Abstract:
A spray shield apparatus for shielding against spray from a sprinkler. The spray shield apparatus has an elongated support rod capable of being anchored relative to the sprinkler. A pair of baffles are mounted to an upper shank of the support rod with least one baffle having a pivot end which pivots to different angles relative to the other baffle. Additionally, flexible tabs which extend from the upper shank are preferably used to releaseably secure the pivoting baffle(s) at the desired angle. The flexible tabs are capable of engaging and disengaging notched grooves located on an inner surface of the pivot end.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The field of the invention pertains to sprinklers and sprinkler spray shields. The invention relates more particularly to a spray shield apparatus having a pair of independently adjustable baffles which may be variably angled relative to each other to optimally deflect spray emitted from a sprinkler. 
     Sprinklers and sprinkler systems have commonly been used to irrigate agricultural tracts as well as household lawns and gardens. Generally, sprinklers are the exposed components of an underground network of water pipes, and widely spaced to effectively reach the entirety of a target area. Unfortunately, however, sprinklers are oftentimes positioned adjacent a curb, driveway, walkway, building, fence, or other structure or location where it is not desirable to have water sprayed. Furthermore, when adjusting or otherwise attending to an active sprinkler, the spray may wet or otherwise interfere in the work of the attending individual. 
     Various spray shields or deflectors have been developed in an effort to confine and/or redirect water spray to a target area, as well as to shield a structure, location, or person from undesired water spray. One example of a sprinkler shield is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,009,652 having a single plate slidably and rotatably affixed to a sleeve. A set screw adjustably secures the sleeve to an upper portion of a post, and the post is adjustably mounted on the lower portion of a sprinkler pipe by a pair of collars using set screws. 
     And in U.S. Pat. No. 4,461,423, an arc-shaped splash shield is shown mounted at the top of a support rod and partially surrounding a sprinkler. The support rod has a hook at the bottom of the support rod which engages and clamps to a sprinkler pipe when the upper end of the support rod is drawn away from the sprinkler pipe. 
     Finally, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,039,015, a hand held splash shield is disclosed having a rigid polymeric rectangular sheet is with a mesh screen housing. The mesh screen housing operates to diffuse water spray emitted from a sprinkler head when positioned adjacent a sprinkler head. 
     Perhaps the greatest deficiency common to all of the aforementioned patents is the use of a single shield or baffle piece. In both the &#39;625 and &#39;015 patents, a single shield piece having a planar configuration is disclosed. While the single plane configuration effectively operates to confine spray to one side of the shield, i.e. encompassing a 180 degree spray range, it prevents angular adjustment of the spray range to optimally suit a variety of areas and applications. In particular, the prior art single plane shields/baffles would be unable operate efficiently, i.e. limit spray to a target area, when positioned at a corner location of a lawn or garden. And while the &#39;423 patent discloses an arc-shaped shield piece which encompasses an angular spray range of less than 180 degrees, the rigid, one-piece splash shield precludes angular adjustment of the spray range. 
     Furthermore, the manner of adjustably rotating and securing the shield/baffle at various deflection angles in the &#39;652 and &#39;423 patents may be inadequate for performing simple, quick angle adjustments. In particular, the sprinkler attachment disclosed in the &#39;652 patent adjustably rotates and secures the baffle component by releasing and resetting a set-screw mounted on a sleeve which supports the baffle. The clamps used in the &#39;652 patent also use set-screws to adjustably secure mounting collars to the sprinkler pipe. The use of set-screws, however, while functioning to securely maintain a desired position, may be difficult and arduous to release and reset for many users, especially when the set-screw begins to rust or corrode. For the &#39;423 patent, because the arc-shaped shield/baffle is secured to the top of the support rod, rotatably adjusting the arc-shaped shield to a desired deflection angle requires that the entire sprinkler shield unit, including the support rod and brace, must be lifted and rotated and the brace reset on the sprinkler. 
     Thus, while the devices disclosed in the &#39;652, &#39;423, and &#39;015 patents serve to generally shield against unwanted spray from a water sprinkler, the inherent structural designs function to limit the shielding operation, which consequently also limits their utility in a wide range of uses and applications. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, durable, and cost-effective spray shield apparatus having two shield portions capable of adjusting the shield angle therebetween, for optimally containing and/or redirecting water spray to a target area, and preventing water spray from reaching a protected structure, person or area. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple, durable, and cost-effective spray shield apparatus having an adjustable locking mechanism for adjustably setting the relative angle between the two shield portions at desired shield angles, without many moving parts. 
