GB2504988A

GB2504988A - A water fountain apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2504988A
Application number: GB201214652A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Paxton
Original assignee: Interpet Ltd
Current assignee: Interpet Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-16
Filing date: 2012-08-16
Publication date: 2014-02-19
Also published as: GB201214652D0

Abstract

A water fountain apparatus 10 comprises a water reservoir 30, a pump 50, a fountain head 120, and a first support 20. The first support supports a second support 80, the first support being substantially flexible in a first major axis and substantially inflexible in a second major axis, the second major axis is approximately vertical in use. The first support forms an at least partial enclosure for accommodating the water reservoir, the second support is substantially planar and including interlocking means (84 figure 3) for interlocking with an upper edge of the enclosure formed by the first support, so as to substantially maintain the shape of the enclosure. In use, the fountain head is arrangeable in a third support 100 on top of the second support and is feedable by the pump located in the water reservoir located beneath the second support and within the enclosure formed by the first support. The third support may be in the form of a garden pot or ornamental figure.

Description

A water fountain apparatus The present inventh)n relates generally to a water fountain apparatus and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in ornamental garden features.

\Vater features such as fountains have been long known and appreciated. Even just a little trickle of water flowing over the edge of a container can be aesthetically pleasing for its sound and movement.

The term fountain is taken to mean any feature from which water issues, in whatever direction (up, down, sideways) and with any particu'ar pattern (a dribble, a lO spray etc.).

The present invention concerns a water fountain apparatus which allows an unskilled person to create their own water feature very simply.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a water fountain apparatus comprising a water reservoir, a pump, a fountain head, and a first support for supporting a second support, the first support being substantially flexible about a first major axis and substantially inflexible about a second major axis, the second major axis being approximately horizontal in use, the first support forming an at least partial endosure for accorTunodating the water reservoir, the second support being substantially planar and including interlocking means for interlocking with an upper edge of the enclosure formed by the first support, so as to substantially maintain the shape of the enclosure, in use the fountain head being arrangeable in a third support on top of the second support and being feedable by the pump ocated in the water reservoir located beneath the second support and within the endosure formed by the first support.

The first support may be fodab1e in sections or may he roiled-up. The first major axis may he vertical. The first support may comprise plastics and may include reinforcing to stiffen it in one plane (about one axis). The first support may he a sheet-like component which may he formed into tube-like structure, Altertavely it may comprise a plurahty of relatively stiff sheets hinged together. The support may he formed into a structure having complete 360 degree walls, or may be open at one or more points. In this manner, the first support may he packed, when not in use, in a smaller space than if it was entirdy rigid. The first support maybe arranged in a scluarc, rectangle, a circle, a hexagon or an octagon shape in plan.

I

The second support may be formed of plastics and include ridges and/or troughs in its surfaces. The interlocking means may be a trough in its surface; the trough being configured to fit around the upper edge of the first support in use.

The reservoir may comprise a flexible and fokiable container insernhle into the at least partial enclosure formed by the first support. This may be a waterproof and bag-like structure. It may include means for attaching to the first support such as clips for hooking over the upper edge.

The first support may form a complete enclosure such that it itself is capable of storing water and acting as the water reservoir. In this case, the first support may lO include a base. A separate water reservoir in the form of a bag-hke structure may then not be required The second support may include a hole for allowing water to enter the water reservoir beneath. The hole may he the same hole through which the pipe from the pump passes as will he explained in more detail below. It may also include an access point arranged to allow hand-access for checking the level of water in the reservoir and pump maintenance.

The third support may be a gardcn pot, ornamental figure, or particuhite material. An exartipi e of at' ornamental feature is* statue, a sphere, or art urn. An example of particulate material is gravel or pebbles. In the case of the particulate material, the water may merely issue just above thc surface of the matcrial.

The pot may include at least one hokr in its base for allowing a pipe from the pump to pass through to the fountain head, the fountain head being arranged towards the open end of the pot or above the open end.

The pot may he filled with material including a layer of pebbles or stones on the upper surface for ornamental effect and to allow the water emitted from the fountain head to percolate therethrough. The material may comprise gravel anti or stones.

The second support may he substantially rigid. This may aid support of the third support thereon.

