US20060134574A1

US20060134574A1 - Seashell oil lamp

Info

Publication number: US20060134574A1
Application number: US10/983,936
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Trafton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-20
Filing date: 2004-12-20
Publication date: 2006-06-22

Abstract

The idea of closing the open mouth of a seashell for the purpose of creating an oil lamp or oil candle. The idea is new on it's own. The method used is to inject liquid resin into a chocked or shimmed positioned shell to create a permanent closure of the open end once the resin has hardened. Then the addition of a wick assembly through a hole made into the newly created sealed chamber to create a self contained oil or fuel burning lamp or candle. No method has ever been applied to sea shells for this purpose. The patent should first be granted on the merits of the idea and the method second. Some shells do not require the injection of resin to close the open mouth. Like the Nautilus shell pictured above a much smaller hole is closed permanently with a simple patch or small ball of glue.

Description

In General this is a very simple concept and method of accomplishing something no one has ever done before. Most sea shells have a spiral interior wall very similar to the conch shell shown in drawing #2 FIG. 2. They are always open on one end for obvious reasons. My invention closes off the opening at one end in order to form a hermetically sealed upper portion of the shell for the purpose of holding lamp oil or liquid paraffin as is more popular today. Then with the adaptation of a well known wick and Pyrex tube assembly drawing # 2 FIG. 10 mounted in the newly created closed upper chamber of the shell the shell becomes a free standing oil lamp as shown.
The real invention is three fold, not only in the original idea to close the upper chamber but in the method and application of closer. as well Since all shells are of different exact dimensions no one fitting or other devise at least not to date has ever been successful in the purpose of hermetically closing off the open shell mouth.
Our research to date has now found two part epoxy resin to do the job the very best. After experimenting with a number of resinous materials including polyester resin, polyurethane resin and foam, and some silicone rubber mixtures, just to name few all proved inferior to epoxy. We have settled for now on epoxy with an aluminum oxide filler ingredient to prevent shrinkage and heat during curing. We then inject the resin into the shell with pneumatic pressure.
I do think that this patent should however include any method of closing the shell opening for the purpose of creating an oil lamp. Whether it be an inflated devise or any method whatsoever of closing the shell off to create an oil lamp would be in conflict with the original conceptual idea herein created. bag or diaphragm, or the use of foam or any kind of poured resin to name a few.
The third part of the invention is the method of application that has individual merits as an art all on it's own. This is the process whereby the shell is held at the exact correct angle by blocking or shimming the shell long enough for the resin to harden. The resin is then injected into the shell opening while supported at the correct angle to a level sufficient to close off the upper portion of the shell chamber. Of course since every shell is different this requires some skill The end result creates the appearance that the shell has never been modified since the resin is only visible upon very close inspection up inside of the shell itself. We plan on using the same idea on many other varieties of seashells as well not just conch shells. The scope of this patent idea should encompass all seashells treated with this conceptual method.

OBJECT OF INVENTION

To create a free standing oil lamp out of natural seashells We hope to market them to individuals as well as florists for use in gift baskets and many other perhaps unforeseen uses in the future.

ADVANTAGES OVER PRIOR ART

There have never been oil lamps created out of seashells before, Therefore the advantages are clear.

DRAWINGS INCLUDED

#1. Seashell plan and exploded view showing resin poor zone.
#2. Seashell end view depicting inner spiral and resin fill zone.
#3. Untouched end view of shell for comparison with #2.
#4. Color photo of shell lamp in action.

Claims

1. The creation of a self contained oil lamp or oil candle by closing off the open mouth of sea shells and creating a sealed internal reservoir for oil

A. The casting of resin or foam or any other compound or installation of any devise weather inflated or fixed for the purpose of closing the open mouth of a natural sea shell and creating a sealed internal reservoir to store oil for use as a sea shell oil lamp or oil candle.

B. And with the addition of a hole into the shell reservoir a wick apparatus is added to create a free standing oil lamp or oil candle.