     The present invention is for a sprinkler shield apparatus for shielding against spray from a sprinkler. The sprinkler shield apparatus has an elongated support rod with an upper shank and a lower shank. The lower shank is capable of anchoring the elongated support rod relative to the sprinkler. Additionally, the sprinkler shield apparatus has a pair of baffles with mounting ends connected to the upper shank of the elongated support rod. At least one of the mounting ends is a pivot end which is adapted to pivot about the upper shank. This enables the pair of baffles to achieve various desired baffle angles between each other. The sprinkler shield apparatus also has means for adjustably securing the pair of baffles relative to each other at the various desired baffle angles. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spray shield apparatus as it is employed against a water sprinkler located near a fence and walkway. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the spray shield it apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the spray shield apparatus of FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partly cross-sectional view of the spray shield apparatus taken along the line  4 — 4  of FIG. 3, showing in detail the means for adjustably securing the baffles to the elongated support rod. 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the spray shield apparatus taken along the line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the means for adjustably securing, taken along the circle  6  of FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is a partly cross-sectional view of a single baffle, showing in detail the notch grooves and ridges inside the mounting end. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the elongated support rod absent the baffle assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 2 and 4 best show the spray shield apparatus, generally indicated at reference character  10 . The spray shield apparatus  10  generally comprises an elongated support rod, generally indicated at reference character  11 , and a baffle assembly, generally indicated at reference character  18 . Both the elongated support rod  11  and the baffle assembly  18  may be constructed of a suitable plastic material, such as polyethylene, which can be easily formed by conventional manufacturing and production methods. 
     Details of the support rod  11  can be best seen in FIGS. 3,  4 , and  8 . The support rod  11  has an upper shank  12  upon which the baffle assembly  18  is mounted, and a lower shank  14  which is capable of anchoring the support rod  11  relative to an adjacent water sprinkler ( 40  in FIG.  1 ). The lower shank  14  of the elongated support  11  may be anchored directly to the sprinkler by suitable rod anchoring means (not shown). In the alternative, the lower shank  14  may be designed as a stake that is driven and anchored into the ground adjacent the sprinkler. For purposes of anchoring to the ground, the elongated support rod  11  preferably has a tapered leading end  15  and a cross-shaped cross-section formed by intersecting ribs  16 . The ribs  16  help displace earth out of the way as the support rod  11  is being driven into the ground. And the upper shank  12  of the elongated support rod  11  is adapted to receive and support the baffle assembly  18  thereon. Preferably, and in particular, the upper shank  12  also has a cross-shaped cross-section similar to the lower shank  14 , as can be best seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, which will be discussed in detail below in regards to mounting of the baffle assembly  18 . 
     In a first preferred embodiment, the baffle assembly  18  comprises two baffle components  19 ,  20  mounted to the upper shank  12  of the elongated support rod  11 . As shown best in FIGS. 2,  4 , and  7 , each baffle component  19 ,  20  has a plane configuration which functions as a shield to block and/or deflect water spray emitted from a water sprinkler with its relatively large area (see FIG.  1 ). And as can be seen in the top and cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3 and 5, respectively, the baffle components  19 ,  20  have a relatively thin-walled construction. It is notable that the length of each baffle  19 ,  20  extending radially from the upper shank  12  is sufficiently long to narrow the angular range of the water spray trajectory ( 44  in FIG.  1 ). Each baffle  19 ,  20  has a mounting end  21 ,  22 , respectively, which connects to the upper shank  12  of the elongated support rod  11 . At least one of the two mounting ends  21 ,  22  is a pivot end adapted to pivot about the upper shank  12 . Preferably, both mounting ends  21 ,  22  are pivot ends  21 ,  22  capable of independently pivoting relative to each other. It is contemplated, however, that other embodiments of the baffle assembly  18  may incorporate only one pivot end, with the other mounting end affixed and stationary relative to the upper shank  12 . 
