Flame resistant wick holder for candle

Abstract

A flame-retardant wick holder for a candle is made of a material having a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of at least V-0, including polymers and ceramics. The wick holder supports a wick at the bottom of a candle. The wick holder material causes the flame on the wick to extinguish when it reaches the holder, thereby preventing flashover of the residual candle fuel at the end of the candle useful life. One version of the holder includes a barrier extending upwardly around the holder for catching a drooping wick from causing secondary wicking and possible flashover near the end of the candle useful life.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A wick holder for a candle having a wick, the candle made from a fuel capable of melting to form a liquid pool and traveling by capillary action to a flame burning on the wick, the wick holder comprising: 
 a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side wall connecting the top surface to the bottom-surface, and a cylindrical bore for receiving the wick passing through the body between the top and bottom surfaces; and    a barrier extending vertically above the top surface, wherein the barrier and body are both made from a non-combustible material.    
     
     
         2 . A wick holder according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one groove or drain hole formed in the barrier.  
     
     
         3 . A wick holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the non-combustible material is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyvinylchloride, polysulfones and ceramics which have a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of V-0 for thicknesses of {fraction (1/32)} inch.  
     
     
         4 . A wick holder according to  claim 3 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         5 . A wick holder according to  claim 4 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         6 . A wick holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         7 . A wick holder according to  claim 6 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         8 . A wick holder according to  claim 7 , wherein the barrier is positioned at the perimeter of the cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         9 . A wick holder according to  claim 8 , wherein the barrier is positioned at a perimeter of the body.  
     
     
         10 . A wick holder according to  claim 2 , wherein the barrier is formed integral with the body.  
     
     
         11 . A wick holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-combustible material is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyvinylchloride, polysulfones and ceramics which have a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of V-0 for thicknesses of {fraction (1/32)} inch.  
     
     
         12 . A wick holder according to  claim 11 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         13 . A wick holder according to  claim 12 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         14 . A wick holder according to  claim 12 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from adjacent the side wall toward the bore.  
     
     
         15 . A wick holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         16 . A wick holder according to  claim 15 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         17 . A wick holder according to  claim 16 , wherein the barrier is positioned at the perimeter of the cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         18 . A wick holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is positioned at a perimeter of the body.  
     
     
         19 . A wick holder according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier is formed integral with the body.  
     
     
         20 . A self-extinguishing candle, comprising: 
 a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side wall connecting the top surface to the bottom surface, and a cylindrical bore for receiving the wick passing through the body between the top and bottom surfaces;    a barrier extending vertically above the top surface, wherein the barrier and body are both made from a non-combustible material;    a candle fuel surrounding the body and barrier;    a wick inserted through the bore and extending through the candle fuel so that at least a portion of the wick is exposed above the candle fuel for lighting to melt the candle fuel adjacent the wick, the body extinguishing a flame burning on the wick when the flame reaches the top surface of the body.    
     
     
         21 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 20 , wherein the non-combustible material is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyvinylchloride, polysulfones and ceramics which have a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of V-0 for thicknesses of {fraction (1/32)} inch.  
     
     
         22 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 21 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         23 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 22 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         24 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 22 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from the side wall toward the bore.  
     
     
         25 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 20 , further comprising a container holding the candle fuel, the body resting on a floor of the container.  
     
     
         26 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 20 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         27 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is positioned at a perimeter of the cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         28 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 26 , wherein the barrier is formed integral with the body.  
     
     
         29 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 26 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         30 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 26 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from the side wall toward the bore.  
     
     
         31 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 20 , further comprising at least one groove or drain hole formed in the barrier.  
     
     
         32 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 31 , wherein the non-combustible material is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyvinylchloride, polysulfones and ceramics which have a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of V-0 for thicknesses of {fraction (1/32)} inch.  
     
     
         33 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 32 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         34 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 33 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         35 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 31 , further comprising a container holding the candle fuel, the body resting on a floor of the container.  
     
     
         36 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 31 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         37 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 36 , wherein the barrier is positioned at a perimeter of the cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         38 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 36 , wherein the barrier is formed integral with the body.  
     
