Patent ID: 8205804
Filing Date: 2012-06-26
Classification: F16L,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of configuring a semi-flexible riser for use in an irrigation system, comprising: providing an irrigation sprinkler riser assembly comprising a retention bracket including a substantially flat strip formed from a single piece of a malleable material, a first end portion of the strip including a first set of opposed tabs extending outwardly in opposing directions at an angle of 90° from a direction along a length of the strip and preformed to define a first polygonal void, a second end portion of the strip including a second set of opposed tabs extending outwardly in opposing directions at an angle of 90° from a direction along a length of the strip and preformed to define a second polygonal void axially aligned with the first polygonal void, and an irrigation riser having first and second ends and disposed within and extending beyond the first and second polygonal voids of the retention bracket and including an outer flexible hose having a diameter smaller than the first and second polygonal voids so as to allow it to slide freely within the first and second polygonal voids, a flexible inner tube having first and second ends and disposed within the outer convoluted flexible hose, the inner tube including compression fittings at its first and second ends, a connector shell at each of the first and second ends of the inner tube, each connector shell having an inner surface mating with an outer surface of one of the compression fittings of the outer flexible hose and having a polygonal cross section mating with one of the first and second polygonal voids and sized to allow it to slide freely within the one of the first and second polygonal voids with which it mates, each connector shell further including a collar formed at a distal end of the polygonal cross section the collar acting as a stop member against inner edges of one of the first and second sets of opposed tabs; coupling the connector shell at the first end of the flexible riser to the irrigation system; sliding the retention bracket along the outer flexible hose until it is stopped against the stop member of the connector shell at the first end of the flexible riser with the first polygonal void and stop; bending the elongate member of the retention bracket to orient the second end of the flexible riser at a desired angle; and coupling an irrigation fluid delivery device to the connector shell at the second end of the flexible riser.