The invention generally relates to an irrigation system and more particularly, to an aboveground portable locking irrigation system.
Systems for providing irrigation to an area are known. Most irrigation systems are located underground. Underground irrigation systems, however, are difficult to design, implement and maintain. In particular, installing an underground irrigation system requires digging trenches in the ground, which may be cumbersome, time-consuming, or expensive for the consumer to establish, especially on sloped terrain or in areas comprised hard dirt, rocks, or heavy roots. Also, the sprinkler heads in underground irrigation systems could be a safety hazards if the grounds are heavily traveled or used for certain sports. In additional to creating a safety hazard, sprinkler heads in underground systems could also interfere with the use of the grounds, thereby limiting the ability of grounds owners to install underground irrigation system. Furthermore, once in the ground, any leaks or repairs/fixtures of irrigation parts are difficult to mend and most importantly, underground irrigation systems are not easily portable should it become desirable to move or relocate sprinkler heads.
In particular, with regard to providing irrigation to golf courses, underground irrigation systems may disrupt or disturb playability due to the presence of sprinkler heads fixed on the golf course. The playability on other sports fields such as football fields, soccer fields or baseball fields may also be compromised by the presence of an underground irrigation system. Additionally, most irrigation systems require primer and solvent cement to make connections between irrigation pipes, hoses and sprinkler heads, making assembling and disassembling of irrigation systems cumbersome and time-consuming.
Thus, a need exists for an above ground portable irrigation system that provides quick lock connections between pipes, hoses, and sprinkler heads for easy and quick assembly and disassembly, which can be used to irrigate any area or terrain and that does not disrupt the playability of sports games.
As illustrated further in the following pages, the present invention relates to a portable locking/quick release irrigation system. The irrigation system may include at least one base assembly, at least one hub assembly or a combination of both. The base and hub assemblies may be used together, in series or parallel. Each base and/or hub assembly includes a base or hub having a perimeter channel and at least one central channel for directing fluid to flow through the base/hub assembly. While the base is described below as having an inlet and outlet opening and a hub is described as having more than one outlet opening, those skilled in the art will recognize that the term “base”, as used in this application and claims, may be used to describe either the base or the hub, as the hub is merely a multiple of certain features of a base.
Each base includes two openings, an inlet opening and outlet opening, for receiving and discharging fluid. One opening is positioned on one side of the base, at the center of the side of the base and the other opening is positioned on the opposite side of the base. Each hub may include two pairs of opposing openings, where one opening is an inlet opening and is positioned in the center on one side of the hub and the other three openings are outlet openings. Each base and hub also includes a fluid irrigation opening located on the central channel that extends upward and functions as a mount for receiving a fluid discharging device for irrigating the area around or near the base and/or hub. As described further below, the fluid discharging device may be, for example, a sprinkler head or drip emitter. The bases can be connected in series. The hubs allow for the series connections to become parallel connections and/or allow the series connections to turn at ninety degree angles.
All openings on the base may be connected to hoses and/or fluid discharging device head through cam-lock connectors. The cam-lock connectors comprise of a cam and groove fitting, as illustrated and described further in the following pages. The base may have two cam-lock connectors (one male and one female) for connecting to hoses and one cam-lock connector for connecting a fluid discharging device, whereas a hub may include four cam-lock connectors (two male and two female) to accept male and female cam lock connectors on the hoses. Cam-lock connectors, when not in use, may be plugged or capped by a plug or cap. By capping two opposing cam locks on a hub, the hub can operate as a single base.
The portable irrigation system of the present invention may be sold as part of a complete system having hoses of pre-set lengths to interconnect devices at predetermined distances such that the fluid discharging devices provide complete coverage over the watering area. For example, if a hub or base has a sprinkler head with a 30 foot spray, the hose between the hubs may likewise be set at a pre-determined distance of 30 feet to provide uniform and complete coverage for the system.
The cam-lock connectors provide a unique aspect to the system allowing for the fluid discharging devices and hoses to be quickly connected and disconnected from the openings on the hub/base and to quickly connect and disconnect the sprinkler heads to the hub/base. A full description of the specifications for the base, hub and system kit, as well as the cam-lock connectors used in connection with the portable irrigation system of the present invention, are all found in the following pages.
Other devices, apparatus, systems, methods, features and advantages of the disclosure will be or will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.
