Abstract:
Provided is an easy-to-use and easy-to assemble automatic refill kit for maintaining a minimum water level within a fountain. The fountain refill kit is configured to connect with a conventional water source, such as a water hose, irrigation riser, or the like, to deliver water to the fountain&#39;s trough. The refill kit includes a float which moves as the water level within the fountain rises/falls. The float is connected to a valve arm which opens or closes the valve depending on the level of the water.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable 
       STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    This invention relates in general to a kit for automatically refilling the water in a fountain, and more specifically to a refill kit including a bracket and a float body disposable within the fountain to monitor the water level and to open a refill valve when the water drops below a preset refill level. 
         [0004]    Fountains and other similar water features are well known in the art as architectural elements which emit water from an outlet for decorative or dramatic effect. Fountains may include varied surfaces or tiers of stone, metal, concrete, or the like, over which the water may flow from the water outlet to a reservoir or water collection trough. 
         [0005]    The function of the fountain is typically dependent upon a sufficient amount of water being present in the reservoir. In particular, water is drawn from the reservoir and is pumped vertically upward to exit the fountain at the water outlet. The water falls downwardly from the water outlet back to the reservoir to complete a cycle. So long as there is a sufficient amount of water in the reservoir for water to be retrieved, the cycle generally continues. 
         [0006]    However, operation of the fountain may cause the water level within the reservoir to decrease. For instance, as the water falls from the water output toward the reservoir, it may splash outside of the reservoir to the areas surrounding the fountain. Wind may also cause the water to exit the fountain as it falls from the water output toward the reservoir. In addition, the water levels may decrease over time as a result of evaporation. 
         [0007]    As noted above, as the water level decreases below the water inlet of the pump, operation of the fountain may cease (i.e., the water cycle may be interrupted). Furthermore, if the pump continues to run, air may be pumped through the system which results in a dry pumping condition. The lack of water flowing through the system may cause the pump to overheat since heat from the pump is no longer being transferred to the water to cool the pump. 
         [0008]    Such undesirable consequences may be avoidable if the water level of the fountain&#39;s reservoir is maintained above the pump intake. The water level may be maintained by manually tilling the reservoir as the water level recedes toward the pump intake. However. after manually filling the reservoir, the water level will more than likely recede back toward the pump intake, thereby requiring subsequent refilling which tends to be a very tedious and arduous endeavor. In this regard, the water level of the reservoir may be constantly monitored to ensure there is enough water within the reservoir for the fountain to operate. Such an endeavor may be more difficult if the water source is not in the immediate vicinity of the fountain. 
         [0009]    In recognizing these deficiencies, various auto-fill systems have been developed for automatically filling a reservoir. The conventional auto-fill system is relatively expensive and includes copper tubing and timers and typically requires professional installation. As such, conventional auto-fill systems are used in larger applications, such as pools, hot-tubs, and the like. 
         [0010]    In view of the foregoing, there is a need in the art for a fountain automatic-fill valve kit which may be disposed within a fountain and connected to a water source to constantly monitor the water level within the reservoir and open a refill valve to allow water to flow into the reservoir to maintain the water level within an operable range. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present disclosure relates to an easy-to-use and easy-to assemble automatic refill kit for maintaining a minimum water level within a fountain. The fountain refill kit is configured to connect with a conventional water source, such as a water hose, irrigation riser, or the like, to deliver water to the fountain&#39;s reservoir. The refill kit includes a float which moves as the water level within the fountain rises/falls. The float is connected to a valve arm which opens or closes the valve depending on the level of the water. 
         [0012]    According to one embodiment, the fountain auto-fill valve kit includes a support bracket configured to be engageable with the fountain. A refill spout is connected to the support bracket and is disposable in fluid communication with the water supply to receive water from the water supply and to deliver water into the fountain. A valve is moveable relative to the refill spout between an open position and a closed position. The valve creates a fluid tight seal with the refill spout to restrict fluid flow through the refill spout when the valve is in the closed position. The valve is removed from fluid tight engagement with the refill spout as the valve moves from the closed position toward the open position. A float body is connected to the valve and defines a buoyant force to urge the float body to float on the water such that the float body moves relative to the fountain as the water level within the fountain changes. The valve is in operative communication with the float body such that the valve moves between the open position and the closed position as the float body moves relative to the fountain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  depicts a side view of a auto-fill valve kit disposed within a fountain to maintain a minimum operable water level in the fountain; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded upper perspective view of the auto-fill valve kit; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side sectional view of the auto-fill valve kit with the valve being disposed in an open configuration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a side sectional view of the auto-fill valve kit with the valve being disposed in a closed configuration; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a side sectional view of the auto-fill valve kit having a float body selectively attachable to a valve arm in a variety of orientations; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a second embodiment of the auto-fill valve kit having a bracket with a first portion and a second portion being offset by approximately 45 degrees; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an upper perspective view of an extension arm for use with the auto-fill valve kit; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of the extension arm assembled between the valve arm and the float body. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and sequences of steps for constructing and operating the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments and that they are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the invention. 
