Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to an improved falls box as part of a filtration and water circulation system for artificial ponds and other bodies of water and, more particularly, to an improved falls box of a design and method of use that allows for vertical stacking during storage, the vertical use of a multitude of support grids to fill the cavity, the use of support ribs in an intermediary section to support aesthetic additions, an upper surface that can be opened to orient the horizontal flow across the box and create one or a plurality of artificial falls, the capacity of connecting a plurality of falls boxes in series to create a filtration cross-flow through falls boxes, the use of the falls box in a plurality of ways as a pump vault box in a disappearing water recuperation system either in connection with a falls box, by itself, upside down, in order to create an underground vegetation system, a disappearing falls system, a small pond, or a disappearing falls filter, and a tessellated upper geometry that allows connecting edges between boxes to be joined in a plurality of methods to create complex water surfaces.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to an improved falls box as part of a filtration and water circulation system for artificial ponds and other bodies of water and, more particularly, to an improved falls box of a design and method of use that allows for vertical stacking during storage, the vertical use of a multitude of support grids to fill the cavity, the use of support ribs in an intermediary section to support aesthetic additions, an upper surface that can be opened to orient the horizontal flow across the box and create one or a plurality of artificial falls, the capacity of connecting a plurality of falls boxes in series to create a filtration cross-flow through falls boxes, the use of the falls box in a plurality of ways as a pump vault box in a disappearing water recuperation system either in connection with a falls box, by itself, upside down, in order to create an underground vegetation system, a disappearing falls system, a small pond, or a disappearing falls filter, and a tessellated upper geometry that allows connecting edges between boxes to be joined in a plurality of methods to create complex water surfaces.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Landscaping, interior design, and bio-environment design has always been an important part of human culture. Water is the central feature of most bioengineered ecosystems. In the first century B.C., the Greek geographer Strabo, describing the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, focused on the ingenious Assyrian water circulation system, stating “At their side are water engines, by means of which persons, appointed expressly for the purpose, are continually employed in raising water from the Euphrates into the garden . . . lifting the water far into the air so it could flow down through the terraces.” Technology has modernized this important invention.  
         [0003]     In recent decades, the use of artificial water environments in conjunction with household structures or commercial real estate has increased significantly. Owners purchase “artificial pond kits” or mandate service providers to design and build artificial ponds in their gardens, back yards, or commercial environments. Gary Wittstock, one of the present inventors, patented the first artificial falls system in 1996.  FIG. 1  of U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991 illustrates this general invention. The system includes a skimmer box and a falls box located at different positions on the periphery of a body of water. The skimmer box draws in surface water transporting suspended or floating debris to a dynamic, biologic, or chemical filter. Inhabitants of this ecosystem, such as fish and turtles, are protected from recirculation via a mechanical or bacterial filtering system located within the skimmer box that removes, stores, and destroys the debris in a nonhurtful way. A pump located past the filtration circulates the water up to the second box, called the “falls box,” which is placed somewhat above the surface of the body of water. Water pumped into the falls box cascades over a lip and back to the lower body of water, creating a closed loop ecosystem that includes an aesthetically pleasing artificial waterfall.  
         [0004]     In 2000, Gary Wittstock obtained U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,045 relating to novel improvements to the skimmer box as used in conjunction with the artificial pond system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991. The current invention relates to improvements to the falls box as used generally in an artificial pond ecosystem as generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991, hereby incorporated fully by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,045 is also hereby incorporated fully by reference.  
         [0005]     The needs of landscaping artists, consumers, homeowners, or even real estate developers has evolved beyond the use of a single symmetrical waterfall pouring out of a single falls box. Natural waterfalls generally are not limited to a single cascade of a fixed width, and the needs of landscaping artists can vary greatly. New, artificial designs need to provide a plurality of waterfalls of variable lengths and variable flows, creating an effect of water trickling from rock ledges to the main body of water based on highly flexible and adaptable methods. Designers are no longer satisfied with a small surface of water located before the waterfall. Water systems that imitate streams, lake fronts, and other designs are needed for a forced flow allowing water to be circulated, cleaned, and biologically treated as generally described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991.  
