Decorative candles and method of making them

Abstract

A method of applying an image to the surface of a wax candle is described, comprising applying the image to a film which is removably attached to a transfer material, wherein the film is a flexible, shape-conforming material which does not exhibit structural rigidity, and applying the film to the surface of the candle. The method can further comprise submerging the candle and applied film into molten wax, e.g. having a melting temperature which is about the same as or lower than the melting temperature of the candle to which the film is applied. Candles made by the method of the invention are also described.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of applying an image to the surface of a wax candle, comprising 
 a) applying the image to a film which is removably attached to a transfer material, wherein the film is a flexible, shape-conforming material which does not exhibit structural rigidity, and    b) applying the film to the surface of the candle.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 c) submerging the candle and applied film into molten wax.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the molten wax has a melting temperature which is about the same as or lower than the melting temperature of the candle to which the film is applied.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the film has a thickness of less than about 200 μm.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the film has a thickness of about 185±5 μm.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the film is META 2000.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the molten wax has a melting temperature of less than about 140° F.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the molten wax has a temperature of equal to or less than about 90°F.  
     
     
         9 . A method of applying an image to the surface of a wax candle, comprising submerging into molten wax a candle having applied thereto a film bearing an image, wherein the film is a flexible, shape-conforming material which does not exhibit structural rigidity.  
     
     
         10 . A candle comprising, 
 a) an inner wax core,    b) a polymer or resin film in contact with the inner wax core, and    c) an outer layer of wax having a melting temperature which is about the same as or lower than that of the wax of the inner core.    
     
     
         11 . A candle comprising a layer of film which is a flexible, shape-conforming material which does not exhibit structural rigidity, and which has a thickness of less than about 200 μm.  
     
     
         12 . The candle of  claim 11 , wherein the film does not torch when the candle burns.  
     
     
         13 . A candle comprising 
 a) an inner wax core,    b) a layer of film which is a flexible, shape-conforming material which does not exhibit structural rigidity, and which has applied thereto an image or graphic, and    c) an outer layer of wax.    
     
     
         14 . The candle of  claim 13 , wherein the outer layer of wax has a melting temperature which is about the same as or lower than that of the wax of the inner core.  
     
     
         15 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the film has a thickness of less than about 200 μm.  
     
     
         16 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the film has a thickness of 185±5 μm.  
     
     
         17 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the film is META 2000.  
     
     
         18 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the film does not torch when the candle burns.  
     
     
         19 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the wax of the outer layer has a melting temperature of less than about 140° F.  
     
     
         20 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the wax of the outer layer has a temperature equal to or less than about 90° F.  
     
     
         21 . The candle of  claim 14 , further comprising an image or graphic applied to the film, wherein the image or graphic appears to be imbedded in wax.  
     
     
         22 . A candle made by the method of  claim 2 .  
     
     
         23 . A candle made by the method of  claim 3 .  
     
     
         24 . A method of applying an image or graphic to the surface of a candle, comprising 
 a) printing an image or graphic onto a transfer paper by off-set printing with CMYK ink,    b) applying a coating of liquid META  2000  to the transfer paper, whereby, as the coating solidifies, it forms a film having a thickness of about 185±5 μM, and the ink binds to the film, thereby transferring the image or graphic to the film,    c) removing the film with transferred image from the transfer paper and applying the film to the surface of the candle, and    d) submerging the candle and applied film into molten wax having a temperature of about 90° F. or less.    
     
     
         25 . A method of applying an image to the surface of a wax object, comprising 
 a) applying the image to a film which is removably attached to a transfer material, wherein the film is a flexible, shape-conforming material which does not exhibit structural rigidity,    b) applying the film to the surface of the candle, and    c) submerging the candle and applied film into molten wax.