Patent · US Expired

Fountain having background surface for displaying liquid running thereover

US6279835A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
7References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 31, 2000
Grant dateAug 28, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 31, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF21W2121/02
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A water fountain is disclosed for use in residential and commercial environments. The water fountain includes a support frame and a catch basin within which a recirculating pump system is placed. A background flow display surface is attached to the support frame for receiving water thereover from the recirculating pump system. In one embodiment, the water fountain includes a facade connected to the support frame. The facade includes a plurality of apertures such that when the facade is placed over the background flow display surface, a portion of the background flow display surface is visible through the apertures in the facade, thereby permitting visibility of the flowing water as well. The facades may include apertures of various shapes and sizes and in different arrangements. The invention also provides the use of illumination and variable recirculation pumps in order to achieve dramatic visual effects. The invention may include noise-reducing pebbles in order to buffer the noise created by the falling water into the catch basin. The invention provides an effective self-contained water fountain that can be used indoors or outdoors.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.