         [0006]     Using existing falls boxes, landscape artists must purchase differently sized falls boxes designed for a single waterfall layout of fixed waterfall size to create a plurality of falls. Under this configuration, the circulation pump must send water into each independent falls box through different water inlets. As dirt and debris accumulates in different quantities in each falls box, the regulation of the flow of water will change and flow may trickle in a first waterfall while flowing abundantly in a second waterfall. The use of a plurality of falls designed to work individually, when used as a composite system, creates, among other things, storage, fixation, flow, and water inlet problems.  
         [0007]     Currently, designers wishing to create a landscape with a complex water system configuration, such as a stream or an artificial ring of water around an island, use classical means such as a cement casting or a pool liner to shape their desire surfaces. A falls box would then be inserted where a waterfall is desired, immediately upstream of the artificial waterfalls. Using this system, water in this artificially created upstream surface could stagnate.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     An object of this invention is to address the above-described problems, namely, to provide landscape designers with a flexible, variable, and customizable multiple-falls system, a method that allows for the design of upstream variable geometries, bodies of water, and a system with a plurality of falls.  
         [0009]     The present invention relates generally to an improved falls box as part of a filtration and water circulation system for artificial ponds and other bodies of water and, more particularly, to an improved falls box design and method of use that allows vertical stacking during storage, vertical use of a multitude of support grids, use of support ribs in a intermediary section, a customizable top surface to orient the flow across the box and create one or more desired artificial falls, capacity for connecting a plurality of falls boxes in series to create a filtration cross-flow through falls boxes, the use of the falls box in a plurality of ways, such as a pump vault box in a disappearing water recuperation system either in connection with a falls box, by itself, upside down, in order to create an underground vegetation system, a disappearing falls system, a small pond, or a disappearing falls filter, and a tessellated upper geometrically that allows connecting edges of boxes to be joined efficiently to create and optimize spatially complex water surfaces.  
         [0010]     A first novel feature of this invention is the addition of a geometrical shape as commonly observed in floor tiling, where a single or a limited number of different geometries are assembled or tiled to cover larger surfaces. The term commonly used by modern Euclidian geometry mathematicians to define such tiling surfaces is “tessellate.” For the purpose of this patent application, the term “tessellatd” shall include the use of one or a plurality of geometries as part of an overall tessellate pattern.  
         [0011]     In a preferred embodiment, the falls box is designed with semi-irregular geometry to help create an overall impression of a semi-irregular area such as a stream or water edges. The humid surface to cover may include inner “dry” areas where no water is found. For example, falls boxes may be arranged in a closed loop configuration where foliage and vegetation is inserted in the center loop. Rocks, vegetation, or other decorative elements are also arranged around the periphery of the water&#39;s edge, with the exception of the location of artificial waterfalls, to protect from overflow and to help camouflage the falls boxes. The use of a single improved falls box is also contemplated.  
         [0012]     Falls boxes, when joined, form a composite surface. Boxes are secured to each other using mechanical means such as bolts or clamps. In order to direct the flow of water across the horizontal surface, either cuts are made in the upper periphery walls between falls boxes or a heightened section is created around the periphery of the outer walls by adding rocks, decorative foliage, or other mechanical elements arranged to contain the flow of water and force a resulting falls at the desired location. A section of the upper periphery may be cut in each adjacent box to conduct the water between boxes and back to the main body of water. In order to optimize the flow path between two adjacent boxes, a first section of the lateral periphery wall is removed in a first box and side openings are made on each side of the flow path where a mechanical means is to be used. These three openings are then used as guides to make adjacent openings in an adjacent falls box once both boxes have been secured in their final configuration.  
         [0013]     The falls boxes do not have a precut area in the outer upper periphery. This allows designers to selectively open areas between falls boxes to force the horizontal surface flow in any desired radial location. Designers may open one or more areas next to the main body of water to create a single waterfall or a plurality of waterfalls at chosen locations around the resulting water surface. Falls boxes allow for the removal of any radial section, including the corner of a box. Two or more openings can be made in a single falls box, resulting in a multiple-falls system using a single falls box. A premolded insert in the shape of an artificial rock ledge may be inserted over the tessellate outer ledge to create an artificial waterfalls opening.  
         [0014]     The horizontal section of the main body of the falls box is designed to allow a horizontal support grid, generally opposed to a horizontal ridge near the bottom of falls box, to be rotated to a vertical orientation. Filtration materials can be placed on the support grid in the horizontal orientation to partly fill in the cavity. If aesthetic elements are placed over the center area of a falls box, a plurality of horizontal support grids are inserted in the vertical position to fill in the falls box cavity. The vertical height of the top of the horizontal ridge is located within the box cavity so that vertical stacking of a plurality of falls boxes is possible and designed to optimize and reduce the overall height of a plurality of falls boxes when they are interlocked and stacked vertically. The vertical height of the top of the horizontal ridge also is designed to allow vertical stacking of a plurality of grids within the cavity of the fall box while maintaining the top part of the grids from raising above the water level.  
         [0015]     A pond liner, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991, is located under the main body of water and is secured to the falls box around the outer periphery of all openings made above the body of water where artificial waterfalls are created. A pond liner may be used as part of the water confinement system, but other watertight systems, such as concrete, may be used. Since the number, location, and width of each waterfall may vary according to the needs of the user, the pond liner attachment system is also modular in length. A thick, linear strip of material is cut at the horizontal width of a first waterfall opening in a falls box. Two other lengths of the thick, linear strip are cut corresponding to the vertical height of the falls box waterfall opening. In the preferred embodiment, the linear strip material serves as an additional barrier that limits the flow of water, or leaks between the falls box waterfall opening and the pond liner. Regularly spaced holes or equivalents are punctured or drilled around the outer periphery of waterfalls openings. The pond liner is also cut or bent locally so as not to obstruct the passage of the water in the waterfall opening. In one embodiment, tie fasteners with linear mechanical compression or other compression-based systems, such as magnets or pincers, are then used to pinch the liner between the outer surface of the falls box and the inner surface of the thick, linear strip of material. In the preferred embodiment, a silicone-based sealing compound is used to seal the liner to the falls box.  
         [0016]     Where the horizontal surface of the upper periphery of a geometrical shape is wider than the horizontal surface of the main falls box cavity, an angled connecting wall linking the upper periphery to the top of the box cavity is equipped with thin vertical support ribs to create a surface upon which rocks, plants, and other aesthetic elements can be laid.  
         [0017]     Water is circulated from the skimmer box to at least one falls box by a water inlet attached to the falls box&#39;s main cavity. While water is generally the liquid of choice used in the design of artificial ponds, this invention is also applicable to other liquid-medium artificial ponds as long as the viscosity of the fluid is sufficiently low to allow for dynamic flow across the surfaces of the falls box.  
         [0018]     Paving of a global surface using a box with a tesserae geometry may be conducted by the assembly of a plurality of falls boxes, which each possess tesserae properties either by itself or in combination with another associated shape, forming a global tesserae shape.  
         [0019]     The falls box may also be used in a plurality of auxiliary arrangements to perform other functions within the same technical field. The surface of the container can be covered with a plurality of flow holes and placed upside down within a liquid saturated environment such as a water and rock basin, or right-side-up with a mechanical covering means, such as a grate, a plastic cover, or any other type of physical barrier. The volumes created inside the falls box then serve as water volumes, which allow for better control of water in the basin and optimize the biochemical formulation of the liquid saturated environment.  
         [0020]     In another auxiliary arrangement, falls boxes can be arranged in a serial configuration, where liquid flows from one falls box to the next via a means of transfer, either an aperture, a water inlet, a tube, or other means. Liquid is deposited in the first falls box through an inlet and then flows upwards in the cavity of the first falls through a first filtration system. Liquid is then transferred by mechanical means, either gravity, pressure differential, forced flow, or pumping force, to a second falls box. Liquid is then moved downward through a second filtration system. The resulting system allows for better overall filtration and a different control of the flow.  
