Patent EP0684167A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6595675B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pool/spa waterfall unit with fiber optic illumination
Assignee: Waterway Plastics Inc
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Filing: 2001-04-23
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Granted: 2003-07-22
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Expires: 2021-04-23
Abstract
Abstract An illuminated waterfall unit for a spa or pool comprises a manifold body with a water outlet that forms outflowing water into a waterfall. An optical probe is positioned within the manifold body to receive light from a light source, preferably an optical fiber, and to illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through the outlet body. The probe is preferably positioned so that is also illuminates the waterfall directly.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Dongo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:43
CPC Classifications
E; E04; E04H; E04H4/00; E04H4/14; E04H4/148; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/001; B; B05; B05B; B05B1/00; B05B1/36; F; F21; F21W; F21W2121/00; F21W2121/02; F21W2131/00; F21W2131/40; F21W2131/401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A spa waterfall unit, comprising: a manifold body; a water inlet into said body; a water outlet having an opening to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, said outlet having a transparent outlet cap capable of transmitting light from the interior of said body; and a probe disposed within said body to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through said outlet opening and said transparent outlet cap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A spa waterfall unit, comprising: a manifold body; a water inlet into said body; a water outlet having an opening to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, said outlet having a transparent outlet cap capable of transmitting light from the interior of said body; and a probe disposed within said body to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through said outlet opening and said transparent outlet cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The waterfall unit of claim 1 , wherein said water outlet comprises an spillway outlet projecting from the top of said manifold body and an outlet fitting, said outlet fitting mounted in said outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
A spa waterfall unit, comprising: a manifold body; a water inlet into said body; a water outlet to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, a portion of said outlet capable of transmitting light from the interior of said body; and a probe disposed within said body to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through said outlet, wherein said probe is bent down its length to encourage light emission adjacent to said outlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
A spa waterfall unit, comprising: a manifold body; a water inlet into said body; a water outlet to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, a portion of said outlet capable of transmitting light from the interior of said body; and a probe disposed within said body to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through said outlet, wherein said probe is bent down its length to encourage light emission adjacent to said outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
146 words
A spa waterfall unit, comprising: a manifold body; a water inlet into said body; a water outlet having an opening to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, wherein said water outlet comprises a spillway outlet projecting from the top of said manifold body and a transparent outlet fitting capable of transmitting light from the interior of said body, said outlet fitting mounted in said spillway outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall; and a probe disposed within said body to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through said outlet opening and said outlet fitting, wherein a portion of the light from said probe is transmitted into and through said outlet fitting, light from said probe and light transmitted through said outlet fitting combining to illuminate the waterfall emitting from said outlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
146 words
A spa waterfall unit, comprising: a manifold body; a water inlet into said body; a water outlet having an opening to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, wherein said water outlet comprises a spillway outlet projecting from the top of said manifold body and a transparent outlet fitting capable of transmitting light from the interior of said body, said outlet fitting mounted in said spillway outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall; and a probe disposed within said body to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall by optical transmission through said outlet opening and said outlet fitting, wherein a portion of the light from said probe is transmitted into and through said outlet fitting, light from said probe and light transmitted through said outlet fitting combining to illuminate the waterfall emitting from said outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , further comprising an external light guide arranged to transmit light from a light source to said probe.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The unit of claim 5 , wherein said probe emits light within the interior of said body with at least a portion of the light from said probe passing into and through said transparent portion of said outlet, light from said probe and light passing through said transparent portion combining to illuminate said waterfall.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The waterfall unit of claim 5 , wherein said light guide comprises an optical fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The waterfall unit of claim 5 , wherein said light source is a fiber optic light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , wherein said manifold body is elongated and said probe is elongated, said probe being disposed longitudinally within said manifold body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The waterfall unit of claim 8 , wherein said probe is held adjacent to said outlet such that light from said probe enters the transparent portions of said outlet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , wherein said manifold body includes an opening that receives said probe, said probe being held longitudinally in said manifold body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The waterfall unit of claim 11 , further comprising a plug mounted over said manifold opening and holding said probe within said manifold body, said plug providing a watertight seal with said opening.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The waterfall unit of claim 12 , wherein said plug is transparent and further comprises a light guide opening to receive the light guide, light from said light guide passing through said plug into said probe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , wherein said outlet fitting is removable and replaceable from said outlet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , wherein said probe is scored to encourage light emission adjacent to said outlet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , wherein said probe has hemispheric cutouts down its length to encourage light emission adjacent to said outlet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The waterfall unit of claim 4 , wherein said probe has wedge shaped cutouts down its length to encourage light emission adjacent to said outlet.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for illuminating a waterfall, comprising: a reservoir shell capable of holding water; at least one waterfall unit positioned to receive water and emit a waterfall to the surface of water held in said reservoir shell; a water pump system that circulates water between said reservoir and each of said waterfall units; and each of said waterfall units including a probe positioned within it and an outlet having an opening and a transparent outlet cap, said probe arranged to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall emitting from said waterfall unit by optical transmission through said outlet opening and said transparent outlet cap.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
105 words
