Abstract:
A water display for use within a container having a bottom surface and containing water. The water display has a pump, and a riser, with the pump positioned below the surface of the water. The pump has a discharge opening having conduit connected thereto. The riser is positioned on the bottom surface of the container and extends upwardly therefrom, with the pump being positioned on the upper surface of the riser. Preferably the riser also has pump retaining means. Each piece of horizontal conduit is engaged with a horizontal conduit support in contact with the bottom surface of the container. Each horizontal conduit support has formed therein a channel which retains horizontal conduit therein. Modified embodiments feature a plurality of vertical conduit. Another modified embodiment features at least one pair of vertical conduit spanned by an elevated horizontal conduit having at least one discharge opening therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to decorative outdoor fountains and water displays, and even more particularly to such devices that require a low profile. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    This invention is directed to a low profile water display, such as a fountain, that can be used in the landscaping of a residential or commercial setting. Fountains have become increasingly popular due to their attractiveness in landscape design. The sound of naturally flowing water provides a desirable background noise, and the cascading or dancing of water often evokes thoughts of a more rural or rustic setting. 
         [0005]    Many decorative fountains designed for outdoor use are quite substantial in size, requiring concrete or bricks in the fabrication of their foundation. However, it is believed that a market exists, in small commercial and most residential application, for a fountain or similar water display that is far smaller in size. 
         [0006]    Attempts to design landscaping items that feature water include Ehrlich, U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,471, Taylor, U.S. Pat. No. 6,748,699, and Cramer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,379. However, aesthetic and structural drawbacks exist with many of these devices. It is thus apparent that the need exists for a water display that addresses the foregoing needs. Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with the present invention, there is disclosed a water display for use within a container having a bottom surface and containing water, with the water display having a pump, and a riser, with the pump positioned below the surface of the water, and the pump having a discharge opening, with the discharge opening having conduit connected thereto. The riser is positioned on the bottom surface of the container and extends upwardly therefrom, with the riser having an upper surface located above the bottom surface of the container. The pump is positioned on the upper surface of the riser, with the riser also having pump retaining means. 
         [0008]    The conduit includes horizontal conduit, with the horizontal conduit extending in a plane substantially horizontal to the surface of the water in the container, and each horizontal conduit is engaged with a horizontal conduit support. Each horizontal conduit support is adjacent to the bottom surface of the container. Each horizontal conduit support has a bottom surface, a top surface, and a channel, with the bottom surface positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the container, and with the channel extending downwardly from the top surface. The channel has a top edge adjacent the top surface, and the channel has a sidewall and a bottom, with the bottom of the channel located above (i.e. higher than) the bottom surface of the horizontal conduit support. The horizontal conduit is retained in the channel. At least one conduit support plate is secured to the horizontal conduit support. The conduit support plate has an aperture therein, the conduit passing therethrough. 
         [0009]    The horizontal conduit support includes a first side surface and a second side surface, with the channel extending between the first side surface and the second side surface. The horizontal conduit support also includes at least one additional aperture, with each such aperture extending between the first side surface and the second side surface. The water display conduit includes vertical conduit, and in several embodiments of the invention, the vertical conduit is connected to the horizontal conduit, with each horizontal conduit support located between the pump and the vertical conduit. In one embodiment of the invention, the conduit includes a pair of vertical conduit, with the pair of vertical conduit each having a lower section connected to the horizontal conduit, and with the pair of vertical conduit each having an upper section connected to an elevated horizontal conduit, with the elevated horizontal conduit having a sidewall with at least one slot formed therein and extending generally in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the elevated horizontal conduit. 
         [0010]    The pump retaining means includes a plurality of flanges extending upwardly above the upper surface of the riser. Each of the pump retaining means preferably includes a securing means that passes through the pump retaining means, with the securing means providing adjustment, so that each of securing means can be adjusted to contact the pump. 
         [0011]    There is also disclosed a water display having an open-topped container for retaining water, a pump connected to conduit that discharges water, and a riser. The container has a sidewall and a bottom surface, with the riser being positioned on the bottom surface of the container and extending upwardly therefrom. The riser has an upper surface located above the bottom surface of the container, with the pump being positioned on the upper surface. The riser preferably has pump retaining means. The pump is positioned in the container at a point below the surface of the water to be retained in the container. The pump has a pump discharge opening having conduit connected thereto, with the conduit having at least one conduit discharge opening. In those embodiments using horizontal conduit, the horizontal conduit extends in a plane substantially horizontal to the surface of the water to be retained in the container, with each section of the horizontal conduit engaging a horizontal conduit support. 
