Abstract:
The garden fountain and planter includes a lower container, a middle container and an upper container. A water pump positioned in the lower container pumps water up into the middle container. The upper container rests in the middle container. Using a combination of the water level in the middle container and the spacing of the bottom of the upper container with respect to the water level in the middle container, the user can accurately control the water flow to the upper container.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/806,792, filed Jul. 23, 2015, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,592,525, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/908,722, filed Jun. 3, 2013, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,108,212, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/655,334, filed Jun. 4, 2012, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to fountains, and more particularly, to a garden fountain that is capable of containing and watering one or more plants. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently there are no known fountains that operate as both planters and fountains. Such concept provides both functionality to a planter while also providing for an aesthetically pleasing landscape design element. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one implementation, the garden fountain includes an upper bowl, a middle bowl and a lower bowl. The upper bowl has a base configured to rest within the middle bowl. A pump is disposed in the lower bowl and configured to pump water up into the middle bowl. The water pumped from the lower bowl to the middle bowl maintains a specific water level in the middle bowl. The upper bowl is configured to hold soil and an associated plant and includes means for passing water from a bottom thereof into the soil. The positioning of the bottom of the upper bowl in the middle bowl and the water level in the middle bowl determines the amount of water provided to the soil of the upper bowl and associated plant. 
     According to another implementation, the garden fountain includes an upper bowl, a middle bowl having waterspouts, and a lower bowl. The upper bowl has a base configured to rest within the middle bowl. A base is configured to support the lower bowl on the ground or other stable surface, and includes a battery compartment contained therein. A pump is disposed in the lower bowl and is configured to pump water up into the middle bowl. Water pumped from the lower bowl to the middle bowl maintains a specific water level in the middle bowl. The pump is electrically connected to the battery contained the base battery compartment. The upper bowl is configured to hold soil and an associated plant, and includes means for passing water from a bottom thereof into the soil. The position of the upper bowl in the middle bowl and the water level in the middle bowl determines the amount of water provided to the soil of the upper bowl and associated plant. 
     Other aspects and features of the present principles will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the present principles, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings wherein like reference numerals denote similar components throughout the views: 
         FIG. 1  is perspective view of the garden fountain according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the garden fountain showing the battery compartment in the base, according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 2B  is an exploded view of the battery compartment shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the garden fountain, shown partially in phantom, according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the planter portion of the garden fountain, according to an implementation of the present principles; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the taken down the center and showing the plant watering feed system, according to an implementation of the invention; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are a cross-sectional view and perspective view, respectively, of the base of the garden fountain according to another implementation of the invention; 
         FIGS. 7A and 7   b  is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respective, of the second water tier distribution system according to a further implementation of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is perspective view of the base of the garden fountain according to yet a further implementation of the present principles. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a garden fountain  10  according to an implementation of the present principles. The garden fountain  10  includes a base  12 , a lower or reservoir bowl  24 , a middle bowl  26  and an upper or planter bowl  28 . The base  12  can be made up of one or more parts and is shown in the present example having a footing  14 , a central shaft  16  and a bowl support  18 . A power button  20  can be disposed in any suitable location and is shown here integrated into the bowl support  18 . A battery compartment  22  is preferably disposed in the base of the central shaft  16 , or the footing  14  (if of suitable size) 
     The connection of the lower bowl to the footing can be achieved in any suitable known manner. For example a slot and groove mechanical engagement where the parts are fitted together and rotated to secure the connection could be used. Such slot and groove configuration could also be used to connect the middle bowl  26  to the lower bowl  24 . O-rings or other water sealing means can be used in any relevant application for the connection of the various parts of the fountain. 
     In addition, those of skill in the art will appreciated that each of the parts of the garden fountain  10  can be made of any suitable known material, which may include, but is not limited to, molded plastics. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  show the battery compartment  22  having a battery  30  contained therein. In this preferred implementation the battery is rechargeable and the battery compartment is preferably sealed from water such that the user may easily access the same without any concerns relating to the water contained within the lower and middle bowls. Ideally, the battery compartment should have at least one opening to the outside air so as to prevent the formation of condensation in the compartment and thereby any negative effects to the battery as a result of the same. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the access panel for the battery compartment can be configured in any suitable manner, such as for example, a sliding panel, a hinged panel, and may also include a locking mechanism. 
