# US 2021/0274731 A1 · In-ground water distribution assembly

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- Number: US 2021/0274731 A1
- Document ID: US20210274731A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/123,757
- Filed: 2020-12-16
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2020-03-09
- Inventors: Henry W Rued
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210274731A1

## CPC

- A01G 29/00: Root feeders; Injecting fertilisers into the roots
- 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)

## Abstract

A water distribution assembly includes a water capture cup adapted to hold a volume of water, the capture cup including an open recess disposed centrally thereon extending upward into the internal volume thereof, a location spike having a fin configuration, the location spike having a bottom portion and a top portion, the top portion culminating at a central stem, the bottom and top portion separated by a flange, the location spike fitted into the recess of the capture cup extending orthogonally below and above the bottom of the capture cup, and a water regulator with a central emitter valve disposed centrally above the capture cup, the regulator cup connected to a water inlet line via a feed stem and to a vertical feeder tube below center, the feeder tube extending downward and connected at the remaining end over the central stem of the location spike.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A ground water distribution assembly comprising:
an annular ground water capture cup having a diameter and height, and an open top adapted to receive and hold a volume of water in an open recess disposed thereon;
a location spike, the location spike having a bottom portion culminating to a point and a top portion of a smaller diameter than the bottom portion, the top portion culminating at a vertical feeder tube, the bottom portion separated from the top portion by an orthogonal central flange, the location spike fitted into the open recess, at center, of the ground water capture cup, the location spike extending downward orthogonally below the capture cup and upward through the open recess of the capture cup; and
a water emitter disposed centrally connected to a water inlet line at top center and to the vertical feeder tube, the feeder tube extending downward and connected at an end opposite of the point;.
wherein at least the location spike and the capture cup are buried under a soil line during use.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 1, further including one or more semi-annular water shields inter lockable at the interfacing vertical edges thereof, the water shields seated against an internal peripheral ledge disposed about an internal wall of the capture cup, the water shields each including at least two vertical retaining brackets retaining the water shields flush against the internal wall of the capture cup.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the open recess is machined in an inside surface to accept a fin configuration of the top portion of the location spike and wherein the flange seats against an opposing flange surface within the recess to form a water tight interface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the semi-annular water shields are 90-degree radial sections or 120-degree radial sections of the capture cup.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 1 connected to a water feeder line at the emitter via an inlet feed stem, the feeder line in turn connected to a water source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 3, wherein the fin configuration of the location spike is a four-fin configuration or a three-fin configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 1, wherein the capture cup functions as a barrier to downward progression of ground water past a bottom wall thereof

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein the capture cup and the one or more semi-annular water shields function together to prevent downward progression of ground water and lateral progression of ground water in a direction obstructed by the one or more semi-annular water shields.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The ground water distribution assembly of claim 2, wherein all of the components are packaged fully assembled or be assembled.