Modular fountain with bayonet connector

• US 6,848,628 B2
• Filed: 09/26/2003
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Beckett Corporation (General Foam Plastics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Beckett Corporation (General Foam Plastics Corporation)
• Inventors: Walker, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORMAN, DARREN W
• Application Number:
  US10/672,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20040056480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 239/16, 239/17, 239/21, 239/22, 239/23, 239/18, 239/19, 239/20, 285/73, 285/292.1
• US Class Current: 239/16
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 17/08 Fountains drinking fountains E03B9/20; wash fountains E03C1/16

Abstract

A modular fountain includes a base, a bowl and a top or statue supported on the bowl by a pump housing in the bowl. Twist and lock bayonet type connectors are provided for connecting the base to the bowl and the top, if used, to the bowl at the pumping housing. A through passage between the pump housing, the bowl and the base is formed for training a pump power cord therethrough, for example.

Claims

1. A modular fountain, comprising:

a pump for circulating water in said fountain, said pump having a power cord for supplying electrical power to said pump;

a statue having a lower surface, including an opening extending therein;

a bowl having an upper curved surface defining a concave portion for storing water and a lower surface, said bowl having an opening extending through both said lower surface and said upper curved surface of said bowl;

a pump housing for supporting said statue and for containing said pump, said pump housing extending from said upper curved surface of said bowl and including a top wall having an opening extending therethrough for access to an internal portion of said pump housing, said pump housing being disposed on said upper curved surface of said bowl so that said opening in said bowl allows access to said internal portion of said pump housing;

a first bayonet connector for removably connecting said statue to said pump housing, and comprising a first collar rigidly disposed in said opening in said lower surface of said statue and a second collar rigidly disposed in said opening extending through said top wall of said pump housing, said first collar of said first bayonet connector being engageable with said second collar of said first bayonet connector, said first bayonet connector having a passage therethrough so that, when said first collar of said first bayonet connector is engaged with said second collar of said first bayonet connector, a passageway exists between said cavity of said statue and said internal portion of said pump housing;

a base for supporting said bowl, said base having a cavity therein, an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of said base having an opening extending therethrough, said lower surface of said base for resting on a support surface;

a second bayonet connector for removably connecting said bowl to said base, said second bayonet connector comprising a first collar rigidly disposed in said opening in said bowl and a second collar rigidly disposed in said opening extending through said upper surface of said base, said second bayonet connector having a passage therethrough so that, when said first collar of said second bayonet connector is engaged with said second collar of said second bayonet connector, a passageway exists between said internal portion of said pump housing and said cavity of said base; and

a conduit extending through said opening in said bowl, wherein, when said bowl is connected to said base by said second bayonet connector, said conduit is operable to provide a passage for said power cord of said pump from said pump housing into said cavity of said base.

2. A modular fountain comprising:

a base member including a lower surface for supporting said base member and an upper surface, said upper surface including an opening formed therein and in communication with a passage in said base member;

a top portion of said fountain including a bowl for containing a quantity of water, said top portion including a lower surface for engagement with said upper surface of said base member, said lower surface of said top portion including an opening formed therein, and;

a twist and lock, bayonet connector for removably connecting said top portion to said base member, said bayonet connector including a first collar connected to said top portion and disposed in said opening in said lower surface of said top portion and a second collar connected to said base member and disposed in said opening in said upper surface of said base member, said bayonet connector including cooperating projections for engaging said first collar with said second collar in a twist and lock manner for connecting said top portion to said base member and when said top portion is connected to said base member a passageway is provided between said bowl and said passage in said base member.

3. The modular fountain set forth in claim 2 including:

a conduit extending through said opening in said bowl and said opening in said base member.

4. The modular fountain set forth in claim 3 including:

a pump disposed in said bowl and a power cord extending between said pump and said base member through said conduit and into said passage in said base member.

5. The modular fountain set forth in claim 4 including:

a housing disposed in said bowl and enclosing said pump.

6. The modular fountain set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said housing includes a top wall having an opening therein for access to an interior portion of said housing.

7. The modular fountain set forth in claim 5 including:

an additional twist and lock bayonet connector including a first collar connected to a further part of said fountain and a second collar supported on said housing and whereby said further part of said fountain may be releasably connected to said top portion by engagement of said first and second collars of said additional bayonet connector for releasably connecting said further part of said fountain to said top portion.

8. The modular fountain set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said conduit extends within said opening in said top wall of said housing.

9. A modular fountain, comprising:

a pump for circulating water in said fountain, said pump having a power cord for supplying electrical power to said pump;

a bowl for storing water and including a lower surface, said bowl having an opening extending through said lower surface;

a pump housing for containing said pump, said pump housing being supported in said bowl and including a top wall having an opening extending therethrough for access to an internal portion of said pump housing, said pump housing being disposed in said bowl so that said opening in said bowl allows access to said internal portion of said pump housing;

a base for supporting said bowl, said base having a cavity therein, an upper surface and a lower surface, said upper surface of said base having an opening extending therethrough, said lower surface of said base for resting said fountain on a support surface; and

one bayonet connector for removably connecting said bowl to said base, said one bayonet connector comprising a first collar rigidly disposed in said opening in said bowl and a second collar rigidly disposed in said opening extending through said upper surface of said base, said one bayonet connector having a passage therethrough so that, when said first collar of said one bayonet connector is engaged with said second collar of said one bayonet connector, a passageway exists between said internal portion of said pump housing and said cavity in said base.

10. The modular fountain set forth in claim 9 including:

a statue having a lower surface; and

an additional bayonet connector for removably connecting said statue to said pump housing and comprising a first collar connected to said statue and a second collar rigidly disposed in said opening extending through said top wall of said pump housing, said first collar of said additional bayonet connector being engageable with said second collar of said additional bayonet connector, said additional bayonet connector having a passage therethrough so that, when said first collar of said additional bayonet connector is engaged with said second collar of said additional bayonet connector, a passageway exists between a cavity in said statue and said internal portion of said pump housing.

11. The modular fountain set forth in claim 10 including:

a conduit extending through said opening in said bowl wherein, when said bowl is connected to said base by said one bayonet connector, said conduit is operable to provide a passage for said power cord of said pump from said pump housing into said cavity in said base.