise a portion of the disk which extends exteriorly of the housing. To this end, the rim of the housing may include either a gap or an aperture formed therein to permit the actuating member to extend outwardly of the housing.  
           [0015]    The device also preferably includes positioning means which are designed to hold the device in a fixed position with respect to the candle while the blade assembly is moved from the first position to the second position. To this end, the positioning member may include a shaft mounted centrally of the housing and about which the blade assembly rotates. The positioning member may have teeth at one end thereof to dig into the wax of the candle and prevent rotation of the housing to which the positioning member is secured. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]    Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments thereof, in which:  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a candle trimmer according to one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing views of the device with a smaller candle compared to the embodiment of FIG. 2;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a candle trimming device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view thereof;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view thereof;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the cover portion of the candle trimming device;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the blade assembly of the candle trimming device;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 9A is a cross sectional view taken along the lines X-X of FIG. 9;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the cover portion;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 11 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the retaining tabs of the cover portion; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 12 and 12A illustrate the use of the device.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0030]    Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters thereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 2 a first embodiment of a candle trimmer which is generally designated by reference numeral  10 .  
         [0031]    Candle trimmer  10  has a body portion  14  and a handle portion  12 . Mounted at a distal end of body portion  14  are a first clamp  16  and a second clamp  18 . Each of clamps  16  and  18  are arcuate in nature to conform, in a general manner, to the surface configuration of a circular candle.  
         [0032]    Preferably, although not shown, both first clamp  16  and second clamp  18  are pivotally connected, proximate their center point, to body portion  12 . Thus, the clamps would be able to move about their pivot point and securely grasp different size candles. As seen in FIG. 3, clamp  18  has an upper section  21  and a lower section  23  with a recess  25  therebetween. Clamp  16  is of a similar construction.  
         [0033]    Formed in the upper wall of body portion  14  are a plurality of notches generally designated by reference numeral  22 .  
         [0034]    Candle trimmer  10  also includes a cutting filament generally designated by reference numeral  24  and which may be of any suitable material—preferably of a metallic wire material. At either end, cutting filament  24  is provided with enlarged portions  26  and  28 .  
         [0035]    Depending from body portion  14  and mounted so as to be movable therealong is a trigger  30 .  
         [0036]    In operation, a first enlarged portion  26  is placed in one of the notches  22 . The cutting filament  24  is then looped about a candle C, shown in FIG. 2, and the second enlarged portion  28  placed in a receiving area of trigger  30  with filament  24  passing around guide wheel  31 . Trigger  30  is then pulled as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2 and pressure is then exerted on cutting filament  24  such that it will pass through candle C to remove excess wax. Thus, as may be seen, there is provided an inexpensive candle trimmer which is adapted for different sizes of candles. The groove in the clamps  16  and  18  permits the passing of the filament therethrough.  
         [0037]    In a further variation of this embodiment of the invention, there may be provided means for heating filament  24 . This would be particularly useful when the candle is cold and would ensure a smooth passage of the filament therethrough. Various different types of heating means including electrical resistance heating may be utilized.  
         [0038]    Turning to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.  5  to  11 , there is provided a candle trimming device which is generally designated by reference numeral  110 .  
         [0039]    Candle trimming device  110  includes a housing generally designated by reference numeral  112 , a blade assembly generally designated by reference numeral  114 , and a positioning means generally designated by reference numeral  116 .  
         [0040]    Housing  112 , as may be seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and  8 , has a frustraconical side wall  120  having a plurality of ridges  122  formed thereon for purposes of gripping. At its lower end, side wall  120  is provided with an annular skirt  124 . At the opposite end, side wall  120  terminates to provide an open top  126 . Also, as may be seen in FIG. 10, there are a plurality of retainer tabs  128  formed in annular skirt  124 , there being three such retainer tabs in the illustrated embodiment.  
         [0041]    Blade assembly  114  has the form of an annular disk  132  with a plurality of reinforcing ribs  134  extending radially thereof. A plurality of blades  136  are formed in disk  132  and extends slightly downwardly therefrom to provide a cutting edge  140  as may be seen in FIG. 9A. An actuator  138  extends outwardly from disk  132  and as may be seen in FIG. 10, there is provided an approximately 90° portion of housing  112  wherein there is not provided an annular skirt to thereby permit movement of actuator  138 .  
         [0042]    A positioning means  116  comprises a shaft  142 , one end of which fits within a cap  148  while at the opposite end, there is provided a seating edge  144  designed to seat in the wax of the candle. As may be best seen in FIG. 11, each retaining tab  128  has an inner recess  150  which is designed to receive the outer edge of disk  132  and retain the same therein while permitting rotational movement thereof.  
         [0043]    As may be seen in FIGS. 12 and 12A, the housing  112  may be placed on the candle and actuator  138  operated to rotatably move disc  122  and thereby trim the outer rim of the candle.  
         [0044]    It will be understood that the above described embodiments are for purposes of illustration only and that changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1