         [0012]    Each horizontal conduit support rests on the bottom surface of the container. Each horizontal conduit support has a bottom surface, a top surface, and a channel, with the bottom surface positioned adjacent the bottom surface of the container, and with the channel extending downwardly from the top surface. The channel has a top edge adjacent the top surface, and has a sidewall and a bottom, with the bottom of the channel located above the bottom surface of the horizontal conduit support. The horizontal conduit is retained in the channel. At least one conduit support plate is secured to the horizontal conduit support. The conduit support plate has an aperture therein, the conduit passing therethrough. 
         [0013]    The horizontal conduit support also has a first side surface and a second side surface, with the channel extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and with the horizontal conduit support also including at least one additional aperture which extends between the first side surface and the second side surface. In those embodiments where there is more than one section of vertical conduit, the vertical conduit is connected to the horizontal conduit, with each horizontal conduit support located between the pump and the vertical conduit. 
         [0014]    The primary objective of this invention is to provide a water display that can be easily installed in its desired locale, especially in a residential setting. 
         [0015]    Another objective of this invention is to provide such a water display which is relatively easy to fabricate. 
         [0016]    Still another objective of this invention is to provide a water display having a design that can be modified easily. 
         [0017]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a water display system made in accordance with the present invention showing the system in its operative condition. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the riser component of the water display system. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a partial schematic view similar to  FIG. 1  of a modified embodiment of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the horizontal conduit support component. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a partial schematic view similar to  FIG. 1  of a further modified embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the modified embodiment of the invention disclosed in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a partial schematic view similar to  FIG. 3 , but of a further modified embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Having reference to the drawing, attention is directed to  FIG. 1 , which discloses a water display made in accordance with the invention designated generally by the numeral  10 . It can be fabricated from a variety of materials well known in the manufacture of outdoor fountains and water displays. 
         [0027]    Having reference to  FIG. 1 , the display  10  comprises a sump pump  12  having a motor, pump, float, and access opening to permit water to enter the pump, all of which are well known in the art of sump pumps. The display also includes conduit  14  and a riser  16 . 
         [0028]    It can be appreciated by comparing  FIGS. 1 and 2  that the riser  16  features a base portion  20  shown as being circular although other shapes could be utilized, with the riser having an upper surface  22 , and pump retaining means  24 . Although this pump retaining means could take the form of recesses in the upper surface  22 , in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pump retaining means features a plurality of raised members similar to rectilinear blocks around the periphery of the upper surface  22 . In the drawings, three pump retaining means or side braces  24  are shown, but there could be a larger or smaller number. To further assist in preventing the pump  12  from moving from atop the riser  16 , securing means  26  such as screw-threaded bolts are shown extending through each pump retainer. By tightening or loosening of the bolts, all of them can be made to contact the exterior surface of the pump to secure the pump in place. 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  discloses that the sump pump  12  has a reducer  33  secured at the pump discharge opening  34  due to the size discrepancy between a normal sump pump discharge opening and the conduit typically used with this invention, namely ½″ to ¾″ PVC pipe. The conduit shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  is vertical conduit having a conduit bottom or first end  36  and a conduit top or second end  38  where a conduit discharge opening  39  is located which can utilize any number of well known fountain spray heads. 
         [0030]    The display  10  is housed in a container  40  having a lower surface  42 , sidewall  44 , and top edge  46 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sidewall is 18″ high and the lower surface  42  is located approximately 9″ below ground level G, such that the water level W is 1-3″ below the top edge  46 . 
         [0031]    A modified embodiment of the invention is disclosed in  FIG. 3 . This embodiment also makes use of a sump pump  112 , conduit  114 , and a riser  116 , with the riser including a pump retainer  124 . The sump pump  112  has a reducer  133  at the discharge opening  134  of the sump pump. A hydraulic connector  135  of the type well known in pipes is used to direct the flow of water from the sump pump into the designated number of conduits, shown in  FIG. 3  as two through the use of a T-connector. One end of the conduit connects to the connector  135 , with the other end of the conduit having a conduit discharge opening  139  which can utilize any number of well known fountain heads. The display  100  is housed in a container  140  having a lower surface  142  having similar dimensions to the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 1 , although the size of the surface area of the lower surface can vary depending upon design choice. 
         [0032]    One component utilized in the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 3 , but not in  FIG. 1 , is a horizontal conduit support  150 , which is shown in an enlarged and exploded form in  FIG. 4 . The support  150  has a first side surface  152  shown as a front face, a second side surface  154  shown as a rear face, a third side surface  156  shown as a first sidewall, and a fourth side surface  158  shown as a second sidewall. The support  150  also has a bottom surface  160  and a top surface  162 . A vertically depending channel  165  in the support  150  has a bottom  166  and extends upwardly until terminating at top edge  168 . 
