Abstract:
A pet fountain that presents circulating water that is continuously filtered and pumped through the fountain. The fountain includes a basin that has a sidewall extending upwardly from a bottom wall (or floor) and a cover. A pump assembly is housed between the basin and cover, and circulates water through the pet fountain by pumping the water from the basin to an upper drinking bowl of the cover. The water spills out of the upper drinking back to the basin. An opening is provided between the cover and the basin which allows a pet to drink directly from the basin in addition to the upper drinking bowl of the cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/276,580 filed Oct. 19, 2011, and of U.S. Design Application Nos. 29/403,434 and 29/403,435, filed Oct. 6, 2011, the entirety of each of which is hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to pet fountains and, more particularly, to a pet fountain assembly having a cover for use with a basin that includes a feature that resists lateral movement of the cover relative to the basin. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Pet fountains that create flowing water for attracting pets are well known and there have been a number of commercially successful pet fountains. Exemplary pet fountains generally include a spout or other water-directing means for providing a continuous flow of water from a reservoir to a container such that the pet is able to drink either directly from the flowing water stream or from the container. 
         [0004]    Other known pet fountains utilize multiple containers that are connected to each other at respective sides, or openings through such sides, to create a chain or series of containers arranged in a decreasing height order. This allows water to be pumped to the tallest container and then flow, by way of gravity, through the multiple containers, sequentially until the water is collected in the lowermost container. Such pet fountains can occupy a large amount of floor space since the multiple containers typically define an, at least somewhat, overall elongate structure. Some such pet fountains occupy relatively less floor space, but are rather tall and are configured to look like, for example, mountains or other geological forms, which may not fit with some modern or other decors. 
         [0005]    Pet fountains use electronic pumps to draw water from the container and push the water through, at times a filter and then, the spout. Typical pumps have a grate or grill-like inlet and/or an integrated porous material. 
         [0006]    One of the drawbacks of conventional pet fountains, such as those described above, is the complexity in their design. In the past, pet fountains have been made of so many components that washing and maintenance have been time consuming and burdensome. As a result, many pet fountains are used for a while by their owners before they quit using them because they are simply too difficult to clean. Many improvements have been made to pet fountains but they still tend to be difficult to clean. 
         [0007]    As a result, efforts have been made to design and manufacture pet fountains formed of minimum of components, which are easy to assemble, take apart, clean and reassemble, and which facilitates simple and easy electric pump cord routing. For example, one proposed pet fountain is composed of a basin for holding a volume of water and a cover that sits atop the basin. The cover has a recessed portion that forms a drinking bowl for holding a smaller volume of water which, in combination with the basin, provides two different water supplies from which a pet may drink. In some instances, a pump is contained beneath the cover and is operative to draw water from the basin and pump it to the drinking bowl of the cover. As the volume of water pumped to the cover exceeds the holding capacity of the drinking bowl, water begins to waterfall from the cover back into the basin. 
         [0008]    To provide consistent operation, it is important that the cover remains properly seated atop the basin. If the cover, especially a cover that has drinking bowl, becomes dislodged, water may fallonto the floor if knocked by a pet, for example. Thus, in addition to an easy-to-assembly and economical pet fountain, there is a need for a pet fountain in which the cover securely, yet removably interfaces with the basin. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present invention is directed to a pet fountain that presents circulating water that is continuously filtered and pumped through the fountain. The fountain includes a basin that has a sidewall extending upwardly from a bottom wall (or floor) and a cover or cover that is supported by the basin. A pump assembly that can include just a pump is housed between the basin and cover, and circulates water through the pet fountain by pumping the water from the basin to an upper drinking bowl of the cover. The water spills out of the upper drinking back to the basin. An opening is provided between the cover and the basin which allows a pet to drink directly from the basin in addition to the upper drinking bowl of the cover. 
         [0010]    In one embodiment, the fountain can include a conduit through which an electrical cord of the pump assembly passes outside of the pet fountain. The conduit can be connected to a shelf that extends, for example, outwardly from the basin sidewall. In a preferred embodiment, the conduit includes an uprightly extending tubular member that extends from an upper surface of the ledge. The tubular member has an elongate hollow interior through which the electrical cord of the pump assembly may pass. The tubular member is spaced slightly from the top portion of the basin sidewall that extends above the shelf to allow of the cover to fit between the tubular member and the basin sidewall. In addition to providing a sleeve through which the electrical cord can pass, the tubular member also limits lateral movement of the cover when the cover is seated on the basin. 
