BACKGROUND ART Birthday cakes with candies representing the number of years of the birthday person are an age-old tradition.

Lighting all of the candies before presenting the cake to the birthday person is part of this tradition. Where there are more than just a few candles, it is difficult to light all the candles sufficiently rapidly to avoid substantial melting of the candies and getting wax on the cake. In addition, the task of lighting the candles itself is tedious and runs the risk of burning the lighter's hand.

Birthday candle ignition systems for lighting all of the candies quickly, by means of lighting a fuse connected to ail of the candles have been proposed. For example, U. S. Patent No. 5. 354. 197 to Barone discloses an ignition system where each candle is formed relatively flat and with a flared upper portion. A hole is bored through the upper portion and a fuse is threaded through each hole in each candle wick. Each end of the fuse is provided with a ball or nut acting as a stopper. The igniting fuse may be formed of thread-like material such as cotton or cotton blends and be coated or impregnated with wax to burn at a controlled rate. One problems with such a system is that special candies with special wicks must be provided. It is also tedious to thread the fuse through each candle wick. In addition, the lighting process may be serial as the fuse is set to burn at a controlled rate. If there are a lot of candles, this could take a long time.

Moreover, there is a significant chance that the fuse will extinguish along the way, and thus fail to light all of the candles.

U. S. Patent No. 5,439. 376 to Kramer et al. discloses using a fuse to ignite multiple candles by attaching the fuse to the top of the candle and bending the wick until it touches the fuse. In one embodiment, each candle may have an igniting fuse. and the igniting fuses may then be interconnected. The drawbacks of this system are that one must attach the fuse to the top of the candle using melted wax. Because the fuse is thin and long, this may be a weak connection and come loose, causing the candle to be bypassed during the ignition process. In additions, the wick must be bent over to touch the fuse and held in that position. Moreover, the fast-burning fuse may not provide sufficient time to kindle the wick. In the embodiment using individual fuses, each fuse and wick must still be tied or connected together, which appears to be a tedious process. If each fuse burns quickly, the system is also subject to the same problem of enduring ignition of the candle wick.

What is needed is a fast-burning fuse with a quick and simple mechanism to attach to standard candle wicks which ensures lighting of each of the wicks.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION In one embodiment, the ignition system provides an igniter fuse, preferably of a highly combustible material such as a nitrocellulose material, cotton with a nitrated polymer, or other"nitrated material,"and an intermediate igniter member attached to each candle wick. The invention thus provides a two-stage ignition system: the fast-burning fuse to light all of the intermediate igniter members, and the igniter members to light the candles.

The igniter members preferably extend transversely from the fuse to connect to the wicks. The igniter members

are preferably made of a comparable material to the igniter fuse, and folded over to form a loop through which the fuse passes.

In a more preferred embodiment, the intermediate igniter members also have a slower-burning portion where they attach to the wick, e. g., by use of melted wax or a tacky substance. The fuse is threaded through the intermediate igniter members where they have been folded over. The igniter members also preferably have a wide cross-section (large length and width providing a large surface area) substantially greater than their thickness and that of a typical fuse or the candle wick, to simplify attachment to the wick and to ensure kindling of the wick.

In another embodiment, the intermediate igniter members are integral or unitary with the fuse and fold over a horizontal axis as in the first embodiment. In a third embodiment, the intermediate igniter members are also integral or unitary with the fuse and fold over a vertical axis.

In a further embodiment, the igniter members have a small magnesium wire or other hot and fast-burning portion such as a nitroparaffin or nitrostarch coating on their wick-attaching portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Figure) is a perspective view of a birthday cake with multiple candles and a fuse and intermediate igniter members in accordance with the invention: Figure 2 is a side perspective view of one candle and one intermediate igniter member of the type shown in Figure 1 for illustrating a process of attaching the intermediate igniter member in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2, illustrating a second step in the process; Figure 4 is a view similar to 2 illustrating a third step in the process; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating a fourth step in the process; Figure 6 is a side view of some candles and a fuse and intermediate igniter members in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention showing in a first step in an assembly process in accordance with the invention; Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a second step in the process of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing a third step in the process; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 6 illustrating a third embodiment of the invention in a first step in the assembly process; Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing a second step in the assembly process; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing a third step in the process ; Figure 12 is an enlarged view of an intermediate igniter member in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 13 is a side schematic view of some candles and a fuse and intermediate igniter members in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention showing a first step in an assembly process in accordance with the invention; Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 showing a second step in the process; Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 13 of a sixth embodiment of the invention showing a first step in an assembly process in accordance with the invention ; Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing a second step in the process; and Figure 17 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing a modification of the process.

