Reduced smoking wick and candle

Abstract

Wicks and candles with reduced smoke production. In presently-preferred embodiments, the wick includes a flame-retardant material that is dispersed substantially uniformly throughout at least a portion of the wick. The flame retardant material may be distributed throughout the wick or selectively in the sheath or core of the wick. In an alternative embodiment, the flame-retardant material may be uniformly dispersed in only a portion of the strands of the wick. The flame-retardant material is included a concentration that reduces smoke production, malodor production, or afterglow in the wick or candle after the candle is extinguished. Presently-preferred components of the flame-retardant material include inorganic salts that include bromine, phosphorus, or boron, organohalogens, or phosphorus-containing compounds.

1 . A wick comprising: 
 wicking material capable of transferring a fuel to a flame; and    a flame-retardant material that is uniformly dispersed throughout at least a portion of said wicking material, wherein said flame-retardant material reduces the formation of embers within said wicking material or reduces smoking of said wick when said wick is extinguished.    
   
   
       2 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said wick is coated with a solid fuel.  
   
   
       3 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein the flame-retardant material is an inorganic salt.  
   
   
       4 . The wick of  claim 3 , wherein said inorganic salt contains bromine, phosphorous, or boron.  
   
   
       5 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said flame-retardant material is an organohalogen.  
   
   
       6 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said flame-retardant material is a phosphorous-containing compound.  
   
   
       7 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said wick further comprises a solid coating.  
   
   
       8 . The wick of  claim 7 , wherein said solid coating contains a flame-retardant material.  
   
   
       9 . The wick of  claim 7 , wherein the solid coating is a solid fuel.  
   
   
       10 . The wick of  claim 9 , wherein the solid fuel is a wax.  
   
   
       11 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said wick further includes a sheath and a core, wherein said sheath and core are formed from said wicking material.  
   
   
       12 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said flame-retardant material is uniformly dispersed longitudinally within said sheath.  
   
   
       13 . The wick of  claim 12 , wherein said core is substantially free of said flame-retardant material.  
   
   
       14 . The wick of  claim 11 , wherein said flame-retardant material is uniformly dispersed longitudinally within said core.  
   
   
       15 . The wick of  claim 14 , wherein said sheath is substantially free of said flame-retardant material.  
   
   
       16 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said flame-retardant material is uniformly dispersed within a fraction of said strands of said wick.  
   
   
       17 . The wick of  claim 1 , wherein said flame retardant material is uniformly dispersed along a longitudinal aspect of said wick.  
   
   
       18 . A candle comprising a fuel and a wick, wherein said wick includes a flame-retardant material that is uniformly dispersed throughout at least a portion of said wick, wherein said flame-retardant material reduces smoke production or afterglow of said wick after said candle is extinguished.  
   
   
       19 . A method of producing a candle having the property of reduced smoke production following extinguishment, comprising the steps of: 
 manufacturing a wick, wherein said wick includes a flame retardant that is uniformly distributed throughout at least a portion of said wick;    incorporating said wick into a candle, wherein said candle comprises solid fuel capable of burning.