ANTI RUN-OVER SPRINKLER DEVICE

An anti run-over (ARO) sprinkler device including a housing, piston region, body region, piston, first cap, first seal, primary spring, second cap, second seal, secondary spring and water inlet. The device operates to prevent damage to the device when unintentional force is applied thereto. The device includes a secondary spring which contracts when unintentional force is applied to the device to prevent damage to the device. The secondary spring is configured to operate in either a contracted state where coils of the secondary spring are compressed together thereby causing the piston to pull downwards into the second cavity of the housing when pressure is applied to the second cavity or in a retracted state where the coils of the secondary spring are extended away from one another thereby causing the piston to push outward from the second cavity and into the first cavity when the pressure applied to the second cavity ceases.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a sprinkler device, and more particularly to an anti run-over sprinkler device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sprinklers have the tendency to easily get damaged when a person kicks it with their feet or when it gets run over by a vehicle. Further, a person at times does not have control of how or when their sprinkler systems gets destroyed. As a result of the weak tubing parts, constant changing of the sprinkler device may be necessary and costly. Hence, an improved sprinkler that provides an individual with flexible tubing that is sustainable to damage of any kind is desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein describe an anti run-over (ARO) sprinkler device including a housing, piston region, body region, piston, first cap, first seal, primary spring, second cap, second seal, secondary spring and water inlet. The housing including a primary housing and a secondary housing. The primary housing including a first cavity for enclosing a piston and a primary spring and the secondary housing including a second cavity for storing a secondary spring and a water inlet. The piston includes a nozzle and a riser stem, wherein the nozzle is attached to a proximate end of the riser stem. The first cap is attached to a proximate end of the primary housing, the first cap enclosing a first seal which is configured to prevent water from leaking from the proximate end of the primary housing. The primary spring encloses the riser stem and is configured to actuate vertical motion of the piston within the first cavity of the housing, the primary spring is configured to operate in either a contracted state where a plurality of coils of the primary spring are compressed together thereby causing the piston to move in an upward direction through the first cavity when pressure is applied to the first cavity or a retracted state where the plurality of coils of the primary spring are extended away from one another thereby causing the piston to move in a downward direction back into the first cavity when the pressure applied to the first cavity ceases. The second cap is attached to a proximate end of the secondary housing, the second cap enclosing a second seal which is configured to prevent water from leaking from the proximate end of the secondary housing. The secondary spring is enclosed within the secondary housing below the first cavity, the secondary spring is configured to operate in either a contracted state where a plurality of coils of the secondary spring are compressed together thereby causing the piston to move in a downward direction into the second cavity of the secondary housing when pressure is applied to the second cavity or in a retracted state where the plurality of coils of the secondary spring are extended away from one another thereby causing the piston to move in an upward direction back into the first cavity when the pressure applied to the second cavity ceases.

In some embodiments, the primary housing is located within a piston region of the device.

In some embodiments, the secondary housing is located within a body region of the device.

In some embodiments, the primary housing and the secondary housing share an overlapping region within the piston region and the body region.

In some exemplary embodiments, the pressure is applied to the first cavity when water passes through the water inlet.

In some exemplary embodiments, the pressure is applied to the second cavity when a force is applied to the nozzle while the primary spring is in a retracted state.

In some exemplary embodiments, a force is applied to the nozzle when the nozzle is stepped on or run over.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first seal includes an aperture for receiving the piston therethrough.

In some exemplary embodiments, the second seal includes an aperture for enclosing a portion of the secondary housing.

In some exemplary embodiments, the primary spring is a cylindrical retraction spring.

In some exemplary embodiments, the secondary spring is a cylindrical retraction spring.

In some exemplary embodiments, the default state of the primary spring is a retracted state.

In some exemplary embodiments, the default state of the secondary spring is a retracted state.

In some exemplary embodiments, the second cap is attached to the proximate end of the secondary housing where the first and second cavity abut one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to an anti-runover sprinkler device (“the device”). The device is predominantly concealed in the ground and includes mechanical parts that rise (i.e., pop up) from the ground due to the pressure of a water source. When the device is predominantly concealed, someone or something (e.g., a car) may run over/step on the unconcealed part of the device which could cause severe damage to the device. The device includes an enclosure (i.e., a second cavity) at its lower region having a spring (i.e., secondary cylindrical spring) inside which prevents damage to the device when the device is stepped on or run over. The spring allows the structure of the device in the first cavity to move downward into the second cavity when the device is stepped on or run over.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the device10includes a housing (12and34), a first cavity11, riser stem14, a piston16, a first cap17, a first seal18, a primary spring19, a piston stopper20, primary housing stopper(s)33, a second cavity22, a secondary spring23, a second cap24, a second seal26and a water inlet28. The housing includes a primary housing12and a secondary housing34. The device10includes a piston region13, and a body region21. The piston region13includes primary housing12, piston16, a first cavity11for enclosing piston16, a first seal18, primary spring19and piston stopper20. The first cavity11, piston16, primary spring19, and piston stopper20are enclosed in primary housing12. The body region21includes secondary housing34, secondary spring23, second cavity22for storing secondary spring23, water inlet28, second cap24, second seal26and primary housing stopper33. The second cavity22, secondary spring23and water inlet28are enclosed within secondary housing34. The piston region13and the body region21share an overlapping region29. The primary housing12and the secondary housing34may be constructed of any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic.

