Abstract:
A storage rack for an irrigation system, comprising at least a first pair of parallel rails arranged on a first substantially horizontal plane, operatively arranged to hold at least one spool, at least a second pair of parallel rails arranged on a second substantially horizontal plane, the plane located beneath the first plane, and the second pair of parallel rails located directly beneath the at least first pair of parallel rails, the second pair of parallel rails operatively arranged to hold at least one spool, cranking means operatively arranged to selectively engage and simultaneously drive two spools, where one of the two spools is located on one of the at least first pair of parallel rails, and a second of the two spools is located on one of the at least second pair of parallel rails.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention broadly relates to irrigation systems and, more specifically, to temporary irrigation systems, and, even more specifically, to a temporary irrigation system comprising a vehicle arranged to hold a plurality of spools of garden hoses. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Home owners starting a new lawn often require above-ground sprinkler services to water their lawns to commence growth. This task can require hundreds of feet of garden hose and several dozen sprinkler heads to effectively complete a job over a three week period of time. The garden hose is usually stored on a plurality of spools. The task requires transport and deployment of a large amount of equipment in a relatively short amount of time. Eventually after the hoses and sprinklers are deployed and the lawn has grown adequately, all the equipment must be removed, reloaded and transported to the next lawn that requires an irrigation system. 
         [0003]    Therefore, there is a long-felt need for a temporary irrigation system that will allow landscapers or homeowners to quickly and easily transport, deploy, and reload their equipment while also sufficiently watering lawns. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention broadly comprises a storage rack for an irrigation system, comprising at least a first pair of parallel rails arranged on a first substantially horizontal plane, operatively arranged to hold at least one spool, at least a second pair of parallel rails arranged on a second substantially horizontal plane, the second plane located beneath the first plane, and the second pair of parallel rails located directly beneath the at least first pair of parallel rails, the second pair of parallel rails operatively arranged to hold at least one spool, cranking means operatively arranged to selectively engage and simultaneously drive two spools, where one of the two spools is located on one of the at least first pair of parallel rails, and a second of the two spools is located on one of the at least second pair of parallel rails. 
         [0005]    The cranking means allows the spools to either be cranked manually or by a powered motor. In the manual crank embodiment a square, shaft engages with the square hole in the side of the spool. The square shaft is attached to a handle which the operator can turn to wind or unwind the hose from the spool. A ratcheting device may be included on the crank so that the spool can only be cranked in one direction at a time. In the embodiment with the powered, motor, a gearing system allows the operator to individually engage the spool of his choice from among the four end spools. 
         [0006]    The gearing system includes an engaging mechanism, wherein a smaller square shaft is housed within a larger hollow shaft. The large hollow shaft is run through a bearing and attached to a sprocket which is connected to and rotated by the output of the motor. The smaller inside shaft moves freely from side to side to engage or disengage with the axially located square holes in the spools. The inner square shaft is only long enough to engage one horizontally adjacent spool at a time. Preferably, a foot operated switch controls the powered gearing system, which frees up the operator&#39;s hands for other tasks such as managing the hoses. 
         [0007]    One object of the invention is to provide a system to be installed temporarily for irrigating lawns. 
         [0008]    A second object of the invention is to provide an aforementioned irrigation system that allows its user to quickly and easily unload and pack up the hoses and other equipment necessary for irrigation. 
         [0009]    These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention as shown in the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing Figures, in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary side view of irrigation system  10  with a section revealing the inside of trailer  12 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of storage apparatus  14 , showing spools  18  stored on rack  16 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of the encircled area in  FIG. 2A  showing spool  18  ready to be used by the operator; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of spool  18 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  is a rear view of storage apparatus  14  taken from the right in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  is an enlarged view of the encircled area in  FIG. 4A  showing spool  18  on the left engaged with the gearing system and spool  18  on the right disengaged; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  is an enlarged view of the encircled area in  FIG. 4A  showing spools  18  on both the left and the right disengaged from the gearing system; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  illustrates spool  18  engaged with the gearing system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  illustrates spool  18  disengaged with the gearing system; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a front view of spool  18  in an embodiment with a manual cranking means; and, 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a partially filled rack illustrating how the spools rest on rails  24  and that the rails are substantially parallel. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Also, the adjectives, “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “top,” and “bottom” and their derivatives, in the description herebelow, refer to the perspective of one facing the invention as it is shown in the figure under discussion. 
