Abstract:
A sprinkler play system has a central distribution station and a plurality of sprinkler stations. The sprinkler stations may be spaced apart on a lawn. The sprinkler stations are connected to the distribution station with flexible water conduits. Each of the sprinkler stations includes a low voltage solenoid valve. Electrical conductors may be included with the flexible water conduits in order to operate the solenoid valves. A control unit permits selective activation of the individual sprinkler stations.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to the field of amusement devices and, more particularly, to a children&#39;s play apparatus having a plurality of remotely operated water sprinklers. 
   2. Background 
   Children enjoy water play, particularly in hot weather. It is a common sight to see children playing in and around lawn sprinklers during the summer months. Various devices that functionally resemble conventional lawn sprinklers have been designed specifically for amusement purposes. Examples of such devices can be seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,480,336; 5,649,867; 5,820,472; 6,082,633 and 6,592,055. These devices have multiple spray heads or orifices, all of which spray at the same time. U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,314 shows a device with multiple spray heads in which the flow of water through a head may be turned on or off by the pressure of standing on the spray head. U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,959 shows a water sprinkler mat game with spray orifices placed at various locations on a mat defining a playing surface. U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,956 shows a motion activated water sprinkler that turns on for a period of time in response to the detection of movement. U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,809 shows a floating fountain display that moves to different position in the water and includes a valve system for spraying water through different nozzles. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a sprinkler play apparatus that has a central distribution station and a plurality of sprinkler stations. The sprinkler stations may be spaced apart on a lawn. The sprinkler stations are connected to the distribution station with flexible water conduits. A control unit permits selective activation of the individual sprinkler stations. 
   The sprinkler stations may be electrically activated with low voltage solenoid valves, which may be located within each sprinkler station itself. Electrical conductors may be included with the flexible water conduits in order to operate the solenoid valves. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a sprinkler play apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of the sprinkler play apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a sprinkler play apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known methods and devices are omitted so as to not obscure the description of the present invention with unnecessary detail. 
     FIG. 1  provides an overview of a sprinkler play apparatus  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus includes a central distribution station  12  and a plurality of sprinkler stations  14 . The sprinkler stations are connected to the distribution station by flexible water conduits  16 . It is preferred that each of the sprinkler stations include a solenoid-operated valve. Placing the valve within the sprinkler station itself maintains water pressure within the flexible conduit and thereby allows for a near instantaneous spray of water when the valve is activated. The solenoid may be energized by battery power within the sprinkler station itself or by means of electrical conductors connected to the distribution station. In this latter case, the conductors may be routed with or made an integral part of the flexible water conduits. The distribution station  12  is connected to a hose bib  20  by a length of garden hose  22 . In embodiments where power for valve operation is supplied from the distribution station, the distribution station is coupled to a low voltage power supply  24 . 
   The distribution station and each of the sprinkler stations may have a padded covering to reduce the possibility of injury in the event that a child falls on one of the stations. The covering may comprise, for example, vinyl padding of the type widely used for swimming pool floats. In addition, the distribution and sprinkler stations have a dome or cone-shaped outer configuration to provide for sufficient padding. The spray nozzles located in the sprinkler stations are preferably recessed below the upper surface to further reduce the possibility of injury in the event of a fall. 
     FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of sprinkler play apparatus  10 . Distribution station  12  has a water inlet  121  to which hose section  22  attaches. The water inlet  121  is in fluid communication with water manifold  122 , which has a plurality of outlets  123 . The flexible water conduits  16  connect to respective ones of the manifold outlets  123 . In this embodiment, distribution station  12  receives electrical power from low voltage supply  24 . The power is connected to sprinkler controller  124 , which has a plurality of outputs  125  for controlling the individual sprinkler stations. Operation of the sprinkler stations may be manually controlled directly at the distribution station; however, it is desirable that the sprinkler stations be remotely controlled. For this purpose, distribution station  12  includes a remote control receiver module  126  for receiving commands from a portable remote control  30 . Communications between the remote control unit  30  and receiver  126  may be via radio frequency (RF) or infrared (IR). Commands are appropriately decoded within receiver module  126  and delivered to controller  124 . 
   Each of sprinkler stations  14  has a water inlet  141  to which a respective flexible water conduit  16  is coupled. Solenoid-operated valve  142  it is normally closed to prevent the discharge or water. When energized by a corresponding output  125 , the solenoid-operated valve opens and allows water to be discharged through one or more spray nozzles or orifices  143 . Different types of nozzles may be installed in different sprinkler stations to provide a variety of water spray patterns. 
   The remote control  30  is operated by a parent or one of the children to turn the individual sprinkler stations on and off. Children like to run from one sprinkler station to another as they are turned on. They also like to run around the different stations and guess which sprinkler station will be turned on next. The control unit may include a program that randomly turns the sprinkler stations on and off. The control unit may also include a timer circuit to limit the amount of time that any of the sprinkler stations may be left on. 
   The play apparatus may include a motion sensor  40  for one or more of the sprinkler stations. This allows the sprinkler station to be optionally activated in response to detected motion, such as a child approaching the station. 
     FIG. 3  shows a sprinkler spray apparatus  50  in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. In this case, a plurality of spray nozzles  52  are located in a single cone-shaped housing. Here again, a remote control or random program is used to select which of the nozzles water will be sprayed from. 
   It will be recognized that the above-described invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of the disclosure. Thus, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but rather is to be defined by the appended claims.