A system for illuminating a waterfall, comprising: a reservoir shell capable of holding water; at least one waterfall unit positioned to receive water and emit a waterfall to the surface of water held in said reservoir shell; a water pump system that circulates water between said reservoir and each of said waterfall units; and each of said waterfall units including a probe positioned within it and an outlet having an opening and a transparent outlet cap, said probe arranged to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall emitting from said waterfall unit by optical transmission through said outlet opening and said transparent outlet cap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 18 , wherein each waterfall unit has water outlet to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, at least a portion of the light from said probe passing into and through said transparent portion of said outlet, light from said probe and light passing through said transparent portion combining to illuminate the waterfall.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 19 , wherein each outlet comprises a horizontal spillway outlet and a outlet fitting, said outlet projecting from the top of said waterfall unit, said outlet fitting mounted in said outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
131 words
A device for providing an illuminated waterfall to a water reservoir, comprising: a device body capable of receiving water; a device outlet having an opening to the inside of said body, said outlet adapted to extend through the wall of a reservoir and convert water received by said body into a waterfall, said device outlet further comprising an outlet member that is transparent to the interior of said body, at least one of the surfaces of said member being an exterior surface of said device; and a light source internal to said body, a portion of the light from said light source passing into and through said outlet member, the light from said internal light source passing through said opening and light passing through said member combining to illuminate said waterfall.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
131 words
A device for providing an illuminated waterfall to a water reservoir, comprising: a device body capable of receiving water; a device outlet having an opening to the inside of said body, said outlet adapted to extend through the wall of a reservoir and convert water received by said body into a waterfall, said device outlet further comprising an outlet member that is transparent to the interior of said body, at least one of the surfaces of said member being an exterior surface of said device; and a light source internal to said body, a portion of the light from said light source passing into and through said outlet member, the light from said internal light source passing through said opening and light passing through said member combining to illuminate said waterfall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 21 , wherein said device outlet comprises a spillway outlet and an outlet fitting, said outlet fitting mounted in said outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for illuminating a waterfall, comprising: a reservoir shell capable of holding water; at least one waterfall unit positioned to receive water and emit a waterfall to the surface of water held in said reservoir shell; a water pump system that circulates water between said reservoir and each of said waterfall units; each of said waterfall units including a probe positioned within it and an outlet to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, said probe arranged to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall emitting from said waterfall; and each said outlet comprising a horizontal spillway outlet and a outlet fitting, said spillway outlet projecting from the top of said waterfall unit and said outlet fitting mounted in said spillway outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall, wherein each said outlet fitting is transparent and a portion of the light from said probe being transmitted into and through said outlet fitting, light from said probe and light transmitted through said outlet fitting combining to illuminate the waterfall emitting from said outlet.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
183 words
A system for illuminating a waterfall, comprising: a reservoir shell capable of holding water; at least one waterfall unit positioned to receive water and emit a waterfall to the surface of water held in said reservoir shell; a water pump system that circulates water between said reservoir and each of said waterfall units; each of said waterfall units including a probe positioned within it and an outlet to pass water out of said body in the form of a waterfall, said probe arranged to receive light and in response illuminate the waterfall emitting from said waterfall; and each said outlet comprising a horizontal spillway outlet and a outlet fitting, said spillway outlet projecting from the top of said waterfall unit and said outlet fitting mounted in said spillway outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall, wherein each said outlet fitting is transparent and a portion of the light from said probe being transmitted into and through said outlet fitting, light from said probe and light transmitted through said outlet fitting combining to illuminate the waterfall emitting from said outlet.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 23 , further comprising a remote light source and at least one light guide, each said light guide arranged to transmit light from said remote light source to one of said at least one waterfall unit.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein each of said light guides comprises optical fibers.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A The system of claim 23 , wherein each said at least one waterfall unit and each said probe is elongated, each said waterfall unit including an opening for said probe to be mounted within the waterfall unit with a watertight seal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 23 , wherein said probe is held adjacent to said outlet such that light from said probe enters said outlet fitting.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
139 words
A device for providing an illuminated waterfall to a water reservoir, comprising: a device body capable of receiving water; a device outlet having an opening to the inside of said body, said outlet adapted to extend through the wall of a reservoir and convert water received by said body into a waterfall, said device outlet comprising a spillway outlet and an outlet fitting, said outlet fitting mounted in said spillway outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall, said outlet fitting being transparent to the interior of said body and; a light source internal to said body, a portion of the light from said interior light source being transmitted into and through said outlet fitting, light from said light source and light transmitted through said outlet fitting combining to illuminate the waterfall emitting from said outlet.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
139 words
A device for providing an illuminated waterfall to a water reservoir, comprising: a device body capable of receiving water; a device outlet having an opening to the inside of said body, said outlet adapted to extend through the wall of a reservoir and convert water received by said body into a waterfall, said device outlet comprising a spillway outlet and an outlet fitting, said outlet fitting mounted in said spillway outlet and forming the water from said outlet into a waterfall, said outlet fitting being transparent to the interior of said body and; a light source internal to said body, a portion of the light from said interior light source being transmitted into and through said outlet fitting, light from said light source and light transmitted through said outlet fitting combining to illuminate the waterfall emitting from said outlet.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
53 words
The device of claim 28 , wherein said internal light source comprises a probe, a optical fiber and a remote optical fiber light source, said probe disposed within said body and capable of receiving light from said optical fiber, said optical fiber transmitting light from said optical fiber light source to said probe.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
The device of claim 28 , wherein said manifold body is elongated and said probe is elongated, said probe being disposed longitudinally within said body.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 30 , wherein said probe is held adjacent to said outlet such that light from said probe enters the transparent portions of said outlet.
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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) | 2006-07-21 | 2007-01-20 | 2007-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-21 | 2011-01-20 | 2011-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-21 | 2015-01-20 | 2015-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |