Information
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Patent Grant
-
6543138
-
Patent Number
6,543,138
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Date Filed
Friday, November 23, 200122 years ago
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Date Issued
Tuesday, April 8, 200321 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Vidovich; Gregory M.
- Nguyen; T.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 029 89014
- 029 890144
- 029 890148
- 029 890149
- 029 450
- 029 451
- 029 453
- 029 52501
- 029 237
- 029 890141
- 029 525
- 029 52505
- 285 242
- 285 252
- 285 321
- 285 5
- 403 278
- 403 279
- 403 281
- 403 282
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International Classifications
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for assembling a drip irrigation system includes a drip irrigation member with a connector and includes a length of tubing. The tubing has an end. A securing member is mounted on the end of the tubing. The end is slidably forced over the connector. The securing member is rolled along the tubing to a position at which the securing member elastically circumferentially compresses the tubing against the connector.
Description
This invention pertains to drip irrigation tubing.
More particularly, this invention pertains to a method and apparatus for securing an end of drip irrigation tubing to a connector.
Drip irrigation systems are well known in the art, particularly in the desert southwest of the United States and other arid areas. One well known system utilizes lengths of black plastic tubing. The tubing is pliable but is also somewhat rigid. Short lengths of the tubing about one inch long often are difficult to bend through a ninety degree angle without crimping the tube. The drip irrigation system also includes connectors for fastening together lengths of tubing and for attaching the end of a piece of tubing to a nozzle. Each connector typically comprises a hollow, tapered, conically shaped member. The small tapered end of the connector has an outer diameter about equal to the inner diameter of the black drip irrigation tubing. The larger end of the connector has an outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the black drip irrigation tubing. When the end of the tubing is slid over the connector, the larger end of the connector causes the tubing to elastically expand. Such expansion of the black tubing holds the tubing on the connector and also forms a seal between the larger end of the connector and the inner cylindrical surface of the black plastic tubing.
A long existing problem associated with such a system is that, over time, the black tubing loses it elasticity, becomes loose on the connector, and eventually separates from the connector. The pressure of water in the tubing facilitates the separation of the end of the black tubing from the connector. In particular, variations in water pressure facilitate the separation of the tubing from the connector. Another important factor is the summer heat. Summer heat softens the tubing and accelerates the degradation of the tubing. This is especially the case in warm climates where summer temperatures regularly exceed 100 degrees F. Once the end of the black tubing separates from the connector, the end of the tubing can sometimes be cut off to produce a new end which has sufficient elasticity to engage sealingly the conical end of the connector. This procedure is sometimes only a short-lived fix because the elasticity of the entire length of the tubing has often degraded over time.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus which would sealingly engage the end of a drip irrigation tubing to a connector even after the tubing lost its elasticity.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved drip irrigation system.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for sealingly engaging a connector with the end of a length of drip irrigation tubing.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus of the type described which does not require tools and can be utilized by an individual with limited manual strength and dexterity.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus of the type described which can be utilized repeatedly at minimal expense during the life of a connector and of a piece of drip irrigation tubing attached to the connector.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is perspective exploded view illustrating a drip irrigation connector, an end of a length of drip irrigation tubing, and a securing apparatus utilized in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2
is a side view illustrating the drip irrigation components of the invention assembled;
FIG. 3
is a side section view illustrating the mode of operation of a securing apparatus utilized in accordance with the invention; and,
FIG. 4
is a side view further illustrating the mode of operation of a securing apparatus utilized in the invention.
Briefly, in accordance with my invention, I provide an improved method for assembling a drip irrigation system. The method includes the steps of providing a length of elastic hollow pliable drip irrigation tubing having first and second ends and an inner cylindrical surface with a selected diameter along the length of the tubing and having an outer cylindrical surface with a selected outer diameter; providing a hollow drip irrigation member including at least a first end and a second end, the first end of the member including a connector, the connector being shaped and dimensioned to include a portion having a width greater than the inner diameter of the tubing to expand the inner cylindrical surface of the drip irrigation tubing to a width greater than the inner diameter when the inner cylindrical surface is slidably forced over the connector; providing an elastic member with an opening formed therethrough, the opening having a width less than the outer diameter of the tubing such that when the tubing is inserted through the opening, the tubing elastically expands the member so that the diameter of the opening is equivalent to the outer diameter; inserting the tubing through the opening of the elastic member to mount the elastic member on the end of the tubing; and, slidably forcing the end of the tubing over the connector.
