GB2483084A

GB2483084A - A water fountain and flame device

Info

Publication number: GB2483084A
Application number: GB1014216.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Justin Daubeney; Teck Soh
Original assignee: MEIKA Ltd
Current assignee: MEIKA Ltd
Priority date: 2010-08-26
Filing date: 2010-08-26
Publication date: 2012-02-29
Also published as: GB201014216D0

Abstract

A water feature / fountain comprises an outer vessel 15 with an open top end 13 and a water inlet 16 at the bottom, and an inner receptacle / cup 17 which nests within the outer vessel and is designed to carry a flame or candle 7, wherein the inner vessel has a flange 8 which overlaps the outer vessel open end. In use, water enters the water inlet, flows between the inner receptacle and outer vessel, and flows out from the annular peripheral outlet defined by the top of the outer vessel 13 and the bottom of the overlapping flange 8. Ideally, springs 10 secure the inner container to the outer. The peripheral flange of the cup prevents the flowing water splashing onto the candle / flame. The design also enables water to cool the inner receptacle which holds the flame / tea-light. The water fountain inlet is ideally connected to a circulating pump. Figure shows exploded view.

Description

Background

In the art, water features which also make use of fire are increasingly populaL The combination of flowing water and a burning flame creates a unique feature. However, the problem such a feature presents is trying to find a way of maintaining the naked flame whilst water flows around it Previous art has made use of a recess set into the water feature with raised sides sunounding it. The flame will burn within the recess and the sunounding sides will prevent water from coming into contact with the flame. This recess is often set in the middle of the water feature with several water outlets placed in a perimeter around the recess walls. The water is pumped through the outlets and cascades outwards and away from the centrally placed flame.

Although this example of previous art allows for a flame to burn whilst water is flowing in the vicinity, it involves several component parts and each feature using the method must be constructed specifically for that purpose.

Summary

The invention relates to a new form of maintaining a flame in use with a water feature. The invention makes use of a unique mechanism which allows water to be pumped into a vessel containing a receptacle designed to hold gel fuel without ever coming into contact with that gel fuel.

The mechanism consists of two receptacles, one sized sligly smaller than the other so as to fit inside it. The small receptacle has a wider peripheral edge which overlaps the peripheral edge of the larger receptacle. The smaller receptacle is intended to hold the gel fuel which will allow for the flame to burn. The large receptacle has an aperture in its base from which an inlet extends. A tube from the pump outlet of the water pump is connected to the large receptacle inlet. Water can then be pumped diectly into the larger receptacle. When the water fills up in the larger receptacle it will overflow the edge and cascade outwards. However, the wider peripheral edge of the smaller receptacle prevents the water from ever spilling into the smaller receptacle and thus prevents the flame ever coming into contact with the water. The result gives the appearance of a single receptacle housing a flame but from which water cascades.

The invention provides a new alternative to all other forms of existing fire and water features which make use of a different mechanism to provide the desired effect. The mechanism can be easily removed if repair is necessary or a replacement is required. This will allow for the replacement of the inner receptacle, the outer vessel or both rather than replacement of the entire water feature as would be necessary with all other examples in the art.

Various sized receptades can be produced to fit a full range of water features. The design may be replicated but made to different measurements with relative ease. Therefore, any number of water features may be produced as long as they are designed with a recess to hold the flame receptacle.

The receptacle can be changed between different features with ease to create different styles and variations.

The design of the mechanism means that the water which circulates in the large receptacle actually keeps the smaller receptacle chilled. This feature will be extremely important for safety reasons when considering the small receptacle will house the gel fuel and flame which when lit would normally get very hot. The invention keeps the small receptacle in contact with water and thus keeps the temperature of the gel fuel as low as possible, a feature not used in any other mechanism CulTently available in the art.

Brief Description of Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view of the flame receptacle when assembled with the flame burning and water cascading down the sides.

Fig. 2 is an exploded side view of the flame receptacle.

Fig. 3 is a worm's-eye view of the flame receptacle when assembled.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the inner receptacle.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the outer vessel.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the flame receptacle when assembled.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment(s) Referring initially to Fig. 1, there is shown a side view of the flame receptacle when assembled. The outer vessel 1 houses the inner receptacle, the peripheral edge 2 of which can be seen overlapping the outer vessel. The inner receptacle contains the flammable material 3 used to light the flame 4.

Water is pumped into the outer vessel 1 through the inlet 6 before cascading down the sides 5 of the outer vessel 1.

Fig. 2 depicts the flame receptacle component parts exploded so as to highlight how they relate to one another. The inner recpetacle 17 is sized so as to fit inside 12 the outer vessel 15. The base of the inner receptacle 11 raises it up so it does not sit directly on the bottom of the outer vessel. The inner receptacle base 11 is lined with apertures 14 which allow water to pass through the base 11.

The inner receptacle 17 also features springs 10 which circle the receptacle wall. The springs 10 secure the inner receptacle 17 within the outer vessel 15. The wide peripheral edge 8 of the inner receptacle overlaps the edge of the outer vessel 13. The flammable material 9 is contained inside the inner receptacle and is set alight to create the flame 7. Water is pumped into the outer vessel 15 through the inlet 16 before cascading out over the outer vessel edge 13.

The drawing in Fig. 3 shows the receptacle from below. The outer vessel 19 is shown housing the inner receptacle 20 with the wider inner receptacle peripheral edge 18 overlapping the outer vessel 19. The water inlet 21 can be seen at the base of the receptacle.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 all show cross sectional views of the inner receptacle, the outer vessel and the assembled flame receptacle respectively. In Fig. 4, there is shown the inner receptacle which contains the flammable material 25 for lighting the flame 22. The wide peripheral edge 23 prevents water from the outer vessel coming into contact with the flammable material 25. The springs 24 and the inner receptacle base 26, which contains apertures 27 to allow the flow of water, help to ho'd the inner receptac'e in p'ace inside the outer vesseL The outer vessel is shown in cross sectional view in Fig. 5. The vessel 29 is sized to receive the inner receptacle whilst the water pumped into the inlet 30 cascades out over the vessel edge 28.

In Fig.6, there is shown the outer vessel 36 with the inner receptacle 37 fitted inside it. The inner receptacle is held in place by the springs 35 and the receptacle base 38. Water can be pumped into the outer vessel 36 through the inlet 40 and pass through the apertures 39 in the receptacle base.

Once the water fills the outer vessel it cascades outwards over the outer vessel edge 33. The water is prevented from coming into contact with the flame thanks to the wider peripheral edge 32 of the inner receptacle. The inner receptacle contains the flammable material 34 which is set alight to create the flame 31. The flame can continue to burn without ever coming into contact with the water whilst the illusion is given that the water is cascading from the same receptacle as the flame.

Claims

Claims 1. A water feature outlet device consisting of: an outer vessel sized to fit inside a water feature outlet, the outer vessel having an inlet in the lower surface to allow the flow of water into the vessel; an inner receptacle sized to fit inside the outer vessel, the inner receptacle designed to carry a flame and held in place by a peripheral edge which overlaps the outer vessel open end.
2. An outer vessel inlet as in claim 1 whereby the inlet is sized to receive a water pump outlet.
3. An outer vessel inlet as in claim 1 whereby the inlet is sized to receive a tube extending from a water pump outlet.
4. An inner receptacle as in claim 1 whereby the receptacle is designed to hold liquid fuel which may be set alight to create a flame.
5. An inner receptacle as in claim 1 whereby the receptacle is designed to hold a tealight which may be set alight to create a flame.
6. An inner receptacle as in claim 1 whereby the receptacle is designed to hold a wick which may be set alight to create a flame.