Patent ID: 7068175
Filing Date: 2006-06-27
Classification: G01F

Abstract:
1. A water level warning device, for use by a user in conjunction with a structure capable of selectively holding a quantity of water, said structure having a base and also having a source of flowing water for selectively filling the structure with water, said water having an upper surface, said warning device capable of audibly warning a user when the upper surface of the water within the structure has reached a predetermined water level above the base of said structure, so that the user does not have to watch the upper surface of the water as the structure fills with water, said warning device comprising: a telescopically adjustable, substantially hollow tube having a top, a bottom, and a side wall having a plurality of openings extending fully therethrough at various locations between the top of the tube and the bottom of the tube, said openings for allowing the water within the structure to selectively enter the tube, said tube having a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein said upper portion of the tube is selectively telescopically positionable with respect to the lower portion of the tube, in order to allow the user to adjust the overall height of the warning device; a suction cup attached to the bottom of the tube, for selectively anchoring the warning device to the base of the structure; at least one floating ball selectively contained within the tube, wherein said floating ball floats upon the upper surface of the water which has entered the tube of the warning device through the openings extending therethrough; and a cap which seals the top of the tube, said cap having a lower portion having a pressure-activated sensor, and an upper portion having a speaker in communication with the sensor, wherein the sensor is selectively activated upon contact with the at least one floating ball when a rising upper surface of the water causes the floating ball to reach substantially the top of the tube, wherein the speaker selectively emits an audible alarm upon selective activation of the sensor by the floating ball, and wherein a vertical height of the sensor above the base of the structure, and consequently an amount of water needed to float the floating ball up to the sensor, is selectively adjusted by adjusting the overall height of the warning device.