CANDLE WITH EMBEDDED OBJECT

Abstract

The present invention provides a candle holder assembly for removably embedding an object within a candle. The candle holder assembly includes a container and a candle disposed therein. The candle holder assembly further includes a support having an inverted U-shaped hook and a saddle. The hook includes a first stem, a second stem, and a bight portion interconnecting the first stem and the second stem. The first stem and the second stem each extend downwardly from opposite ends of the bight portion which is removably seated on the rim of the container. The saddle includes a pair of diverging rear legs extending downwardly from an end of the second stem opposite the bight portion, a pair of elements extending outwardly from respective ends of the pair of rear legs opposite the second stem, and a pair of forward legs extending upwardly from respective ends of the pair of elements opposite the pair of rear legs. A case, which removably stores an object, is removably seated within the saddle of the support.

Claims

1. A candle holder assembly for removably embedding an object within a candle, the apparatus comprising: (a) a container, the container including a bottom wall and a side wall, the container having an exterior surface and an interior surface, the side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall and terminating at a rim; (b) a wax candle disposed within the container; (c) an integrally formed support being removably seated on the rim of the container for removably seating an object within the candle, the support comprising: (i) an inverted U-shaped hook including: (1) a first stem; (2) an opposed second stem; (3) a bight portion interconnecting the first stem and the second stem, the first stem and the second stem each extending downwardly from opposite ends of the bight portion along the exterior surface and the interior surface of the container, respectively; (ii) a saddle including: (1) a pair of diverging rear legs extending downwardly from a free end of the second stem; (2) a pair of elements extending outwardly from respective ends of the pair of rear legs, the pair of elements extending toward a center of the container; (3) a pair of forward legs extending upwardly from respective ends of the pair of elements opposite the pair of rear legs; (d) an openable case for removably storing an object therein, the case being disposed atop the pair of elements.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising: an upturned leg extending upwardly from an end of the first stem opposite the bight portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the upturned leg is a circular loop.

4. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the upturned leg is twisted around a portion of the first stem to form a completed loop.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the pair of forward legs converge at a point opposite the pair of elements to form an arc interconnecting the pair of forward legs.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the case includes a pair of separable half shells;

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the half shells of the case are threadably secured to one another.

8. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the half shells of the case are frictionally secured to one another.

9. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the object is a jewelry item.

10. An integrally formed support for suspending an object, the support comprising: (a) an inverted U-shaped hook, the hook including: (i) a first stem; (ii) a second stem; (iii) a bight portion interconnecting the first stem and the second stem, the first stem and the second stem each extending downwardly from opposite ends of the bight portion; and (b) a saddle for supporting an object thereon, the saddle including: (i) a pair of diverging rear legs extending downwardly from a free end of the second stem; (ii) a pair of elements extending in a first direction outwardly from respective ends of the pair of rear legs; (iii) a pair of forward legs extending upwardly from respective ends of the pair of elements opposite the pair of rear legs.

11. The support of claim 10 further comprising: an upturned leg extending upwardly from an end of the first stem opposite the bight portion.

12. The support of claim 11 wherein the upturned leg is a circular loop.

13. The support of claim 11 wherein the upturned leg is twisted around a portion of the first stem to form a completed loop.

14. The support of claim 10 wherein the pair of forward legs converge at a point opposite the pair of elements to form an arc interconnecting the pair of forward legs.

15. The support of claim 10 further comprising: an openable case for removably storing an object therein, the case being removably disposed atop the pair of elements and within the saddle.

16. The support of claim 15 wherein the case includes a pair of separable half shells;

17. The support of claim 16 wherein the half shells of the case are threadably secured to one another.

18. The support of claim 16 wherein the half shells of the case are frictionally secured to one another.

19. The support of claim 15 wherein the object is a piece of jewelry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a candle holder assembly in accordance with the present invention;

[0023] FIG. 2 is a rear view of the candle holder assembly hereof;

[0024] FIG. 3 is a side view of the candle holder assembly hereof; and

[0025] FIG. 4 is a side view of a support used in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Now, and with reference to FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing in a first aspect hereof, the present invention provides a candle holder assembly, generally, denoted at 10 for removably embedding an object in a candle.

