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(11) | EP 1 793 161 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Assembly and tool for placing in and removing from a holder wax lights, tea lights and/or candles |
| (57) The present invention is directed to an assembly, comprising: - a holder (1) for a wax light (2), tea light or candle, wherein the holder (1) comprises a bottom (3) and one or more standing side walls (4); and - a tool, comprising: - at least two gripping members (6a,6b); - a pivotable connection (7) for connecting the gripping members for reciprocal movement via legs (8); - wherein the gripping members are provided with a form such that they fit between the candle, the wax light (2) or tea light and the standing side walls (4). The invention further relates to a tool for placing into and removing from a holder, candles or wax lights or tea lights for such an assembly. |
[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly and tool for placing in and removing from holders intended for the purpose wax lights, tea lights and/or candles.
[0002] Candles, and in particular wax lights and tea lights, are often used for decorative purposes, wherein it frequently occurs that the candle or the wax light is placed in a narrow and/or relatively deep holder, wherein the placing of the candle or wax light on the bottom of the holder is not possible, or hardly so, using the human hand. The candle or the wax light or tea light is therefore already lit before being placed in the holder. The burning candle or the wax light is then picked up and released above the holder, whereafter it falls into place in the holder. This does not always proceed smoothly: the candle will sometimes come to lie in an incorrect orientation on the bottom, and the flame is sometimes also extinguished during the fall.
[0003] The essential difference between a wax light and a tea light is the substance of the candle grease, which in a wax light consists mainly of wax and stearin and in tea lights consists mainly of paraffin, and is not related to the design of the candle. The terms wax light and tea light will therefore be used interchangeably in this text, and must be deemed as mutually equivalent within the context of the invention.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to propose an assembly of the type stated in the introduction, wherein in simple and safe manner a candle or wax light can be placed in and removed from a holder which is difficult to access for a human hand.
[0005] Said object is achieved with the assembly according to the invention, comprising:
- a holder for a candle or wax light, wherein the holder comprises a bottom and one or more standing side walls; and
- a tool, comprising:
- at least two gripping members;
- a pivotable connection for connecting the gripping members for reciprocal movement via legs;
- wherein the gripping members are provided with a form such that they fit between the candle or the wax light and the standing side walls.
[0006] Because the gripping members are provided with a form such that they fit between the candle or the wax light and the standing side walls, a tool is provided with which it is possible to also safely place the candle or the wax light in narrow and relatively deep holders and remove it therefrom. It is hereby possible that the candle or the wax light can be lit outside the holder and safely positioned in the holder. It is therefore no longer necessary to drop a candle into the holder. It is moreover possible, even when a wax light has just been extinguished and liquid candle grease is still present in the dish of the wax light, to remove partially burnt-out candles from the holder, light them safely and re-place them in controlled manner.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the tool is manufactured from one piece of plate material. Because the tool is manufactured from one piece, the manufacture of the tool is simple and inexpensive on the one hand, and a robust tool is obtained on the other. Plate material has the further advantage that the tool can be given a thin form, whereby the tool is suitable for insertion into a limited space between wax light/candle and inner wall of the holder.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment the gripping members for at least partially enclosing the candle or the wax light are provided with a tubular form substantially corresponding to the outer periphery of the candle or the wax light, whereby the gripping members are provided with a contact surface for gripping the candle or the wax light.
[0009] By providing the contact surface of the gripping members with a high coefficient of friction it is also possible for the user of the tool to dislodge candles or wax lights which remain adhered to the bottom of the holder, for instance because candle grease such as paraffin, wax or stearin has been deposited, has leaked or overflowed and has connected the candle to the holder as it hardens.
[0010] In a further preferred embodiment the legs are given a substantially elongate form, thereby also enabling placing of candles and wax lights in relatively deep holders. For this purpose the length of the legs is preferably - though for use in relatively wide holders not necessarily - longer than the height of the holder, so that the user can keep his/her hands outside the holder during placing of a candle or wax light on the bottom of the holder. A significant advantage of long legs is that the flame of an already lit candle, wax light or tea light will be situated some distance from the hand during placing of the wax light in the holder, whereby the user will not suffer discomfort from the heat of the flame.
