Abstract:
A device for extinguishing flames without leaving residual smoke is described. The device is a tweezer like device with wax pads attached to the tips thereof, wherein the wax pads oppose one another. When opposing wax pads are brought together with a burning candle wick there between, the flame of the wick is extinguished without residual smoke being generated.

Description:
RELATED INVENTIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 09/114/733, filed Jul. 13, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,081, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device which can be used to extinguish small fires. In particular, it relates to a device which is suitable for use in extinguishing small fires such those associated with the wick of a burning candle, without leaving residual smoke. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known that many asthmatics and others who have lung diseases such as emphysema, have extreme difficulty breathing in a smoky environment. Even very dilute concentrations of smoke can cause asthmatics to have attacks which can be life threatening. For that reason, asthmatics tend not to burn candles for decorative purposes around the home and elsewhere, because when a burning candle is extinguished using conventional techniques, the wick of the candle will give off substantial quantities of smoke after the actual fire is extinguished. Often times, this residual smoke will trigger an asthma attack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is specifically designed to enable small fires to be extinguished such as those associated with the wicks of candles, without leaving a residue of smoke after the fire is extinguished. Thus, there is provided a smokeless fire extinguishing device. The device has the shape of conventional tweezers, having opposing attachments positioned on the tips thereof which have inwardly facing wax inserts. When it is desired to extinguish the flame of a candle, the tips of the device are positioned on opposite sides of the burning wick of the candle, and then forced together. The wax inserts on the attachments on the tips come into contact with the wick of the candle, extinguishing the flame without there being a smoke residue. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional pair of tweezers which form a part of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away of the device of the invention, showing a pad mounted on the tip of the device of the invention with an inwardly facing wax insert positioned therein. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the attachment for the tip of the device of the invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the wax insert for the attachment shown in FIG  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the attachment of FIG. 3, showing the wax insert of FIG. 4 inserted in place. 
     FIG.  6 . is a cross sectional view through line  6 — 6  of FIG. 3 showing the slot configuration used for mounting the attachment onto the tip of the tweezers. 
     FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the extreme forward end of the device of the invention showing a burning wick of a candle positioned there between. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a perspective view with portions broken away of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, illustrating how a wax block slides into the slot means of the embodiment. 
     FIG. 10 is a cross section view of the embodiment of FIG. 8 showing the wax block positioned in the slot means. 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of still another embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a side view of a portion of the embodiment shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is a cross sectional end view of the embodiment shown in FIG.  11 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tweezers like device  10  consisting of a pair of identical opposing leaves or blades  12  and  14 . Blade  12  has a body portion  16 , a forward end  18  and a rearward end  20 , and blade  14  has a body portion  22 , a forward end  24  and a rearward end  26  . Each blade  12  and  14  tapers to a small point at their respective forward ends  18  and  24 . The forward ends  18  and  24  of each blade  12  and  14  are offset at an angle relative to the body portions  16  and  22  respectively. The blades  12  and  14  are permanently attached to each other at their rearward ends  20  and  26 , projecting outward from each other at an angle. The angle of diversion is not critical, but generally ranges from about 15 to 20 degrees. In at rest position, the forward ends  18  and  24  of the respective blades are spaced apart from each other. The blades  12  and  14  are made of a flexible material, preferably steel. When desired, the opposing blades  12  and  14  can be grasped with the fingers and urged together. 
     A removable attachment  28  (FIGS. 2 and 3) is positioned on the forward ends  18  and  24  of each of the blades  12  and  14 . The attachment  28  comprises a flat base  30  having top  32  and bottom  34  surfaces with upwardly projecting walls  36  and  38  extending from each side of the base  30 . The bottom surface  34  of the base  30  has an additional U shaped channel piece  40  fastened thereto at opposing sides thereof, defining a slot  42  which extends substantially the length of the base. The dimensional configuration of the slot  42  is such that it is adapted to receive the forward ends  18  and  24  of the blades  12  and  14  when the attachment  28  is slipped over the respective ends thereof. The base  30  of the attachment  28  is preferably triangular in shape, although the actual shape is not critical. What is important is that the shape of the slot  42  conform to the shape of the forward ends  18  and  24  of the blades  12  and  14 , so that when the attachment  28  is slipped over the forward ends of the blades  12  and  14 , the fit is snug. 