     As can be best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the pivot ends  21 ,  22  have a tubular configuration which functions as a collar to telescopically mount to the upper shank  12 . As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the pivot ends  21 ,  22  are serially mounted adjacent each other along the upper shank  12 , with the upper pivot end  21  near the top end  13  of the upper shank  12 . Each baffle component  19 ,  20  extends adjacent the pivot end  22 ,  21 , of the other baffle component  20 ,  19  while maintaining a marginally spaced distance, to form a relatively continuous shield wall. Additionally, support flanges  28  provide supplemental support of the baffle components  19 ,  20  against the pivot ends  21 ,  22 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the tubular configuration of the pivot ends  21 ,  22  has an inner tube surface  23  with a plurality of notched grooves  25 . The plurality of notched grooves extend parallel to a longitudinal central axis of the tube-shaped pivot end  21 ,  22 , and encircle the circumference of the inner tube surface  23 . The notched grooves  25  are relatively shallow whereby a tab piece (see discussion below) may be easily transitioned from one notched grooved to another, while maintaining engagement when struck by water spray. As can be best seen in FIG. 6, each of the tabs  31 - 34  will preferably engage a single notched groove at a time. Furthermore, the inner surface  23  of the tubular configuration has a transverse deck  26  which preferably has a ring-shaped configuration encircling the inner surface  23 . The transverse deck  26  functions to retain the mounting ends  21 ,  22  to the upper shank  12  of the elongated support rod  11 . 
     The spray shield apparatus  10  finally includes means for adjustably securing the baffles  19 ,  20  to the upper shank  12  of the elongated support rod  11 . The means for adjustably securing is preferably at least two tabs  31 ,  32 , (also  33 ,  34 ) connected to the upper shank  12  of the elongated support rod  11 . Preferably, where both mounting ends are pivot ends  21 ,  22  as shown in the present figures, four tabs  31 - 34  are provided: tabs  31  and  32  for adjustably securing the upper pivot end  22 , and tabs  33  and  34  for adjustably securing the lower pivot end  21 . And preferably still, the tabs  31 - 34  are positioned at opposite ends of the upper shank  12 , in order to provide balanced engagement of the tabs  31 - 34  with the notched grooves  25 . 
     Each of the tabs  31 - 34  have resiliently biasing means for engaging and disengaging at least one of the plurality of notched grooves  25 . As shown in the figures, a preferred embodiment of the resiliently biasing means is a bridge ( 35 ,  35 ′) having a leaf-spring configuration. Two bridges  35 ,  35 ′ are shown in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  8 , each supported by opposite bridge ends  36 , which connect to a hub portion  38  of the upper shank  12 . Consequently, a bridge gap  37  is formed between the bridges  35 ,  35 ′ and the hub portion  38 . At least one tab is suitably connected to each bridge  35 ,  35 ′ such that the at least one tab engages with at least one notched groove of the at least one pivot end of the pivoting baffle. And as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, each bridge  35 ,  35 ′ preferably has two tabs ( 32 ,  34  and  31 ,  33 , respectively), the upper tabs  31 ,  32  engaging the upper pivot end  22 , and the lower tabs  33 ,  34  engaging the lower pivot end  21 . Furthermore, as can be seen in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  8 , the upper shank  12  additionally has at least one, and preferably two, radial support portions  39  which are interposed between the at least two tabs ( 31 ,  32 , and  33 ,  34 ). The radial support portions  39  have a support tip which is proximately positioned to the plurality of notched grooves  25  without engaging the plurality of notched grooves  25 . 
     The result is a simple and easy-to-use sprinkler spray shield apparatus  10  which may be easily installed and operated by individuals with little or no mechanical experience and without the use of special tools. When the baffles  19 ,  20  are rotated to achieve different deflection angles, the resiliently biasing action of the length of the bridge  35  tends to resiliently flex. This consequently enables the tabs  31 - 34  to overcome the ridges  24  formed between the notched grooves  25  when transitioning from one notched groove to the next. It is notable that while the bridges  35 ,  35 ′ ideally remain unbiased when the tab is positioned in the at least one notched groove  25 , some degree of flexion and bending may exist, which functions to produce sufficient force to maintain contacting engagement between the tabs and the selected notched groove  25 . In any case, however, a greater degree of resilient biasing occurs during transition of the tabs  31 - 34  between notched grooves, such that the tabs  31 - 34  maintain contact with the inner surface  23  of the tubular configuration at all times. Additionally, the radial support grooves  39  provide radial support when the pivot ends  21 ,  22  are rotated between various baffle angles. 
     In this manner, and as shown in FIG. 1, the spray shield apparatus  10  may be positioned adjacent a water sprinkler  40 , and in particular, behind the spray opening of the water sprinkler. In this position, the shield apparatus  10  can effectively keep spray from reaching protected areas near the sprinkler, such as a walkway  42  and a fence  41 , and confining the water spray trajectory  44  to a target area, such as a lawn  43 . The spray shield apparatus  10  may be utilized in conjunction with both intermittent and non-intermittent water sprinklers. 
     The present embodiments of this invention are thus to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive; the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.