EP0399916B1 - Modular liquid circulation device, especially water toy construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A modular device including: a receptacle (1) suitable for containing a liquid; a support (5) connected to the receptacle to define, together with the receptacle, a structure extending in part above the level of the liquid contained in the receptacle, said structure being provided with assembly components in a first pattern (20, 21, 22); a plurality of liquid-conveying elements (3) each possessing assembly components in a second pattern complementary to the first pattern, the elements being mounted on the structure in positions selected for conveying the liquid from one element to another and/or to the receptacle; and a liquid raising unit (6) for raising the liquid from the receptacle to a liquid-distribution box (4) co-operating with at least one of the liquid-conveying elements.

Description

The invention relates to modular devices for circulating liquid.

It finds an advantageous but not limiting application in the field of construction games.

It may indeed be particularly interesting, for example on an educational level, to highlight the path of a fluid, such as water, within a construction game, and to be able to modify this path as desired.

It is therefore advisable to provide parts of various shapes in order to offer a very wide variety of possible paths for the water.

In addition, when using such a game, it is necessary to ensure a minimum of security in order to avoid untimely flow of water out of it.

Compliance with these constraints has not so far led to the production of a modular device which is both simple to implement and particularly attractive as regards the great diversity of aspects which it can offer. .

The invention provides a solution to this problem.

It aims to propose a modular device making it possible to materialize in a simple manner, a wide variety of paths for the liquid circulating there.

Another object of the invention is to associate this simplicity of realization a minimum security preserving the external environment of the game of untimely liquid flows.

Another object of the invention is to ensure a circulation of the liquid in a closed circuit requiring low energy consumption while ensuring a variable flow of the liquid.

Another object of the invention is to propose a modular device of which at least some of its constituents can be interchanged with elements of already existing building sets.

The invention also aims to highlight in a simple way the motor aspect that water can have in certain configurations.

Another object of the invention is to produce such a device at a lower cost.

The holder observed that it was advantageous, in particular to provide a solution to the problem posed, for the various parts of the device to be mutually interchangeable to ensure their modular nature and thus increase the diversity of these structural forms.

DE-A-3 411 391 shows a modular water construction set for the construction of open conduits for water circulation. After circulation in the open conduits the water returns to a container being all open upwards. US-A-4,080,752 shows a construction set comprising closed tubular conduits and a container which is open upwards and covered with a plate which does not provide sealing. Each of the two games mentioned presents a serious risk of untimely flow of water.

The invention as defined in claim 1 provides a modular device with a container offering the greatest guarantee that the liquid in the container does not flow out unexpectedly. It is possible to transport, tip and even overturn the container without the liquid being spilled out of the container. This advantage, which will be greatly appreciated in particular by the parents of children who play with the device according to the invention, cannot be obtained by the devices according to the cited prior art.

• la figure 1 représente schématiquement un récipient dún dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est la coupe II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective schématique d'un élément d'ácheminement du liquide,
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessous correspondant à la figure 3,
• la figure 5 est une vue de côté correspondant à la figure 4,
• les figures 6 et 7 illustrent schématiquement l'assemblage d'ún élément d'ácheminement sur un support,
• la figure 8 représente une vue schématique globale d'un mode de réalisation d'un dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 9 représente schématiquement un autre mode de réalisation de moyens d'acheminement de liquide,
• la figure 10 est la coupe X-X de la figure 9,
• la figure 11 illustre schématiquement un autre mode de réalisation de moyens de support,
• la figure 12 est une vue de dessus correspondant à la fiure 11,
• les figures 13 à 15 illustrent schématiquement encore un autre mode de réalisation de moyens de support,
• la figure 16 est une coupe transversale schématique partielle de deux récipients assemblés, et
• la figure 17 est une coupe transversale schématique d'un autre mode de réalisation du dispositif selon l'invention.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below and the attached drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 schematically represents a container of a device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is section II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a liquid delivery element,
• FIG. 4 is a bottom view corresponding to FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 4,
• FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate the assembly of a routing element on a support,
• FIG. 8 represents a global schematic view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention,
• FIG. 9 schematically represents another embodiment of means for conveying liquid,
• FIG. 10 is the section XX of FIG. 9,
• FIG. 11 schematically illustrates another embodiment of support means,
• FIG. 12 is a top view corresponding to the figure 11,
• FIGS. 13 to 15 schematically illustrate yet another embodiment of support means,
• FIG. 16 is a partial schematic cross-section of two assembled containers, and
• Figure 17 is a schematic cross section of another embodiment of the device according to the invention.

