Patent Application
20060249595
The present invention relates to a watering device, and more specifically to a sprinkler having a setup mode of operation and a sprinkling mode of operation.
It is generally known to provide watering devices such as sprinklers (e.g. lawn sprinklers, garden sprinklers, etc.) for use in residential and commercial applications to distribute water over a desired coverage for hydrating lawns, plants, agricultural and horticultural products, etc. Such sprinklers are usually configured to distribute a stream, spray or fan of water in a certain pattern over a “coverage” area. Some of the known sprinklers also have adjustment features that permit adjusting the pattern of the water to change the boundaries of the coverage area. However, such known sprinklers generally do not realize certain advantageous features (and/or combinations of features). For example, the sprinklers with adjustment features usually do not permit operation of the sprinkler in a “setup” mode of operation in a manner that permits a user to identify and adjust the boundaries of the coverage area, before operation of the sprinkler in a “sprinkling” mode of operation that distributes water over the coverage area.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a watering device such as a sprinkler that is operable in a setup mode of operation and a sprinkling mode of operation to permit a user to predefine and adjust the boundaries of a coverage area for the sprinkler. It would also be desirable to provide a sprinkler having a device intended to permit a user to easily switch operation of the sprinkler between the setup mode and the sprinkling mode. It would further be desirable to provide a sprinkler having a time-delay feature that delays initiation of the sprinkling mode for a sufficient duration to permit a user to exit the coverage area of the sprinkler and avoid being wetted after switching from the setup mode to the sprinkling mode.
Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a watering device having any one or more of these or other advantageous features.
The present invention relates to a sprinkler with a sprinkler member having a plurality of sprinkling orifices configured to distribute a fluid over a coverage area during a sprinkling mode and at least one setup orifice configured to direct a stream of the fluid substantially along a boundary of the coverage area during a setup mode. A valve member operates between a first position to direct a supply of the fluid to the setup orifice during the setup mode and a second position to direct a supply of the fluid to the sprinkling orifices during the sprinkling mode.
The present invention also relates to a watering device that includes a substantially hollow member having a first flow path communicating with a first set of orifices to distribute a supply of water over a watering area during a watering mode, and a second flow path communicating with a second set of orifices to distribute a supply of water substantially along opposite edges of the watering area during a setup mode. A mode switch operates to direct a supply of water through the first flow path during the watering mode and to direct a supply of water through the second flow path during the setup mode.
The present invention further relates to a watering device that includes a sprinkler head movable between a first position and a second position. The sprinkler head includes a plurality of watering apertures configured to receive a supply of water during a watering mode for wetting a coverage area as the sprinkler head moves between the first position and the second position. The sprinkler head also includes a first setup aperture and a second setup aperture configured to receive the supply of water during a setup mode and deliver a stream of water defining at least a portion of a boundary of the coverage area as the sprinkler head moves between the first position and the second position. A valve device operates to direct the supply of water to the setup apertures during the setup mode and to direct a supply of water to the watering apertures during the watering mode.
Referring to the FIGURES, a watering device (e.g. sprinkler, irrigator, etc.) is shown having structure for operation of the sprinkler in a setup mode of operation and a sprinkling mode of operation according to an exemplary embodiment. The sprinkler includes a sprinkler member (e.g. sprinkler head, etc.) shown with a plurality of sprinkling orifices (e.g. apertures, nozzles, etc.) for distributing a supply of water in a pattern over a coverage area (e.g. sprinkling area, watering area, etc.) during the sprinkling mode for watering or hydrating lawns, gardens, plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping, or other agricultural and/or horticultural products in either a residential or commercial application. The coverage area may have any suitable shape (e.g. rectangular, circular, etc.) for wetting a desired area. The sprinkler is also shown to include an adjustment device intended to permit changing the pattern of water discharged from the sprinkling orifices. The adjustment device is shown as a pair of positioners (e.g. levers, cams, etc.) for modifying the shape of the sprinkler head, however, any suitable adjustment device may be used with any form of sprinkler head that is sufficient to adjust the direction and/or pattern of water discharged from the sprinkler orifices so that a desired coverage area may be established by a user. The sprinkler is also shown having a setup orifice (e.g. aperture, etc.) positioned at each end of a line of the sprinkling orifices so that a supply of water may be directed through the setup orifices to define outer boundaries of the coverage area during a setup mode of operation. A stream of water discharged from the setup orifices are intended to at least partially define the boundaries of the coverage area so that a user may adjust the sprinkler head to establish desired boundaries for the coverage area in a particular application prior to initiating the sprinkling mode and wetting the coverage area. The sprinkler is also shown to include a valve device (e.g. mode switch, etc.) operable to direct a supply of water to the setup orifices during the setup mode and to the sprinkling orifices during the sprinkling mode. A delay or timer feature is associated with the valve device so that a user may switch the sprinkler from the setup mode to the sprinkling mode and then exit the coverage area before initiation of the sprinkling mode to avoid being wetted by the sprinkler. Many modification to the components, features and operation of the subject matter shown and described are possible. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions.
