WO2018087666A1

WO2018087666A1 - A sprinkler guard

Info

Publication number: WO2018087666A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/056975
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerrit Hendrik STOFFBERG
Original assignee: University Of South Africa
Priority date: 2016-11-08
Filing date: 2017-11-08
Publication date: 2018-05-17
Also published as: ZA201901925B

Abstract

A sprinkler guard 10 is provided which is configured to circumvallate an upright irrigation sprinkler stem 17 in order to improve the integrity of the sprinkler and to guard it against mechanical damage and disorientation of a sprinkler head 22. The sprinkler guard 10 includes a body 12 having a base 13 for bearing upon a surface and a hollow, double walled middle 14 which extends upwardly from the base 13 to an apex of the body 12. Troughs 20 each define material deposition areas 21 for growing plants for improved aesthetic appeal. The middle 14 includes a circular cylindrical inner wall 15 which defines a central through hole 16 which is configured to accommodate the stem 17 of the irrigation sprinkler. The invention extends to a planter 45 having an integrally formed stem 150 connectable to pressurised water supply and a sprinkler head.

Description

A sprinkler guard

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to irrigation sprinklers, more specifically to a guard for an upright irrigation sprinkler which has a stem which enables it to stand proud of a ground surface.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Different types of irrigation sprinklers are used to irrigate lawns, garden beds and potted plants and these sprinklers come in different shapes and sizes. Conventional, inexpensive sprinklers have a sprinkler head or nozzle connected to a water conduit, which, in turn, is connected to a pressurised water supply. When the water supply is opened, water is discharged from the nozzle and waters an area surrounding the sprinkler head. This type of sprinkler is very common and in many instances has an elongate stem in the form of a plastic pipe or conduit which connects to a T-piece or other suitable connector and stands proud of a ground surface in order to increase the reach of the sprinkler. These protruding sprinkler stems can be an eyesore and detract from the overall aesthetics of the landscape. Furthermore, they inhibit free movement of animals, people and vehicles across lawns or around garden beds and, in the absence of an additional elongate support such as an anchor or peg configured to keep the stem upright, they are very easily knocked over or out of position which results in ineffective watering, over- irrigation in one area and drought in other parts of the garden due to disorientation of the sprinklers. More sophisticated pop-up type sprinklers have been developed which automatically retract into a ground surface once the water supply is cut-off. Although these pop-up sprinklers have become quite popular over the last number of years, they are limited in their ability to extend vertically and, for this reason, are less effective in garden beds. Also, they tend to be expensive and can be easily damaged when driven over by a vehicle, for example, even when in its retracted or stowed position.

The Applicant believes that there is a need for a solution to the above drawbacks and aims to provide a sprinkler guard or planter which at least ameliorates some of the problems discussed above.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a sprinkler guard which includes a rigid body having a base configured to bear upon a surface and at least one material deposition area which is configured to receive soil for cultivating plants, the rigid body further defining at least one through hole leading from the base upward to an apex of the body, wherein the through hole is configured to accommodate an irrigation pipe or conduit therein.

The sprinkler guard may be configured to circumvallate the irrigation pipe for a major part of its height. The body may include an outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall which defines the through hole and is spaced from the outer wall. The body may further include at least one trough disposed about an outer periphery of the outer wall. The trough may define the material deposition area.

The outer wall may be conical and taper toward an apex of the body. The inner wall may be circular cylindrical. The material deposition area may be annular. The rigid body may serve to mask and support the irrigation pipe. The sprinkler guard may include at least one anchor which is configured to secure the base to the surface it is bearing upon. The material deposition area may include drainage orifices toward an operatively lower part of the deposition area. The body may include two troughs. Each trough may define a material deposition area. The material deposition areas may be vertically spaced apart. Both the material deposition areas may be annular and concentric about the through hole. The body may include at least two material deposition areas. The material deposition areas may be separated by an upwardly extending partition. The body may have multiple partitions defining multiple material deposition areas.

The through hole may have a diameter between 10mm and 40mm.

The sprinkler guard may include at least one sealant ring which operatively serves to seal off an interface of the irrigation pipe with the body to prevent entry of pests or plant growth into the through hole. The sealant ring may be impregnated with herbicide and/or pesticide.

The invention extends to a planter for cultivating plants, the planter including a unitary body which includes:

a base which is configured to support the weight of the body on a surface, the body defining at least one material deposition area for receiving soil to cultivate plants and a through hole or bore which extends from the base upward to an apex of the body; and

an upstream end which is connectable to a pressurised water supply, the upstream end being in flow communication with the through hole of the body such that the through hole serves as a conduit for conveying water from the upstream end to the apex.

The apex may include a downstream end which is in flow communication with the upstream end. A sprinkler head or nozzle may be connectable to the downstream end. The material deposition area may be annular and may surround the through hole. The body may be tiered. The body may define at least two separate annular material deposition areas, one spaced above the other.

