Patent Abstract:
A fountain having a substantially-rectangular fountain body having a dividing floor disposed horizontally therein, dividing the fountain body into a lower chamber open on its bottom end and an upper chamber open on its top end. A conduit, passing through the dividing floor, connects the lower chamber to the upper chamber. A light source is disposed in the lower chamber. A pump, disposed within the upper chamber, pumps water up to a water spout disposed above it, which is returned to the pump by the force of gravity.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to fountains and more specifically to a fountain having a lighted portion.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The basic combination of a light and a fountain is not new. In one known design, a lighted water globe has a base including a lamp, a music box, a light altering wheel, and a power supply. Above the base, there is a sealed glass dome filled with water. A bundle of fiber optic elements is disposed inside the glass dome, in addition to decorative objects such as flowers. When the power supply is activated, the lamp projects light on the light-filtering wheel, which filters the light into a range of colors.  
           [0003]    The colors from the light-filtering wheel are directed through the fiber optic elements in order to produce colorful visual effects. While the mechanical music box generates music, a shaft drives the lighted water globe to revolve relative to a support stand.  
           [0004]    In another design, a fountain water lamp consists of a transparent unit, a base, a driving unit, a color disk, a light source unit, a circuit board, a water pump unit and an air pump unit. When the light source unit generates light and projects on the transparent film of the color disk, colored light is projected onto the transparent unit.  
           [0005]    In the above design, an air pump delivers air into the transparent unit, generating air bubbles which bob and escape through the fluid in a random, scattered manner. The liquid contained in the transparent unit overflows into a spill channel, and from the spill channel to a multi-layer passage. The water is then drawn and pumped back up to the transparent unit in continuous circulation.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In one embodiment, the present invention is a fountain having a lower chamber having a light source disposed therein and an upper chamber, disposed above the lower chamber, having a pump operably connected to a water spout.  
           [0007]    In a second embodiment, the present invention is a fountain having a substantially-rectangular lower chamber having a light source disposed therein and a substantially-rectangular upper chamber, disposed above the lower chamber, having a pump operably connected to a water spout disposed above the pump.  
           [0008]    In a third embodiment, the present invention is a fountain having a substantially-rectangular fountain body having a dividing floor disposed horizontally therein, dividing the fountain body into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. A light source is disposed in the lower chamber, while a pump is disposed within the upper chamber. A spout is disposed above the pump and the upper chamber and a water tube connects the pump to the spout. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures in which corresponding numerals in the different figures refer to corresponding parts and in which:  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a lighted fountain in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 depicts a shadowed isometric view of the lighted fountain of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 depicts a shadowed isometric view of the body of the lighted fountain of FIG. 1;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of the pump and spout subassembly of the lighted fountain of FIG. 1; and  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5 depicts an isometric view of the lighting subassembly of FIG. 1.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts, which can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of a lighted fountain  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As seen in FIG. 1, lighted fountain  100  includes a fountain body  102  having a spout  104  disposed on the top thereof in such a manner as to direct water into the upper chamber  106  of the fountain body  102 . Lighted fountain  100  also includes a pair of power cables  108  and  110  for connecting lighted fountain  100  to an electrical power source (not shown).  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 depicts a shadowed isometric view of the lighted fountain  100  of FIG. 1. In addition to the features already described in connection with FIG. 1, a number of additional features can be more clearly seen in FIG. 2.  
         [0018]    In addition to upper chamber  106 , fountain body  102  includes a lower chamber  112 . Disposed within lower chamber  112  is a light source  114 , which can be connected to an electrical power source by power cable  110 . Disposed within upper chamber  106  is a water pump  116 , which is connected to water spout  104  by a water tube  118 . Water pump  116  is connected to an electrical power source by power cable  108 , which passes from lower chamber  112  to upper chamber  106  through conduit  120 . Connected and powered in this way, water pump  116  provides a continuous flow of water from the lower portion of upper chamber  106 , through water pump  116 , water hose  118 , and water spout  104 , in that order. Water exiting from water spout  104  returns by gravity to the lower portion of upper chamber  106 .  
         [0019]    Except for the connection provided by conduit  120 , upper chamber  106  and lower chamber  112  are completely segregated by dividing floor  122 . In this embodiment, dividing floor  122  is designed to seal the bottom portion of upper chamber  106  against the leakage of water from upper chamber  106  into lower chamber  112 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 depicts a shadowed isometric view of the fountain body  102  of the lighted fountain  100  of FIG. 1. Fountain body  102  principally incorporates an upper chamber  106  and a lower chamber  112 , separated by a dividing floor  122 .  
         [0021]    The outer surface of fountain body  102  is principally defined by four substantially-planar and substantially-vertical external surfaces  130 ,  132 ,  134 , and  136 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , each of the four external surfaces  130 - 136  is disposed at approximately 90 degrees to the surfaces adjacent to it. In other words, each of the four external surfaces 130136 is disposed substantially normally to the surfaces adjacent to it.  
         [0022]    The inner surface of fountain body  102  is formed by four substantially-planar and substantially-vertical external surfaces  140 ,  142 ,  144 , and  146 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS.  1 - 3 , each of the four internal surfaces  140 - 146  is disposed at approximately 90 degrees to the surfaces adjacent to it. In other words, each of the four internal surfaces  140 - 146  is disposed substantially normally to the surfaces adjacent to it.  
         [0023]    The inner volume defined by internal surfaces  140 - 146  is segregated into upper chamber  106  and lower chamber  112  by dividing floor  122 , which has a substantially-planar upper surface  148  and a substantially-planar lower surface  150 . Disposed at or near the bottom of the fountain body  102  is a pair of passages  152  and  154 , to allow for the passage of electrical power cables  108  and  110  from the exterior to the interior of fountain body  102 . The uppermost portion of exterior surfaces  130 - 136  and interior surfaces  140 - 146  is defined by upper flange  156 , while the lowermost portion of exterior surfaces  130 - 136  and interior surfaces  140 - 146  is defined by lower flange  158 .  
         [0024]    In various embodiments, surfaces  130 - 136  and  140 - 146  and dividing floor  122  may have varying levels of light transmissibility. Dividing floor  122 , for example, may be completely opaque, completely transparent, or translucent to some degree. It may also be transparent and tinted, and it may have one or more decorative patterns disposed thereon. Similarly, any of surfaces  130 - 136  and  140 - 146  may be transparent, opaque, or translucent, and may also be tinted and/or have one or more decorative patterns disposed thereon.  
         [0025]    Varying embodiments of the present invention may incorporate surfaces  130 - 136  and  140 - 146  having light-transmissibility characteristics in any combination without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, as an example, dividing floor  122  is transparent, while surfaces  130 - 136  and  140 - 146  are translucent. This design provides for a relatively uniform level of light within the body  102  of the lighted fountain  100 , while providing the illusion that the lighted fountain  100  is filled with water.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 4 depicts an isometric view of the subassembly of the water pump  116 , water tube  118  and water spout  104  of the lighted fountain  100  of FIG. 1. Water pump  116  receives electrical energy from a power source via power cable  108 . Water pump  116  converts the electrical energy received through power cable  108  into mechanical energy, which is imparted to water passing therethrough, in order to raise the water against the force of gravity, through water tube  118  and into an interior portion of water spout  104 .  
         [0027]    Water spout  104  includes a generally-cylindrical main tube  180  having a rear end  182  and a front end  184 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, water exits the main tube  180  through front end  184 , but other designs may employ alternate exit schemes, depending on the application. Main tube  180  is supported by a pair of generally-cylindrical support tubes  186  and  188 .  
         [0028]    Water exiting water pump  116  passes through water tube  118 , through the bottom of water spout  104  into an interior portion of main tube  180  of water spout  104 . Water entering the main tube  180  is then drawn out the front end  184  of the main tube  180  by the force of gravity.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 5 depicts an isometric view of the lighting subassembly of the lighted fountain  100  of FIG. 1. Lighting within the body of lighted fountain  100  is principally accomplished by the use of a light source  114  mounted in a receptacle  200  mounted on a light source bracket  202 . Light source bracket  202  is mounted to a surface of the lighted fountain  100  using fastener holes  204  and  206 .  
         [0030]    Light source  114  receives electrical energy through power cable  110 , which may incorporate a noise filter  210  and/or a voltage converter  212 . Power cable  110  terminates in a plug  214 , which may be designed with a pair of parallel blades suitable for connection to a standard United States 110-volt residential outlet. Plug  214  may also incorporate a cylindrical grounding lug. Voltage converter  212  may incorporate a circuit for reducing or increasing the voltage received from the power source, and may also incorporate a circuit for rectifying and conditioning an alternating current into a direct current, or vice versa.  
         [0031]    Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1