Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Pool type – Construction details
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-07
2001-01-09
Fetsuga, Robert M. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Pool type
Construction details
C004S678000, C239S017000, C239S590300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170094
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is in the field of waterfall apparatus and methods. Such waterfalls are generally utilized to provide an aesthetically pleasing artificial waterfall at pools, spas, fountains, and other such man-made water facilities and displays. The invention more particularly relates to a modular waterfall apparatus which may be assembled from component parts in a wide variety of configurations and sizes, and which provides all of: a flexibility and ease of installation, an economy of materials utilization, installation labor and cost; and a quality of operation and waterfall appearance not heretofore available in this field.
2. Related Technology
A conventional artificial waterfall apparatus is known in accord with U.S. Pat. No. 4,881,280, issued Nov. 21, 1989 to Fred C. Lesikar. This waterfall apparatus according to the '280 patent is believed to be fabricated of sheet material, such as stainless steel sheet metal, and to be assembled using welding, brazing, or riveting, for example. The waterfall apparatus according to the '280 patent appears to utilize a rather large interior polonium chamber or a series of weirs, or both, in order to distribute and smooth the velocity of flow of water piped into the apparatus before this water is discharged via a nozzle apparatus. The nozzle apparatus of the '280 device appears to have a constant decrease of cross sectional flow area for the flow of water from the plenum chamber to a discharge slot from which the water issues generally horizontally as a wide, flat, and relatively thin sheet.
Conventional water fall apparatus, including the one taught by the '280 patent, are generally fabricated for each particular waterfall installation as a custom-made assembly, which is sized and configured to meet the demands and requirements of the particular swimming pool, spa, or fountain installation. Thus, the conventional waterfall apparatus generally are hand-made one at a time for particular uses, and are not modular, made of interchangeable parts, or economical in their fabrication costs. Additionally, when a waterfall of several feet in length is required, the problem of distribution of water within the waterfall apparatus becomes particularly challenging. Yet uniformity of water distribution, both in terms of the water pressure, velocity, and direction of flow must be accomplished if the waterfall is to have the pleasingly uniform sheet-like appearance that is desired.
Another problem with conventional waterfall apparatus of the type mentioned above is that debris (which may be introduced into the waterfall along with the water flow) can obstruct the device, and result in the disruption of the configuration of the falling water. Thus, it has become conventional to install an in-line strainer or filter upstream of these water fall devices. Of course, this in-line strainer or filter itself then becomes a maintenance item for the operator of the pool, spa, or fountain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the above, it would be desirable and is an object for this invention to provide a waterfall apparatus and method which avoids one or more of the deficiencies of the related art.
Further, it is an object for this invention to provide such a waterfall apparatus and method which is modular in form, and can be assembled from component parts to provide a wide variety of sizes and configurations of waterfalls.
Still further, it is an object for this invention to provide a waterfall apparatus and method which produces a sheet-like waterfall, which is substantially perfect so far as distribution, pressure, velocity, and direction of water flow making the sheet-like waterfall.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus for producing an artificial waterfall, the apparatus comprising: an elongate chambered body having a length and opposite ends and defining a water inlet port intermediate of its length, the body defining a water discharge nozzle slot extending along the length and from which water issues substantially horizontally as a generally horizontally-flowing sheet; the body internally defining a first elongate chamber extending along the length and into which the water inlet port opens intermediate of and generally perpendicularly to the length of the first chamber to create a pair of oppositely-extending recirculation-current water flows each extending helically from the inlet port toward a respective one of the opposite ends, and the body further having an elongate foraminous wall portion bounding the first chamber and through which water flows therefrom to a second chamber which also extends along the length, the second chamber communicating water flow to the water discharge nozzle slot.
An advantage of the present invention is the clarity and uniformity of the sheet-like waterfall which the apparatus and method produces. This uniform clear waterfall has a persistence and durability not found commonly in the related art, and will fall a greater distance without being broken up before it enters a pool of water, for example.
Another advantage of the present invention results from the modular nature of the apparatus, which may be assembled from a few interchangeable component parts into waterfall apparatus having a wide variety of sizes and configurations.
Yet another advantage results from the nature of incoming water flow to the waterfall apparatus, which incoming water flow is formed into a pair of like-rotating recirculating helical water flows, extending from a middle of a chamber in opposite directions to the ends of the chamber. These helical water flows sweep air and debris to opposite ends of the chamber. Debris of a sufficiently small size is discharged from the waterfall, while larger debris is deposited in a quiescent corner of the apparatus adjacent to the ends of the chamber, where is does not affect the discharging waterfall. Air is bled from the chamber and discharged from the waterfall apparatus near the edges of the sheet-like waterfall. Thus, this bled out air does not disrupt the central sheet-like waterfall.
Additional objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of several particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the appended drawing Figures, in which like reference numerals are used throughout the several views to indicate like features, or features which are analogous in structure or function.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4141507 (1979-02-01), Rump
patent: 4881280 (1989-11-01), Lesikar
patent: 5388285 (1995-02-01), Belniak
patent: 5609305 (1997-03-01), Webb
patent: 5738280 (1998-04-01), Ruthenberg
patent: 5893179 (1999-04-01), Johnson
Kesl Richard J.
Lesikar Fred C.
Weise Gary K.
Fetsuga Robert M.
Miller Terry L.
Thermocraft Ind. Inc.
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