The body may include at least one partition dividing the material deposition area into two or more compartments.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a sprinkler mask which includes:

a body which defines at least one through hole such that the body can pass over an upright irrigation sprinkler in order to mask a stem of the sprinkler, the body having a base configured to bear upon a surface and at least one material deposition area which is configured to receive soil for cultivating plants.

The through hole may extend upwardly from the base to an apex of the body. The through hole may be configured to accommodate an irrigation sprinkler stem therein.

A diameter of the through hole may vary depending on design requirements and specific applications. The guard may have a height suitable to match any conventional sprinkler stem heights. In practice the through hole may be any diameter and the body may be of any suitable height. For example, it may have 100mm diameter that forms part of a large irrigation system and the height may be in excess of 1 m or even 2 m in height.

Conventional irrigation components may be connectable to the base and apex of the body in flow communication with each other via the through hole. The planter may further include connectors for enabling connection or attachment of a sprinkler head to an apex of the body and a conduit or connector piece to a base of the body. The body itself may therefore act as a water conduit conveying water from the base to an apex of the body.

Decorative signage and/or indicia may be applied to an exterior of the guard, mask or planter as desired. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a three-dimensional view of a first embodiment of a sprinkler guard in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section through the sprinkler guard of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a three-dimensional view of a second, alternative embodiment of the sprinkler guard;

Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the sprinkler guard; and

Figure 5 shows an exploded longitudinal section through a planter in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT

The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention. Those skilled in the relevant art will recognise that many changes can be made to the embodiments described, while still attaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be attained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilising other features. Accordingly, those skilled in the art will recognise that modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances, and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not a limitation thereof.

In figures 1 and 2 reference numeral 10 refers generally to a first embodiment of a sprinkler guard or planter in accordance with the invention. The sprinkler guard 10 includes a body 12 which may be made from any suitable material including polymeric, ceramic, wooden, cementitious or metallic material. The body 12 has an annular base 13 which is configured to support the weight of the guard 10 on a ground surface and a hollow, double-walled middle 14 which extends upwardly away from the base 13 and tapers toward an apex of the body 12. The middle 14 comprises a circular cylindrical inner wall 15 which defines a central bore or through hole 16 which leads from the base 13 to the apex and which is configured to accommodate a stem 17 of an irrigation sprinkler as shown in figures 1 and 2. The middle 14 further includes a conical outer wall 18 which tapers from the base 13 upward toward the apex where it connects to the inner wall 15. The body 12 further includes a pair of vertically spaced apart, annular troughs 20 which are joined to an outer periphery of the outer wall 18 of the middle 14. Each trough 20, together with the outer wall 18, defines an annular material deposition area 21 which is configured to receive soil or sedimentary material for promoting plant growth and housing plants. Water drainage orifices (not shown) may be defined in the base of one or both of the troughs 20.

In use, the guard 10 circumvallates the sprinkler stem 17 in order to prevent mechanical damage to the sprinkler as a whole or to prevent disorientation of the sprinkler head 22, for example by way of mechanical disturbance. A sealant ring (not shown) may be provided at an interface of the sprinkler stem or pipe with the body of the sprinkler guard or planter in order to seal off the interface and prevent entry of pests or plant growth into the through hole. In order words, a sealant ring may be provided at an upper and lower interface of the stem with the body. The sealant ring may be impregnated or otherwise dosed with herbicide and/or pesticide. The sealant ring may operatively sit around the stem 17 of the sprinkler. Alternatively, the sealant ring may be integrated into the inner wall 15.

It will be understood that the sprinkler guard 10 may take any suitable form. Other possible configurations for the sprinkler guard have been illustrated in figures 3 and 4. It is to be understood that these have been provided merely to illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited only to the embodiments illustrated in the figures. Other configurations having semi-circular, triangular, octagonal or irregularly shaped cylindrical bodies are also conceivable and form part of the invention. Figure 3 illustrates a guard 30 having a square cylindrical outer wall 32 which is spaced from a circular cylindrical inner wall 33 which defines the central through hole for receiving the sprinkler stem 17. Equiangularly spaced apart partitions 35 divide a material deposition area provided between the inner and outer walls 32, 33 into four individual quadrants 36. Different decorative flower or plant arrangements can be provided in each of the quadrants 36.

