AU6545399A - Tiered fountain or pond - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: STEPHEN JOHN HOYNE Invention Title: TIERED FOUNTAIN OR POND be *r

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The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 TIERED FOUNTAIN OR POND The present invention relates to a fountain or pond with multiple tiers, for containing water plants or fish, or for decorative purposes.

Existing multi-tiered fountains or ponds include a fountain comprising multiple circular basins supported on a single central pillar. As such they are not aesthetically suited for locating in the corners of gardens. A water outlet is located in the uppermost basin so that that basin may be filled, and then water may spill into each successive basin. Water collecting in the lowermost basin is either discarded or pumped back to the uppermost basin.

Existing ponds typically comprise a large basin, often recessed into the ground, and commonly covered with a mesh to reduce the collection in the pond of falling debris, such as leaves, and also as a safety measure against the risk of drowning posed especially to young children.

Such ponds or fountains are vulnerable to algal growth, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. Further, the plumbing and pumps associated with such conventional fountains or ponds is often unsightly.

S. According to the present invention, therefore, there is provided a tiered fountain or pond, including an upright backing wall structure and a plurality of front wall segments and base wall segments projecting forwardly from the backing wall structure and at successively increasing heights in a stepped array so as to encompass forwardly tiered spaces of successively decreasing forward dimensions to receive water in a forwardly tiered formation with upper surfaces of the tiers exposed.

Preferably the fountain or pond is of modular construction H:\AJl\Keep\specifications\Hoyne fountain AUVdoc 2212/99 3 including a plurality of modules each including one of the front wall segments, one of the base wall segments, and a segment of the backing wall structure interconnecting the ends of the front wall segment so as to form the backing wall structure with the front wall segments disposed in said step array. Preferably the fountain or pond includes fastening means to fasten the modules together.

The front wall segments may extend in arcs, circular or otherwise, of successively decreasing radii of curvature at said successively increasing heights.

Each of the front wall segments may be scalloped.

15 The pond or fountain, or each module, may be moulded in one piece from a plastics material, or constructed of wood, concrete or fibreglass.

When the fountain or pond is of modular construction, the segments of the backing wall structure may be provided with edge flanges such that the edge flanges of adjacent segments abut one another. Also, the segments of the backing wall structure may be provided with retaining flanges to engage an adjacent and lower segment.

The fountain or pond may include one or more support struts between any adjacent segments, to provide additional support for the weight of the filled pond or fountain.

The outside surface of each front wall segment may be provided with one or more raised features or protrusions to promote, or enhance the appearance of, cascading water.

The fountain or pond may be provided with pipes and/or pumping means for carrying water to an upper segment from a lower segment.

H:\A.JM\Keep\speciticaions\Hoyne founcain AU.doc 22/12/99 4 In order that the invention may be fully ascertained, some particular embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a view of a tiered fountain according a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through II-II in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a further cross sectional view through II- II in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the pond of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the two uppermost segments of the pond of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a detail of Figure 5, showing a fastener; Figure 7 is a cross sectional view through VII-VII in figure 4; Figure 8 is a side view of the pond of Figure 1 in use; Figure 9 is a detail of Figure 8, showing a pipe concealed beneath the channel of the pond; Figure 10 is a cross sectional view of the pond of figure 1, showing an alternative placement of the rise pipe; Figure 11 is a detail of Figure 10, showing a sealing 25 grommet; Figure 12 is a cross sectional view of an alternative configuration to that shown in Figure 7, according to the invention; and Figure 13 is a view of a wall stiffening element according to the present invention for the pond of figure 1.

A pond, which can also function as a fountain, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown generally at 10 in Figure 1. The pond 10 comprises a backing wall structure 12 and arcuate front wall segments 14, 16, 18 and 20. The backing wall structure includes two H!\AJM\Keep\specj fications\Hoyne fountain AUvdoc 22/12/99 5 flat backing walls 12a and 12b, which are perpendicular to each other and form a corner 22 so that the pond 10 may, in use, be placed in the corner of two perpendicular walls.

The pond 10 also includes integral base walls 24, 26, 28 and 30, so that there are provided basins 32, 34, 36 and 38 for retaining water with water plants, fish and the like.

In use, these basins 32, 34, 36 and 38 may contain a considerable volume and therefore weight of water, and so struts 40 are provided between each pair of adjacent basins. Referring to Figure 2, each strut 40 (show between the upper two basins 36 and 38) is located between inward flange 44 of basin 36 (at the internal join between the base wall and front wall segments of basin 36) and inward flange 46 of basin 38 (at the external join between the base wall and front wall segments of basin 38). In the preferred embodiment illustrated two struts are provided between each pair of adjacent basins, but this number may be varied according to the size of the pond and therefore the weight of water requiring support in use. Any suitable or convenient support strut alignment may be employed, including either diagonal as shown at 40, or vertical as shown with dashed lines at 41.

The pond 10 is also provided with a plurality of horizontally protrusions on front wall segments 16, 18 and 20. These encourage water flowing from one basin to a lower basin to project outwards from the front wall segment, rather than merely flowing down the face of the front wall segment, into the volume of water below, so that the cascading of water is more vigorous and the appearance and sound of the water more attractive. This may also be achieved by either molding or welding a lip onto the upper forward edge of each front wall segment (shown, for example, by dashed line 47).

H:\AJM\Keep\specifications\Hoyne Eountain AOUdoc 22/12/99 6 Figure 3 is a further cross section through II-II of Figure 1, and illustrates the modular nature of this embodiment.

Each basin is formed as a separate module and assembled into the final structure. The lower extremity of each basin is stepped inwards to form an inward directed flange between the walls backing wall and front wall segments) and the base wall. This is shown in Figure 3 in the case of the upper two basins 36 and 38, in which inward flanges 44 and 46 are shown adjacent base walls 28 and respectively. In this manner, each adjacent section of backing wall is supported by an immediately lower segment (with the exception of the backing wall segment of lower most basin 32). In addition, a convenient location for positioning struts 40 is thereby provided, which can be 15 securely located against these flanges by any suitable means.

ooo.. Figure 3 also shows the effect, in use, of the weight of water of the configuration of the front wall segments, when the pond 10 is constructed of, for example, a plastics material. Front wall segment 20 of upper most basin 38 will sag forward and downwards under the weight of water to assume configuration 20a (in dotted lines); this has the advantage that water will, in use, cascade over a front 25 wall segment rather than a backing wall, and therefore into a lower basin. Alternatively, however, the upper lip of front wall 20 could be provided with scallops or other indentations so that water may readily escape by this route.

Figure 4 is a side and partial ghost view of the pond in which the forward sagging of the upper three front wall segments 18, 18 and 20 is depicted, together with the water level 50 in each of these basins. In addition, the pond may be provided with a pump 52 inside the lower most basin 32 for pumping water from the lower most basin 32 to the upper most basin 38. Water is pumped, in use, along pipe H \AJM\Keep\specifications\Hoyne fountain AU.doc 22/12/99 7 54 which initially runs inside lower most basin 32 but then emerges from lower most basin 32 and passes along the outside of basins 34, 36, and 38 before passing through the exterior of upper most basin 38 and under the upper interned flange of upper most basin 38 (see Figure 9).

Thus, by this means, water can be pumped continuously from lower most basin 32 to upper most basin 38, from which it will cascade to basins 36, 34 and 32 in sequence.

Alternatively, (referring to figure 10) the pipe 70 can rise vertically through the bottom of each upper basin 74, 76 and 78. A water tight seal is provided by means of a rubber grommet 82 (see detail 80, shown in figure 11). The 15 pipe 70 then also acts as a tie to provide additional stability to the connected basins 72, 74, 76 and 78. A bypass valve 82 may be provided between the pump 84 and the pipe 70 to allow adjustment of the rate of flow.

Referring to figure 4, the lower edge of each basin (other than lowermost basin 32) may optionally be provided with an additional downward projecting flange 56 to add further stability to the completed pond 10. The flange 56 is provided, near its lower extremity and at the intersection of the perpendicular backing wall segments 12a and 12b, with a hole 57a which, when the pond 10 is assembled, is aligned with a corresponding hole 57b in the upper most extremity of the next lower basin. Holes 57a and 57b are aligned downwards and inwards. An expanding fastener 58 is then located in these holes when the pond 10 is assembled, and serve to inhibit any tendency of the filled basins to tip forward in the direction of the front wall segments.

Alternatively, this forward tipping action may be inhibited by the rise pipe 70 shown in figure Figure 7 shows such a retaining flange 56, spot welded to the lower extremity of basin 38, and its relationship with H:\AJ1\Keep\specifications\Hoyne fountain AUVdoc 22/12/99 8 inward flange 44. It will be apparent that, even without expanding fastener 58, the provision of retaining flange 56 will add stability and strength to the completed pond In an alternative embodiment shown in cross section in figure 12, lateral movement between basins is inhibited by forming inward flange 90 further away from the backing wall structure 92, the upper edge of each basin formed in a corresponding protrusion 94.

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of the pond 10 in use, provided with water plants 60 and fish 62. Water 64 is shown cascading from upper basins 34, 36 and 38. As described above, the water is pumped by pump 52 from lowermost basin 32 to uppermost basin 38, where it passes 15 along pipe 54 which, after entering through backing wall 12a, runs underneath the upper flange 66 provided in upper most basin 38. The pipe 54 is therefore concealed from sight.

Plants 60 are exposed only in the exposed upper surfaces of the respective basins, and an attractive water cascade is provided. The reduced water surface area exposed to sunlight reduces algal growth in the water, while still providing sufficient depth and volume of water for fish and 25 water plants.

An additional advantage is that water plants in pots may be located so that the pots and/or root systems are concealed under a basin (see, for example, pots 60a and 60b in Figure with only the foliage visible.

Referring to figure 13, the backing wall or front wall segments may be further stiffened by locating one or more struts 100 (either molded integrally or inserted afterward manufacture) between upper flange 102 and inward flange 104.

H:\AJM\Keep\specificatons\Hoyne founcain AU.doc 22/12/99 9 While the above embodiment of the pond 10 is preferably constructed of plastic, it is envisaged that any other suitable material (such as timber, fibreglass or concrete, or accommodation thereof) could be used.

In addition, although the above embodiment comprises separate plastic units, a pond could also be provided in which all the basins are formed integrally, or welded together after assembly.

Modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by a persons skilled in the art, so it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described by way of example 15 herein above.

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Claims (12)

1. A tiered fountain or pond, including an upright backing wall structure and a plurality of front wall segments and base wall segments projecting forwardly from the backing wall structure and at successively increasing heights in a stepped array so as to encompass forwardly tiered spaces of successively decreasing forward dimensions to receive water in a forwardly tiered formation with upper surfaces of the tiers exposed.

2. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fountain or pond is of modular construction including a plurality of modules each including one of the 15 front wall segments, one of the base wall segments, and a segment of the backing wall structure interconnecting the ends of the front wall segment so as to form the backing wall structure with the front wall segments disposed in said step array.

3. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in claim 2, •wherein said fountain or pond includes fastening means to fasten the modules together.

4. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said front wall segments extend in arcs, circular or otherwise, of successively decreasing radii of curvature at said successively increasing heights.

5. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of said front wall segments is scalloped.

6. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said pond or fountain, or each module, is moulded in one piece from a plastics material, or constructed of wood, concrete or fibreglass. H:\AJl4\Keep\specifications\Hoyne fountain AUVdoc 22/12/99 11

7. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in claim 2, wherein said segments of the backing wall structure are provided with edge flanges such that the edge flanges of adjacent segments abut one another.

8. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in claim 7, wherein said segments of the backing wall structure are provided with retaining flanges to engage an adjacent and lower segment.

9. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including one or more support struts between any adjacent segments, to provide additional support for the weight of the filled pond or fountain. o.

10. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outside surface of each front wall segment is provided with one or more raised features 20 or protrusions to promote, or enhance the appearance of, cascading water. 9 .9*

11. A tiered fountain or pond as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fountain or pond is provided 25 with pipes and/or pumping means for carrying water to an upper segment from a lower segment. .9

12. A tiered fountain or pond substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 22nd day of December 1999 STEPHEN JOHN HOYNE By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia H:\A.T\Keep\specifications\Hoyne fountain AU~doc 22/12/99