         [0021]     In yet another auxiliary arrangement, a falls box is placed in a liquid saturated environment and either covered or filled with elements from the liquid saturated environment, such as rocks, sand, or other debris. The falls box can also be filled with liquid to create a small pond. A liquid circulation means, such as a pump, is placed on the bottom of the falls box and circulates water to an elevation above the liquid saturated environment surface. Liquid then returns to the liquid saturated environment surface under the attraction of gravity, creating a waterfall in the process. Liquid can also be circulated to a second falls box.  
         [0022]     In yet another auxiliary arrangement, a falls box is inserted upside up in the liquid saturated environment. The volume created inside the cavity of the falls box contains a circulating means, but the rest of the volume is filled with liquid. The circulating means circulates the water either to an elevation above the surface of the liquid saturated environment or to a second falls box. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     A better understanding of the present invention may be derived from the detailed description and the claims when considered in connection with these figures. The reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the figures.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a reproduction of  FIG. 1  as found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991 as prior art of a diagrammatic side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a filtration system for ponds as patented by Gary Wittstock;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a decorative landscaping pond and its main components;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the falls box with no precut section of the connecting wall;  
         [0027]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the falls box with a frontal precut area in the connecting wall;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the falls box with a front corner precut area in the connecting wall;  
         [0029]      FIG. 3D  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the falls box with a lateral precut area in the connecting wall;  
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of two falls boxes assembled to form a global falls with a single frontal precut area and adjacent opening in both connecting walls;  
         [0031]      FIG. 5  is a side view with partial perspective of  FIG. 3A ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic top view of a first possible arrangement of three falls boxes into a composite falls;  
         [0033]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic top view of a second possible arrangement of five falls boxes arranged in a semistream-like configuration forming a composite falls;  
         [0034]      FIG. 6C  is a schematic top view of a third possible arrangement with ten falls boxes arranged in a loop-like configuration forming a composite falls;  
         [0035]      FIG. 6D  is a schematic top view of a fourth possible arrangement with eight falls boxes arranged in a pond like configuration into a composite falls;  
         [0036]      FIG. 7A  is a side view with partial perspective of  FIG. 3A  where two falls boxes are vertically stacked;  
         [0037]      FIG. 7B  is a close-up view of  FIG. 7A  illustrating the horizontal ledge where stacking occurs;  
         [0038]      FIG. 8A  is a flow diagram showing a series of method steps performed to implement the method for joining two falls into a composite falls;  
         [0039]      FIG. 8B  is a flow diagram showing a series of method steps performed to implement the method for joining two falls into a composite falls where a section is also opened;  
         [0040]      FIG. 9A  is an isometric exploded view of the attachment of the pond liner to the falls box and the use of a false ledge;  
         [0041]      FIG. 9B  is a top view of a falls box equipped with two false ledges;  
         [0042]      FIG. 10A  is a top view of a falls box equipped with a horizontal support grid resting on a ledge;  
         [0043]      FIG. 10B  is an isometric view of a falls box equipped with a support grid resting on a ledge and filtration means on top of the support grid;  
         [0044]      FIG. 10C  is a side cut-off view of the falls box of  FIG. 10A  along the dotted line;  
         [0045]      FIG. 10D  is a side cut-off view of the falls box of  FIG. 10A  along the dotted line where a plurality of support grids is stacked vertically;  
         [0046]      FIG. 11A  is a flow diagram showing a series of method steps performed to secure a pond lining to a falls box using a variable length fixing strip;  
         [0047]      FIG. 11B  is a flow diagram showing a series of method steps performed to secure a pond lining to a falls box using a variable length fixing strip at a second location;  
         [0048]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the falls box used as a liquid vegetation filter cleanout system;  
         [0049]      FIG. 13  is a side view of the falls box used as a multiple-step cross flow filtration system;  
         [0050]      FIG. 14A  is a side view of a possible embodiment of the falls box used as a self-sustained water flow system and pump vault box;  
         [0051]      FIG. 14B  is a side view of a second possible embodiment of the falls box used as a self-sustained water flow system and pump vault box;  
         [0052]      FIG. 14C  is a side view of a third possible embodiment of the falls box used as a self-sustained water flow system and pump vault box;  
         [0053]      FIG. 15A  is a side view of the falls box used upside down as a buried filtration box in association with a falls box;  
         [0054]      FIG. 15B  is a side view of the falls box use right side up as a buried filtration box in association with a falls box; and  
         [0055]      FIG. 15C  is a side view of the falls box used right side up as a buried pond box in association with a falls box.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0056]     Where reference numerals represent the same elements in all of the views,  FIG. 1  illustrates a diagrammatic side elevation view of an embodiment of a general filtration system for ponds taken from U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991, hereby incorporated by reference. The original reference numerals of the illustration incorporated have been removed for the purpose of clarification and new reference numerals have been added.  
