Portable Waterfall Attachment for Inflatable Pool and Spa Circulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fountain and water circulation devices are not universally portable to inflatable pools and spas, particularly those with small filters and different structural considerations compared to hard-sided pools.
Innovation Solution
A waterfall system comprising a housing with retention legs and mounting arms, a pump, and a water sprayer that collects pressurized water from the spa and sprays it into the spa, creating a waterfall effect, which can be easily attached to the side of an inflatable pool or spa.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing fountain attachments are used on hard-sided pools, then water circulation and entertainment features are provided, but the device cannot be portably added to inflatable pools and spas
Solution Approach 1:
The waterfall system is designed with a universal mounting structure that can be attached to both hard-sided pools and inflatable pools/spas. The retention legs and mounting arms provide a standardized interface that adapts to different pool types without requiring complex structural modifications, enabling one device to serve multiple pool configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing flexible wall structure of inflatable pools/spas as the mounting surface. The retention legs are designed to interface with the flexible material, allowing the rigid waterfall assembly to be securely mounted on soft, inflatable surfaces without compromising the pool's structural integrity or portability.
2Productivity
If fountain devices are integrated into inflatable pools, then water circulation is improved, but portability and storage considerations are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The waterfall system is designed as a separate, modular attachment rather than an integrated component of the inflatable pool/spa. This segmentation allows the water circulation feature to be added only when desired, maintaining the original portability and storage advantages of the inflatable pool while providing enhanced water circulation functionality when the attachment is installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The water circulation and fountain functionality are extracted from the main pool structure into a separate, removable attachment. This extraction allows the core inflatable pool to remain portable and easy to store, while the waterfall attachment provides enhanced water circulation and entertainment features when attached to the pool side.
3Ease of operation
If pump and filter mechanisms are added to inflatable pools, then water circulation features are enabled, but the device size and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The waterfall attachment merges the pump, filter, and sprayer components into a single integrated unit that mounts externally on the inflatable pool/spa. This consolidation provides full water circulation functionality without requiring separate components, minimizing the overall volume and storage space required while maintaining ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides an entertaining waterfall effect and improved water circulation for inflatable pools and spas, enhancing user experience and portability by utilizing existing filtration systems for power and water supply.
Implementation Method 1
a pump, which is arranged within the housing and pressurizes water within the spa
Implementation Method 2
a water sprayer... that sprays the water into the spa
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A waterfall system (100) includes a housing (106) comprising one or more retention legs (108, 110) and one or more mounting arms (112,114), a water sprayer (116), a pumping mechanism (120) coupled with the water sprayer (116), and a water collection attachment (118), wherein the housing (106) is attached to an inflatable pool/SPA (104) by the retention legs (108, 110), the water collection attachment (118) collects water from the pool/SPA (104) and provides pressured water to the water sprayer (116), and the water sprayer (116) is mounted above the pool/SPA (104) by the mounting arms (112,114) and sprays the water into the pool/SPA (104). A waterfall producing apparatus (100) includes a housing (106), a pumping mechanism (120) and a water sprayer (116), wherein the water sprayer (116) mounts to the inflatable pool/SPA (104) by the housing (106), the pumping mechanism (120) draws water from the pool/SPA (104) through the water collection attachment (118), and the pumping mechanism (120) projects the collected water out of the water sprayer (116).