IRRIGATION FERTILIZER VALVE

An irrigation system comprises a water supply, a plurality of irrigation heads in fluid connection with the water supply, and a fertilizer assembly between the water supply and a first irrigation head, the fertilizer assembly in fluid connection with the water supply and the first irrigation head, the fertilizer assembly comprising a fertilizer valve connected to a fertilizer container. Water is provided from the water supply to the fertilizer assembly, where it is mixed with fertilizer provided via gravity from the fertilizer container in the mixing chamber to form fertilized water. The fertilized water is then provided to at least one of the irrigation heads of the system.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to valves for use in depositing fertilizer on lawns and gardens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To promote healthy lawns, trees, and other plants, property owners, property managers, and farmers often use fertilizers at various times of the year depending on conditions. Fertilizers may be harmful to the user, their families, their pets, and other animals, especially granule fertilizers that remain on the surface of the lawn. Handling fertilizers may affect a person's health. Additionally, the application of fertilizers to lawns may be affected by rain, wind, or other factors that may reduce the effectiveness of the fertilizer. There is a desire to provide a system that effectively and safely fertilizes lawns, trees, and other plants.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments of the present disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor delineate the scope of any or all embodiments.

The present disclosure, in one embodiment, relates to an irrigation system for a residential property, commercial property, parks, golf courses, athletic fields, schools, or other property, which may have grass, trees, and other plants that require watering and fertilizing to maintain plant health.

In one embodiment, an irrigation system, comprises a water supply; a plurality of irrigation heads in fluid connection with the water supply; and a fertilizer assembly between the water supply and a first irrigation head, the fertilizer assembly in fluid connection with the water supply and the first irrigation head, the fertilizer assembly comprising a fertilizer valve connected to a fertilizer container with a stored amount of fertilizer. The fertilizer valve may comprise a body having a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side; a water inlet on the first side; an outlet on the second side, the outlet in fluid communication with the water inlet; and a fertilizer inlet on the top of the body. In some embodiments, the fertilizer valve further comprises a mixing chamber connected to the fertilizer inlet, the water inlet, and the water outlet.

In some embodiments, a portion of the stored amount of fertilizer may be transferred to the mixing chamber based on gravity. The portion of the stored amount of fertilizer in the mixing chamber is combined with water provided from the water supply to form fertilized water. In some embodiments, the fertilized water is transferred to the at least one of the irrigation heads. In some embodiments, the fertilizer valve further comprises a first connector at the fertilizer inlet that connects with a second connector on the fertilizer container. In some embodiments, the system further comprises a sprinkler control valve between the fertilizer valve and the first irrigation head. The irrigation system of claim1, wherein the sprinkler control valve controls flow of fertilized water to a first irrigation head. The fertilizer assembly may be installed in a fixed position, or in other embodiments, the fertilizer assembly may be movable from a first installed position to a second installed position. For instance, the fertilizer assembly may be installed in a first position between the water supply and the first irrigation head and installed in a second installed position between the first installed position and a second installed position. In some embodiments, multiple fertilizer valves may be installed throughout the irrigation system.

In some embodiments, a fertilizer valve comprises a water supply; a plurality of a body having a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side; a water inlet on the first side; an outlet on the second side, the outlet in fluid communication with the water inlet; and a fertilizer inlet on the top for connection with a fertilizer container. In some embodiments, the fertilizer valve further comprises a mixing chamber connected to the fertilizer inlet, the water inlet, and the water outlet. In some embodiments, the fertilizer valve further comprises a puncturing feature at the fertilizer inlet for opening a safety closure on the fertilizer container. In some embodiments, the fertilizer valve further comprises a shut-off feature that controls feed of fertilizer from the fertilizer container. In some embodiments, the fertilizer inlet comprises a connector for connecting with a connector on a fertilizer container.

