Patent ID: 8246346

Claim:
A candle apparatus that is arranged for placement in a candle base that is placed upon a flat surface, wherein the candle apparatus is arranged to transform between different appearances as the candle apparatus burns such that the candle apparatus transforms similar to blooming petals of a flower, the candle apparatus comprising: a candle body having a top portion, a bottom portion, an outer surface, and an inner core, wherein the candle body is formed from a wax substance, wherein the top portion has a first surface area, wherein the bottom portion has a second surface area that is smaller than the first surface area, wherein the inner core extends along a longitudinal axis that extends from the top portion to the bottom portion, wherein the outer surface of the candle body extends from the top portion to the bottom portion along the longitudinal axis according to a tapered profile, wherein the outer surface is segmented into two or more segment portions that are separated by grooves having lengths that extend vertically from the top portion towards the bottom portion along the longitudinal axis, wherein a depth associated with the grooves extends from an edge of the inner core to the outer surface of the candle body, wherein the candle body is adapted for coupling to the candle base such that the candle body is supported in a substantially vertical orientation when coupled to the base and placed upon the flat surface, wherein the longitudinal axis is perpendicular to a plane associated with the flat surface such that the flat surface of the plane and the longitudinal axis form an orthogonal set with respect to one another; a candle wick that extends along the longitudinal axis within the inner core of the candle body; and wherein the inner core directly surrounds the candle wick, and wherein the candle body formed by the inner core and the segment portions is an integral cast-molded part, wherein the segment portions have vertical lengths, wherein inner portions of the segment portions are connected to the inner core along a majority of the vertical lengths of the segment portions prior to burning the candle apparatus, wherein the candle includes a burn radius surrounding the wick and wherein the depth associated with the grooves is sufficiently deep to extend inwardly from the outer surface of the candle body to at least the burn radius of the candle, and wherein the depths of the grooves relative to the burn radius and a taper angle of the tapered profile cause the segment portions of the candle body to gradually separate from the inner core of the candle body by plastically deforming radially away and downwardly from the inner core as the candle body burns such that the segment portions transform during burning with an appearance that is similar to the blooming petals of the flower.