The drawings essentially contain elements of a certain character. As such they form an integral part of the description and can not only make the detailed description below better understood but also contribute, if necessary, to the definition of the invention.

The various dimensions indicated below are only by way of purely illustrative and nonlimiting examples.

An essential element of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, is a water receiving tank 1. This is of generally prismatic shape with a square base, the side of which has a dimension of approximately 40 cm, and has a height of approximately 5 cm. It has a bottom wall 10 surrounded by a side wall 11 provided with 4 through cylindrical orifices 110 located substantially in the middle of each of the 4 sides of the side wall, in the lower part thereof, that is to say under the level of water in the tank.

Each of the 4 lateral sides of the side wall of the container is folded outwards so as to define 4 edges 111, 112, 113, 114. The edge 112, is connected to the edge 111 of a lower height, by a riser 115 The rim 113, parallel and opposite to the rim 111, extends the rim 112 and is connected to the rim 114, of the same height as the rim 111, by a riser 116 homologous to the riser 115.

The function of these offset height ledges will be explained below.

The bottom wall and the rims of the container have a first unified assembly pattern of the type with cooperating studs, such as that well known under the brands DUPLO or LEGO. Such a pattern is described in French Patent No. 1,599,102 which is, for all intents and purposes, incorporated into the content of this description, in particular to assist, where appropriate, in the definition of this pattern of assembly.

In the rest of the text, a DUPLO motif or element will be designated under the type 1 motif or element, and a LEGO motif or element will be designated under the type 2 motif or element.

It is briefly recalled here that the assembly of two elements using such a pattern requires that at least one of them has projecting upper studs and that the other, for example in the form of a box open towards the bottom, comprises, in its cavity, lower studs providing recesses between them and the side walls of the cavity. The spacing of the projecting upper studs on the one hand, and the dimension of the lower studs and recesses on the other hand, are adjusted to allow the assembly of the 2 elements by engagement of the protruding upper studs in the recesses of the corresponding element .

When the pattern is more particularly of type 1, the projecting upper studs are hollowed out, having an internal diameter of approximately 6.7 mm and an external diameter of approximately 9.4 mm. On the other hand, in the pattern of type 2, the projecting upper studs are not hollowed out and have a diameter substantially equal to half that of the external diameter of the upper studs hollowed out of the type 1 motif.

In general, the expression "unified assembly motif" (in accordance with the meaning of the French adjective "standard") refers to a motif capable of being implanted in a chosen geometric position, on a large number of elements modular assemblable with each other. These modular elements can belong to a family of products, such as a range of play boxes, for example.

When two elements each include the unified assembly pattern for their assembly, it is implicit, within the meaning of this description, that one includes a part of the homologous pattern of another part of the same pattern.

The bottom wall 10 of the container 1 is provided with a plurality of projecting studs 20 as is the upper face of the 4 flanges 111-114. On the other hand, the lower face of these same flanges has a plurality of lower studs 21 and recesses 22 intended to cooperate with corresponding projecting studs of another element.

Another essential element of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, consists of a water conveying element such as a gutter 3.

This has a side wall 30, curved in the shape of a half-cylinder, opening at one end and obstructed at the other by an end wall 31 acting, as will be seen below, for means of stopping the 'water.

In general, the external face of the side wall 30, that is to say the face on which the water does not run, comprises two rows of hollow protruding pins 32 regularly spaced apart by a pitch p, the pitch p being understood here as being the distance between the respective axes of two neighboring pins. These two rows are themselves spaced at the same pitch p.

The arrangement of the pins on the gutter is remarkable in that the pitch p is substantially equal to 2.4 times the external diameter of each lug. The Applicants have in fact surprisingly observed that such a second assembly pattern made it possible to assemble a gutter, either on a brick comprising a unified pattern of type 2, or on a brick comprising a unified pattern of type 1, and this while ensuring very good transverse centering of the gutter on the brick (the longitudinal axis of the latter and the longitudinal axis of symmetry of this second assembly pattern then being combined).

The assembly of a gutter on two type 2 bricks B is illustrated in FIG. 6. It can then be seen that each protruding ergo 32 is housed externally with contact between two projecting upper studs 20 adjacent to a type 2 brick.

With regard to an assembly on a brick B ′ of type 1 (fig. 7), each protruding lug 32 is housed in contact inside a hollow protruding stud 20 ′, the external diameter of the lug being substantially equal to the internal diameter of the hollowed-out stud.

The gutter illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5, of a length of approximately 79 mm, of a diameter of approximately 32 mm, has 8 hollowed out studs distributed in 2 rows of 4 studs regularly spaced by a pitch of about 15.8 mm, the external diameter of each of them being approximately 6.4 mm.

We note here that the length of the gutter (79 mm) is equal to 5 times the pitch p. In general, the length of a gutter is advantageously between n.p and (n + 1) .p where n denotes the number of lugs per row, which allows it to overflow from its support element. This extra length advantageously makes it possible not to disturb the water jet leaving the gutter by the edge of its support element.

Some gutters may be of smaller dimensions allowing, for example, their assembly centered on a basic element of type 1, of square shape comprising only 4 projecting studs.

The recesses of the lugs 32 have an advantage in saving material, it being noted that solid lugs would also be suitable.

It could also be envisaged to provide the gutters with a base of the first type 1 assembly pattern or 2, in the case where it is not necessarily desired to center the gutter on its support, or if its diameter does not allow the implantation of the second assembly pattern.

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the modular device, using a plurality of basic elements 50, of the brick type, belonging to a construction set of type 1. In this figure, for the sake of simplification, the hidden parts do not are not shown. The dotted lines represent forms located below the water level, which is itself materialized in a mixed line. Likewise, the various assembly patterns are not shown.

These various elements 50 are assembled with each other to define a plurality of columns mounted on the bottom wall 10 of the container 1. Some of these elements could also be fixed on the upper face of the rims of the container although this configuration is not not shown here.

This plurality of columns made up of elements 50 of type 1, form support means 5 which define with the container a structure rising in part above the level of the liquid contained in the container 1.

A water distribution box 4, having the unified assembly pattern, is mounted in the selected position on the emerged part of the structure, preferably at the highest point thereof. It has a water inlet 40 and a plurality of water outlet nozzles (for example two) 41 and 42, advantageously provided with jet breakers.

Means for raising the water 6 are also provided from the container 1 to the housing 4. These include for example a pump 60 whose inlet, or suction, is connected to one of the cylindrical orifices 110 of the container and whose outlet, or discharge, is connected to the inlet 40 of the housing 4. A device for adjusting the flow rate of water, for example of the valve or flap type (not shown here), can be provided at the pump or at the housing. When it is located at the level of the housing, this adjustment device can be located at the level of the water inlet 40, or else on each outlet nozzle. The pump is here supposed to have the unified assembly pattern so as to be mounted, for example, on one of the edges of the container.

In the case of the use of a single container 1, the other 3 cylindrical orifices 110 are obstructed with the aid of suitable plugs which may possibly be removed during emptying of the container.

In another embodiment, the pump can be linked directly to the bottom of the container, the suction then being made directly without a hose, and the 4 orifices 110 are then obstructed.

The different gutters 3 are mounted, in selected positions, on the different columns of the support means 5 so as to cooperate with each other and / or with the container, by water jet. Some of them, provided with water stopping means 31, impose a one-way flow of the liquid. Others, can be bent and / or have 2 ends of water outlet.

Other routing elements 3 such as paddle wheels, can allow the visualization of the motor aspect of the water, thanks to the rotation of the wheel.

Alternatively (Figures 9 and 10) some gutters 103 can be connected to each other and then cooperate by flowing water. In this case, one end of the side wall 130 of these gutters is provided with an enveloping circular lip in which is formed an annular groove 134 suitable for receiving sealing means 133 such as an O-ring. The free end of another gutter 103 ′ then cooperates with the circular lip and the O-ring of the gutter 103.

The compatibility of this device with construction toy elements of types 1 and / or 2 makes their use particularly easy. This compatibility also promotes the modularity of such a device and allows the materialization of various and varied water paths. Thus, even using gutters of substantially identical shapes, the different orientation of the basic elements on which they are mounted, makes it possible to diversify the paths of the water.

It is also possible to use as support means 105, a unitary element as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. This comprises a base platform 154 provided with the unified assembly pattern and intended to be mounted on the bottom wall of the container. On this base platform 154 depends a main part 151, such as a column, rising upwards to an upper platform 153 also comprising the unified assembly pattern intended to receive one or more gutters. . A plurality of auxiliary parts 152 are also provided, integral with the central column 151, and supporting, at their free ends, secondary platforms 155 also provided with the unified assembly pattern.

The modularity of this kind of support could be increased by providing for embodiments such as those illustrated. in Figures 13, 14 and 15.

In FIG. 13, the auxiliary part 252 has a base 257 provided with the unified assembly pattern allowing it to be linked in a removable manner on the main part 251.

