Abstract:
An adapter is provided for connection with a garden hose and a lawn sprinkler or other fluid dispersion devices, which mixes a substance stored in a reservoir connected to the adapter, with water for spraying onto a lawn or other area.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/024,727 filed Jul. 15, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to an adapter configured for use with a sprinkler or hose for mixing a substance with water for spraying onto a lawn or other area via the sprinkler or hose. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There are devices known in the art that permit an individual to dispense a chemical or other substance from a garden hose. However, such devices are generally spray bottles, which are attached to the end of a hose and require the user to hold the spray bottle and manually dispense the chemical by using a nozzle on the spray bottle. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses these shortcomings in the art by providing an adapter that allows a mixture of water and another substance to be distributed from a garden hose using any number of dispersion devices and with greater convenience to the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect of the invention, a garden hose adapter is provided which includes a hollow, tubular connector, a vacuum tube, and a reservoir. The tubular connector has a first open end, a second open end, a female garden hose fitting surrounding the first open end, a male garden hose fitting surrounding the second open end, and an aperture positioned between the first open end and second open end. The vacuum tube is inserted into the aperture in the connector and is oriented substantially perpendicularly to the connector. The reservoir is secured to the connector and can be filled with a substance or fluid. The female garden hose fitting of the connector is secured to a garden hose via a corresponding male garden hose fitting on the open end of the garden hose. The vacuum tube is inserted into the reservoir to intake the substance, which passes through into the connector for mixing with water or other fluid passing through the connector via the garden hose. A mixture is thereby created, which is discharged from the second open end of the connector. 
         [0006]    According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the male garden hose fitting on the second open end of the connector is secured to a sprinkler via a corresponding female fitting on the sprinkler. 
         [0007]    According to an alternative embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the male garden hose fitting on the second open end of the connector is secured to a hose via a corresponding female fitting on the hose. 
         [0008]    According to a further alternative embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the male garden hose fitting on the second open end of the connector is secured to a spray nozzle via a corresponding female fitting on the spray nozzle. 
         [0009]    According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the reservoir is a container comprising a lid, and the vacuum tube in inserted through an opening in the lid into the container. The garden hose adapter can be secured to the lid by snapping the connector into a slot on the lid. The container and lid may each comprise corresponding threaded sections for securing the lid to the container. 
         [0010]    According to an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a restrictor valve configured to increase or decrease the size of the vacuum aperture. The container lid, the restrictor valve, and the vacuum tube are arranged to form an airtight seal. The airtight seal creates a vacuum. 
         [0011]    According to a second aspect of the invention, a garden hose adapter kit is provided which includes a hollow, tubular connector, a vacuum tube, and a reservoir. The tubular connector has a first open end, a second open end, a female garden hose fitting surrounding the first open end, a male garden hose fitting surrounding the second open end, and an aperture positioned between the first open end and second open end. The vacuum tube, which has a first length, is configured to be inserted into the aperture in the connector and oriented substantially perpendicularly to the connector. The reservoir has a first volume and is secured to the connector and can be filled with a substance or fluid. The female garden hose fitting of the connector is configured to be secured to a garden hose via a corresponding male garden hose fitting on the garden hose. The vacuum tube is configured to be inserted into the reservoir to intake the substance, which passes through into the connector for mixing with water or other fluid passing through the connector via the garden hose. A mixture is thereby created, which is discharged from the second open end of the connector. 
         [0012]    In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the kit includes at least a second vacuum tube having a second length, different from the first length. 
         [0013]    In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the kit includes at least a second reservoir having a second volume, different from the first volume. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the kit includes a sprinkler for securing to the male garden hose fitting on the second open end of the connector or to a hose secured to the male garden hose fitting of the connector. 
         [0015]    In a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the kit includes a garden hose for securing to the male garden hose fitting on the second open end of the connector. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the kit includes a spray nozzle for securing to the male garden hose fitting on the second open end of the connector or to a hose secured to the male garden hose fitting of the connector. 
         [0017]    According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the reservoir is a container comprising a lid, and the vacuum tube in inserted through an opening in the lid into the container. The garden hose adapter can be secured to the lid by snapping the connector into a slot on the lid. The container and lid can each comprise corresponding threaded sections for securing the lid to the container. 
         [0018]    According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the kit comprises a restrictor valve configured to increase or decrease the size of the vacuum aperture. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of the adapter according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  shows a first view of the connector and vacuum tube of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  shows a second view of the connector and vacuum tube of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  shows the reservoir of the adapter according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  shows the connector and vacuum tube and the reservoir according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    The present invention will now be described with reference made to Figures through  5 . 
         [0025]    As shown for example in  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention, a garden hose adapter  100  is provided that comprises a connector  110  secured to a reservoir  200 . 
         [0026]    The connector  110  is hollow and tubular, having a similar shape and circumference as that of a garden hose. The connector  110  comprises a first open end  112  and an opposing, second open end  114 . Positioned on the first open end  112  is a standard, female garden hose fitting  116  and positioned on the second open end  114  is a standard, male garden hose fitting  118 . The female garden hose fitting  116  is capable of receiving a corresponding male fitting on a garden hose, allowing the connector  110  and adapter  100  to be secured to a garden hose. The male garden hose fitting  118  is capable of receiving a corresponding female fitting on separate object, such as a sprinkler, a second hose, a spray nozzle, or other hose attachment device. For example, a first hose configured to discharge water can be attached to the connector  110  on the first open end  112  via the female garden hose fitting  116 , and a second hose can be attached to the second open end  114  via the male garden hose fitting  118 , wherein the second hose is itself connected to a sprinkler on its end not attached to the connector  110 . The connector  110  can be made from a rubber or plastic material, or from any other suitable material known in the art. 