In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved method for assembling a drip irrigation system. The method includes the steps of providing a length of elastic hollow pliable drip irrigation tubing having first and second ends and an inner cylindrical surface with a selected diameter along the length of the tubing and having an outer cylindrical surface with a selected outer diameter; providing a hollow drip irrigation member including at least a first end and a second end, the first end of the member including a connector, the connector being shaped and dimensioned to include a portion having a width greater than the inner diameter of the tubing to expand the inner cylindrical surface of the drip irrigation tubing to a width greater than the inner diameter when the inner cylindrical surface is slidably forced over the connector; providing an elastic member with an opening formed therethrough, the opening having a width less than the outer diameter of the tubing such that when the tubing is inserted through the opening, the tubing elastically expands the opening, the elastic member being shaped to roll along the tubing when the elastic member is pushed along on the tubing; inserting the tubing through the opening of the elastic member to mount the elastic member on the tubing; slidably forcing the end of the tubing over the connector; and, rolling the elastic member along the tubing to a selected position on the tubing where the tubing circumscribes the connector.
In a further embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved method for assembling a drip irrigation system. The method includes the steps of providing a length of elastic hollow pliable drip irrigation tubing having first and second ends and an inner cylindrical surface with a selected diameter along the length of the tubing and having an outer cylindrical surface with a selected outer diameter; providing a hollow drip irrigation member including at least a first end and a second end, the first end of the member including a connector, the connector being shaped and dimensioned to include a portion having a width greater than the inner diameter of the tubing to expand the inner cylindrical surface of the drip irrigation tubing to a width greater than the inner diameter when the inner cylindrical surface is slidably forced over the connector; providing a securing member shaped and dimensioned to be mounted on the tubing and circumferentially generally uniformly apply a compressive force to the outer surface of the tubing; slidably forcing the end of the tubing over the connector; and, mounting the securing member on the end of the tubing to compress circumferentially the end of the tubing against the connector.
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention, and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views,
FIG. 1
illustrates an exploded view of a drip irrigation member
12
and the end of a length of pliable elastic tubing
10
. Tubing
10
includes an inner cylindrical surface
32
having a diameter and includes an outer surface
33
having a diameter indicated by arrows G in FIG.
3
. While the size of drip irrigation tubing can vary as desired, one common size of tubing
10
has an outer diameter (cylindrical outer surface
33
) of about one-quarter inch and an inner diameter (cylindrical inner surface
32
) of about {fraction (5/32)} of an inch.
Drip irrigation member
12
includes a central portion including interconnected hollow cylindrical members
15
,
16
,
17
. A connector is attached to each side of the central portion. One connector
50
is attached to member
15
and includes hollow cylindrical tip
11
, hollow conical member
13
, and hollow cylindrical member
14
connected to member
15
. Member
13
includes circular lip
38
. Lip
38
has a diameter greater than the diameter of surface
32
. The other connector
51
is attached to member
17
and includes hollow cylindrical tip
20
, hollow conical member
19
, and hollow cylindrical member
18
connected to member
17
. Member
19
includes circular lip
34
. Lip
34
has a diameter equal to the diameter of lip
38
. Cylindrical aperture
21
extends the length of member
12
and extends through tip
20
, members
14
to
19
, and tip
11
. Aperture
21
is the “hollow” portion of tip
20
, members
14
to
19
, and tip
11
. Member
12
can be fabricated in any desired manner, but typically is molded as a unitary integrated piece. Tips
11
and
20
each have an outer diameter equal to or slightly less than the diameter of inner surface
32
of tubing
10
.
Member
12
need only, if desired, have one connector. The other connector can be replaced with a nozzle which permits water flowing into member
12
from tubing
10
to flow out of member
12
. The shape and dimension of member
12
can be varied as desired. For example, member
12
can have a “T” shaped such that ithas three separate ends on which tubing
10
can be slidably mounted.
