Patent Publication Number: US-2012024978-A1

Title: Water fountain system including a means for propelling floating ornaments

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This patent application is a continuation-in-part of applicants&#39; co-pending patent application Ser. No. 12/804,821, filed Jul. 30, 2010. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a decorative water fountain system that includes an open body of water, or pool; and more particularly to a fountain system including a means for imparting motion to floating ornaments thereon. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     There are a multitude of decorative fountain designs. Fountains can be situated in natural bodies of water such as ponds or lakes. Other fountain designs are configured from artificial or man-made pools, ponds, or the like. For example, commercially available fountains having circular type pools are common place and are readily available. Some fountain designs divert a portion of the fountain total water flow into a fixed water stream that is directed to the ornaments floating about the pool to provide an impetus for imparting motion thereof; still others utilize a fixed dedicated pump to provide such motion. Such motion inducing mechanisms tend to produce floating ornament movements or motions that are inappropriate or undesirable for a fountain pool. Inappropriate or undesirable ornament motions include ornament clustering, stalled ornaments, and the like. Such undesirable ornament motion associated with common fountain systems is an ever-present issue in need of efficacious solutions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a fountain system associated with an open body of water capable of inducing desirable motion to floating ornaments thereon utilizing a motion inducing water current. The means for generating a circulating water current or motion inducing water current is comprised of an apparatus that is configured from an elongated L-shaped tube having an end corner connection for directing the motion inducing water current. The water supplied to the elongated L-shaped tube is parceled from the output of a submersible water pump. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a water current to the pool portion of a fountain system for inducing motion to floating ornaments located on the pool&#39;s water surface, wherein the boundary of the pool is curvilinear so to reduce/eliminate dead spots or eddies that may hinder ornament motion. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric generally circular floatation ring placed onto a larger body of water or pond so that an inner boundary area is created within a larger body. The inner boundary area provides a water surface where the floating ornaments are permitted to circulate. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a submersible water pump rigidly attached to the motion inducing water current member; where the submersible water pump is adjustable with respect to the water surface and/or pool wall so to provide a means for adjusting the motion characteristics of the floating ornaments via the circulating water current or motion inducing water current. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a separate dedicated submersible water pump for inducing a motion water current. The submersible water pump, and associated pump&#39;s water exhaust, is adjustable with respect to the water surface and/or pool wall, thereby providing a means for adjusting the motion characteristics of the floating ornaments. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an elongated L-shaped tube having an exhaust port that is adjustable with respect to the curvilinear boundary of the water surface so to provide a means for adjusting the motion characteristics of the floating ornaments via the circulating water current or motion inducing water current. 
     It is yet another object of this invention to provide a relatively simple device that is economical from the viewpoint of the manufacturer and consumer, is susceptible of low manufacturing costs with regard to labor and materials, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices for the consuming public, thereby making it economically available to the buying public. 
     Whereas there may be many embodiments of the present invention, each embodiment may meet one or more of the foregoing recited objects in any combination. It is not intended that each embodiment will necessarily meet each objective. 
     Thus, having broadly outlined the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated, there are, of course, additional features of the present invention that will be described herein and will form a part of the subject matter of this specification. 
     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 the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present 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 description 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 construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the conception regarded as the present invention. 
     PARTICULAR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a floating ornament fountain system configuration that lends itself to low cost due to the sharing of resources and multi-functionality of subsystems and components used. Additionally, various embodiments are disclosed that provides users with the means to manipulate the motion characteristics of floating ornaments. There are numerous characteristic motions that floating ornaments (residing on the pool portion of fountain systems) can exhibit. Motion characteristics are dictated by numerous variables which include, water depth, pool size and geometry, water pump size and location; ornament size, number, geometry; and the like. One aspect of the present invention provides a means for adjusting ornament motion characteristics. The teachings disclosed are especially valuable for lower cost fountain systems wherein less complex, low cost components are welcome. 
    
    
     
       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, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional side view of a circular pond containing a water flow management apparatus comprised of a submersible water pump, a three-way connector, a fountain head, and an L-shaped tube assembly. 
         FIG. 2   a  illustrates a top view of a generally circular, polymeric floatation ring or foam ring used in certain fountain system embodiments for providing a corral or boundary for floating ornaments. 
         FIG. 2   b  illustrates a side view of a water flow management apparatus comprised of an adjustable submersible water pump system, a foam ring, and an L-shaped tube assembly. 
     
