U.S. patent application number 10/922292 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-23 for self cleaning birdbath.
Invention is credited to Michael Thomas Bradley.
Application Number | 20060037545 10/922292 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35908476 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060037545 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bradley; Michael Thomas |
February 23, 2006 |
SELF CLEANING BIRDBATH
Abstract
A self cleaning birdbath with a bowl (10) which is shaped for
easy cleaning and fixed to a support pole (14) that has a water
supply pipe (13) inside it, connected to a gear driven lawn
sprinkler (12) with a converter nozzle (11), that will produce a
cleaning water jet (15) aimed downward into the bowl (10) which
quickly empties the bowl (10) then the cleaning water jet (15)
strikes the water holding surface of the bowl (10) directly and
pressure washes it, the entire water holding surface of the bowl
(10) is cleaned as the gear driven lawn sprinkler (12) rotates a
full 360 degrees for as long as is needed for satisfactory
cleaning. When the cleaning is done the water pressure is reduced
so the water coming from the converter nozzle (11) will not have
enough inertia to go over the rim, the bowl (10) will refill until
the water is turned off.
Inventors: |
Bradley; Michael Thomas;
(Orange City, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BEUSSE BROWNLEE WOLTER MORA & MAIRE, P. A.
390 NORTH ORANGE AVENUE
SUITE 2500
ORLANDO
FL
32801
US
|
Family ID: |
35908476 |
Appl. No.: |
10/922292 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
119/69.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01K 45/002
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
119/069.5 |
International
Class: |
A01K 45/00 20060101
A01K045/00 |
Claims
1-3. (canceled)
4. A self cleaning bowl system wherein said bowl holds a liquid,
said system comprising: a) a bowl having an inner surface, an outer
elevated edge and an inner elevated edge adjacent to a hole formed
therethrough a center of said bowl; b) a support pole attached to
said hole in said bowl elevating said bowl above a ground surface
and holding said bowl in a fixed position; c) a 360 degree
automatically rotatable downward spraying nozzle attached through
said hole and above said inner elevated edge; d) a hose connected
to said downward spraying nozzle for a liquid to pass therethrough;
and e) wherein said downward spraying nozzle propels liquid from
said nozzle downward to strike said inner surface of said bowl
which in turn pressure washes a section of said inner surface, from
said inner elevated edge to said outer elevated edge, in line with
said nozzle as said nozzle rotates.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein said liquid striking said inner
surface moves at a rate equal to a rate that said nozzle
rotates.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein said bowl comprises a portion of a
toroidal with a hole at a center of said toroidal where said inner
elevated edge is disposed around said hole.
7. The system of claim 4 wherein said nozzle is operable to
dispense said liquid at a force causing said liquid to flow over
said outer elevated edge of said bowl.
8. The system of claim 4 wherein said nozzle is positioned at a
downward position to allow said liquid to contact near said inner
surface of said inner elevated edge.
9. The system of claim 4 wherein said nozzle dispenses said liquid
in at least one of a downward vertical and a nearly downward
vertical direction against said inner surface of said bowl.
10. The system of claim 4 wherein said nozzle comprises a gear
driven lawn sprinkler assembly having a converter nozzle and no
retracting spring.
11. The system of claim 4 further comprising an automatic
controller to activate when said liquid is applied and when said
nozzle is activated.
12. The system of claim 4 wherein said liquid comprises at least
one of water and a cleaning solution.
13. The system of claim 4 wherein said system is used for a
birdbath.
14. A self cleaning bowl system, said system comprising: a) a bowl
having a shape formed by a rounded outer elevated edge having a
first end and a second end, an inner elevated edge with a length
shorter than said outer elevated edge and having a first end and a
second end; a focal point above said inner elevated edge; a first
side elevated edge connecting said first end of said outer elevated
edge and said first end of said inner elevated edge, and a second
side elevated edge connecting said second end of said outer
elevated edge and said second end of said inner elevated edge to
collectively contain a liquid; b) an automatically rotatable about
its axis downward spraying nozzle attached to said focal point and
above said inner elevated edge operable to rotate from said first
side elevated edge to said second side elevated edge and dispense a
liquid from said nozzle as said nozzle rotates; c) a hose connected
to said downward spraying nozzle for a liquid to pass therethrough;
and d) wherein said downward spraying nozzle propels a stream of
liquid from said nozzle downward to strike said inner surface of
said bowl which in turn pressure washes a section of said inner
surface, from said inner elevated edge to said outer elevated edge,
in line with said nozzle as said nozzle rotates.
15. The system of claim 14 wherein said nozzle is operable to
dispense said liquid at a force causing said liquid to flow over
said outer elevated edge of said bowl.