     In one implementation, the rechargeable battery or batteries  30  can be recharged using a solar system (not shown), and/or using household electric power. Alternatively, the batteries can be made to be disposable. In addition to rechargeable power means, timing system  31  can be implemented where individual buttons are preset for predetermined time periods, or adjustable timing means are implemented. 
     In other implementations, the power source for the fountain can be solar powered, A/C powered using 110 v, 210 v and/or DC powered using a 12 v battery. 
     It is further contemplated that the garden fountain system may include a lighting system that provides accent lighting the fountain and/or the plant in the upper bowl planter. The positioning of the lights cans be within or out of the water. 
       FIGS. 3 and 5  show one example of the disposition of the pump  32  within the shaft  23  positioned within the lower/reservoir bowl  24  and configured to support the middle bowl  26 . The pump  32  includes a power connection  34  which is connected to the battery  30  positioned in the base  16 . The pump  32  sits in the bottom of the shaft  23  and is configured to draw water from the lower/reservoir bowl  24  and the pump feeds the same to the middle bowl  26  via a tube  36  connected to a water input connection  40  in the center of the middle bowl  26 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the upper bowl  28 , positioned siting within the middle bowl  26 . In a preferred implementation, the upper bowl  28  is configured as planter. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the upper bowl  28  includes a number of openings  42  at the bottom thereof. The openings  42  allow the transfer of water from a middle bowl  26 , into upper bowl  28  when the water level rises in bowl  26  to a predetermined level. Bowl  26  has water introduced via a pump  32 , ( FIG. 3 ), drawing water from bottom of a lower bowl  24 , (i.e., a reservoir bowl). 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pump can be located in the lower reservoir bowl  24 , and as shown in the present example, the pump  32  is positioned within the shaft supporting the middle bowl  26 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any suitable known type of pump  32  with an appropriate water intake can be used. According to one implementation, the pump  32  uses a 6-volt dc pump powered by the rechargeable battery  30  located in the base of the fountain. When the pump is turned on, the water is pumped from lower bowl  24  into the middle bowl  26 . The water continues to rise until the water level reaches the pour spouts  25  of middle bowl  26 , at which point the water level  5  reaches its maximum height or level in middle bowl  26  and the water pours over back into lower bowl  24 . (See  FIG. 5 ) 
     As shown above, upper bowl  28  sits in middle bowl  26 . The distance between the base of middle bowl  26  and base of bowl  28 , specifically the water inlets  42  of upper bowl  28  are crucial to the operation. The height of the water level in middle bowl  26  reaches at least to the bottom of the water inlets of upper bowl  28 . Discs or spaces  43  can be added or subtracted to achieve the desired position of the base of the upper bowl  28  within the middle bowl  26 . As will be evident from the above, height of the upper bowl  26  can be infinitely adjusted using the discs  43  depending on the water level desired/required for the plant in the upper bowl  28 . According to one preferred implementation, a minimum height must at least reach the bottom of the water inlets  42  in upper bowl  28  in order for the soil  29  located in upper bowl  28  to be able to draw or wick the water up from middle bowl  26 . 
     Although shown in the form of openings, water inlets  42  can include a porous material  41  of any kind so as to prevent any soil from being undesirably being dispelled from the upper bowl  28  into middle bowl  26 . 
     As mentioned above, the height of upper bowl  28  in relation to middle bowl  26  will be adjustable. The purpose of an adjustable height is such that you can raise or lower the water level in upper bowl  28 . This is beneficial since plants require different amounts of water for growing. In the current configuration one or more spacers  43  are used in between upper bowl  28  and middle bowl  26 . Any number of or no spacers can be used. 
