US5738280A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Centerfed device for creating decorative waterfalls
Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems LLC
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Filing: 1996-08-19
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Granted: 1998-04-14
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Expires: 2016-08-19
Abstract
Abstract A waterfall-producing device includes an elongate housing having an "T" -shaped or "X" -shaped turbulence suppressor positioned within the housing. Water under pressure is introduced into the center of the housing and is constrained to divide into two counterflowing streams that flow to the opposite ends of the housing. The turbulence suppressor divides the interior of the housing into a rearward chamber, a lower chamber, a forward chamber, and an upper chamber. Openings are formed in preselected walls of the turbulence suppressor and are spaced and sized so that the rearward chamber fills first, followed by the lower chamber, forward chamber and upper chamber in sequence. Water escapes the upper chamber through a space between an interior top wall and a rear wall of the housing and then flows to a discharge opening that covers an area substantially equal to the collective areas of the openings formed in each of the turbulence suppressor walls.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas Ruthenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 21:44
CPC Classifications
B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/02; B05B1/04; B05B1/044; B05B17/00; B05B17/08; B05B17/085
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
313 words
A device for producing decorative waterfalls, comprising: an elongate housing; said elongate housing including a rear wall, a bottom wall, a forward wall, a top wall, an interior top wall disposed in spaced apart, parallel relation to said top wall, and a pair of end walls; said interior top wall having a trailing edge disposed in spaced relation to said rear wall; an elongate water discharge opening defined between a leading edge of said top wall and a leading edge of said interior top wall; an elongate turbulence-suppressor disposed within said housing; said elongate turbulence suppressor having a transverse cross-section comprising "T"-shaped or "X"-shaped configuration, and including a lower rearward wall, a lower forward wall, an upper rearward wall, and an upper forward wall; a plurality of openings formed in said lower rearward wall, said lower forward wall, and said upper forward wall of said turbulence suppressor; a rearward chamber defined by said rear wall of said housing and said lower rearward and upper rearward walls of said turbulence suppressor; a lower chamber defined by said housing bottom wall and said lower rearward and lower forward walls of said turbulence suppressor; a forward chamber defined by said housing forward wall and said lower forward and upper forward walls of said turbulence suppressor; an upper chamber defined by said housing interior top wall and said upper rearward and upper forward walls of said turbulence suppressor; whereby water from said source of water under pressure initially enters said rearward chamber, is constrained to flow sequentially into said lower chamber through said openings formed in said lower rearward wall, into said forward chamber through said openings formed in said lower forward wall, into said upper chamber through said openings formed in said upper forward wall, through said space between the trailing edge of said interior top wall and said rear wall, and through said discharge opening.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
313 words
A device for producing decorative waterfalls, comprising: an elongate housing; said elongate housing including a rear wall, a bottom wall, a forward wall, a top wall, an interior top wall disposed in spaced apart, parallel relation to said top wall, and a pair of end walls; said interior top wall having a trailing edge disposed in spaced relation to said rear wall; an elongate water discharge opening defined between a leading edge of said top wall and a leading edge of said interior top wall; an elongate turbulence-suppressor disposed within said housing; said elongate turbulence suppressor having a transverse cross-section comprising "T"-shaped or "X"-shaped configuration, and including a lower rearward wall, a lower forward wall, an upper rearward wall, and an upper forward wall; a plurality of openings formed in said lower rearward wall, said lower forward wall, and said upper forward wall of said turbulence suppressor; a rearward chamber defined by said rear wall of said housing and said lower rearward and upper rearward walls of said turbulence suppressor; a lower chamber defined by said housing bottom wall and said lower rearward and lower forward walls of said turbulence suppressor; a forward chamber defined by said housing forward wall and said lower forward and upper forward walls of said turbulence suppressor; an upper chamber defined by said housing interior top wall and said upper rearward and upper forward walls of said turbulence suppressor; whereby water from said source of water under pressure initially enters said rearward chamber, is constrained to flow sequentially into said lower chamber through said openings formed in said lower rearward wall, into said forward chamber through said openings formed in said lower forward wall, into said upper chamber through said openings formed in said upper forward wall, through said space between the trailing edge of said interior top wall and said rear wall, and through said discharge opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said openings in said lower rearward wall have a collective area substantially equal in area to said discharge opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 2, wherein said openings in said lower forward wall have a collective area substantially equal in area to said discharge opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said openings in said upper forward wall have a collective area substantially equal in area to said discharge opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device of claim 4, wherein said openings in said lower rearward wall have a common area and are equidistantly spaced apart by a predetermined distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
The device of claim 5, wherein said openings in said lower forward wall are circular and have a common area less than the common area of said openings in said lower rearward wall are circular and are equidistantly spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance that is less than the predetermined distance between said openings in said lower rearward wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The device of claim 6, wherein the openings in said upper forward wall have a common area less than the common area of said openings in said lower forward wall and are equidistantly spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance that is less than the predetermined distance between said openings in said lower forward wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 7, wherein said openings in said lower rearward wall are positioned near a lower edge of said lower rear wall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said openings in said lower forward wall are positioned near an upper edge of said lower forward wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 9, wherein said openings in said upper forward wall are positioned near an upper edge of said upper forward wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-13 | 2001-10-13 | 2002-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-13 | 2005-10-13 | 2006-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-13 | 2009-10-13 | 2010-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |