IE20140103A1 - Candle holders - Google Patents

Abstract

A candle holder (1) has a socket for receiving the bottom end of a votive or other candle (C). The socket has a central cylindrical base (9) and four prongs (16) that are upstanding from an annular member (10) that encircles the base (9), for holding the candle(C) upright. The annular member (10) and its prongs (16) are of a metal, namely aluminium, that has a better thermal conductivity than the metal, brass, of the base (9). This ensures good dissipation of heat from where the candle (C) is being held within the prongs (16), and there is greater conservation of heat where the bottom-end face of the candle (C) abuts the base (9) so as to prolong burning at that end and enhance drainage of wax through holes (19) of the base (9). <Figure 1>

Description

Candle Holders This invention relates tc candle holders, and is particularly, though not exclusively, concerned with holders for votive candles.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a holder for a votive or other candle comprises first and second component parts that define a socket for holding a bettom-end portion of the candle in retaining the candle supported upright in the holder, wherein the first component part forms a base of the socket for abutment by the end face of the bottom-end of the candle held in the socket, the second component part comprises one or more portions upstanding with respect to the base for exerting at least a partialiy-circumf erential hold of the bottom-end of the candle in further definition of said socket, and. wherein the thermal conductivity of said first component part forming the base is less than the thermal conductivity of the second component part.

The second component part, whioh may be of aluminium, may be an annular member, and in these circuitsrances the first component part, may be a cylindrical member located coaxially within the second component, part.. The annular member may have prongs which are spaced from one another round the annular member and whioh are upstanding from it to define the socket with a hold within throe or more distributed parts of the circumference of the bottom-end of the candle, The first component part, which may be of brass, may involve a tube for piercing the end face of the bottom-end of the candle to engage with the candle-wick when the candle is inserted in the socket. In addition, or in t in the^a.lt-ern^d'-reT'T'Sssages may be ίΕ 1 40 1 ο J provided through the first component part for draining wax from the holder.

A holder for a votive or other candle, according to the present 5 invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure i j.:; a sectional side elevation of a burner that, includes tho candle holder according to the present invention with a representative candle held in it; Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation and a plan of the candle holder of the invention; Figures 4 to 6 are respectively a side elevation, a plan and a sectional side-e.'Levation of a first of two component parts of the candle holder of the invention; arid Figures 7 to 9 are respectively a side elevation, a plan and a sectional-side elevation of the second component, part of the candle holder of the invention.

Referring to Figure .1 , the candle holder i of this example is contained within an external, burner casing 2 that comprises a stand 3 and a cylindrical Jight-alloy cowl 4. The stand 3 is a machined, one-piece aluminium part which .incorporates a cylindrical collar 5 that is supported on two legs 6 above a base ring 7. The cowl 4 screws onto the collar 5 and incorporates apertures 8 which, in addition to enhancing airflow to the represented candle C, have a decorative effect; the example of cowl 4 illustrated is for votive use with each of the apertures S cut out in the form of a pommee cross.

Referring also to Figures 2 to 9, the candle holder 1, which is mounted centrally within the casing 2, comprises a cylindrical IE 1 40 103 member 9 of brass whi oh fits coaxially within an annular member iff of aluminium. The member 10 is supported coaxially within the collar 5 on three equally-spaced arms 11 which are pressed into, to extend radially from, a body portion 12 of the member 10. The three arms 11 are engaged for this support within a slot 13 that extends round the inside surface 14 of the collar 5, each having been entered in the slot 13 from above: via a respective entry slot 15 (only one shown) at right, angles to the slot 13 in the surface 14 .

A socket for retaining the candle C supported upright in the holder 1, is defined by the oentral cylindrical member 9 of brass which forms a base of the socket, and by four mutually-spaced, upstanding prongs 16 of the body portion 12 of the annular member 10 of aluminium. The prongs 1.6 are formed integrally and coaxially with the body portion 12, and, with the bottom-end of the candle C pushed fully into the socket, exert a gripping hold on the bottom-end of the candle C at points in the four quarters of its circumference so as to retain it firmly upright. As pushed fully into the socket, the end-face of t'ne bottom-cud of the candle C abuts the upper face 17 of the brass member 9 as a sharpened, upstanding brass tube IB cf the member 9 pierces the end-face to engage with the candle-wick .