     A removable wax insert  44  (FIGS. 4,  5  and  6 ) is positioned in that space defined by the base  30  and upwardly projecting walls  36  and  38  of the attachment  28 . The wax insert  44  projects above the walls  36  and  38 , as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 7. The wax can be of any composition, but is preferably that type of wax used in conventional candies. The was pad should be of sufficient dimension that it encompasses the length of a candle wick when brought into contact with it. 
     As seen in FIG. 7, the attachments  28  are positioned on the forward ends  18  and  24  of the blades  12  and  14  so that the wax pads  44  art facing inwardly. 
     In operation, the opposing forward ends  18  and  24  of the device  10 , with the inwardly facing removable attachments  28  in place, are positioned such that a burning candle wick  46  is there between (FIG.  7 ). The blades  12  and  14  are then squeezed together. The wax pads  44  engage the burning wick  46  through its entire length and snuff out the fire. There is no residual smoke. 
     Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8,  9  and  10 . This embodiment comprises a tweezers like device  48 , which has opposing movable blades  50  and  52 , each of which has a forward end and a rearward end. The blades are joined at their rearward ends. On the inner surface of the forward end of each blade,  50  and  52 , is positioned slot means  54  for receiving a wax block or insert  56 . The slot means  54  is comprised of the inner surface of the forward end of each blade, and a wall  58  projecting perpendicularly from the inner surfaces of the blades  50  and  52 . The wall  58  is three sided and is open on the top. At the outer end of the wall  58 , is a lip  60 , which projects perpendicularly from the end of the wall  58 , in an inward direction. Thus, as best seen in FIG. 10, when the wax block  56  is slid into the open face of the slot means  54 , the combination of the inner surface of the blade  50  or  52 , and the wall  58  with inwardly projecting lip  60 , serves to engage the wax block  56 , and hold it in place. Instead of using the inner surface of the blade  50  or  52  as one surface of the slot means, a separate unit can be built comprising a base and a wall with an inner projecting lip, to provide means for receiving the wax block. This unit can be attached to the inner surfaces of the blades  5 O and  52 . 
     Still another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 11,  12  and  13 . As best shown in FIG. 11, this embodiment comprises a tong or scissors like device having two opposing arms  64  and  66  joined together at a pivot  68 . The arms  64  and  66  are movable about the pivot  68 . Each of the arms  64  and  66  are substantially identical to each other, having a forward end  70  and a rearward end  72 . The rearward ends  72  of each arm are shaped like a scissors handle with an opening  74  through which the thumb or a digit can be placed. The forward ends  70  of each arm  64  and  66  have slot means  76  positioned on their respective inner surfaces for receiving a wax block or insert  78 . The slot means  76 , also known as wax block receiving means, comprises the inner surface of each of the forward ends  70  of the arms  64 ,  66 , and a wall  80 , which projects perpendicularly from the inner surface of each arm. At the outer end of the wall is a lip  82 , which is perpendicular to the end of the wall  80 . The wall  80  is U shaped in configuration, and is open on the front end. The combination of the inner surface of forward end  70  of the arm  64  or  66 , the wall  80  and lip  82 , combine to form a means for receiving and securing a wax block  78  which is slipped into the slot formed thereby. Thus, as seen in FIG. 13 the wax block  78  is secured within the slot formed by the various surfaces and walls of each arm. 
     Instead of using the inner surface of the forward ends  70  of the arms  64  and  66  as a component of the slot means, a separate unit can be built comprising a base, a wall projecting therefrom, and an inwardly projecting lip, and this unit can then be attached to the inner surface of the forward ends  70  of each of the arms  64  and  66  to provide means for receiving a wax block. 
     In operation, after the wax block  78  is inserted into the slot means  76  of each arm  64  and  66 , the forward ends of the arms are brought into contact with each other, serving to extinguish a burning candle wick which may be interposed therebetween. 
     The device according to the present invention has been shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments. However, it should be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications or changes made be made to the device while keeping within the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.