Garden arrangement

Abstract

 A garden arrangement comprising n fountain objects (5,6,7) to be placed in a garden, wherein n = 2, 3, 4, ..., as well as a liquid system for supplying liquid to said fountain objects (5,6,7), a special feature being the fact that the liquid system comprises a plastic n-way cock (3) for regulating the liquid supply to the fountain objects (5,6,7), wherein n = 2, 3, 4, .... The n-way cock (3) is capable of regulating the liquid supply to each of the fountain objects (5,6,7) in a continuously variable manner and/or of shutting off or opening the liquid supply to each of the fountain objects (5,6,7).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a garden arrangement comprising at least two fountain objects to be placed in a garden, as well as a liquid system for supplying liquid to said fountain objects. The invention generally relates to a garden arrangement comprising n fountain objects, in which n = 2, 3 , 4, ..., i.e. a natural number greater than or equal to 2.

[0002] Such a garden arrangement is generally known. In particular garden centres are experiencing an increasing interest from the general public in all kinds of garden ornaments and related articles. Said interest from the general public results in particular from a growing need that people feel to arrange the surroundings of their houses, in particular the garden, in an attractive manner, using ornaments such as artistic stone objects. Especially last few years there has been a growing interest in garden fountains provided with decorative stones, for example, as fountain objects, from which water spouts with some force in a decorative manner.

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a garden arrangement which meets the increasing need of the public to arrange a garden in a decorative manner, using fountain objects.

[0004] In order to accomplish that objective, a garden arrangement of the kind referred to in the introduction is according to the invention characterized in that the liquid system comprises a plastic n-way cock for regulating the liquid supply to the fountain objects, wherein n corresponds to the number of fountain objects and consequently equals 2, 3, ..., i.e. a natural number greater than or equal to 2. Preferably, the n-way cock is capable of regulating the liquid supply to each of the fountain objects (independently of each other) in a continuously variable manner, thus providing a practically infinite number of possible variations in having the liquid (water) spout from the fountain objects with a mutually varying force in a decorative manner. In another preferred variant, the n-way cock is capable of shutting off or opening the liquid supply to each of the fountain objects (independently of each other), so that the n-way cock in fact has two operating positions for each fountain object, viz. a (fully) closed position, in which no liquid is being supplied, and a (fully) open position, in which liquid (water) is allowed to pass. The advantage of this is that a simple, reliable and low-maintenance construction is obtained, in which the fountain objects adorn a garden in an attractive manner. The n-way cock can be operated manually or automatically, usually electrically in the latter case. In another preferred variant, an n-way cock operated by remote control is used. The advantage of using plastic material for the n-way cock is that this makes it possible to manufacture the cock in an inexpensive, simple and reliable manner, using an injection-moulding technique.

[0005] In one preferred embodiment of a garden arrangement according to the invention, the liquid system can be connected to the water mains of a house.

[0006] In another preferred embodiment of a garden arrangement according to the invention, the liquid system is a closed liquid system. Such a liquid system in particular comprises a liquid reservoir and a liquid pump, with the liquid pump being disposed inside said liquid reservoir and the fountain objects being disposed above said liquid reservoir.

[0007] In another preferred embodiment of a garden arrangement according to the invention, the n-way cock is mounted inside the liquid reservoir, with the control knobs of the n-way cock extending outwards through corresponding holes in a wall of the liquid reservoir. This makes the n-way cock readily accessible from outside, whilst the n-way cock itself is hardly visible from the outside, if at all, and thus does not mar the ornamental character of the fountain objects.

[0008] In another preferred embodiment of a garden arrangement according to the invention, the fountain objects are substantially rectangular or circular. In particular cube-shaped, beam-shaped or spherical fountain objects, possibly combined with each other in a garden, are very decorative.

[0009] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 schematically shows a preferred variant of a garden arrangement according to the invention and in which Figure 2 separately shows the three-way cock of Figure 1 in perspective view.

[0010] Figure 1 schematically shows a water reservoir 1 in the form of a barrel, in which an electrically driven water pump 2 and a three-way cock 3 are present. Three decorative stone fountain objects 5, 6, 7 are present on the cover 4 of the water reservoir 1, from which water pumped up from the water reservoir 1 by the water pump 2 spouts in a manner which is pleasant to the eye. The knobs 8 for controlling the valves present in the three-way cock 3 extend through corresponding holes 9 in the cover 4 of the water reservoir 1, so that they can easily be operated from outside. It will be understood that the system as shown forms a closed water circuit. The three-way cock 3 makes it possible to have water spout from the fountain objects 5, 6, 7 with mutually varying force, which is done by varying the extent to which the control knobs 8 of said three-way cock 3 are closed/opened. The fact is that each control knob 8 of the three-way cock 3 corresponds to a fountain object 5, 6, 7. The three-way cock 3 is made of plastic material, and it does not have any slits or seams that will manifest themselves after some time, via which water can leak out. The latter is of major importance in order to ensure that the water circuit remains a closed circuit indeed, and in order to ensure that a constant water pressure is maintained.

[0011] Figure 2 relates to the three-way cock 3 of Figure 1, which is shown in perspective view in this figure, with corresponding parts being indicated by the same numerals. In order to fix the control knobs 8 in the holes 9, a clip or snap system is used, which system comprises clip means 10 surrounding the control knobs 8.

[0012] The invention is not limited to the embodiments as shown, but it also extends to other variants that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Thus it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that it is also possible to use "stand-alone" fountain objects instead of fountain objects mounted on the water reservoir, whether or not in combination with an open or a closed water circuit.

Claims

1. A garden arrangement comprising n fountain objects to be placed in a garden, wherein n = 2, 3, 4, ..., as well as a liquid system for supplying liquid to said fountain objects, characterized in that the liquid system comprises a plastic n-way cock for regulating the liquid supply to the fountain objects, wherein n = 2, 3, 4, ....

2. A garden arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the n-way cock is capable of regulating the liquid supply to each of the fountain objects in a continuously variable manner.

3. A garden arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the n-way cock is capable of shutting off or opening the liquid supply to each of the fountain objects.

4. A garden arrangement according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the n-way cock can be operated manually or automatically.

5. A garden arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the liquid system can be connected to the water mains of a house.

6. A garden arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the liquid system forms a closed liquid system.

7. A garden arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the liquid system comprises a liquid reservoir and a liquid pump.

8. A garden arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the liquid pump is disposed inside the liquid reservoir and the fountain objects are disposed above the liquid reservoir.

9. A garden arrangement according to claim 7 or eight, wherein the n-way cock is mounted inside the liquid reservoir, with the control knobs of the n-way cock extending outwards through corresponding holes in a wall of the liquid reservoir.

10. A garden arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9, wherein the fountain objects are at least substantially rectangular or circular.

Drawing