FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a candle. In more particular, the present invention relates to the candle that can maintain the shape from collapse during long burning hours.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The candles that are available in market cannot withstand for long burning hours. The body of the candle collapses and shape deforms after certain hours. It cannot be reused it repeatedly as the shape of the candle is deformed. Further, existing tea-light candle holding cup has many disadvantages such as mainly fixing the wick sustainer at centre of the cup is done manually by using the glue. This process takes long time and does not provide better results. Sometimes the wick sustainer does not stick properly into the position. Also the wax inside does not melt properly thus transferring heat on one side.

Therefore, there is a need for the candle having with such features that overcome the above mentioned problem. The present invention provides such candle having a hard hollow structure and means within hollow structure for inserting a replaceable inner structure. Further the inner structure having a means to lock the wick sustainer at the centre. Thereby preventing the collapse of the candle body and can be re-used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device with color changing effect comprises an outer structure having an opening on one end; a light generating means attached to another end of the outer structure having at least one light source, a sensor and a mounting means; and an inner structure inserted into the opening of the outer structure having a fuelling means, a wick and a fibre optic tube to detect a signal from the wick during a burning cycle, wherein the inner structure has locking means cooperating with the outer structure and the fibre optic tube of the inner structure fits into the mounting means of the light generating means such that after completion of the burning cycle the inner structure is removable and replaced by a new inner structure in which the sensor triggers the light source upon receiving the signal from the fibre optic tube to generate at least one color changing effect on body of the outer structure. The mounting means is a hollow tube placed over the sensor to establish a connection between the fibre optic tube of the inner structure and the light generating means. The locking means is at least one protrusion on the inner structure or the outer structure and at least one receiving means on the inner structure or the outer structure for the protrusion, to lock the inner structure in position. The inner structure further includes a means to pull the inner structure out of the outer structure during replacement with new inner structure. The inner structure has a locking edge at centre, for the wick sustainer to slot-in & lock-up the wick sustainer into the locking edge.

In one embodiment, the device further includes a rotating means having a rotary motor fixed on a base portion of the device to rotate the device and a sound producing means fixed on the device to produce a sound upon lighting the wick.

In yet another embodiment, the device produces the color changing effect, the rotating effect and the sound effect at once upon the lighting the wick.

In one preferred embodiment, a container with a curved angle at the bottom portion includes a fuelling means and a wick, the container comprises: the wick sustainer for holding the wick; a locking means to lock and slot the wick sustainer firmly in position at a centre of the container; wherein the locking means has an aperture with at least one letch to lock the wick sustainer firmly by covering the aperture to stop the fueling means from draining out of the container in which the curved angle diverts the fueling means towards the wick to fuel the wick during a burning cycle.

In another preferred embodiment, the container can be used as a standalone candle or can be inserted into the opening of the outer structure of the device with color changing effect.

The device preferably can be re-usable by replacing inner structure after each completed burning cycle.

In an alternative embodiment, the inner structure of the device can provide the color changing effect without using the fibre optic tube. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described in greater detail, the way of example with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a candle with a replaceable cartridge for re-use;

Fig. 2 illustrates the candle with an insert for one time use;

Fig. 3 illustrates the candle with a tea-light cup;

Fig. 4 illustrates the tea-light cup without wick sustainer and fuelling means; and

Fig. 5 illustrates the top view of the tea-light cup. As shown in Fig. 1 is a candle (100) with a replaceable cartridge, comprises; an outer structure (110), light generating means (120), and an inner structure (130).

The outer structure (110) as shown in fig. l, in one embodiment the shape of the outer structure (110) is a lotus flower has an opening and is made of a hard material such as a hard wax, a plastic, or any other light transparent material that prevent the outer surface (110) from collapse during long burning hours. The shape of the outer structure (110) can also be a pine apple, a square, a round or any other shapes. The outer structure (110) is a hard shell body. On one end of the outer structure (110) preferably at top portion of the outer structure (110) the inner structure (130) is mounted inside to hold a flame. The light generating means (120) is pre-set at bottom portion of the outer structure (110) to provide multi-color changing effect on body of the outer structure (110) during the burning cycle.

