Abstract:
A flat ribbon-shaped waterfall for a portable spa is caused to flow out of the top rim or top side of a spa. A narrow elongated spout forms the output end of a plenum chamber that has a water inlet. The plenum chamber is constructed to baffle surges in the inlet water flow. A light source is placed close to the mouth of the elongated spout to light the ribbon of water flowing from the spout in multi-color, if desired.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates generally to improvements in portable spas, and more particularly, pertains to new and improved waterfall features for portable spas.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     In the field of portable spas, it has been the practice to continually improve the spa experience by, not only increasing the number and variety of massaging jets available in the spa, but by also providing additional distractions that go beyond physical sensory stimulation to include audio stimulation, such as providing music to further enhance the spa experience. The present invention goes beyond providing stimulation for the sensory perceptions of touch and sound by providing visual distractions in the form of waterfalls flowing into the main body of water of the portable spa.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An elongated spout forms the output of a plenum chamber that is filled with water flow into an input orifice that is greater in cross-section than the output spout. An elongated light source mounted near the mouth of the spout lights up the ribbon-shaped water flow from the spout. The plenum chamber is formed to buffer the input flow so as to maintain a constant output flow. The elongated spout is located on or at the top rim of the spa so that a ribbon of water falls into the spa from the top of the spa.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The exact nature of the present invention, as well as its objects and many advantages, will become readily apparent from consideration of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective of a ribbon waterfall according to the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective of a preferred embodiment of a ribbon waterfall apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective of the spout and plenum chamber of the waterfall of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a front plan view of the plenum chamber of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of  FIG. 4  taken along the line  5 - 5 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of  FIG. 5  taken along the line  6 - 6 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a perspective of the inlet structure of a plenum chamber of the waterfall according to the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of the bezel according to the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the spout portion of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0016]     Reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that these embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. On the contrary, the intention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the important aspects of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1  illustrates a preferred embodiment of a waterfall feature  11  according to the present invention, designed to appeal to the visual senses of persons seated in the main body of water  22  of the portable spa container  20 . A narrow elongated spout  13  is mounted in the top rim  15  of the portable spa  20 . A bezel  21  smoothes the transition between the spout  13  and top rim  15 . A ribbon-shaped flow of continuous water  17  is emitted in an arch from the spout  13  into the main body of water  22  in the portable spa container  20 .  
         [0018]     It is contemplated that a light source will light up the ribbon of water flow  17  in a variety of colors as desired. When the waterfall  17  hits the main body of water  22 , light  19  carried by the waterfall is reflected in all directions.  
         [0019]     The main components of the waterfall structure are shown in  FIG. 2 . The spout  13  has a mounting plate  25 . The mounting plate is used to attach the waterfall structure to the top rim of the spa. The output end of plenum chamber  23  is attached to the spout  13 . Once the spout  13  passes through the top rim of the portable spa and is attached to the rim material, a bezel  21  is mounted over the spa  13 . A cutout notch  41  on the bezel makes room for a light source  43  mounted underneath the spout  13  ( FIG. 9 ).  
         [0020]     The inlet part of plenum chamber  23  is a separate inlet structure  29  that has a pipe connector  37  connected to a bottom plate  38  having an orifice  39 . The bottom plate  38  is sized to fit within the bottom opening of plenum chamber  23 . The orifice  39  is chosen so that it is larger in cross-section than the opening of spout  13 .  
         [0021]     Bottom plate  38  has a wall  31  around the perimeter. The walls slide into the inside of the plenum chamber  23 . The longer sides of bottom plate  38  have a pair of extended walls  33  with grooves  35  at their upper perimeter. A plate  27  is dimensioned to fit within grooves  35 . This places plate  27  some distance from and over the orifice  39  in bottom plate  38 . The plate  27  acts to buffer and deflect water surges entering the plenum chamber  23  through orifice  39 , causing the water to flow around buffer plate  27  over the lower side walls  31  into the remaining spaces of plenum chamber  23 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  illustrates a light source  43  located along the bottom of the spout. The light source  43  is thin and long and stretches almost the entire length of spout  13 . It can be any number of light sources such as LED&#39;s or a row of fiber optics.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  illustrates the bottom inlet part of plenum chamber  23 , and more specifically, the extended portions  33  along the longer sides of bottom plate  38 . The extended portions  33  are selected to be at a level to most efficaciously cause any surging flow into the plenum chamber through pipe connector  37  to be subdued and thereby prevent pulsing in the waterfall emitting from the spout.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates the front view of the waterfall structure with the spout  13  extending past the mounting plate  25  with a slot  2  in mounting plate  25  for insertion of the light source  43  ( FIG. 9 ).  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates more clearly, in cross-section, the spout portion of the output of plenum chamber  23 . The spout  13  is formed from the sides of plenum chamber  23  to create a narrow elongated channel  45  leading from the main chamber  46 . The mounting plate  25  is attached to the spout and has a location ridge  47  at the top, and a slot  42  at its bottom with another location ridge  49  beneath.  
         [0026]      FIG. 5  provides a clear cross-sectional view of the spout opening  45  and slot  42  mounted beneath the spout, location ridges  47  on top and  49  on the bottom.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  shows the bezel  21  with a cutout portion  41  that goes around the light source  43  that is placed into slot  42  of mounting plate  25 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  illustrates the use of fiber-optic bundle  53  to provide light to a light head  43  which is inserted into the slot  42  from the back side.