         [0011]    The fountain can include a basin drinking opening defined by a portion of the cover spaced from part of the basin sidewall exposing the interior of the basin along with water in the basin in a manner permitting a pet to drink therefrom. The drinking opening between the basin and cover is sized and configured to accommodate at least a portion of a head of a pet therein. The opening can define an area value that is at least about ⅛ of the total area of the pet fountain when viewed from a top plan view of the pet fountain. The opening can define an area that is less than about ½ of the total area of the pet fountain when viewed from a top plan view of the pet fountain. The width of the opening may vary along the length of the opening, from a wider portion to a tapering portion and the opening can be generally asymmetrical. 
         [0012]    The fountain cover can be formed with a drinking bowl in fluid flow communication with a pump or pump module disposed between the basin and cover that allows water pumped by the pump from the basin to be delivered to the bowl where the water can be drank by a pet, e.g., cat or dog. The cover has a top wall in which the bowl is formed and includes a notched portion that allows water to flow out of the drinking bowl and downwardly along a spillway formed by the sloped sidewall of the cover back into the basin. 
         [0013]    The fountain includes a pump that couples with a coupling tube attached to the cover prior to mounting of the cover to the basin. During mounting of the cover onto the basin, the respective seats of the basin and cover locate the cover relative to the basin. As the cover is brought toward the basin, the coupling tube is located relative to a discharge of the pump such that the end of the tube generally coaxially and telescopically receives part of the discharge. When the cover is received on the basin when cover mounting is complete and the coupling tube in telescoping engagement with the pump discharge, the engagement between the tube and pump discharge anchors the cover to the basin thereby helping to hold the cover against the basin. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment, the pump is part of a pump assembly that is of modular construction having a housing with an outlet nipple in fluid-flow communication with the pump discharge that telescopically couples with the coupling tube. The pump assembly can include a filter, such as a replaceable modular filter, and can be disassembled, such as when it is desired to remove and replace the filter. 
         [0015]    In one preferred embodiment, the bowl and pump form a pet fountain bowl module or assembly that can be pre-package for retail sale for use with a customer or user supplied basin. 
         [0016]    In another preferred embodiment, the bowl, pump and basin are packaged and sold as a pet fountain assembly. While the basin can be a round bowl or dish, one preferred basin embodiment includes an outwardly offset pump well that provides a pump seat enabling location of the pump during fountain assembly. In one embodiment, the pump is housed in a pump module that can include a filter. The pump or pump module can be releasably coupled by a liquid-conveying coupling conduit that can be of flexible, resilient and elastomeric construction. 
         [0017]    These and various other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the following descriptions of the drawings and detailed description. 
     
    
     
       DRAWING DESCRIPTION 
         [0018]    The drawings illustrate at least one preferred embodiment presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pet fountain formed of an assembly that includes a bowl and a basin. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the fountain. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the fountain. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of the fountain assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the fountain. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is a first enlarged cross-sectional view of the fountain assembly. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is a second enlarged cross-sectional view of a fountain assembly according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0026]    Before explaining one or more embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments, which can be practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , a recirculating pet fountain  20  defined by a fountain assembly  22  that includes an upper drinking bowl  24  integrally formed in a fountain cover  26  that seats in a basin  28  that holds water  30  from which a pet, such as a cat or dog, can drink. The drinking bowl  24  receives water  30  pumped by a pump  32  ( FIG. 4 ) from the basin  28  enabling the pet to drink from water  30  in the bowl  24  or from water  30  in the basin  28 . The cover  26  has a sidewall  34  extending downwardly from the drinking bowl  24  that is configured to seat within the basin  28  and thus inboard of an upwardly extending basin sidewall  36  in a manner that locates the pump  32  within the basin  28  and substantially encloses the pump  32 . During operation, the pump  32  recirculates water  30  by pumping it from the basin  28  into the drinking bowl  24  in the cover  26  where it then flows down a spillway  38  formed by part of the cover sidewall  34 . Water  30  flowing down the spillway  38  flows into an open portion of the basin  28  that defines a lower drinking bowl  40  from which the pet can also drink. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment, the spillway  38  is inclined at an angle relative to the basin bottom  42  so that water  30  overflowing from the bowl  24  quietly flows down the spillway  38  into the basin  28  below. For example, the spillway  38  can form an obtuse included angle with the generally horizontal basin bottom  42  helping ensure overflowing water  30  flows smoothly and preferably with laminar flow into the basin  28 . 
