Decorative oil lamp with candle support template

Abstract

An oil lamp is disclosed which includes a container defining an interior chamber for holding a combustible liquid, and a template adapted to float on combustible liquid held within the interior chamber of the container, and configured to support a plurality of elongated oil candles in a substantially upright position within the container in a decorative or ornamental arrangement.

1 . An oil lamp comprising: 
 a) a container defining an interior chamber for holding a combustible liquid; and    b) a template adapted to float on combustible liquid held within the interior chamber of the container, and configured to support a plurality of elongated oil candles in a substantially upright position within the container.    
   
   
       2 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the container is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, metal, glass, resin and ceramic.  
   
   
       3 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the template is formed from a material that provides buoyancy necessary to float at the surface of the combustible liquid.  
   
   
       4 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the template includes a plurality of candle reception apertures.  
   
   
       5 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the candle reception apertures are arranged in a matrix pattern.  
   
   
       6 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the candle reception apertures in the template have a geometry that is substantially similar to a cross-sectional geometry of the oil candles.  
   
   
       7 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the candle reception apertures in the template are arranged in a geometric pattern.  
   
   
       8 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the template and the container have substantially similar geometric configurations.  
   
   
       9 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the template is coextensive with the interior chamber of the container.  
   
   
       10 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the template encompasses a portion of the surface area of the interior chamber of the container.  
   
   
       11 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of elongated oil candles.  
   
   
       12 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the elongated oil candles are formed from metallic tubing and a wick occupies an interior lumen of each oil candle.  
   
   
       13 . An oil lamp comprising: 
 a) a container defining an interior chamber for holding a combustible liquid;    b) a buoyant template adapted to float upon the surface of combustible liquid held within the interior chamber of the container and including a plurality of candle reception apertures; and    c) a plurality of elongated oil candles configured for reception within the candle reception apertures of the template.    
   
   
       14 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the candle reception apertures are arranged in a matrix pattern.  
   
   
       15 . An oil lamp as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the elongated oil candles are formed from metallic tubing and a wick occupies an interior lumen of each oil candle.  
   
   
       16 . A method of preparing an oil lamp comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a container defining an interior chamber;    b) filling the interior chamber of the container with a combustible liquid;    c) positioning a candle support template above the surface of combustible liquid; and    d) supporting oil candles in candle support template.    
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the step of providing the candle support template with a plurality of candle reception apertures.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of supporting oil candles in the candle support template includes the step of positioning oil candles within candle reception apertures of the candle support template.  
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of positioning a candle support template at the surface of combustible liquid comprises floating the candle support template on the surface of combustible liquid.