The piston16includes a nozzle15, a riser stem14and a piston stopper20. The nozzle includes one or more openings for releasing water and is attached to a proximate end of the riser stem. The riser stem14moves up and down in the first cavity11to raise the nozzle above the surrounding grass blades or crops for watering and to lower the nozzle when watering stops. The piston stopper20prevents the riser stem14from being pushed out of primary housing12. The piston lifts up from the first cavity11when the device is operating (i.e., activated to release water from the nozzle) and then retracts back below ground when not in use.

The first cap17is attached to a proximate end of the primary housing12and is configured to secure the nozzle15to the riser stem14. The first cap17encloses first seal18. The first seal may be made of plastic and is configured to seal the riser stem14so that water leakage does not occur at the proximate end of the primary housing12(i.e., where the first cap attaches to the housing). The first cap17and the first seal18both include an aperture (30a,30b, respectively) through which the piston (i.e., riser stem14) moves upwards and downwards.

The primary spring19is configured to actuate vertical motion of the piston within the first cavity11of the housing12. The primary spring may include a cylindrical retraction spring which includes a plurality of coils that are configured to operate in either a retracted state (i.e., the default state of the plurality of coils) or a contracted state. In a contracted state, the plurality of coils are compressed together. In a retracted state, the plurality of coils are extended away from one another. The riser stem14may be enclosed within the plurality of coils of the primary spring. The primary spring may be activated automatically when force is applied to the first cavity11. The force applied to the first cavity11may be exerted from water pressure which is applied to the first cavity when water enters water inlet28and travels upstream through the first cavity11.

In operation, the device10may be installed in the ground of a lawn, garden, agricultural crop region, landscape, golf course, and other areas. The housing (12and34) is installed underground in a vertical position such that the water inlet28, which is located at the bottom of the device10, connects to an underground water pipe and such that the first cap17, which is located at the top of the device10, is positioned at ground level (i.e., soil level). When water passes through the water inlet28from the water pipe, pressure is applied to first cavity11.

The applied pressure causes the primary spring19to contract thereby causing the piston (i.e., the riser stem14part of the piston), to move in an upward direction through the aperture in the first seal18and first cap17such that the nozzle15rises above any surrounding grass blades, crops, etc. Then, water is continuously released from the nozzle onto the surrounding grass blades or crops so long as water is received through the water inlet28. When the water stops passing through the first cavity, the water pressure applied to the first cavity ceases which causes the plurality of coils to retract. The retraction of the plurality of coils causes the piston (i.e., the riser stem14part of the piston) to move in a downward direction back into the first cavity11.

The second cap24is attached to a proximate end of the secondary housing34where the first cavity11and the second cavity22abut one another. The second cap is configured to secure the piston region13to the body region21. The second cap24encloses second seal26. The second seal may be made of plastic and is configured to seal the portion of the piston region which extends into the body region21(i.e., overlapping region29) so that water leakage does not occur at the proximate end of the secondary housing34(i.e., where the second cap attaches to the secondary housing). Since, the second cavity22is wider than the first cavity11, water may be prone to leak where the first cavity abuts the second cavity; thus, the second seal operates to prevent water leakage in that area. The second cap24and the second seal26both include an aperture (31a,31b, respectively) for enclosing the portion (i.e., region29) of the piston region which extends into the body region21, and through which the piston (i.e., riser stem14and piston stopper20) moves upwards and downwards.

The secondary spring23is enclosed within the secondary housing34directly below the first cavity11. The secondary spring is configured to actuate vertical motion of primary housing12within the second cavity22of the secondary housing34. The secondary spring may include a cylindrical retraction spring which includes a plurality of coils that are configured to operate in either a retracted state (i.e., the default state of the plurality of coils) or a contracted state. In a contracted state, the plurality of coils are compressed together. In a retracted state, the plurality of coils are extended away from one another.

The secondary spring23may be activated automatically when force is applied to the second cavity22. The force applied to the second cavity22may be exerted from pressure applied to nozzle15and/or first cap17while the primary spring is in a retracted state (which occurs when the device10is not releasing water from the nozzle15). Pressure may be applied to the nozzle15and/or first cap17when, for example, an entity (e.g., an individual, an animal, etc.) steps on the nozzle. Moreover, pressure may be applied to the nozzle and/or first cap17when, for example, an automobile, lawn mower, bike or any other moving device with wheels runs over the nozzle and/or first cap17.

When force is applied to the second cavity22, the plurality of coils of the secondary spring23contract, thereby causing the primary housing12to move in a downward direction into the second cavity22. When the force applied to the second cavity ceases, the plurality of coils of the secondary spring retract, thereby causing the primary housing12to move in an upward direction back into the first cavity11. Moreover, when pressure is applied to nozzle15and/or first cap17while the primary spring19is in a retracted state, the pressure may cause the primary housing12(i.e., the wall structure of the primary housing) to move downwards into the second cavity22. The primary housing stopper(s)33effectively close the space needed to allow for the passage of the primary housing, thereby preventing the primary housing structure from moving into the body region21(i.e., the region of body21that does not overlap with piston region13).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.