         [0023]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and not for purposes of limiting the same, there is depicted an automatic refill valve kit  10  for maintaining the water level within a fountain  12 . The valve kit  10  includes a refill valve  14  connected to a float body  16  and a conventional water source  18 , such as a water hose or irrigation riser for providing water to the refill valve  14 . The float body  16  moves relative to the refill valve  14  as the water level within the fountain  12  increases or decreases. As the water level approaches a minimum level, the valve opens to communicate water from the water source  18  into the fountain  12 . When the water level approaches a maximum level, the refill valve  14  closes to prevent water from being communicated from the water source  18  to the fountain  12 . The valve kit  10  may be configured to allow for easy assembly thereof (i.e., may not require professional installation). 
         [0024]    Referring now specifically to  FIG. 1 , the fountain  12  includes a water outlet  20  which emits water  22  into a fountain reservoir  24  or trough. The water  22  accumulates within the fountain reservoir  24  to define a water level. The water level fluctuates over time as a result of several factors, including but not limited to, the flow rate of the water outlet  20 , the evaporation rate, wind, etc. The fountain  12  is configured to define a water cycle, where water is retrieved from the reservoir  24  and is pumped upwardly to the water outlet  20 , where it is emitted to fall downwardly back into the fountain reservoir  24 . In this regard, the fountain  12  repeatedly cycles the water  22  between the water outlet  20  and the fountain reservoir  24  when the fountain  12  is on (i.e., when the fountain  12  emits water  22  from the water outlet  20 ). In order to facilitate the aforementioned water cycle, the fountain  12  typically includes a water intake (not shown) in the fountain reservoir  24  to retrieve water from the fountain reservoir  24  before being pumped up to the water outlet  20 . If the water level within the fountain reservoir  24  falls below the water intake, water may not be retrieved from the fountain reservoir  24 , thereby interrupting the water cycle. An undesirable consequence of such interruption may be damage to the water pump which pumps the water from the fountain reservoir  24  to the water outlet  20 . If the pump continues to run without water being retrieved from the fountain reservoir  24 , the pump may overheat, requiring repair or replacement thereof. Therefore, it is desirable to maintain the water level above the water intake to ensure there is a sufficient amount of water in the fountain reservoir  24  to continue the water cycle. Various aspects of the valve kit  10  are intended to monitor level within the fountain reservoir  24 , and to communicate water into the fountain reservoir  24  to maintain the water level at or above a minimum operating level (i.e., at a water level above the water intake). 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the valve kit  10  includes a support bracket  26  having a first portion  28  and a second portion  30 . The first portion  28  may be sized and configured to engage with or be mounted to the fountain  12 . The second portion  30  is sized and configured to support the refill valve  14  and the various components associated therewith, as described in more detail below. In the particular embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2 , the first portion  28  resides within a first plane and the second portion  30  resides within a second plane which is substantially orthogonal to the first plane. The second portion  30  includes a bracket aperture  32  formed therein to accommodate engagement with the refill valve  14 . 
         [0026]    The refill valve  14  includes a refill spout  34 , and a refill neck  36  extending from the refill spout  34 . The refill neck  36  includes an inner wall  38  defining a fluid passageway  40  through the refill neck  36 . A hexagonal abutment plate  42  is disposed at the juncture between the refill spout  34  and the refill neck  36  and extends radially outward from the refill neck  36 . The refill neck  36  is advanced through the bracket aperture  32  until the abutment plate  42  is disposed in contact with the second portion  30  of the support bracket  26 . A first connector  44  cooperatively engages with the refill neck  36  to secure the refill valve  14  to the support bracket  26 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the refill neck  36  includes external threads which are configured to engage with internal threads (not shown) formed on the first connector  44 . 
         [0027]    A valve arm  46  is pivotably connected to the refill valve  14  and is moveable relative to the refill valve  14  between an open position, wherein fluid may flow through the fluid passageway  40 , and a closed position to restrict fluid flow through the fluid passageway  40 . The valve arm  46  includes a stopper member  48  and a pivot cylinder  50  defining a cylinder opening  52 . The pivot cylinder  50  is sized and configured to be insertable within the refill spout  34  such that the cylinder opening  52  is coaxially aligned with a spout aperture  54  extending through the refill spout  34 . A mechanical fastener such as a connector pin  56  may be advanced through the spout aperture  54  and the cylinder opening  52  to couple the valve arm  46  to the refill valve  14 . The stopper member  48  is sized and configured to be positionable over the fluid passageway  40  when in the closed position to fluidly seal the fluid passageway  40 . As the valve arm  46  pivots relative to the valve body from the closed position toward the open position, water may pass between the refill valve  14  and the stopper member  48 . 
