WO2001096032A1

WO2001096032A1 - Sprinkler housing assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2001096032A1
Application number: PCT/IL2001/000538
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moshe Gorney; Tom Spain; Effi Ramon
Original assignee: Naan Irrigation Systems (C.S.) Ltd
Priority date: 2000-06-12
Filing date: 2001-06-12
Publication date: 2001-12-20
Also published as: AU7446001A

Abstract

A sprinkler housing assembly (10) including a housing (12) having an inner volume (14) and an open end (16). A cover (20) is adapted to cover the open end (16). The cover (20) has a first side (22) and a second side (24) generally opposite to the first side (22) and a sprinkler connection (30) attached to the second side (24) of the cover (20). When the cover (20) is placed on the housing (12) with the first side (22) facing away from the inner volume (14) of the housing (12), the sprinkler connection (30) is stored in the inner volume (14) of the housing (12), and when the cover (20) is placed on the housing (14) with the first side (22) facing towards the inner volume (14) of the housing (12), the sprinkler connection (30) extends above the housing (12) for connecting to a sprinkler head (40) and a water supply (36).

Description

SPRINKLER HOUSING ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to water sprinklers with above-ground connection, and particularly to such a sprinkler which is storable underground.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are generally two types of water sprinklers. The first type is an above ground sprinkler, which, as is well known in the art can be oscillating, rotary, step-by-step rotary, and the like. Although some above ground sprinklers must be moved from place to place frequently, there are many kinds of above ground sprinklers which can be permanently placed at strategic locations for efficient water coverage. The second type is a pop-up sprinkler which is generally embedded in the ground at predetermined locations for efficient water coverage, and which "pops up" above ground to sprinkle water. In general, it can be said that above ground sprinklers have the advantage of low cost and essentially cost free installation, with the disadvantage of the need for seasonal storage. Pop-up sprinklers do not require seasonal storage, but are expensive to purchase and install.

US Patent 5,368,229 to Hayes et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by disclosure, attempts to provide a sprinkler which combines the advantages of both types of sprinklers without their disadvantages. Hayes et al. describes a below-ground pop-up sprinkler with above ground hose connection. Because the sprinkler is pop-up, it does not require seasonal storage. Because the sprinkler has an above ground connection, the installation is inexpensive. Nevertheless, pop-up sprinklers are not inexpensive, which means that Hayes et al. still has the disadvantage of a relatively high cost of purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide a novel water sprinkler with above-ground connection, wherein the sprinkler can be an inexpensive oscillating, rotary or step-by-step rotary type, and the like, and yet the sprinkler is storable below ground. The present invention truly combines the advantages of above ground and pop-up sprinklers, and remains inexpensive to purchase, install and maintain. The above-ground connection provides an added advantage in those areas where it is undesirable to have below ground water supply lines which may be prone to freezing problems. There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a sprinkler housing assembly including a housing having an inner volume and an open end formed with an inner shoulder, a cover adapted to cover the open end and be seated upon the shoulder, the cover having a first side and a second side generally opposite to the first side, and a sprinkler connection attached to the second side of the cover, wherein when the cover is placed on the housing with the first side facing away from the inner volume of the housing, the sprinkler connection is stored in the inner volume of the housing, and when the cover is placed on the housing with the first side facing towards the inner volume of the housing, the sprinkler connection extends above the housing for connecting to a sprinkler head and a water supply. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention an inner periphery of the housing near the shoulder is formed with a plurality of grooves, and an outer periphery of the cover is formed with a plurality of lugs which are adapted to be received in the grooves.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the grooves and the lugs are positioned about the inner and outer peripheries such that when the lugs are received in the grooves, the sprinkler connection is oriented in a predetermined orientation.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the grooves and the lugs are not symmetrically positioned about the inner and outer peripheries.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the first side of the cover is formed with at least one recess adapted for grasping the cover.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the cover is configured to be generally flush with the open end of the housing when the cover is placed on the housing with the first side facing away from the inner volume of the housing. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the housing is installed below a ground surface such that the open end of the housing is generally flush with the ground surface.

Still further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the housing is formed with at least one drainage hole.

