Wick holder

Abstract

In one aspect of the present invention, a wick holder adapted to hold a wick extending upwardly from a pool of liquefied fuel is provided. In one embodiment, a flame on the wick does not directly engage the pool of liquefied fuel. The wick holder includes a base portion that forms a capillary space with a capillary pedestal. A wick retainer is disposed above the base portion and retains the wick over the base portion. One or more openings through the base portion and an opening in the wick retainer disposed over the base portion provides a path for liquefied fuel to flow from the capillary space to the wick via the holes in the base portion, across a top of the base portion, and through the opening in the wick receiver.

1 . A wick holder, comprising: 
 a base portion defining a cavity on a first side thereof;    a wick retainer disposed on a second side of the base portion opposite the first side;    an opening through the base portion between the first side and the second side; and    a fuel aperture disposed on the second side of the base portion, wherein the fuel aperture is adjacent to the base portion, and wherein the fuel aperture is spaced from the opening.    
   
   
       2 . The wick holder of  claim 1  further comprising a second aperture defined at an end of the wick retainer distal from the base portion, wherein the second aperture is adapted to allow a portion of a wick to extend therethrough for carrying a flame thereon.  
   
   
       3 . The wick holder of  claim 1 , wherein a liquefied fuel travels over a portion of the second side of the base portion between the opening and the fuel aperture when a flame is disposed on a wick received by the wick retainer.  
   
   
       4 . The wick holder of  claim 3 , wherein the base portion comprises a capillary skirt, the capillary skirt at least partly defining the cavity.  
   
   
       5 . The wick holder of  claim 4 , wherein the wick retainer comprises a retainer sleeve.  
   
   
       6 . The wick holder of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel aperture is at least partly defined between the base portion and the retainer sleeve.  
   
   
       7 . The wick holder of  claim 5 , wherein the fuel aperture is disposed through a sidewall of the retainer sleeve.  
   
   
       8 . The wick holder of  claim 5  further comprising an indentation in a sidewall of the retainer sleeve.  
   
   
       9 . The wick holder of  claim 4 , wherein the base portion comprises a top plate, and the capillary skirt depends from the top plate.  
   
   
       10 . The wick holder of  claim 9 , wherein the opening is defined through the top plate.  
   
   
       11 . The wick holder of  claim 10  further comprising a heat fin extending from the second side of the base portion.  
   
   
       12 . The wick holder of  claim 11 , wherein the heat fin is attached to the top plate and supports the wick retainer.  
   
   
       13 . A wick holder, comprising: 
 a base portion adapted to form a capillary space above a capillary pedestal;    a wick receiver disposed above the base portion and adapted to retain a wick;    an opening through the base portion adapted to provide fluid communication between the capillary space and a top side of the base portion; and    a fuel aperture defined at least partly by the wick receiver, the fuel aperture disposed above and adjacent to the base portion spaced from the opening;    wherein the fuel aperture is adapted to be in fluid communication with the capillary space; and    wherein the wick holder is adapted to hold a portion of the wick above a pool of liquefied fuel surrounding the capillary pedestal.    
   
   
       14 . The wick holder of  claim 13 , wherein the base portion comprises a top wall and a capillary skirt depending downwardly from the top wall, and wherein the opening is disposed through the top wall.  
   
   
       15 . The wick holder of  claim 14  further comprising a heat fin extending upwardly from the top wall, wherein the heat fin carries the wick receiver.  
   
   
       16 . The wick holder of  claim 15 , wherein the fuel aperture is defined between the top wall and the wick receiver.  
   
   
       17 . The wick holder of  claim 16 , wherein the wick receiver comprises a tubular retainer sleeve.  
   
   
       18 . A wick assembly comprising a wick and a wick holder, the wick holder comprising: 
 a base portion;    a heat fin extending upwardly from a top side of the base portion;    a wick receiver disposed above the top side of the base portion;    the wick carried by the wick receiver with the wick disposed above the base portion;    a fluid path defined through the base portion, the fluid path extending between a supply area of liquefied fuel below the base portion and the top side of the base portion; and    a second fluid path extending from the wick and disposed above the base portion;    wherein the first fluid path is spaced from the second fluid path, and the first fluid path and the second fluid path provide fluid communication between the supply area and the wick.    
   
   
       19 . The wick assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the base portion comprises a capillary skirt extending downwardly from an outer periphery of a top wall, the capillary skirt and the top wall at least partly defining the supply area of liquefied fuel, wherein the first fluid path comprises an opening through the top wall, and the second fluid path comprises a lateral opening defined by a portion of the wick receiver.  
   
   
       20 . The wick assembly of  claim 19  further comprising a second heat fin extending upwardly from the top side of the base portion and spaced from the first heat fin, the wick receiver comprising a barrel spaced above the top wall and carried by the first heat fin and the second heat fin, and the barrel comprising and indentation to retain the wick.