Abstract:
A wick trimmer apparatus is herein provided and more particularly, a wick trimmer with a measuring foot that facilitates the effective cutting of a wick to an appropriate length. The wick trimmer has two arms and a measuring foot connected to the second arm that determines the length of a wick protruding from the top portion of a candle. The wick trimmer also has a debris tray formed from a top portion of the measuring foot and a top portion of a base of the first arm. The angles of the arms facilitate both the effective trimming of wicks and the ability of the wick trimmer to access a candle housed within a narrow candle container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a wick trimmer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wick trimmer with a measuring foot that facilitates the effective cutting of a wick to an appropriate length. 
   2. Background and Related Art 
   Wick trimmers are often used in order to shorten a wick to an appropriate length. 
   Sometimes wicks need to be shortened because candles are sold with wicks that are too long or because candle wicks become too long after a period of burning. Failing to trim wicks to an appropriate length can result in a fire hazard. 
   However, achieving a proper wick trim can be problematic. Existing wick trimmers fail to accurately or easily measure an appropriate wick length. This is because they either rely on the human eye to judge the appropriate wick length or because they are difficult to negotiate. 
   Many existing wick cutters also fail to effectively cut through wicks. Wicks consist of a metal filament that presents difficulties for many wick cutters that are either unsharpened or not sturdy enough to create clean wick cuts. 
   In addition, many wick cutters do not fit into some designs of candle holders. For instance, wick cutters with scissor-like designs do not fit into narrow candle holders. 
   Also, many wick cutters fail to catch the wick after it is cut, leaving a candle cluttered with old wick pieces. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a novel wick trimmer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wick trimmer with a measuring foot that facilitates the effective cutting of a wick to an appropriate length. 
   Implementation of the present invention takes place in association with a candle, a wick and a wick trimmer. In one implementation, the wick trimmer cuts a wick to a predetermined length. This increases the safety of candle usage by decreasing the fire hazard caused by a long wick. Where multiple-wicks are presented near each other, such as in multi-wick candles or a set of candles, the uniformity of wick length also creates a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
   In another implementation, the measuring foot has a uniform thickness. The thickness of the measuring foot facilitates the effectiveness of the cuts produced by the wick trimmer. 
   In a related implementation, the measuring foot has a cutting edge, which when combined with the thickness of the measuring foot, produces effective, clean cuts on all parts of the cutting edge. 
   In yet another implementation, the measuring foot has a debris tray formed on the top portion of the measuring foot. The debris tray catches the wick after it is cut, leaving the candle uncluttered by old wick pieces. 
   In another implementation, the wick trimmer comprises two arms that are connected together. Variable cutting strength is created along the cutting edge because the angles of the arms are slightly different. In a related implementation, the angles of the arms allow the wick trimmer to access the wicks of candles that are housed in candle holders with very narrow openings. 
   In another implementation, the middle portion of both arms is angled to a degree that facilitates the overlap and attachment of both arms onto each other. 
   In another implementation, the wick trimmer is made out of stainless steel. 
   In another implementation, the cutting edge is serrated. 
   While the methods and processes of the present invention have proven to be particularly useful in the area of wick trimming, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the methods and processes can be used in a variety of different applications and in a variety of different areas of manufacture to yield effective trimming results. 
   These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth or will become more fully apparent in the description that follows and in the appended claims. The features and advantages may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Furthermore, the features and advantages of the invention may be learned by the practice of the invention or will be obvious from the description, as set forth hereinafter. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the manner in which the above recited and other features and advantages of the present invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that the drawings depict only typical embodiments of the present invention and are not, therefore, to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention, the present invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  provides an illustration of a representative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a wick trimmer is in closed position. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the second cutting arm. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the first cutting arm. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an alternative view of the first cutting arm. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a side view of the first cutting arm. 
       FIG. 5B  illustrates a side view of the second cutting arm. 
       FIG. 6  provides an illustration of a representative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the wick trimmer is in an open position and is also shown along with a candle, candle container and wick. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a wick trimmer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wick trimmer with a measuring foot that facilitates the effective cutting of a wick to an appropriate length. 
     FIG. 1  provides an illustration of a representative embodiment of the present invention, wherein a wick trimmer  20  is in a closed position  22  that includes a first cutting arm  30 , a second cutting arm  32 , a measuring foot  34 , a pin  36 , and a debris tray  38 . In this embodiment, the measuring foot  34 , which is also referred to as a base or an end, has a uniform thickness of about ¼″. This thickness is the most presently preferred thickness of the preferred embodiment. However, other presently preferred embodiments not shown in  FIG. 1  have a thickness of between about ⅛″ and about ⅞″ or more preferably, a thickness of between about ⅛″ and about ½″. In some embodiments, the thickness is uniform and in others it is not. These thicknesses, combined with the sturdy, stainless steel material out of which the wick cutter is made, facilitate a clean, consistent cut of the wick. 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the debris tray  38  is formed from a top rim portion  40  of the measuring foot  34  and a base  42  of the second cutting arm  32 . When the wick trimmer is in the closed position  22 , as is shown in  FIG. 1 , a trimmed portion of a wick sits within the debris tray  38  and can be easily removed from a candle or a candle container. Also shown in this embodiment of the present invention are handles  50 , which aid a user in manipulating the wick trimmer  20 . 