Burriing of the candle C ί,κ enhanced by the freedom of airflow through the stand 3, upwardly past the holder 1 and through the cowl 4 for good combustion and augmentation by air entering through the apertures S, The use of aluminium (a metal with a relatively goed thermal conductivity) for the member 10, and in particular for the integral prongs 16 contacting the candle C, ensures good dissipation of heat from within the retaining socket of tlie holder 3, so as to preserve its hold of the candle C upright, Puring the final stages of burning of the candle C, when the wax of the ΙΕ ί 4 0 10 3 bottom-end. melts, the engagement of the tube 18 with the wick of the candle C acts to maintain the wick from Falling, and the member 9 of brats (a metal with a lower thermal conductivity than aluminium) acts to conserve heat and retain the wax in the liquefied state to percolate the wick. This tends to prolong the burning and promote the melting ol any remaining wax, Holes 19 through the member 9 (see Figure 5) allow the liquefied wax to drain from the holder 1 .

The good thermal conductivity of the member 10 has a further advantage in circumstances where the candle C has burned away and is to be replaced promptly by another candle. Because of the good thermal conductivity of the member 10, the heat associated with the burning of the wax and wick at the bottom-end of existing candle C is quickly dissipated from the prongs 16, Accordingly, residual heat in the prongs 16 that would otherwise soften or melt the wax of the bottom-end of the replacement candle, is quickly dissipated, so that the integrity of the holder for retaining tho replacement candle supported upright is the better assured, Where burners of Lhe form shown in Figure 1 are used for votive purposes they may be arranged in tiered rows bolted to the framework of a metal stand, and in these circumstances an elongate?, open-top tray may extend lengthwise beneath each row of burners for collecting the wax draining from the burner of the respective row.

In the candle holder 1 describe;! above, the metals of the two component parts, namely, the members 9 and 10, are respectively brass and aluminium, with the purpose of having the thermal conductivity of the member 9 less than that of the member 10.

Other combinations of metals might be used instead, and. in this respect, the following table gives numerical representations of the thermal conductivities of six examples (the higher the number IS tho better the thermal conductivity), Table Metal Thermal Conductivet steel 50 brass 109 aluminium 250 gold 310 copper 401 silver 429 Clearly, the choice of materials for the members 9 and 10 will bo 5 determined by economic considerations as well as difference in thermal conductivity, so whereas use of steel for the member 9 and silver for the men'iber 10 appear, on the face of itr best, economic and other issues are likely to be overriding in the final choice.

Claims (8)

1. :l - A bolder for a votive or otlier candle comprises first- and second component parts that, define a socket for holding a fx>t.tomend portion of the candle in retaining the candle supported upright .i.u the holder, wherein the first component part forms a base of the socket for abutment by the end face of the bottom-end of the candle held in the socket, the second component part comprises one or more portions upstanding with respect to the base for exerting at least a partially- circumferential hold cf the bottom-end of the candle in further definition of said socket, and wherein the thermal conductivity of said first component part forming the base is less than the thermal conductivity of the second component part Ξ, A holder according to claim 1 wherein the second component part is of aluminium.

2. 3- A holder according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the second component part is an annular member, and the first component part is a cyl.i.ndii leal member located coaxially within the second component part.

3. 4. A holder according to claim 3 wherein the annular member has prongs which are spaced from one another round the annular member and which are upstanding from it to define the socket with a hold within throe or morn distributed parts of the circumference of the bottom-end of the candle.

4. 5. A holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first component part is of brass

5. 6. A holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the first component part involves a tube for piercing the end face of ΪΕ ί 4 Ο 1 0 J the bottom-end of the candle to engage with the candle-wick when the candle is inserted in the socket.

6. 7. λ herder according Lo any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein passages arc provided through the first component part for draining wax from the holder.

7.

8. A holder- for a votive or other candle, substantially as hereinbefore described vzith reference to the drawings.