There is also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a sprinkler housing assembly including a housing having an inner volume and an open end formed with an inner shoulder, a cover adapted to cover the open end and be seated upon the shoulder, and a sprinkler connection attachable to an outer surface of the cover, wherein when the cover is placed on the housing with the outer surface facing away from the inner volume of the housing, the sprinkler connection extends above the housing for connecting to a sprinkler head and a water supply, and wherein the sprinkler connection is storable in the inner volume of the housing by removing the sprinkler connection from the cover and placing the sprinkler connection in the inner volume of the housing. The sprinkler connection is preferably attached to a sprinkler head.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sprinkler connection is attached to the cover at a predetermined, non-symmetrical attachment point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are simplified pictorial illustrations of a sprinkler housing assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a sprinkler connection attached to a cover in respective stored and operating positions;

Figs. 3 and 4 are simplified sectional illustrations of the sprinkler housing assembly of Figs. 1 and 2, in respective stored and operating positions;

Figs. 5 and 6 are simplified pictorial illustrations of the cover of the sprinkler housing assembly of Figs. 1 and 2, in respective stored and operating positions;

Fig. 7 is a simplified pictorial illustration of the sprinkler housing assembly of Figs. 1 and 2, with the cover removed to show grooves formed in a housing of the assembly;

Fig. 8 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a lower portion of the housing of the sprinkler housing assembly of Figs. 1 and 2, showing drainage holes; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are simplified sectional illustrations of a sprinkler housing assembly, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a sprinkler connection attached to a cover in respective stored and operating positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Reference is now made to Figs. 1-4, 7 and 8 which illustrate a sprinkler housing assembly 10 constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Sprinkler housing assembly 10 preferably includes a housing 12 having an inner volume 14 (Figs. 3 and 4), and an open end 16 (Fig. 7) formed with an inner shoulder 18 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7). Housing 12 is preferably formed with one or more drainage holes 19 (Figs. 3, 4 and 8). A cover 20 is preferably adapted to cover open end 16 and be seated upon shoulder 18. Cover 20 preferably has a first side 22 and a second side 24 generally opposite to first side 22 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4).

Referring additionally to Figs. 5 and 6, it is seen that the first side 22 of cover 20 is preferably formed with one or more closed recesses 26 adapted to be grasped for lifting, opening or closing cover 20. The second side 24 is preferably formed with a notch 28 in which a sprinkler connection 30 is preferably snugly fit. Sprinkler connection 30 is preferably tee-shaped, having two ports 32 and 34 for connecting to a water supply 36, and an upper port 38 for connecting to a sprinkler head 40 (Fig. 4). Sprinkler head 40 can be an inexpensive oscillating, rotary or step-by-step rotary type of sprinkler head, for example. Suitable examples of sprinkler heads are described in US Patent 5,115,977 and US Design 418901, assigned to the present applicant/assignee, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Of course, it is appreciated that many other types of sprinkler heads may be used. Sprinkler connection 30 may be manufactured as a separate part and attached to cover 20 by means of notch 28, as described above. Alternatively, sprinkler connection 30 may be manufactured as an integral part of cover 20. As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, when cover 20 is placed on housing 12 with first side 22 facing away from the inner volume 14 of housing 12, sprinkler connection 30 and sprinkler head 40 are stored in the inner volume 14. The first side 22 of cover 20 is preferably configured to be generally flush with open end 16. As seen in Figs. 2 and 4, when cover 20 is placed on housing 12 with first side 22 facing towards the inner volume 14, sprinkler connection 30 extends above housing 12 for connecting to sprinkler head 40 and water supply 36. Housing 12 is preferably installed below a ground surface 46 such that the open end 16 of housing 12 is generally flush with ground surface 46 (Fig. 4). An inner periphery of housing 12 near shoulder 18 is preferably formed with a plurality of grooves 42 (Fig. 7), and an outer periphery of cover 20 is preferably formed with a plurality of lugs 44 (Figs. 5 and 6) which are adapted to be received in grooves 42, such as by turning cover 20 generally in the direction of an arrow 45 in Figs. 1 and 7 (i.e., clockwise as viewed from above). Grooves 42 and lugs 44 are preferably positioned about the inner and outer peripheries of housing 12 and cover 20, respectively, such that when lugs 44 are received in grooves 42, sprinkler connection 30 is oriented in a predetermined orientation. Sprinkler head 40 is also preferably pre-adjusted such that it sprays a predetermined sector of land. This ensures that once sprinkler housing assembly 10 is installed, sprinkler connection 30, together with sprinkler head 40 attached thereto, may be simply flipped over from its stored position to its operating position, and sprinkler head 40 is automatically properly aligned for sprinkling. Preferably, grooves 42 and lugs 44 are not symmetrically positioned about the inner and outer peripheries of housing 12 and cover 20, respectively, and notch 28 is also non-symmetrically configured, so that the correct position of sprinkler connection 30 together with sprinkler head 40 is positively defined and cannot be confused.

