EP2512689B1

EP2512689B1 - Garden watering device

Info

Publication number: EP2512689B1
Application number: EP10838300.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: John Helmsderfer; Nothan Maggard; Nicholas Jeffers; Andrew Ahr
Original assignee: Partners In Innovation Ltd LLC
Current assignee: Partners In Innovation Ltd LLC
Priority date: 2009-12-17
Filing date: 2010-12-17
Publication date: 2017-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-12-17
Also published as: CA2784923A1; AU2010330818A1; EP2512689A1; WO2011075660A1; AU2010330818B2; EP2512689A4; CA2784923C

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to garden watering devices for selective use in handheld and ground-based operations, comprising a device body defining a water inlet and including a handle and at least one water distribution member coupled with the device body and adapted to spray water in multiple patterns.

Background of the Invention

For people who live on properties with the need to maintain large outdoor living spaces, automobiles, and pets, there is a need to create a device capable of watering plants that can serve a multitude of functions. For example, there is a need for a device that can serve as a lawn watering device as well as a spray device for washing automobiles, pets, and other outdoor surfaces. In particular, there is a need for a device that serves as both a handheld watering device and a ground based lawn sprinkler, thus eliminating the need to own multiple watering devices that each serves a particular function. One could instead own a single device capable of serving multiple functions.
Having a single device capable of serving multiple watering functions would be advantageous for multiple reasons. First, it is inconvenient to have to shut off the water supply when changing devices for different watering tasks. In most cases, the water shut off (the hose bib) is adjacent to the dwelling or building. The operator must therefore walk back to the hose bib and shut off the water supply in order to exchange devices. If the residual water pressure has not been discharged, the hose may spray on the operator as the device is disconnected. Furthermore, these separate devices for different watering tasks must be retrieved and stored upon each device exchange performed by the operator. Another point of difficulty for the operator may be experienced by individuals that have physical limitations with respect to their ability to twist or grab small objects such as a hose fitting. Connecting the hose can be especially difficult when the fitting is wet or the strength of the connection has been increased by the pressure of water running through the line.
There have been devices that have been created to address some of these problems. For example, U.S. Patent No. 5,160,093 to Battaglia describes a multi-purpose handheld watering device featuring two sprayer heads, one of which is oriented in a forward direction when the device is to be used in handheld operation, and the other oriented upwardly for when the device is operated as a ground based lawn sprinkler. The device also features a pivoting spike which may be folded into the sprinkler body or pointed outward, providing the device with a means of support for when the device is used as a ground based lawn sprinkler.
However, these devices suffer from several drawbacks. Some conventional devices are only capable of watering a small to medium area of the lawn. They are also only capable of watering the lawn in a fixed pattern. This means that should the device be placed at the edge of a lawn, there would be no means of limiting the flow of water to only the lawn area, and it would unnecessarily spill over to other areas or provide inadequate coverage over the desired lawn area. A further drawback in some of the prior devices is the required use of a spike inserted into the ground to support the device when it is to be used in ground based operation. This prevents the device from properly being used for ground based operation if the device is to be used on hard surfaces, such as rocky areas or areas with dense tree roots. Moreover, the inclusion of a spike on the prior devices could damage an automobile or injure a pet if these devices were used for washing purposes other than lawn watering. Thus, it would be desirable to provide a garden watering device that addresses these and other concerns.

