Abstract:
A portable, self-contained fire and water apparatus for decorative display. A fireplace for outdoor use in aquatic locations such as a pool, pond or lake. A device that produces a gas flame that burns on the waters surface. The device can be further be enhanced with optional ornamental or informational attachments such as a dragon igniting flaming waters or a sports team helmet floating in a pool surrounded by flames. A method of displaying a decorative or informational display employing a gas flame that burns on a waters surface.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention generally relates to a device that produces a gas flame that burns on a liquid surface which may include an ornamental decorative display. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    In one embodiment, a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display with a means for floating on a surface of a liquid, a means for storing a fuel, a means for dispersing fuel beneath the surface of the liquid and a means for igniting fuel rising beneath the surface of the liquid. The floating means supports the apparatus on the surface of the liquid. The storing means contains the fuel source and is connected to the dispersing means, the igniting means and the floating means. The dispersing means connects to the storing means via a submerged fuel line and the igniting means connects to the storing means via a surface fuel line. 
         [0003]    In one embodiment, a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display with at least one floatation base device to support the device on the surface of a liquid, at least one fuel tank connected to the floatation base device, at least one dispersal head connected to the fuel tank via a dispersal head or submerged fuel line connected to the fuel tank, at least one pilot light connected to the fuel tank via a pilot light or surface fuel line connected to the fuel tank. The fuel tank, dispersal head and the pilot light are connected to the flotation base device. The dispersal head fuel line extends from the fuel tank to the dispersal head. The dispersal head is located beneath the surface of the liquid where the flow of fuel from the fuel tank to the dispersal head may be controlled by at least one control valve located on the fuel tank and by at least one control valve located on the dispersal head fuel line. The pilot light fuel line extends from the fuel tank to a pilot light located above the surface of the liquid where the fuel rises from below the surface of the liquid. The flow of fuel from the fuel tank through the pilot light fuel line to the pilot light may be controlled by at least once control valve located on the fuel tank  1  or by at least one fuel control valve  4  located on the pilot light fuel line  3 ,  5 . 
         [0004]    In one embodiment, a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display, the device with at least one floatation base device to support the device on the surface of a liquid, at least one fuel tank connected to the floatation base device, at least one dispersal head with a fuel control valve that can be controlled manually or by remote control connected to the fuel tank via a submerged a dispersal head fuel line connected to the fuel tank, at least one pilot light with a fuel control valve that can be controlled manually, automatically or by remote control connected to the fuel tank via a surface pilot light fuel line connected to the fuel tank. The fuel tank, dispersal head and pilot light are connected to the flotation base device. The decorative display is attached to the flotation base device. The dispersal head fuel line extends from the fuel tank to the dispersal head. The dispersal head is located beneath the surface of the liquid with the flow of fuel from the fuel tank to the dispersal head being controlled by at least once control valve located on the fuel tank and by at least once control valve located on the dispersal head fuel line. The pilot light fuel line extends from the fuel tank to the pilot light located above the surface of the liquid where the fuel rises from below the surface of the liquid. The flow of fuel from the fuel tank through the pilot light fuel line to the pilot light is controlled by at least once control valve located on the fuel tank. An automatic igniting sensor may be located on or near the pilot light to ignite the pilot light. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a method for displaying a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display by placing a flame retardant floatation base apparatus having an adjustably buoyant base that is sufficiently buoyant to support the portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display apparatus in a liquid. All of the components of the apparatus are connected to the floatation base through various connection means. Fuel is manually or remotely controlled to a dispersal head and pilot light having an automatic ignition sensor to automatically light the fuel being delivered to the pilot light or the pilot light may be manually lit. Once the pilot light is lit, fuel rising beneath the surface of the liquid from the dispersal head is ignited by the pilot light as the apparatus floats on the surface of the liquid. The size of the flame can be increased or decreased by manually or remotely controlling the supply of fuel to the dispersal head. The color of the flame can be altered by manually or remotely increasing or decreasing the supply of oxygen to the dispersal head. 