MODE (S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION This PCT international application is related to United States Utility Patent Application Serial No. 09/385,218

filed August 27.1999. A Notice of Allowance was issued by the USPTO on April 12,2000 and assignent of a patent number is currently pending. The allowed Utility Patent Application is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and the claims thereon.

With reference to Fig. 1, a cake 2 has a plurality of candles 4 each having a wick 6. The cake, for example, may be a birthday cake. A fuse assembly 10 in accordance with the invention includes a fast-burning elongate fuse 12 and intermediate igniter members 14 for each candle 4. The fuse is preferably a thin cord of nitrocellulose, a cotton with a nitrated polymer, or other fast-burning material. The intermediate igniter member 14 is preferably a piece of material which is the same or similar to the fast-burning material in the fuse 12. However, in the ignition system, the intermediate igniter may have several forms. In this embodiment, the igniter member 14 has two portions. There is a fast-burning portion 16 and a slow-burning portion 18.

The fast-burning portion has a loop 20 through which the fuse may readily be threaded. The fast-burning portion 16 may be constructed of the same or similar material as the fuse is constructed. It will ignite quickly in response to the burning of the fuse, even though the fuse burns quickly. The slower-burning portion 18 is attached to the candle wick 6 to ensure that the wick will kindle. The igniter member is relatively large in cross-section (large length and width providing a large surface area) in relation to its own thickness and to the fuse and the candle wick to ensure that the slow-burning portion is ignited and thus ensure that the candle wick will be ignited. This wide or relatively substantial surface area, particularly where constructed with a very narrow depth or thickness provides some assurance of kindling and also a relatively quick and easy mechanism to attach to the candle wick. That is, the intermediate igniter member may be folded to provide loop 20 for easy threading of the fuse. Because the intermediate member is separate from the fuse, the candles may be located at any spacing in any desired pattern.

To achieve the slower-burning portion of the intermediate igniter member, it may be made from the same material as the other portion of the intermediate igniter member, but the slower burning portion is impregnated or coated with wax or other slower burning substance relative to the fuse and the fast-burning portion. This wax is preferably tacky so that the igniter member can attach to itself and to the candle wick by folding over.

A method of attaching the intermediate igniter member is shown in Figs. 2 through 5. As mentioned above, the igniter member has a substantially rectangular shape with a large surface area in relation to its thickness. The slower- burning portion 18 corresponds to the end regions of the igniter member 14 and the fast-burning portion corresponds to the middle. However, the igniter member of Fig. 2 has not yet had wax applied to it, although that could be done at any appropriate point during the process. As shown in Fig. 3, the igniter member is than folded over itself. As shown in Fig.

4, the igniter member's upper portion is formed into a loop and the lower portion sandwiches the wick. It is preferred to get wax 18a from a candle on the lower portion of the igniter member to form the slower-burning portion and to help the igniter member adhere to the candle and itself. The area adjacent the wick of the candle may be heated to soften the wax. One must take care, though, not to heat it so much that the candle ignites. As shown in Fig. 5, the bond strength between the wick and the igniter may be enhanced by pressing or forming holes 19 through both sides of the igniter member. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 12, an igniter member 46 may be provided in advance with a soft wax 50 or

other tacky suitable substance to adhere to itself and the wick with the wick there between and to form fast-burning portion 48 and a slow-burning portion at the wax 50.

As in all embodiments, the slower-burning portion of the igniter burns sufficiently slowly to allow time for the wick to ignite before the igniter expends itself.

