Patent ID: 7249947

Claim:
A combination comprising a containerized candle and a venting apparatus for improving the stability and efficiency of the combustion flame of the containerized candle, the containerized candle includes a vessel and a fuel source enclosed in the vessel and burnt in the flame, the vessel including sidewalls defining a vessel interior, a cylindrical vessel brim inset from the sidewalls and defining an open mouth to the vessel interior, and an integral vessel shoulder formed around the vessel brim where the sidewalls and the brim converge, the venting apparatus includes a plate shaped and dimensioned to overlie the open mouth of the vessel and extend over the vessel brim, the plate having an outer edge and a central exhaust vent therein for venting an exhaust airflow from the vessel interior: a plurality of feet extending downward from the plate for spacing the plate above the vessel brim when the venting apparatus is seated atop the vessel to create an air gap between the plate and the vessel brim whereby an inlet airflow passes through the air gap when the containerized candle is burnt; and an annular baffle extending downward from the plate between the edge and the exhaust vent so as to extend downward into the open mouth of the vessel below the vessel shoulder when the apparatus is seated atop the vessel, the baffle having portions thereof contoured to have a vertical concavity that slopes outward from the plate beneath the vessel shoulder so as to form three longitudinal depressions, the longitudinal depressions constitute three inlet vents for constraining the inlet airflow into three distinct airflow columns and directing the inlet airflow columns under the vessel shoulder onto the vessel sidewalls when the containerized candle is burnt.