16. The system of claim 14 wherein said nozzle comprises a gear
driven lawn sprinkler assembly having a converter nozzle and no
retracting spring.
17. The system of claim 14 further comprising an automatic
controller to activate when said liquid is applied and when said
nozzle is activated.
18. The system of claim 14 wherein said liquid comprises at least
one of water and a cleaning solution.
19. The system of claim 14 wherein said system is used for a
birdbath.
20. (canceled)
21. (canceled)
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to birdbath and animal watering
devices such as used for practical and decorative purposes, and in
particular to a self cleaning and refilling apparatus.
[0002] There are many types of birdbaths, most a simple bowl on a
mounting pole, with physical stability, and perhaps good looks
being the only requirements. They are usually dirty and dry. If
water is in the birdbath it is usually dirty, unsanitary, breading
mosquitoes, and bacteria. Few owners have the time and put out the
effort to keep them clean and filled with fresh clean water for the
birds and animals.
[0003] Inventors created self cleaning birdbaths. U.S. Pat. No.
3,696,786 to Garwood (1972) is described as "A self cleaning bird
bath" but in fact only emptied itself of dirty water, if water from
some outside source is provided. It would only be refilled and left
full if after it righted itself at the end of the emptying cycle
the unknown water source then filled it, stopping before causing
the bowl to empty itself again. There was no cleaning action what
so ever and no guarantee that the bowl would contain any water if
operated by rain. If it were manually filled to cause emptying to
occur and then filled, rain could still cause unwanted operation
ending up empty. The bowl had internal channels with ports to the
inside and underneath to the counter balance bucket. It also had a
pivot assembly and actuation arm attachment points. The counter
balance bucket with holes had to be matched to over balance the
asymmetrically weighted bowl when full but not when empty. All
these parts made the design expensive to make. This design has no
freeze damage protection.
[0004] Mr. Garwood's next version U.S. Pat. No. 3,995,591 resolved
the problems of unreliable action by using water under pressure
delivered by pipe or hose to actuate the cleaning and filling
cycle. There was still no cleaning action, just emptying the water
and refilling the bowl. This unit was even more expensive to make.
It used a hydraulic piston and cylinder to operate the emptying of
the bowl. Water pressure would have to be regulated for proper
function unless manually adjusted for emptying and filling. This
design has no freeze damage protection.
[0005] Then came U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,569 to Dieleman in 1986. This
self cleaning birdbath is operated by water under pressure
delivered by an underground pipe and provides a means of automatic
operation and a little cleaning action. Cleaning is accomplished by
filling the bowl with water at a pressure not sufficient to carry
the water out of the bowl. Then water at that pressure continues to
agitate the full bowl of water to clean the bowl. The indicated
level of agitation of a full bowl of water does not get it very
clean. A film of scum will easily stay behind after the cleaning
stage. When the pressure is increased to empty the bowl the water
is sprayed up and out in a cone, carrying with it the dirty water
in the bowl from the cleaning stage, coming down beyond the rim and
outside of the bowl. The main force of the sprayed cone does not
directly strike the surface of the bowl. Some collateral spray mist
that falls on some part of the surface of the bowl drains back to
the center and is carried out with the spray as it is leaving the
nozzle. Because the nozzle is fully raised at this point there will
be water from the agitation cycle in the bottom of the bowl up to
the level of the nozzle in its raised position. When the cleaning
cycle is done the bowl will drain itself if there is any small leak
anywhere in the plumbing system or joints between the bowl and
sprinkler assembly. This sealing requirement has to stand up to an
animal's weight that would be applied to one edge of the bowl by
putting the fore feet on it while taking a drink. The required
seals and leak proof fittings between all parts, including moving
parts, make this design expensive to make and somewhat unreliable
too. The fact that the sprinkler assembly, the adapter collar, and
the bowl must be assembled and installed water tight, makes
assembly and installation less than user friendly for the average
person. This system is somewhat pressure sensitive because the
return spring in the rising spray nozzle operates at a specific
pressure. This system works best with regulation that is
incorporated into the design and adds to the cost and complexity of
the system, and it's installation. This system has no protection
against freeze damage other than to manually shut off the water and
drain the pipes making the system inoperable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Several objectives and advantages of the present invention
are:
[0007] (a) to provide a birdbath that is as clean as is possible
without the use of a chemical cleaner;
[0008] (b) to provide a birdbath that has very few precision parts
and is therefore easy and inexpensive to make;
[0009] (c) to provide a birdbath that can be easily made from the
same materials and processes commonly used in regular birdbath
production.
