Retractable fountain assembly

Claim 1

A fountain assembly, comprising: fountain head means having a top and bottom portion for spraying liquid received under pressure through its bottom portion out its top portion in a selected spray pattern, said top portion of said fountain head means defining a flat surface; a cylindrical inner conduit having open top and bottom ends, said inner conduit having its top end secured to the bottom portion of said fountain head means and defining a liquid conducting channel between its top and bottom ends in liquid conducting communication with said fountain head means; an annular flange of selected diameter formed around the outer periphery of the bottom end of said inner conduit to extend radially therefrom; an outer conduit having a wall portion and open top and bottom ends, the wall portion of said outer conduit defining a cylindrical liquid conducting channel between its top and bottom ends of a selected diameter larger than the diameter of said annular flange, said inner conduit having its bottom end inserted within the cylindrical channel defined by said outer conduit and said outer conduit being dimensioned longitudinally to receive said inner conduit whereby said inner conduit may be extended from or retracted into said outer conduit, said outer conduit having an inlet defined in its wall portion; first structure means closing the bottom end of said outer conduit in a liquid tight seal; second structure means mounted on the top end of said outer conduit having a flat upper surface and defining in communication with the liquid conducting channel of said outer conduit an opening through which said inner conduit may be extended from and retracted into said outer conduit, said second structure means also defining an upwardly opening seat recessed below its flat upper surface designed to mate with the bottom portion of said fountain head means in a liquid sealing relationship by engaging and supporting said fountain head means with its flat top surface aligned flush with the flat upper surface of said second structure means, said seat being positioned above said first structure means a predetermined distance greater than the length of said inner conduit whereby engagement of said fountain head means by said seat holds the lower end of said inner conduit above said first structure means so that liquid can flow thereunder; third structure means for engaging said annular flange to stop the extension of said inner conduit in a selected extended position and form a liquid tight seal between the liquid conducting channels of said inner and outer conduits, said third structure means including at least one intermediate conduit loosely coupling said inner and outer conduits together in a telescoping relationship so that liquid may bleed out of said fountain assembly through the loose coupling whenever said inner conduit ceases to be maintained in its extended position by pressurized liquid received through said inlet, said third structure means additionally including a shoulder formed on said intermediate conduit adjacent said inner conduit to mate with said annular flange to form a liquid tight seal between said inner and intermediate conduits whenever said inner conduit is maintained in its extended position by pressurized liquid received through said inlet, said third structure means also including shoulder and flange means formed on said intermediate and outer conduits to mate with each other to form liquid seals between said intermediate and outer conduits whenever said inner conduit is maintained in its extended position by pressurized liquid received through said inlet, said third structure means further including structure for holding said intermediate conduit above said first structure means closing the bottom end of said outer conduit so that liquid may flow thereunder; and means for connecting said outer conduit through said inlet in its wall portion to a source of pressurized liquid whereby pressurized liquid received through said inlet operates to extend said inner conduit to its extended position by flowing under the bottom end of said inner conduit through the liquid conducting channel of said inner conduit out said fountain head means.