BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The Jewish holiday of Hanukah has been celebrated for over 2000 years. Central to the observance of the holiday is the lighting of the Hanukah candelabrum or hanukiah. While candles have become common for lighting the hanukiah, traditionally olive oil lamps have been used and are preferred by many for the observance.

U. S. Patent No. 6,491, 516 to Tal, et al, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, provides an informative overview of Hanukah, and its observance, including the hanukiah.

One limitation of the traditional olive oil hanukiah, is that the time the lamps thereon can burn is limited by the fuel capacity of the individual lamps, which tend to be rather small.

Known arrangements for candelabra of any sort with a central fuel reservoir have required complicated arrays of valves, and often further required at least one pump to induce flow of the fuel from the reservoir to the individual lamps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a liquid distribution system that does not require pumps to distribute the liquid, nor does it require a complex arrangement of valves to control the flow thereof to a number of liquid usage points. Further, the supply of liquid is contained therein, but is only limited by the capacity of a large liquid reservoir.

The present invention further seeks to provide a Hanukah candelabrum or hanukiah with a burning time that is not limited by the fuel capacity of the individual lamps thereon, but by the fuel capacity of a larger fuel reservoir which is a part thereof.

There is thus provided, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a liquid distribution apparatus including: a closed liquid reservoir, which is an airtight vessel; a liquid supply port adapted to substantially sealingly seat the closed liquid reservoir; a plurality of liquid outlet ports which may include shut-off valves thereon; and a liquid manifold for facilitating the passage of a liquid from the closed liquid reservoir, via the supply port, to the plurality of liquid outlet ports, so that the liquid is continuously supplied to each of the liquid outlet ports in response to the drawing off of liquid therefrom, the liquid manifold being further operative to maintain an equal liquid pressure head at all of the liquid outlet ports.

Additionally, the liquid distribution apparatus may include a plurality of liquid conduits connecting the liquid manifold to the liquid outlet ports, further facilitating the passage of the liquid therebetween, and a base arranged so that the fluid outlet ports are disposed in a common horizontal plane.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the closed liquid reservoir includes an inlet valve positioned close to where the closed liquid reservoir seats in the liquid supply port. The inlet valve may be configured to open whenever the closed liquid reservoir is seated in the liquid supply port and to be closed whenever the closed liquid reservoir is not seated in the liquid supply port. The closed liquid reservoir may be formed to allow the liquid level therein to be observed from without and may additionally include a salable inlet for adding liquid thereto which is located substantially at its top. It may alternatively be integrally formed with the liquid supply port.

There is further provided, in accordance with an additional preferred embodiment of the invention, a candelabrum, using a flammable liquid for fuel, which includes: a closed fuel supply reservoir which is a vertically closable, airtight vessel; a fuel supply port adapted to substantially sealingly seat the closed fuel supply reservoir; a multiplicity of lamps which burn at one predetermined height which is lower than that of the fuel supply reservoir; a multiplicity of branches associated with the lamps; and a body connecting the fuel supply reservoir and the lamps via the fuel supply port and the branches ; wherein the body, the fuel supply port, and the branches are hollow and form an integral, closed, airtight manifold which, when the fuel supply reservoir is substantially sealingly seated in the fuel supply port, is open to the air only at the lamps. The candelabrum may further include shut-off valves which may be part of either the lamps or the branches.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fuel supply reservoir includes an inlet valve positioned close to where the fuel supply reservoir seats in the fuel supply port. The inlet valve may be configured to open whenever the fuel supply reservoir is seated in the fuel supply port and to be closed whenever the fuel supply reservoir is not seated in the fuel supply port. The fuel supply reservoir may alternatively be integrally formed with the fuel supply port.

There is additionally provided, in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a hanulciah, using a flammable liquid, preferably olive oil, for fuel, which includes: a closed fuel supply reservoir which is a vertically closable, airtight vessel; a fuel supply port adapted to substantially sealingly seat the closed fuel supply reservoir ; eight Hanukah lamps and one shamash lamp which burn at one predetermined height which is lower than that of the fuel supply reservoir; a multiplicity of branches associated with the Hanukah and shamash lamps; and a body connecting the fuel supply reservoir and the Hanukah and shamash lamps via the fuel supply port and the branches; wherein the body, the fuel supply port, and the branches are hollow and form an integral, closed, airtight manifold which, when the fuel supply reservoir is substantially sealingly seated in the fuel supply port, is open to the air only at the Hanukah and shamash lamps.