The inner structure (130) as shown in fig.1 , is a cartridge made of any kind of heat resistant material that can be easily removed by help of two tabs (137a and 137b) provided on the inner side wall of the inner structure (130) during replacement of the inner structure (130). The material of the inner structure can be made of a plastic material or any other material. Base portion of the inner structure (130) has two protrusions (134a and 134b) sits inside the hollow opening of the outer structure (110) and lock the inner structure (130) in position. The inner structure (130) further includes a fuelling means (131), a wick (132), a wick sustainer (135) and a fibre optic tube (133). The fuelling means (131) is a soft wax or any other suitable wax kind of material filled inside the inner structure (130) to support the flame. The flame can be a traditional color flame light or a different color flame light provided by soaking and drying the wick (132) through mixture of certain chemical composition. One end of the wick (132) projects outside the inner structure (130) to receive the flame and another end of the wick (132) is supported by the wick sustainer (135) inside the inner structure (130). The centre portion of the inner structure (130) is formed with a locking edge. This locking edge is a letch moulded serves as a cushion for the wick sustainer (135) to slot-in & lock-up into the position. Thus makes easy to fix the wick sustainer (135) at the centre of the inner structure (110) without use of any glue. Bottom portion of the inner structure (130) is designed with a curve angle to allow smooth flow of the wax towards centre during the burning cycle. The curve angle acts as a drain function to automatically guide solid wax flow towards liquid wax pool direction at the centre of the inner structure (130) the flame transmits enough heat energy to continuously melt the solid wax. The wick (132) and the fibre optic tube (133) is built in side by side where one end of the fibre optic tube (133) projects at top end of the inner structure (130) and other end projects outwards the base portion of the inner structure (130) so that the other end of the fibre optic tube (133) mounts into the mounting means (123) of the light generating means (120) to establish a connection between the inner structure (130) and the light generating means (120). When the wick (132) is lighted up, the fibre optic tube (133) also starts to burn at the same time. The inner structure (130) further may include a shrinking tube (136) at one end of the wick (132). The shrinking tube (136) is to stop the flame from burning down the inner structure (130).

The light generating means (120) shown in fig.l further includes a light source (121), a sensor (122), a hollow tube (123) and a light module (124). The light source (121a, 121b & 121c) is preferably a light emitting diodes (LED). The LED lights can be one or more diodes arranged on the light generating means (120) for providing multi color illusion effect on the body of the outer structure (110). The light module (124) preferably a light emitting diode (LED) module (124) provides multi color light illusion through combinations of LED (121) color on the LED module (124); for example: if RGB LED diodes (red/green/blue) used performs 7colors illusions (red/orange/green/blue/white/purple/pink). The sensor (122) is a light sensor (122) on the LED module (124). One end of the fibre optic tube (133) of the inner structure (130) is inserted into the light sensor (122) and is covered by the shrinking tube to prevent other light sources present outside the candle (100) from triggering the light sensor (122). The hollow tube (123) is placed over the light sensor (122) in order to stabilize the fibre optic tube (133) and also establish the connection between fibre optic tube (133) of the inner structure (130) and the LED module (124). This arrangement makes easy while replacing the inner structure (130), the fibre optic tube (133) mounts correctly into the light sensor (122). The hollow tube (123) can be made of any material. When the wick (132) is lighted up; the fibre optic tube (133) also burns along with the wick (132) at the same time. The fibre optic tube (133) detects the light signal from the flame of the wick (132). The light signal is transmitted to the light sensor (122) by the fibre optic tube (133) to trigger auto turn on the LED module (124) to perform the multi-color light changing motion performance by the LEDs (121) upon detecting the light energy. Once the wick (132) is completely burnt off or blow off along with the burning cycle the fibre optic tube (133) immediately stops to transmit the light signal to the light sensor (122) and the LED module (124) switch off the LEDs (121) switch off the multi-color illusions. The base portion of the light generating means (120) also includes battery casing for button batteries to support the light sensor (122) during illusions. In another embodiment, the candle (100) also includes a pre-recorded sound device to produce a desired sound effect. The pre-recorded sound device includes a mini speaker attached on body of the outer structure (110). The pre-recorded sound can be any chants, songs or any other sounds depending on occasion. When the wick (132) is lighted up, the fibre optic tube (133) transmits the light signal to the light sensor (122) to trigger the pre-recorded sound device to play the pre-recorded sound through the mini speaker.

In yet another embodiment, the candle (100) further includes a rotary motor attached to base of the candle (100) to provide 360° rotating effect. The rotary motor is connected to the light sensor (122). The rotary motor rotates the candle (100) in 360° when triggered by the light sensor (122) upon detecting the light signal from the fibre optic tube (133).

The candle (100) provides all the effects in the above mentioned embodiments at the same time by the light sensor (122) triggers the LED module (124), the pre-recorded sound device and the rotary motor to provide their corresponding effects.

As shown in Fig. 2, illustrates the candle (200) with an inner core (131). The inner core (131) is made of the soft wax or any other suitable material inserted into the hollow opening of the outer structure (110). This type of the candle (200) is designed for one time use. The inner core (131) includes the wick (132), the fibre optic tube (133), the wick sustainer (135) and the shrinking tube (136). The shrinking tube (136) serves as an indicator/stopper to fix the length of the wick (132) for having desired burning hours. The light generating means (120) is pre-set at the bottom portion of the outer structure (110) further includes the LED module (124), the light sensor (121), and the hollow tube (123). The wick (132) and the fibre optic tube (133) are arranged side by side. One end of the fibre optic tube (133) of the inner core (130) is inserted into the light sensor (122). Further a rubber tube is used to cover the light sensor (122) to prevent from triggering by the light sources present outside the candle (200). The hollow tube (123) is inserted over the rubber tube to stabilize and establish the connection between the fibre optic tube (133) inner core (130) and the LED module (124). The wick (132) and fibre optic tube (133) are arranged side by side. When the wick (132) is lighted up, the fibre optic tube (133) detects and transmits the light signal to light sensor (122) to auto turn on the LED module (124) to perform multi color illusions and switch off the LED module (124) when the wick (132) is burnt off. In another embodiment, the candle (200) further includes the pre-recorded sound device to provide a desired sound effect and the rotary motor to provide 360° rotating effect together with the multi-color illusions at a time. The LED module (124), prerecorded sound device and the rotary motor is triggered by the light sensor (122) when the wick is lighted up.

As shown in Fig. 3, illustrates a candle (300) with a tea-light cup (310) comprises the outer structure (110) centre is hollow, a light transmitting member (320), a tea-light cup (310) and the light generating means (120). The outer structure (110) is the hard shell having the opening at centre. The tea- light cup (310) sits on top of the light transmitting member (320), this arrangement is loaded/placed in top portion of the outer structure (110). The light transmitting member (320) can transmit light across the hollow section of the outer structure (110) and made of any material which has properties of light transmitting. The tea-light cup (310) comprises the wick (132), the fuelling means (131) and the wick sustainer (135) to hold the flame by consuming the fuelling means (131) at the centre portion of the tea-light cup (310). The centre portion of the tea-light cup (310) is formed with a locking edge, a plastic letch so that the wick sustainer (132) can slot- in & lock-up into the locking edge in position easily without using any glue to fix the wick sustainer (135). This arrangement ensures a firm locking to the wick sustainer (135) in position, also increases the productivity of output as it is easy to attach the wick sustainer (135) to the centre of the tea-light cup (310). If the wick sustainer (135) is not correctly attached to the centre of the tea-light cup, liquid wax will flow any direction thus increases the heat towards particular direction where the tea-light cup (310) can melt. This locking edge at the centre of the tea-light cup (130) locks the wick sustainer (135) firmly at the centre position and prevents the tea-light cup (310) from melting. The bottom portion of the tea-light cup (310) is designed with the curve angle to allow the solid wax flow towards the centre near the wick (132), melts along with the liquid wax using up the remaining wax around allows the maximum utilization of the wax. The light generating means (120) is set into the bottom portion of the outer structure (110). The light generating means (120) comprises the light sensor (122), the LED lights (121) and the LED module (124). The light generating means (120) further includes a casing is to hold button batteries to support the light sensor (122). When the wick (132) is lighted up, the light transmitting member (320) is able to transmit the light signal to the light sensor (122) from the wick (132) across the hollow section of the outer structure (110). The light sensor (122) on the LED module (124) captures the transmitted light signal from the tea-light cup (310) and triggers the LED lights (121) on the LED module (124) auto ON to perform the multi-color illusion. When the flame is put off, the LED module (124) switch offs the multi-color illusion. The LED lights (121) on the LED module (124) are triggered without using the fibre optic tube (133).

Further, the candle with the tea-light cup further includes the pre-recorded sound device to provide the desired sound effect and the rotary motor to provide 360° rotating effect together with the multi-color illusions at a time. The LED module, prerecorded sound device and the rotary motor is triggered by the light sensor (122) at the same time upon lighting the wick (132) of the inner structure (130). The sound effect can be any kind of songs, audio and so on.

As shown in fig. 4 illustrates a tea-light cup (310) in one preferred embodiment, the tea-light cup (310) can be used separately as standalone candle. The tea-light cup (310) comprises the fuelling means (131), the wick (132) and the wick sustainer (135). The tea-light cup (310) further includes a leg at the base portion on either side to provide stable support for the tea-light cup (310) on any surface on which it is placed. The legs are moulded in such a way, that the heat generated inside the tea-light cup (310) will not be transmitted to the leg of the tea-light cup (310). The tea-light cup (310) is made of any material which can withstand the heat. The legs at the bottom of the tea-light cup (310) on both ends, makes easy to handle the tea-light cup (310) and does not require any holder to hold the tea-light cup (310). This makes user to carry the tea-light cup (310) easily placing on palm hand. The bottom portion of the tea-light cup (310) is curved with an angle and at the centre of the tea-light cup (310) is provided with an aperture for locking the wick sustainer (135) firmly, the locking of the wick sustainer (135) is further explained in detail below with reference to fig.5. The main function of the curved bottom portion is to direct the fuelling means (131) towards the wick (132) at the centre for the maximum utilization of the fuelling means (131) to provide long burning hours .

Fig. 5 illustrates the top view of the tea-light cup (310), showing the centre portion of the tea-light cup (310) having an aperture. The depth of the aperture in the tea-light cup (310) is manufactured deep enough that during the burning cycle there is no remains of the fuelling means (131) around the wick sustainer (135), enables the maximum utilization of the fuelling means (131). The aperture has two letches on it, for the wick sustainer (135) to be locked and slotted into the aperture so that the wick sustainer (135) is held firmly. The wick sustainer (135) slots into the aperture completely, covers the aperture and does not allow the fuelling means (131) to be drained out of the tea-light cup (310). This arrangement provides easy locking of the wick sustainer (135) at the centre of the tea-light cup (310).

Further referring to the fig.5 in another preferred embodiment, the letch in the aperture can be arranged with nuts & bolts under it, which provides the better contact/fixing the sustainer slot under the letch. This arrangement ensures to prevent the movement or slipping of the wick sustainer (135) from its place.