US20060059613A1

US20060059613A1 - Pod apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20060059613A1
Application number: US10/946,635
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Feltman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-09-21
Filing date: 2004-09-21
Publication date: 2006-03-23

Abstract

An exhaust manifold for use with pool of waters, hot tubes, and the like; used to facilitate a host of other devices. This exhaust manifold is commonly used as the exhaust vent to a water circulation system. The crux of this device is that some of the circulated water is diverted into other devices. An example of the hosts of devices include devices such as waters guns, water toys, aesthetic devices, generators, cleaners, brushes and the like.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an exhaust manifold to a water circulation system with a pressurized flow of water receptacle ejected; and more specifically exhaust flows directed into various other objects or devices.
2. Summary of the Invention
It is the object of the present invention to use pressurized water supplied from the circulation system of a pool of water to charge a toy water gun system, whereas the hoses are detachable.
It is yet another object of the present invention to pressurize a receptacle using pressurized water supplied by circulated water in a body of water to drive certain toys. The power of the water maybe harnessed to produce motion in these toys.
Another embodiment that uses diverted circulated water to power other devices. A small generator with a water wheel maybe attached to the system to produce electricity from the pressurized water. The re-circulated water may also be diverted to aesthetic scenery; whereas an effect of a waterfall can be produced. Other devices may also be powered in this manner: oscillating brushes pool of water/hot tube vacuum, and a body massager.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top partial cut away view of the wall of the pool of water and the exhaust manifold.
FIG. 2 shows a break away view of the exhaust manifold in its components of one embodiment of the apparatus.
FIG. 3 shows the cross sectional view ol the exhaust manifold.
FIG. 4 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement of objects on a floating toy island.
FIG. 5 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement of a large toy in the embodiment of an animal.
FIG. 6 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to facilitate the flow of water in a water slide.
FIG. 7 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to enhance aesthetic scenery.
FIG. 8 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement a massager.
FIG. 9 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement a vacuum.
FIG. 10 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement a brush.
FIG. 11 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to be directed through the use of toy water guns.
FIG. 12 shows the exhaust manifold being separated from a hose through the use of an applied force.
FIG. 13 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to drive a turbine to generate electricity to power small electrical devices as in one embodiment of pool lights.
FIG. 14 shows the exhaust manifold circulated water from a hot tube.
These and other objects, fIeatures and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon detailed consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is a circulation tube or hose 1 facilitating the circulation of water within a body of water such as an indoor pool, outdoor pool, above ground pool, hot tube, any man-made body of water, or natural body of water. The water is pressurized through the use of a pump (not shown) to facilitate circulation. In the preferred embodiment the exhaust manifold 5 can be inlaid into the wall 3 of the body of water. In another embodiment the exhaust manifold may jut out from the wall 3.
As shown in FIG. 2 the exhaust manifold is broken down to its individual pieces. In one embodiment the exhaust manifold may be threaded and screws into the circulation hose 1. In the preferred embodiment the exhaust manifold 5 and the circulation hose 1 is one molded piece. In another embodiment, an eyeball 9 may be screwed onto the main exhaust hole of the exhaust manifold 5. The eyeball 9 may be adjusted to control the pressure or flow of water circulated. In a preferred embodiment, the eyeball 9 and the exhaust manifold is one molded piece. A flexible tube 11 is attached to the fitting in at least one auxiliary hole fitting 7. Such flexible tube can be made of any flexible material preferably impermeable to water.
FIG. 3 shows the cross sectional view of the exhaust manifold. The diameter of the auxiliary hole(s) may be smaller in proportion to the main exhaust hole. In one embodiment, the auxiliary intake hole(s) precede the intake of the main exhaust hole; thus to ensure a substantial amount of water pressure is transferred to the auxiliary hole(s).
FIG. 4 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement of objects on a floating toy island 13. A fountain-type water toy, typically for use by a child in a bathtub or pool, utilizing pressurized circulated water. Preferred embodiments of the water toy include one or more water features that stream or spray water from a themed island 13 or activity center. The activity center can have any variety of themes including 10 but not limited to a town setting, circus setting, a racetrack setting, a prehistoric setting, a zoo setting, a space setting, ajungle setting, a pirate ship, and a scholastic theme setting involving shapes, numbers, or letters. Each activity center is fluidly coupled and driven by the redirected circulated water by the exhaust manifold.
The water features typically include removable characters from which the stream or spray of water appears to project, although in alternative embodiments, the characters can be integrally molded with the activity center. Characters or objects, like vehicles, may be propelled within the island by the pressured water.
FIG. 5 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to power the movement of a large toy in the embodiment of an animal. The pressurized water is circulated through a toy preferably shaped as an animal 15; nevertheless any form may be used. The pressurized water fills the toy animal 15 and creates a facade of autonomous movement by the toy animal 15. In another embodiment, the toy animal contains small orifices throughout to indiscriminately spray water in all directions.
FIG. 6 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to facilitate the flow of water in a water slide. The pressured water is pumped to the top of the water slide 19, whereas gravity enables to water to trickle down facilitating the frictionless sliding.
FIG. 7 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to enhance an aesthetic scenery. Fake or natural water gardens may have the appearance of a waterfall through the pressurized circulated water from the exhaust manifold 5. Water is pumped to a high point of the ornament and gravity enables the water to cascade through the natural or artificial vegetation or stones.
As shown in FIG. 8, 9, 10, the pressurized circulated water may be used to power a multiple of devices including but not limited to massagers, pool vacuums, and cleaning brushes. Water wheels in such devices may be used to capture the force of the pressurized water to convert it into mechanical energy to enable movement.
FIG. 11 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to be directed through the use of toy water guns. The other end of flexible tube 11 extends into at least one toy water gun 33. Toy water gun 33 has a spring biased trigger mechanism (not shown) that allows the water to flow from toy water gun 24 in a directed stream when the trigger mechanism is activated and shut off the water flow when the trigger mechanism is released. In another embodiment, the pressurized water is allowed to flow past an on/off valve into bladder inside the water gun whereas pressurized air may be pumped into the gun to increase the range of the spray.
FIG. 12 shows the exhaust manifold being separated from a hose through the use of an applied Force. Hoses 11 may always be detached from the exhaust manifold fitting(s) 7 through the use of a minimal applied force. Thus is done to ensure the hoses will not continuously entangle an object.
FIG. 13 shows the exhaust manifold directing circulated water to drive a turbine to generate electricity to power small electrical devices as in one embodiment of pool lights. A turbine 35 may be used to harness the power of the pressured water into electrical energy to be used with any type of electrical devices. Preferably these devices are low voltage devices which do not require a tremendous amount of electricity much like LEDS.
FIG. 14 shows the exhaust manifold may circulate water in a hot tube.
While the above invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. One skilled in the art may find variations of these preferred embodiments which, nevertheless, fall within the spirit of the present invention, whose scope is defined by the claims set forth below.

