Abstract:
A sprinkler assembly comprising in combination a sprinkler mounting stake and a sprinkler comprising. The sprinkler comprises a sprinkler body formed with a support member receptacle and locking portion. The sprinkler mounting stake comprises a ground insertion portion and a sprinkler support portion. The sprinkler support portion comprises a lateral support member extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stake and retention member. The support member is insertable within the support member receptacle and a retention member prevents unintentional disengagement of the sprinkler body from the mounting stake.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is concerned with a stake for an irrigation unit and a sprinkler assembly which comprises in combination an irrigation unit and a support stake on which the irrigation unit is mounted and which stake is designed to be secured into the ground for supporting the irrigation unit. 
   The term “sprinkler” as used herein in the specification and claims denotes any type of irrigation unit, e.g. a mini sprinkler, a sprinkler, a sprayer, etc. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Sprinklers of many types, in particular but not restricted thereto, mini sprinklers and sprayers, are often supported by using a ground stake to which it is known to fix also a supply conduit providing irrigation water to the sprinkler. Typically, such conduits are flexible rubber tubes. 
   Stakes of the concerned type should be on the one hand cheap and easy to manufacture and assemble and, on the other hand, be sufficiently strong for inserting them into the ground and for supporting a sprinkler thereto with a supply conduit extending to the sprinkler which is often dislocated owing to rough handling or extreme temperature changes between day time and night. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,476 discloses a ground stake designed for insertion into the ground and adapted for retaining a flexible irrigation conduit coupled to the sprinkler. 
   Israel Patent No. 123907 discloses a sprinkler assembly comprising a sprinkler mounting stake formed at an upper portion thereof with a sprinkler body gripping portion fitted with a pair of sprinkler body gripping flanges defining between them a sprinkler body receiving recess and a pair of aligned edges of said flanges equally inclined with respect to a median plane of the gripping portion which gripping portion is adapted for snapping engagement over a body portion of a sprinkler formed with a pair of aligning ribs formed on the body which ribs are symmetrically disposed and equi-angularly inclined with respect to a median plane of the body. 
   This arrangement requires some significant force for engagement of the mini sprinkler with the sprinkler gripping portion and the same applies for a disengagement process. 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler assembly comprising in combination a sprinkler and a sprinkler mounting stake whilst ensuring that the sprinkler is effectively attached to the stake whilst retaining a predetermined orientation, i.e. always mounted in the same position over the stake. Further objects of the present invention are to provide a sprinkler mounting stake and a sprinkler for use in conjunction with one another. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sprinkler assembly comprising in combination a sprinkler mounting stake and a sprinkler; said sprinkler comprising a sprinkler body formed with a support member receptacle and locking portion; a sprinkler mounting stake comprising a ground insertion portion and an sprinkler support portion, said sprinkler support portion comprises a lateral support member extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stake and retention member; whereby said support member is insertable within said support member receptacle and a retention member prevents unintentional disengagement of the sprinkler body from the mounting stake. 
   According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a sprinkler comprising a sprinkler body and a water emitting member mounted over said sprinkler body and adapted for emitting water at a direction intersecting a longitudinal axis thereof; said sprinkler body comprising an water inlet port and a support member receptacle attachable to a support member of sprinkler mounting stake; said support member receptacle having an axis extending essentially parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
   According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a sprinkler mounting stake comprising a lower ground insertion portion and an upper sprinkler support portion; said sprinkler support portion comprising a lateral projection extending essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stake and fitted for insertion into a corresponding support member receptacle of a sprinkler; and a retention member for releasably engaging a corresponding securing member of the sprinkler. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For better understanding the invention and to see how it may be carried out in practice, an embodiment of a sprinkler assembly according to the present invention will now be described, by way of a non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a sprinkler and a sprinkler mounting stake in a disconnected position, which when combined, form a sprinkler assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partially sectioned perspective view of a top portion of an assembled sprinkler assembly in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating how the sprinkler is engaged over a support portion of the sprinkler mounting stake; and 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating how the sprinkler assembly in accordance with the present invention is disengaged. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Reference is first made to  FIGS. 1 and 2  for familiarizing with the sprinkler assembly and its components. A sprinkler mounting stake generally designated  10  comprises a ground insertion portion  12  having an essentially pointed lower tip  14  and radially extending reinforcement ribs  16 . At a top portion of the stake  10  there is a sprinkler support portion generally designated  20  and intermediate the sprinkler support portion  20  and said ground insertion portion  12  there are provided two through going apertures  24  and  26 , the purpose of which will be explained hereinafter. 