         [0027]    The adapter  100  further comprises a vacuum tube  120  inserted through a vacuum aperture  122  positioned along the length of the connector  110 . The vacuum tube  120  comprises a first open end  124  that is to be inserted into the reservoir  200  and a second open end  126  that is inserted through the vacuum aperture  122  to be positioned inside the connector  110 . The vacuum tube  120  can be secured to the connector  110  by constriction of the vacuum aperture  122  around the vacuum tube  120 , by a clamp or by any other suitable means known in the art. 
         [0028]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the Figures, the reservoir  200  is a container  220  provided with a lid  210 . In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir  200  is a container  220  having an oblong shape and a flat bottom, such that the adapter  100  can be easily connected to and rest upon the lid  210  along the length of the adapter  100 , and the reservoir  200  can rest on the ground. However, the reservoir  200  and container  220  are not limited to this shape and configuration, but in other embodiments as shown in the Figures, can come in different shapes. The lid  210  comprises an opening  212  dimensioned to allow the vacuum tube  120  to pass through the lid  210 , from the adapter  110  into the container  220 . The lid  210  is further secured to the connector  110  in a preferred embodiment. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the lid  210  comprises a pair of tabs  214  that form a slot  216  for receiving the connector  110  and keeping the connector  110  in place attached to the lid  210 . The tabs  214  may comprise projections configured to prevent the connector  110  from being removable from the slot  216  unless an individual manually removes the connector  110 . In alternative embodiments, the connector  110  can be secured to the lid  210  by other mechanisms, such as one or more hooks, loops or straps positioned on the lid for receiving and securing around the connector  110 , a series of corresponding connecting elements such as snaps positioned along the connector  110  and lid  210 , or an adhesive. 
         [0029]    In the embodiment shown in the Figures, the lid  210  and container  220  each comprise a threaded portion  218  and  224 , respectively, which allow the lid  210  and container  220  to be secured together by way of screwing the lid  210  over the opening  222  of the container  220 . However, the lid  210  and container  220  can be secured to each other using other mechanisms, such as a fitted snap arrangement for example. This arrangement allows the reservoir  200  to be conveniently accessed for refilling and/or emptying by, for example, taking the lid  210  off of the container  220 . The lid  210  may also be removable from its attachment to the connector  110 , so that an alternate reservoir  200  can be used as part of the adapter  100 . 
         [0030]    During operation, a hose is connected to the first end of the connector  110  and the vacuum tube  120  is inserted into the reservoir  200 , which is filled with a substance that a person wishes to spray on his or her lawn or onto a particular area or object. This allows a solution to be mixed between the water flowing through the hose and connector  110 , and the substance in the reservoir  200 , which is pulled through the vacuum tube  120  into the connector  110  having the running water. This mixture is discharged through the second end  114  of the connector  110 , which for example may be connected to a lawn sprinkler, so that the mixture is discharged through the sprinkler. 
         [0031]    The dimensions of the vacuum tube  120  and vacuum aperture  122  are related to the rate that the substance in the reservoir  200  that is extracted and mixed with water. Although the present invention in not limited to a particular set of dimensions, in one embodiment of the invention, the vacuum aperture  122  in the connector  110  is approximately  3  millimeters in diameter, and the vacuum tube has a length of approximately  8  centimeters. This arrangement would create a spread rate ratio of approximately  1  liter of the substance in the reservoir  200  per  5  gallons of water sprayed. The spread rate or amount of substance used per volume of water sprayed can be adjusted by altering the diameter of the vacuum aperture  122  and/or altering the length of the vacuum tube  120 . For example, the size of the vacuum aperture  122  can be manipulated by a mechanical restrictor valve to increase or decrease the diameter of the vacuum aperture  122 . Alternatively, the vacuum tube  120  can be removed and replaced with a different vacuum tube  120  having a different length. The container lid  210 , the restrictor valve, and the vacuum tube  120  are arranged to form an airtight seal, creating a vacuum. 
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir  200  has a flat bottom, so that the reservoir  200  and adapter  100  may rest on the flat ground without needing to be held by the person using the adapter  100 . This allows the adapter to be conveniently laid on the ground during use or wherever needed. In a preferred embodiment, the reservoir may have a volume of  1  liter. However, the reservoir  200  is not limited to any particular volume or set of dimensions and reservoirs  200  having different sizes can be used with the adapter  100 . 
         [0033]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, a kit is provided comprising the connector  110 , the vacuum tube  120  and the reservoir  200 , including lid  210  and container  220 . The kit may further include articles that are configured for attachment to and use with the connector  110 , including a hose, sprinkler or spray nozzle. The kit may further include multiple vacuum tubes  120  having different lengths and diameters and multiple reservoirs  200 , which can include reservoirs  200  having different sizes. 
         [0034]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.