The second support may include a substantially rigid central portion, to match in size with the upper edge of the first support, and a substantially flexible portion arrangcd circumferentially outside the central portion. In this manner, the second support may he packed, when not in use, in a smaller space than if it was entirely rigid.

The flexible portion of the second support may be substantially waterproof for collecting and directing any water arriving on its surface to tEe water reservoir beneath.

The interlocking means may he in the shape of a square, rectangle, a circle, a hexagon or an octagon. The first support may form an at least partial enclosure having a plan shape equivalent to the shape of the interlocking means.

The first support may include sides and may be arranged to have those sides substantially vertical in use.

The water fountain apparatus may further include at least one hung for blocking an unwanted drain-hole, or drain-holes, in the third support. The water fountain i0 apparatus may also includes means for sealing around a pipe passing through a hole in the base of the third support, the pipe leading from the pump to the fountain head. In this manner the third support may be made substantially water tight apart from an open upper end.

The water fountain apparatus may further include a pipe having means for fixedly adjusting its linear direction, in use, connectable to the pump and either forming the fountain head at an end distal from the putrp, or having a fountain head connectable thereto. In this manner, the fountain head may be locatable substantially in the centre of the open upper end of the third support even though the hole in the base through which the pipe passes is not central to the base. The means of fixing the linear shape of the pipe may allow its distal end to be maintained while material is arranged inside the third support.

The pump may he electric.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a water fountain comprising a first support buried in the ground, the first support being substantially flexible about a vertical axis and being substantially inflexible about a hori2ontal axis, the first support forming an at least partial enclosure, a second support resting on top of the ground surrounding the first support, the second support including interlocking means for interlocking with the upper edge of the first support, so as to substantially maintain the shape of the at least partial enclosure fonned by the first support, a water reservoir comprising a foldable and flexible hag arranged within the at least partial enclosure, the second support including holes for allowing water arriving on its upper surface to drain through to the water reservoir below, a pump arranged in the water reservoir, a garden pot arranged on top of the second support and being supported by the first support underneath the second support, the garden pot being filled with material, a pipe leading from the pump to the top of the material in the pot, the upper surface of the second surface being covered by nnaterial, in use water being pumped from the \vater reservoir through the pipe to the upper surface of the pot for ornamental effect, the water recirculating by pounng over the edge of the pot rim and draining through the material over the second support, through the hole in the second support and returning to the water reservoir.

The various embodiments and details discussed above with regard to the first aspect may also be applicable to the second aspect.

i0 In a third aspect, the invention provides a method of constructing a water fountain feature comprising the steps of providing a water fountain apparatus according to the first aspect, digging a hole in the ground, arranging the first support in the hole, arranging the water reservoir inside the first support, placing a pump inside the water reservoir, arranging the second support on top of the first support and interlocking the two supports, arranging a pipe from the pump through a hole in the base of a pot, sealing around the pipe and blocking any other holes in the pot to thereby allow the pot to retain water, arranging the pipe such that its end distal from the pump is located apprortiately central to the upper open enti of the pot, covering the upper surface of the second support to thereby camouflage it, filling the pot with material, filling the pot and \vater reservoir with water, and operating the pump to thereby feed \vater to the fountain head, the water tmvelling over the surface of the material in the pot and trickling down its sides, returning to the water reservoir via the hole in the second support.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conlunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure I is a schematic side view of a water fountain apparatus installed and in use; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a first support of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a plan view of a first enthoditnent of a second support; Figure 4 is a schematic partial side view of the first and second supports installed; Figure 5 is a plan view of another embodiment of a second support; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the second support of Figure 5 on top of a second embodiment of a first support; and Figure 7 is a schematic view of a feed pipe.

The present invention will he described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only lO by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third anti the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the emhodinierts of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or ill ustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to he understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or ffiusuated herein.

It is to he noticed that the term "comprising", used in the claims, should not he interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to he interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, stcps or components as referred to, hut does not preclude thc presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B. Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection \vih the emhodnnent is included in at least one embodi ent of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, but may refer to different embodiments.

Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may he combined in any suitable manner, as would he apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

lO Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to he interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodinitnts, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to he within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will he understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can he used in any combination.

In the descnption provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth.

Ilowever, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may he practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of

this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower hmit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term "at least one" may, in some embodiments, mean only one.