In its most simplistic form, the irrigation systems 100, 200, 300, 1200 of the present invention interpose base assemblies 102 and/or hub assemblies 202 (i.e., irrigation assemblies) between hoses 104 of predetermined lengths to provide irrigation along the length of the assembled hoses. The base assemblies 102 and hub assemblies 202 are supplied with water through at least one hose connected to the base assembly 102 or hub assembly 202. Each base assembly 102 and hub assembly 202 includes a sprinkler head 106 for dispersing water from the base assembly 102 and/or hub assembly 202. Each base assembly 102 provides one water inlet and one water outlet connection to connect a number of base assemblies 102 in series; whereas, the hub assemblies 202 provide one water inlet connection and three water outlet connections to expand the irrigation system in both the longitudinal and latitudinal directions (i.e., to create both series and parallel connections between assemblies 102, 104).
The water supplied to each base or hub assembly 102, 202 provides water for the operation of the sprinkler head 106 on the assembly 102, 202 for watering the area surrounding the base or hub assembly 102, 202. Water provided to the base or hub assembly 102, 202 may then flow through the base or hub assembly 102, 202 toward a water outlet. The water flowing to an outlet may be used to supply another base or hub assembly 102, 202 through a hose 104 connected to the water outlet. Optionally, the water outlet may be capped by a cap or plug 1202, 1204 to prevent water from flowing out of the outlet and to cap the system at a given connection.
As will be illustrated and explained in more detail below in connection with
For example,
While the base 402 and hub 602 (shown in
Cam-lock connector 412 includes a cam 502 and groove fitting 504. The cam 502 has two ends; a female coupler end 506 having cam levers 510 and an external male threading end 508 on the opposing end for engaging with the female internal threading 512 of the opening 418. The groove fitting 504 also has two ends; a male adapter end 514 having an external circumferential groove 518 and a female nut end 516 having female internal threading 512 on the opposing end for receiving the male external threading 520 of the sprinkler head 106. The male adapter end 514 of the groove fitting 504 inserts into the female coupler end 506 of the cam 502 to form a cam-lock connector 412. Rotation of cam levers 510 from a disengaged position to a locked position causes the distended portion of the cams (not shown) to wedge against the external circumferential groove 518 of the male adapter end 514 to lock the cam 502 and groove fitting 504 together. When cam levers 510 are in a locked position, cam pins 522 may then be inserted into cam holes 806 (
The hoses are connected to the inlet and outlet openings 414, 416 positioned on opposite sides of the perimeter channel 404 of the base 402 by cam-lock connectors 408, 410. Cam-lock connector 408 comprises a cam 524 and groove fitting 526. The cam 524 has two ends; a female coupler end 506 having cam levers 510 and a hose shank end 536 on the opposing end for inserting into the hose opening end 532 of hose 104. A tight seal is created between the hose opening end 532 and the inserted hose shank end 536 of cam 524 by hose clamp 530. The groove fitting 526 has two ends; a male adapter end 514 having an external circumferential groove 518 and an external male threading end 508 on the opposing end for engaging the female internal threading 512 of the inlet opening 414. The male adapter end 514 of the groove fitting 526 inserts into the female coupler end 506 of the cam 524 to form a cam-lock connector 408. Rotation of cam levers 510 from a disengaged position to a locked position causes the distended portion of the cams (not shown) to wedge against the external circumferential groove 518 of the male adapter end 514 of groove fitting 526 to lock cam 524 and groove fitting 526 together. When cam levers 510 are in a locked position, cam pins 522 may then be inserted into cam holes 806 (
Cam-lock connector 410 comprises a cam 502 and groove fitting 528. The external male threading end 508 of cam 502 engages with the female internal threading (not shown) of the outlet opening 416. The groove fitting 528 has two ends; a male adapter end 514 having an external circumferential groove 518 and a hose shank end 536 on the opposing end for inserting into the hose opening end 534 of hose 104. A tight seal is created between the hose opening end 534 and the inserted hose shank end 536 of groove fitting 528 by hose clamp 530. The male adapter end 514 of groove fitting 528 inserts into the female coupler end 506 of cam 502 for accepting cams to form a cam-lock connector 410. Rotation of cam levers 510 from a disengaged position to a locked position causes the distended portion of the cams to wedge against the external circumferential groove 518 of the male adapter end 514 to lock the cam 502 and groove fitting 528 together. When cam levers 510 are in a locked position, cam pins 522 may then be inserted into cam holes 806 (
Hose 104 is connected to openings 608, 614 positioned on the perimeter channel 604 of hub 602 by cam-lock connectors 410. Similar to the single base assembly 102 shown in
Hose 104 is connected to openings 610, 612 positioned on the perimeter channel 604 of hub 602 by cam-lock connectors 408. Similar to the single base assembly 102 shown in
As illustrated in