     In the configuration of  FIG. 4 , three (3) spacers  43  are shown. This gives a total of four (4) water level settings. The thickness of the spacers  43  can also be changed to accommodate other spacing options. In one preferred implementation, no spacer present allows upper bowl  28  to sit at its lowest possible setting, providing the highest water level in upper bowl  28 . As you add a spacer between the upper bowl  28  and middle bowl  26 , bowl  28  will increase in height over middle bowl  26  thus raising upper bowl  28  proportionally higher above middle bowl  26  lowering the water level or line in upper bowl  28 . As you add another spacer, this water level will continue to lower in bowl  28  until you can add spacer so that upper bowl  28  water inlets  42  can be completely above the water level in middle bowl  26 . The above description is referring to the water level in the active or pump on mode. This is when the water level is at its highest, but at no time does the water level rise above the maximum level provided by the waterspouts  25  in middle bowl  26 . 
     When in the active mode, or pump on mode and the maximum spacer  43  or height of upper bowl  28  is in use, the water level is raised in middle bowl  26  to the maximum height determined by the waterspouts  25 . Upper bowl  28  being in its highest setting will only, when in active mode, have water coming in contact with the water inlets  42  in upper bowl. When the fountain is inactive, pump off, the water level will lower to a point just below the maximum water level in middle bowl  26 . At this point the water level is lower than the bottom of the water inlets  42  in upper bowl  28 . This then provides an air gap necessary for healthy plant growth allowing the soil to aerate, from the bottom up. In this same setting, when the fountain is in active mode, the water level in middle bowl  26  will rise to the maximum height provided by waterspouts  25  in bowl number  26 . At such point the water level will rise to allow the water inlets  42  in upper bowl  28  to come in contact with the water  5  in middle bowl  26 , thus through a wicking effect this allows the soil  29  in upper bowl  28  to wick the water up into bowl  28 , providing water for the plant. 
     The water level in upper bowl  28  can be adjusted through raising and lowering the bowl in relation to middle bowl  26  with any number of methods, fixed and mechanical. In addition, the water level in upper bowl  28  can be affected or adjusted to provide the proper amount of water to the plant in upper bowl  28  depending on if the fountain is active or inactive. 
     The above description relates to the adjusting of the water level in upper bowl  28  in the active mode. If you adjust for the inactive mode, upper bowl  28  can be moved to, for example, the lowest setting. This position will place the water inlets  42  of upper bowl  28  to below the maximum water level of middle bowl  26 . If the fountain is first active and thus raising the water level in bowl  26  to the maximum level and then turned inactive, the water level will lower slightly to just below the spout level  25 . However, upper bowl  28  water inlets  42  can be set so that they are lower than middle bowl  28 &#39;s maximum level. Therefore, the soil  29  in bowl  28  would continue to wick water up into bowl  28 , even in the inactive mode. This provides additional water for different type of plants or weather conditions. This allows middle bowl  26  to act as a reservoir for upper bowl  28  until such time that the soil  29  in bowl  28  has wicked up the maximum amount of water it is capable of and or water has evaporated out of middle bowl  26 . When either occurs, this will then lower the water level in middle bowl  26  to below the water inlets  42  in upper bowl  28 , thus providing the necessary air gap  12  between upper bowl  28  and middle bowl number  26  to provide healthy conditions for good plant growth. 
     The shape of the bottom of upper bowl  28  and the bottom of middle bowl  26  is also critical for proper water flow. Although there are numerous ways to introduce water into middle bowl  26 , this description is for the current example being shown. 
