Abstract
The present invention consists of a flexible pool fountain system that comprises modular segments that connect in a manner to form a conduit for the flow of water from the return inlet of a pools circulation system and in a direction to form a positional fountain feature. The connections are linked by male to female sockets that allow multi-axial positioning and the retention of shape until the system is repositioned. The flexible design permits the system of segments to be compact and have a minimal profile above and below the waterline. Within the system of conduit segments an inline sliding T-valve is used to enable the control of force at which the fountain is emitted onto the pools surface. The flexibility of the conduit segments also allows for the system to facilitate optimal positioning of a pools water return jet circulation flow. Three-way conduit segments, and the design of which they permit, allow for other embodiments to be connected that provide multiple points above the waterline that can be used to provide multiple fountain features.
Claims
1. A flexible pool fountain system consisting of a modular conduit assembly that is positional in a manner that allows for a reduction of physical profile, both above and below a pools waterline.
2. A flexible pool fountain system that connects to a pools existing water circulation plumbing and is easily removed when not in use.
3. A flexible pool fountain system that includes an inline sliding T-valve that allows for maintaining a pools water circulation jets below the waterline.
4. A flexible pool fountain system that is assembled from a combination of transparent interconnected articulating conduit segments that connect by ball and socket joints and allow for multiaxial positioning.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The terminology used herein is for describing the embodiments only and not intended to be limiting. The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the figures or description below. For the purpose of visual representation, the transparency aspects are not depicted in the artwork.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a depiction of the flexible pool fountain system attached at the wall of a pool and viewed from the front.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a depiction of the flexible pool fountain system viewed from the right side.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flexible pool fountain systems interconnecting modular conduit segments.
[0019] FIG. 4 is the flexible pool fountain system viewed from the rear
[0020] FIG. 5 is a depiction of the inline sliding T-valve in position 1 from the front right viewpoint.
[0021] FIG. 6 is the inline sliding T-valve as viewed from the top.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a depiction of a sectional viewpoint, indicated in FIG. 6, showing the internal chambers and mechanism of the inline sliding T-valve in position 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] FIG. 1 shows the flexible pool fountain system (11) attached to a pool wall (9) at the water circulation inlet PVC eyeball fitting (10) and extending up past the waterline (18) and to the edge of the pool deck (31) FIG. 1 also shows the inline sliding T-valve (7).
[0024] FIG. 2 depicts a flexible pool fountain system encompassing the present invention. FIG. 2 depicts the present invention viewed from the right side. FIG. 4 shows the present invention viewed from the rear. FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional view, identified in FIG. 2, of the modular conduit segments internal male and female socket connections (5). The flexible pool fountain assembly (11) is connected to a standard female threaded water circulation inlet PVC eyeball fitting (10). The water flowing back into the pool from the return line enters through the eyeball hole (14) in FIG. 4. The eyeball fitting (10) is shown in FIG. 1. coming from the wall of a pool (9). The water circulation inlet PVC eyeball fitting (10) is attached to a threaded conduit coupler (8) through a male/female threaded connection as shown in FIG. 2. The threaded conduit coupler (8) attaches to the female socket (20), shown in FIG. 7, of the inline sliding T-valve (7). FIG. 4 shows the internal cylindrical pipe component (19) of the inline sliding T-valve (7) connecting to a flexible conduit shaft (6). The flexible conduit shaft (6) connects to the male snap connector (17) of the internal cylindrical pipe component (19) as shown in FIG. 5. The internal cylindrical pipe component (19) functions as a sliding mechanism for the valve function of the sliding T-valve (7). FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the flexible conduit shaft (6) from the perspective identified in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows the interconnections of several ball and socket modular conduit segments (5). FIG. 3 shows the flexible conduit shaft (6) positioned vertically and connecting to a T-coupler conduit segment (4). The T-coupler conduit segment (4) has a horizontally positioned opening connected to a flexible modular conduit shaft (3). The flexible conduit shaft (3) is formed by connected ball and socket conduit segments (2). The flexible conduit shaft (3) transitions above the waterline (18) shown in FIG. 1. The flexible conduit shaft (3) is attached to a nozzle (1) where water is ejected forming part of the fountain feature. The top of the vertical arm of the T-coupler conduit component (4) is connected to a Y-type reducer conduit segment (12). Each arm of the Y-type reducer conduit segment (12) is connected by a ball and socket connection to a diametrically reduced flexible shaft (13) that transitions above the waterline (18) as shown in FIG. 1. Each diametrically reduced flexible shaft (13) is formed by multiple diametrically reduced male/female socket conduit segments (15). Each diametrically reduced flexible shaft (13) is connected to a nozzle (21) where water is ejected forming part of the fountain feature.
[0025] FIG. 5 depicts the inline sliding T-valve (7) in position 1. Position 1 is intended for directing water circulation flow out of the return nozzle (16) for circulation into the pool of water below the waterline (18) as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 depicts, the external T-shaped pipe component (22) provides a vertical lumen (23) for the internal cylindrical pipe component (19) to slide up and down between the three pin hole positions (24), shown in FIG. 5, and the single connection pin hole (27) on the internal cylindrical pipe component (19), shown in FIG. 7. When one of the three pin hole positions (24) on the external T-shaped pipe component (22) is aligned with the single pin hole (27) on the internal cylindrical pipe component (19), an attachment rod (26) can be threaded between the pin holes of both pipe components to secure the valve position. FIG. 6 shows a view from the top and shows the attachment rod (26) traversing through both valve components and connecting through the opposite wall. FIG. 3 depicts the inline sliding T-valve (7) in position 1 where the pinhole (27) on the internal cylindrical pipe component (19) is aligned with the upper most pinhole (28), of the three pinhole positions (24), on the external T-shaped pipe component (22), as shown in FIG. 5. When the single pin hole (27) of the internal cylindrical pipe component (19) is aligned with the middle pinhole (29) of the three pinhole positions (24) on the external T-shaped pipe component (22), position 2 is selected. Position 2 divides the flow of water to be directed towards both the below waterline flow, and upwards towards the fountain feature. When the single pin hole (27) of the internal cylindrical pipe component (19) is aligned with the lowest pinhole (30), position 3 is selected. Position 3 directs all water flow upwards towards the fountain feature.