         [0006]    Other embodiments and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The invention will be explained in more detail based on the embodiment and application examples subsequently described and illustrated in the drawings. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  shows the typical components of a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Identical reference symbols in the individual figures and illustrations of the drawings refer to equal or similar or equally or similarly effecting components. Based on the illustrations in the drawings also such features which do not have reference symbols, become evident independent on the fact if such features are subsequently described or not. On the other hand, also features which are included in the present description, but not visible or illustrated in the drawings are easily evident to the ordinary person skilled in the art. 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a general perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to the  FIG. 1 , from which further details and data can be taken, the following features, functions and advantages will be explained in detail only by example based on a first embodiment example. The present invention relates to a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display for enhancing the visual and artistic appearance or look of a body of water such as a pool, pond, lake or fountain. In general, the device comprises at least one floatation base device  10  to support the device  20  on the surface of a liquid, at least one fuel tank  1  connected to the floatation base device  10 , at least one dispersal head  15  with a fuel control valve  7  that can be controlled manually or by remote control connected to the fuel tank  1  via a submerged dispersal head fuel lines  6 ,  8  connected to the fuel tank  1 , at least one pilot light  16  with a fuel control valve  4  that can be controlled manually, automatically or by remote control connected to the fuel tank  1  via surface pilot light fuel lines  3 ,  5  connected to the fuel tank  1 . The fuel tank  1 , dispersal head  15  and pilot light  16  are connected to the flotation base device  10 . A decorative display may be attached to the flotation base device  10 . The dispersal head fuel lines  6 ,  8  extend from the fuel tank  1  to the dispersal head  15 . The dispersal head  15  is located beneath the surface of a liquid with the flow of fuel from the fuel tank  1  to the dispersal head  15  being controlled by at least one control valve  2  located on the fuel tank  1  and by at least one control valve  7  located between the dispersal head  15  and the fuel tank  1 . The pilot light fuel lines  3 ,  5  extend from the fuel tank  1  to the pilot light  16  located above the surface of a liquid where the fuel  14  rises from below the surface of the liquid. The flow of fuel from the fuel tank  1  through the pilot light fuel lines  3 ,  5  to the pilot light  16  are controlled by at least once control valve  2  located on the fuel tank  1  and/or by at least one control valve  4  located between the pilot light  16  and the fuel tank  1 . A gas industry standard automatic igniting sensor (not shown) may be within the pilot light  16  device to ignite the pilot light  13 . 
         [0011]    The decorative display may be located directly on the floatation base device  10  or encompass the entire device  20  whereby the fire produced surrounds the decorative display to achieve a desired aesthetic effect. The color of the fired produced may be changed by controlling the amount of oxygen and fuel to the dispersal head  15  to further enhance the aesthetic effect of the device  20 . In addition, the decorative display may or may not be composed of a flame retardant material. The shape, size, arrangement and number of the display&#39;s decorative elements may be varied to suit a particular application or to place the device within a specific location. 
         [0012]    By way of example, one embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a flotation base device  10 , a fuel storing means such as a fuel tank  1 , a means for dispersing the fuel  14  through a submerged fuel line  6 ,  8  to a dispersal head  15  located beneath the surface of a body of water such as a pond, lake, fountain or pool and a pilot light  16  for igniting the fuel  14  rising beneath the surface of the body of water from the dispersal head  15 .  FIG. 1  depicts one dispersal head  15  and one pilot light  16 ; however, a plurality of dispersal heads  15  and a plurality of pilot lights  16  may be employed depending on the size, shape, arrangement, decorative display and application of the device  20 . 
