GB2119285A

GB2119285A - Improvements in and relating to fountains

Info

Publication number: GB2119285A
Application number: GB08208927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Sidney Davies
Original assignee: STAPELEY WATER GARDENS Ltd
Current assignee: STAPELEY WATER GARDENS Ltd
Priority date: 1982-03-26
Filing date: 1982-03-26
Publication date: 1983-11-16
Also published as: GB2119285B

Abstract

A fountain head comprises a cover member 10 formed with apertures 14 and secured to a base member 1 by a bayonet-fitting retaining ring 20 so that the cover member can be easily exchanged for one with a different arrangement of apertures without the need to replace the entire head. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to fountains The invention relates to fountains, and especially to fountain-heads for use in ornamental ponds and the like.

Various forms of fountain-head are known, generally comprising a downwardly extending stem portion for connection to an underwater pump or other source of water under pressure and a broader upper part having in its upper face one or more apertures through which water escapes to form the jets of the fountain.

It is not always possible to predict what arrangement of the apertures in the fountain-head will produce the most pleasing effect in a particular pond, and it may be desired to produce different effects on different occasions. The gardener thus often has to obtain several heads and try them out if he wishes to be sure of achieving the best effect.

This is expensive and wasteful, especially if as usually happens, the gardener then discards all but one or two of the heads virtually unused.

The invention provides a fountain-head comprising a generally funnel-shaped base member, a generally disc-shaped cover member having at least one aperture in it and covering the mouth of the funnel-shaped base member, and a retaining ring releasably secured by a bayonet fitting round the rim of the said mouth and retaining the cover member in substantially sealing engagement with the base member.

The invention also provides a kit of parts for constructing a fountain-head in accordance with the invention, the kit comprising a base member, a retaining ring and a plurality of cover members having different arrangements of apertures in them.

With the arrangement according to the invention it is possible to provide several different jet patterns with the minimum of waste because only the disc-shaped cover member need be changed to provide a different pattern, and the bayonnet-fitting retaining ring means that the exchange of cover members can be effected quickly and easily.

One form of fountain-head constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which is a longitudinal section through the fountain-head.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the fountain-head, which is made from a plastics material, comprises a base member indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, which is generally in the shape of a funnel. The narrow neck end 2 of the funnel is generally cylindrical and in use extends downwards.

The wide mouth end of the funnel ends with a cylindrical rim portion 3 formed with a step 4 set into its inner edge and two flanges 5 and 6 projecting from its outer surfaces. The upper surface of the upper flange 5 lies flush with the end face of the rim portion 3, and the lower flange 6 is separated from the upper flange by a space 7. Both flanges 5 and 6 have gaps 8 at regular intervals around their circumferences, the gaps in the two flanges being aligned.

A cover member, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, fits across the mouth of the funnel, seating on the step 4. The cover member 10 has a thin rim portion 11, the upper surface of which Ilies flush with or slightly proud of the end face of the rim portion 3, and a thicker central portion 12. The periphery of the central portion 12 deFines a further step 13 rising above the upper surface of the rim portion 11. The central portion 12 is formed with several apertures 14 arranged in a symmetrical pattern.

A retaining ring, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, fits over the rim portion 3. The retaining ring 20 has a generally flat annular portion 21 which abuts the upper surfaces of the upper flange 5, the rim portion 3, and the rim portion 11, extending inwards as far as the step 13 and securing the cover member 10 against the step 4. The upper surface of the flat annular portion 21 lies flush with that of the central portion 12 of the cover member 10. From the outer edge of the flat annular portion 21 a cylindrical portion 22 extends downwards just outside the flanges 5 and 6, and a flange 23 extends inwards from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 22 and abuts the underside of the lower flange 6, holding the retaining ring 20, and hence the cover member 10, tightly in place on the base member 1.

The flange 23 has gaps 24 at regular intervals around its circumference, and the retaining ring 20 is so arranged that it can be rotated to a position at which the gaps 8 in the flanges 5 and 6 align with the solid portions of the flange 23, and the gaps 24 in the flanges 23 align with the solid portions of the flanges 5 and 6, and the retaining ring 20 can then be lifted off the base member 1, releasing the cover member 10.

In operation, the fountain head is mounted with the cover member 10 facing upwards, preferably just above the level of water in a pond or the like, and the downwardly-extending neck end 2 connected to a submerged pump or other source of water under pressure. The pressure forces jets of water out through the apertures 14, producing a display determined partly by the water pressure and partly by the arrangement of the apertures; "arrangement" is to be understood as comprising not only the number and position of the apertures but also their size, alignment and other individual characteristics.

1. Afountain-head comprising a generallyfunnel-shaped base member, a generally disc-shaped cover member having at least one aperture and covering the mouth of the funnel-shaped base member, and a retaining ring releasably secured by a bayonnetfitting round the rim of the said mouth and retaining the cover member in substantially sealing engagement with the base member.