Figure 4 illustrates a sprinkler guard 40 having a hexagonal cylindrical outer wall 42. In this instance, six longitudinally extending partitions 43 divide a material deposition area into six sectors 44. Because the sprinkler head 22 stands proud of the guard 40, it can still perform its primary function of watering the surrounding area unencumbered. Water spray released by the sprinkler head 22 will inevitably also serve to irrigate plant material planted in soil received in the material deposition areas. Lighting or other fixtures may also be added to the material deposition areas in order further to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the guard 10, 30, 40. In order to install the guard 10, 30, 40, it is slid over the sprinkler head 22 by passing the sprinkler head 22 or stem 17 through the bore 16. It will be understood that the stem 17 must be marginally taller than the body of the guard. Due to the material deposition areas, the sprinkler guard 10, 30, 40 also serves as a planter for cultivating plants.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention. In figure 5 the same reference numerals used above have been used again to refer to similar features. In figure 5, reference numeral 45 refers generally to a planter in accordance with the invention. The planter 45 has a unitary body 120 which doubles up as an irrigation conduit for conveying water from a downstream end 50 to an upstream end 51 . The unitary body 120 includes a base 130 for supporting the planter 45 on a ground surface. The body 120 has a hollow, double-walled middle 14 which extends upward from the base 130 and tapers toward an apex of the body 120. The middle 14 comprises a circular cylindrical inner stem 150 which defines a central bore or through hole 160 leading from the downstream end 50 to the upstream end 51 . The stem 150 serves the purpose of conveying water to a sprinkler nozzle 22. To this end, the sprinkler nozzle 22 is screw-threadingly connectable to the downstream end 51 . Other types of connections such as press-fit or interference fit connections between the nozzle 22 and the stem 150 are also conceivable. Similarly, the upstream end 50 is connectable to a pressurised water supply via a conventional irrigation T-piece 46 via screw-thread or an interference fit. The middle 14 further includes a conical outer wall 18 which tapers from the base 130 upward toward the apex where it connects to the inner stem 150. The body 120 of the planter 45 further defines at least one material deposition area 21 for receiving soil for cultivating plants. In this example embodiment the body 120 has two vertically spaced apart annular troughs 20 which define two separate material deposition areas 21 . The upstream end 51 may be in the form of a male spigot which protrudes beyond the base 130 as illustrated in figure 5 which, in use, extends into the ground. Alternatively, the upstream end 51 may take the form of a female type socket connection which is accommodated in the stem 150. Similarly, the embodiments of the sprinkler guard 30, 40 illustrated in figures 3 and 4 may also have integrally formed stems with connection points for connecting to conventional irrigation components.

The Applicant believes that, in addition to improving upon the aesthetics of irrigations systems, the sprinkler guard 10, 30, 40 in accordance with the invention will improve the structural integrity of individual irrigation sprinklers or sprinkler stems and guard them against mechanical damage. The sprinkler guard 10, 30, 40 not only improves the aesthetic characteristics of an ordinarily dull sprinkler stem but also maintains the correct position and orientation of the sprinkler head 22 which ensures accurate and precise watering. The material deposition areas stabilise the body of the sprinkler guard when filled with particulate material and allows for the planting of plants. The planter 45 with integrally formed stem 150 facilitates easy connection with conventional irrigation components such as the sprinkler nozzle 22 at the downstream end 51 and water supply at the upstream end 50 and obviates the need for a riser or conventional irrigation stem 17. Installation of the planter 45 is therefore simplified. The planter 45 doubles up as an irrigation conduit and planter for cultivating plants and has greater aesthetic appeal than a conventional irrigation stem or riser.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1 . A sprinkler guard which includes a rigid body having a base configured to bear upon a surface and at least one material deposition area which is configured to receive soil for cultivating plants, the rigid body further defining at least one through hole leading from the base upward to an apex of the body, wherein the through hole is configured to accommodate an irrigation pipe or conduit therein.

2. A sprinkler guard as claimed in claim 1 which is configured to circumvallate the irrigation pipe for a major part of its height.

3. A sprinkler guard as claimed in claim 2, wherein the body includes an outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall which defines the through hole and is spaced from the outer wall, and wherein the body further includes at least one trough disposed about an outer periphery of the outer wall, the trough defining the material deposition area.

4. A sprinkler guard as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer wall is conical and tapers toward an apex of the body, the inner wall is circular cylindrical and wherein the material deposition area is annular.

5. A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid body serves to mask and support the irrigation pipe.

6. A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one anchor which is configured to secure the base to the surface it is bearing upon.

7. A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material deposition area includes drainage orifices toward an operatively lower part of the deposition area.

8. A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body includes two troughs, each defining a material deposition area, the areas being vertically spaced apart.

9. A sprinkler guard as claimed in claim 8, wherein both the material deposition areas are annular and concentric about the through hole.

10. A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body includes at least two material deposition areas, the areas being separated by an upwardly extending partition.

1 1 . A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the through hole has a diameter between 10mm and 40mm.

12. A sprinkler guard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes at least one sealant ring which operatively serves to seal off an interface of the irrigation pipe with the body to prevent entry of pests or plant growth into the through hole.

13. A sprinkler guard as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sealant ring is impregnated with herbicide and/or pesticide.

14. A planter for cultivating plants, the planter including a unitary body which includes:

15. A planter as claimed in claim 14, wherein the apex includes a downstream end which is in flow communication with the upstream end, a sprinkler head or nozzle being connectable to the downstream end.

16. A planter as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein the material deposition area is annular and surrounds the through hole.

17. A planter as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the body is tiered and defines at least two separate annular material deposition areas, one spaced above the other.

18. A planter as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the body includes at least one partition dividing the material deposition area into two or more compartments.

19. A sprinkler mask which includes:

20. A sprinkler mask as claimed in claim 19, wherein the through hole extends upwardly from the base to an apex of the body, the through hole being configured to accommodate an irrigation sprinkler stem therein.