         [0028]    The valve arm  46  is connected to a float body  58  via a connecting element  60 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the float body  58  is threadably connectable to the connecting element  60 . The connecting element  60  defines a first indexing face  62  that is cooperatively engageable with a second indexing face  64  formed on the valve arm  46 . The first indexing face  62  may be indexed or rotated relative to the second indexing face  64  to alter the angular disposition of the connecting element  60  relative the valve arm  46 . When the connecting element  60  is disposed in a preferred position relative to the valve arm  46 , a connecting screw  66  is advanced through the first indexing face  62  and the second indexing face  64 , and a wing nut  68  is screwed onto the connecting screw  66  to securely fasten and engage the first indexing face  62  to the second indexing face  64 . In order to modify or alter the angular position of the connecting element  60 , and ultimately the float body  58 , relative to the refill valve  14 , the wing nut  68  may be loosened to disengage the second indexing face  64  from the first indexing face  62  to allow for the desired alteration. Once the float body  58  is in the desired position, the wing nut  68  may be re-tightened to secure the first indexing face  62  to the second indexing face  64 .  FIG. 5  shows the float body  58  disposed in various positions relative to the valve arm  46 . 
         [0029]    Referring now back specifically to  FIG. 1 , the valve kit  10  further includes tubing  70  having a first end portion fluidly connectable to the first connector  44 , and a second end portion fluidly connectable to a second connector  72 . The second connector  72  is sized and configured to be fluidly engageable with the water source  18 , whether it be a water hose, irrigation riser, or other water source known by those skilled in the art. The tubing  70  communicates the water from the second connector  72  to the first connector  44  and ultimately to the reservoir  24  via the refill valve  14 . A hole may be drilled within the fountain to pass the tubing  70  therethrough. 
         [0030]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the valve kit  10  is depicted in an assembled configuration, with the valve being disposed in an open position in  FIG. 3 , and a closed position in  FIG. 4 . More specifically, the water level  74  is shown in phantom and is at a level which has caused the float body  58  to move toward the second portion  30  of the support bracket  26  to disengage the stopper member  48  from the refill neck  36  to provide an opening through which water may pass therethrough. As the water level increases, the float body  58  moves away from the second portion  30  of the support bracket  26 , thereby causing the valve arm  46  to pivot relative to the refill spout  34  to bring the stopper member  48  into engagement with the refill neck  36  to create a fluid type seal therebetween and to mitigate fluid communication from the tubing  70  into the reservoir  24 . 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is depicted another embodiment of the refill kit  10  which includes a support bracket having a first portion  28  angularly disposed relative to the second portion  30  to facilitate mounting the support bracket  26  on a substantially vertical surface, i.e., a surface which is substantially orthogonal to the plane defined by the surface of the water. In this particular embodiment, the second portion  30  may be mounted to the vertical surface of the fountain  12 , and the angular disposition of the first portion  28  may properly position the float body  58  at the surface of the water. In one particular embodiment, the angle fada defined between the first plane within which the first portion  28  resides, and the second plane within which the second portion  30  resides is approximately 45 degrees; however, it is understood that the angle fada may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , it is contemplated that the valve kit  10  may include an extension arm  76  to accommodate fountains  12  having a deep reservoir  24 . In other words, if the support bracket  26  is disposed at the bottom of the reservoir  24 , and the float body  58  is disposed at the surface of the water, the extension arm  76  extends between the float body  58  and the valve arm  46  connected to the support bracket  26  to connect the float body  58  to the valve arm  46 . The extension arm  76  defines an extension indexing face  78  which is engageable with the second indexing face  64  formed on the valve arm  46 . The extension arm  76  additionally includes a float connector  80  disposed at an end portion opposite the extension indexing face  78 . In this regard, the extension arm  76  essentially replaces the connecting element  60  to provide for greater distance between the float body  58  and the valve arm  46 . 
         [0033]    The above described components may be packaged and sold as the valve kit  10  and may be easily assembled at the site of the fountain  12 . In this regard, one embodiment includes components which may be assembled without any tools. The components may also be fabricated from a material capable of withstanding continuous submersion within a fountain  12 . 
         [0034]    The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.