         [0013]    The flotation means comprises a flotation base device  10  that supports the entire device  20  on the body of water. The flotation base may be composed of an additive substance which renders a polymer fire-resistant or a metallic structure to limit the flammability of the flotation base  10  and decorative display. The fuel source or tank  1  is connected to the flotation base  10  and is support by the flotation base  10  via standard attachment devices  9  such as a clip, screw, nut and bolt, tie-on, etc. The fuel tank  1  is connected to the dispersing head  15  means via standard fuel line attachments as depicted in  FIG. 1  as dispersal head fuel lines  6  and  8 . Typically, the dispersal head fuel lines  6 ,  8  from the fuel tank  1  to the dispersing head  15  will be submerged beneath the liquid. In addition, the fuel tank  1  is connected to the pilot light  16 , which is located above the body of water, via standard fuel line attachments as depicted in  FIG. 1  as pilot light surface fuel lines  3 ,  5 . Generally, the fuel tank  1  is connected to the pilot light  16  by the surface fuel lines  3 ,  5 . 
         [0014]    The floatation base  10  has connection points for an anchoring device and the fuel source  1 . The decorative display can be attached to the flotation base  10 , be an integral part of the flotation base  10  or be the actual flotation base  10  itself. The connection points for the anchoring device to the flotation base  10  are by standard connection means for attaching an anchor via a chain, rope, cord, etc. to a material composed of flame retardant material, fiberglass, plastic, metal, wood or other buoyant material. The fuel source or tank  1  connects to the flotation base  10  by standard connection means for securing a fuel source to a material composed of flame retardant material, fiberglass, plastic, metal, wood or other buoyant material. 
         [0015]    The storing means, fuel source or fuel tank  1  is a standard gas tank or storing means used to house a gas such as propane or other similar flammable gases. The fuel tank  1  size will depend on duration of use and the device&#39;s  20  application. The fuel tank  1  will have a fuel control valve  2  that can be manually operated or be remotely controlled via a remote control. Typically, the opening of the fuel control valve  2  allows the flow of fuel to both the pilot light or lights  16  and to the dispersing head or heads  15  simultaneously. However, a fuel tank may be employed that has two fuel control valves  2 , one for the dispersing fuel line  6  and one for the pilot light fuel line  3 . Furthermore, if multiple dispersal heads  15  are used, the fuel tank  1  may have a plurality of control valves  2  for each additional dispersal head  15 . The fuel tank  1  may be connected directly to the flotation base  10  or be placed at a distance from the flotation base  10  for application or aesthetic purposes via standard attachment means. Additionally, the fuel tank  1  and the flotation base  10  may be one in the same, that is, the flotation base  10  could be designed to serve as the fuel tank  1 . Multiple fuel tanks  1  may be used and attached as described herein. 
         [0016]    The dispersing means comprises at least one dispersal head  15  submerged just beneath the surface of the liquid. The dispersal head  15  is connected to the fuel tank  1  via submerged fuel lines  6 ,  8  located beneath the liquid. In embodiments without a fuel control valve  7 , a dispersal head  15  will be connected via one continuous submerged fuel line. The fuel  14  is released beneath the surface of the liquid from the dispersal head  15 . The release rate of the fuel  14  can be manually actuated by opening the fuel control valve  7  located on the dispersal head fuel line  6 ,  8  or by the fuel control valve  2  on the fuel tank  1 . The fuel control valve  7  may be a manually operated valve or a remotely controlled valve depending on the application and use of the device  20 . 
         [0017]    The igniting means comprises at least one pilot light  16  and the surface fuel lines  3 ,  5 . The pilot light  16  connects to the storing means or fuel tank  1  via the surface fuel lines  6 ,  8  located above and below the liquid. In embodiments without a fuel control valve  4 , a pilot light  16  will be connected via one continuous surface fuel line extending from the pilot light  16  to the fuel tank  1 . Fuel flowing to a pilot light may be controlled through several means including the fuel control valve  2  on the fuel tank  1 , the fuel control valve  4  and/or the pilot light control valve  12  located on the pilot light. In a general example, a pilot light  16  is positioned just above the surface of the liquid wherein a dispersal head  15  lies just beneath the surface of the liquid. The fuel  14  rising into the atmosphere from a dispersal head  15  is ignited by the pilot light  16  pilot flame  13 . The rate of the fuel can be manually actuated by opening the fuel control valve  4  located on the surface fuel lines  6 ,  8  or by the fuel control valve  2  on the fuel tank  1  or by the pilot light control valve  12 . The fuel control valve  4  may be a manually operated valve or a remotely controlled valve depending on the application and use of the device  20 . 