[0011] In a further preferred embodiment the legs are substantially curved or bent in peripheral direction, thereby increasing the bending stiffness of the legs. It is noted that by increasing the bending stiffness of the legs it is possible to suffice with thin plate material with a thickness in the order of magnitude of 1 mm, for instance 0.5; 0.75; 1.0; 1.25; 1.50 mm, for manufacture of the legs. Such legs manufactured from thin plate material can be inserted into a small intermediate space between wax light/ candle and inner wall of the holder, whereby the tool is suitable for use in holders with very limited intermediate space between wax light/candle and inner wall. The tool is hereby suitable for narrow and high decorative candle holders. In addition, the application of thin plate material has the further advantage that the material costs are limited and the tool is light, this reducing transport costs.
[0012] In yet another preferred embodiment the pivotable connection, the legs and the gripping members are manufactured integrally. By embodying the pivotable connection as bending hinge, wherein this bending hinge deforms elastically when the legs are pressed together, a tool is provided which is manufactured integrally. When the legs are no longer pressed together by the user, the legs and thereby the gripping members will, owing to the resilient action of the bending hinge, spring back to a position in which the gripping members can be placed over a candle or wax light.
[0013] Placing of the gripping members over a candle, wax light or tea light can be improved in a further preferred embodiment in that in a first portion from the pivotable connection the legs extend widening in the direction of the gripping members, and in a second portion the legs extend substantially parallel. At the position of the candle, wax light or tea light to be picked up the gripping members will extend almost parallel, whereby the contact surface between the gripping members and the candle, the wax light or tea light fits substantially onto the outer periphery of the candle, wax light or tea light. The contact surface is hereby enlarged.
[0014] In a further preferred embodiment the tool comprises a curved form, wherein a side view substantially corresponds to a reverse question mark with a straight upper side. An advantage of this form of a reverse question mark is that space is created on the open side of the question mark shape to enable lighting of a candle, wax light or tea light while it is being held fast with the tool.
[0015] In the following example the use of the assembly according to the invention is further described. The preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying figure comprises: a holder 1 for a candle or wax light 2, wherein holder 1 comprises a bottom 3 and one or more standing side walls 4. Tongs 5 comprise at least two gripping members 6a, 6b, a pivotable connection 7 for connecting gripping members 6 for reciprocal movement via legs 8, wherein gripping members 6 are provided with a form such that they fit between the outer periphery of the candle or wax light 2 and standing side walls 4.
[0016] When a user wishes to light a wax light 2 and place it in a relatively narrow and high holder 1, tongs 5 are placed with their gripping members 6 over wax light 2, whereafter the user presses legs 8 together. The pivotable connection 7 will hereby deform elastically and gripping members 6 will grip wax light 2. The user can then light wax light 2 outside holder 1 and place it in safe and controlled manner on bottom 3 of holder 1. Because legs 8 of tongs 5 are longer than the height of holder 1, a candle can also be placed in relatively high and narrow holders which cannot normally be accessed all the way to the bottom 3 by a human hand. Furthermore, because legs 8 are long and the user grasps tongs 5 on the upper part, i.e. in the vicinity of pivotable connection 7, the hand of the user will be situated a greater distance from the flame, thereby enhancing comfort and safety. Tongs 5, comprising pivotable connection 7, legs 8 and gripping members 6, are preferably manufactured integrally, for instance from stainless steel, aluminum, brass, spring steel, chrome steel or other material suitable for the purpose. Because of it's characteristic color, the use of brass provides a durable gold-like appearance without the need for a finishing process such as coating.
[0017] When wax light 2 has burnt out, it frequently occurs that, due to hardening of overflowed, leaked or deposited candle grease, the dish of the wax light adheres to some extent to holder 1. Gripping members 6 of tongs 5 are then pushed over the dish of wax light 2, whereafter legs 8 are pressed together by the user and pivotable connection 7 will deform elastically. Using tongs 5 a force can now be exerted on the dish of wax light 2, whereby it is dislodged. The grip on the dish of wax light 2 can be improved by providing the gripping members 6 with a contact surface with a high coefficient of friction.