2. A fountain-head as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover member is seated against both radially and axially extending annular surfaces of the said rim.

3. Afountain-head as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said annular surfaces define a step recessed into the said rim.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to fountains The invention relates to fountains, and especially to fountain-heads for use in ornamental ponds and the like. Various forms of fountain-head are known, generally comprising a downwardly extending stem portion for connection to an underwater pump or other source of water under pressure and a broader upper part having in its upper face one or more apertures through which water escapes to form the jets of the fountain. It is not always possible to predict what arrangement of the apertures in the fountain-head will produce the most pleasing effect in a particular pond, and it may be desired to produce different effects on different occasions. The gardener thus often has to obtain several heads and try them out if he wishes to be sure of achieving the best effect. This is expensive and wasteful, especially if as usually happens, the gardener then discards all but one or two of the heads virtually unused. The invention provides a fountain-head comprising a generally funnel-shaped base member, a generally disc-shaped cover member having at least one aperture in it and covering the mouth of the funnel-shaped base member, and a retaining ring releasably secured by a bayonet fitting round the rim of the said mouth and retaining the cover member in substantially sealing engagement with the base member. The invention also provides a kit of parts for constructing a fountain-head in accordance with the invention, the kit comprising a base member, a retaining ring and a plurality of cover members having different arrangements of apertures in them. With the arrangement according to the invention it is possible to provide several different jet patterns with the minimum of waste because only the disc-shaped cover member need be changed to provide a different pattern, and the bayonnet-fitting retaining ring means that the exchange of cover members can be effected quickly and easily. One form of fountain-head constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing, the single Figure of which is a longitudinal section through the fountain-head. Referring to the accompanying drawing, the fountain-head, which is made from a plastics material, comprises a base member indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, which is generally in the shape of a funnel. The narrow neck end 2 of the funnel is generally cylindrical and in use extends downwards. The wide mouth end of the funnel ends with a cylindrical rim portion 3 formed with a step 4 set into its inner edge and two flanges 5 and 6 projecting from its outer surfaces. The upper surface of the upper flange 5 lies flush with the end face of the rim portion 3, and the lower flange 6 is separated from the upper flange by a space 7. Both flanges 5 and 6 have gaps 8 at regular intervals around their circumferences, the gaps in the two flanges being aligned. A cover member, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, fits across the mouth of the funnel, seating on the step 4. The cover member 10 has a thin rim portion 11, the upper surface of which Ilies flush with or slightly proud of the end face of the rim portion 3, and a thicker central portion 12. The periphery of the central portion 12 deFines a further step 13 rising above the upper surface of the rim portion 11. The central portion 12 is formed with several apertures 14 arranged in a symmetrical pattern. A retaining ring, indicated generally by the reference numeral 20, fits over the rim portion 3. The retaining ring 20 has a generally flat annular portion 21 which abuts the upper surfaces of the upper flange 5, the rim portion 3, and the rim portion 11, extending inwards as far as the step 13 and securing the cover member 10 against the step 4. The upper surface of the flat annular portion 21 lies flush with that of the central portion 12 of the cover member 10. From the outer edge of the flat annular portion 21 a cylindrical portion 22 extends downwards just outside the flanges 5 and 6, and a flange 23 extends inwards from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 22 and abuts the underside of the lower flange 6, holding the retaining ring 20, and hence the cover member 10, tightly in place on the base member 1. The flange 23 has gaps 24 at regular intervals around its circumference, and the retaining ring 20 is so arranged that it can be rotated to a position at which the gaps 8 in the flanges 5 and 6 align with the solid portions of the flange 23, and the gaps 24 in the flanges 23 align with the solid portions of the flanges 5 and 6, and the retaining ring 20 can then be lifted off the base member 1, releasing the cover member 10. In operation, the fountain head is mounted with the cover member 10 facing upwards, preferably just above the level of water in a pond or the like, and the downwardly-extending neck end 2 connected to a submerged pump or other source of water under pressure. The pressure forces jets of water out through the apertures 14, producing a display determined partly by the water pressure and partly by the arrangement of the apertures; "arrangement" is to be understood as comprising not only the number and position of the apertures but also their size, alignment and other individual characteristics. CLAIMS

4. A fountain-head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the retaining ring is seated against a step formed in the surface of the cover member and an outer surface of the retaining ring lies flush with the exposed face of the cover member.

5. A fountain-head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a radially inwardly extending annular flange on the retaining ring abuts the side further from the said mouth of a radially outwardly extending annular flange on the base member to secure the retaining ring to the base member, and wherein there are gaps in both said flanges and the arrangement is such that the retaining ring can be rotated relative to the base member to a position at which the solid parts of each flange are aligned with the gaps in the other flange to release the retaining ring from the base member.

6. Afountain-head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, which is made of plastics material.

7. A fountain-head substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

8. A kit of parts comprising a base member, a retaining ring, and a plurality of cover members for a fountain-head as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.