Self-Extinguishing Candle

Abstract

A self-extinguishing candle is provided which, in a preferred configuration, comprises a candle having a wick with a series of alternating combustion and non-combustion zones. In use, the wick will burn through the combustion zone, and will be extinguished on reaching the non-combustion zone. The non-combustion zone is preferably provided by a physical or chemical means, and the candle can be re-lit by removal of the non-combustion means. A safer candle is provided that will self-extinguish on a regular basis.

1 . A self-extinguishing candle comprising a wick, and a fuel material which surrounds said wick, characterized in that said candle comprises at least two separate combustion zones and a non-combustion zone separating said combustion zones wherein said candle is extinguished, and wherein said non-combustion zone is provided either by a wick non-combustion zone which is located either within or on said wick, or by termination of said wick within a combustion zone in said candle.  
   
   
       2 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said wick has at least two separate combustion zones along its length, and said combustion zones on said wick are separated by a non-combustion zone on said wick.  
   
   
       3 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the number of combustion zones on said wick is between 2 and 10.  
   
   
       4 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said fuel material is a solid fuel selected from the group consisting of petroleum based waxes, animal-based fats, wax or hydrogenated vegetable-based materials.  
   
   
       5 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by a physical method.  
   
   
       6 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said wick is fabricated from a braided material and said combustion zone of said wick is provided by a relatively lower density zone, and said non-combustion zone of said wick is provided by a relatively higher density zone, and wherein, and said relatively higher density zone of said wick is provided by twisting said braided material to compress the braided material and increase the density of said wick.  
   
   
       7 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by one or more clips made of metal, ceramic, glass, non-flammable plastic, or a non-flammable crimpable material, which are crimped around sections of said wick.  
   
   
       8 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said clips provide a reduction in the cross-sectional area of said wick.  
   
   
       9 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 7  wherein said wick is movable in said candle, and said candle is provided with a wick reservoir which provides additional wick material.  
   
   
       10 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said wick reservoir is provided by a coil of wick material located at or near the bottom of said candle.  
   
   
       11 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said wick reservoir is provided by a bend in said wick below each non-combustion zone.  
   
   
       12 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 5  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by a wick having a series of combustion zones, and wherein said combustion zones are separated by a non-combustion zone comprising a thin fibre which is non-combustible, or which has insufficient capillary action to support combustion.  
   
   
       13 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by a flame retardant material which has been applied to said wick in said non-combustion zone, and said flame retardant material is a halogenated flame retardant, a phosphorus-based flame retardant, a nitrogen based flame retardant, or a inorganic flame retardant.  
   
   
       14 . A self-extinguishing candle as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said candle comprises two or more wicks which wicks have a plurality of combustion and non-combustion zones, and said wicks are positioned so that, in use, the non-combustion zone on a first wick is horizontally adjacent to the combustion zone of a second wick.  
   
   
       15 . A candle wick comprising an elongated wick suitable for use in a candle, wherein said wick has two or more combustion zones separated by one or more non-combustion zones located along its length.  
   
   
       16 . A candle wick as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by a physical method.  
   
   
       17 . A candle wick as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said wick is fabricated from a braided material and said combustion zone of said wick is provided by a relatively lower density zone, and said non-combustion zone of said wick is provided by a relatively higher density zone, and wherein, and said relatively higher density zone of said wick is provided by twisting said braided material to compress the braided material and increase the density of said wick.  
   
   
       18 . A candle wick as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by one or more clips made of metal, ceramic, glass, non-flammable plastic, or a non-flammable crimpable material which are crimped around sections of said wick.  
   
   
       19 . A candle wick as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by a chemical means.  
   
   
       20 . A candle wick as claimed in  claim 19  wherein said non-combustion zone is provided by a flame retardant material which has been applied to said wick in said non-combustion zone and said flame retardant material is a halogenated flame retardant, a phosphorus-based flame retardant, a nitrogen based flame retardant, or a inorganic flame retardant.  
   
   
       21 . A candle wick as claimed in  claim 15  wherein said wick is colour coded to visually identify said combustion and/or non-combustion zones.