In FIGS. 14 and 15, the main part 351 has an annular projection 358. The base 357 of the auxiliary part 358 comprises an open ring portion which is pinched on the main part 351 and rests on the annular projection 358. It could also be conceived that this annular part 357 cooperates with an annular groove in the main part 351.

This additional modularity of the support means also makes it possible to reduce their rigidity and therefore their fragility.

To further increase the capacity of the game, it is possible to couple two similar containers (Figure 16). In this case, the assembly of these two containers will be done via their side edges. More specifically, a lateral rim of a lower level (114 ′ for example) will be inserted under a lateral rim of a higher level (for example 112) using the assembly pads 20 ′ and 21 and recesses 22. The two containers then communicate through their corresponding cylindrical orifices 110 and 110 ′ connected together by a connection sleeve 9 advantageously provided with sealing means 90 such as O-rings. The cooperation of the containers by means of their lateral edges thus prevents water splashes between them. In addition, the use of such connection sleeves makes it possible to use only one pump for all of the containers.

Although the invention finds its full advantages in embodiments described above, it has proven even better to provide an embodiment in which the device is provided with means for retaining the liquid contained in the container, these retaining means being able to minimize the amount of liquid likely to be spilled out of the container during movement of the latter. The term "displacement" should be understood here in a very general sense which can include not only an overturning of the container but also for example a sudden jerk capable of causing undulations of the level of the liquid contained in the container.

Generally, the retaining means comprise an intermediate wall, located at a first distance from the bottom wall of the container and resting on its side wall; this intermediate wall is then pierced with at least one orifice extending by a conduit opening opposite a selected area of the bottom wall, at a second distance from the latter; all these walls are then mutually arranged to internally delimit a chosen retention volume, depending on the volume of liquid used, while the second distance is a function of the first distance.

Such an embodiment is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 17, which has been modified with respect to FIG. 2 by the addition of the retaining means 400.

The intermediate wall 410 is here pierced in its center with an orifice 411 extending in the direction of the bottom wall 10 of the container by a conduit 412, the free end 413 of which opens out and is located at a distance H2 from the wall of bottom 10 and substantially opposite the center of the latter.

The intermediate wall 410 is shown here integral with the side wall 11 of the container. One could of course envisage that this intermediate wall is supported on the side wall by any other connecting means, in particular removably.

A person skilled in the art will know how to adapt the geometrical configuration of this intermediate wall to force the flow of the liquid coming from the routing elements towards the orifice 411. It is thus possible, for example, to provide a slight slope of this wall.

The first distance H1, separating the intermediate wall 410 from the bottom wall 10, as well as the mutual arrangements of all these walls have been chosen so as to internally delimit a retention volume VR at least equal to twice the volume of liquid used in the device. Furthermore, the distance H1 was also chosen to preserve, above the intermediate wall, a sufficient height of the side wall.

Furthermore, the second distance H2 is chosen at most equal to half the distance H1, and the through end 413 is located here, substantially in the vicinity of the bottom wall.

Those skilled in the art will then understand that such an arrangement of the retaining means 400 makes it possible to minimize a spillage of the liquid out of the container whatever the position of the latter in space.

It is not necessary for the bottom wall 10 to be provided here with the first assembly pattern. On the other hand, it is advantageous, but not imperative, for the upper face of the intermediate wall to have this first assembly pattern 20.

The Applicants have observed that it was not imperative that the orifice 411 be located in the center of the intermediate wall. This can indeed be eccentric provided that the conduit 412 opens substantially opposite the center of the bottom wall. Likewise, it is possible to provide several orifices 411 extended by conduits opening out opposite the bottom wall.

It should also be noted that the adaptation of retaining means is not incompatible with the variant of the invention providing at least one additional container as partially illustrated in FIG. 16. For this purpose, one can for example provide that the respective through conduits 412 of the intermediate walls 410 of the two containers open out substantially in the vicinity of the respective cylindrical orifices 110 connected by the connection sleeve. Thus, the through ends of these respective conduits 412 will be substantially located in the center of a surface defined by the two bottom walls of the two containers.

• les éléments d'acheminement du liquide peuvent prendre des formes diverses et variées par exemple en S ou en spirale. Il peut être également prévu d'équiper la structure d'éléments d'acheminement autres que des gouttières, par exemple des gargouilles ou toute autre figurine d'eau ; certains de ces éléments, tels que des tourniquets à eau, peuvent être reliés directement à la pompe par un tuyau, celui-ci constituant alors une partie des moyens de distribution de cette eau. Ils peuvent également être reliés par tuyau directement au boîtier de distribution.
• les moyens de remontée de l'eau peuvent ne pas être montés directement sur la structure. Il peut être également prévu plusieurs sorties d'eau sur le boîtier de distribution possédant chacune des moyens de régulation du débit ;
• le boîtier de distribution pourrait être remplacé par les extrémités de sortie d'une pluralité de tuyaux fixées sur un support adéquat ;
• on a décrit ci-avant un motif d'assemblage unifié du type à plots coopérants. Cependant tout autre motif d'assemblage unifié convient. On pourrait également concevoir de disposer de motifs d'assemblages de types différents pour différentes interfaces entre des constituants du dispositif ;
• le deuxième motif d'assemblage trouve ici une utilisation particulièrement avantageuse. Cependant il pourrait équiper d'autres éléments modulaires compatibles avec ceux de jeux de construction du type à plots coopérants et utilisables dans d'autres applications ;
• on pourrait également concevoir que la paroi latérale du récipient soit beaucoup plus haute que celle décrite. Elle pourrait alors comporter une partie au moins des moyens de support ;
• l'invention n'est pas limitée à l'application des dispositifs de jeu de construction et peut être utilisée par exemple comme dispositif de décoration intérieure de cascades ou de fontaines. Elle pourrait être également utilisée dans le cadre de parcs aquatiques, le dispositif présentant alors des dimensions plus importantes. Dans ce dernier cas, le récipient pourrait être un bac bétonné creusé à même le sol. Bien entendu, certains des moyens décrits ci-dessus peuvent être omis dans les variantes où ils ne servent pas.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but embraces all the variants, in particular the following:

• the liquid conveying elements can take various and varied forms, for example in an S or in a spiral. It can also be provided to equip the structure with routing elements other than gutters, for example gargoyles or any other water figurine; some of these elements, such as water turnstiles, can be connected directly to the pump by a pipe, the latter then constituting part of the means for distributing this water. They can also be connected by hose directly to the distribution box.
• the means for raising the water may not be mounted directly on the structure. Several water outlets can also be provided on the distribution box, each having means for regulating the flow rate;
• the distribution box could be replaced by the outlet ends of a plurality of pipes fixed on a suitable support;
• a unified assembly pattern of the type with cooperating studs has been described above. However, any other unified assembly pattern is suitable. One could also conceive of having assembly patterns of different types for different interfaces between components of the device;
• the second assembly pattern here finds a particularly advantageous use. However, it could equip other modular elements compatible with those of construction sets of the type with cooperating studs and usable in other applications;
• one could also conceive that the side wall of the container is much higher than that described. It could then include at least part of the support means;
• the invention is not limited to the application of construction play devices and can be used for example as an interior decoration device for waterfalls or fountains. It could also be used in the context of water parks, the device then having larger dimensions. In the latter case, the container could be a concrete tank dug directly on the ground. Of course, some of the means described above can be omitted in the variants where they are not used.

Claims (5)

1. Modular device including a container (1) which comprises a bottom wall (10) and side walls (11) and can hold a liquid, support means (5) which can be connected to the container so as to define together with the said container a structure at least part of which extends above the level of the liquid held in the container, this structure being provided with a first set of assembly means (20, 21, 22), a plurality of liquid conveying elements (3) which each have a second set of assembly means similar to the first set and can be mounted on the said structure in selected positions in order to convey the liquid to one another and/or to the container, and a means (6) for raising the liquid from the container to liquid distribution means (4) cooperating with at least one of the conveying elements, characterised in that the container includes an intermediate wall (410) situated at a first distance (H1) from the bottom wall (10) and bearing in a sealed manner against the side walls (11), in that the said intermediate wall is provided with at least one orifice (411) extended by a conduit (412) opening opposite a selected zone of the bottom wall (10) at a second distance (H2) from the latter, and in that all of the said walls (10, 11, 410) are mutually adapted to delimit an internal storage volume (VR) selected as a function of the volume of liquid used, while the second distance (H2) is a function of the first distance (H1).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the storage volume (VR) selected is equal to at least twice the volume of the liquid used, while the second distance (H2) is equal to at least half the first distance (H1), and in that the said zone is situated in the vicinity of the centre of the bottom wall (10).
3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that at least one of the side, intermediate and bottom walls is provided with the first set of assembly means (20).
4. Device according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the bottom wall (10) is provided with the first set of assembly means, while at least one of the side walls (11) is provided with the first set of assembly means in the vicinity of at least part of its free edge (111-114).
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that the said structure comprises at least one additional container having the said first set of assembly means, wherein the two containers can be assembled together by means of rims of different respective heights formed in the vicinity of at least one respective free edge of their side walls.

Images