Outdoor candle and a housing protecting the outdoor candle

Abstract

 The present invention relates to an outdoor candle comprising a candle (1) and a housing (2) protecting the candle. The housing (2) protecting the candle comprises gelatine in sheet form.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an outdoor candle comprising a candle and a housing protecting the candle. The invention also relates to a housing protecting an outdoor candle.

[0002] Typically outdoor candles having a protective housing are of such a type that the housing protecting the candle is made of plastic or glass. Such candles are problematic in that respect that the protective housing remains as waste when the candle has been burned out, and the housing is not biodegradable.

[0003] The outdoor candle according to the invention is characteristic in that the housing protecting the candle comprises gelatine in sheet form. The housing for an outdoor candle according to the invention is characteristic in that the housing protecting the candle comprises gelatine in sheet form.

[0004] The housing of the outdoor candle according to the invention decomposes in nature. The housing can be easily manufactured by means of methods known from packaging material industry. The joints of gelatine sheets do not necessarily require special glue or a corresponding adhesive agent. The transparent nature of the gelatine sheet is equal to that of a bright glass, and thus the burning candle can be seen through the sheet extremely well. When the candle is burning, the gelatine sheet stays rigid and in the form into which it was manufactured. When the candle has burned out, the gelatine sheet starts to soften and decompose within a short period of time.

[0005] In the present invention the term gelatine in sheet form refers to a gelatine sheet of any size or shape.

[0006] The gelatine in sheet form, which in food industry is known as a gelatine foil, is a dry, sheet-like material. When used for food, the gelatine foils are soaked in cold water so that their rigid, sheet-like form becomes pliable and stretchable. Then gelatine is dissolved in hot water to produce a jellying agent.

[0007] In a sheet form, when gelatine is dry and relatively rigid, it can be bent sufficiently to form a housing for an outdoor candle. In the manufacture of the housing a piece of suitable size and shape is cut from the gelatine sheet, and the edges of said piece are joined together to form the housing. The edges can be joined by applying water or aqueous gel on at least one of the surfaces to be joined, and by pressing the surfaces together. The aqueous gel can be a good solution when the aim is to ensure even application of water on the surface. It is also possible that the joining of surfaces together takes place by means of heat sealing, for example in such a manner that the edges that have been positioned on top of each other so that they overlap each other slightly are joined together by heating up the material in a point-like manner at several locations.

[0008] The housing surrounds the candle at least in its longitudinal direction, in other words the housing forms a shell for the candle that either touches the candle or is positioned within a distance from the candle. The housing can be for example a cylinder or a cone in which the candle is placed. The housing can also comprise a bottom part that is positioned under the candle, which bottom part may also be composed of other material than gelatine in sheet form. On top of the housing there may be a cover that can also be composed of some other material than gelatine in sheet form. It is possible to use for example aluminium to form the bottom part and the cover, which aluminium material can then be delivered to recycling of metal materials, or cardboard, especially fireproofed cardboard. The fireproofed cardboard may be treated for example with boron compounds. It is easy to fasten cardboard parts on the gelatine sheet, because the gelatine sheet that has been moistened with water adheres well to the cardboard. The housing can also be implemented without the bottom part and the cover, especially a cone-shaped housing works well without the cover.

[0009] The candle can be positioned within the housing so that it is in contact with the housing or there may be a space between the candle and the side wall of the housing. This is possible because the frame of the housing that is made of gelatine in sheet form is sufficiently rigid to stay in an upright position without support. The candle can be brought inside the housing by wrapping the gelatine sheet on the surface of the candle and by attaching the surfaces to be joined together by moistening and by means of pressure or by forming the housing separately and placing the candle inside the finished housing either before the product is sold or when the candle is taken in use. It is also possible that the candle is cast directly inside the housing. When the candle is cast directly inside the housing, the molten material brought inside the housing must be in a temperature which is lower than the temperature in which gelatine starts to shrink.

[0010] On either side of the gelatine sheet there may be at least one surface treatment layer. The surface treatment layer may be for example a water-resistant layer outside the housing, an ornamental layer and/or a layer of colouring agent. It is also possible that the gelatine sheet is dyed throughout or additives are added thereto in connection with its manufacture. Typically, however, the gelatine sheet consists entirely of gelatine.

[0011] It is also possible to place the gelatine sheet inside a shell made of some other material, wherein the flame of the candle can be seen through an opening formed in the shell. The material of the shell can be for example cardboard.

[0012] When the candle is lit outdoors, a space is formed inside the housing of the candle in which the air is warmer than outside. The warm air also heats up the housing, wherein moisture is not capable of penetrating into the housing when the candle is burning. When the candle burns out, moisture is capable of penetrating into the housing and the softening and decomposing process of the housing begins.

[0013] In the following, the invention will be described with reference to an example and to the appended drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows an outdoor candle according to the invention in a side view, and

Fig. 2 shows another outdoor candle according to the invention in a side view.

[0014] Fig. 1 shows an outdoor candle that is suitable to be used as a grave candle. The outdoor candle according to the invention comprises a candle 1 and a cylindrical housing 2 whose cohesive frame consists of gelatine in sheet form. Furthermore, the outdoor candle has a cup-like bottom part 3 and a cover part 4 containing air intake holes 5.

[0015] Fig. 2 shows an outdoor candle whose housing has the shape of a truncated cone. There is an air intake hole in the apex of the cone.

[0016] Example.

[0017] The housing according to the drawing 1 was formed around a candle of 65 mm in height, having a diameter of 60 mm. A cylinder was produced of a gelatine sheet, and the edges of said housing to be joined together were moistened with water and pressed against each other. The height of the side wall forming the housing was 110 mm. The indicated burning time of the candle was 24 h.

[0018] The candle was lit and the burning process was monitored. In the beginning of the test the outdoor temperature was -5°C and it was snowing. After 14 hours from the beginning of the test the outdoor temperature was +1°C and wet snow was falling down occasionally. After 24 hours from the beginning of the test the candle had burned out. In the end of the test the gelatine housing was still transparent and as rigid as in the beginning of the test. After 8 hours from the end of the test the housing that had been left outdoors had clearly become softer, but it had, however, still maintained its form.

[0019] The invention is not restricted to the description hereinabove, but it may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. An outdoor candle comprising a candle and a housing protecting the candle, characterized in that the housing protecting the candle comprises gelatine in sheet form.

2. The outdoor candle according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing protecting the candle comprises at least one surface treatment layer on either side of the frame of the housing formed of gelatine in sheet form.

3. The outdoor candle according to claim 2, characterized in that the surface treatment layer is a water-resistant layer.

4. The outdoor candle according to claim 2, characterized in that the surface treatment layer is an ornamental layer and/or a layer of colouring agent.

5. A housing protecting an outdoor candle, characterized in that the housing protecting a candle comprises gelatine in sheet form.

Drawing