[0027] With more particularity, the candle holder assembly 10, generally, comprises: (a) a candle holder or container 12; (b) a candle 11 having a wick 11′, the candle 11 being disposed within the container 12; (c) a support 18 for removably embedding an object 17 within the candle 11; and (d) an openable case 16 for removably storing an object 17 therein.

[0028] More specifically, the container 12, such as a glass jar or the like, is an open-top container including a bottom wall 13 and a side wall 13′. The side wall 13′ is shown herein as a cylindrical wall, but it is to be understood that the container 12 can have other configurations.

[0029] As shown, the container 12 has an exterior surface 15 and an interior surface 15′. The side wall 13′ extends upwardly from the bottom wall 13 and terminates at a rim 22. Optionally, a lid 14 may be removably seated on the rim 22 to prevent any foreign objects from entering the container 12 prior to use.

[0030] As noted above, the candle 11 is disposed within the container 12. The candle 11 is formed from any suitable wax and includes a wick 11′ for lighting the candle 11.

[0031] The candle holder assembly 10 further comprises a support 18 for removably suspending a case 16, as described below, which contains the object 17 therein and is to be embedded within the wax of the candle 11.

[0032] The support 18, when positioned, is removably seated on the rim 22 of the container 12. Preferably, the support 18 is an integrally formed or unitary structure comprising an inverted U-shaped hook 23 and a saddle 40.

[0033] The hook 23 includes a first stem or leg 25, an opposed second stem or leg 19, and a bight portion 24 interconnecting the first stem 25 and the second stem 19.

[0034] The first stem 25 of the hook 23 extends downwardly from a first end of the bight portion 24 and along the exterior surface 15 of the container 12. Optionally, the first stem 25 may include an upturned leg 26 extending from the free end of the first stem 25. The upturned leg 26 forms a U-shaped hook terminating at an end 26′.

[0035] A secondary object 20, such as a tag, label, tassel, or other decorative object, may be suspended on the upturned leg 26 exteriorly of the container 12.

[0036] While the upturned leg 26 is depicted as a U-shaped hook, the end 26′ of the upturned leg 26 may be twisted around a portion of the first stem 25, thus connecting the end 26′ of the upturned leg 26 to the first stem 25 to form a completed loop. Such twisting of the upturned leg 26 may be possible if the upturned leg 26 is formed of a pliable material such as a metallic wire made of copper, tin, aluminum, or the like.

[0037] Alternatively, if it is desired that the upturned leg 26 include a completed loop structure, the end 26′ of the upturned leg 26 or the upturned leg 26, itself, may comprise a circular loop formed therein.

[0038] As shown in the drawing, the bight portion 24 engages the rim 22 of the container 12 for removably seating the support 18 thereon.

[0039] The second stem 19 extends downwardly from the second end of the bight portion 24 and along the interior surface 15′ of the container 12. The second stem 19 terminates at a diverging point 38.

[0040] Preferably, the first stem 25 has a first length and the second stem 19 has a second length longer than the first length of the first stem 25. However, this is not critical to the present invention. Thus, the lengths of the stems 25, 19 may be equal or the first length of the first stem 25 may be longer than the second length.

[0041] As noted above, the support 18 further comprises a saddle 40 integrally formed with the hook 23 for removably seating an object 17 thereon. The saddle 40 includes pair of diverging rear legs 32, 33, a pair of elements 36, 37, and a pair of forward legs 34, 35.

[0042] The pair of rear legs extend downwardly from the diverging point 38, thereby creating an inverted Y-shaped structure.

[0043] The pair of elements 36, 37 project outwardly from the rear legs 32, 33, respectively, and toward a center of the container 12 in a first direction away from the first stem 25. Preferably, the elements 36, 37 are substantially co-planar, parallel, and spaced apart from one another.

[0044] The pair of forward legs 34, 35 extend upwardly from a respective end of the elements 36, 37. Preferably, the forward legs 34, 35 are substantially perpendicular to the pair of elements 36, 37 and parallel to the rear legs 32, 33. Additionally, the forward legs 34, 35 may converge in an arch or bight portion 39 interconnecting the forward legs 34, 35.

[0045] Each of the legs 32, 33, 34, 35 and the elements 36, 37 cooperate with one another to define the saddle 40 upon which the case 16 or the object 17 may be removably seated.

[0046] It is to be understood that the geometry of the saddle 40 may vary based on the angulation and lengths of the legs 32, 33, 34, 35 and the elements 36, 37 without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the pair of elements 36, 36 may be merely extensions of the legs 32, 33, 34, 35 themselves.

[0047] Preferably, the support 18 is fabricated from a durable metal, such as steel, nickel, iron, titanium, or the like, such that the support 18 can resist the heat generated by the burning candle 11 without becoming damaged.

[0048] As noted above, the candle holder assembly 10 further comprises a case 16 for removably storing an object 17 therein. The case 16 may have a variety of geometries, but is dimensioned to fit securely within the saddle 40. Preferably, the case 16 comprises two shell pieces 16a, 16a′ which cooperate and interconnect with one another to form a hollow casing for removably storing the object 17 therein. Each shell piece 16a, 16a′, preferably, comprises a bottom wall 16c, 16c′ and a side wall 16b, 16b′, respectively. The side walls 16b, 16b′ extend outwardly from respective bottom walls 16c, 16c′.

[0049] The shell pieces 16a, 16a′ are removably secured to one another in any suitable manner. One shell piece may have a slightly smaller diameter than the other shell piece such that the shells 16a, 16a′ frictionally mate or interconnect. Alternatively, the shell pieces 16a, 16a′ may be threadably interconnected and screwed together.

[0050] The case 16 is fabricated from any suitable, durable material, such as tin, aluminum, or the like, able to withstand being encased in wax for a long period of time and able to endure the heat from the burning candle 11, thereby protecting the object 17 stored therein.

[0051] The case 16 not only serves to protect the object 17 from any damage caused by being encased in melting wax, but also serves to conceal the object 17 from the recipient until it is removed from the container 12.

[0052] Preferably, the object 17 is a piece of jewelry, but it is understood that any variety of valuable or novelty items may be emplaced within the case 16.

[0053] In practicing the present invention and in seating the object 17 in the container 12, the support 18 is seated on the rim 22 of the container 12. The case 16, which contains the object 17, is seated within the saddle 40 of the support 18. Wax is then poured into the container 12 until the case 16 is fully submerged. Subsequently, the optional lid 14 may be placed atop the rim 22 of the container 12, if desired.

[0054] Thereafter, a recipient may light the wick 11′ of the candle 11 until the case 16 or the object 17 is at least partially exposed or the wax has sufficiently melted to enable the recipient to remove the case 16 from the container 12 and reveal the object 17 stored therein.

[0055] In a second aspect hereof, it is to be appreciated that the support 18 hereof exhibits utility apart and aside from its association with the candle holder hereof. Thus, it can be used in other environments where it is desired to removably suspend an object within a container.

[0056] From the above, it is to be appreciated that defined herein is a new and unique candle holder assembly for removably embedding an object within a candle.

[0057] Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0058] 10 Candle holder assembly [0059] 11 Candle [0060] 11′ Wick of candle [0061] 12 Container [0062] 13 Bottom wall [0063] 13′ Side wall [0064] 14 Lid [0065] 15 Exterior surface of the container [0066] 15′ Interior surface of the container [0067] 16 Case [0068] 16a First half [0069] 16b Side wall of first half [0070] 16c Bottom wall of first half [0071] 16a′ Second half [0072] 16b′ Side wall of second half [0073] 16c′ Bottom wall of second half [0074] 17 Object [0075] 18 Support [0076] 19 Second stem [0077] 20 Secondary object [0078] 22 Rim [0079] 23 U-shaped hook [0080] 24 Bight portion [0081] 25 First stem [0082] 26 Upturned leg [0083] 26′ End of upturned leg [0084] 32 Rear leg [0085] 33 Rear leg [0086] 34 Forward leg [0087] 35 Forward leg [0088] 36 Element [0089] 37 Element [0090] 38 Diverging point [0091] 39 Arch [0092] 40 Saddle