Wick trimmer

US 7,047,851 B2
Filed: 02/19/2004
Issued: 05/23/2006
Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2004
Status: Expired due to Fees

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1. A method for trimming a wick to a pre-determined length comprising:

providing a first cutting arm having a base;

providing a second cutting arm pivotally connected to said first cutting arm, wherein said second cutting arm includes a measuring foot having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said base, wherein said measuring foot thickness determines the length of a wick allowed to remain above a top surface of a candle upon trimming the wick;

placing a wick of a candle between the base and measuring foot;

placing a bottom surface of the measuring foot on the top surface of the candle;

moving said first and second cutting arms to a closed position;

cutting the wick to a height that corresponds to the measuring foot thickness such that the cut wick stands underneath a bottom surface of the base when the bottom surface of the measuring foot is contacting the top surface of the candle; and

receiving at a debris tray any portion cut from the wick, wherein the debris tray comprises said measuring foot, a top rim of measuring foot, and said base.

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Abstract

A wick trimmer apparatus is herein provided and more particularly, a wick trimmer with a measuring foot that facilitates the effective cutting of a wick to an appropriate length. The wick trimmer has two arms and a measuring foot connected to the second arm that determines the length of a wick protruding from the top portion of a candle. The wick trimmer also has a debris tray formed from a top portion of the measuring foot and a top portion of a base of the first arm. The angles of the arms facilitate both the effective trimming of wicks and the ability of the wick trimmer to access a candle housed within a narrow candle container.

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29 Claims

1. A method for trimming a wick to a pre-determined length comprising:
- providing a first cutting arm having a base;
  
  providing a second cutting arm pivotally connected to said first cutting arm, wherein said second cutting arm includes a measuring foot having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said base, wherein said measuring foot thickness determines the length of a wick allowed to remain above a top surface of a candle upon trimming the wick;
  
  placing a wick of a candle between the base and measuring foot;
  
  placing a bottom surface of the measuring foot on the top surface of the candle;
  
  moving said first and second cutting arms to a closed position;
  
  cutting the wick to a height that corresponds to the measuring foot thickness such that the cut wick stands underneath a bottom surface of the base when the bottom surface of the measuring foot is contacting the top surface of the candle; and
  
  receiving at a debris tray any portion cut from the wick, wherein the debris tray comprises said measuring foot, a top rim of measuring foot, and said base.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 11, 12, 13)
- - 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step providing variable cutting strength that is created by a difference in angle of between about 0.25°
    - and about 1.25°
      
      between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.
  - 11. The wick trimmer of claim 1, wherein a top angle of said first cutting arm forms an angle of between about 100°
    - and about 110°
      
      .
  - 12. The wick trimmer of claim 1, wherein a top angle of said second cutting arm forms an angle of between about 100°
    - and about 110°
      
      .
  - 13. The wick trimmer of claim 1, wherein the wick trimmer comprises stainless steel.

3. A wick trimmer comprising:
- a first cutting arm having a base;
  
  a second cutting arm pivotally connected to said first cutting arm, wherein said second cutting arm includes a measuring foot having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said base, wherein said measuring foot thickness determines the length of a wick allowed to remain above the top surface of a candle upon trimming the wick, and wherein a top surface of said measuring foot includes a cutting edge; and
  
  a debris tray configured to received any portion off the wick, wherein the debris tray comprises said measuring foot, a top rim of said measuring foot, and said base.
- View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- - 4. The wick trimmer of claim 3, wherein said measuring foot thickness is between about ⅛
    - ″ and
      
      about ⅞
      
      ″
      
      .
  - 5. The wick trimmer of claim 3, wherein said base comprises a cutting edge.
  - 6. The wick trimmer of claim 3, wherein said first and second cutting arms are configured so as to create variable cutting strength along said cutting edge as said first cutting arm and said second cutting arm are directed to a closed position.
  - 7. The wick trimmer of claim 6, wherein said variable cutting strength is created by a difference in angle of between about 0.25°
    - and about 1.25°
      
      between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.
  - 8. The wick trimmer of claim 6, wherein said variable cutting strength is created by a difference in angle of between about 0.50°
    - and about 1.00°
      
      between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.
  - 9. The wick trimmer of claim 6, wherein said variable cutting strength is created by a difference in angle of about 0.75°
    - between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.
  - 10. The wick trimmer of claim 9, wherein said bottom angle of said first cutting arm is about 105.75°
    - and said bottom angle of said second cutting arm is about 105.00°
      
      .