The hanulciah may further include shut-off valves which may be part of either the Hanukah and shamash lamps or the branches. Preferably, the Hanukah lamps are arranged in one line and equidistant from each other and the shamash lamp is positioned at a location substantially removed from said line of the Hanukah lamps.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the fuel supply reservoir includes an inlet valve positioned close to where the fuel supply reservoir seats in the fuel supply port. The inlet valve may be configured to open whenever the fuel supply reservoir is seated in the fuel supply port and to be closed whenever the fuel supply reservoir is not seated in the fuel supply port. The fuel supply reservoir may alternatively be integrally formed with the fuel supply port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a liquid distribution apparatus, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a hanukiah, constructed and operative in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 is a top view of the hanukiah of Figure 2; Figure 4 is side view of a lamp from the hanukiah of Figure 2; and Figure 5 is schematic view of a lubrication system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a schematic view of a liquid distribution apparatus, referred to generally as 100, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Liquid distribution apparatus 100 has a number of liquid outlet ports 120 and a liquid supply port 165 coming off body or manifold 130 which connects all the ports and allows free flow of the liquid from liquid supply port 165 to all liquid outlet ports 120. Liquid supply port 165 connects liquid reservoir 160, a closed substantially airtight vessel containing the liquid to be distributed to liquid outlet ports 120, to manifold 130. In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, liquid reservoir 160 is integrally formed with liquid supply port 165 and is preferably configured with an inlet valve 170, located where it joins liquid supply port 165, and liquid fill port 175 with a fill valve 180, located substantially at the top of liquid reservoir 160, for adding liquid thereto. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, when liquid reservoir 160 is supplied with liquid and inlet valve 170 is open and fill valve 180 is closed, an equal pressure head of liquid 125 is maintained at all liquid outlet ports 120, even as the supply of liquid in liquid reservoir 160 is depleted. When the supply of liquid in liquid reservoir 160 is depleted, first closing inlet valve 170 and then opening fill valve 180 allows liquid reservoir 160 to be filled via liquid fill port 175 without overflow and loss of liquid. Alternatively, liquid reservoir 160 may have a salable fill cap, located substantially at its top, in place of fill port 175 and fill valve 180.

In accordance with an alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention (not pictured), liquid reservoir 160 is a removable closed substantially airtight vessel which seats substantially sealingly in liquid supply port 165. Liquid reservoir 160 is preferably configured with an inlet valve near where it is mounted in liquid supply port 165. This allows liquid reservoir 160 to be filled and transported while it is full. Once it is mounted in liquid supply port 165, inlet valve can be opened to allow the liquid to be supplied to all liquid outlet ports 120 via liquid supply port 165 and manifold 130. In an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention, inlet valve operates automatically, automatically opening when liquid reservoir 160 is mounted in liquid supply port 165 and closing when liquid reservoir 160 is removed from liquid supply port 165. This can be accomplished by switching mechanisms in the valve and possibly a mechanical stop in liquid supply port 165, as would be apparent to those skilled in the art. In the present embodiment, liquid reservoir 160 may further include a fill port and fill valve or a salable fill cap, located substantially at its top, for adding liquid thereto when the inlet valve is closed. In the case of an automatic valve, as described above, a manual override mechanism would allow the valve to be closed during filling, to prevent overflow and loss of the liquid.

Referring now to Figure 2, there is shown a side view of a hanukiah, referred to generally as 200, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Hanukiah 200 has eight Hanukah lamps 210, each of which is mounted on a branch 220 coming off body 230 of hanukiah 200. Hanukah lamps 210 are preferably arranged in one line and equidistant from each other and are further preferably all at the same height, in accordance with Jewish law for the observance of the Hanukah holiday. Hanukiah 200 also has a shamash lamp 240 mounted on its own branch 250 coming off body 230 of hanukiah 200 and a fuel supply port 265 which also comes off body 230 of hanukiah 200, to accommodate fuel supply reservoir 260. Shamash lamp 240 is at the same height as Hanukah lamps 210, but is preferably mounted at a location substantially removed from the line of Hanukah lamps 210, as can be seen more readily in the top view of Figure 3. Fuel supply reservoir 260 is a closed, airtight vessel substantially sealingly mounted onto fuel supply port 265 of hanukiah 200 at a height which, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is above that of Hanukah lamps 210 and shamash lamp 240. A typical Hanukah or shamash lamp is shown in Figure 4.

