Candle wick centering device and method

Abstract

A candle wick centering method and device for maintaining the vertically centered position of a wick that is disposed within the cavity of a candle container throughout the wax pouring and solidifying process includes a centering device having an annular flange that rests upon the rim of the candle container and a support member that extends across and bisects the centering device creating a pair of opposed apertures. Located at the midpoint of the support member is a wick-retaining member that includes a tapered notch into which the upper end of the wick can be inserted for holding the wick in place throughout the wax pouring and hardening process. The candle container can be capped with the centering device left in place to trap the aromatic scents therein, and the purchaser can easily dispose of the candlewick-centering device after removal of the candle lid for lighting the jar candle.

1 . For use with a jar candle having a bottom surface, a sidewall and a cavity defined by the sidewall for containing the candle wax, a candlewick-centering device for holding a wick attached to the bottom surface in a vertically centered position within the cavity throughout the wax pouring and curing process, comprising: 
 an annular main body member for disposition on the sidewall of the jar candle;    an annular flange coextensive with the main body member for placement upon the rim of the sidewall of the jar candle;    a support member that extends across the diameter of the main body member thus bisecting the main body member;    a pair of apertures formed by the bisection of the main body member by the support member;    a wick-retaining member formed at the midpoint of the support member so that the wick-retaining member is coaxial with the cavity of the jar candle when the candlewick-centering device is placed on the jar candle;    the wick-retaining member further including a wick holding notch with the wick holding notch having a gradually decreasing inward taper; and    the upper end of the wick being inserted within the wick holding notch of the wick-retaining member so that the wick can be held and maintained in the vertically centered position within the cavity of the jar candle throughout the process of pouring the wax in the cavity and hardening the wax to form the candle of the jar candle.    
   
   
       2 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a pair of ribs that extends inwardly toward each other with each rib including a distal end.  
   
   
       3 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 2  wherein the distal ends of the ribs are connected to the wick-retaining member.  
   
   
       4 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 3  wherein the annular flange includes a flat upper surface coextensive with the flange.  
   
   
       5 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 4  wherein the flat upper surface includes indicia printed thereon that denote identifying information or purchaser instructions.  
   
   
       6 . A candlewick-centering device for placement on the rim of a jar candle for holding the wick in a vertically centered position with respect to the jar candle throughout the wax pouring and solidifying process, comprising: 
 an annular main body member for disposition adjacent the inside surface of the rim of the jar candle;    an annular flange coextensive with the main body member for placement upon the rim of the jar candle;    a support member extending across the main body member and thus bisecting the main body member into two equal semi-circular portions;    each of the semi-circular portions of the main body member defining an aperture;    a wick-retaining member formed at the midpoint of the support member and the wick-retaining member being coaxial with the jar candle when the candlewick-centering device is placed on the jar candle;    the wick-retaining member further including a wick holding notch having a gradually decreasing inward taper; and    the wick insertable within the wick holding notch of the wick-retaining member so that the wick is held by the wick-retaining member in the vertically centered position throughout the process of pouring the candle wax in the jar candle and the solidifying of the wax within the jar candle.    
   
   
       7 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 6  wherein the support member includes a pair of ribs that extends inwardly toward each other with each rib having a distal end.  
   
   
       8 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 7  wherein the distal ends of the ribs are adjoined to the wick-retaining member.  
   
   
       9 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 8  wherein the annular flange includes a flat upper surface that is coextensive with the flange.  
   
   
       10 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 9  wherein the flat upper surface of the flange includes indicia printed thereon that denote identifying information or user instructions.  
   
   
       11 . A candlewick-centering device for holding a wick in a candle container throughout the wax pouring and solidifying process, comprising: 
 a main body member for placement on the candle container;    a flange coextensive with the main body member for disposition on the rim of the candle container;    a support member extending across the main body member and bisecting the main body member into two equal portions;    each of the portions of the main body member defining an aperture; and    a wick holding notch formed at the midpoint of the support member for receiving and holding the wick in a vertically centered disposition relative to the candle container throughout the wax pouring and solidifying process.    
   
   
       12 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 11  wherein the wick holding notch includes a notch opening that gradually and inwardly decreases in width.  
   
   
       13 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 12  wherein the support member includes a pair of ribs each of which extends inwardly toward each other from the main body member with each rib terminating at an inner distal end.  
   
   
       14 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 13  wherein the distal ends of the ribs are attached to the wick-holding notch.  
   
   
       15 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 14  wherein the flange includes a flat upper surface coextensive with the flange.  
   
   
       16 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 15  wherein the flat upper surface of the flange includes indicia printed therein that denote identifying information or user instructions.  
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a candle in a candle container having a bottom surface, a sidewall, and a cavity enclosed by the sidewall, comprising the steps of: 
 attaching a wick to a metal plate;    fixing the metal plate to the bottom surface of the candle container so that the wick is vertically centered within the cavity;    pouring the molten wax into the cavity of the candle container;    placing a candlewick-centering device upon the sidewall of the candle container;    inserting the wick onto the candlewick-centering device; and    placing a cap on the candle container with the candlewick-centering device still holding the wick and in place on the candle container.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the candlewick-centering device includes an annular main body member for placement on the sidewall of the candle container.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the candlewick-centering device includes an annular flange coextensive with the main body member and adjoined to the main body member.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the annular flange includes a flat upper surface having indicia printed thereon that denote identifying information or user instructions.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the candlewick-centering device includes a support member that extends across the diameter of the main body member and bisects the main body member into two equal semi-circular portions.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein each of the semi-circular portions defines an aperture.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising a wick-retaining member formed at the midpoint of the support member.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the wick-retaining member includes a tapered notch for receiving and holding therein the upper end of the wick so that the wick maintains its vertically centered position within the candle container during the wax pouring and solidifying process.  
   
   
       25 . For use with a jar candle having a bottom surface, a sidewall, an open top at the upper end of the sidewall, and a cavity defined by the sidewall for containing the candle wax, a candlewick-centering device for holding a wick attached to the bottom surface in a vertically centered position within the cavity throughout the wax pouring and solidifying process, comprising: 
 an annular main body member for disposition adjacent the sidewall and within the open top of the jar candle;    a plurality of spaced-apart support legs with each leg having a curvilinear portion that hooks onto the sidewall so that the main body member can be disposed pendent within the open top of the jar candle;    a support member that extends across the diameter of the main body member and bisects the main body member;    a wick-retaining member formed at the midpoint of the support member so that the wick-retaining member is coaxial with the cavity of the jar candle when the main body member is pendently disposed within the open top of the sidewall;    the wick-retaining member further including a wick holding notch with the wick holding notch having a gradually decreasing inward taper; and    the upper end of the wick insertable within the wick holding notch of the wick-retaining member so that the wick can be maintained in the vertically centered position within the cavity of the jar candle throughout the process of pouring the wax in the cavity and the solidifying of the wax therein to form the candle for the jar candle.    
   
   
       26 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 25  wherein the support member includes a pair of ribs that extend inwardly toward each other with each rib including a distal end.  
   
   
       27 . The candlewick-centering device of  claim 26  wherein the distal ends of the ribs are adjoined to the wick-retaining member for supporting the coaxial positioning of the wick-retaining member with respect to the cavity of the jar candle.