US3815863A - Collapsible flexible material candle mold - Google Patents

Abstract

An inflatable mold system for internally illuminated candles burnable from the top having a cavity within wax of the candle. The mold system includes irregularly shaped portions and an enlarged portion collapsible for easy removal from an internal cavity in the candle.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Andeweg [4 June 11, 1974 COLLAPSIBLE FLEXIBLE MATERIAL 1,177,240 3/1916 Gates .Q 425/010. 44

CANDLE D 4 3,136.831 6/1964 Zinn 264/316 X 3,239.59] 3/1966 Wendt 425/DIG. 44 Inventor: Fritz .1. Andeweg, 7737 Royal Ln., 3,258,384 6/1966 Scott 425/D1G. 44 Dallas, Tex. 75230 3,454,997 7/1969 Ligon et a1 425/D1G. 44 Filed J 13 1972 3,594,877 7/1971 Suda et al. 425/DIG. 44

[21] Appl. No.: 262,245 Primary Examine rRobert L. Spicer, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Warren H. Kintzinger [52] U.S. Cl 249/178, 249/152, 264/314,

425/D1G. 44, 425/803, 425/389 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B29c 1/12, B28b 7/32 [58] new of Search 249/55 78, 152, 142; An inflatable mold system for internally Illuminated 264/314. 425/803 389 324 B 326 DIG 44 candles burnable from the top having a cavity within wax of the candle. The mold system includes irregu- [561 12143223411222??? 42214211232315:

e e o UNITED STATES PATENTS Gandhi 59,460 1l/l866 Ryder 425/803 1,142,342 6/1915 McNeil 425/D1G. 44 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures COLLAPSIBLE FLEXIBLE MATERIAL CANDLE MOLD This invention relates in general to hollow wax candles adapted for internal illumination and, in particular, to an inflatable mold system for producing candles having an internal cavity. The internal illumination for hollow wax candles is such as presented in my co-pending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 212,107, filed Dec. 27, 1971 and titled Internally Illuminated Candle.

Internally illuminated candles are quite beautiful with an internal glow through candle wax of the candle created by light from an internal cavity within the candle wax. There are problems, however, in producing wax candle bodies having such internal cavities and particularly with such candles having additionally artistic ornamental shapings. Many light intensity varied artistic results are obtained with varied candle wall thicknesses from an internal cavity to the outer surface of a candle. Another requirement with internal cavity equipped candles is that of holding candle wicking in place as candle wax is being cast into candle bodies.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide a flexible material candle mold bladder for producing internal cavities in cast candle wax bodies.

Another object is to provide such a candle mold bladder of irregular shape.

A further object is to provide a candle mold bladder for producing a candle wax body internal cavity having an enlarged portion deep within the wax body as the candle is cast.

Another object with such an inflatable mold system for casting candle wax bodies is to provide a candle wick end hold grasper on the top of an internal cavity mold bladder.

Still a further object is to provide an inflatable mold system for producing candles with an internal cavity portion and an external portion having artistic irregular shaping.

Features of the invention useful in accomplishing the above objects include, in an inflatable mold system for producing candles having an internal cavity, an inflatable candle internal cavity mold bladder connected to an inflation and deflation control system connected to and through a container within which candles are cast. Some of the internal cavity mold bladders are equipped with an enlarged upper (or innermost) portion that must be at least partially collapsed for removal from the internal cavity of cast candle bodies. Further, some internal cavity mold bladders are also equipped with a wick end grasping holder that exerts a pronounced grasping force on the wick end when the bladder is inflated and a wick end has been positioned in the grasping holder. An external inflatable mold bladder is also provided for the casting of some candle wax bodies that is equipped for providing various desired cast shapes to the candle body providing various candle wall thicknesses as may be desired. In many instances the external inflatable mold bladder is connected to the same inflation and deflation control system as the candle internal cavity mold bladder.

Specific embodiments representing what are presently regarded as the best modes of carrying out the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a top view of a candle in a mold;

FIG. 2, a cut away and sectioned side view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1 showing detail of a candle and candle mold system with an interior cavity mold bladder in the inflated state;

FIG. 3, a cut away and sectioned side view similar to FIG. 2 with the interior cavity mold bladder in the collapsed state;

FIG. 4, a partial top plan view from line 4-4 of FIG. 3 of the interior cavity mold bladder showing candle .wick end hold grasper detail;

FIG. 5, a cut away and sectioned side view such as that of FIG. 2 showing detail of a candle and candle mold system with both an interior cavity mold bladder and an external mold bladder in the inflated state; and,

FIG. 6, a cut away and sectioned side view similar to FIG. 5 with both the interior cavity mold bladder and the external mold bladder in the collapsed state.

