Patricia A Dunn

US Patent:

47475382, May 31, 1988

Filed:

Mar 10, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/837897

Inventors:

Patricia A. Dunn - Ellicott City MD
Clyde T. Dunn - Strykersville NY
Gregory G. Dunn - Ellicott City MD

Assignee:

Delta Tech, Inc. - Ellicott City MD

International Classification:

F21P 700

US Classification:

239 20

Abstract:

A combined decorative object for household decoration and humidification is disclosed. The device makes use of the aesthetic qualities of flowing water, and comprises an inclined panel having discontinuities formed therein such that water flow thereover is interrupted in a manner which is pleasing to the eye. The panel may comprise a number of panes of glass in edge-overlapping, abutting relation to one another such that water flowing over the panels essentially adheres to the panels, such that splashing is avoided in favor of burbling. In this way, excessively large water droplets are not released to the atmosphere, which tends to damage other household goods in the vicinity of the device. In the preferred embodiment, the device is a free-standing construction comprising a base member for containing a pool of water and support members for supporting a multiple-paned panel assembly, the lower edge of which is disposed in the pool of water, so that the splashing at the lower edge of the panel assembly is similarly avoided. A trough member provides a laminar flow of water over the panel assembly; a pump refills the trough continually.