         [0023]    Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. 
       Structure 
       [0024]    Adverting now to the figures,  FIG. 1  is a fragmentary side view of irrigation system  10 , with a section of trailer  12  cut away to reveal storage apparatus  14  comprising rack  16  which holds a plurality of spools  18 . Garden hose  26  is wound around each spool  18 . A square hole  22  is located axially in each spool  18 . In a preferred embodiment, storage apparatus  14  is enclosed within trailer  12 .  FIG. 2A  shows storage apparatus  14  without trailer  12 . It should be appreciated that, in a preferred embodiment, storage apparatus  14  is arranged within an enclosed trailer to protect the spools, hoses and related equipment from the elements, but the enclosed trailer is an alternative embodiment of the invention as claimed. 
         [0025]    In a preferred embodiment, spools  18  are stacked in two sets of two rows, with all four rows substantially parallel to one another, and with the first set of rows on a different plane beneath the second set of rows. Each row is defined by a pair of rails  24 . It should be appreciated that, although in a preferred embodiment, the rails are not only parallel to one another, but substantially parallel to the ground as well, this is not a necessary aspect of the invention. In fact, it may be preferable to arrange the rows/rails at a slight incline, with individual spools held in place by a locking mechanism for transport, such that gravity could assist in loading or unloading the spools. In fact, it may be preferable to incline the rows/rails in a first direction for loading and in a second direction for unloading. For example, the rails could be arranged to decline toward the rear of the rack for unloading; and decline toward the front of the rack for loading. 
         [0026]    In the embodiment shown in the drawings there are four spools  18  in each row for a total of sixteen spools  18 . The number of spools  18 , and the number of rows, may vary in different embodiments as space permits. On the left side of  FIG. 2A  it is illustrated how spools  18  can be loaded onto rack  16 . Rack  16  comprises rails  24  with L-shaped cross-sections upon which each row of spools  18  rest. A set of rollers  20  is positioned at the end of each row, making four sets of rollers  20  in total.  FIG. 7 , which shows a top view of rack  16  partially filled with spools, further illustrates how the spools rest on the L-shaped rails, and how the spools at the end of each row rest on the set of rollers. 
         [0027]    It should be appreciated that, in a preferred embodiment, the rails on the upper rack level are in registration with the rails on the lower level. That is, the rails are aligned directly atop one another as shown in top view in  FIG. 7 . Although not critical to the invention as claimed, this arrangement is preferred since it optimized available storage space within the rack.  FIG. 7  also shows a full rightward top rack of four spools, and a partially full leftward top rack containing one full spool, and one spool in the bottom left of the drawing (on the top rack) that has been partially unwound. The spool in the bottom leftward rack in  FIG. 7  has been removed to better illustrate the partially unwound spool. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2B and 3  show an enlarged view of spool  18  in position at the end of the row and without the rack, respectively.  FIG. 2B  shows how spool  18  at the end of the row does not rest on rails  24  but instead rests on set of rollers  20 . Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 2A , in a preferred embodiment the axes of the two upper and lower spools resting on the rollers, share a common vertical axis aa. Although this is not a critical aspect of the invention (the upper and lower rollers could be staggered), this arrangement functions to optimize available storage space. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4A  shows a rear view of storage apparatus  14 , as seen facing the rear door of trailer  12 . This view shows a preferred embodiment which includes a motor powered cranking means. In this embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B, and  4 C, motor  30  is connected, preferably by chains  36 A and  36 B to a series of sprockets  31 A,  31 B, and  31 C. In this embodiment chain  36 A is attached to first sprocket  31 A, which is attached to outer shaft  34 . Outer shaft  34  is hollow and has a square cross-section. Second sprocket  31 B is affixed to first sprocket  31 A. Second chain  36 B connects second sprocket  31 B to third sprocket  31 C. Third sprocket  31 C is also connected to outer shaft  34 . 