         [0029]    With reference to  FIGS. 4-5 , the pump  32  can be part of a pump module  44  having a housing  46  that can be formed of a plurality of snap-together sections, e.g., top halve section  48  and a bottom halve section  50 , which can include a filter  52 . Such a filter  52  can filter particulates and can include activated charcoal or the like. The pump  32  is a submersible electrically powered pump, such as a submersible aquarium pump or the like. The pump  32  includes an electrical cord  54  that is routed between the cover  26  and the basin  28  when the pet fountain  20  is assembled. The electrical cord  54  terminates in a dual-pronged plug  56 , which can include a transformer  58 , that is plugged into a standard utility powered electrical socket providing electrical power ranging from between about 60 VAC and about 240 VAC. One of the module housing sections, such as the bottom halve section  50 , can be formed to include an integral perforate intake grate  60  ( FIG. 5 ) through which water  30  in the basin  28  flows before being pumped by the pump  32  into the drinking bowl  24  of the cover  26 . Mounts  62 , such as suction cups, can be used to removably attach the pump module  44  to the bottom  42  of the basin  28 . Such mounts  62  can be in the form of flexible and resilient suction cups, e.g., elastomeric suction cups, which can extend outwardly from bottom halve section  50 . 
         [0030]    The top halve section  48  includes an outwardly extending tubular outlet  64  that telescopically engages a flexible, elastomeric coupling conduit  66  that not only conveys water discharged by the pump  32 , but which also releasably couples the cover  26  to the pump  32 , e.g., pump module  44 . Where the pump  32  is used without a pump module  44 , the coupling conduit  66  telescopically engages a tubular outlet  68  of the pump  32 . 
         [0031]    The coupling conduit  66  can be formed of a flexible and resilient material, e.g., an elastomer, which includes a tubular body  70  with an annular seating channel or groove  72  in registry with part of the drinking bowl  24  that defines an opening  74  sealed by a lip  76  of the coupling conduit  66  when attached to the cover  26 . When the pump module  44  is attached to the basin bottom  42  and the coupling conduit  66  is coupling the cover  26  to the pump module  44 , the cover  26  is removably anchored to the basin  28  while also helping locate the cover  26  relative to the basin  28 . Where the coupling conduit  66  is attached directly to the pump  32 , such as when the pump  32  is used without any pump module or pump module housing, the pump  32  has mounts, e.g., suction cups, which attach to the basin bottom  42  and the coupling conduit  66  removably anchors the cover  26  to the pump  32 . 
         [0032]    The basin bottom  42  has a pump locator seat  78  configured to locate the pump module  44  during assembly of the pet fountain  20 . The pump locator seat  78  is a pump locator formed in a top surface (not numbered) of the basin bottom  42 , such as by being molded or pressed into the basin bottom  42 , having a perimeter shape that corresponds to that of the pump module  44 . The pump locator seat  78  shown in the drawings is defined by a rib  80  molded into basin bottom  42 . The portion of the basin bottom  42  lying within the boundary defined by pump locator seat  78  can be recessed relative to the basin bottom  42  surrounding or encompassing the pump locator seat  78 . Where recessed, the pump locator seat  78  can define a depression formed in the basin bottom  42  having a perimeter shape corresponding to that of the pump module  44  and configured to allow water to flow around and underneath the pump module  44 . In use, the pump locator seat  78  indicates where a user of the pet fountain  20 , such as a purchaser of the pet fountain  20 , is to attach the pump module  44  to the basin bottom  42  during fountain  20  assembly. 
         [0033]    The basin sidewall  36  extends upwardly from the basin bottom  42  and has a generally curved cross-section such that its top edge  82  is disposed outwardly of its bottom, e.g., sidewall bottom edge  84 , where the basin sidewall  36  intersects the basin bottom  42 . Such an outwardly curved cross-section smoothly guides water falling on an inner surface  86  of the sidewall  36  downwardly toward the pump module  44  in a manner that minimizes and preferably substantially prevents splashing. 