         [0033]    The channel also has a channel sidewall  169  that extends from the bottom  166  of the channel to the top surface  162 . The horizontal conduit support  150  can have one or more support apertures formed therein that extend completely from the front to the rear surface thereby minimizing the effect of water current on the conduit support. At least one conduit support plate  163  is secured to a first side surface  152  of the horizontal conduit support  150 , and preferably a second conduit support plate  164  is secured to the second side surface  154 . The conduit support first plate  163  is shown as having a central aperture  163   a  dimensioned such that the horizontal conduit can pass therethrough. Similarly, the conduit support second plate  164  is shown as having a central aperture  164   a  dimensioned such that the horizontal conduit can also pass therethrough. Each conduit support plate  163 ,  164  is secured to the horizontal conduit support by appropriate fastening means  167  which pass through conduit support apertures  170  and the fastening means apertures  163   b ,  164   b  respectively. 
         [0034]    Finally, the conduit  114  used in this embodiment includes horizontal conduit  180  which is retained in the channel of the conduit support and vertical conduit  185 . The horizontal conduit extends outwardly from the pump and the vertical conduit extends upwardly from the horizontal conduit to a point above the water level W. 
         [0035]    A further modified embodiment  200  of the invention can be appreciated from a comparison of  FIGS. 5-6 . This embodiment also makes use of a sump pump  212 , conduit  214 , and a riser  216 , with the riser including a pump retainer  224 . The sump pump  212  has a reducer  233  at the discharge opening  234  of the sump pump. A hydraulic connector  235  of the type well known in pipes is used to direct the flow of water from the sump pump into the designated number of conduits, shown in  FIGS. 5-6  as three through the use of a suitable connector. One end of the conduit connects to the connector  235 , with the other end of the conduit having a conduit discharge opening  239  which can utilize any number of well known fountain heads. The display  200  is housed in a container  240  having a lower surface  242  having similar dimensions to the embodiment disclosed in  FIG. 1 , although the size of the surface area of the lower surface can vary depending upon design choice. 
         [0036]    This embodiment of the invention also features a horizontal conduit support  250  shown in  FIGS. 5-6 . The support  250  has the same structure as the horizontal conduit support  150  shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , although as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  it should be appreciated that only one conduit support plate  263  is being used with each horizontal conduit support. However, two conduit support plates could be used just as shown in the previous embodiment. The conduit  214  used in this embodiment include horizontal conduit  280  which is retained in the channel of the conduit support and vertical conduit  285 . The horizontal conduit extends outwardly from the pump and the vertical conduit extends upwardly from the horizontal conduit to a point above the water level W. 
         [0037]    Still another modified embodiment of the invention is disclosed in  FIG. 7 . This embodiment  300  is similar to the one shown in  FIG. 3 , in the sense that it includes a sump pump  312 , conduit  314 , and a riser  316 , with the riser including a pump retainer  324 . The sump pump  312  has a reducer  333  at the discharge opening  334  of the sump pump. A hydraulic connector  335  of the type well known in pipes is used to direct the flow of water from the sump pump into the designated number of conduits, shown in  FIG. 7  as two through the use of a T-connector although this number could vary depending upon the ultimate design of the water display. One end of the conduit connects to the connector  335 , with the other end of the conduit  339  being connected to an elevated horizontal conduit  350  that connects with the other vertical conduit end  339 . 
         [0038]    Once again, horizontal conduit supports  355  has the same structure as the horizontal conduit support  150  shown in  FIGS. 3-4 , although as shown in  FIG. 7  it should be appreciated that only one conduit support plate  363  is being used with each horizontal conduit support  355 . However, two conduit support plates could be used just as shown in the first embodiment. 
         [0039]    The horizontal conduit  380  thus extends from the connector  335  to the vertical conduit  385  where it enters the lower section  386  of the vertical conduit. The upper section  387  of the vertical conduit  385  connects to the elevated horizontal conduit  350 . The elevated horizontal conduit  350  has formed therein at least one discharge opening  360 . 
         [0040]    In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this discharge opening is a slot extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis  370  of said elevated horizontal conduit, which would result in the water flowing through the slot having an appearance similar to a waterfall. By having the elevated horizontal conduit incorporate slots substantially all of the way along its length, the display would appear to be a larger waterfall. The width of the slot would adjust the amount of water to be discharged, thus providing for a thicker or thinner sheet of water. Alternatively, the discharge openings could be a plurality of small apertures to give the appearance of falling raindrops. The junctions of the various vertical and horizontal conduit pieces could utilize connectors  390 , unless all of the conduit pieces are provided for installation as a unitary structure. These connectors  390  could be utilized in the other modified embodiments as well. 
         [0041]    The water display of this invention provides a decorative display that is easy to fabricate and install in an operative location. Additionally, the display can be installed in existing containers or sold as a complete system. 
         [0042]    While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.