Abstract:
The invention relates to a candle extinguisher, characterized by an elongated base body having an integrated cylinder in which a burst of air pressure is produced with a piston, the piston being tensioned and triggered with an actuation lever.

Description:
This is an application filed under 35 USC §371 of PCT/DE2009/001197, claiming priority to DE 20 2008 011 350.4 filed on Aug. 26, 2008. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a candle and wick extinguisher using the effect of air pressure. 
     (2) Description of Related Art 
     Candles and other flames from a wick are generally extinguished by being blown out. 
     Extinguishers are known which have a bell and which suffocate the flame or molded wax article, thereby extinguishing the candle. 
     Also known are lids which are preferably placed over tea candle holders to suffocate the flame. 
     The disadvantages of the aforementioned methods are: 
     Blowing the flames out by mouth has limits due to the distances and the ensuing required unfavorable body posture and the positions of the candles or oil lanterns. 
     The bells are unsuitable for tea lights 
     The cover lids are only suitable for tea lights in containers and have limited applicability due to the diversity of the containers. 
     The molded wax articles are time-consuming to handle, are not contemporary and are not suitable for all applications (unfavorable positioning of the candles). 
     All these systems have one disadvantage in common: they do not take into consideration that the new stick lighters (also with flexible stick) make positions for candles achievable which cannot be reached with conventional lighters at all or only with great difficulty. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a device for extinguishing candles or wick flames, with which wick flames can be easily and reliably extinguished. 
     This object is attained according to the invention with a device having the features of claim  1 . 
     Preferred embodiment and additional advantages of the invention are recited in the dependent claim, with particular reference being made here to their disclosure. 
     With the invention of the candle and wick extinguisher using the effect of air puffs, the aforementioned disadvantages can be obviates and the candles and other wick flames can be extinguished at any location by moving a finger, wherein wax splatter is avoided with the rapid burst of pressure due to the high viscosity of the wax. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention, hereinafter referred to as candle extinguisher, will be described in  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
       These show in 
         FIG. 1A-1D  the candle extinguisher with an internal retractor and internal springs, 
         FIG. 2  the candle extinguisher with an external retractor and an external return spring, 
         FIG. 3  the candle extinguisher with an external retractor and a separate return spring, 
         FIG. 4A-4C  another embodiment of the candle extinguisher with an actuator integrated in the housing, and 
         FIG. 5  a version with the same tensioning and release function, modified as a toy slingshot with repeat function, for shooting arrows or balls and the like, also with a cartridge. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows the candle extinguisher having a longitudinal, ergonomically formed hand piece  1  with an integrated cylinder  16 , in which an burst of air pressure is generated with a piston  2  and also a piston ring  3 ,  303 . The piston  2  is movably arranged in the cylinder  16  and includes a piston rod  8  guided in the hand piece  1 . 
     The cylinder  16  terminates on one side in a preferably conical nozzle which can also be formed as an annular nozzle  4  or a screen nozzle  20 . 
     In the starting position, the piston  2  is located on the front end of the cylinder  16  facing the nozzle. The piston  2  is tensioned against a spring  10  by an axially magnetized holding magnet  5  which is fixedly installed on the piston  2 , and a iron retractor  6 . The spring  10  is located on a locating pin. The iron retractor  6  is retracted with an actuating lever  11 . The magnet  5  adheres on the iron retractor  6  which carries along the magnet  5  and the piston  2  connected thereto. The iron retractor  6  can also be constructed in form of a ring  17  which is placed on a nonmagnetic molded part. 
     When the piston  2  is tensioned, the piston  2  together with the piston rod  8  moves to the right towards the handle of the hand piece  1 . An adjustable limit stop  9 , which the piston rod  8  strikes, is arranged in the handle of the hand piece  1 . The magnet  5  is thereby abruptly released from the iron retractor  6  and thrust forward by the spring  7 . The air residing in the cylinder  16  is abruptly compressed by the piston  2 , causing a burst of pressure to exit the nozzle  14 . The iron retractor  6  is then again automatically pressed forward into its starting position by an additional spring  7  and again rests against the magnet  5 , so that the process can be repeated. The apparatus therefore operates with a repeating function. 
     The actuating lever  11  moves in a slit  12  in the cylinder and is operated in the same manner as a pistol. 
     The time of the release and hence the capacity of the candle extinguisher can be adapted to the individual requirements with the adjustable limit stop  9 . 
     Angling of the nozzle  14  enables comfortable handling with tea lights. A full set of possible applications can be attained with extension adapters  15 , which may be angled, bent or flexible. 
     A rubber ring  13  and/or a spring  19 ,  319  dampen the piston  2  at the end position during impact. The spring  19  also pushes the piston  2  back slightly, so that the magnet arrives at the retractor earlier, which shortens the travel of the actuating lever. 
     The optional annular nozzle  4  or screen nozzle  20  compresses the exiting air and increases the capacity and the accuracy due to the possible larger diameter of the nozzle. 
       FIG. 2  In this embodiment, an oppositely poled magnet  101  is employed and is moved inside the tube in the axial direction with an iron ring slider  102 , which slides over the outside of the tube. 
     The actuating lever  103  is located on the ring slider. 
     The return spring  104  operates directly on the outside over the piston tube. 
     Axially guiding is achieved with a nut and spring system  105 . 
     The ring slider  102  and the return spring  104  may operate below a cover  106 . 
       FIG. 3  In this embodiment, the return spring  21  operates separately, wherein the push rod  22  is attached on the ring slider  102 . 
       FIG. 4  This Figure shows an embodiment of the invention which is modified from  FIG. 1 . Identical elements or elements having an identical function are labeled with the same reference symbols as in  FIG. 1 , unless otherwise noted. Compared to  FIG. 1 , the value  300  is added to each reference symbol. 
     In this version, the actuating mechanism is integrated in the hand piece  31  (housing). The trigger is constructed as a finger opening  311  in the housing  301 . The iron retractor  306  is moved by retracting the trigger with the finger. The magnet  305  is carried along by the iron retractor  306 . Consequently, the piston assembly  308  consisting of the piston rod  302 , the piston ring  303 , the magnet  305 , the damping ring  350 , are tensioned against the spring  307 . A release protrusion  351  arranged on the piston rod  302  then strikes a partition  352  which is fixedly arranged in the hand piece  301 . The release protrusion is formed, for example, by flat portions disposed on the piston rod  302 . As a result, the magnet  305  is abruptly detached from the iron retractor  306 , with the force from the spring  310  thrusting the piston assembly  308  forward in a cylinder  316 . The air in the cylinder  316  is compressed and thereby generates an burst of air pressure which exits the nozzle  314 . The damping spring  319  has a conical structure and can therefore be compressed down to the thickness of the spring wire. This lengthens the travel of the piston assembly  308  and increases of the pressure capacity. 
     The angle of the nozzle  314  can be continuously adjusted through axial rotation. The limit stop  353  prevents further pullback of the trigger  311  after release. 
       FIG. 5  shows a version with the same tensioning and release function as  FIG. 4 , modified here as a toy repetition slingshot for shooting arrows, balls and the like, optionally also with a cartridge. 
     With the push rod  403  optionally attached on the piston  402 , which shoots forward in the barrel  404  employing the disclosed mechanism, arrows  403  or balls and the like can be shot with the repeat function in rapid succession, wherein the ammunition  405  residing in the cartridge  404  slides down or is pressed on with a spring. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
     
         
           1 ,  301  Hand piece 
           2 ,  302  Piston rod 
           3 ,  303  Piston ring 
           4 ,  314  Ring nozzle 
           5 ,  305  Magnet 
           6 ,  306  Iron retractor 
           7 ,  307  Spring 
           8 ,  308  Piston assembly 
           10 ,  310  Spring (rear) 
           11 ,  311  Actuating lever 
           12  Slit 
           13  Rubber ring 
           14 ,  314  Nozzle 
           15  Extension 
           16 ,  316  Cylinder 
           19 ,  319  Spring 
           350  Damping ring 
           351  Trigger cam 
           352  Partition 
           353  Limit stop 
           454  Flat region