         [0057]     This invention relates generally to a closed-loop artificial pond water purification system  1 . A forced flow  2  is created across the surface  3  of a pond  4 . Water or any other viscous liquid capable of dynamic flow is circulated from a skimmer box  5  to a falls box  6 . Water is filtered both in the skimmer box  5  and in the falls box  6  for biological elements, debris in suspension, or any other element to be removed from the pond water. The skimmer box  5  is also further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,054,045, also hereby incorporated by reference.  
         [0058]     The skimmer box  5  draws in water through overflow from the pond. The excess of water is circulated to the falls box  6  and is directed back in the pond  3  via an opening  7  made in the falls box  6 . If the falls box is located above the pond water level, an artificial falls  8  is created by the water pouring out of the falls box  6 . A complete description of the water circulation system is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,991, hereby incorporated by reference. Another embodiment shown in  FIGS. 14A  to  15 B allows for a similar system where the pond  3  is removed and/or the falls box  6  is also removed from the system.  
         [0059]      FIG. 2  illustrates a top view of the general arrangement where two falls boxes  6  are used in a landscape arrangement. Not shown on  FIG. 2 , the general arrangement can be used with a skimmer box  5 , as described in the prior art, or another falls box  6 , as shown in  FIGS. 15A  to  51 C. The arrangement allows for two or more falls to be created either using a single falls box  6  or a plurality of falls boxes in a combination as described hereunder. Vegetation, rocks, or other aesthetic elements  9  are arranged appropriately around the edges of the created pond  3  to hide the falls boxes  6  and to create a natural look.  FIG. 2  is only illustrative of one of numerous possible arrangements or layouts of this modular multiple-falls invention. In one of the preferred embodiments, two falls boxes  6  are located at different locations around the periphery of the pond  3  at different elevations above the water level. In one falls box  6 , a single opening is made and boxes are attached as shown in  FIG. 4 , while the second falls box  6  also has one opening. Resulting artificial falls  8  are also shown.  
         [0060]      FIGS. 3A, 3B ,  3 C, and  3 D are perspective views of a preferred embodiment of the falls box  6 , each with different configurations.  FIG. 3A  shows a falls box with no opening in its connecting wall,  FIG. 3B  illustrates a frontal opening in the connecting wall,  FIG. 3C  illustrates the same falls box  6  with a corner opening, and  FIG. 3D  illustrates a possible location for a lateral opening. Each falls box  6  is made of a container  14  where water is placed. The container  14  is formed by the union of a bottom wall  15  and a side wall  16  attached at the bottom edge of the side wall  17 . The top edge  18  of the side wall  16  is attached in turn to the bottom edge  19  of a tesserae connecting wall  20 . The top edge  21  of the connecting wall  20  in the preferred embodiment is reinforced by a horizontal ledge  21 . In the preferred embodiment, the container  14  is made of molded plastic of opaque color.  
         [0061]     The shape of the geometrically compatible connecting wall  20  is designed to be of such geometry as to allow the tiling of a plurality of falls boxes when they are laid out on the same horizontal level. This well-known effect in the tiling industry is referred to as a tesserae shape. There is a very large number of possible geometrically compatible shapes that can be conceived for the connecting wall  20  based on mathematical concepts of tiling geometry. Some types of tiling, such as the Penrose Shapes, require two or more geometries to cover the entire surface; such shapes are also contemplated by this invention. In the preferred embodiment, the shape of the tesserae connecting wall  20  as shown in  FIGS. 6A  to  6 D is a four-sided polygon called a isosceles trapezoid, where the length of one of the parallel sides is a large fraction of the opposite side.  
         [0062]     While openings  22  can be made in the connecting wall  20  to create or force a preferential flow of water  23  across the surface as illustrated on  FIGS. 6A  to  6 D, the preferential flow of water  23  across the surface can also be made by creating an artificial elevation around a large part of the periphery  13  of the pond over the geometrically compatible connecting wall  20  by using either a mechanical device, rocks, or aesthetically pleasing vegetation  9 . In the preferred embodiment, at least one opening  22  is made next to a depression in order to create an artificial waterfall  24 .  
         [0063]     Openings in the tesserae connecting wall  20  can be made of any width, length, or height and in any quantity. In the preferred embodiment, three major types of openings have been contemplated: a frontal/read opening  25  as illustrated by  FIG. 3B , a corner opening  26  as illustrated by  FIG. 3C , and a lateral opening  27  as illustrated by  FIG. 3D . Other types of openings along the connecting wall are also contemplated.  
         [0064]     A falls box  6  can be secured to a second related falls  28  of an associated tesserae shape  20 , creating a global composite falls  29  made of at least two falls. In a preferred embodiment, two falls boxes  6  are secured into a composite falls  29  at the adjacent lateral opening  27 .  FIGS. 6A  to  6 D illustrate possible arrangements of global composite falls  29 . In a first illustration, shown as  FIG. 6A , the falls boxes  6  are secured via lateral openings  27  (not shown) located outside the central zone of each adjacent lateral wall. In  FIG. 6B , the falls boxes  6  are arranged in semilinear fashion, where each falls box  6  is attached laterally. For example, such a semilinear distribution may be used to resemble a naturally occurring stream  31 .  FIG. 6C  illustrates a possible man-made, aesthetically pleasing pattern where vegetation, rocks, or other aesthetic elements may surround the stream of water. Finally,  FIG. 6D  illustrates a possible configuration of an irregularly shaped body of water  33 . The proposed arrangements serve to illustrate a handful of possible configurations that may be conceived using this invention. These configurations correspond to the preferred embodiments presently contemplated. Arrows illustrate on each of these four figures a possible preferential flow  23  of water.  
         [0065]      FIG. 5  shows in greater detail the configuration of the container  15  as found in the preferred embodiment. A water inlet  34  allows for the entry of water into a falls box  6 . Water inlets  34  may be inserted in any falls box forming a composite falls  29  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the preferred embodiment, a single water inlet is used, but any number of different inlets with different flows of water may be used to achieve the purpose of the landscaping artist.  
         [0066]     The falls boxes  6  may be stacked vertically in order to optimize production, shipping, and storage.  FIG. 7A  illustrates how two or more falls boxes  6  may be stacked vertically by inserting a second falls box into the first until the bottom edge of the side wall  17  of the second falls box rests on the horizontal ledge  35  of the first falls box. The ledge  35  is located at a certain height on the side wall  16  of the first falls box to allow vertical stacking without interference between the first falls box and the second falls box.  FIG. 7B  is a close-up view of the horizontal ledge  35  as found in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0067]     A specific method to join two geometrically compatible falls into a composite falls as illustrated by  FIG. 4  is shown in  FIG. 8A . This method was performed after observing that if the precut guiding holes  36  in both falls boxes  6  are made before securing the boxes in their final location, movements and displacements between the two falls boxes prevent the proper alignment of the guiding holes  36 . A first guiding hole  36  is made  801  in at least one tesserae shaped connecting wall  20  by using a drill, a punch, scissors, a saw, a thermal burner head, or other available perforating or cutting means commonly used in the marketplace for this function. The first falls box  6  is then secured in its final location  802  using cement, glue, earth, compacted soil, or other currently available means commonly used to secure large garden plastic items in a garden setting. A second falls box  6  is then placed adjacent to the first falls box  803  where it must be secured in its final location. In another possible disclosed method, the falls boxes  6  is secured to an adjacent falls box  6  and secured together as a group before the attached falls as a whole are placed in its final location  802  using cement, glue, earth, compacted soil, or other currently available means commonly used to secure large garden plastic items in a garden setting. A hole is then made in the tesserae shaped connecting wall  20  of the second falls using a perforating means  804  and the first guiding hole  36  as a guide. A fixation means  805  is then inserted through the first guiding hole  36  and the newly created second hole and then secured  806  using a classical securing means of fixation. Fixation means and associated securing means include a bolt and a screw or other such fixation devices commonly found in hardware stores. As illustrated in  FIG. 8B , in the preferred embodiment, a bolt and a nut is used. It is also possible to remove sections  807  of the adjacent and secured walls  20  in order to increase the flow between both falls boxes. A cutting means is used to remove these sections of the tesserae shaped connecting walls  20  secured in their final location. The use of industrial silicone is contemplated in order to optimize the fixation means.  
         [0068]     All openings made in tesserae shaped connecting walls  20  either allow flow from one falls box  6  to an adjacent falls box  6  or create a waterfall if the falls box is located next to a depression  24 .  
         [0069]     Openings can be made at any radial location around the periphery of the tesserae shaped connecting wall  20 , in any quantity so as to create artificial flows or artificial waterfalls. In the preferred embodiment, up to two openings are made. In order to better guide the flow of water from the falls box  6  next to a depression  24 , a spout  41  can be used. In the preferred embodiment, rocks are laid flat on the surface of the opening at the desired length and held in place using some type of industrial hardening medium.  FIG. 9A  illustrates a false ledge  42  that may be used in order to create a spout  41 . The false ledge  42  is made of molded plastic and is installed as shown on  FIG. 9A . An opening of a fixed height  43  and a fixed width  44  associated with the false ledge  42  is cut in the tesserae shaped connecting wall  20 . An adjacent opening is made in the pond liner  45 . A modular pond-liner attachment strip  46  is then cut into sections and placed around the liner periphery  47  adjacent to the opening in the falls box  6 . In a preferred embodiment, three sections are placed around the liner periphery  47  adjacent to the opening in the falls box  6 . A series of regular mechanical fixations means  48 , such as plastic rivets or plastic snaps or other fixation means commonly found in hardware stores, are used to pinch the pond liner  45  to the falls box  6 . In the preferred embodiment, regular holes  49  are cut in the attachment strip  46  to facilitate the use of the fixation means  48 . Holes are also made around the opening in the tesserae shaped connecting wall  20 . Once the pond liner  45  is secured to the falls box  6 , the false ledge  42  is slid on top of the opening as shown in  FIG. 9A . In the preferred embodiment, two fixation bolts  50  are used to maintain the false ledge  42  in place. A plurality of equivalent fixation means is contemplated.  FIG. 9B  shows a further preferred embodiment where a single falls box is equipped with two false ledges  42 .  
         [0070]     The water inlet  34  into a falls box  6  is generally located near the bottom of the falls box  6 . This allows for the circulating flow of water or liquid to stabilize before reaching the surface. Depending on the need and configuration of the falls, it may be necessary to add filtration mats  51  or other filtration devices  52 , such as rocks, soft materials, or semicompact plastic.  FIG. 10A  illustrates a falls box with a support grid  55  resting on the horizontal ledge  35 .  FIG. 10C  is a frontal cut-off view of  FIG. 10A  showing where a support grid  55  rests on ledge  35  of the falls box  6 . The support grid serves to hold any filling that may be needed in the falls box as shown in  FIG. 10B .  FIG. 10B  illustrates a preferred embodiment where a composition of the filtration mats  51 , rocks, and semicompact plastic is used.  
         [0071]     The support grid  55  is made of semicompact plastic where water can circulate through the volume.  FIG. 10D  illustrates an embodiment where a series of support grids  55  is used in the vertical position to fill the volume where filling may be found desirable. The vertical position of the horizontal ledge  35  is designed to be at such a location to allow the top portion of the support grids  55 , when positioned vertically, to arrive substantially close in altitude to the top edge of the side wall  18 .  
         [0072]     A specific method for securing a pond liner to a falls box  6  is shown in  FIGS. 11A and 11B . This method allows for the fixation of the upper periphery of the pond liner around openings where waterfalls are created. First, a falls box  6  or a composite falls  29  is secured  1101  adjacent to a pond  3 . An opening is made in a falls box  6  where a waterfall is desired  1102 . The pond liner  45  is then apposed next to the opening  1103 . A section of the pond liner  45  around the upper periphery of the pond liner is cut corresponding to the opening made in the falls box  1104 . A securing means  60 , such as a linear attachment strip  46 , may be used to pinch the liner to the falls box  1104 . The same steps are repeated ( 1105 ,  1106 , 1107 ) if a second section is opened in falls box  6 .  
         [0073]     In the preferred embodiment illustrated by  FIGS. 3A  to  5 , the top edge of the side wall  18  has a larger periphery  63  than the periphery  62  of the side wall  16 . A section reduction wall  64  is used to connect the bottom edge of the side wall  18  to the top edge  62  of the side wall  16 . A thin, vertical support rib  65  is attached upwardly adjacent to the top edge of the side wall  16 . Vertical support ribs  10  as illustrated in FIG.  5  may also be used to create a substantially horizontal support structure  66  as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . Plants, rocks, and other decorative elements may be placed on the horizontal support structure to better camouflage the falls box  6 .  
         [0074]     FIGS.  12  to  15 B illustrate a plurality of auxiliary arrangements that may be performed using the falls box  6  in order to achieve other functions within the same technical field.  FIG. 12  illustrates a situation where one or more of the container  14  of the falls box is turned upside down and covered with a plurality of flow holes  71  in a liquid saturated environment  72 , such as a water and rock basin, a marsh, or other such natural or man-made liquid saturated environment. This configuration allows for liquid to flow through the liquid saturated environment  72  and form liquid volumes within the container  14 . This allows for better water flow across the liquid saturated environment  72  to maintain a volume of water in case of dry situations and to optimize the biochemical formulation of the liquid saturated environment  72 .  
         [0075]     In another auxiliary arrangement, illustrated by  FIG. 13 , a plurality of falls boxes  6  can be arranged in a serial configuration where liquid flows from one falls box  74  to the next falls box  75  via a means of transfer  76 , either an aperture, a water inlet, a tube, or other means. Liquid enters the first falls box  74  through an inlet  34  and then flows upwards  73  in the cavity of the container  14  of the first falls  74  through a first filtration system  52 . Liquid is then transferred by means  76 , either gravity, pressure differential, forced flow, or pumping force, to a second falls box  75 . Liquid is then moved downward through a second filtration system  53 , such second system being of equivalent definition as the first filtration system  52 . The resulting system allows for better overall filtration and a different control of the flow. In a preferred embodiment, this configuration is used as a Koi pond filtration system.  
         [0076]     In yet another auxiliary arrangement illustrated by  FIGS. 14A  to  14 C, a falls box  6  is placed in a liquid saturated environment  72  and either covered or filled with elements from the liquid saturated environment  72 , such as rocks, sand, or other debris. A liquid circulation means  77 , such as a submersible pump, is placed on the bottom of the falls box  6  and circulates water from a lower elevation  78  to a higher elevation  79  located above the liquid saturated environment surface. Liquid then returns to the liquid saturated environment surface under the attraction of gravity, creating a water flow and some type of water feature or fountain in the process. Liquid can also be circulated to a second falls box  75  as shown in  FIG. 15B . In the arrangement of  FIG. 15C , the falls box  6  is either placed in a liquid-saturated environment  72  or simply buried in the ground and is filled with liquid to create a small artificial pond  82 .  
         [0077]     In yet another auxiliary arrangement illustrated by  FIG. 15A , a falls box  6  is inserted right side up  81  or upside down in the liquid saturated environment  72 . The volume created inside the container  14  of the falls box  6  is equipped with a circulating means  77 . The circulating means circulates the water either to an elevation above the surface  79  of the liquid saturated environment or to a second falls box  75 .  
         [0078]     The foregoing is considered illustrative of the principles and method of use of the invention only. 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, operation, and method shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0