Drip line to drip screw coupler
AssigneeKJ Ketterling Enterprises, LLC
InventorKody J. KETTERLING
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drip screw coupler attaches a drip irrigation line to a rigid emitter. The drip screw coupler defines a flow channel between a top end and an outlet end that has an outer diameter sealably friction fittable entirely within an inlet port of the rigid emitter. A connecting arm extends from the top end for sealable attachment to the drip irrigation line. The outer surface of the coupler is configured for grasping between adjacent fingers of a user to facilitate manual connections and disconnections. The coupler may be injection molded as a singular component.
Claims20
A coupler for a drip irrigation system, comprising:
- an enclosed flow channel having a top end, an outlet end, and a means for sealably connecting the outlet end entirely within an inlet port of a rigid emitter;
- and
- at least one connecting arm extending from the top end and having an inlet end and a means for sealably attaching the inlet end to a drip irrigation feeder line to form a flow path from the inlet end to the outlet end.
A coupler for a drip irrigation system, comprising:
- a channel having a top end, an outlet end extending from the top end, and a means for sealably connecting the outlet end entirely within an inlet end of a rigid emitter;
- and
- at least two connecting arms, each extending from the top end and each having an end opening and a means for sealably attaching the end opening to a drip irrigation feeder line.
A coupler for a drip irrigation system, comprising:
- a channel having a top end having beveling of about 45 degrees, an outlet end having beveling of about 45 degrees, a cylindrical body having a smooth outer surface integrally connecting the top end to the outlet end, and an inner channel flow path fluidically connecting the top end to the outlet end, wherein the channel is about 1.0 inch in longitudinal length and the cylindrical body has an outer diameter of between about 0.28 and about 0.32 inches, wherein the outlet end is configured to entirely frictionally engage within an inlet port of a rigid emitter;
- and
- at least two barbed connecting arms lying in a common plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the channel, wherein each barbed connecting arm has an outer diameter of between about 0.14 and about 0.18 inches, a fluid aperture opening into an inner arm flow path defining an inner diameter of between about 0.07 and about 0.11 inches, wherein each fluid aperture fluidically connects each inner arm flow path to the inner channel flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.