Apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall or water fountain

• US 6,196,471 B1
• Filed: 11/30/1999
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Pool Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Ruthenberg, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWU, DAVIS D
• Application Number:
  US09/451,335
• Time in Patent Office: 462 Days
• Field of Search: 239/589, 239/590, 239/592, 239/593, 239/597, 239/18, 362/96, 362/294
• US Class Current: 239/18
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2121/02 for fountains
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall includes a waterfall vessel, a clear tube disposed within the vessel, LED bulbs mounted on a circuit board strip which is disposed within the clear tube and a controller circuit which sequentially activates predetermined arrays of different colored LED bulbs. The waterfall vessel has baffles for suppressing turbulence and optional reflective film for enhancing emitted light. A controller circuit is included to sequentially light predetermined arrays of different colored LED bulbs. A rectifier circuit is included to convert a 12 volt ac circuit to a 12 volt dc circuit and a transformer reduces a 110 volt ac power source to a 12 volt ac supply. In an embodiment for a water fountain, the circuit board strip with the LED bulbs are instead disposed within a branch of a tee with a clear lens separating the LED bulbs from the water flow portion of the tee. Water flows into a second branch of the tee and out the third branch of the tee through a discharge tube with a swivel connection at the third branch of the tee to direct the discharge tube through an aperture in a facade. The third branch of the tee includes longitudinal baffles for suppressing turbulence and an optional laminate of reflective film to enhance emitted light.

Claims

1. An apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall comprising:

means for changing a columnar flow of incoming water from a water inlet pipe into a shallow stream of water having a predetermined breadth greater than the breadth of the inlet pipe so that a waterfall effect is created, wherein said means has a first end and a second end, each end having apertures therethrough axially aligned with each other;

a clear tube having a first end and a second end, the tube being longitudinally disposed between said first end aperture and second end aperture of the means for creating the waterfall effect, the first and second ends of said tube being in leak tight engagement at said first end aperture and second end aperture respectively;

an LED light emitting circuit board wafer strip including a plurality of different colored LED bulbs in a predetermined spaced-apart arrangement, the circuit board wafer strip being disposed through the first end aperture and inside the clear tube; and

a controller circuit in electrically operative communication with predetermined arrays of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs wherein the predetermine arrays of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs activate at predetermined sequences and at predetermined time intervals.

2. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 1 wherein the means for creating the waterfall effect comprises:

a waterfall vessel having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and the first and second ends;

an inlet opening for incoming columnar water flow into the vessel;

an outlet opening for water flow exiting in the form of a waterfall; and

at least one baffle disposed in the vessel for suppressing turbulence of the incoming columnar water flow.

3. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 1 wherein the means for creating the waterfall effect comprises:

a waterfall vessel having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and the first and second ends;

an inlet opening for incoming columnar water flow into the vessel;

an outlet opening for water flow exiting in the form of a waterfall; and

a plurality of longitudinally disposed baffles in the vessel for suppressing turbulence of the incoming columnar water flow.

4. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of baffles interconnect with each other, said baffles interconnect with each other, the baffles further comprising a plurality of apertures for directing the flow of water from the inlet opening, through the baffles, to the outlet opening and for suppressing water turbulence.

5. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 2 further comprising means for reflecting and enhancing emitted light, the means including a reflective film adhesively secured to portions of inside surfaces of the at least one baffle, front wall, back wall, and bottom wall juxtaposed to the clear tube.

6. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 3 further comprising means for reflecting and enhancing emitted light, the means including a reflective film adhesively secured to portions of inside surfaces of the plurality of baffles, front wall, back wall, and bottom wall juxtaposed to the clear tube.

7. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 1, wherein the controller circuit includes a rectifier circuit for converting a 12 volt-ac source circuit to a 12 volt-dc circuit for supplying electrical power to the arrays of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs.

8. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated waterfall according to claim 7, further comprising a transformer circuit for reducing a voltage from a 110 volt-ac source circuit to a 12 volts-ac circuit, said 12 volts-ac circuit being in electrically operative communication with the rectifier circuit.

9. An apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain comprising:

means for changing a columnar flow of incoming water from a water inlet pipe into a laminar stream of water to create a water fountain effect, the means including a tee in fluid communication with the water inlet pipe, the tee having a first branch, a second branch and a third branch;

the tee first branch further including a clear lens disposed inside the first branch, the lens being in a leak tight engagement with an inside surface of said first branch;

the second branch being in fluid communication with the water inlet pipe and the third branch being in fluid communication with a tubular directing means for creating the laminar stream of water and for directing the water flow in a desired direction through an opening in a facade;

an LED light emitting circuit board wafer strip including a plurality of different colored LED bulbs in a predetermined spaced-apart arrangement, the circuit board wafer strip being disposed juxtaposed the clear lens inside the first branch of the tee; and

a controller circuit in electrically operative communication with predetermined arrays of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs wherein the predetermine arrays of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs activate at predetermined sequences and at predetermined time intervals.

10. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 9 wherein the tubular directing means for creating the laminar stream of water includes a plurality of longitudinal baffles disposed within the third branch of the tee, the baffles extending radially from a central axis of the third branch of the tee and interconnecting with each other at the central axis, the baffles for suppressing turbulence of the incoming columnar flow of water.

11. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 10 further comprising means for reflecting and enhancing emitted light, the means including a reflective film adhesively secured to portions of inside surfaces of the plurality of longitudinal baffles.

12. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 9, wherein the controller circuit includes a rectifier circuit for converting a 12 volt-ac source to 12 volt-dc for supplying electrical power to the arrays of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs.

13. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 12, further comprising a transformer circuit for reducing a voltage from a 110 volt-ac source to 12 volts-ac, said 12 volts-ac being in electrically operative communication with the rectifier circuit.

14. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined arrays of the plurality of multi-colored LED bulbs includes an array of two red LED bulbs, an array of two green LED bulbs, and an array of two blue LED bulbs, each of the arrays being electrically operative connected to each activate at predetermined sequences and at predetermined time intervals.

15. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 14, wherein the arrays of red, green and blue LED bulbs are electrically connected so as to provide a substantially equalized light intensity between each of the arrays of the red, green and blue LED bulbs.

16. The apparatus for creating a multi-colored illuminated water fountain according to claim 9, wherein the tubular directing means includes a discharge tube with a ball-type swivel connection at one end of the discharge tube for mechanically connecting the discharge tube to the third branch of the tee.