The invention will now be described by a detailed description of several embodiments of the invention. It is clear that other embodiments of the invention can he configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being lO limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

In figure I, the ground surface is indicated 25. A hole has been formed and in it placed a first support 20. The upper edge of this support is approximately level with the ground surface 25. The sides of the support 20 lie approximately vertically in the hole.

The support is in the form of a box-like structure being open at upper and lower ends.

It acts to hold the hole open and support the second support 80.

\Vithin the first support a water reservoir 30 is formed with a flexible waterproof liner.

The second support takes the form of a substantially plttiar member lying substantially horh'ontally. It has an inner portiotr 86 which lies within the boundary of the upper edge of the first support 20, and an outer portion 85 \vhrch lies radially outside this upper edge.

The inner portion 86 is lower than the outer portion 85 such that water falling on the outer portion 85 will travel to the inner portion 86.

Stones 90 are placed on top of the second support 80 to camouflage it.A hole is provkled in the second support (not shown) through which a pipe 70 A garden pot 100 is positioned on top of the second support. It has a hole in its base. The pipe 70 passes through this hole. A seal 75 is provided around the pipe to seal the hole. A second pipe 72 connects with the first pipe and extends towards the top of the pot 100. The pot 100 is filled with stones and/or gravel 110.

A pump 50 is positioned inside the water reservoir 30 and the reservoir has water 40 in it.

The pump is powered by electricity and a power cable 60 extends away from the pump 50 to a power source.

At the top of the pipe 72 a fountain head 120 is provided. This may just be the end of the pipe 72 or may comprise something else such as a spray head, an ornamental feature, a nozzle, etc. In use the pump pumps water 40 through the pipes 70, 72 to the fountain head 120. The water then flows over the stones and drips over the edge of the pot 100. This occurs because the pot 100 is filled with water as well as stones and/or gravel 110. The water then flows over the surface of the second support 80 and enters the water reservoir 30 via the hole through which the pipe 70 passes. The arrows in this Figure indicate the direction of the flow of water.

In Figure 2, one embodiment of the first support n20 is shown. It has a hexagonal shape in plan; however, other shapes are contemplated.

The second support 80 is shown in Figure 3. It is square in plan; however, other shapes are contemplated. The inner 86 and outer portions 85 are separated by an interlocking feature 84. This is a ridge in the surface of the support into which the upper edge of the first support will fit when the second support is placed on top of the first support. The central hole 83 through which the pipe 70 and water pass is indicated.

This coruiection between the upper edge of the first support 20 arid the second support 80 is shown in more detail in Figure 4. Also shown is the sloping nature of the inner portion 86, sloping towards the central hole 83. Reinforcing in the form of another ridge 87 is shown around the hole to strengthen the second support.

Another embodiment of the second support 180 is shown in Figure 5. It is circular in shape. The central hole is referenced 183. An access port covered by a releasable lid 188 is provided for accessing the water reservoir.

The interlocking feature (rkIge 184 is octagonal in this embodiment. It separates the inner portion 184 from the outer portion 185. Other reinforcing ridges are shown in the form of radiating "spokes" 190, an outer circumferential ridge 192 and a ridge 187 around the edge of the hole 183.

This second support 180 is shown on top of a different first support 120 in Figure 6. This first support 120 is octagonal in plan such that its upper edge matches the interlocking feature 184 in the second support. The hole 183, access port 188 and reinforcing ridges 190, 192 are also shown.

Figure 7 shows the pipe 72 which leads from the bottom of the pot 100 to the upper end of the pot 100. It comprises a plurality of elements 72a which interlock.

Each element is substantially identical to the others. Each element consists of an upper end 73 and a lower end 74. The overall shape of each element 72a is similar to an egg cup or hour glass in that the upper end 73 curves outwardly and then inwardly as well as upwardly away from a waist portion located between the upper and lower ends. Each lower end 74 also curves outwardly and then back inwardly as well as downwardly from the waist portion.

The upper and lower ends each form a semi-spherical hollow chamber and the lO two chambers are connected such that liquid may pass thercthrough. The upper end 73 of each element 72 is connected to the lower end 74-of an adjacent element 72a such that a chain of elements 72a is formed to provide the pipe 72. Each element 72a may he moved in a limited manner relative to each adjacent element as the upper end of one element 72a will partially rotate within the lower chamber of the adjacent element 72a.

