IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0065049
(2005-02-25)
|
등록번호 |
US-7341203
(2008-03-11)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Yeomans,Michael
- Sterenberg,Henk
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Edell, Shapiro & Finnan, LLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
23 |
초록
▼
A fountain device includes a container including a reservoir to hold and retain circulating fluid within the fountain device, where the container includes an opening and a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the opening, a pump securable within the container, a cover configured to
A fountain device includes a container including a reservoir to hold and retain circulating fluid within the fountain device, where the container includes an opening and a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the opening, a pump securable within the container, a cover configured to encompass the opening and engage the lip of the container when the cover is installed on the container, and a discharge hose securable to an outlet of the pump and extendable to an outlet of the container. The cover includes a plurality of apertures that facilitate passage of fluid through the cover to the reservoir of the container. In addition, a kit including all of the above described components of the fountain device is provided, where the components are assembled within the kit to permit easy installation of the fountain device.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A fountain device comprising: a container including a reservoir to hold and retain circulating fluid within the fountain device, the container including an opening and a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the opening; a pump securable within the container;
What is claimed is: 1. A fountain device comprising: a container including a reservoir to hold and retain circulating fluid within the fountain device, the container including an opening and a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the opening; a pump securable within the container; a cover configured to encompass the opening and engage the lip of the container when the cover is installed on the container, wherein the cover includes a removable door configured to permit removal of the pump from the container and a plurality of apertures that facilitate passage of fluid through the cover to the reservoir of the container; a discharge hose securable to an outlet of the pump and extendable to an outlet of the container; and a support structure comprising at least one support column configured to extend and engage with both a lower surface of the container within the reservoir and the cover so as to provide support for the cover when forces are applied to the cover. 2. The fountain device of claim 1, wherein the at least one support column is configured to provide support for and prevent deformation of the cover when the cover bears a weight of 2000 pounds or greater. 3. The fountain device of claim 2, wherein the at least one support column includes a hollow section configured to receive a portion of the discharge hose that connects with the outlet of the container. 4. The fountain device of claim 1, further comprising: a mount disposed on a lower wall of the container and configured to support the pump within the reservoir at a selected distance from the lower wall of the container so as to prevent accumulated debris within the reservoir from entering the pump. 5. The fountain device of claim 1, further comprising: a filter material suitably dimensioned to fit over the cover when the cover is installed on the lip of the container, wherein the filter material has a suitable porosity to permit passage of fluid through the filter material while preventing solid debris of selected dimensions from passing through the filter material. 6. The fountain device of claim 1, further comprising: an apron comprising a flexible material and suitably dimensioned to facilitate placement of the apron around the periphery of the container when the container is installed at a selected location, wherein a portion of the apron is configured to extend between the lip of the container and the cover. 7. The fountain device of claim 1, further comprising: a decorative structure including a channel extending through a portion of the decorative structure and configured such that, during use of the fountain device, the channel of the decorative structure is in fluid communication with the discharge hose. 8. A fountain device kit for forming a fountain device, the fountain device kit comprising: a container including a reservoir to hold and retain circulating fluid within the fountain device, the container including an opening and a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the opening; a pump secured within the container; a cover configured to encompass the opening and engage the lip of the container when the cover is installed on the container, wherein the cover includes a removable door configured to permit removal of the pump from the container and a plurality of apertures that facilitate passage of fluid through the cover to the reservoir of the container; a support structure comprising at least one support column configured to extend and engage with both a lower surface of the container within the reservoir and the cover so as to provide support for the cover when forces are applied to the cover; and a discharge hose secured to an outlet of the pump and extending to an outlet of the container. 9. A method of using a fountain device comprising: embedding at least a portion of a container within a support structure for the container, wherein the container includes a reservoir and is configured to hold and retain fluid circulating within the fountain device; securing a pump within the container; securing a discharge hose to an outlet of the pump and an outlet of the container; installing a support structure comprising at least one support column within the reservoir of the container such that a lower end of the at least one support column engages a lower surface of the container within the reservoir; and installing a cover over an opening of the container by engaging the cover with a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the container, wherein the cover includes a removable door configured to permit removal of the pump from the container and a plurality of apertures that facilitate passage of fluid through the cover to the reservoir of the container; and the at least one support column engages the cover so as to provide support for the cover when forces are applied to the cover. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one support column provides support for and prevents deformation of the cover when the cover bears a weight of 2000 pounds or greater. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one support column includes a hollow section configured to receive a portion of the discharge hose that connects with the outlet of the container. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pump is supported on a mount at a selected distance from the lower wall of the container so as to prevent accumulated debris within the reservoir from entering the pump. 13. The method of claim 10, further comprising: placing a filter material over the cover, wherein the filter material includes a suitable porosity to permit passage of fluid through the filter material while preventing solid debris of selected dimensions from passing through the filter material. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: placing an apron comprising a flexible material between the filter material and the cover, wherein the apron extends around the periphery of the container and a portion of the apron is configured to extend between the lip of the container and the cover. 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the container is substantially completely embedded under a ground surface, and the method further comprises: covering the filter material with a particulate material; and placing a decorative structure on at least a portion of the particulate material that is situated over the cover, wherein the decorative structure includes a channel extending through a portion of the decorative structure and that is in fluid communication with the discharge hose. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: constructing a surface portion of the ground surface surrounding the container at a selected pitch such that the surface portion slopes in a downward direction toward the cover and the embedded container. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the ground surface in which the container is embedded comprises a trench formed within an outdoor ground surface. 18. A fountain device comprising: a container including a reservoir to hold and retain circulating fluid within the fountain device, the container including an opening and a lip extending around at least a peripheral portion of the opening; a pump securable within the container; a cover configured to encompass the opening and engage the lip of the container when the cover is installed on the container, wherein the cover includes a plurality of apertures that facilitate passage of fluid through the cover to the reservoir of the container; a discharge hose securable to an outlet of the pump and extending to an outlet of the container; and a decorative structure configured to be placed over so as to rest on the cover, wherein the decorative structure includes a channel extending through a portion of the decorative structure and is further configured to engage so as to be in fluid communication with the discharge hose such that fluid flowing through the discharge hose flows through the channel so as to emerge from the decorative structure for circulation through the apertures in the cover and into the reservoir of the container during operation of the fountain device.
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