     The outlet of a water distribution tube  40  coming from the pump  32  located, for example, in lower bowl number  24 , in a preferred embodiment needs to be just slightly higher than the maximum water level provided by the waterspouts  25  in middle bowl  26 . This prevents the water from middle bowl  26  from siphoning back into lower bowl  24 , thus maintaining the inactive water level in middle bowl  26  once initially filled to maximum water level when active. However, should the water siphon back into bowl  24 , this can also be a benefit. In the current embodiment, there is a fill chamber  46  located in the bottom of upper bowl  28 , which is female in shape, which matches to the male water distribution pipe  40  in middle bowl  26 . This allows the water distribution pipe  40  or tube to be higher than the maximum water level in middle bowl  26  while allowing the water inlet ports  42 , located in the corresponding female shape of the bottom of upper bowl  28  to operate below the maximum water level in middle bowl  26 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, water is only introduced into upper bowl  28  through the water inlet ports  42 . This allows for a non-pressurized or turbulent water introduction into the soil. If the water from the distribution port in middle bowl  26  was directed straight directly into the soil  29  in upper bowl  28 , it would erode the soil and causing excess soil to be introduced into the water system and erode the soil exposing the roots in the plant located in upper bowl  28 . 
     Although this system could have the water distributed to upper bowl  28  on in various manners, direct port from bowl number two into bowl number one. Another is a water distribution pipe pouring water into the top of bowl  28  from bowl  24 . The preferred embodiment is to wick the water from the bottom up from bowl number  26  into upper bowl  28  initially when in the active mode then also in the inactive mode as described above. 
     In the preferred embodiment, it has been found that the water distribution chamber  46  located in upper bowl  28 , in relation to the air channels at the bottom of bowl  28 , in relation to the water distribution port in middle bowl  26  can create a siphon effect after the fountain is inactive, thus siphoning all the water out of middle bowl  26  into lower bowl  24 . This can be considered a positive effect if for example the plant in upper bowl  28  requires less water. To reduce this effect if a small hole  48  is introduced into the top of the water distribution chamber  46 , it has been found to break the effect of the siphon, allowing the water to maintain minimum or inactive water height in middle bowl  26 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that there are numerous was to effect the siphon occurring between middle bowl  26  and lower bowl  24 , this is just one of example of the same. 
     This anti-siphon hole  48  in the top of the water distribution chamber located in bowl  28  can also have a positive effect in providing water to the soil in bowl number one. When in the active mode it can create a method of positive pressure water introduction into upper bowl  28 . Although it is considered preferred to allow the water to wick up from bowl number  26  into bowl  28 , it could be beneficial in certain situations in which more water is required for a specific plant and the addition water introduction into the soil has a positive effect. However, as this positive pressure water inlet increases in size in relation the water flow or pressure created from the pump, located in bowl  24 , it is possible to meter this flow by increasing or decreasing the diameter of this positive water pressure inlet. 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  show the base  12  of the fountain according to another implementation of the invention.  FIG. 6A  shows the bottom  14  of the base being additionally, and adjustably, weighted with a suitable weighting material  68  (e.g., sand) 
     Typical fountains made of stone, concrete, and any other heavy medium, do not require the ability have an adjustable weighted base as they very nature of their design is heavy. 
     However, with the recent use of polyresin as the construction medium for the fountain of the present invention, which allows them to be light weight enough to ship for mass merchandising and for easy installation by the end user, they are too light to withstand any type of weather and will fall over with small winds. Simply making the fountain heavier is counter-productive since shipping costs will go up and the installation by the customer becomes more difficult. 
     According to the present design the fountain can ship in its lightweight format and the end user can then add sand or heavy material  68  to the bottom of the fountain to provide the weight necessary to withstand weather conditions. In this embodiment (as described above), the battery location, combined with the weight chamber is unique. By placing the battery  30  in the lowest possible location to establish a low center of gravity and then adding a chamber  67  below the battery compartment to be filled with a removable weighted material  68  will provide the best center of gravity for the fountain. 
     By placing the weighting material compartment  67  and battery compartment  22  close to each other, the issue or adding subtracting the weighted material becomes an issue for the end user and for methods of manufacturing. First the method of manufacturing a poly resin fountain utilizes an outer shape for the exterior of the fountain and at the bottom base a panel is glued into place to seal the bottom of the fountain base to the outer shape thus providing rigidity to the outer structure and to finish the cosmetics of the bottom of the fountain. This allows for a hollow inner structure which is both a cost and weight saving and the simplest method of manufacturing. However, this method makes it difficult to make a separated chamber  67  to add material to since there is no inner structure to the fountain. 