When elastic, pliable doughnut shaped securing member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
in the manner illustrated in
FIGS. 1
to
4
, member
30
has an elastically expanded inner diameter
31
equivalent to the outer diameter of surface
33
. When member
30
is not mounted on tubing
10
, member
30
elastically contracts to its normal doughnut shape in which the inner diameter
31
is less than the outer diameter of surface
33
. Member
30
functions to circumferentially generate compressive forces against tubing
10
when member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
in the manner shown in
FIGS. 1
to
4
. These compressive forces are generated because, as noted, opening
31
is elastically expanded when member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
. Accordingly, member
30
is attempting to contract elastically to its original “reduced-size” doughnut shape whenever member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
in the manner illustrated in
FIGS. 1
to
4
. This attempt to elastically contract generates forces around the circumference of tubing
10
(at points where member
30
contacts surface
33
) which are generally of uniform strength or magnitude at each point at which member
30
circumferentially contacts tubing
10
. Member
30
must generally uniformly compress tubing
10
around the entire circumference, otherwise a leak can develop at points where tubing
10
is not compressed by member
30
against the connector
50
.
Elastic member
30
can be fabricated from any desired material. Member
30
must, however, have an opening
31
which has a diameter smaller than the diameter of tubing
10
. For example, if tubing
10
has an outer diameter of one-quarter inch, the diameter of opening
31
(before member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
) is presently about {fraction (5/32)} inch. Opening
31
elastically stretches to a diameter of one-quarter inch when member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
.
Member
30
must be elastic and attempt to return to its original shape and dimension after member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
. This elasticity generates the compressive forces necessary in the practice of the invention.
Member
30
is presently comprised of latex, another rubber, an elastic plastic, or other elastomer which preferably, but not necessarily, has a durometer in the range of ten to forty. While durometers greater than forty can be utilized, they are not preferred because the latex becomes so stiff that it is difficult to stretch it to increase the size of opening
31
when member
30
is mounted on tubing
10
. One of the virtues of the invention is that member
30
can readily manually be mounted on tubing
10
. If the durometer is too high, this also interferes with the ability of member
30
to roll in the manner described below. The rolling application of member
30
also facilitates its manual application to member
10
. If the durometer is less than ten, it becomes increasingly soft and the compressive forces applied to tubing
10
decrease
The ability of member
30
to roll along tubing
10
is important in the method of the invention because it facilitates mounting of member
30
on tubing
10
. If member
30
cannot roll, then it must either be slid along surface
33
or a tool must be utilized to position member
30
on tubing
10
. Sliding member
30
along surface
33
is usually possible, but compressive forces—for example, the forces indicated by arrows P and Q in FIG.
2
—generated against surface
33
by member
30
create frictional forces between member
30
and surface
33
which impede the sliding of member
30
along surface
33
.
The rolling ability of member
30
is illustrated in FIG.
3
. When a user's fingers press against member
30
in the direction of arrows C and D, member
30
rolls along surface
33
of tube
10
such that point
60
moves downwardly and inwardly in the direction of arrow E, and point
61
moves upwardly and inwardly in the direction of arrow F. After member
30
makes one completed revolution while moving along tube
10
in the direction of arrows C and D, points
60
and
61
return to the positions shown in FIG.
3
.
FIG. 4
further illustrates member
30
being pushed along tubing
10
by the index finger
40
and thumb
41
of the user's right hand. The index finger
40
pushes the upper part of member
30
in the direction indicated by arrow K. The thumb
41
pushes the lower part of member
30
in the direction indicated by arrow L. As member
30
moves in the directions indicated by arrows K and L, member
30
rolls along surface
33
in the manner indicated by arrows M and N. The frictional engagement between surface
33
and the inner portion of member
30
facilitates the rolling of member
30
along surface
33
. Since member
30
is elastic, when finger
40
and thumb
41
begin to push on member
30
, member
30
tends to bow as illustrated in
FIG. 4
before member
30
beings to roll along tubing
10
. The ability of member
30
to roll along tubing
10
simplifies installation of member
30
on tubing
10
because it takes less effort to roll member
30
along tubing
10
than to attempt to slide member
30
along tubing
10
.