[0018] The dimensions of wax lights 2 can vary, wherein current diameters vary from about 35 to 41 mm, in particular about 37.5 mm, 38.5 mm and 39 mm for small wax lights, and a diameter of about 59 mm for larger wax lights. The height varies from about 14 mm to 20 mm, in particular 15 mm, 16.5 mm and 17 mm for small wax lights, and about 24 mm for large wax lights. Tongs 5 particularly suitable for the most common small wax lights therefore have gripping members 6 preferably provided with a tubular form with a radius of 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm, preferably about 2.0 cm. Tongs 5 particularly suitable for the most common large wax lights have gripping members 6 with a radius of 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm, preferably about 3.0 cm.
[0019] A maximum contact surface is obtained by providing the gripping members with a height which substantially corresponds to the height of the dish round a wax light. For the most common wax lights the height of gripping members 6 will therefore vary from 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm, in particular about 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm and 2.5 cm. In order to enable gripping of the dish of the wax light on its stiffest part with the gripping members, it is desirable for the tool to extend to the bottom of the holder; the bottom of the dish does after all provide additional radial rigidity to the dish of the wax light.
[0020] After dislodging and removal of the dish of the burnt-out wax light 2 from holder 1 it is possible that hardened candle grease is left behind in holder 1. Candle grease left behind in holder 1 can be removed with tongs 5 by providing gripping members 6 and the outer sides with a sharp edge.
[0021] Tongs 5 are preferably manufactured with a form bent out of one material, wherein a side view substantially corresponds with a reverse question mark with a straight upper side. The three-dimensional form of the tongs can be readily obtained by bending in different directions a form punched from a metal plate. An advantage of the reverse question mark shape is that space is created on the open side of the question mark shape to enable lighting of a wax light.
[0023] In a further preferred embodiment the tongs can be adapted to place and remove short candles or special candle embodiments, such as a high embodiment of a wax light in a plastic container such as is often used for instance in cemeteries.
[0024] Although they show preferred embodiments of the invention, the above described embodiments are intended only by way of illustration of the present invention, and are not intended to limit in any way the specification of the invention. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the following claims.
1. Assembly, comprising:
- a holder for a wax light, tea light or candle, wherein the holder comprises a bottom and one or more standing side walls; and
- a tool, comprising:
- at least two gripping members;
- a pivotable connection for connecting the gripping members for reciprocal movement via legs;
- wherein the gripping members are provided with a form such that they fit between the candle, the wax light or tea light and the standing side walls.
2. Assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is manufactured from one piece of
plate material.
3. Assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the gripping members for at least partially
enclosing the candle or the wax light or tea light are provided with a tubular form
substantially corresponding to the outer periphery of the candle or wax light or tea
light.
4. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, wherein the gripping members are provided
with a contact surface with a high coefficient of friction.
5. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, wherein the gripping members are provided
with a substantially tubular form with a radius of 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm, preferably about
2.0 cm.
6. Assembly as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, wherein the gripping members are provided
with a substantially tubular form with a radius of 2.5 cm to 3.5 cm, preferably about
3.0 cm.
7. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the gripping members are
provided with a substantially tubular form with a height substantially corresponding
to the height of the wax light or tea light.
8. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the gripping members are
provided with a substantially tubular form with a height of 1.0 cm to 3.0 cm, in particular
about 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm and 2.5 cm.
9. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the legs are substantially
elongate.
10. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the legs are substantially
curved or bent in peripheral direction.
11. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein in a first portion from
the pivotable connection the legs extend widening in the direction of the gripping
members, and in a second portion the legs extend substantially parallel.
12. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the tool comprises a pivotable
connection, legs and gripping members which are manufactured integrally.
13. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the pivotable connection
comprises a bending hinge, which bending hinge deforms elastically when the legs are
moved toward each other.
14. Assembly as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the gripping members are
provided substantially on the outside with means for removing residues, such as candle
grease, left behind in the candle holder.
15. Tool for placing into and removing from a holder candles or wax lights or tea lights
for the assembly of any of the claims 1-14.
16. Tool as claimed in claim 15, manufactured from a form bent out of one material, wherein
a side view substantially corresponds to a reverse question mark with a straight upper
side.
17. Tool as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the tool is manufactured from stainless
steel, aluminum, brass, spring steel or chrome steel.