Abstract:
A self-contained water display. The water display includes a cylindrical fountain housing. The fountain housing contains at least one fountain nozzle extending vertically upwardly, and at least one pump adapted to supply water to the nozzle with sufficient volumetric throughput to cause a vertical water stream to be ejected therefrom. A vertically disposed transparent cylindrical cover surrounds the fountain housing with the fountain housing being located in a lower portion of the transparent cylindrical cover. The transparent cylindrical cover has a height above the nozzle that is at least as great as the height of the vertical water stream generated by the fountain nozzle. The fountain housing and the lower portion of the transparent cylindrical cover are surrounded by a lightweight shell simulating a rock. The water display may include a transparent aquarium surrounding the fountain housing and transparent cylindrical cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a self-contained water display that may be used indoors or in confined areas. The water display includes a water fountain, and may additionally include an aquarium. 
   Outdoor water fountains have been around for centuries, and take many forms. One type of outdoor fountain is sold by Superior Innovative Products, Inc. of Springfield, Oreg. under the trademark “Fountain Systems”. The housing for this water fountain is described in U.S. Design Patent D461,222, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   It would be desirable to provide a water fountain that can be placed indoors, or in other confined spaces, without the danger of water being sprayed into undesirable locations. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention is a self-contained water display. The water display includes a cylindrical fountain housing. The fountain housing contains at least one fountain nozzle extending vertically upwardly, and at least one pump adapted to supply water to the nozzle with sufficient volumetric throughput to cause a vertical water stream to be ejected therefrom. A vertically disposed transparent cylindrical cover surrounds the fountain housing with the fountain housing being located in a lower portion of the transparent cylindrical cover. The transparent cylindrical cover has a height above the nozzle that is at least as great as the height of the vertical water stream generated by the fountain nozzle. 
   The fountain housing and the lower portion of the transparent cylindrical cover are surrounded by a lightweight shell simulating a rock. 
   The water display of the present invention may include a transparent aquarium surrounding the fountain housing and transparent cylindrical cover. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the self-contained water display of the present invention, wherein the water display is a water fountain; 
       FIG. 2  is a front perspective view of the self-contained water display of the present invention, wherein the water display includes a water fountain and an aquarium; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded front elevation view of the self-contained water display of the present invention, wherein the water display is a water fountain; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the fountain housing of the self-contained water display of the present invention, the fountain housing being shown without the cover grates in place; 
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the fountain housing of the self-contained water display of the present invention, the fountain housing being shown with the cover grates in place; 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of  FIG. 4  of the fountain housing of the self-contained water display of the present invention, shown without the pumping and lighting subassemblies for sake of clarity; 
       FIG. 7  is a top plan view of the pump mounting platform of the self-contained water display of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the top cross bar of the fountain housing of the self-contained water display of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9  is a side elevation view of one of the lights of the self-contained water display of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10  is an electric schematic of the lighting system; 
       FIG. 11  is a top plan view of the base of the self-contained water display of the present invention; 
       FIG. 12  is an exploded front elevation view of the self-contained water display of the present invention, wherein the water display includes a water fountain and an aquarium; and 
       FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the aquarium lid of the self-contained water display of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The water fountain  10  of the present invention includes a transparent cylindrical cover  20  having a transparent lid  22 , a fountain housing  30 , a plastic tub  40 , a lightweight shell cover  50  simulating a rock, and a floor  60 . 
   Transparent cylindrical cover  20  is preferably made of a lightweight, scratch resistant transparent polymer, such as a polycarbonate. Transparent cylindrical cover  20  can be made from a sheet of lightweight, scratch resistant, transparent polymer by bringing the two longitudinal edges of the sheet into a slightly overlapping relationship and attaching the edges together by suitable means, such as threaded fasteners. Transparent lid  22 , which fits onto the upper open end of transparent cylindrical cover  20 , is made of the same material. 
   Fountain housing  30  has a wall  32 , a floor  34 , and is open at the top. Wall  32  is formed of two semi-cylindrical elements fastened together along adjacent vertical edges to form a cylinder. The cylindrical wall  32  is fastened to floor  34 . Wall  32  preferably has substantially the same appearance as that shown in applicants&#39; U.S. Design Patent D461,222, i.e., it preferably is corrugated which provides additional rigidity to the wall structure. However, the wall of fountain housing  30  can be smooth. 
   A cross bar  36  extends across the top of fountain housing  30 , as shown. Pins  38   a  and  38   b  ( FIG. 6 ) extend from one of the two halves of cylindrical wall  32  and through openings  37   a , 37   b  ( FIG. 8 ) located in the ends of cross bar  36 . This arrangement provides rigidity to the open upper end of fountain housing  30 . 
   A pump subassembly rests on the floor  34  of fountain housing  30 . As best seen in  FIG. 7 , the pump subassembly includes a platform  70  having pump wiring orifices  71  and  72  and pump wiring slots  73  and  74 . A first pair of strap slots  75   a  and  75   b  are located at the first end of platform  70  and a second pair of strap slots  76   a  and  76   b  are located at the second end of platform  70 . A first pair of hook and loop fastener elements  77   a  and  77   b  are located inwardly of the first pair of slots  75   a  and  75   b , and a second pair of hook and loop fastener elements  78   a  and  78   b  are located inwardly of the second pair of slots  76   a  and  76   b.    
