Wick holder magnetic retention means

Abstract

The present invention relates to melting plate candles which employ heat conductive elements to distribute heat from a burning flame at a wick to a support plate for a solid fuel and to the body of said solid fuel, so as to more rapidly liquefy the solid fuel, such as paraffin wax, and to more uniformly and intensely heat such fuels to increase the efficiency of consumption thereof and to more rapidly release volatile materials contained within said fuels. The heat conductive support plate is configured so as to have a capillary pedestal upon the surface thereof, which magnetically engages a wick holder comprising a preferably consumable wick and heat conductive fins which conduct heat from a flame upon said wick to said support plate, said magnetic engagement of said wick holder preventing accidental removal thereof from said pedestal. The fuel may be provided in various forms, configured to cooperatively engage said wick holder and support plate, and may comprise various volatile materials. The capillary pedestal, in conjunction with the wick holder, causes rapid and complete flow of the liquefied fuel to said wick.

1 . A candle comprising: 
 a meltable solid fuel;    a wick holder comprising a wick, wherein the wick holder contacts the meltable solid fuel;    a support plate upon which the fuel rests;    a capillary pedestal projecting upwardly from the support plate, wherein the capillary pedestal cooperatively engages a base portion of the wick holder; and    a magnet secured beneath the capillary pedestal, wherein the magnet magnetically retains said the wick holder upon the capillary pedestal while a flame is burning on the wick.    
   
   
       2 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wick holder further comprises a magnetic insert in the base portion of the wick holder.  
   
   
       3 . The candle of  claim 2 , wherein the magnetic insert comprises a rivet.  
   
   
       4 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the magnet is secured to the support plate with an adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The candle of  claim 1  further comprising a non-conductive base, wherein the support plate is carried by the base, and wherein the magnet is secured to the base beneath the capillary pedestal.  
   
   
       6 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary pedestal is defined by a surface of the support plate.  
   
   
       7 . The candle of  claim 6 , wherein the capillary pedestal is at least partly disposed inside the base portion of the wick holder.  
   
   
       8 . The candle of  claim 7 , wherein a capillary gap is defined between the capillary pedestal and the base portion, wherein the capillary gap extends between the wick and a pool of melted fuel disposed below the wick.  
   
   
       9 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the meltable solid fuel comprises a replaceable fuel element that has a smaller diameter than the support plate and retains the wick holder therein.  
   
   
       10 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wick holder comprises an aluminum body and a ferrous metal insert.  
   
   
       11 . A candle comprising: 
 a replaceable solid fuel element comprising a solid fuel material, a wick holder, and a wick; and    a fuel holder comprising a heat conductive surface shaped to hold and melt the fuel material and to form a pool of liquid fuel around a locating position that engages and magnetically retains said wick holder while the candle is lit;    wherein the surface is shaped so as to cause the pool of liquid fuel to flow to the wick.    
   
   
       12 . The candle of  claim 11 , wherein the wick holder includes heat fins, wherein the heat fins are configured so as to come in close proximity to a flame on the wick so as to conduct heat from the flame to the surface.  
   
   
       13 . The candle of  claim 11 , wherein the replaceable fuel element further comprises one or more volatile active materials.  
   
   
       14 . The candle of  claim 11 , wherein the locating position comprises a magnet.  
   
   
       15 . The candle of  claim 11 , wherein the locating position comprises a raised pedestal defined by the heat conductive surface.  
   
   
       16 . A wick holder comprising: 
 means for retaining a wick; and    a base portion comprising means for magnetically engaging a locating position upon a candle support plate in such a manner as to permit flow of melted fuel from said support plate to said wick while being fueled while simultaneously preventing accidental release of said wick holder from the support plate.    
   
   
       17 . The melting plate candle of  claim 16 , wherein the means for magnetically engaging comprises a ferro-magnetic metal insert.  
   
   
       18 . The wick holder of  claim 17 , wherein the ferro-magnetic insert comprises a rivet disposed through the base portion.  
   
   
       19 . The wick holder of  claim 16 , wherein the base portion comprises a down turned peripheral portion, which at least partly defines a cavity that is sized and shaped to closely receive therein the locating position comprising an upwardly projecting pedestal from the support plate.  
   
   
       20 . The wick holder of  claim 19 , further comprising a heat conductive fin extending upwardly above the base portion to a location immediately adjacent to a location of the wick retained by the means for retaining the wick.