     In the current design a male protrusion  66  which extends from the bottom base cap up into the inner body of the hollow fountain structure has been added. The top of this protrusion  66  becomes the base in which the battery  30  can sit. The diameter of the protrusion  66  is smaller than the inner diameter of the outer structure of the fountain. The distance between the protrusion  66  and the outer structure provides for a conduit allowing the end user to add weighted material into the bottom of the fountain, the weight chamber. The distance between the outer structure and the inner protrusion  66  is critical in that if it is too small it is difficult for the end user to add or remove weighted material and if it is too large, the base of the top of the protrusion  66  is not large enough to support the battery and any other object being stored in the battery compartment. To help in providing the added room from the placement or removal of the weighted material  68  a small indent of any particular shape can be added the protrusion  66 , thus maintaining adequate base area to support the battery while increasing the space between the outer structure and the protrusion  66  for ease of adding or removing the weighted material. 
     This method is preferred over other methods for adding or removing weight. For example if an opening was created in the bottom base panel, with for example a plug to add or remove the weighted material, would require that the fountain be turned upside down to add the material. This in turn would require that the hollow interior of the fountain have a separate panel molded and attached to the inner wall of the fountain. This would have to be sealed so as to not leak the weighted material back into the body of the fountain when turned upside down when adding the weighted material. This would cause significant increase in manufacturing cost. 
     The battery base  16 /compartment  22  is also unique to the poly resin fountains for manufacturing reasons as mentioned above, even without the ability to add weighted material. By extending the outer edge of the battery base  16  to the inner dimension of the outer shape, which eliminates the ability to add weighted material, however provides a cost-effective method for production to establish a base for the battery. 
       FIG. 6 b    shows a clear view of the top  60  of the base  12 . The top  60  includes a keyed slot  62  having keys  64 . The keys  64  are configured to receive correspondingly shaped portions of the bottom of lower bowl  24  such that the same is received and rotated in the slot  62  and thereby secured to the top of the base during assembly. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  show the configuration of the middle bowl  26  (2.sup.nd water tier) according to an implementation of the invention. The 2.sup.nd water tier water distribution tube in a poly-resin fountain is typically fixed to a molded plastic or resin tube with is the union from the tube exiting the water pump located inside the fountain thru the wall of the resin allowing the water to be distributed to the exterior of the fountain. This method does not allow for the ability to easily change or add new water features by the end user. 
     According to an implementation, the middle bowl  26  is molded with a large passageway  76  having an inner dimension configured to receive the water distribution plug  72  with hose  74  that can be inserted into the resin. This removable plug  72  allows the end user to pull the tube  74  off of the water feature they want to remove and then re-attach a new water feature by pressing the water distribution plug in place on the new feature. 
       FIG. 8  shows another implementation of the base pedestal  16  having a wireless, e.g., Bluetooth®, speaker  80  positioned therein. The speaker is connected to power source via plug  84  and wire  82 . The power source connected to plug  84  can be any suitable battery source, and may, depending on the configuration, be connected to the water fountain&#39;s primary battery  30 . Alternatively, a separate battery can be provided to power the wireless (Bluetooth®) speaker  80 . As will be appreciated, the addition of the speaker  80  allows a user to wirelessly transmit audio content to the speaker via their own compatible Bluetooth® audio player or system. 
     The above description above is for a three-tier fountain. This self-watering garden fountain can be constructed in various configurations. It can have two tiers, with a reservoir located inside or in the base of the bottom tier. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the fountain of the present invention can be constructed with multiple tiers, with essentially no limit. It can also be constructed with multiple planter bowls, in parallel to each other, vertically stacked to each other, and various other combinations and configurations. 
     While there have been shown, described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the present principles, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form and details of the methods described and devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the same. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the present principles. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or implementation of the present principles may be incorporated in any other disclosed, described or suggested form or implementation as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.