In use, member
30
is rolled, slid or otherwise installed on one end of tubing
10
at the position illustrated by dashed lines
30
in FIG.
1
. The end of tubing
10
is then slidably forced over connector
50
to the position shown in FIG.
2
. The user utilizes his fingers to roll member
30
along tubing
10
past member
13
to the position shown by dashed lines
30
in FIG.
2
. In
FIG. 2
, member
30
is positioned to the left of member
30
. If desired, member
30
can be positioned on tubing just to the right of member
30
so that member
30
presses tubing
10
against the outer cylindrical surface of tip
11
. If member
30
is at the proper position on tubing
10
, it may not be necessary to move member
30
after the end of tubing
10
is slid over connector
50
(or connector
51
), i.e., after the end of tubing
10
is slid over connector
50
, member
30
may be at the position shown in FIG.
2
and may not have to be moved.
Positioning member
30
on tubing
10
around member
14
is preferred because member
30
tends to “drawn down” tubing
10
over edge
38
and to prevent tubing from being pulled off member
13
and off connector
50
.
Claims
- 1. A method for assembling a drip irrigation system, comprising the steps of(a) providing a length of elastic hollow pliable drip irrigation tubing having first and second ends and an inner cylindrical surface having a selected inner diameter along said length of said tubing and having an outer cylindrical surface having a selected outer diameter; (b) providing a hollow drip irrigation member including at least a first end and a second end, said first end of said member including a connector, said connector being shaped and dimensioned to include (i) a first outer portion (38) having a width greater than said inner diameter of said tubing to expand said inner cylindrical surface of said tubing to a width greater than said inner diameter when said inner cylindrical surface is slidably forced over said connector, and (ii) a second inner portion (14) adjacent said first outer portion and having a width less than the width of said first outer portion; (c) providing an O-ring having a durometer in the range of ten to forty and having a circular opening formed therethrough, said opening having a width less than said outer diameter such that when said tubing is inserted through said opening, said tubing elastically expands said opening and generates frictional forces between said O-ring and said tubing which impede sliding said O-ring along said tubing, said O-ring being shaped to roll along said tubing when said O-ring is bowed and pushed along said tubing; (d) inserting said first end of said tubing through said opening of said O-ring to mount said O-ring on said tubing at a position inwardly away from said first end; (e) slidably forcing said inner cylindrical surface of said first end of said tubing over said first outer portion to a position circumscribing said second inner portion; and, (f) pressing against said O-ring to bow said O-ring and roll said O-ring along said tubing to a position on said first end circumscribing said second inner portion.
- 2. A method for assembling a drip irrigation system, comprising the steps of(a) providing a length of elastic hollow pliable drip irrigation tubing having first and second ends and an inner cylindrical surface having an initial selected inner diameter along said length of said tubing and having an outer cylindrical surface having an initial selected outer diameter; (b) providing a hollow drip irrigation member including at least a first end and a second end, said first end of said member including a connector, said connector being shaped and dimensioned to include (i) a first outer portion (38) having a width greater than said inner diameter of said tubing to expand said inner cylindrical surface of said tubing to a width greater than said inner diameter when said inner cylindrical surface is slidably forced over said connector, and (ii) a second inner portion (14) adjacent said first outer portion, having a width less than the width of said first outer portion, and shaped and dimensioned such that when said tubing is slidably inserted over said second inner portion and after passing over said first outer portion, said outer cylindrical surface has said initial selected outer diameter; (c) providing an elastic O-ring having a durometer in the range of ten to forty and having a circular opening formed therethrough, said opening having a width less than said outer diameter such that when said tubing is inserted through said opening, said tubing elastically expands said opening and generates frictional forces between said O-ring and said tubing which impede sliding said O-ring along said tubing, said O-ring being shaped to roll along said tubing when said O-ring is bowed and pushed along said tubing; (d) inserting said first end of said tubing through said opening of said O-ring to mount said O-ring on said tubing at a position inwardly away from said first end; (e) slidably forcing said inner cylindrical surface of first end of said tubing over said first outer portion to a position circumscribing said second inner portion; and, (f) pressing against said O-ring to bow said O-ring and roll said O-ring along said tubing to a position on said first end circumscribing said second inner portion.
US Referenced Citations (13)