Claims

1. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water comprising:

at least one main exhaust hole to facilitate the circulation of water within the pool of water or water; and

at least one auxiliary hole diverting some of the circulated water to other devices.

2. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one water driven device.

3. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water as in claim 2 whereas the other device is at least one water driven motion toy.

4. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water as in claim 3 whereas the motion toy is a floating island with various water powered movements.

5. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water as in claim 4 whereas said floating island comprises a representation of a town along with moving objects such as houses, factories, people and vehicles.

6. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water as in claim 3 whereas the motion toy may be a toy replica of at least one animal.

7. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water of water as in claim 6 whereas the motion toy may be a toy replica of a toy moving octopus.

8. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one water slide.

9. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one water driven oscillating brush.

10. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one water driven vacuum device.

11. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 10 whereas the water driven vacuum moves throughout the pool of water.

12. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 11 whereas the water driven vacuum utilizes a highly porous filter to clean the pool of water as the water circulates.

13. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one body massager.

14. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 13 whereas the body massager's pulsating heads are driven by the pressurized water.

15. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 14 whereas the body massager's body can be elongated to form a wand.

16. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one electrical device.

17. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 16 whereas the other device is at least one electrical generator.

18. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 17 whereas said electrical generator is powering low current devices.

19. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 18 whereas said electrical generator is powering low current devices, such low current devices may be light emitting LEDS.

20. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one body massager.

21. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 1 whereas the other device is at least one ornamental device.

22. An exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water as in claim 21 whereas the ornamental device may be a working waterfall.

23. A toy water gun system comprising:

a exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a pool of water;

a hose attached to the exhaust manifold deterring water evacuated to at least one toy water gun; and

a trigger valve within the water gun, said trigger releasing said pressurized water from said toy water gun.

24. A toy water gun as in claim 23 whereas the hose connecting the exhaust manifold can be detached with applied force.

25. A toy water gun as in claim 24 whereas the hose and said water gun can be made from high strength plastic to withstand at least 100 pound per square inch (p.s.i.) of water pressure.

26. A exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a spa comprising:

at least one main exhaust hole to facilitate the circulation of water within the pool of water; and

27. A toy water gun system comprising:

a exhaust manifold facilitating the circulation of water in a spa;

a trigger valve within the water gun releasing the pressured water

28. A toy water gun as in claim 10 whereas a hose connecting the exhaust manifold can be detached with applied force.

29. A method of utilizing redirecting circulated water within a pool of water comprising

redirecting circulated water to various devices; and

powering the motion of these devices