Summary of the Invention

The garden watering device of the invention is characterized in that the device includes a plurality of support legs, each support leg pivotably coupled with the handle and moveable to a respective first position against the handle to cooperate with the handle and together form a member that is grasped to direct the at least one water distribution member for handheld operation, each support leg further being moveable to a respective second position away from the handle to contact a ground surface together with the handle and form a ground-contacting support structure to support the at least one water distribution member for ground-based operation.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the invention.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view of the garden watering device in accordance with the invention, illustrating the support legs folded into the handle.
FIG. 34 is a side view of the garden watering device of FIG. 33.
FIG. 35 is a front view of the garden watering device of FIG. 33.
FIG. 36 is a perspective view of the garden watering device of FIG. 33 with the support legs folded outward.
FIG. 37 is a side view of the garden watering device of FIG. 33.
FIG. 38 is a rear view of the garden watering device of FIG. 33.
FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional side view of the garden watering device of FIG. 33 along line 39-39.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of a garden watering device 1500 in accordance with the invention is a water pistol with tripod support as shown in FIGS. 33-39. The pistol-style garden watering device 1500 is configured to be used for multiple sprinkling operations, including handheld and ground-based operations. The garden watering device 1500 includes a body member 1501, a discharge head or pistol barrel 1506, and a support structure 1502. The support structure 1502 is coupled to the body member 1501 at a hinge 1513 and rotates between a first position flush against the body member 1501 for handheld operation and a second position extended away from the body member 1501 for ground-based operation. In the first position, the support structure 1502 cooperates with the body member 1501 to form a handle 1514.
The garden watering device 1500 may be used in a handheld pistol-style sprinkler operation. The body member 1501 of the garden watering device 1500 includes a water inlet 1505 attached to a handle 1514. The handle 1514 couples the water inlet 1505 to the discharge head 1506. Along a front side of the handle 1514 is a trigger 1507 for activating the flow of the water through the handle 1514. At the end of the discharge head 1506 is a discharge orifice 1509 (shown in FIG. 39) through which water from the handle 1514 travels out of the discharge head 1506. A dial 1510 containing a plurality of flow outlets 1512 is coupled to the discharge head 1506 over the discharge orifice 1509. The dial 1510 can be rotated to allow the operator to select from a variety of different outlets 1512 and water distribution patterns suited for different purposes.
The support structure 1502 includes a pair of support legs 1511 movably attached to the handle 1514 such as at hinges 1513. The support legs 1511 extend along the length of the handle 1514 on an opposite side from the trigger 1507. In the first position of the support structure 1502, shown in FIGS. 33-35, the support legs 1511 lie flush with the handle 1514 in corresponding receptacles 1515 to make a continuous body member 1501. Thus, the support legs 1511 do not interfere with the use of the garden watering device 1500 as a handheld pistol-style sprinkler.
The pair of support legs 1511 may be rotated out away from the receptacles 1515 in the handle 1514 to the second position illustrated in FIGS. 36-38. The handle 1514 and each of the support legs 1511 together form a support structure such as in the form of a tripod for the garden watering device 1500 in a ground-based operation. As shown most clearly in FIG. 37, the support legs 1511 and handle 1514 are configured to support the discharge head 1506 on any appropriate horizontal surface, such as a ground surface without the use of a pivoting spike or other apparatus. The discharge head 1506 is also supported so as to be directed upwardly or generally perpendicular to the level surface. The pattern of sprinkler spray upward can be controlled by rotating the various flow outlets 1512 on the dial 1510 into fluid communication with the discharge orifice 1509 in the discharge head 1506. For example, a flow outlet 1512 which only sprays over half the discharge head 1506 may be selected when the garden watering device 1500 is positioned at the edge of a lawn. Consequently, the support legs 1511 allow the garden watering device 1500 to function as a ground-based sprinkler on any type of ground surface, including rocky terrain or uneven surfaces.
The garden watering device 1500 also includes a locking collar 1508 configured to keep the trigger 1507 depressed during ground-based operation. The locking collar is pivotally coupled to the handle 1514 at one side of the trigger 1507 and extends generally around the trigger 1507 to the other side of the handle 1514. On the other side of the handle 1514 from the pivotal connection, the handle 1514 includes a locking projection 1523. The locking collar 1508 includes a collar end 1522 which engages the locking projection 1523 in a snap fit to place the locking collar 1508 in a locked position. In the locked position, the snap fit engagement of the collar end 1522 and the locking projection 1523 holds the trigger 1507 in a depressed state and allows for continuous flow of water through the handle 1514 to the discharge head 1506. The locking collar 1508 may be moved to an unlocked position by disengaging the collar end 1522 from the locking projection 1523, which then allows the trigger 1507 to function normally with manual manipulation for handheld operation.
FIG. 39 is a cross sectional side view of the garden watering device 1500 taken along line 39-39 in FIG. 35, illustrating the interior components of the garden watering device 1500. The handle 1514 includes an interior channel 1516 through which water flows from the water inlet 1505 to the discharge head 1506. Within the interior channel 1516, an interior valve 1520 controls the flow of water through the handle 1514 and the garden watering device 1500. A spring 1517 located in the interior channel 1516 biases a piston 1518 into engagement with the interior valve 1520 to close water flow though the handle 1514. When the trigger 1507 is pressed down, the trigger 1507 pushes the piston 1518 against the bias of the spring 1517 to open the interior valve 1520 and let water flow pass through the handle 1514. Also illustrated in FIG. 39 is the discharge orifice 1509 in the discharge head 1506, which allows flow of water from the handle 1514 to one of the plurality of flow outlets 1512 in the dial 1510.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of a preferred embodiment and while this embodiment has been described in some detail, additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The various features of the invention may be used alone or in numerous combinations depending on the needs and preferences of the user.

