Interactive play fountain

• US 6,739,979 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wyeth G. Tracy
• Original Assignee: Wyeth G. Tracy
• Inventors: Tracy, Wyeth G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US10/217,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20030073505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 472/116, 472/117, 472/128, 472/129, 472/137, 463/153, 448/8, 450/6, 450/7, 450/9
• US Class Current: 472/128
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2009/008 with water spraying means
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16

Abstract

An interactive fountain is suitable for installation in a spray or water park partially submerged in a swimming or wading pool. The fountain includes a body having an upper surface sized to support at least one user in a position standing or sitting thereon. The support structure may be formed in situ, or preformed off-site from precast materials. Two or more water nozzles are positioned within the support structure. The water nozzles are connected to a source of water under pressure, as well as to each other by means of a water conduit, whereby in use, water flows from the water source along the conduit and outwardly from each nozzle as a discharged jet, spray or other such stream of water. The water nozzles are configured to permit a user to partially or fully block or obstruct the nozzles, as for example, by the user putting his hand or foot over the nozzle such that when a nozzle is blocked, water is redirected to other non-obstructed water nozzles.

Claims

1. A waterpark amusement device including

a support structure having an upper surface sized to permit at least one user to stand or sit thereon, the support structure further having a structural integrity selected to support the at least one user in participatory water play in a position standing or sitting thereon,

a plurality of water nozzles, each disposed substantially in said support structure and open to an outlet orifice formed in said upper surface, said outlet orifice having a size and shape selected to enable said orifice to be substantially blocked by a user'"'"'s hand or foot,

a pressurized water source,

a water supply conduit providing fluid communication between said pressurized water source and said nozzles to permit water flow from said water source therealong and outwardly from said nozzles as a pressurized stream, the water supply conduit providing a fluid connection between said nozzles whereby the blockage of a first one of said nozzles by said user redirects said water flow to one or more other of said nozzles;

and

said support structure comprises a generally dome shaped mound having a maximum elevation selected at less than about 1 meter, and an average radial diameter selected at between about 1 and 4 meters.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said support structure is supported by a bottom surface of a wading pool.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said water supply conduit is disposed substantially beneath said upper surface of said support structure.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper surface comprises an elastomeric material.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said upper surface is provided with a non-slip coating or texture.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support structure is in the shape of a stylized animal.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 further including a slide for supporting said users in sliding movement thereon.

8. An interactive waterpark fountain comprising,

a pressurized water source,

a support structure configured to support a plurality of users in participatory water play thereon,

a plurality of water nozzles recessed substantially in said support structure, said nozzles each including an outlet orifice and being provided in fluid communication with said water source and each other, such that when said nozzles are unobstructed pressurized water flows from said water source and outwardly from the outlet orifice of each of said nozzle as a pressurized stream, and whereby the obstruction of the orifice of a first of said nozzle by a user to substantially prevent the flow of water therefrom redirects said water flow from one or more remaining unobstructed nozzles as a pressurized stream of greater intensity,

a majority of said nozzles being disposed in said support structure in an orientation selected to direct the discharge streams emitted therefrom in a generally upward direction, and

wherein said support structure comprises a generally dome shaped mound having a maximum elevation selected at less than about 1 meter, and an average radial diameter selected at between about 1 and 4 meters.

9. The fountain as claimed in claim 8 wherein said generally dome-shaped mound extends to a maximum height of less than about 0.5 meters.

10. The fountain as claimed in claim 8 further including a water conduit connecting said nozzles to said water source, said conduit disposed substantially within or beneath said support structure, said fountain further including valving for selectively controlling the flow of water from said water source.

11. The fountain as claimed in claim 10 further including a pressure relief mechanism provided in fluid communication with said conduit, said pressure relief mechanism being operable to divert at least some of said water flow from said nozzles upon a pressure of said water in said conduit exceeding a predetermined threshold pressure.

12. The fountain as claimed in claim 8 wherein said support structure is framed.

13. The fountain as claimed in claim 8 wherein said support structure further includes a non-slip upper surface.

14. In combination, a user interactive spray fountain, a wading pool for retaining a desired volume of water therein, and a pressurized water source,

the spray fountain including,

a support structure disposed in a partially submerged position in said pool and being configured to support a plurality of users standing thereon,

a plurality of water nozzles disposed at least partially in said support structure, and

a pressurized water source,

a conduit providing fluid communication between said water source and said nozzles, said conduit further interconnecting said nozzles whereby when said nozzles are unobstructed water flows from said water source and outwardly from each of said nozzles as a discharge stream under a first pressure, and whereby the obstruction of one of said nozzles by a user'"'"'s hand or foot to restrict the flow of water therefrom redirects said water flow to the remaining unobstructed nozzles as discharge streams of a second pressure greater than said first pressure,

said nozzles being recessed into an upper surface of said support structure, so as not to interfere with said users standing thereon, a majority of said nozzles being disposed in an unsubmerged position of said support structure and oriented to direct the discharge streams emitted therefrom in a generally upward direction, and

wherein said support structure comprises a generally dome shaped mound having a maximum elevation selected at less than about 1 meter, and an average radial diameter selected at between about 1 and 4 meters.

15. The combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein said pressurized water source comprises a pool filter and said conduit comprises a water pipe for recirculating water from the filter into the pool.

16. The combination as claimed in claim 14 wherein said fountain includes nozzles of differing configurations selected to emit discharge streams having different water spray patterns.

17. The combination as claimed in claim 14 further including a recirculation system for collecting and recirculating water discharged from the nozzles to the pressurized water source.