Melting plate candles

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 lobe upon the surface thereof, which cooperatively 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 wick holder further engaging said solid fuel, and said support plate being configured so as to cause the flow of liquefied fuel to the wick holder. 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 lobe, in conjunction with the wick holder, causes rapid and complete flow of the liquefied fuel to said wick.

1 . A candle comprising: 
 a fuel element comprising a meltable solid fuel, a wick holder disposed in the solid fuel, and a wick carried by the wick holder, wherein a base portion of the wick holder at least partly defines a cavity below a bottom end of the wick; and    a melting plate shaped to hold liquefied fuel and defining a capillary lobe projecting upwardly from a surface of the melting plate;    wherein the capillary lobe is disposed inside the cavity of the base portion of the wick holder; and    wherein an upwardly extending gap is defined between the capillary lobe and the base portion, the gap being sized so as to be capable of causing a capillary flow of liquefied fuel from the surface of the melting plate to the bottom end of the wick.    
   
   
       2 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary lobe comprises a raised circular member.  
   
   
       3 . The candle of  claim 2 , wherein the base portion comprises a down turned skirt that defines a perimeter of the cavity.  
   
   
       4 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the capillary lobe comprises an upwardly projecting wall member and the base portion comprises a downwardly projecting wall member, and wherein the gap is defined between the upwardly projecting wall member and the downwardly projecting wall member.  
   
   
       5 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel element further comprises a volatile active material.  
   
   
       6 . The candle of  claim 5 , wherein the volatile active material comprises at least one of a fragrance, air freshener, deodorizer, odor eliminator, odor counter-actant, insecticide, insect repellant, herbal, medicinal substance, disinfectant, sanitizer, mood enhancer, and aroma therapy composition.  
   
   
       7 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wick holder further comprises a heat conductive heat fin, wherein the heat fin extends upwardly from the base portion to a position proximate a flame positioned on the wick.  
   
   
       8 . The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the melting plate further comprises a non-stick coating.  
   
   
       9 . A candle comprising: 
 a meltable solid fuel;    a support plate upon which the fuel rests;    a capillary lobe projecting upwardly from the support plate; and    a wick holder carrying a wick;    wherein the capillary lobe extends inside a base portion of the wick holder to simultaneously prevent sideways motion of the wick holder on the support plate and form a capillary gap between the base portion and the capillary lobe capable of causing a capillary flow of melted fuel from the support plate upwardly to the wick.    
   
   
       10 . The candle of  claim 9 , wherein the capillary lobe is defined by the support plate.  
   
   
       11 . The candle of  claim 10 , wherein the capillary lobe further comprises a recess defined by a top surface thereof.  
   
   
       12 . The candle of  claim 10 , wherein the base portion at least partly surrounds the capillary lobe.  
   
   
       13 . The candle of  claim 12 , wherein the base portion completely encircles the capillary lobe.  
   
   
       14 . The candle of  claim 13 , wherein the base portion comprises a downwardly projecting peripheral skirt.  
   
   
       15 . The candle of  claim 14 , wherein the capillary lobe comprises a raised circular member.  
   
   
       16 . The candle of  claim 9 , wherein the support plate comprises metal.  
   
   
       17 . The candle of  claim 9 , wherein the wick holder further comprises a weep hole through the base portion, wherein the weep hole provides liquid connection between an area above the base portion and the capillary gap.  
   
   
       18 . The candle of  claim 9 , wherein the solid fuel further comprises a starter bump extending upwardly from a top surface of the solid fuel, in close proximity but not in contact with the wick, for ease of lighting the wick.  
   
   
       19 . A candle comprising: 
 a heat conductive support plate for holding a solid fuel element and defining a raised lobe protruding upwardly therefrom;    the solid fuel element including a wick holder and a wick, the wick holder including a base portion that conforms to the lobe in such a manner as to form a capillary gap therebetween such that melted fuel may rise through the capillary gap from the support plate to the wick by capillary action.    
   
   
       20 . The candle of  claim 19 , wherein the wick has a bottom end disposed at least about 0.25 inches above the support plate.  
   
   
       21 . The candle of  claim 20 , wherein the base portion comprises a downwardly projecting skirt that creates a capillary gap surrounding the lobe.  
   
   
       22 . The candle of  claim 21 , wherein the wick holder is configured so as to fit closely over and around the capillary lobe.  
   
   
       23 . The candle of  claim 19 , wherein the support plate is shaped so as to cause melted fuel to flow toward the wick.  
   
   
       24 . The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the capillary gap is disposed so as to achieve maximum consumption of the fuel element.