Reference is now made to Figs. 9 and 10 which illustrate a sprinkler housing assembly 50, constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Sprinkler housing assembly 50 is preferably constructed like sprinkler housing assembly 10, with like numerals designating like elements. Sprinkler housing assembly 50 differs from sprinkler housing assembly 10 in that in sprinkler housing assembly 50, cover 20 is not flipped over from first side 22 to second side 24. Rather cover 20 remains with second side 24 facing up (i.e., away from inner volume 14), and sprinkler connection 30 and sprinkler head 40 are attached to second side 24 (i.e., the outer surface of cover 20) when it is desired to sprinkle, as seen in Fig. 10. As seen in Fig. 9, sprinkler connection 30 and sprinkler head 40 may be removed from second side 24 and stored in inner volume 14, with cover 20 placed on housing 12 with second side 24 facing up. Preferably, in this embodiment, sprinkler connection 30 and sprinkler head 40 are attached to second side 24 at a predetermined, non-symmetrical attachment point 52. This ensures that sprinkler connection 30 and sprinkler head 40 are automatically properly aligned for sprinkling.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and subcombinations of the features described hereinabove as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person of skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims

C L A I M S What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler housing assembly comprising: a housing having an inner volume and an open end; a cover adapted to cover said open end, said cover having a first side and a second side generally opposite to said first side; and a sprinkler connection attached to said second side of said cover, wherein when said cover is placed on said housing with said first side facing away from the inner volume of said housing, said sprinkler connection is stored in the inner volume of said housing, and when said cover is placed on said housing with said first side facing towards the inner volume of said housing, said sprinkler connection extends above said housing for connecting to a sprinkler head and a water supply.

2. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 1 wherein said sprinkler connection is attached to said second side of said cover at a predetermined, non-symmetrical attachment point.

3. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 1 wherein an inner periphery of said housing is formed with a plurality of grooves, and an outer periphery of said cover is formed with a plurality of lugs which are adapted to be received in said grooves.

4. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 3 wherein said grooves and said lugs are positioned about said inner and outer peripheries such that when said lugs are received in said grooves, said sprinkler connection is oriented in a predetermined orientation.

5. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein said grooves and said lugs are not symmetrically positioned about said inner and outer peripheries.

6. The sprinkler housing assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein said first side of said cover is formed with at least one recess adapted for grasping said cover.

7. The sprinkler housing assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein said cover is configured to be generally flush with the open end of said housing when said cover is placed on said housing with said first side facing away from the inner volume of said housing.

8. The sprinkler housing assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein said open end of said housing is formed with an inner shoulder, and said cover is adapted to be seated upon said shoulder.

9. The sprinkler housing assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein said housing is installed below a ground surface such that the open end of said housing is generally flush with the ground surface.

10. The sprinkler housing assembly according to any of the preceding claims wherein said housing is formed with at least one drainage hole.

11. The sprinkler housing assembly according to any of the preceding claims and further comprising a sprinkler head attached to said sprinkler connection.

12. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 11 wherein said sprinkler head is operative to spray a predetermined sector of land.

13. A sprinkler housing assembly comprising: a housing having an inner volume and an open end formed with an inner shoulder; a cover adapted to cover said open end and be seated upon said shoulder; and a sprinkler connection attachable to an outer surface of said cover, wherein when said cover is placed on said housing with said outer surface facing away from the inner volume of said housing, said sprinkler connection extends above said housing for connecting to a sprinkler head and a water supply, and wherein said sprinkler connection is storable in the inner volume of said housing by removing said sprinkler connection from said cover and placing said sprinkler connection in the inner volume of said housing.

14. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 13 wherein said sprinkler connection is attached to a sprinkler head.

15. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 14 wherein said sprinkler head is operative to spray a predetermined sector of land.

16. The sprinkler housing assembly according to claim 14 wherein said sprinkler connection is attached to the outer surface of said cover at a predetermined, non-symmetrical attachment point.