[0010] (d) to provide a birdbath that is easy to assemble and
setup;
[0011] (e) to provide a birdbath that will not leak;
[0012] (f) to provide a birdbath that will not suffer damage if
water freezes solid in the bowl.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a cross section side view of a complete birdbath
assembly including a pole, water supply pipe, a gear driven,
rotating, lawn sprinkler and converter nozzle. The water is shown
in the "fan" the converter nozzle shapes it into.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a top view of the same assembly above, with no
hidden lines shown.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross section side view of the bowl only.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the conversion nozzle.
[0017] FIG. 5 is the nozzle end the water enters.
[0018] FIG. 6 is the nozzle end the water sprays from.
REFERENCE NUMBERS IN DRAWINGS
[0019] 10 Bowl
[0020] 11 Converter Nozzle
[0021] 12 Gear Driven Lawn Sprinkler (shown in it's up position and
spraying water)
[0022] 13 Water Supply Pipe
[0023] 14 Support Pole
[0024] 15 Cleaning Water Jet
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] A preferred embodiment of the self cleaning birdbath is
shown in FIG. 1, it looks like the classic and or traditional
birdbath. It consists of a bowl 10 which is shaped for easy
cleaning and fixed into a fitting support pole 14 that has a water
supply pipe 13 inside it, which is connected to a gear driven lawn
sprinkler 12 that has had it's nozzle replaced with a converter
nozzle 11, and it's retracting spring removed. When water is turned
on full force the converter nozzle 11 will produce a cleaning water
jet 15 aimed downward into the bowl which quickly empties the bowl
by pushing the contents over the outer rim of the bowl 10. Once the
bowl 10 is empty the cleaning water jet 15 strikes the water
holding surface of the bowl 10 directly and pressure washes it, the
entire water holding surface of the bowl 10 is cleaned as the gear
driven lawn sprinkler 12 rotates a full 360 degrees for as long as
is needed for satisfactory cleaning. When the cleaning is done the
water pressure is reduced so the water coming from the converter
nozzle 11 will not have enough inertia to go over the rim, the bowl
(10) will refill until the water is turned off.
OTHER EMBODIMENTS AND VARIATIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS
[0026] A ceramic bowl is a preferred choice because of its smooth
impervious surface, which improves the cleaning efficiency. A
plastic, plaster, metal, or concrete bowl would be cheaper to
produce. A satisfactory bowl could be made with the same materials,
techniques, and equipment used to produce most birdbaths. The
diameter, depth, and shape of the curved bottom can be adjusted to
change the volume of water held when full and how far from the bowl
the water will land in the cleaning cycle. A shallow bowl is easier
and quicker to clean. A smaller bowl is easier and quicker to
clean.
[0027] The water cycle is: Full on for a few minutes until the bowl
is clean, then the pressure is reduced and allowed to run until the
bowl is full and then off. How long it takes to get the bowl clean
depends on the water pressure, size of the bowl, shape of the bowl,
surface finish of the bowl, and frequency of cleaning. Water can be
controlled manually, by timers and valves like those found in
dishwashers and washing machines, or most simply by lawn sprinkler
controllers and valves yielding a fully automatic system.
[0028] Instead of a 360 degree round bowl shown here a bowl could
be say 80 degrees and shaped like a sea shell or 35 degrees and
shaped like a big teaspoon with the cleaning jet at the handle
position so the gear driven lawn sprinkler would only cover 35
degrees oscillating back and forth. This would keep the cleaning
water jet over spray restricted to one general direction instead of
all around the bowl. A scattered spray from a garden hose sprayer
with no movement could clean and refill a narrower spoon shaped
bowl, a cheap simple version as might be used to water animals.
[0029] The converter nozzle when fully seated and held by the set
screw in the sprinkler head extends out of the sprinkler head past
flush. This allows a converter nozzle to spray straight down or as
nearly straight down as needed. This allows the center hole in the
bowl in the preferred embodiment shown to be small, just large
enough to allow the gear driven sprinkler to fit inside.
[0030] The retracting spring is removed from the gear driven lawn
sprinkler. This guarantees that when the water pressure is reduced
to refill the bowl the gear driven lawn sprinkler will not retract.
If allowed to retract the extended converter nozzle would cause the
head to bind and pull to one side when it hit the side of the body.
This would lead to unreliable operation.
[0031] A converter nozzle that fits inside the sprinkler head as
standard nozzles do could be made. The center hole in the bowl
would have to be larger as the down angle of the cleaning jet would
be limited. With the standard or a modified spring in place the
sprinkler head could be retracted. It would be more difficult to
set up and adjust; regulated water pressure might be needed.
* * * * *