Referring to the drawing:

The candle of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 is shown to have a wax body 11 cast in a mold system 12 including an outer cylindrical shell 13, that, in some instances, would have a severable half section (detail not shown) for easy candle removal from the mold shell 13. The mold system 12 also includes an inflatable and collapsible internal cavity molding bladder 14 that is equipped with an enlarged portion 15 larger in diameter, when inflated, than the shank 16 of the mold bladder 14. The shank 16 of the mold bladder 14 extends through opening 17 in mold system bottom plate 18 to an enlarged annular lip edge 19 held in place within opening 20 of a cap 21 fastened to bottom plate 18 as by screws 22. A fluid conduit tube 23 extends through opening 24 in cap 21 to fluid control valve 25 that is switchable between fluid pressure line 26 connected to a fluid pressure source (not shown) and fluid evacuation or vacuum line 27 connected to evacuation means (also not shown).

Referring also to FIG. 4 the top of mold bladder 14 is provided with a plurality of wick 28 end grasping holder projections 29 that, while flexible to some degree with the mold bladder 14, assume a tightened grasping state about the enlarged lower end 30 of wick 28 when the mold bladder 14 is inflated. Then as the bladder 14 is evacuated and collapses the wick end grasping holder projections 29 relax their grip on the enlarged wick end 30. Thus, with the mold bladder 14 collapsed and of less diameter than the hole 31 molded .by the shank 16 of mold bladder 14 it may be easily removed from the candle body interior leaving an enlarged cavity portion 32 deep within the candle wax body. Wick 28 is suspended from a support member 33 that may be part of a wicking feed structure (detail not shown) until the candle wax poured into the mold system has hardened when it may be severed at an appropriate candle wick burning length.

Referring now to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 portions of the candle 10' and of the mold system 12' the same or substantially the same as with the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 will be given either the same number or primed numbers as a matter of convenience. Here in addition to an inflatable and collapsible internal cavity molding bladder 14, substantially the same as with the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the mold system 12 also includes an external inflatable and collapsible mold bladder 34. The internal fluid chamber for mold bladder 34 is defined by cup member 35, having an outer cylindrical wall 36 and a bottom annular section 37 with a recess 38 where the bottom lip 39 of bladder 34 is retained in sealing confinement against the. bottom of mold system bottom plate 18, and the mold bladder 34 itself. This is with an upper beaded sealing lip edge 40 of the bladder 34 placed in resil iently stressed sealing contact with the outer top end of wall 36 just below an outwardly extended wall lip edge 41. The internal fluid chamber of mold bladder 34 is in fluid communication with fluid conduit tube 23' through one or more fluid conduit tubes 42. Fluid conduit tube 23 also extends through opening 24 in cap 21', that may be bonded to bottom plate 18, and to fluid control valve 25 that is switchable between fluid pressure line 26 and fluid evacuation line 27.

The mold system 12 not only provides the means for producing candles with internal cavities having an enlarged innermost portion suitable for a great range of internal illumination effects but much more. The external bladder 34 may be formed with any variety of shapes concave and convex, rings and indentions in achieving additionally ornamental artistic results heightened by .light intensity variation through varied cast candle body wall thicknesses from the internally illuminated internal cavity of the candle. It should be noted that the flexible material of the external bladder 34 is capable of stretching through the area of an annular ring 43 producing an annular ring 44 cast in a candle body sufficiently to clear the candle body during removal from the mold system 12 when external bladder 34 is in the collapsed state. Obviously, the flexible material used for the bladder 14 and bladder 34 in the respective embodiments must be a rubber or synthetic rubber, or plastic or other material capable of withstanding the temperature of molten wax (approximately 190 F or higher) being poured into the mold system. Further, the bladders are of material withstanding the temperature cycling required and repeated cycling of inflation and evacuation collapse in repeated mold casting and removal of solidified cooled candles.

Whereas this invention is illustrated and described with respect to a plurality of embodiments thereof, it should be realized that various changes may be made without departing from the essential contributions to the art made by the teachings hereof.

