Waterfall waterjet with removable baffle

Abstract

A waterfall apparatus for producing an artificial waterfall having a waterfall apparatus including a chamber, an inlet for water into the waterfall apparatus, a primary outlet having an opening to allow water to flow out of the waterfall apparatus in a waterfall configuration, an attachment means for attaching the waterfall apparatus to a sidewall of a spa; and a removable baffle means located between the inlet and the outlet for more evenly distributing the water flowing out of the waterfall apparatus.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present invention generally is in the field of devices for generating waterfalls, and more particularly is in the field of devices for generating aesthetically pleasing waterfalls in spas, swimming pools, tubs and the like. The present invention further relates to a more cost efficient design and installation system for waterfall apparatus in spas, swimming pools, tubs, and the like, that includes a removable baffle structure so that debris, sediment and deposits trapped inside or on the interior surface of the waterfall apparatus may be removed from the waterfall apparatus.[0003]2. Prior Art[0004]Few applications derive more benefit from the addition of waterfalls or fountains than artificial bodies of water such as spas, swimming pools, and tubs. The popularity of waterfalls and fountains in such structures is probably associated with the numerous aesthetic and practical applications that make waterfalls desirable. More...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Briefly described, the present invention is a waterfall apparatus that produces a waterfall into a spa, swimming pool, tub, reservoir, or the like, and that incorporates a removable baffle so that debris trapped inside the waterfall apparatus can be flushed out. More specifically described, the present invention provides a structure and means for maintaining the interior baffles of a waterfall apparatus by allowing the easy and quick removal of the baffle from the waterfall apparatus without removing the waterfall apparatus from the spa wall or having to access behind the spa wall. For simplicity, spas, swimming pools, tubs or the like, and all such reservoirs, and artificial bodies of water, together or separately will be referred to as spas or a spa.

[0011]In one embodiment, the representative waterfall apparatus comprises a first chamber and a second chamber, separated by the baffles (alternatively called dividers) through which water flows. The baffles primarily remove turbulence from the water and secondarily can function as a screen to prevent debris from becoming lodged in other parts of the waterfall apparatus or being ejected into the spa. The configuration of the baffles is variable, and they can have one or more distribution slots for allowing the passage of water between the first (inlet) chamber and the second (outlet) chamber of the waterfall apparatus. The first chamber preferably is a manifold structure intended for evenly distributing the water entering the waterfall apparatus within the first chamber and the second chamber preferably is structured for channeling the water through the primary outlet. Preferably, the baffles divide the interior of the waterfall apparatus such that only the second chamber has direct access to the primary outlet that creates the waterfall into the spa. The baffles can be a single slot or a series of smaller slots or holes running approximately the length of the waterfall apparatus. Further, the waterfall apparatus will function even if there are no baffles, though it is likely that the waterfall will exhibit more turbulence.

[0015]The waterfall waterjet can be anchored to the wall or edge of a spa using any appropriate means as long as water is fed into, and water can flow out of, the waterfall apparatus. More particularly, the waterfall apparatus may be structured to have securing ends for securing the waterfall apparatus to the spa wall. In this preferred embodiment, the waterfall apparatus can be installed with a minimum of disturbance to the surrounding spa. It is further advantageous that the inlet and the attachment means are round so that a standard drill can be used to fix the waterfall apparatus to the spa sidewall. Due of the preferred configuration of the waterfall apparatus with only the inlet ad fastening means located on the dry side of the spa sidewall, potentially only a round inlet and preferably round fasteners require cuts to be made in the spa sidewall as opposed to typical waterfall apparatuses which require complex cuts and accompanying high costs of installation.

Problems solved by technology

Further, the waterfall apparatus will function even if there are no baffles, though it is likely that the waterfall will exhibit more turbulence.

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