         [0030]    Both outer shafts  34  run through a set of bearings  35 . Bearings  35  are affixed to support beams  40 . Inner shaft  32  which has a solid square cross-section is housed within outer shaft  34 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  shows the manual cranking means which includes square shaft  27 , and crank handle  28 , and ratchet  29 . Square shaft  27  is shown inserted into square hole  22  on the side of spool  18 . Ratcheting device  29  is the intermediary between square shaft  27  and handle  28 . 
       Operation 
       [0032]      FIG. 2A  shows how, in a preferred embodiment, spools  18  are not attached to rack  16 . Since the spools  18  are not attached, and are free to roll along the racks, they can be quickly and easily loaded or unloaded. This allows the user the option to bring only the number of spools  18  necessary for each job, or to leave some spools on the racks in order to free up room for additional equipment. Rails  24  act to keep spools  18  from laterally falling off rack  16 . Cross beam  25  may be included to help keep spools  18  from falling off. The last spools  18  are the ones which are available for use when the back door of the trailer is opened. A set of rollers  20  is located at the end of each row so that last spools  18  can roll in place. By rolling in place hoses  26  can be wound on or unwound from their corresponding spool  18  while keeping the position of the spool  18  stationary. There are four sets of rollers  20 ; one set for each spool  18  which is available for use when the rear door of the trailer  12  is opened. These four available spools  18  are displayed in  FIG. 4A . 
         [0033]      FIG. 4A  also shows an embodiment with a motorized cranking system. In this embodiment motor  30  powers chain  36 A which ultimately rotates outer shaft  34  by rotating sprocket  31 A which is affixed to outer shaft  34 . The tolerance between inner shaft  32  and outer shaft  34  is such that inner shaft  32  can smoothly slide back and forth, but also so that when outer shaft  34  rotates, so does inner shaft  32 . Motor  30  is activated by foot switch  38  so that the hands of the operator are free to manipulate the hose that is being wound or unwound. 
         [0034]    Arrow  37  in  FIG. 4B , which is included for demonstrational purposes only, indicates that inner shaft  32  has been moved in the direction that arrow  37  is pointing. Inner shaft  32  is therefore illustrated as being engaged with square hole  22  located on the side of spool  18  on the left side of the figure. Pins  33  may be included on inner shaft  32  to delimit the distance that inner shaft  32  may travel. Also shown in  FIG. 4B  are bearings  35  which are secured to support beams  40 , and that allow outer shaft  34  to rotate freely.  FIG. 4C  illustrates a similar view as in  FIG. 4B , but with inner shaft  32  in a neutral position. In this figure neither of the two spools is engaged. 
         [0035]    Engagement and disengagement of spools  18  is illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , respectively. Arrow  37 , which is again included for demonstrational purposes only, is shown pointing in the direction that inner shaft  32  has been moved. Inner shaft  32  enters square hole  22  in the side of spool  18 , as shown in  FIG. 5A . Once they are engaged, rotation of inner shaft  32  will cause spool  18  to also rotate. This allows for hose  26  to be unwound from spool  18  to be put into use or wound back up to removed from use. Generally only one spool  18  will be engaged at any given time, but the operator has the choice to engage a set of vertically adjacent spools&#39;  18  if it is so desired. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows spool  18  with its corresponding hose  26  partially unwound in an embodiment using a manual crank. In&#39;this embodiment square shaft  27  is inserted into square hole  22  on the side of spool  18 . The operator can then crank spool  18  by hand by use of handle  28 . Ratcheting device  29  may be included so that only one direction of cranking will rotate spool  18 . 
         [0037]    Thus, it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications in the invention may be readily appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, and those changes and modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims.