The technical field generally relates to lawn and garden tools. More particularly, the technical field relates to multi-purpose tools for dispensing fluids such as water according to user-selectable output patterns.
Conventional hand-held watering wands are single-purpose sprayers, namely, configured with a showerhead for watering plants from a location about the plants so that the water drops fall into the leaves, soil, roots, etc. by way of gravity. Some lawn and garden centers, greenhouses, nurseries, or other plant suppliers water their plants by automatically providing water via mats on which the plants are positioned, so that the plants absorb the water from a region beneath the plants.
In one aspect, a water dispensing apparatus comprises a first tubular elongated element extending in a longitudinal direction, the first tubular elongated element including a first inlet at a proximal end of the first tubular elongated element, an outlet at a distal end of the first tubular elongated element, and an uninterrupted first flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet for outputting a source of fluid to the outlet; a second tubular elongated element extending in the longitudinal direction, the second tubular elongated element including a second inlet at a proximal end of the second tubular elongated element, a second flow path extending along a length of the second tubular elongated element from the inlet in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of outlets along the length of the second tubular elongated element for outputting a source of fluid, each outlet in direct communication with the second flow path; a nozzle coupled to the outlet of the first tubular elongated element; and a control valve system coupled to each of the first and second inlets. The control valve system comprises an inlet for receiving a flow of fluid from a fluid source; an outlet that outputs a flow of the source of fluid to at least one of the first and second tubular elongated elements; a first valve for controlling a flow of the source of fluid through the uninterrupted first flow path of the first tubular elongated element; and a second valve for controlling a flow of the source of fluid through the second flow path of the second tubular elongated element.
One or more of the following features may be included:
In some embodiments, the nozzle provides a first output of the source of water directed in a first direction, and the holes in the perforated pipe section provide a second output of the source of water directed in a second direction transverse to the first direction.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a trigger mechanism for opening and closing a fluid path from the inlet to the outlet of the dual-valve mechanism for a user-controlled amount of time.
In some embodiments, the trigger mechanism includes a locking mechanism that is selected by the user to position a trigger of the triggering mechanism in a position of interest by the user for outputting the source of fluid to at least one of the first and second tubular elongated elements.
In some embodiments, the first and second valves of the control valve system are one-way valves, wherein each one-way valve controls a flow path of fluid to one of the first and second tubular elongated elements.
In some embodiments, the first and second valves of the control valve system are part of a single multi-valve unit.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a handle which at least partially surrounds the single multi-valve unit.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a handle coupled to each of the proximal ends of first and second tubular elongated elements, wherein the handle includes the control valve system.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a handle positioned about the proximal end of the first tubular elongated element.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises at least one coupling mechanism constructed and arranged for directly attaching to a surface that permits the water dispensing apparatus to be suspended so that the outlets of the second tubular apparatus are positioned over a predetermined region for receiving the source of fluid from the second tubular elongated element.
In another aspect, a water dispensing apparatus comprises a first tubular elongated element extending in a longitudinal direction, the first tubular elongated element including a first inlet at a proximal end of the first tubular elongated element, an outlet at a distal end of the first tubular elongated element, and an uninterrupted first flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet for outputting a source of fluid to the outlet; a second tubular elongated element extending in the longitudinal direction, the second tubular elongated element including a second inlet at a proximal end of the second tubular elongated element, a second flow path extending along a length of the second tubular elongated element from the inlet in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of outlets along the length of the second tubular elongated element for outputting a source of fluid, each outlet in direct communication with the second flow path; and a handle coupled to the proximal ends of the first and second tubular elongated elements, the handle including a control valve mechanism that controls a flow of the source of fluid through at least one of the first or second tubular elongated elements.
One or more of the following features may be included:
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a nozzle at the outlet of the first tubular elongated element.
In some embodiments, the distal end of the first tubular elongated element includes a region of curvature such that outlets of the nozzle are tangential to the second tubular elongated element.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a trigger mechanism for opening and closing a fluid path from the inlet to the outlet of the control valve mechanism for a user-controlled amount of time.
In some embodiments, the trigger mechanism includes a locking mechanism that is selected by the user to position a trigger of the triggering mechanism in a position of interest by the user for outputting the source of fluid to at least one of the first and second tubular elongated elements.
In some embodiments, the control valve mechanism includes first and second one-way valves, wherein each one-way valve controls a flow path of fluid to one of the first and second tubular elongated elements.
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises at least one coupling mechanism constructed and arranged for directly attaching to a surface that permits the water dispensing apparatus to be suspended so that the outlets of the second tubular apparatus are positioned over a predetermined region for receiving the source of fluid from the second tubular elongated element.
In another aspect, a water dispensing apparatus comprises a first tubular elongated element extending in a longitudinal direction, the first tubular elongated element including a first inlet at a proximal end of the first tubular elongated element, an outlet at a distal end of the first tubular elongated element, and an uninterrupted first flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet for outputting a source of fluid to the outlet; a second tubular elongated element extending in the longitudinal direction, the second tubular elongated element including a second inlet at a proximal end of the second tubular elongated element, a second flow path extending along a length of the second tubular elongated element from the inlet in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of outlets along the length of the second tubular elongated element for outputting a source of fluid, each outlet in direct communication with the second flow path; a threaded inlet at the first and second tubular elongated element inlets; a handle about the first tubular elongated element; and a control valve mechanism that controls a flow of the source of fluid through at least one of the first or second tubular elongated elements.
One or more of the following features may be included:
In some embodiments, the water dispensing apparatus further comprises a nozzle at the outlet of the first tubular elongated element.
In some embodiments, the control valve mechanism comprises a first selection lever for controlling a flow of the source of fluid through the uninterrupted first flow path of the first tubular elongated element; and a second selection lever for controlling a flow of the source of fluid through the second flow path of the second tubular elongated element.
The above and further aspects of examples of the present inventive concepts may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals indicate like structural elements and features in various figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of features and implementations.
In brief overview, disclosed are embodiments of a water dispensing apparatus that permits a user to operate the apparatus in a hands-free manner, and in one of two different modes of operation. The first mode permits the apparatus to dispense water from a nozzle. The second mode permits the apparatus to dispense water from a shower-like arrangement so that a wider area can receive an output from the apparatus than from the nozzle. Accordingly, the apparatus is constructed and arranged for watering hanging plants, individual plants, garden regions, or other various surface areas comprising plants.
The watering wand 10 may include a first tubular body 102, a second tubular body 104, and a handle 110 including a water volume control valve 111 that controls a flow of fluid such as water through the first tubular body 102 and the second tubular body 104.
The first tubular body 102 is generally elongated from its proximal end to its distal end. In some embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the fluid path extending in the direction of extension through the interior of the first tubular body 102 is uninterrupted from the proximal end coupled to the handle control valve 111 to the distal end coupled to the nozzle 112. In particular, each of the proximal end and the distal end of the first tubular body 102 has an opening so that water or other fluid can flow through an inlet at the proximal end through the channel extending through the interior of the length of the first tubular body 102 to an outlet at the distal end for output via the nozzle 112 in communication with the outlet.
The second tubular body 104 is also generally elongated from its proximal end to its distal end, and may extend along a same longitudinal axis as the first tubular body 102 so as to be parallel to the first tubular body 102. The second tubular body 104 may likewise have an inlet 221 at its proximal end for receiving a flow of water or other fluid from a common source such as an inlet 106 of the control valve 111. The inlet 106 may include threads, gaskets, and/or or other coupling mechanism for providing a secure and fluid-tight interface with a garden hose or other source of water or other fluid.
Unlike the first tubular body 102, some embodiments of the second tubular body 104 do not include an outlet at its distal end, since the second tubular element includes a plurality of holes 115 for outputting water along a length of the body 104. Other embodiments include an outlet in the second tubular body 104 that extend the fluid path in the second tubular body 104 to a portion of the first tubular body 102 such as a distal end of the first tubular body 102 or to the nozzle 112 so that a portion of water flowing through the second tubular body 104 is also output from the nozzle 112.
As mentioned above, the second tubular body 104 has a plurality of holes 115, also referred to as channels, perforations, and so on that extend along a length of the second tubular body 104. The holes/channels 115 extend from the fluid path extending through the interior of the second tubular body 104 to the outer surface of the second tubular body 104 so that fluid can be output via the holes/channels 115 to plants or the like positioned below the second tubular body 104, for example, outputting a curtain of water from the holes/channels 115 extending along a length of the second tubular body 104. In some embodiments, the holes 115 are configured with spraying elements, such as jet sprayers or devices that can adjust the size of the holes 115.
As shown in
In other embodiments, as shown in
In some embodiments, the watering apparatus 10 of
As shown in
The trigger 201, when pressed, squeezed, or otherwise has a force applied to it, translates to a movement of a switch mechanism 203 such as a valve, spring, actuator, and/or other mechanisms that block the flow path 222 through the handle body so that water or other fluid cannot flow from the opening 221 to either a flow path 223 to the first tubular apparatus 202 or a flow path 224 to the second tubular apparatus 224. Similarly, the first lever 206 functions as a switch, which controls a switch mechanism 209 such as valve, spring, actuator, and/or other mechanism that in turn blocks the flow path 223 to the first tubular apparatus. An interface 208 may be at a distal end of the handle 110 for coupling to the first tubular apparatus 202 and extending the flow path 223 to the first tubular apparatus 202. Similarly, the second lever 207 functions as a switch, which controls a switch mechanism 211 such as valve, spring, actuator, and/or other mechanism that in turn blocks the flow path 224 to the first tubular apparatus. An interface 210 may be at a distal end of the handle 110 for coupling to the second tubular apparatus 204 and extending the flow path 224 to the second tubular apparatus 204.
In some embodiments, as shown in
The control valve 410 includes a trigger mechanism 413 to actuate a valve such as valve 203 shown in
Also referring to
As shown in
At block 602, a wand dispensing apparatus 10, 10′, 10″, 10′″ (generally 10) is suspended from a beam or other object capable of supporting the weight of the apparatus 10 and a hose coupled to the apparatus 10.
At block 604, the wand dispensing apparatus 10 is configured for a curtain mode, where water or other fluid is output from the holes 10 in the second tubular apparatus 104. For example, embodiments of levers, switches, remote data commands, or other mechanical or electrical techniques for directing a flow of water or other fluid to the second tubular apparatus 104. In the curtain mode, the water is spread evenly along its length, and therefore distributes the water evenly to plants below the apparatus 10. In some embodiments, a shower mat or the like is under the plants for receiving the water from the holes 115, where a capillary action occurs to distribute the water to the plants.
At block 606, the wand dispensing apparatus 10 is positioned on a surface, such as a ground, table, and so on.
At block 608, the wand dispensing apparatus 10 is configured for a nozzle mode, where water or other fluid is output from the nozzle holes 113 in the first tubular apparatus 102. For example, embodiments of levers, switches, remote data commands, or other mechanical or electrical techniques for directing a flow of water or other fluid to first second tubular apparatus 102, which permits a showerhead nozzle or the like to provide directed manual spraying.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that the foregoing description is intended to illustrate, and not to limit, the scope of the inventive concepts which are defined by the scope of the claims. Other examples are within the scope of the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent No. 62/693,525, filed Jul. 3, 2018, entitled “Hand-held Water Dispensing Apparatus,” the contents of which are incorporated herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62693525 | Jul 2018 | US |