Radio controlled sprinkler control system

A radio controlled sprinkler control system including at least one transmitter unit with a housing. Each housing has at least one moisture sensor with a cylindrical configuration having a top end coupled to a bottom face of the housing and a bottom end with a conical shape for allowing the moisture sensor to be inserted within the ground. The moisture sensor is adapted to generate a moisture signal representative of the moisture level of the ground in which it is inserted. Each transmitter unit further includes a radio transmitter connected to the moisture sensors for transmitting an activation signal upon the receipt of a moisture signal which is representative of a moisture level below a predetermined amount. Further provided are a plurality of sprinklers adapted to be actuated only upon the receipt of the activation signal by an associated radio receiver.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a radio controlled sprinkler control 
system and more particularly pertains to actuating a plurality of water 
apparatuses as a function of a moisture level of surrounding soil with a 
suitably structured moisture sensing transmitter unit and a valve which 
communicate via radio signals. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of moisture sensors is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
moisture sensors heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of 
measuring a moisture level of soil are known to consist basically of 
familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding 
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been 
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,424,649 to Gluck 
et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,351,437 to Lishman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,937,732 to 
Brandisini; U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,886 to Whitman; U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,913 to 
Bron; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,971,248 to Marino. 
In this respect, the radio controlled sprinkler control system according to 
the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts 
and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus 
primarily developed for the purpose of actuating a plurality of water 
apparatuses as a function of a moisture level of surrounding soil with a 
suitably structured moisture sensing transmitter unit and a valve which 
communicate via radio signals. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a 
new and improved radio controlled sprinkler control system which can be 
used for actuating a plurality of water apparatuses as a function of a 
moisture level of surrounding soil with a suitably structured moisture 
sensing transmitter unit and a valve which communicate via radio signals. 
In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
moisture sensors now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved radio controlled sprinkler control system. As such, 
the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved radio 
controlled sprinkler control system which has all the advantages of the 
prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a plurality of 
transmitter units each including a housing with a rear face, a top face, a 
bottom face, and a pair of side faces defining a front opening and 
interior space. As best shown in FIGS. 2 & 4, each housing has a square 
transparent plate coupled via screws over the front opening. For 
preventing moisture from entering the interior space of the housing, a 
rectangular gasket is situated between the housing and the transparent 
plate. Each transmitter unit also includes a pair of moisture sensors each 
with a cylindrical configuration. A top end of each moisture sensor is 
coupled to the bottom face of the housing of the associated transmitter 
unit and a bottom end is equipped with a conical shape for allowing the 
moisture sensors to be inserted within the ground. In use, each moisture 
sensor is adapted to generate a moisture signal representative of the 
moisture level of the ground in which it is inserted. Further included as 
a component of each transmitter unit is a radio transmitter situated in 
the interior space thereof. The radio transmitter is connected to the 
moisture sensors for transmitting an activation signal upon the receipt of 
a moisture signal which is representative of a moisture level below a 
predetermined level of moisture. Situated on the top face of the housing 
of each transmitter unit is an antenna for facilitating the transmission 
of the activation signal. With reference to FIGS. 3 & 4, a control knob is 
situated within the interior space of the housing adjacent the transparent 
panel for allowing a user to select the predetermined level of moisture. 
The setting of the knob may be viewed from outside the housing. As shown 
in FIG. 1, a plurality of sets of sprinklers are each dispersed throughout 
a lawn and situated adjacent an associated transmitter unit. Each set of 
sprinklers are connected to a water source via a common distribution pipe 
situated underground. Associated therewith is a plurality of valves each 
connected to an associated distribution pipe. Each valve is adapted to 
allow the supply of water through the associated distribution pipe to the 
corresponding sprinklers upon the receipt of a valve actuation signal. 
Upon the lack of receipt of the valve actuation signal, each valve is 
adapted to preclude the supply of water through the associated 
distribution pipe to the corresponding sprinklers. Finally, a receiver 
unit is included with a rectangular housing having an interior space. A 
radio receiver is positioned within the housing and connected to each of 
the valves. By this structure, the radio receiver is adapted to transmit a 
valve actuation signal to a valve only upon the receipt of the activation 
signal from the corresponding transmitter unit. For facilitating the 
receipt of the activation signals, an antenna is situated on the 
rectangular housing. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved radio controlled sprinkler control system which has all the 
advantages of the prior art moisture sensors and none of the 
disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
radio controlled sprinkler control system which may be easily and 
efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved radio controlled sprinkler control system which is of a durable 
and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved radio controlled sprinkler control system which is susceptible of 
a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and 
which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the 
consuming public, thereby making such radio controlled sprinkler control 
system economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved radio controlled sprinkler control system which provides in the 
apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, 
while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally 
associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to actuate a plurality of 
water apparatuses as a function of a moisture level of surrounding soil 
with a suitably structured moisture sensing transmitter unit and a valve 
which communicate via radio signals. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved radio controlled sprinkler control system including at least one 
transmitter unit with a housing. Each housing has at least one moisture 
sensor with a cylindrical configuration having a top end coupled to a 
bottom face of the housing and a bottom end with a conical shape for 
allowing the moisture sensor to be inserted within the ground. The 
moisture sensor is adapted to generate a moisture signal representative of 
the moisture level of the ground in which it is inserted. Each transmitter 
unit further includes a radio transmitter connected to the moisture 
sensors for transmitting an activation signal upon the receipt of a 
moisture signal which is representative of a moisture level below a 
predetermined amount. Further provided are a plurality of sprinklers 
adapted to be actuated only upon the receipt of the activation signal by 
an associated radio receiver. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a 
new and improved radio controlled sprinkler control system embodying the 
principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated 
by the reference numeral 10 will be described. 
