Patent Publication Number: US-8522372-B1

Title: Illuminated pool fountain system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an illuminated pool fountain system and more particularly pertains to projecting a spray of water in a pool while illuminating the water and the system, the projecting and illuminating being done in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the disadvantages inherent in the known types of fountain systems of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved illuminated pool fountain system. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved illuminated pool fountain system and method which has all the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
     To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises an illuminated pool fountain system. First provided is a pool. The pools contains a quantity of water. The water has a waterline. The pool has a water outlet. The water outlet is provided beneath the waterline. In this manner water is ejected into the pool. The outlet has female screw threads. 
     A vertical pipe is provided. The vertical pipe has an upper end. The upper end is provided above the waterline. The vertical pipe has a lower end. The lower end is provided below the waterline. The lower end has a 90 degree bend. The lower end terminates in a lower free end. A horizontal connector pipe is provided. The horizontal connector pipe couples the lower free end of the vertical pipe and the water outlet. A threaded collar is provided. The threaded collar is provided adjacent to the water outlet. The threaded collar is rotatable around the connector pipe. In this manner the connector pipe may be tightened and loosened with respect to the water outlet. 
     A pressure adjusting assembly is provided. The pressure adjusting assembly includes a rotatable sleeve. The rotatable sleeve is in a cylindrical configuration. The rotatable sleeve is co-axially mounted on the horizontal pipe. The rotatable sleeve has a rectangular exterior aperture. The horizontal pipe has a circular interior aperture. The rotatable sleeve is rotatable between an open first orientation and a closed second orientation. In the open first orientation, the interior and exterior apertures are aligned. In the closed second orientation, the interior and exterior apertures are un-aligned. In this manner the pressure of the water flowing there through may be varied as a function of the rotational orientation of the rotatable sleeve with respect to the horizontal pipe. 
     A T-coupler is provided next. The T-coupler has a horizontal first leg. The T-coupler has an axially aligned horizontal second leg. The T-coupler has a downward extending vertical third leg. The vertical third leg has male screw threads. The upper end of the vertical pipe has a joining component. The joining component has female screw threads. In this manner the T-coupler is removably received. 
     Provided next is a transparent plastic first sleeve. The first sleeve has an interior end. The interior end of the first sleeve is attached to the first leg of the T-coupler. The first sleeve has a second end. The second end of the first sleeve has a first cap. A transparent plastic second sleeve is provided. The second sleeve has an interior end. The interior end of the second sleeve is attached to the second leg of the T-coupler. The second sleeve has a second end. The second end of the second sleeve has a second cap. 
     Further provided is an illumination assembly. The illumination assembly has an inner cylinder. The inner cylinder is of a translucent cellulose material. The inner cylinder is provided in the second sleeve. The inner cylinder has a closed end. The closed end of the inner cylinder is provided adjacent to the second cap. The inner cylinder has an open end. The open end of the inner cylinder is provided within the T-coupler. The illumination assembly also includes a power cylinder. The power cylinder has a first end. The first end of the power cylinder is provided adjacent to the first cap. The first end of the power cylinder has a button. The button extends through the first cap. The power cylinder has a second end. The second end of the power cylinder is provided within the T-coupler. A gasket is provided. The gasket is provided around the T-coupler. In this manner the first sleeve is hydraulically sealed from the second sleeve and the T-coupler. A plurality of light emitting diodes is provided. The light emitting diodes are coupled to the second end of the power cylinder. The light emitting diodes extend into the T-coupler. A plurality of batteries are provided. The batteries are provided within the power cylinder. Electronic logic is provided. The electronic logic is provided within the first sleeve. The electronic logic is operative in response to depressing the button. In this manner the light emitting diodes are activated and inactivated. The depressing of the button is adapted to optionally operate the light emitting diodes in a continuous and discontinuous modes. 
     Provided last is a spray assembly. The spray assembly includes apertures. The apertures are provided in the second sleeve. The apertures face upwardly and outwardly. In this manner water is adapted to move through the outlet. Water is also adapted to move through the pressure adjusting assembly. Water is adapted to move through the T-coupler. Water is then adapted to move through the second sleeve exterior of the translucent sleeve. Further in this manner water is adapted to exit through the apertures. In this manner exiting water creates an illuminated fountain-like appearance while the light emitting diodes illuminate the exiting water and the first and second sleeves. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment 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 to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illuminated pool fountain system which has all of the advantages of the prior art fountain systems of known designs and configurations and none of the disadvantages. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illuminated pool fountain system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illuminated pool fountain system which is of durable and reliable constructions. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved illuminated pool fountain system which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such illuminated pool fountain system economically available to the buying public. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated pool fountain system for projecting a spray of water in a pool while illuminating the water and the system, the projecting and illuminating being done in a safe, convenient and economical manner. 
     Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved illuminated pool fountain system. A vertical pipe has an upper end and a lower end. The vertical pipe is adapted to be coupled to a pool water outlet. A T-coupler has horizontal first and second legs and a downward extending vertical third leg receiving the T-coupler. Transparent first and second sleeves are attached to the first leg and second legs. Each sleeve has an end cap. An inner cylinder is provided within the second sleeve. The inner cylinder has closed and open ends. A power cylinder is provided within the first sleeve. A gasket hydraulically seals the first sleeve from the second sleeve and the T-coupler. A light source is coupled to the power cylinder extending into the T-coupler. Aperture means are provided in the second sleeve. The apertures face upwardly and outwardly. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of an illuminated pool fountain system constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  are cross sectional views taken along lines  4 - 4  and  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are front elevational views of illuminated pool fountain systems constructed in accordance with alternate embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIG. 1  thereof, the preferred embodiment of the new and improved illuminated pool fountain system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     The present invention, the illuminated pool fountain system  10  is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest context include a vertical pipe, a T-coupler, transparent first and second sleeves, an inner cylinder and aperture means. Such components are individually configured and correlated with respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
     First provided is a pool  14 . The pools contains a quantity of water  16 . The water has a waterline  18 . The pool has a water outlet  20 . The water outlet is provided beneath the waterline. In this manner water is ejected into the pool. The outlet has female screw threads  22 . 
     A vertical pipe  26  is provided. The vertical pipe has an upper end  28 . The upper end is provided above the waterline. The vertical pipe has a lower end  30 . The lower end is provided below the waterline. The lower end has a 90 degree bend. The lower end terminates in a lower free end. A horizontal connector pipe  32  is provided. The horizontal connector pipe couples the lower free end of the vertical pipe and the water outlet. A threaded collar  34  is provided. The threaded collar is provided adjacent to the water outlet. The threaded collar is rotatable around the connector pipe. In this manner the connector pipe may be tightened and loosened with respect to the water outlet. 
     A pressure adjusting assembly  38  is provided. The pressure adjusting assembly includes a rotatable sleeve  40 . The rotatable sleeve is in a cylindrical configuration. The rotatable sleeve is co-axially mounted on the horizontal pipe. The rotatable sleeve has a rectangular exterior aperture  42 . The horizontal pipe has a circular interior aperture  44 . The rotatable sleeve is rotatable between an open first orientation and a closed second orientation. In the open first orientation, the interior and exterior apertures are aligned. In the closed second orientation, the interior and exterior apertures are un-aligned. In this manner the pressure of the water flowing there through may be varied as a function of the rotational orientation of the rotatable sleeve with respect to the horizontal pipe. 
     A T-coupler  48  is provided next. The T-coupler has a horizontal first leg  50 . The T-coupler has an axially aligned horizontal second leg  52 . The T-coupler has a downward extending vertical third leg  54 . The vertical third leg has male screw threads. The upper end of the vertical pipe has a joining component  56 . The joining component has female screw threads. In this manner the T-coupler is removably received. 
     Provided next is a transparent plastic first sleeve  60 . The first sleeve has an interior end. The interior end of the first sleeve is attached to the first leg of the T-coupler. The first sleeve has a second end. The second end of the first sleeve has a first cap. A transparent plastic second sleeve  58  is provided. The second sleeve has an interior end. The interior end of the second sleeve is attached to the second leg of the T-coupler. The second sleeve has a second end. The second end of the second sleeve has a second cap. 
     Further provided is an illumination assembly. The illumination assembly has an inner cylinder  64 . The inner cylinder is of a translucent cellulose material. The inner cylinder is provided in the second sleeve. The inner cylinder has a closed end. The closed end of the inner cylinder is provided adjacent to the second cap. The inner cylinder has an open end. The open end of the inner cylinder is provided within the T-coupler. The illumination assembly also includes a power cylinder  66 . The power cylinder has a first end. The first end of the power cylinder is provided adjacent to the first cap. The first end of the power cylinder has a button  76 . The button extends through the first cap. The power cylinder has a second end. The second end of the power cylinder is provided within the T-coupler. A gasket  68  is provided. The gasket is provided around the T-coupler. In this manner the first sleeve is hydraulically sealed from the second sleeve and the T-coupler. A plurality of light emitting diodes  70  is provided. The light emitting diodes are coupled to the second end of the power cylinder. The light emitting diodes extend into the T-coupler. A plurality of batteries  72  are provided. The batteries are provided within the power cylinder. Electronic logic  74  is provided. The electronic logic is provided within the first sleeve. The electronic logic is operative in response to depressing the button. In this manner the light emitting diodes are activated and inactivated. The depressing of the button is adapted to optionally operate the light emitting diodes in a continuous and discontinuous modes. 
     Provided last is a spray assembly. The spray assembly includes apertures  78 . The apertures are provided in the second sleeve. The apertures face upwardly and outwardly. In this manner water is adapted to move through the outlet. Water is also adapted to move through the pressure adjusting assembly. Water is adapted to move through the T-coupler. Water is then adapted to move through the second sleeve exterior of the translucent sleeve. Further in this manner water is adapted to exit through the apertures. In this manner exiting water creates an illuminated fountain-like appearance while the light emitting diodes illuminate the exiting water and the first and second sleeves. 
     An alternate embodiment  100  of the present invention is provided. The aperture means is a linear slot  104 . Note  FIG. 7  for the first alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     Another alternate embodiment  200  of the present invention is provided. The aperture means are aligned linear slots  206 . Note  FIG. 8  for the second alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.