US 7,252,246 B2 · Oscillating sprinkler with pattern select feature

Abstract

An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature. The sprinkler includes, in one embodiment, a tubular member having a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots thereon and an end portion having the same plurality of apertures therein. A plurality of lumens is formed inside the tubular member. A plurality of longitudinal series of nozzles extend through the spaced apart longitudinal slots. Each lumen is associated with one of said series of nozzles; one end of each lumen includes a fluid inlet and the other end of each lumen is closed. A selector piece is fitted to the tubular member and includes an opening to be aligned with a selected fluid inlet. The sprinkler further comprises a water-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the tubular member. Finally, a support structure for supporting the tubular member is provided.

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Drawings

Claims21

Dependent claims

An oscillating sprinkler comprising:

a fluid inlet, an oscillating mechanism, an engagement mechanism, a selector unit, an elongate tubular body member, and a support base;
wherein an internal channel leading through each of the fluid inlet, the oscillating mechanism, and the selector unit forms a first path of fluid communication, and
wherein the elongate tubular body member comprises
a single molded body structure having connected thereto a plurality of multi-nozzle series, wherein at least one of the plurality of multi-nozzle series has a number of nozzles that is different than another of the plurality of multi-nozzle series,
a plurality of lumens, each of the plurality of lumens being connected in fluid communication with at least one of the multi-nozzle series,
an end surface including a plurality of apertures, one aperture open to each of the lumens, such that each aperture is associated with one of the plurality of lumens and at least one of the multi-nozzle series;
a second path of fluid communication from each aperture through its associated lumen to its associated at least one of the multi-nozzle series;
wherein the engagement mechanism provides a plurality of positions for selectably providing a connection of the first path of fluid communication with one of the second paths of fluid communication, thereby providing fluid communication from the inlet to one selected multi-nozzle series.

5 more elements

An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature comprising:

a tubular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart longitudinal slots therein, and an endplate having the same plurality of apertures therein and the same plurality of indents therein, wherein each said longitudinal slot includes a series of nozzles associated therewith, and wherein the interior of the tubular member comprises a plurality of water conduit cavities, wherein each water conduit cavity is associated with one of said series of nozzles;
a cylindrical collar element mounted adjacent the endplate;
a selector piece connected inside said collar element, wherein the selector piece comprises an opening to be aligned with a selected fluid inlet and an outwardly biased protrusion extending towards the endplate, wherein the opening on the selector piece comprises a cylindrical portion having an internal step, a sealing cup fitted within the cylindrical portion, an o-ring between the internal step and the sealing cup, and a rubber seal extending out from the sealing cup towards the endplate;
a water-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the collar element and wherein the oscillating mechanism causes the selector piece to oscillate, said oscillating selector piece interacting with the indent of the endplate through the outwardly biased protrusion to oscillate the tubular member;
and
a support structure for supporting the tubular member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,721 words

Summary1,994 words

#The present invention relates to the field of lawn and garden applications. Particularly, the present invention is directed to an oscillating sprinkler with a pattern select feature.

#Various oscillating sprinkling systems are known in the art. Typically, these sprinklers provide an oscillating motor coupled to a tube having spray outlets disposed thereon. As the tube oscillates, the spray pattern moves back and forth to water a selected area of lawn. The range of back and forth movement determines the length of the watering area, and the position and orientation of the spray outlets defines the width of the watering area. Some current systems allow the range of oscillation to be adjusted to set the length of the desired watering area. In addition, certain prior systems have developed methods for adjusting the width of the spray area. However these prior art width-control systems suffer from certain disadvantages, including complexity of construction and assembly that increases manufacturing costs.

#For example, certain of the prior art systems require sleeves having various nozzle-blocking patterns on them. These sleeves are mounted over the spray tube and can be rotated over some of the spray outlets, thereby adjusting the width of the spray pattern. However, if the fit between the sleeve and the spray tube is not precisely maintained, leakage occurs, diminishing the effectiveness of the system by allowing a spray pattern beyond the desired width. Leakage around the sleeve contributes to reduced water pressure to the working nozzles and puddling around the sprinkler which can have an undesired effect on the area being watered.

Brief description of the drawings13 figures

#FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of an oscillating sprinkler of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view of one embodiment of a flow tube body;

#FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a flow tube body, bale element, and selector module;

Detailed description4,487 words

#The embodiments of the invention presented herein are useful for dispensing water from an oscillating sprinkler over an area to be watered such as, for example, a lawn or garden area. Embodiments of the present invention are particularly suited for an application in which it is desirable to select the width of the area to be watered.

#One embodiment of an oscillating sprinkler 10 according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The sprinkler 10 includes a flow tube assembly 12. The body 11 of the flow tube assembly 12 in the illustrated embodiment is a single molded plastic body 11. The elements of the body 11 of the flow tube assembly 12 are more clearly shown in FIGS. 2-4. The flow tube body 11 includes three longitudinal lumens (or water conduit cavities) 32a-32c that are open through apertures 33a-33c on the proximal end portion 30 of the body 11, and closed on the distal end of the body 11. The flow tube assembly 12 includes a plurality of longitudinal slots 14 disposed thereon (the slots are designated in the figures as 14a-14c). Each longitudinal slot 14 includes disposed therein a multi-nozzle series 24 (the multi-nozzle series are designated in the figures as 24a-24c and correspond, respectively, to the slots 14a-14c). Each multi-nozzle series 24 includes a plurality of individual nozzles 26 protruding therefrom. Nozzle assembly embodiments that may be used in the sprinkler shown in FIG. 1 are illustrated in greater detail in FIGS. 6-9.

#In the illustrated embodiment, the lumens 32a-32c and the nozzle mounting slots 14 are formed during injection molding of the body 11 of the flow tube assembly 12. The construction of the body 11 of the flow tube assembly 12 is illustrated in FIG. 2, which shows a partial cutaway perspective view of the body 11 without any nozzle series 24 or other components assembled to it. The lumens 32 are defined by dividers 13 extending radially from the central longitudinal axis of the body 11 of the flow tube assembly 12. The simplicity of this one-piece injection-molded design presents manufacturing and cost savings efficiencies.

Facts

Application

10/988,377Filed 12 Nov 2004

Published

US 2006/0102751 A118 May 2006

Granted

7 Aug 2007

Term ended

4 Jun 2025

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 204 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

B05B 1/202
Perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms; Outlet elements therefor: comprising inserted outlet elements
B05B 1/1654
The outlets being rotated during selection: about an axis parallel to the liquid passage in the stationary valve element
B05B 3/0438
The rotation of the outlet elements being reversible: tubular elements holding several outlets, e.g. apertured tubes, oscillating about an axis…
B05B 15/625
Arrangements for supporting spraying apparatus, e.g. suction cups: designed to be placed on the ground

Timeline

12 Nov 2004Application filedUS 10/988,377
12 Nov 2004Assigned to L.R. Nelsonassignment of assignor's interest
30 Jan 2006Assigned to Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., AS Administrative Agentsecurity agreement
18 May 2006PublishedUS 2006/0102751 A1
7 Aug 2007GrantedUS 7,252,246 B2
11 May 2011Assigned to Robert Bosch Tool Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
4 Mar 2015Assigned to Fiskars Oyj Abpassignment of assignor's interest
4 Jun 2025Term endedEstimated, includes 204 days of adjustment

Oscillating sprinkler with pattern select feature

Life of this patent

Oscillating sprinkler with pattern select feature

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims21

Description6,721 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description6,721 words