IP Library Granted Patent US 10,166,568
Granted Patent B2
US 10,166,568 · App. 14/779,247 · Granted Jan 1, 2019

Assembly, in particular a play fountain

Inventors: Wilhelmus Adolfus Johannes Marie Hoeks (Baarn, NL); Frits Jan Van Kempen (Amsterdam, NL); Guido William Molenaar (Amersfoort, NL); Frank Van Den Berg (Eindhoven, NL)
Assignee: HOEKS BEHEER B.V.
B05B17/08A63G31/007B05B12/04F21V33/008H02J7/0013H02J7/0022F21W2121/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,166,568
App. No.
14/779,247
Granted
Jan 1, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly, in particular a play fountain, comprising a floor for carrying people, a plurality of electrical devices, such as electric motors coupled to pumps and nozzles for generating jets of liquid, distributed over the area of the floor, and a control system for operating the electrical devices. The assembly comprises a plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to the electrical devices.

Claims (42)

1. An assembly, comprising:

a floor configured to support people;

a plurality of electrical devices including electric motors coupled to pumps and nozzles configured to generate jets of liquid, distributed over the floor;

a plurality of rechargeable batteries, each rechargeable battery connected to one or more of the electric motors;

at least one charger connected to one or more of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and configured to connect to a power source; and

a control system configured to operate the plurality of electrical devices and the at least one charger.

2. The assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a transformer to reduce voltage of electricity from a power source to 15 volts or less.

3. The assembly according to claim 1 , the plurality of rechargeable batteries each having a capacity of at least 6 Ah, and/or an output voltage of 15 volts or less.

4. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is arranged to charge the plurality of rechargeable batteries when an electrical device connected to the plurality of rechargeable batteries is switched off.

5. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is arranged to operate the plurality of electrical devices to generate a succession of different patterns of jets of liquid selected such that, averaged over a predetermined period of time, a load is evenly distributed over the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

6. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is arranged to operate the plurality of electrical devices to generate a succession of different patterns of jets of liquid and wherein a state of charge of the plurality of rechargeable batteries is maintained between a pre-selected minimum value and a pre-selected maximum value.

7. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the control system is arranged to establish a state of charge of the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

8. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical devices further include lights.

9. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the floor comprises a plurality of mutually detachable floor modules, and a floor module of the plurality of mutually detachable floor modules comprising an electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices and a battery of the plurality of rechargeable batteries connected to the electrical device.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of mutually detachable floor modules is adjustable for height and/or levelness.

11. The assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of rechargeable batteries is housed in a waterproof casings.

12. The assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of mutually detachable floor modules and/or the nozzles are provided in a two-dimensional pattern including a grid comprising a plurality of rows and columns of the plurality of mutually detachable floor modules and/or the nozzles.

13. A method of operating an assembly,

the assembly comprising:

a floor configured to support people;

a plurality of electrical devices including electric motors coupled to pumps and nozzles configured to generate jets of liquid, distributed over the floor;

a plurality of rechargeable batteries, each rechargeable battery connected to one or more of the electric motors;

at least one charger connected to one or more of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and configured to connect to a power source; and

a control system configured to operate the plurality of electrical devices and the at least one charger;

the method comprising:

generating a succession of different patterns of jets of liquid such that, averaged over a predetermined period of time, a load is evenly distributed over the plurality of rechargeable batteries.

14. A method of operating an assembly,

the assembly comprising:

a floor configured to support people;

a plurality of electrical devices including electric motors coupled to pumps and nozzles configured to generate jets of liquid, distributed over the floor;

a plurality of rechargeable batteries, each rechargeable battery connected to one or more of the electric motors;

at least one charger connected to one or more of the plurality of rechargeable batteries and configured to connect to a power source; and

a control system configured to operate the plurality of electrical devices and the at least one charger;

the method comprising:

selecting a minimum value of a state of charge of the plurality of rechargeable batteries;

selecting a maximum value of the state of charge of the plurality of rechargeable batteries; and

maintaining the state of charge between the minimum value and the maximum value.

15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of rechargeable batteries remain within ±20% of an average state of charge.

16. The assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising a reservoir that is positioned underneath the floor.

17. The assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the reservoir extends underneath the floor entirely.

18. The assembly according to claim 9 and further comprising a reservoir that is positioned underneath the floor.

19. The assembly according to claim 18 , wherein the reservoir extends underneath the floor entirely.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2022
From: HOEKS BEHEER B V.
To: PLAYFOUNTAIN B.V.
Reel/Frame 058622/0207 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2016
From: HOEKS, WILHELMUS ADOLFUS JOHANNES MARIE; VAN KEMPEN, FRITS JAN; MOLENAAR, GUIDO WILLIAM; VAN DEN BERG, FRANK
To: HOEKS BEHEER B.V.
Reel/Frame 038335/0393 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 13160685 · Mar 22, 2013 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160052009A1 · Feb 25, 2016
Cited By (2)
US 12,196,192 US 12,716,405