# US 10,440,904 B2 · Drip emitter > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,440,904 B2 - Document ID: US10440904B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/491,527 - Filed: 2017-04-19 - Published: 2018-10-25 - Granted: 2019-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-19 - Assignees: Sgt Co., Ltd.; Kay Dae Wui; Hwan We - Applicants: Sgt Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Kay Dae Wui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10440904B2 ## CPC - A01G 25/023: {Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers} - G05D 7/01: without auxiliary power - G05D 7/0186: {without moving parts} - Y02A 40/22: Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE ## Abstract A drip emitter has a hollow body provided with first and second pools and with an inlet recess between the first and second pools. The inlet recess has inlet hole(s). The emitter is provided with an elastic band surrounding at least one of the inlet holes. The elastic band, in its closed position, is in a tight contact with the inlet hole(s). In its open position, it is expanded to open the inlet hole(s). ## Claims ### Claim 1 An irrigation drip emitter (1) comprising: a hollow body having a first end (100), a second end (500), an outer surface (200), and an inner surface (300); a first end wall (11) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (100); a second end wall (51) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the second end (500); a first inner wall (21) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (211) and a second end (212); a second inner wall (41) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (411) and a second end (412); an inlet recess (30) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21), and the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) and provided with one or more inlet holes (35) through which a fluid flowing along the inner surface (300) is configured to be supplied to the inlet recess (30); a first pool (10) defined by the outer surface (200), the first end wall (11), and the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21); a second pool (50) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end wall (51), and the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41); and an elastic band (60) surrounding at least one of the inlet holes (35) provided in the inlet recess (30), wherein the first inner wall (21) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a first labyrinth fluid flow path (20), wherein the second inner wall (41) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a second labyrinth fluid flow path (40), wherein a width of the first labyrinth fluid flow path (20) gradually increases as it goes from the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21) towards the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21), wherein a width of the second labyrinth fluid flow path (40) gradually increases as it goes from the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) towards the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41), and wherein the elastic band (60) is configured to move between a closed position where the elastic band (60) is in a tight contact with the inlet holes (35) to prevent a fluid from flowing out of the inlet holes (35) and an open position where the elastic band (60) is expanded by a fluid flowing out of the inlet holes (35) to thereby allow the fluid to flow to the inlet recess (30). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1, wherein the first inner wall (21) includes at least one horizontal branch wall, at least one vertical branch wall, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1, wherein the second inner wall (41) includes at least one horizontal branch wall, at least one vertical branch wall, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1, wherein the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21) has one or more fluid passages (24), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21) has one or more fluid passages (23), the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) has one or more fluid passages (43), and the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41) has one or more fluid passages (44) such that the first and second pools (10, 50), the first and second labyrinth fluid flow paths (20, 40), and the inlet recess (30) are in fluid communication with each other directly or indirectly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 4, wherein at least one of the fluid passages is formed in the midst of the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21), the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41), the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41), or a combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1, further comprising an additional first end wall (13) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (100), an additional second end wall (53) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the second end (500), or both. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1, wherein the inlet holes (35) are formed in a single or multiple rows (33). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 1, wherein the elastic band (60) surrounds some of the inlet holes (35). ### Claim 9 An irrigation line tube (5) formed in a hollow body having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface, the irrigation line tube comprising: dripping holes (15, 55) penetrating the outer surface and the inner surface of the irrigation line tube; and a plurality of irrigation drip emitters provided in series inside the irrigation line tube, wherein each of the irrigation drip emitters comprises: a hollow body having a first end (100), a second end (500), an outer surface (200), and an inner surface (300); a first end wall (11) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (100); a second end wall (51) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the second end (500); a first inner wall (21) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (211) and a second end (212); a second inner wall (41) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (411) and a second end (412); an inlet recess (30) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21), and the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) and provided with one or more inlet holes (35) through which a fluid flowing along the inner surface (300) is configured to be supplied to the inlet recess (30); a first pool (10) defined by the outer surface (200), the first end wall (11), and the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21); a second pool (50) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end wall (51), and the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41); and an elastic band (60) surrounding at least one of the inlet holes (35) provided in the inlet recess (30), wherein the first inner wall (21) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a first labyrinth fluid flow path (20), wherein the second inner wall (41) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a second labyrinth fluid flow path (40), and wherein the elastic band (60) is configured to move between a closed position where the elastic band (60) is in a tight contact with the inlet holes (35) to prevent a fluid from flowing out of the inlet holes (35) and an open position where the elastic band (60) is expanded by a fluid flowing out of the inlet holes (35) to thereby allow the fluid to flow to the inlet recess (30), wherein a cross-sectional area of an inner surface (300) of one of the irrigation drip emitters (1) is greater or small than a cross-sectional area of an inner surface (300) of another of the irrigation drip emitters (1) adjacent to the one of the irrigation drip emitters (1). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The irrigation line tube of claim 9, wherein cross-sectional areas of the inner surface (300) of the irrigation drip emitters (1) gradually increase or decrease as they go from the first irrigation drip emitter positioned at or near the first end of the irrigation line tube towards the last irrigation drip emitter positioned at or near the second end of the irrigation line tube. ### Claim 11 An irrigation drip emitter (1) comprising: a hollow body having a first end (100), a second end (500), an outer surface (200), and an inner surface (300); a first end wall (11) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (100); a second end wall (51) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the second end (500); a first inner wall (21) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (211) and a second end (212); a second inner wall (41) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (411) and a second end (412); an inlet recess (30) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21), and the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) and provided with one or more inlet holes (35) through which a fluid flowing along the inner surface (300) is configured to be supplied to the inlet recess (30); a first pool (10) defined by the outer surface (200), the first end wall (11), and the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21); a second pool (50) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end wall (51), and the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41); and an elastic band (60) surrounding at least one of the inlet holes (35) provided in the inlet recess (30), wherein the first inner wall (21) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a first labyrinth fluid flow path (20), wherein the second inner wall (41) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a second labyrinth fluid flow path (40), wherein a width of the first labyrinth fluid flow path (20) gradually decreases as it goes from the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21) towards the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21), wherein a width of the second labyrinth fluid flow path (40) gradually decreases as it goes from the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) towards the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41), and wherein the elastic band (60) is configured to move between a closed position where the elastic band (60) is in a tight contact with the inlet holes (35) to prevent a fluid from flowing out of the inlet holes (35) and an open position where the elastic band (60) is expanded by a fluid flowing out of the inlet holes (35) to thereby allow the fluid to flow to the inlet recess (30). ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 11, wherein the first inner wall (21) includes at least one horizontal branch wall, at least one vertical branch wall, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 11, wherein the second inner wall (41) includes at least one horizontal branch wall, at least one vertical branch wall, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 11, wherein the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21) has one or more fluid passages (24), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21) has one or more fluid passages (23), the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) has one or more fluid passages (43), and the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41) has one or more fluid passages (44) such that the first and second pools (10, 50), the first and second labyrinth fluid flow paths (20, 40), and the inlet recess (30) are in fluid communication with each other directly or indirectly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 14, wherein at least one of the fluid passages is formed in the midst of the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21), the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41), the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41), or a combination thereof. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 11, further comprising an additional first end wall (13) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (100), an additional second end wall (53) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the second end (500), or both. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 11, wherein the inlet holes (35) are formed in a single or multiple rows (33). ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The irrigation drip emitter of claim 11, wherein the elastic band (60) surrounds some of the inlet holes (35). ### Claim 19 An irrigation drip emitter (1) comprising: a hollow body having a first end (100), a second end (500), an outer surface (200), and an inner surface (300); a first end wall (11) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the first end (100); a second end wall (51) formed on the outer surface (200) at or near the second end (500); a first inner wall (21) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (211) and a second end (212); a second inner wall (41) formed on the outer surface (200) and having a first end (411) and a second end (412); an inlet recess (30) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end (212) of the first inner wall (21), and the second end (412) of the second inner wall (41) and provided with one or more inlet holes (35) through which a fluid flowing along the inner surface (300) is configured to be supplied to the inlet recess (30); a first pool (10) defined by the outer surface (200), the first end wall (11), and the first end (211) of the first inner wall (21); a second pool (50) defined by the outer surface (200), the second end wall (51), and the first end (411) of the second inner wall (41); and an elastic band (60) surrounding at least one of the inlet holes (35) provided in the inlet recess (30), wherein the first inner wall (21) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a first labyrinth fluid flow path (20), wherein the second inner wall (41) includes at least one vertical wall, at least one horizontal wall, or a combination thereof to define a second labyrinth fluid flow path (40), wherein the elastic band (60) is configured to move between a closed position where the elastic band (60) is in a tight contact with the inlet holes (35) to prevent a fluid from flowing out of the inlet holes (35) and an open position where the elastic band (60) is expanded by a fluid flowing out of the inlet holes (35) to thereby allow the fluid to flow to the inlet recess (30), and wherein the at least one vertical wall and the at least one horizontal wall of the first inner wall (21) include at least one vertical sub-wall and at least one horizontal sub-wall, or the at least one vertical wall and the at least one horizontal wall of the second inner wall (41) include at least one vertical sub-wall and at least one horizontal sub-wall.