Hanukiah 200 is fabricated so that body 230, fuel supply port 265, and branches 220, 240 are hollow and form an integral, closed, airtight manifold which is open to the air only at Hanukah lamps 210 and shamash lamp 240, when fuel supply reservoir 260 is substantially sealingly mounted thereon. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, such a system, when filled with a liquid, will maintain an equal pressure head of the liquid at all outlets open to the air. In the present case, fuel supply reservoir 260 of hanukiah 200 is filled with liquid fuel, preferably olive oil, which is continuously supplied to each liquid outlet, namely Hanukah lamps 210 and shamash lamp 240, in response to the drawing off of the liquid fuel therefrom, as the lamps burn. Depending on the size of fuel supply reservoir 260 and how full it is of the liquid fuel, hanukiah 200 can be left to burn unattended for very long periods of time, a significant advantage over the prior art, wherein the unattended burning time is limited by the size and fuel capacity of the significantly smaller, individual lamps 220,240.

As described above with respect to the liquid distribution apparatus 100 shown in Figure 1, fuel supply reservoir 260 of hanukiah 200 is preferably configured with a valve (not pictured) near where it is mounted on fuel supply port 265 of hanukiah 200. This allows fuel supply reservoir 260 to be filled and transported while it is full. Once it is mounted in fuel supply port 265, the valve can be opened to allow the fuel to be supplied to all lamps 220,240 via fuel supply port 265 and body 230. In an additional preferred embodiment of the present invention, the valve operates automatically, automatically opening when fuel supply reservoir 260 is mounted in fuel supply port 265 and closing when fuel supply reservoir 260 is removed from fuel supply port 265.

In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, each of the Hanukah lamps 210 may have a shut-off valve 270 at its base, allowing the lamps selectively to be lit and allowed to burn. This facilitates observance of the ritual of lighting Hanukah lights wherein only a first lamp is lit on the first night of the holiday, the first and second lamps on the second night, and so on, adding another lamp each night for eight nights, until all eight Hanukah lamps 210 are lit on the eighth and last night of the holiday. In an alternative embodiment, the shut-off valves may be included in branches 220 (not shown) near their ends where lamps 210,240 are mounted thereon.

It will be understood that the scope of the present invention also includes any candelabrum, with any number of lamps, wherein the lamps are configured to burn at a common height relative to the candelabrum and having a fuel supply reservoir substantially sealingly mounted thereon. Such an embodiment similarly has the advantage of being able to burn unattended for long periods of time only limited by the size of the fuel supply reservoir and how much fuel is contained therein.

It will be further understood that the scope of the present invention additionally includes any general liquid distribution system having a number of liquid outlet ports which can be configured to be at a common height and connected via a liquid supply port to a large, closed, liquid reservoir, wherein it is desired to gradually and continuously supply liquid from the reservoir to the outlet ports, unattendedly. For example, the present invention can be configured as an irrigation system for a number of individual plants, particularly for house plants which can be advantageously supplied with water from a large storage reservoir during an absence of the home owners. Another application wherein the present invention could advantageously be employed is a lubrication system, wherein a liquid lubricant can be gradually and continuously supplied to a number of points needing lubrication, again unattendedly for an extended period of time.

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a schematic view of lubrication system, referred to generally as 500, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Lubrication system 500 has an oil reservoir 560 with a valve 570 at its inlet which substantially sealingly engages oil supply port 520 connected to an oil conduit 530. The other end 535 of oil conduit 530 opens into oil receptacle 510 at the height of the desired oil level therein. Oil is distributed from oil receptacle 510 to points requiring lubrication. In a preferred application, oil receptacle 510 would be the oil pan or oil sump of an automobile motor or some other engine; with the oil in oil reservoir 560, the motor has a larger supply of oil than that contained in the oil pan. The oil level in oil receptacle 510 will be maintained as long as there is oil in oil reservoir 560 and system 500 is closed and airtight, except at oil receptacle 510, as discussed hereinabove regarding the liquid distribution apparatus of Figure 1. Valve 570 is configured to automatically open when oil reservoir 560 is mounted in oil supply port 520 and to close when oil reservoir 560 is removed from oil supply port 520. In the present embodiment, oil reservoir 560 is clear or translucent, so that the oil level 565 therein can be seen from the outside, which can eliminate the need for checking the oil level with a dipstick. Oil reservoir 560 may include graduations for reading the oil level therein (not shown) or may have a graduated transparent or translucent vertical strip, rather than being entirely transparent or translucent.

It will further be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited by what has been specifically shown and described hereinabove, merely by way of example. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims, which follow.