Referring to
Referring to
The body portion 20 of sprinkler 10 is also schematically shown to include a first flow path (shown as a sprinkling flow path 22) extending between valve device 60 and sprinkler head 40. When valve device 60 is in a first position, a supply of water is directed through sprinkling flow path 22 to sprinkling orifices 42 for discharge as spray 44 from sprinkler head 40 in the sprinkling mode. Body portion 20 of sprinkler 10 is also schematically shown to include a second flow path (shown as a setup flow path 26) extending between valve member 60 and sprinkler head 40. When valve device 60 is in a second position, the supply of water is directed through second flow path 26 to setup orifices 46 for discharge as streams 48 from sprinkler head 40 in the setup mode. The first and second flow paths 22, 26 may be formed within body portion 40 of the sprinkler in any suitable manner, such as with tubing and fittings, or integrally formed passages within the body portion (e.g. molded channels, conduits, etc.).
Referring further to
According to an exemplary embodiment, the first flow path 22 and second flow path 26 are shown to be substantially independent and arranged to direct the supply of water only to sprinkling orifices 42 when valve member 60 is in the first position for operation of the sprinkler in the sprinkling mode, and to direct the supply of water only to setup orifices 46 when the valve member 60 is in the second position for operation of the sprinkler in the setup mode. According to alternative embodiments, the flow paths may be at least partially “common” and may also be configured to direct any suitable portion of the water supply to the sprinkling and setup orifices during either mode of operation.
Valve device 60 may be any suitable device for permitting a user to manually direct the supply of water between the first flow path and the second flow path. According to the illustrated embodiment in
Referring to
Adjustment device 50 is shown to include positioners 52 (e.g. cams, levers, etc.) located generally at opposite ends of the hollow member. Positioners 52 are independently movable and may be used individually or in combination to adjust the hollow member into any desired shape to create a variety of patterns for spray 44 and boundaries for coverage area 18. Sprinkler 10 may be operated in the setup mode and the positioners 52 adjusted to modify the shape of the hollow member to define, change, modify, or otherwise establish a coverage area (see
According to any preferred embodiment, a sprinkler is provided that is operable in a setup mode for predefining and establishing an intended coverage area for watering objects that permits adjustment without “wetting” the user. The sprinkler includes a switching device such as a valve that switches operation from the setup mode to a sprinkling (e.g. watering mode, etc.) for watering the objects in the coverage area. The sprinkler also includes a time delay device that delays “switchover” from the setup mode to the watering mode so that a user may remain dry during setup and operation of the sprinkler. According to any exemplary embodiment, the sprinkler head includes an adjustment device for modifying the pattern of water discharged from the sprinkler head to suit a desired coverage area. The sprinkler head also includes apertures or orifices for streaming the supply of water along boundaries of the coverage area during the setup mode and for distributing the supply of water over the coverage area during the watering mode. The setup orifices may be distinct from the sprinkling orifices, or may be configured as a certain subset of the sprinkling orifices (e.g. one or more outward sprinkling orifices, etc.).
According to any alternative embodiment, the sprinkler may have any suitable type of oscillating mechanism and valve members. Also, the sprinkler head may have any suitable shape and configuration for distributing a desired pattern of water over an intended coverage area. In addition, the positioners of the adjustment system may be provided in any suitable form and location for changing the pattern of water discharged from the orifices. Further, the orifices may be provided as nozzles or other suitable structure intended to direct a discharge of water in a desired direction.
It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the sprinkler as shown and described in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present inventions have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the setup mode, valve members, timing device and oscillation mechanism may be reconfigured, actuation-assisted, or otherwise varied, or the length, width or orientation of the structures and components or other elements of the sprinkler may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies of the sprinkler may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength, durability and water resistance, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, shapes and combinations. It should also be noted that the body portion of the sprinkler may be configured in any suitable shape and used in association with a wide variety of water supplies to support use in any of a wide variety of residential, commercial and/or agricultural applications. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present inventions. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present inventions.
The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may be made in the design, operating configuration and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the inventions as expressed in the appended claims.