         [0018]    The fuel line from the fuel tank to the dispersing head  15  can be segmented into two parts  6 ,  8  if the device has a volume control valve  7  to control the volume of fuel to the dispersing head  15 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . However, if multiple dispersal heads  15  are used, a plurality of fuel lines  6 ,  8  with or without control valves  2  may be utilized. The volume control valve  7  may be manually actuated or remotely controlled via a standard gas industry manual fuel-metering valve or by a standard gas industry remote control metering valve. By way of example only, the following valves may be utilized angle valves, balancing valves, butterfly valves and needle valves made of metallic elements such as aluminum and copper as well as metallic alloys such as brass, bronze, steel, cast iron, ductile iron, and stainless steel or valves made of a variety of plastics. Fuel lines  6 ,  8  from the fuel tank  1  to the dispersing head  15  may be only one fuel line without a volume control valve  7 . Alternately or in conjunction, the fuel line from the fuel tank  1  to the dispersing head  15  can have an additional oxygen control valve (not shown) to control the amount of oxygen to the dispersing head  15  to change to the color of the flame produced. The material used for fuel lines  6 ,  8  may be of any standard fuel line materials composed of rubber, metallic elements and metallic alloys. Fuel lines  5 ,  6  will be submerged in the body of water since the dispersal head  15  is located beneath the body of water, however, segments of the fuel lines  6 ,  8  may be located above the surface of the liquid. 
         [0019]    The fuel line from the fuel tank to the pilot light  16  can be segmented into two parts  3 ,  5  if the device has a volume control valve  4  to control the volume of fuel to the dispersing head  15 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 . However, if multiple pilot lights  16  are used, a plurality of fuel lines  3 ,  5  with or without control valves  4  may be employed. The volume control valve  4  may be manually actuated or remotely controlled via a standard gas industry manual fuel-metering valve or by a standard gas industry remote control metering valve, as previously described herein. Fuel lines  3 ,  5  from the fuel tank  1  to the dispersing head  15  may be only one fuel line without a volume control valve  4 . The materials used for fuel lines  6 ,  8  can be of any standard fuel line material such as rubber, metallic elements and metallic alloys. 
         [0020]    An anchor (not shown) may be attached the device  20 . An anchor may be attached to the flotation base  10  or the fuel source  1 . The anchor may be attached to the device  20  via standard marine anchoring means. Additionally, the device  20  may have a remotely controlled movement means (not shown) as is typically found in marine propelled devices. 
         [0021]    In addition, a method for displaying a portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display is accomplished by attaching a decorative display to the flotation base device  10  or the flotation base device  10  is the decorative display. The flame retardant flotation base device  10 , which shall be sufficiently buoyant to support the portable, self-contained fire and water decorative display apparatus  20  is placed in a body of water such as a lake, pond, pool or fountain. Fuel is then supplied by manually actuating or remotely controlling fuel to a dispersal head  15  and manually actuating or remotely controlling fuel to a pilot light  16 . The device  20  may have a plurality of dispersal heads  15  and pilot lights  16 ; each of which shall be individually or collectively operated as described above. The pilot light(s)  16  will then be manually lit or automatically lit by an automatic ignition sensor (not shown) as commonly found in pilot light  16  assemblies. Fuel  14  rising beneath the body of water will be ignited by the pilot light flame  13  producing what looks like fire dancing or floating on the surface of a body of water. The size of the flame can be increased or decreased by manually or remotely controlling the supply of fuel to the dispersal head (s)  15 . In addition, the color of the flame can be altered by manually or remotely increasing or decreasing the supply of oxygen to the dispersal head. The decorative display may appear to be, but not limited to, a launching rocket or a sinking ship or the fire can be used to light up an advertisement or decorative display. The decorative display can be virtually any size, shape, arrangement or structure. 
         [0022]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised which do not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.