   As best seen in  FIG. 4 , a pair of identical submersible pumps  80  and  90  are located at the first and second ends of platform  70 . The pumps can have any desired volumetric throughput rating. For a fountain having a height of about seven feet, a central nozzle  95  having a diameter of about ¾ inch, and two outer nozzles  85  and  86  having a diameter of about ½ inch, a throughput of 2400 gallons per hour per pump has been found to produce satisfactory streams. The wiring  87  ( FIG. 11 ) supplying power to pump  80  exits through wiring orifice  71  and wiring slot  73 . Similarly, the wiring  88  ( FIG. 11 ) supplying power to pump  90  exits through wiring orifice  72  and wiring slot  74 . Wiring  87  and  88  extend up over the open upper end of housing  30 , under the bottom of cover  20 , and over the top of tub  40  where they then communicate with a power source via junction box  89 , which can be attached to floor  60 . 
   Hook and loop fastening elements (not shown) are attached to the bottom of each of pumps  80  and  90 , and are adapted to mate with the pairs of hook and loop fastener elements  77   a , 77   b  and  78   a , 78   b , respectively. Hook and loop strap elements  79   a  and  79   b  can be passed through the pairs of slots  75   a ,  75   b  and  76   a ,  76   b  and around pumps  80  and  90 , respectively, as best seen in  FIG. 4 . The hook and loop strap elements  79   a  and  79   b  mate with hook and loop elements fastened to the tops of each of pumps  80  and  90 ; the opposite sides of the straps  79   a  and  79   b  also mate. 
   Water contained within fountain housing  30  is sucked into pump  80  through its intake opening and is pumped through flexible conduit  81  and into pressure balancing valve  82 . From pressure balancing valve  82  the water is pumped through flexible conduits  83  and  84  and through outer nozzles  85  and  86 , respectively. 
   Water contained within fountain housing  30  is sucked into pump  90  through its intake opening and is pumped through flexible conduit  91  and through central nozzle  95 . 
   Since pump  80  feeds the two outer nozzles  85  and  86 , the height of the resulting water streams are less than the height of the water stream produced by pump  90  and central nozzle  95 . 
   Water contained within fountain housing  30  is continuously filtered by passing it through a biofilter/pump assembly  62  via suction inlet conduit  63  and return conduit  64 , as best seen in  FIG. 11 . Biofilter/pump assembly  62  is attached to floor  60 . 
   Lights  100   a ,  100   b , and  100   c  are attached to cross bar  36  by means of brackets  102 , each bracket  102  having a vertical leg  103  and a horizontal leg  104 , as best seen in  FIG. 9 . Lights  100  include a conical housing  106  having a removable lid  108  that has a circular central opening through which the light element is exposed. Threaded fastener  109  secures bracket  102  to crossbar  36 . A nut  110  secures housing  106  to the horizontal leg  104  of bracket  102 . An electrical wire  112  is connected to a junction box  114  which is connected to a controller  116  and a low voltage (12 volts, 800 milliamps) DC power source (transformer)  118  ( FIG. 10 ). 
   Each of the light elements of lights  100  contains a plurality of LED bulbs, some of the bulbs capable of emitting red light, some of the bulbs capable of emitting blue light, and some of the bulbs capable of emitting green light. 
   Preferably, each of the light elements contain twenty seven LED bulbs, nine of which bulbs are capable of emitting red light, nine of which bulbs are capable of emitting blue light, and nine of which bulbs are capable of emitting green light. 
   The light elements are electrically connected to a controller  116  adapted to energize certain of the LED bulbs at certain times. The controller  116  can be adapted to energize the LED bulbs in response to an audio input. 
   Grate covers  120   a  and  120   b  ( FIG. 5 ) are secured to the top of fountain housing  30  by threaded fasteners or other suitable removable attachment members. 
   Lightweight shell cover  50  is a hollow shell simulating a rock, and can be made of any suitable lightweight material, such as fiberglass or any other faux rock material. Simulated rock shell cover  50  has a circular opening at its top ( FIG. 1 ) that is substantially the same diameter as transparent cylindrical cover  20 . Its height is preferably such that the top of simulated rock shell cover  50  is substantially at the same level as the top of fountain housing  30 . Simulated rock  50  may have any aesthetically pleasing shape. 
   As best seen in  FIG. 11 , floor  60  has the same “footprint” or outline as the bottom of simulated rock shell cover  50 . Although plastic tub  40  has been described as being an element separate from floor  60 , the two can be integral, i.e., molded as one piece. 
     FIGS. 2 ,  12  and  13  show a self-contained water display  210  wherein the water display includes a cylindrical aquarium  270 . The water fountain portion of water display  210  is the same as discussed above relative to water fountain  10 , with common elements having the same reference numbers but increased by 200. Thus, the water fountain includes a transparent cylindrical cover  220  having a transparent lid  222 , a fountain housing  230 , a plastic tub  240 , a simulated rock shell cover  250 , and a floor  260 . The cylindrical plastic tub  240  containing the cylindrical fountain housing  230  and transparent cylindrical cover  220  sits inside cylindrical aquarium  270 , resting on its floor. The cylindrical aquarium  270  sits on an aquarium stand  252  located within simulated rock shell cover  250  and attached to or resting on floor  260 . The plastic tub  240 , cylindrical fountain housing  230 , transparent cylindrical cover  220  and cylindrical aquarium  270  all have a common axis. 
   Lid  272  of cylindrical aquarium  270  has a circular opening  274  having substantially the same diameter as transparent cylindrical cover  220 , and through which transparent cylindrical cover  220  passes. 
   In both water display versions  10  and  210 , real or synthetic plants can be placed into openings located in simulated rock shell covers  50  and  250 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Plants can also be placed on the lid  272  of aquarium  270 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Simulated rock shell covers  50  and  250  can also include a CD player (not shown) and one or more speakers  80  and  280 , respectively. The CD player can be connected to the lighting system to cause the lights to vary in color to the tune of the music. 
   It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments of this invention without departing from the underlying principles thereof. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims.