Apparatus, method, and system for water shaping including for zero edge pools and related systems

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for water shaping, including for zero edge pools and related systems, comprising either: (a) a unique dam intended and designed to dimensionally occupy the front of a ledge formed in a shell, where it can serve as a mounting location for waterline finish material as well as serving as the foundation and support for a distinctive mounting plate and related parts that serve, in conjunction with the dam element, as a means of support for coping surface materials and otherwise help to define the enclosed trough of the invention; or (b) a spout-shaped water scupper, such as that shown in FIG. 12 is combined with a planar water-baffle, such as is shown in e.g U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,249,744, 4,881,280, and 6,382,520, to produce a spout-shaped scupper with a pleasing sheetfall appearance analogous to that produced by the linear scupper shown in FIG. 11 when combined with such a baffle; or (c) both (a) and (b).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for water shaping, including for zero edge pools and related systems, comprising either:
 (a) a unique dam intended and designed to dimensionally occupy the front of a ledge formed in a shell, where it can serve as a mounting location for waterline finish material as well as serving as the foundation and support for a distinctive mounting plate and related parts that serve, in conjunction with the dam element, as a means of support for coping surface materials and otherwise help to define the enclosed trough of the invention; or   (b) a spout-shaped water scupper, such as that shown in  FIG. 12  is combined with a planar water-baffle, such as is shown in e.g U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,249,744, 4,881,280, and 6,382,520, to produce a spout-shaped scupper with a pleasing sheetfall appearance analogous to that produced by the linear scupper shown in  FIG. 11  when combined with such a baffle; or   (c) both (a) and (b).   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for water shaping according to  claim 1  comprising the inclusion of 6″ deep and 8″ wide cut-out  4 B 1 , and the placement of suitably spaced rebar pins  4 B 2  to be used for anchoring the distinctive dam element  7  of the invention, a baffled water scupper, or both. 
     
     
         3 . The water feature according to  claim 2  wherein dam element  7  comprises an elongate element with a cross-section forming a right-triangle and having suitable sockets for mounting to spaced rebar pins  4 B 2  with its flat upright side  7 A positioned towards the pool edge  5 . 
     
     
         4 . The water feature according to  claim 3  wherein waterproofing membrane/material is installed over the dam  7 , back down through trough  5 A, and then up onto a rear high-point  4 B 3  of the ledge of shell  4 B. 
     
     
         5 . The water feature according to  claim 4  wherein a waterline finish material such as the illustrated planar granite member  9  is installed on a leading side of the dam  7  to create a static water level with the top of said member forming the weir over which water spills into trough  5 A via slot  3 . 
     
     
         6 . The water feature according to  claim 5  wherein dam  7  has routed grooves on all three outward surfaces that will, on installation, be adjacent pool/finish material  9 , trough  5 A and shell  4 B, so as to form strong mechanical bonds when appropriate sealants or other appropriate bonding/finishing materials are used to connect these elements of the invention. 
     
     
         7 . The water feature according to  claim 6  wherein mounting plate  10  of the invention and associated elements are installed between high-point of ledge  4 B 3  and dam  7  so as to span trough  5 A created thereby. 
     
     
         8 . The water feature according to  claim 7  wherein coping/finish material  2 B for shell  4 B is installed on top of the mounting plate  10  so as to be even with its upper surface at the same elevation as the top of the waterline finish material  9 . 
     
     
         9 . The water feature according to  claim 1  comprising dam  7  and mounting plate  10 . 
     
     
         10 . The water feature according to  claim 1  comprising a spout-shaped water scupper in combination with planar water baffle such as that shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,249,744, 4,881,280, and 6,382,520. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing, from a spout-shaped water scupper, a laminar water flow with pleasing water feature contouring analogous to that produced by a linear water scupper such as that shown in  FIG. 11 , by introducing a planar baffle into the water stream before the water stream is guided from the planar baffle into the spout-shaped scupper.