I claim:

1. In an inflatable mold system for the casting of objects having an internal cavity: an inflatable and deflation collapsible external and internal mold bladder, said internal mold bladder shaped to desired internal cavity shape when inflated and deflation collapsed to an easy removable state when deflated; fluid pressure means; fluid evacuation means; valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said mold bladderin fluid communication with said fluid evacuation means; and wherein said mold bladder is shaped with an enlarged portion and a smaller diameter shank when inflated to mold an internal cavity having an enlarged cavity portion and a shank-opening of smaller diameter than the enlarged cavity portion andextending from the enlarged cavity portion to the exterior of the object being molded.

2. The inflatable mold system of claim 1 wherein said inflatable and deflatable external mold bladder section is shaped to mold desired shaping on the exterior of mold cast objects; fluid communication and valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said external mold bladder section in fluid communication with said fluid evacuation means.

3. In an inflatable mold system for the casting of objects having an internal cavity: an inflatable and deflation collapsible mold bladder shaped to desired internal cavity shape when inflated and deflation collapsed to an easy removable state when deflated; fluid pressure means; fluid evacuation means; valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said mold bladder in fluid communication with said fluid evacuation means; said mold bladder is shaped with an enlarged portion and a smaller diameter shank when inflated to mold an internal cavity having an enlarged cavity portion and a shank opening of smaller diameter than the enlarged cavity portion and extending from the enlarged cavity portion to the exterior of the object being molded; wherein said object being molded is a candle wax body; the mold bladder material is a material capable of withstanding the temperature range cycle of molten candle wax to ambient and repeated inflation and deflation cycles with repeated mold casting cycles; and wherein candle wick positioning and support means is provided on said mold bladder for'positioning a wick in each candle wax body being mold cast.

4. The inflatable mold system of claim 3, wherein said candle wick positioning and support means includes, an above the mold wick carrier; and lower wick end multiple grasping projections from said mold bladder positioned to firmly grasp the lower wick end when said mold bladder is in the inflated state and to relax grasping hold on the lower wick end as said mold bladder is deflation collapsed.

5. The inflatable mold system of claim 3, wherein the mold system also includes an inflatable and deflatable external mold bladder section shaped to mold desired shaping on the exterior of candle wax bodies being mold cast.

6. The inflatable mold system of claim 5, including fluid communication means with valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said external mold bladder

Claims (6)

1. In an inflatable mold system for the casting of objects having an internal cavity: an inflatable and deflation collapsible external and internal mold bladder, said internal mold bladder shaped to desired internal cavity shape when inflated and deflation collapsed to an easy removable state when deflated; fluid pressure means; fluid evacuation means; valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said mold bladder in fluid communication with said fluid evacuation means; and wherein said mold bladder is shaped with an enlarged portion and a smaller diameter shank when inflated to mold an internal cavity having an enlarged cavity portion and a shank opening of smaller diameter than the enlarged cavity portion and extending from the enlarged cavity portion to the exterior of the object being molded.

2. The inflatable mold system of claim 1 wherein said inflatable and deflatable external mold bladder section is shaped to mold desired shaping on the exterior of mold cast objects; fluid communication and valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said external mold bladder section in fluid communication with said fluid evacuation means.

3. In an inflatable mold system for the casting of objects having an internal cavity: an inflatable and deflation collapsible mold bladder shaped to desired internal cavity shape when inflated and deflation collapsed to an easy removable state when deflated; fluid pressure means; fluid evacuation means; valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said mold bladder in fluid communication with said fluid evacuation means; said mold bladder is shaped with an enlarged portion and a smaller diameter shank when inflated to mold an internal cavity having an enlarged cavity portion and a shank opening of smaller diameter than the enlaRged cavity portion and extending from the enlarged cavity portion to the exterior of the object being molded; wherein said object being molded is a candle wax body; the mold bladder material is a material capable of withstanding the temperature range cycle of molten candle wax to ambient and repeated inflation and deflation cycles with repeated mold casting cycles; and wherein candle wick positioning and support means is provided on said mold bladder for positioning a wick in each candle wax body being mold cast.

4. The inflatable mold system of claim 3, wherein said candle wick positioning and support means includes, an above the mold wick carrier; and lower wick end multiple grasping projections from said mold bladder positioned to firmly grasp the lower wick end when said mold bladder is in the inflated state and to relax grasping hold on the lower wick end as said mold bladder is deflation collapsed.

5. The inflatable mold system of claim 3, wherein the mold system also includes an inflatable and deflatable external mold bladder section shaped to mold desired shaping on the exterior of candle wax bodies being mold cast.

6. The inflatable mold system of claim 5, including fluid communication means with valve control means for applying fluid pressure from said fluid pressure means and for connecting said external mold bladder section in fluid communication with said evacuation means.

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