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Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame

a technology of automatic extinguishing and candles, applied in the field of automatic extinguishing of candles, can solve the problems of wasteful burning of candles without need, affecting the safety of users, so as to reduce the danger, avoid waste, and reduce the risk of burning candles

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-08-09
TAYLOR JAMES M
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] Advantageously, the inventions satisfy the need for an apparatus to minimize the dangers posed by lighted candles and other lighted elements and to avoid waste by providing a safe, convenient, and easy manner of extinguishing the flames. The inventions provide an apparatus that alleviates a user's fear of forgetting or overlooking extinguishment of a candle or other element.
[0007] Another exemplary embodiment of the inventions may be an apparatus for snuffing a candle in a container after a period. This exemplary apparatus may include a base covering an open part of the container. The base may include at least a shutter for substantially covering an opening in the base. The base also may include a shutter operator for causing the shutter to substantially cover the base opening. The shutter operator may include an arm connected to the shutter. The arm prevents the shutter from covering the base opening when the arm is locked, and the arm causes the shutter to substantially cover the base opening when the arm is unlocked. The shutter operator also may include a closer for unlocking of the arm, thereby causing the shutter to substantially cover the base opening. Further, the shutter operator may include a closing facilitator such as a spring to move the arm when it is unlocked to facilitate substantial closing of the shutter.
[0009] The exemplary apparatus may further include an activation plate that responds to expiration of the period by activating the closer to unlock the arm. Thus, in this exemplary apparatus, the timer may be set to time a period upon whose expiration the activation plate activates the closer of the shutter operator to unlock the arm, thereby causing the shutter to substantially cover the base opening and causing the snuffing of the candle in the container.

Problems solved by technology

Unlike other decorations, lighted candles present a flame and fire hazard to their environment.
Overlooking even one lighted candle can lead to disaster.
Besides the fire hazard posed by candles that are left burning, it may be considered wasteful to burn candles without need.
Putting out a candle can be problematic.
Blowing out, pinching, or snuffing are conventional methods of directly putting out a candle, and they each have their own problems.
Blowing out a candle may require a strong directed breath of air that some people due to health or other reasons may be incapable of carrying out.
Some candles are difficult to blow out even for healthy people.
Blowing out a candle may result in an undesirable spray of candle wax and a mess to clean up.
Attempts at blowing out a candle may even increase the fire hazard by spreading the flame to nearby flammable objects.
Pinching a candle flame can be frightening and lead to burns.
All of these problems grow in proportion to the number of candles to be extinguished.
Moreover, the more candles there are, the more likely it is that a candle will be overlooked.

Method used

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  • Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame
  • Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame
  • Apparatuses and methods for automatically extinguishing a flame

Examples

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exemplary embodiment 10

[0029]FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an exemplary embodiment 10 including a base 16, which also may be referred to as a base assembly, a housing, or a frame. In this embodiment, the base 16 is round and sized to cover the open top of the container 12. A base, however, does not have to conform in shape to the shape of the container. For example, a square base instead of a round base 16 may have been used with the container 12 so long as the square base covers the open top of the container 12 so as to extinguish the flame within the container when the openable elements of the base are closed. Further, a base may be made of a material different from the container 12. Generally, the base may be made of a non-flammable material or other material substantially resistant to burning.

[0030] Further, the exemplary base 16 in FIGS. 1-3 is relatively flat compared to the container 12, but that is not necessarily the case. For example, a base may have legs or sides that may or may not be supportive of the...

exemplary embodiment 30

[0034]FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment 30 on a container 32 including a burning element 34. The element 34 continues to burn because the openable elements 36a-b of the base 40 are open or are uncovering the opening 42 in the base 40.

[0035] The exemplary base 40 may be characterized as a cap that fits the open-topped container 32 with the base 40 including a top 41, an opening 42 in the top, and a circumferential side 43. The opening 42 in the top 41 of the base 40 may be substantially covered by the shutters 36a-b when the shutters 36a-b are closed and may be uncovered when the shutters 36a-b are at least partially open. In this example, there is only one opening 42 in the base 40; alternative embodiments may have additional openings with shutters or other openable elements. Also in this example, the opening 42 is generally rectangular, but that does not have to be the case. The opening 20 in the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1-3 is subs...

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Abstract

An apparatus for snuffing a candle or other element in a container. A base fits the container and includes shutter(s) for covering an opening. A shutter operator may include an arm preventing the shutter(s) from covering the opening when the arm is locked, and causing the shutter(s) to cover the opening when the arm unlocked. The shutter operator includes a closer for unlocking the arm, and may include a closing facilitator such as a spring for moving the arm to close the shutters. A timer may time a selectable period. An activation plate may respond to expiration of the period by activating the closer to unlock the arm. The apparatus may include timer marks. A time indicator may move relative to the marks to indicate time remaining and / or expired. The apparatus may include an opener for opening shutter(s) regardless of the selected period and / or without setting an expiration period.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS [0001] The inventions relate to the extinguishment of candles, incense, and other burning elements, and in particular, to the automatic extinguishment of candles after a preselected period of time. BACKGROUND [0002] Candles are often used in the home and elsewhere as part of decorating to provide a special ambiance and soft glow. Unlike other decorations, lighted candles present a flame and fire hazard to their environment. The dangers from lighted candles are generally eliminated with their extinguishment. The user, however, must remember to extinguish and to follow through on extinguishing all of the lighted candles to be rid of the danger. Overlooking even one lighted candle can lead to disaster. Besides the fire hazard posed by candles that are left burning, it may be considered wasteful to burn candles without need. [0003] Putting out a candle can be problematic. Blowing out, pinching, or snuffing are conventional methods of directly putting out a candle...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): F23Q25/00F23N5/00F23D3/16
CPCF23D3/16F23L11/00F23Q25/00F23N3/02F23L13/08
Inventor TAYLOR, JAMES M.
Owner TAYLOR JAMES M
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