Likewise the lower end of element 72a will parnally rotate within the upper chamber of an adjacent element 72a. Because the elements lit together in a snug manner the rotation is not loose but a certain amount of force is required. The friction-fit between the adjacent elements 72a ensures that after moving the various elements relative to uric another the overall shape remain constant. This allows for positioning of the fountain head relative to the base of the pot before material has been put into the pot to hold the pipe in place.

In one embodiment, no pot 100 is provided and the fountain head 120 is positioned at the end of the pipe 70 just above the surface of the ground and surrounding pebbles 90.

Claims

CLAIMSI. A water fountain apparatus cornprisi g a water reservoir, a pump, a fountain head, and a first support for supporting a second support, the first support being substantially flexible in a first major axis and substantially inflexible in a second major axis, the second major axis being approximately vertical in use, the first support forming an at least partial enclosure for accommodating the water reservoir, the second support being substantially planar and including interlocking means for lO interlocking with an upper edge of the enclosure formed by the first support, so as to substantially maintain the shape of the enclosure, in use the fountain head being arrangeable in a third support on top of the second support and being feedable by the pump located in the water reservoir located beneath the second support and within the enclosure 1 5 formed by the first support.
2. The water fountain apparatus of claim I, wherein the water reservoir comprises a flexible and foldable container itisertable into the at least partial enclosure formed by the first support.
3. The water fountain apparatus of claim I, wherein the first support forms a complete enclosure such that it itself is capable of storing water and acting as the water reservoir.
4. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second support includes a hole for allowing water to enter the water reservoir beneath.
5. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second support includes an access point arranged to allow hand-access for checking the level of water in die reservoir and pump maintenance.
6. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the third support is a garden pot, ornamental figure, or particulate material.
7. The water fountain apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pot includes at least one hole in its base for allowing a pipe from the pump to pass through to the fountain head, the fountain head being arranged towards the open end of the pot or above the open end.
8. The water fountain apparatus of claim 6, wherein the pot is filled with material including a layer of pebbles or stones on the upper surface f*r ornamental effect and to allow the water emitted from the fountain head to percolate therethrough.
9. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second support is substantially rigid.
10. The water fountain apparatus of any one of claims I to 8, wherein the 1 5 second support includes a substantially rigid central portion, to match in size with the upper edge of the first support, and a substantially flexible portion arranged circumferentially outside the central portion.
II. The water fountain apparatus of claim 10, wherein the flexible portion is substantially waterproof for collecting and directing any water arriving on its surface to the water reservoir beneath.
12. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the interlocking means is in the shape of a square, rectangle, a circle, a hexagon or an octagon.
13. The water fountain apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first support forms an at least partial enclosure having a plan shape equivalent to the shape of the interlocking means.
14. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the first support includes sides and is arranged to have those sides substantially \rertical in use.II
15. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, further including at least one hung for blocking an unwanted drain-hole in the third support.
16. The water fountain apparatus of any preceding claim, further including a pipe having means for fixedly adjusting its linear direction, in use, connectable to the pump and either forming the fountain head at an end distal from the pump, or having a fountain head connectable thereto.
17. A water fountain comprising a first support buried in the ground, the first support being substantially flexible about a vertical axis and being substantially inflexible about a horizontal axis, the first support forming an at least partial enclosure, a second support resting on top of the ground surrounding the first support, the second support including interlocking means for interlocking with the upper edge of the first support, so as to substantially maintain the shape of the at least partial enclosure formed by the first support, a water reservoir comprising a foldable and flexible hag arranged within the at least partial enclosure, the second support including holes for allowing water arriving on its upper surface to drain through to the water reservoir below, a pump arranged in the water reservoir, a garden pot arranged on top of the second support and being supported by the first support underneath the second support, the garden pot being filled with material, a pipe leading from the pump to the top of the material in the p° the upper surface of the second surface being covered by material, in use water being pumped from the water reservoir through the pipe to the upper surface of the pot for ornamental effect, the water recirculating by pouring over the edge of the pot rim and draining through the material over the second support, through the hole in the second support and returning to the water reservoir.
18. A water fountain apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.