    
    
     The drawings are not to scale, in fact, some aspects have been emphasized for a better illustration and understanding of the written description. 
     PARTS/FEATURES LIST 
     1. circular pond, pool, or body of water 
     2. fountain 
     3. submersible pump 
     4. fountain head 
     5. tube 
     6. tube 
     7. water surface or water level with respect to floor  14   
     8. elongated L-shaped tube apparatus 
     9. long tube 
     10. short tube 
     11. ninety degree elbow 
     12. three-way connector 
     13. corner connector or ninety degree elbow 
     14. floor of pond, pool, or body of water 
     15. foam ring 
     16. water management stand assembly 
     17. stand, column, or vertical support section of water management stand assembly  16   
     18. upper clamp 
     19. lower clamp 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to the drawings of the present invention, several embodiments of the fountain and associated subsystems or components thereof will be described. In describing the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sectional side view of a pond  1  containing a water flow management apparatus comprised of a submersible water pump  3 , a three-way connector  12 , a fountain head  4 , and an L-shaped tube assembly  8 . 
     Again referring to  FIG. 1 , depicted is a three-way connector  12  having a lower end, an opposing upper end, and a side port perpendicularly disposed with respect to both the upper and side end; submersible water pump  3  possesses an input port and an output port, including a pump mount for immobilizing the unit below water level  7 . The output port of pump  3  is tubularly connected to the lower end of three-way connector  12 , while the upper end of connector  12  is tubularly connected to fountain head  4 . Elongated L-shaped assembly  8  is comprised of horizontal long tube  9  where one end is tubularly connected to the side port of said three-way connector  12 ; and opposing end of horizontal long tube  9  is attached to a water directing assembly comprising a lower ninety degree elbow connector  11 , an upper ninety degree elbow connector  13  possesses a water exhaust port; a lower port, and a vertical short tube  10  attached thereon. The output end of horizontal long tube  9  is connected to the lower port of lower ninety degree elbow connector  11 , and the upper port of lower ninety degree elbow connector  11  is connected to the bottom end of vertical short tube  10 , where the top end of vertical short tube  10  is tubularly connected to the lower port of upper ninety degree elbow connector  13 . 
     In an alternate fountain system embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1  includes, an adjustable tubular coupling means for supporting upper ninety degree elbow connector  13  onto the top end of vertical short tube  10 . Adjustability can be accomplished by a variety of means, including a rotatable coupling, where water exhaust port is permitted to revolve. 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a top view of a circular, polymeric floatation ring or foam ring  15 . Foam ring  15  is used in certain fountain system embodiments to provide a corral or boundary for floating ornaments within a larger body of water. The foam ring  15  is placed on the water surface  7  of a body of water  1 , and is held in place by upper clamp  18  (depicted in  FIG. 2   b ). 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates a side view of a water flow management apparatus comprised of an adjustable submersible water pump system  3 , a foam ring  15 , and an L-shaped tube assembly  8 . Depicted is one example of an adjustable submersible water pump  3  configuration. This configuration includes a vertically adjustable pump upper clamp  18 , and adjustable pump lower clamp  19  that are both releasably engaged to support stand  17 . Support stand  17  includes a base or lower support end designed to engage with floor  14  of body of water  1  to provide stability to the system (prevent movement). A vertical support column  17  is configured to adjustably receive vertically adjustable ring upper clamp  18  so to permit the adjustment and retainment of ring  15  with respect to said water surface  7 . It is suggested that a ring  15  have a diameter of several feet and be constructed from a material that is capable of floating on water. 
     The following are the details of an example fountain system that was fully tested. A circular pool  1  was constructed from a plastic material having a diameter of about 3 feet. The system included a fountain  2  that was driven by submersible pump  3  having a pumping capacity of about 170 gallons per hour. An elongated L-shaped tube  8  was attached to the three-way connector  12 . All the tubes, pipes, and connectors in the functional example were one half of an inch in diameter and fabricated from CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride). It is understood that there exist numerous other materials that are capable of functioning equally well such as copper, glass or PVC (polyvinyl chloride), and the like. 
     The fountain head  4  was connected to submersible pump  3  via tubes  5  and  6  which are joined together by connector  12 . Tube  6  was about 6 inches in length but it could be replaced by other tubes of different lengths. 
     Regarding elongated L-shaped tube assembly  6 , the length of long tube  9  was between 12-18 inches, and the length of short vertical tube  10  was approximately 3-4 inches. All the connections were not glued so that tubes and connectors could be rotated and/or replaced at will. For example, the corner connector (90 elbow) ( 13 ) could be manipulated to direct the water flow from its exit port to the wall of the pool  1 . 
     It is understood that the pumping capacity of submersible pump  3  can be varied as can any of the tube diameters in the system to adjust the water flow characteristics to the fountain components, i.e. head and elongated L-shaped tube assembly  6 . 
     A second submersible pump dedicated to the generation of circulating water currents or motion inducing water currents was also tested. Adjusting the motion characteristics of floating ornaments was successfully accomplished by varying the location, and component positioning of elongated L-shaped tube assembly  6  attached to dedicated second submersible pump. Alternatively, adjusting the output port of a second submersible pump itself is another option. The second submersible pump would function as a stand-alone independent unit, free of any tubular attachments. This embodiment also proved to be an effective means for adjusting the motion characteristics of floating ornaments. Due to the cost, additional hardware, and assembly associated with the second submersible pump, this configuration is likely to be more expensive option; additionally, having a secondary submersible pump near the water surface  7  will likely result in other disadvantages, including, audible pump noise, undesirable view of the secondary pump by spectators, and the like. 
     In general, the present invention can be powered by ordinary commercial electric power as well as generator or battery power. Safely configuring electrical power to underwater components is well known art that is commonly practiced. Additionally, the overall motion characteristics of floating ornaments can be configured to have either a clockwise or counter-clockwise disposition.