A method of fertilizing plants for an irrigation system having at least two irrigation heads may comprise providing water from a water supply to a fertilizer assembly, which comprises a fertilizer valve connected to a fertilizer container with fertilizer, the fertilizer valve comprising a water inlet on one side, an outlet on another side in fluid communication with at least two irrigation heads, and a fertilizer inlet in communication with the fertilizer container; mixing the water with fertilizer provided via gravity from the fertilizer container in the mixing chamber to form fertilized water; and providing the fertilized water to at least a first irrigation head. The method may further comprise connecting a fertilizer container to the fertilizer inlet. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise controlling an amount of fertilizer distributed from the fertilizer container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to novel and advantageous irrigation systems and devices. As shown inFIG. 1, irrigation system100comprises a water supply102, a plurality of irrigation heads104in fluid connection via piping103with the water supply102, and a fertilizer assembly106in fluid connection via piping103with the water supply102and at least one of the irrigation heads104. In at least the embodiment shown, fertilizer assembly106is positioned distally from the water supply102and proximally to a sprinkler control valve107. In some embodiments, the water supply102may be located inside a building. In some embodiments, the water supply102may have a shut-off valve, which can be opened to allow water to flow through the system or closed to stop water from flowing through the system. In at least the embodiment shown, fertilizer assembly106is positioned distally from the water supply102and proximally to a sprinkler control valve107.FIG. 2shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of irrigation system100with a water supply102, a sprinkler control valve107, and a fertilizer assembly106in fluid connection via piping103with the water supply102and the sprinkler control valve107. The fertilizer assembly106comprises a fertilizer valve110and a fertilizer container112. The fertilizer container112may be provided with an amount of fertilizer113, which may be a granule or liquid fertilizer. The amount of fertilizer may be predetermined based on factors related to the use of the irrigation system, which include but are not limited to, size of the area being fertilized, type of plants being fertilized, season of use, geographic region, and duration of the fertilizing process. As shown inFIG. 2, the fertilizer valve110comprises a water inlet114, an outlet116in line with the water inlet116, and a fertilizer inlet118. The water inlet114, the outlet116and the fertilizer inlet118are connected to a mixing chamber120. The fertilizer inlet118further comprises a connector122that mates with a connector124on the fertilizer container112. In some embodiments, the connectors122,124may be threaded connectors to form a threaded connection, or they may comprise quick connect fittings or other known connectors. The fertilizer container112is installed onto the fertilizer inlet118in an upside-down configuration, such that the fertilizer flows into the mixing chamber120under gravity. In the upside-down configuration, the top of the fertilizer container mates with the top of the fertilizer valve, where the fertilizer inlet is positioned on the top of the fertilizer valve. In at least one embodiment, water flows from the water supply through the fertilizer assembly into the mixing chamber where it mixes with fertilizer to form fertilized water. Then the fertilized water flows to at least the sprinkler control valve and then onto at least a first irrigation head, where it waters the grass or one or more plants located in proximity to the first irrigation head.

In some embodiments, the fertilizer container112may comprise a safety closure, which in some embodiments, the fertilizer inlet118may further comprise a puncturing feature that can be used to puncture the safety closure when the fertilizer container112is connect to the fertilizer inlet118.

As described herein, the fertilizer assembly106is positioned between the water supply102and a first irrigation head107. In some embodiments, the fertilizer assembly106may be positioned in the irrigation system such that the fertilizer is only provided to a few of the irrigation heads or only to one particular irrigation head such that the fertilizer is provided to one tree. In some embodiments, the fertilizer assembly106may be installed inside a home, building, or other structure near water supply102. In other embodiments, the fertilizer assembly106may be installed outside. The fertilizer assembly106may be installed at a fixed position of the irrigation system or it may be portable for use at different locations throughout the system. In some embodiments, the fertilizer assembly106may be used at one location in the irrigation system for the purpose of disposing one type of fertilizer, and then may be used at a different location in the irrigation system for the purpose of disposing a second type of fertilizer, depending on the season, soil conditions, or the conditions of a particular plant. In some embodiments, as shown inFIG. 2, the fertilizer valve110may further comprise a pole126for the fertilizer assembly to be installed into the ground or floor for stability

FIG. 3shows one embodiment of a fertilizer assembly306, which comprises a fertilizer valve310and a fertilizer container312.FIG. 4shows fertilizer valve310with the container disconnected. As shown inFIGS. 3-4, the fertilizer valve310comprises a generally cylindrical body having a water inlet314on a first side; an outlet316on a second side, the outlet316in line with the water inlet314; and a fertilizer inlet318on the top. The fertilizer inlet318as shown inFIG. 4comprises a threaded connector322that mates with a threaded connector (not shown) on fertilizer container312. In at least the embodiment shown, the fertilizer valve310further comprises a shut-off feature324that determines how much fertilizer is distributed from the fertilizer container312and stops the feed of the fertilizer when the distributed fertilizer reaches a desired threshold.