# US 11,432,481 B2 · Drop hose irrigation device and method of mounting such irrigation device to a supporting rod of an irrigation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,481 B2 - Document ID: US11432481B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/500,711 - Filed: 2018-04-12 - Published: 2020-01-30 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-13 - Applicants: Arno Drechsel - Inventors: Arno Drechsel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432481B2 ## CPC - A01G 25/023: {Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers} - A01G 25/09: Watering arrangements making use of movable installations on wheels or the like - F16L 3/1215: {the pipe being fixed by rotation of an element} - F16L 3/13: and engaging it by snap action {(F16L3/1203 takes precedence)} - 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) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract A drop base irrigation device includes a substantially vertical pipeline section, which is adapted to be secured to a truss of an irrigation system by a substantially horizontal supporting rod, and a support having a substantially U-shaped bracket. The bracket includes a pair of side walls and a curved connecting wall extending along a substantially horizontal axis. The side and connecting walls have substantially cylindrical smooth inner surfaces with substantially parallel opposed projections for snap-fit locking engagement of the rod in the bracket. A pair of curved appendages extend from one of the side walls and define a pair of substantially vertical seats with oppositely directed concavities for receiving the substantially vertical pipeline section and locking it by rotation about a substantially horizontal axis. A method of mounting a drop base irrigation device to a supporting rod of an irrigation system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drop hose irrigation device (1′) comprising: a substantially vertical pipeline section (2), which is configured to be secured to a truss (3) of an irrigation system (4) having a substantially horizontal supporting rod (10); and a support (1) having a substantially U-shaped bracket (15), said bracket (15) having a pair of side walls (16, 17) joined together by a substantially cylindrical connecting wall (18) extending along a substantially horizontal axis; wherein said side walls and said connecting wall (16, 17, 18) have substantially cylindrical smooth inner surfaces (20, 21) with substantially parallel opposed longitudinal projections (22, 23) for snap-fit locking engagement of said bracket (15) on the supporting rod (10), and wherein a pair of substantially horizontally and vertically offset curved appendages (28, 29) extend from one of said side walls (16) and define a pair of substantially vertical locking seats (30, 31) and a substantially horizontal gap (37), said locking seats (30, 31) having oppositely directed concavities for receiving said pipeline section (2) in said gap (37) and locking said pipeline section within said seats (30, 31) by rotation about a substantially horizontal axis (X) from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said side walls (16) defines a supporting surface (24) for the pipeline section (2) to rest thereupon. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said supporting surface (24) comprises a first substantially flat portion (25) and a second portion (26), which is also substantially flat and is inclined relative to the first portion, said first and said second portions (25, 26) being joined together along a substantially longitudinal connecting line (27). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device as claimed in claim 1, implemented in the irrigation system (4) comprising a feeding line (8) for feeding an irrigation liquid, wherein said pipeline section (2) has an upper end (12) in fluid communication with the feeding line (8) and a lower end (13) equipped with a liquid emitter (14). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method of mounting a drop hose irrigation device (1′) as claimed in claim 1 to a substantially horizontal supporting rod (10) of a truss (3) of an irrigation system (4), the method comprising: a) connecting said pipeline section (2) to a liquid feeding line (8) of the irrigation system (4); b) providing said support (1) with said bracket (15) having said pair of substantially horizontal and vertically offset appendages (28, 29), which define said substantially horizontal gap (37) therebetween, and said substantially vertical locking seats (30, 31); c) coupling said bracket (15) to the supporting rod (10) by snap-fit engagement; d) arranging said pipeline section (2) in a substantially horizontal position and introducing said pipeline section into said gap (37); and e) rotating said pipeline section (2) by an angle of substantially 90° about a substantially horizontal axis (X) to a substantially vertical locked position inside said substantially vertical locking seats (30, 31). ### Claim 6 A drop hose irrigation device (1′) comprising: a substantially vertical pipeline section (2), which is configured to be secured to a truss (3) of an irrigation system (4) having a substantially horizontal supporting rod (10); and a support (1) having a substantially U-shaped bracket (15), said bracket (15) having a pair of side walls (16, 17) joined together by a substantially cylindrical connecting wall (18) extending along a substantially horizontal axis; wherein said side walls and said connecting wall (16, 17, 18) have substantially cylindrical smooth inner surfaces (20, 21) with substantially parallel opposed longitudinal projections (22, 23) for snap-fit locking engagement of said bracket (15) on the supporting rod (10), wherein a pair of substantially horizontally and vertically offset curved appendages (28, 29) extend from one of said side walls (16) and define a pair of substantially vertical locking seats (30, 31) and a substantially horizontal gap (37), said locking seats (30, 31) having oppositely directed concavities for receiving said pipeline section (2) in said gap (37) and locking said pipeline section within said seats (30, 31) by rotation about a substantially horizontal axis (X) from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially vertical position, wherein one of said side walls (16) defines a supporting surface (24) for the pipeline section (2) to rest thereupon, wherein said supporting surface (24) comprises a first substantially flat portion (25) and a second portion (26), which is also substantially flat and is inclined relative to the first portion, said first and said second portions (25, 26) being joined together along a substantially longitudinal connecting line (27), and wherein said substantially horizontal rotation axis (X) of said pipeline (2) intersects said substantially longitudinal connecting line (27). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device as claimed in claim 6, a first one of said pair of appendages (28) extends from said first portion (25) and a second one of said pair of appendages (29) extends from said second portion (26) with respective substantially curved connecting sections (32, 33). ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said appendages (28, 29) comprises a straight section, which is spaced apart from each of the first and second portions (25, 26) of said supporting surface (24) and is adapted to define a slot (30, 31) with curved sections (32, 33), said curved sections (32, 33) having a substantially semicircular shape substantially mating a shape of said pipeline section (2). ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said appendages (28, 29) are substantially parallel to said longitudinal connecting line (27) and are transversely offset to define said open gap (37) that faces said longitudinal connecting line (27). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said gap (37) is substantially flared to allow the pipeline section (2) to be introduced in a substantially horizontal position, parallel to said longitudinal connecting line (27) before being rotated about said substantially horizontal axis (X), perpendicular to said longitudinal connecting line (27), to be locked in the substantially vertical position.