The present invention, the new and improved radio controlled sprinkler 
control system, is comprised of a plurality of components. Such components 
in their broadest context include a plurality of transmitter units, a 
plurality of sets of sprinklers, a plurality of valves, and a receiver 
unit. Such components are individually configured and correlated with 
respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
More specifically, it will be noted that the system 10 of the present 
invention includes a plurality of transmitter units 12 each including a 
housing 14 with a rear face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side 
faces defining a front opening and interior space. As best shown in FIGS. 
2 & 4, each housing has a square transparent plate 16 coupled over the 
front opening. For preventing moisture from entering the interior space of 
the housing, a rectangular gasket 17 is situated between the housing and 
the transparent plate. Preferably, the housing, gasket, and the 
transparent plate are each equipped with a pair of threaded bores for 
allowing the coupling thereof via screws. For reasons that will become 
apparent later, it is imperative that no more than two screws be utilized 
in order to facilitate quick convenient access to the interior space. 
Each transmitter unit also includes a pair of moisture sensors 20 each with 
a cylindrical configuration. A top end of each moisture sensor is coupled 
to the bottom face of the housing of the associated transmitter unit. A 
bottom end 22 of each moisture sensor is equipped with a conical shape for 
allowing the moisture sensor to be inserted within the ground in a 
vertical orientation. As shown in FIG. 2, the moisture sensors are 
preferably spaced. In use, each moisture sensor is adapted to generate a 
moisture signal representative of the moisture level of the ground in 
which it is inserted. Ideally, the moisture signals of each of the sensors 
are averaged to afford a single signal representative of a more accurate 
moisture level. It should be noted that the specific construction of 
moisture sensors is commonly known as is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 
5,424,649. 
Further included as a component of each transmitter unit is a radio 
transmitter 24 situated in the interior space thereof. The radio 
transmitter is connected to the moisture sensors for transmitting an 
activation signal via free space upon the receipt of a moisture signal 
which is representative of a moisture level below a predetermined level of 
moisture. Situated on the top face of the housing of each transmitter unit 
is an antenna 26 for facilitating the transmission of the activation 
signal. The activation signal of each radio transmitter is ideally 
comprised of unique frequency or a specific identification code. As shown 
in FIGS. 3 & 4, the transmitter units are powered by a battery 27. 
With reference to FIGS. 3 & 4, a control knob 28 is situated within the 
interior space of the housing adjacent the transparent panel for allowing 
a user to select the predetermined level of moisture. The setting of the 
knob may be viewed from outside the housing. Indica may be included to 
facilitate such viewing. 
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of sets of sprinklers 30 are each dispersed 
throughout a lawn and situated adjacent an associated transmitter unit. 
Each set of sprinklers are connected to a water source via a common 
distribution pipe 32 situated underground. In the alternative, 
above-the-ground distribution pipes may be utilized. 
Associated therewith is a plurality of valves 34 each connected to an 
associated distribution pipe. Each valve is adapted to allow the supply of 
water through the associated distribution pipe to the corresponding 
sprinklers upon the receipt of a valve actuation signal. Upon the lack of 
receipt of the valve actuation signal, each valve is adapted to preclude 
the supply of water through the associated distribution pipe to the 
corresponding sprinklers. 
Finally, a receiver unit 35 is included with a rectangular housing 36 
having an interior space. A radio receiver 38 is positioned within the 
housing and connected to each of the valves. By this structure, the radio 
receiver is adapted to transmit a valve actuation signal to a valve only 
upon the receipt of the activation signal via free space from the 
corresponding transmitter unit. To discern which transmitter unit has 
deployed the activation signal, the radio receiver is adapted to utilize 
the specific frequency or identification code of the activation signal. 
For facilitating the receipt of the activation signals, an antenna 40 is 
situated on the rectangular housing. As an option, a display 42 may be 
connected to the radio receiver. Further, the transmitters of each of the 
transmitter units may be adapted to transmit via free space a current 
moisture level and predetermined moisture level upon a change therein. 
Such information would be depicted via the display for each set of 
sprinklers, thereby allowing a user to monitor the system from the 
receiver unit. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.