     
         39 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 36 , wherein the top surface is sloped downwardly from around the bore toward the side wall.  
     
     
         40 . A wick holder for a candle having a wick, the candle made from a fuel capable of melting to form a liquid pool and traveling by capillary action to a flame burning on the wick, the wick holder comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, a side wall connecting the top surface to the bottom surface, and a cylindrical bore for receiving the wick passing through the body between the top and bottom surfaces wherein the non-combustible material is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones, polyvinylchloride, polysulfones and ceramics which have a UL-94 vertical burn test rating of V-0 for thicknesses of {fraction (1/32)} inch.  
     
     
         41 . A wick holder according to  claim 40 , further comprising a barrier extending vertically from above the top surface.  
     
     
         42 . A wick holder according to  claim 41 , wherein the barrier is formed integral with the body.  
     
     
         43 . A wick holder according to  claim 41 , further comprising at least one groove or drain hole formed in the barrier.  
     
     
         44 . A wick holder according to  claim 42 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk.  
     
     
         45 . A wick holder according to  claim 44 , wherein the barrier is located at a perimeter of the disk.  
     
     
         46 . A wick holder according to  claim 45 , wherein the top surface slopes downwardly from the bore toward the barrier.  
     
     
         47 . A wick holder according to  claim 45 , wherein the top surface slopes downwardly from the barrier toward the bore.  
     
     
         48 . A wick holder for a candle having a wick, the candle made from a fuel capable of melting to form a liquid pool and traveling by capillary action to a flame burning on the wick, the wick holder comprising a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical bore for receiving the wick passing through the body between the top and bottom surfaces, the body made from a non-combustible, intumescent polymer, the body extinguishing the flame burning on the wick when the flame reaches the top surface of the body.  
     
     
         49 . A wick holder according to  claim 48 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones and polyvinylchloride.  
     
     
         50 . A wick holder according to  claim 48 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk with a sloped upper surface extending from around an opening of the bore in the top surface downwardly toward a side edge of the disk.  
     
     
         51 . A wick holder according to  claim 48 , wherein the non-combustible, intumescent polymer is a polyethersulfone.  
     
     
         52 . A wick holder according to  claim 51 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk with a sloped upper surface extending from around an opening of the bore in the top surface downwardly toward a side edge of the disk.  
     
     
         53 . A wick holder according to  claim 52 , further comprising a plurality of spaced apart feet extending from the bottom surface of the disk.  
     
     
         54 . A wick holder according to  claim 48 , wherein the body is a hollow cone with a sloped upper surface extending from around an opening of the bore in the top surface downwardly toward a bottom edge of the cone.  
     
     
         55 . A self-extinguishing candle, comprising: 
 a body having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical bore passing through the body between the top and bottom surfaces, the body made from a non-combustible, intumescent polymer;    a candle fuel surrounding the body;    a wick inserted through the bore and extending through the candle fuel so that at least a portion of the wick is exposed above the candle fuel for lighting to melt the candle fuel adjacent the wick, the body extinguishing a flame burning on the wick when the flame reaches the top surface of the body.    
     
     
         56 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 55 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethersulfones, polyphenylsulfones and polyvinylchloride.  
     
     
         57 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 56 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk with a sloped upper surface extending from around an opening of the bore in the top surface downwardly toward a side edge of the disk.  
     
     
         58 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 56 , further comprising a plurality of spaced apart feet extending from the bottom surface of the disk.  
     
     
         59 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 55 , further comprising a container holding the candle fuel, the body resting on a floor of the container.  
     
     
         60 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 59 , wherein the polymer is polyethersulfone.  
     
     
         61 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 60 , wherein the body is a cylindrical disk with a sloped upper surface extending from around an opening of the bore in the top surface downwardly toward a side edge of the disk.  
     
     
         62 . A self-extinguishing candle according to  claim 55 , wherein the body is a hollow cone with a sloped upper surface extending from around an opening of the bore in the top surface downwardly toward a bottom edge of the cone.