To disconnect the female coupler end 506 from the male adapter end 514 a pull ring 808 is further provided at the outer end of each cam lever 510 to assist a user to disconnect the female coupler end 506 from a male adapter end 514 by pivoting the cam levers 510 about their pivot pins 802 toward the outer end of the female coupler end 506. When cam levers 510 are in the locked position, a cam pin 522 may be inserted into each cam hole 806 in cutout 804 to restrict pivotal movement of cam levers 510 to disconnect the female coupler end 506 from a male adapter end 514. As further illustrated in
Notwithstanding the various examples presented above, the base and hub assemblies 102, 202 can be used alone or in any combination. Different sizes and shapes of bases and hubs 402, 602 may be used having different channel diameters as commonly recognized and used in the art. Hoses having different diameters and lengths may also be used in any combination with base and hub assemblies, alone or in combination. Additionally, a variety of different sprinkler heads and nozzles having different precipitation rates and that can irrigate at different distances may be connected to either the base and hub assemblies 102, 202. These sprinkler heads and nozzles may include, but are not limited to, MP Rotators, Side Strips, Bubblers, and Fixed Arc Nozzles. In some examples, sprinkler heads may have internal female threads for engaging a male external threading for connecting to bases and/or hubs. Furthermore, drip emitters may also be connected to base and hub assemblies 102, 202 to create a portable drip irrigation system. Further, other examples of the irrigation systems 100, 200, 300, 1200 of the present invention may incorporate sprinkler heads capable of being angled at various degrees with respect to the ground surface. More than one water supply may also be utilized in accordance with irrigation system of the present invention and different orientation of the bases and/or hubs with respect to the water supply may be utilized such that any opening on the base and/or hub may act as an inlet opening and/or outlet opening. While the cam fitting parts described above entail a female coupler end one end and either an opposing external male threading end (502), hose shank end (524), or capped end (1202), cam fittings may also entail a female coupler end with an opposing internal female threading end for connected two male parts with one another. It should further be recognized that any cam fitting described above can be connected with any groove fitting described above to create a cam-lock connection. Thus, all cam and groove fittings can be used interchangeably with one another to create various different cam-lock connections. For example, a sprinkler head having internal female threading may be connecting to an opening on a base or hub also having internal female threading by a cam-lock connector that has a cam having an external male threading end (502) and a groove fitting having an external male threading end (526) to engage with either internal female threading on the sprinkler head or hub or base opening. Interchangeable cam-lock connections may also include caps 1202 and plugs 1204. Further, different sizes and dimensions of cam and groove fittings and caps and plugs may be used in accordance with the present invention, including but not limited to ¾″, 1″, 1¼″, 1½″, 2″, 3″, and 4″ diameters. It is also recognized that other connectors, aside from cam-lock connectors, may be used to connect the various parts of the present invention. It is further recognized that a plurality of inlet and outlet openings may be included in either the base or hub assemblies and may be positioned at different points along the base or hub without departing from the scope of the invention.
Again, while the base 402 and hub 602 are shown to be a square shape, those having skill in the art may recognize that the base 402 and/or hub 602 may consist of any shape including but not limited to a rectangle or circle. Further, the central channel 406 could also be positioned diagonally or in another orientation across the perimeter channel 404 without departing from the scope of the invention. The base 402 and hub 602 may further include more than one central channel 406 that may intersect one another or be positioned to be parallel to one another. It is not necessary that the center channel intersect the center of the base, just that it be positioned within the center of the perimeter channel 404. Similarly, if the central channel 406 are positioned diagonally across the perimeter channel 404, the inlet opening 414 and outlet opening 416 may be positioned on the opposing corners of the base 404 opposite the central channel 406.
The descriptions of the various implementations presented above are for purposes of illustration only. The description is not exhaustive and does not limit the claimed invention to the precise forms disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the description below, or may be acquired from practicing the invention. The claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Serial Application No. 62/369,641, filed Aug. 1, 2016, titled PORTABLE LOCKING IRRIGATION SYSTEM, which is incorporated by reference in this application in its entirety.
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Rain Bird, “1/2 Riser Adapter with 1/4 Barb”, <https://web.archive.org/web/20150628040150/http://www.rainbird.com/homeowner/products/drip/RISMANIS.HTM> 1 page. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20180029057 A1 | Feb 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62369641 | Aug 2016 | US |