14. A wick trimmer comprising:
- a first cutting arm coupled to a based;
  
  a second cutting arm coupled to a measuring foot having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said base, wherein said measuring foot thickness determines a length of a wick allowed to remain above a top surface of a candle upon trimming the wick, wherein said second cutting arm is pivotally connected to said first cutting arm;
  
  a debris tray configured to received any portion trimmed off of the wick, wherein the debris tray comprises said measuring foot, a top rim of said measuring foot, and said base; and
  
  a cutting edge formed along said base.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
- - 15. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein said measuring foot has a thickness of between about ⅛
    - ″ and
      
      about ½
      
      ″
      
      .
  - 16. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein said measuring foot has a thickness of about ¼
    - ″
      
      .
  - 17. The wick trimmer of claim 14, said first cutting arm having a top angle of between about 95.00°
    - and about 115.00° and
      
      a bottom angle at least about 0.25°
      
      greater than the top angle.
  - 18. The wick trimmer of claim 14, said second cutting arm having a top angle and a bottom angle of between about 95.00°
    - and about 115.00°
      
      .
  - 19. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein the difference between a top angle and a bottom angle of said first cutting arm creates variable cutting strength along said cutting edge as said first cutting arm and said second cutting arm are directed to a closed position.
  - 20. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein a middle portion of said first cutting arm is angled between about 170°
    - and about 175° and
      
      a middle portion of said second cutting arm is angled between about 170° and
      
      about 175°
      
      , allowing said first cutting arm and said second cutting arm to overlap so that said first cutting arm and said second cutting arm can pivotally connect.
  - 21. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein a bottom angle of said first cutting arm is about 105.75°
    - and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm is about 105.00°
      
      .
  - 22. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein a first end of said first cutting arm forms an angle of between about 100°
    - and about 110°
      
      .
  - 23. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein a first end of said second cutting arm forms an angle of between about 100°
    - and about 110°
      
      .
  - 24. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein said wick trimmer is configured so as to fit into a cover of a candle, wherein the cover is at least about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  - 25. The wick trimmer of claim 14, wherein the cutting edge is configured to cut through a wick, regardless of whether the wick has been burned previous to the cut.

26. A wick trimmer comprising:
- a first cutting arm having a base; and
  
  a second cutting arm pivotally coupled to said first cutting arm, wherein said second cutting arm includes a measuring foot having a thickness that is greater than a thickness of said base, wherein said measuring foot thickness determines the length of a wick allowed to remain above a top surface of a candle upon trimming the wick, and wherein said measuring foot and said base each includes a cutting edge, and wherein said first and second cutting arms are configured so as to create variable cutting strength along said cutting edges as said first cutting arm and said second cutting arm are directed to a closed position; and
  
  a debris tray configured to received any portion trimmed off of the wick, wherein the debris tray comprises said measuring foot, a top rim of said measuring foot, and said base.
- View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29)
- - 27. The wick trimmer of claim 26, wherein said variable cutting strength is created by a difference in angle of between about 0.25°
    - and about 1.25°
      
      between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.
  - 28. The wick trimmer of claim 26, wherein said variable cutting strength is created by a difference in angle of between about 0.35°
    - and about 1.15°
      
      between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.
  - 29. The wick trimmer of claim 26, wherein said variable cutting strength is created by a difference in angle of about 0.75 degrees between a bottom angle of said first cutting arm and a bottom angle of said second cutting arm.

Specification

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Litigation Data

Current Assignee
CleanCut
Original Assignee
CleanCut
Inventors
Waisath, Curt D.
Primary Examiner(s)
PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU

Application Number

US10/782,103
Publication Number

US 20050186523A1
Time in Patent Office

824 Days
Field of Search

301/31, 301/79, 302/33, 302/54, 302/57, 302/59, 302/86, 431/120, D8/57
US Class Current

83/13
CPC Class Codes

B26B 13/00   Hand shears; Scissors

F23D 3/36   Devices for trimming wicks

Y10T 83/04   Processes

Wick trimmer

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Abstract

15 Citations

29 Claims

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Wick trimmer

First Claim

1 Assignment

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Litigations

0 Petitions

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Accused Products

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Abstract

15 Citations

29 Claims

Specification

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Solutions

Use Cases

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