         [0034]    The basin  28  has a radial portion  88  that extends outwardly from the basin sidewall  36  to define a cover seating portion  90  upon which a portion of the cover sidewall  34  sits when the pet fountain  20  is assembled. The cover seating portion  90  generally consists of a shelf  92  that extends outwardly from an upper edge of an endwall  94  to convex surface  96  of the radial portion  88 . The endwall  94  extends uprightly from the basin bottom  42  and is outward of the ends  98 ,  100  of respective converging wall members  102 ,  104 , respectively, of the basin sidewall  36 . As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the radial portion  88  is located between the ends  98 ,  100  of the wall members  102 ,  104 . A cord clearance space  106  is defined exteriorily of the pet fountain  20  and beneath the radial portion  88 , which can be seen in  FIG. 5 . The curvature of the curved surface  96  is generally matched to the curvature of the cover sidewall  34 , which allows the cover  26  to fit nicely and snuggly in the basin  28 . 
         [0035]    Formed opposite the cord clearance space  106  is a cord conduit  108  that underlies part of the fountain cover  26  when the cover is properly seated on the basin. The cord conduit  108  includes a section of tubing  110  in communication with an opening  112  through the shelf  92  that enables the electrical cord  54  connected to the pump  32  to be routed through the cord conduit  108  and out of the basin  28 . The electrical cord  54  is shown in  FIG. 5  as having one cord segment  114  that extends from the pump module  44  inside the fountain assembly  22  through the cord conduit  108  and out the basin  28  terminating in one half  116  of an electrical connector  118  that removably connects to an opposite half  120  of the electrical connector  118  that is attached to a second cord segment  122  connected to a transformer  58  having a prongs  124  coverable of being plugged into an electrical outlet having a voltage ranging from 110 volts alternating current (110 V AC) to 220 volts alternating current (220 V AC). 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , the cover  26  has a top wall  126  of recessed or concave construction integrally forming the drinking bowl  24 . The drinking bowl  24  is defined by an upraised rim  128  about its periphery interrupted by a recessed flow guide  130  that guides water  30  overflowing from the drinking bowl  24  down the spillway  38  into the basin  28  below. The cover sidewall  34  extends downwardly from the top wall  126  defining a stand  132  for seating the cover  26  on the basin  28 , as will be described more fully below. The cover sidewall  34  is divided into a plurality supports, e.g., an angled support  134  and a vertical support  136 . The angled support  134  is longer and thus extends farther from the top wall  126  than the vertical support  136 . The angled support  134  has an arcuate foot  138  that sits against the basin bottom  42  when the cover  26  is seated in the basin  28 . In a similar manner, the vertical support  136  has an arcuate foot  140  that rests atop the shelf  92 . The basin bottom  42  has a pair of raised stops  142  against which the arcuate foot  138  of the angled support  134  abuts when the pet fountain  20  is assembled.  FIG. 6  shows one construction of the raised stops  142  and the engagement with the arcuate foot  138  of the angled support  134 .  FIG. 7  shows the construction of a raised stop  144  according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         [0037]    As will be explained in further detail below, the raised stops  142  (or  144 ) together with other features of the pet fountain  20  limit lateral movement of the cover  26  when the pet fountain  20  is assembled. 
         [0038]    The construction of the cover  26 , and more particularly, the supports  134 ,  136 , creates a pair of openings of which opening  146  is only visible in the figures. The openings are generally opposite one another and are each defined by a concave edge  148  that extends between arcuate foot  138  and arcuate foot  140  and overlays a portion of the basin bottom  42 . The difference in height between the angled support  134  and the vertical support  136  results in a portion of the concave edge  148  seating on the shelf  92 . The pair of openings allow water  30  to be drawn from the lower drinking bowl  40  by the pump  32  into a pumping chamber  150  and pumped to the drinking bowl  24  in a manner as described above. 
         [0039]    In the preferred fountain embodiment shown in the drawings, the vertical support  136  can be transversely formed, e.g., curved, so as to substantially complementarily conform or follow the contour of at least part of an adjacent portion  96  of the basin sidewall  36 . The angled support  134  encompasses or overlies part of the pump  32 , e.g., pump module, so as to help house or enclose it within the cover  26 . If desired, the angled support  134  can also be formed, e.g. curved, so as to substantially complementarily conform or follow part of the contour of the pump module  44 . For example, as is depicted in the drawing figures, the cover  26  can be generally round with the cover sidewall  34  being generally round extending downwardly interrupted by basin sidewall receiving opening  146  that divide the sidewall  34  into the angled support  134  and vertical support  136  and basin bottom  42  upon which the cover  26  rests when assembled. 
