Recirculating water fountain

Abstract

A recirculating water fountain configured for table/desk top use comprises a water reservoir, a plenum mounted above the reservoir and configured to accumulate a substantially still pool of water, and a pump operable to pump water upwardly from the reservoir to form the water pool in the plenum. The recirculating water fountain includes a visually open flow pathway sloping downward from beneath the plenum to receive water from a plenum overflow for return to the reservoir, and a controller for alternately defining a pump-on mode and a pump-off mode. The pump controller functions to define the pump-off mode in response to the water level in the reservoir falling below a first height mark and to prevent resumption of the pump-on mode until the water level in the reservoir exceeds a second height mark. The open flow pathway includes a first portion defining convex and concave surfaces which guide the sheet flow along a visually pleasing generally sinuous path, and a second downwardly sloping diverging ramp portion which is ridged to produce a visually pleasing rippling effect.

1 . An apparatus configured to pleasingly display a flowing liquid, said apparatus comprising: 
 a reservoir for accommodating a volume of liquid;    a plenum mounted above said reservoir and configured to accumulate a liquid pool;    a pump operable in a pump-on mode to pump liquid upwardly from said reservoir to form said liquid pool in said plenum;    a visually open flow pathway sloping downwardly from beneath said plenum and configured to receive liquid from a plenum overflow for return to said reservoir; and    a controller for alternately defining a pump-on mode and a pump-off mode, said controller including a detector for defining said pump-off mode in response to the liquid level in said reservoir being less than a first height mark and for preventing definition of said pump-on mode unless the liquid level in said reservoir is greater than a second height mark.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reservoir includes at least one peripheral window for viewing the reservoir liquid level from outside said reservoir.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said liquid flow pathway includes a ramp portion adapted to support a substantially smooth sheet liquid flow.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein said ramp portion includes spaced lateral ridges for creating ripples in said sheet liquid flow.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flow pathway includes a substantially convex surface portion adapted to support a substantially smooth sheet liquid flow.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flow pathway includes a substantially concave surface portion adapted to support a substantially smooth sheet liquid flow.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said detector includes a first switch mounted proximate to said first height mark and a second switch mounted proximate to said second height mark.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein said detector further includes at least one switch actuator configured to float proximate to the liquid level in said reservoir.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said controller is responsive to said first and second switches to define said pump-off mode when said liquid falls below said first height mark and to subsequently define said pump-on mode only after said level rises above said second height mark.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said switch actuator comprises a magnet.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein at least one of said switches is responsive to a magnetic field proximate thereto.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a housing having wall portions substantially converging upwardly above said reservoir.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said housing wall portions are substantially planar and define interior and exterior surfaces; and wherein 
 said reservoir and said wall portion interior surfaces are sealed to prevent liquid leakage therebetween.  
 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further including at least one decorative panel mounted on a wall portion exterior surface.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said liquid flow pathway includes a light transmissive portion.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising at least one light source for illuminating said liquid flow through said light transmissive portion.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said at least one light source includes a light emitting diode (LED) mounted in said reservoir and sealed in a waterproof housing.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising a plurality of light sources adapted to illuminate said liquid flow in a variety of colors through said light transmissive portion.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including at least one light source energizable to illuminate said liquid flow pathway; and 
 a controller for variably energizing said light source to simulate a flame flicker.  
 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus configured to pleasingly display a flowing liquid, said apparatus comprising: 
 a reservoir for accommodating a volume of liquid;    a visually open flow pathway having an upstream end and sloping downwardly to a downstream end proximate to said reservoir;    a pump operable to pump liquid upwardly from said reservoir to said upstream end; and    a controller for switching said pump off in response to the liquid level in said reservoir falling below a first height mark and for preventing resumption of pump operation unless the liquid level in said reservoir rises above a second height mark greater than first height mark.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said reservoir includes at least one peripheral window for viewing the reservoir liquid level from outside said reservoir.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein said controller includes first and second level detectors respectively mounted adjacent to said first and second height marks.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further including an actuator configured to float proximate to the surface of the liquid in said reservoir; and wherein 
 each of said first and second detectors is responsive to the proximity of said actuator.  
 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said actuator comprises a magnet and each of said first and second detectors comprises a reed switch.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22  further including at least one substantially vertically oriented guide member mounted in said reservoir; 
 a substantially toroidal float mounted for vertical movement along said guide member; and wherein  
 said actuator is mounted on said float.  
 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein said actuator comprises a magnet and each of said first and second detectors comprises a reed switch.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein said guide member comprises at least one tubular member; and wherein 
 at least one of said reed switches is mounted in said tubular member.  
 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus configured to pleasingly display a flowing liquid, said apparatus comprising: 
 a liquid reservoir;    a pump coupled to said reservoir for pumping liquid upstream to a plenum configured to form a substantially still liquid pool, said substantially still liquid pool adapted to overflow onto an upstream end of a visually open flow pathway configured to return said liquid overflow to said reservoir; and    a pump controller adapted to prevent said pump from running dry.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein said reservoir includes at least one peripheral window for viewing the reservoir liquid level from outside said reservoir.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein said flow pathway includes a ramp portion adapted to support a substantially smooth sheet liquid flow.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said ramp portion includes spaced lateral ridges for creating ripples in said liquid sheet flow.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein said flow pathway includes a substantially convex surface portion and a concave surface portion adapted to support a substantially smooth sheet liquid flow.