   In addition,  FIG. 1  shows a middle portion  54  of the first cutting arm  30  and a middle portion  56  of the second cutting arm  32  that are both angled. The angular configuration allows the first cutting arm  30  and the second cutting arm  32  to overlap such that pin  36  can securely couple the first cutting arm  30  and the second cutting arm  32 . In some embodiments, a middle portion of the first cutting arm is angled between about 170° and about 175° and a middle portion of the second cutting arm is angled between about 170° and about 175°, allowing the first cutting arm and the second cutting arm to overlap so that the first cutting arm and the second cutting arm can connect. 
     FIG. 2  shows a top view of the second cutting arm  32 . This view highlights base  42  of the first cutting arm  32  that forms the debris tray  38  ( FIG. 1 ) when the wick trimmer  20  is in the closed position  22 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a top view of the first cutting arm  30 . This view highlights the top portion of the measuring foot  40  that forms the debris tray  38  ( FIG. 1 ) when the wick trimmer  20  is in the closed position  22 . 
     FIG. 4  shows an alternative view of the first cutting arm  30 . This view highlights the thickness of the measuring foot  34 . 
   As seen in  FIG. 5A , a first portion  76  of the first cutting arm  30  and a second portion  78  of the first cutting arm  30  form a top angle  58  of the first cutting arm  30  and a third portion  80  of the first cutting arm  30  and a fourth portion  82  of the first cutting arm  30  form a bottom angle  60  of the first cutting arm  30 . Similarly, in  FIG. 5B , a first portion  84  of the second cutting arm  32  and a second portion  86  of the second cutting arm  32  form a top angle  62  of the second cutting arm  32  and a third portion  88  of the second cutting arm  32  and a fourth portion  90  of the second cutting arm  32  form a bottom angle  64  of the second cutting arm  32 . 
     FIG. 5A  shows a side view of the first cutting arm  30 . This view illustrates an embodiment of the present invention where the top angle  58  of the first cutting arm  30  is different than the bottom angle  60  of the first cutting arm  30 . In this particular, non-limiting example, the top angle  58  of the first cutting arm  30  is about 105.00°, and the bottom angle  60  of the first cutting arm  30  is about 105.75°. In some embodiments, the first cutting arm includes a top angle and a bottom angle of between about 95.00° and about 115.00°. 
     FIG. 5B  shows a side view of the second cutting arm  32 . This view illustrates an embodiment of the present invention where the top angle  62  of the second cutting arm  32  is the same as the bottom angle  64  of the second cutting arm  32 . In this particular, non-limiting example, the top angle  62  of the second cutting arm  32  and the bottom angle  64  of the second cutting arm  32  are both about 105.00°. In some embodiments, the second cutting arm includes a top angle of between about 95.00° and about 115.00° and a bottom angle at least about 0.25° greater than the top angle. 
   Thus, when the first cutting arm  30  and the second cutting arm  32  of  FIGS. 5A and 5B  are coupled together, variable cutting strength is created along a cutting edge  66  ( FIGS. 2–3 ) because of the difference in angles between the bottom angle  60  of the first cutting arm  30  and the bottom angle  64  of the second cutting arm  32 . This embodiment shows that the most presently preferred difference in angle between the bottom angle  64  of the second cutting arm  32  and the bottom angle  60  of the first cutting arm  30  about 0.75°. In other presently preferred embodiments, this difference is between about 0.25° and about 1.25°, more preferably between about 0.35° and about 1.15° and, most preferably between about 0.50° and about 1.00°. This variable cutting strength in part contributes to the surprisingly successful cutting results of the wick trimmer  20 , when compared against other wick cutters. 
   In addition, in other embodiments, a top angle  58  of the first cutting arm  30  and a top angle  62  of the second cutting arm  32  have a range of between about 100° and about 110°. 
     FIG. 6  provides an illustration of a representative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the wick trimmer  20  is in an open position  70 . This embodiment also shows candle  46 , candle container  48  and wick  72 . This embodiment shows how the first cutting arm  30  and the second cutting arm  32  allow the wick trimmer  20  to fit within candle container  48 . It also illustrates how measuring foot  34  is placed against a top surface  74  of candle  46  in order to accurately measure the length of the wick  72  that should remain after trimming. In one embodiment, the wick trimmer is configured so as to fit into a candle container that is at least about 1.5 inches in diameter. 
   Thus, as discussed herein, the embodiments of the present invention embrace the field of wick trimmers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wick trimmer with a measuring foot that facilitates the effective cutting of a wick to an appropriate length. 
   The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.