         [0040]    During assembly, the coupling conduit  66  is inserted into the opening  74  in the top wall  126  of the drinking bowl  24  until part of the bowl  24  defining the opening  74  seats in the channel  72  attaching the conduit  66  to the cover  26 . The pump  32  or pump module  44  is maneuvered into the pump locator seat  78  until its mounts  62 , e.g., suction cups, engage the basin bottom  42  releasably securing the pump  32  or pump module  44  in place. 
         [0041]    The cover  26  is maneuvered over the pump  32  or pump module  44  with its supports  134 ,  136  facing downwardly. As the cover  26  is lowered, a portion of the vertical support  136  is lowered in a gap  152  defined between the curved surface  96  of the radial portion  88  of the basin  28  and the cord conduit  108  that extends uprightly from the shelf  92 . The width of the gap  152  is slightly more than the thickness of the sidewall  34  of the cover to allow the sidewall  34  to be removably received yet limit lateral movement of the cover  26  when the pet fountain  20  is assembled. In one embodiment, the gap  152  is sized to have a width of approximately one-quarter inches. When the cover  26  is in the lowered position, such as shown in  FIG. 5 , the arcuate foot  138  of the angled support  134  rests against raised stops  142 , which also limits lateral displacement of the cover  26  when the pet fountain  20  is assembled. It is understood that the pet fountain  20  could be equipped with a basin  28  having a basin bottom  42  absent the aforedescribed stops. In such an embodiment, the cooperation of the basin sidewall  36  and the cord conduit  108  limits lateral movement of the cover  26  relative to the basin  28 . 
         [0042]    While the gap  152  is sized to limit lateral displacement of the cover  26 , the width of the gap  152  provides sufficient amount of play between the cover  26  and basin  28  during assembly to enable a user to be able to move the cover  26  toward or away from the basin sidewall  34  as needed in order for the coupling conduit  66  to telescopically engage the tubular outlet  68  of the seated pump  32  and/or pump module  44 . When the coupling conduit  66  telescopically engages the tubular outlet  68  of the seated pump  32  and/or pump module  44 , the cover  26  can be lowered as desired until the angled support  134  rests on the basin bottom  42  and the vertical support  136  rests on the shelf  92 . 
         [0043]    With the cover  26  coupled by the coupling conduit  66  to the pump  32  or pump module  44  that is in turn mounted to the basin bottom  42 , the cover  26  is anchored to the basin  28  completing fountain assembly. Once water  30  is added to the basin  28  and the pump  32  plugged into an electrical outlet (not shown), the pump  32  draws water  30  from the lower drinking bowl  40  of the basin  28  through one or both passages openings  146  between the cover  26  and the basin bottom  42 . Water  30  from the pumping chamber  150  is expelled out the coupling conduit  66  into the drinking bowl  24  where it pools until the water  30  overflows down the spillway  38  formed by the outer surface of the angled support  134 . 
         [0044]    Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the cord conduit  108  has a section of tubing  110  with a first open end  154  that communicates with the interior of the basin  28  and an opposite second open end  156  that communicates exteriorly of the basin  28 . The height of the section of tubing  110  is preferably selected so that the first open end  154  terminates at a height that is higher than the maximum fill level of the basin  28 , which corresponds to the top edge  82  of the basin sidewall  36 . Having the height of the section of tubing  110  above the top edge  82  of the basin sidewall  36  prevents the ingress of water  30  into the section of tubing  110  during normal operation. Alternately, it is contemplated that a gasket or other seal could be placed at the first open end  154  of the section of tubing  110  to prevent the ingress of water  30  into the section of tubing  110 . 
         [0045]    In a preferred embodiment, the cover  26  and basin  28  are formed of porcelain providing additional weight to the cover  26  that can help to keep the cover  26 , as well as the pump  32 , e.g., pump module  44 , in place during pump operation. It is understood however that the pet fountain  20  could be formed of other materials, such as stainless steel, plastic, etc. 
         [0046]    While the preferred fountain embodiment shown in the drawings depicts the pump  32  disposed in a housing  46  of a pump module  44 , a pet fountain  20  constructed in accordance with the present invention can be used where the pump  32  is not disposed in any module or housing or is disposed in a module having a different shape or configuration. 
         [0047]    Understandably, the present invention has been described above in terms of the preferred embodiment. It is recognized that various alternatives and modifications may be made to these embodiments which are within the scope of the appended claims.