With this structure, lighting one end of the fuse will cause all the candles to be ignited by rapidly igniting all of the fast-burning portions of the igniter members, and then allowing the slower-burning portions to kindle and ignite each candle. Nitrocellulose is preferred for the fuse and at least the first fast-burning portion of the igniter member as it bums rapidly and leaves no ash or other residue. It also burns brightly providing an interesting display.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, the fuse and intermediate igniter members are integrally or unitarily formed. Preferably, the fuse and intermediate igniter members are made from the same material as in the previous embodiment. The combination fuse and igniter members 24 are formed by a long sheet of rapidly- burning material having a central long section (fuse) 26 and flaps or tabs 28 spaced apart forming igniter members. The tabs 28, as in the prior embodiment, have a high surface area-to-thickness ratio and a relatively large width and length in relation to their depth. Also as in the previous embodiment, the tabs 28 of the igniter member are folded over and adhered to the wick and themselves, preferably by melted wax 31 from the candle. However, these tabs 28 may be provided with a tacky substance in advance, including wax.

Fig. 6 shows an unfolded state of the tabs and fuse. Fig. 7 shows a partially folded state in the direction of arrow B about axis A. Fig. 8 shows the fully folded and attached state. As in the previous embodiment, the bond between the wick and tabs of the intermediate igniter member may be strengthened by punching holes 29 through the tabs.

The embodiment of Figs. 9-11 is similar to that of Figs. 6-8 except that tabs 32 are provided on one side of the combination igniter member/fuse 30, and the tabs fold over themseives about a vertical axis. The long portion 36 of the combination fuse/igniter member 30 forms the fuse. As in the previous embodiments, the tabs 32 may be impregnated or coated with wax 33 by heating the top of the candle, or combined in advance with wax or another tacky substance which creates a slower-burning portion. To increase bond strength, holes 35 may be pressed or formed through the folded tabs.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 13 shows a long thin nitrocellulose or other fast- burning material which is a combination fuse and igniter member 60. The combination fuse 60 is folded over at dotted line 62 to provide a folded combination fuse as shown in Fig. 14. Portions of the combination fuse are provided with wax or other tacky substance to attach to each candle wick. The area provided with wax or other tacky substance provides a slower-buming portion 64 and thus an integral or unitary igniter member 64.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 15, a long thin strip fuse 66 is shown.

A shown in Fig. 16, igniter members 68 are provided by a sheet material with a relatively large surface area in relation to the fuse being folded over the fuse and wick. The igniter members 68 are provided with wax or other tacky substance to make this connection, and this may also serve to provide a slower-burning intermediate member.

As shown in Fig. 17, the process may be modified by winding the fuse 66 around each candle wick for an even more secure connection.

The foregoing embodiments may be modified by using an intermediate igniter member which is the same material as or a different material from the fuse, but without creating a slower-burning portion of the intermediate igniter member.

The wax, or another tacky substance, or other means of connecting the intermediate igniter member to the candle wick may be used without creating the slower-burning portion. In fact, the intermediate igniter member may consist of a fast- burning portion which is the same or substantially the same as the fuse, and an even faster-burning (or other speed) portion made by using a small magnesium wire, a nitroparaffin or a nitrostarch coating on the lower portion of the igniter

member instead of wax as long as this wick-attaching, faster-burning portion burns hot to ensure kindling of the wick.

The invention provides a two-stage approach to lighting candles. The first stage is the fuse, and the second stage is the igniter members which extend transversely from the fuse for attachment to and ignition of the wicks. The igniter members are readily ignited by the fuse, so that the fuse can rapidly, and with high probability, light all of the igniter members. Then, all of the igniter members in turn individually light each candle wick. The use of the slower-burning lower portion of the igniter members, i. e. the portion which is proximate the candle wick, provides sufficient kindling time to ensure lighting the candle wick. However, it is also possible to use even faster burning substances proximate the candle wick, particularly where they burn hot to help ensure kindling the candle wick. That is, this material would be highly exothermic in relation to the fuse material or to the other portion of the igniter member.

While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY It is an object of the present invention to provide a rapid ignition system for lighting candles set atop a birthday cake such that all candles are lit approximately simultaneously.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a safer method for lighting candles set atop a birthday cake than the traditional method of lighting the candles individually by hand.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a method for lighting candles set atop a birthday cake which provides a interesting display.

These and other objects, advantages, and the industrial utility of the present invention will be apparent from a review of the accompanying specification and drawings.