Claims

A garden watering device for selective use in handheld and ground-based operations, comprising a device body (1501) defining a water inlet (1505) and including a handle (1514), and at least one water distribution member (1510) coupled with the device body and adapted to spray water in multiple patterns, characterized in that the device includes a plurality of support legs (1502), each support leg (1502) pivotably coupled with the handle (1514) and moveable to a respective first position against the handle (1514) to cooperate with the handle (1514) and together form a member that is grasped to direct the at least one water distribution member (1510) for handheld operation, each support leg (1502) further being moveable to a respective second position away from the handle (1514) to contact a ground surface together with the handle (1514) and form a ground-contacting support structure to support the at least one water distribution member (1510) for ground-based operation.
The garden watering device of claim 1, wherein the at least one water distribution member includes a multi-pattern head (1510) rotatably coupled to the device body (1501), the multi-pattern head including at least one flow outlet principally configured to spray water from a ground-based position and at least one flow outlet principally configured to spray water from a handheld position.
The garden watering device of claim 2, wherein the multi-pattern head (1510) includes a plurality of flow outlets principally configured to spray water from a ground-based position and arranged in a first cluster positioned along a first side of the multi-pattern head, and a plurality of flow outlets principally configured to spray water from a handheld position arranged in a second cluster positioned along a second side of the multi-pattern head.
The garden watering device of claim 2, wherein in the second position, the handle (1514) and the support legs (1502) support the multi-pattern head (1510) in a ground-based operation so that the multi-pattern head is directed upwardly so as to spray water generally perpendicular to the ground.
The garden watering device of claim 1, wherein in the second position, the handle (1514) and the support legs (1502) define a tripod-type support structure.
The garden watering device of claim 1, wherein the device body (1501) defines at least one receptacle (1515) for receiving the support legs (1502) in the first position.
The garden watering device of claim 6, wherein the support legs (1502) lie flush with the handle (1514) in the first position.
The garden watering device of claim 6, wherein the device body (1501) defines two receptacles (1515) configured for receiving the support legs (1502).
The garden watering device of claim 1, wherein the support legs (1502) are coupled to the device body (1501) through the use of a hinge (1513).
The garden watering device of claim 1, the handle (1514) including an interior channel (1516) configured for communicating water between the water inlet (1505) and the at least one water distribution member (1510).
The garden watering device of claim 10, further comprising a valve (1520) situated in the interior channel (1516) and configured to control the flow of water through the handle (1514).
The garden watering device of claim 10, wherein the handle includes a flow activator (1507) which may be actuated to deliver water flow to the at least one water distribution member (1510), wherein the device body defines at least one receptacle (1515) for receiving the support legs (1502) in the first position, and wherein the interior channel (1516) is positioned between the flow activator (1507) and the at least one receptacle (1515).
The garden watering device of claim 11, wherein the handle (1514) includes a front side and a back side, the support legs (1502) being along the back side.