   A top end  28  of the mounting stake is a hammering surface which is axially aligned with the body of the stake  10  and is adapted for hammering the stake into hard ground. 
   Reverting now to the sprinkler support portion  20  there is a lateral support member  34  having an essentially rectangular cross-section, said support member  34  extending essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the stake  10 . A characterizing feature of the support member  34  is that it has a non-circular cross-section. By one particular design, the support member has a polygonal cross-section and by an other design it has an H-like cross-section. 
   The support member  34  extends upwardly from a flat surface  38 . A retention member  42  is a rigid though pliable (deformable) arm portion integrally formed with the top end of the stake and being deformable by applying manual force thereto, in direction of arrow  46  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ). As seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the retention member  42  widens at its lower, free end for easing access therethrough. 
   Turning now to the sprinkler generally designated  50 , it comprises a sprinkler body generally designated  52  and a water emitting member generally designated  54  fitted over said body  52  and adapted for emitting water in a direction intersecting a longitudinal axis of the sprinkler. Whilst the embodiment illustrated in the figure exemplifies a mini sprinkler, it is to be appreciated that any type of irrigation emitting unit may be used, e.g. a sprayer, etc. 
   Body  52  is formed with a water supply inlet  56  and a support member receptacle  60  formed with a cavity  64 , its main portion having a rectangular cross-section corresponding with that of the lateral support member  34  and having at a bottom end thereof a circumferential flanged locking member  70 , laterally extending from the support member receptacle  60  and having an essentially flat bottom surface  72 . 
   Turning now to  FIG. 3 , it is shown how the sprinkler  50  is engaged with the sprinkler support portion  20  of the stake  10 , giving rise to constituting the sprinkler assembly in accordance with the present invention. Engagement is obtained merely by engaging the lateral support member  34  within the cavity  64  of the support member receptacle  60  and depressing the sprinkler  50  in the direction of arrow  80  ( FIG. 3 ), resulting in spontaneous momentarily deformation of the retention member  42  whereby the rim of the flanged locking member  70  passes the lower end of the retention member allowing the retention member  42  to snap into its normal position where it engages an upper surface of the flanged locking member  70 , preventing the sprinkler  50  from being spontaneously disengaged from the stake  10 . In the assembled position the flat bottom surface  72  of the support member receptacle rests over the flat surface  38  of the sprinkler support portion  20 . 
   The arrangement is such that at the engaged position, an attempt to pull out the sprinkler  50  without first disengaging the retention member from the sprinkler, results in that the retention member  42  geometrically locks against the side wall of the support member receptacle  60 , namely becomes clamped against the side wall and the flanged locking member  70 . 
   It is appreciated that where the cross-section of the support member  34  is symmetrical, the sprinkler  50  may be mounted on the stake  10  at three positions rotated at 90 ° respective from one another. However, depending on the cross-section of the lateral support member  34  and that of the corresponding receptacle cavity  64 , the sprinkler may be disposed over the support member at several positions angularity shifted from one another. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 4  it is illustrated how the sprinkler assembly is disassembled by first disengaging the retention member  42  from its engagement with the rim of the flanged locking member  70  of the sprinkler by deforming said retention member  42 , this being carried out by applying force in the direction of arrow  46  where it is now possible to disassemble the sprinkler  50  and pull it upwardly in the direction of arrow  84  ( FIG. 4 ). 
   Reverting now to the apertures  24  and  26  formed in the intermediate portion of the stake  10 , these apertures are adapted for passing therethrough a water supply line  86  ( FIG. 2 ) branching from a main supply line (not shown) whereupon rough handling or movement of the main supply line, the supply line  86  applies essentially axial force on the sprinkler  50 . The apertures  24  and  26  are also useful for bending the supply line  86  in a manner (not shown) so as to block the supply conduit when it is desired to temporarily deactivate the associated sprinkler, e.g. for service or for any other purpose. 
   While the description hereinabove describes a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto and that other variations in form and details may be possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. 
   For example, rather than providing a rimmed flanged locking member  70  there may be provided a recess in the sprinkler support receptacle for engagement with a bottom edge of the retention member  42 . Furthermore, the shape and size of the support member  34  may vary so as to correspond with matching shapes of cavities of the support member receptacle, for example, to indicate different sprinklers, etc.