Candle having a planar wick and method of and equipment for making same
View Patent ↗A candle having a body of a meltable fuel and a planar wick. When lit, the candle provides a unique flame formation, usable in a variety of decorative applications. The wick can be configured to evenly deplete the meltable fuel, while allowing for candles having relatively large and unique body configurations. The body of candle and/or the wick may include scented oil to promote the release of fragrance upon heating. The wick preferably is formed of wood, thereby providing an acoustic contribution to ambiance and improved combustion that generates less soot than conventional cotton wick candles.
1. A candle, comprising:
a body of a meltable fuel; and
a solid planar wick provided in the body;
wherein:
the solid planar wick comprises a laminate of at least a first layer of a solid sheet-like material and a second layer of a solid sheet-like material, the first layer and the second layer being adhered together;
each of the first layer and the second layer has a height dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension;
the height dimension is greater than the width dimension and extends from a base of the candle to a top surface of the body of meltable fuel;
the width dimension is greater than the thickness dimension;
the first layer and the second layer are adhered along at least a portion of surfaces defined by the height and width dimensions; the thickness dimension of the first layer is from 0.018 to 0.23 inches; the first layer comprises cellulose and lignin; the first layer comprises generally straight grains extending substantially in the height dimension; and
the candle emits an acoustic crackling sound when lit.
2. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax and vegetable-based waxes.
3. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based waxes.
4. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of synthetic waxes.
5. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of fragrances and dyes.
6. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the solid sheet-like material comprises a plant material.
7. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the first layer and second layer are adhered together via a third layer comprising cotton.
8. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises cherry wood.
9. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises poplar wood.
10. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises maple wood.
11. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises a fiberboard material.
12. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises a fibrous material.
13. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises wood particles that have been adhered, bonded, pressed and cut to size.
14. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises wood having a moisture content of from 6 to 14 percent.
15. The candle of claim 1 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises wood having added resin.
16. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the solid planar wick extends above the body of meltable fuel in an amount of from 1/16 to ¼ inches.
17. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the solid planar wick extends above the body of meltable fuel in an amount of from ⅛ to 3/16 inches.
18. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the solid planar wick is coated with wax.
19. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the solid planar wick has been subjected to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of bleaching, dyeing and printing.
20. The candle of claim 1 , comprising multiple solid planar wicks.
21. A candle, comprising:
a body of a meltable fuel; and
a solid planar wick provided in the body;
wherein:
the solid planar wick comprises at least a first layer and a second layer;
each of the first layer and the second layer has a height dimension, a width dimension, and a thickness dimension;
the height dimension is greater than the width dimension and extends from a base of the candle to a top surface of the body of meltable fuel;
the width dimension is greater than the thickness dimension;
at least a portion of a single surface of the first layer defined by the height and width dimensions is adhered to at least a portion of a single surface of the second layer defined by the height and width dimensions; the thickness dimension of the first layer is from 0.018 to 0.23 inches; the first layer comprises cellulose and lignin; the first layer comprises generally straight grains extending substantially in the height dimension; and
the candle emits an acoustic crackling sound when lit.
22. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of beeswax, carnauba wax, candelilla wax and vegetable-based waxes.
23. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of petroleum-based waxes.
24. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of synthetic waxes.
25. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the meltable fuel comprises at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of fragrances and dyes.
26. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are replicated layers of a solid, solid sheet-like material.
27. The candle of claim 26 , wherein the solid sheet-like material comprises a plant material.
28. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the first layer and the second layer are formed of different materials.
29. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the first layer comprises wood and the second layer comprises cotton.
30. The candle of claim 29 , further comprising a third layer comprising wood.
31. The candle of claim 30 , wherein the second layer is interposed between the first layer and the third layer.
32. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises cherry wood.
33. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises poplar wood.
34. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises maple wood.
35. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises a fiberboard material.
36. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises a fibrous material.
37. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises wood particles that have been adhered, bonded, pressed and cut to size.
38. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises wood having a moisture content of from 6 to 14 percent.
39. The candle of claim 21 , wherein at least one layer of the solid planar wick comprises wood having added resin.
40. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the solid planar wick extends above the body of meltable fuel in an amount of from 1/16 to ¼ inches.
41. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the solid planar wick extends above the body of meltable fuel in an amount of from ⅛ to 3/16 inches.
42. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the solid planar wick is coated with wax.
43. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the solid planar wick has been subjected to at least one treatment selected from the group consisting of bleaching, dyeing and printing.
44. The candle of claim 21 , comprising multiple solid planar wicks.
45. The candle of claim 1 , wherein the solid planar wick comprises a curved portion when viewed from above.
46. The candle of claim 21 , wherein the solid planar wick comprises a curved portion when viewed from above.
47. The candle of claim 20 , wherein the multiple solid planar wicks differ in dimension.
48. The candle of claim 44 , wherein the multiple solid planar wicks differ in dimension.
49. The candle of claim 1 , wherein each of the first layer and the second layer is in contact with the body of a meltable fuel.
50. The candle of claim 21 , wherein each of the first layer and the second layer is in contact with the body of a meltable fuel.