Patent Publication Number: US-2010127099-A1

Title: Sprinkler head protective cover

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to protective covers, and relates more particularly to a ground-engaging guard for any type of pop-up sprinkler heads. 
     2. Background Art 
     In-ground pop-up sprinkler heads are widely used to irrigate plants throughout the world. Typically, a significant investment is made in the installation of in-ground irrigation conduit and associated in-ground sprinkler heads. These sprinkler heads attach, usually as by threading, to vertically extending terminal ends of the irrigation conduit such that the top portion of the pop-up sprinkler head is substantially flush with the adjacent ground level. It is essential to retain the sprinkler head in the installed orientation (e.g. vertical) so that the irrigation provided by the sprinkler head will be uniform and cover the intended area. 
     Also, due to the exposed nature of in-ground sprinkler heads, they are easily damaged by lawn equipment being driven over them, foot traffic and the like. Numerous attempts at providing protection for in-ground sprinkler heads have been made. The following U.S. patents disclose various of these attempts: 
     None of these patents, however, disclose a sprinkler head positioning, stabilizing and protective cover which does not threadingly engage the sprinkler head or water conduit, but which sandwiches the top of the sprinkler head between a collar and protective upper disc which threadingly connect to each other prior to threadingly engaging the sprinkler head onto the water conduit. 
     It is a principal object of this invention to provide a position stabilizer for in-ground pop-up sprinkler heads. 
     It is also an object of this invention to provide a protective guard or cover for in-ground pop-up sprinkler heads. 
     It is a further object of this invention to provide a protective guard for in-ground pop-up sprinkler heads to preserve the life thereof so as to decrease the incidents of damage to the sprinkler heads protected thereby. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional elevational view of the invention installed about a pop-up sprinkler head in the ground. 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the disc  12  of the preferred embodiment of this invention 
         FIG. 4  is a side cross-sectional elevational view of the disc of this invention, incorporating a retention ring to permit use of very small pop-up sprinkler heads with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 
     Referring now to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a ground-engaging protective/stabilizing disc or plate  12  which defines a concentrically disposed central aperture  14  and a depending cylindrical sidewall  16  concentric with aperture  14 , sidewall  16  defining internal threads  18  on at least a portion of its inner surface, and an annular collar  20  defining threads  22  on at least a portion of its external peripheral surface. The inside diameter of threads  18  are nearly the same as the outside diameter of threads  22  on collar  20  so that collar  20  can be threaded onto cylindrical sidewall  16  in a manner to become apparent hereinafter. 
     The invention is adapted to be used with a conventional in-ground pop-up sprinkler head  30 , which are manufactured in a variety of configurations, each of which is intended to be suitable for use with this invention. A typical pop-up sprinkler head suitable for use with this invention is comprised of a generally cylindrical main body portion  32 , a sprinkler head top portion  34  threadingly or otherwise engaged upon main body  32 . A centrally located aperture  37  in sprinkler head top  34  permits the pop-up dispenser nozzle and tube  38  to reciprocate between a retracted position, wherein it is essentially flush with the top of sprinkler head top  34 , and a second, deployed position, shown in phantom in  FIG. 1 . Sprinkler head top defines an outer peripheral edge section  35 , which may or may not be tapered, and is adapted to be placed in registry with aperture  14  of disc  12 . 
     To utilize the invention, a hole is dug in the ground adjacent a pressurized water supply conduit  40 , which conduit typically is threaded or otherwise adapted to receive a corresponding fitting  42  at or near the bottom of sprinkler head  30  in a manner which will occur to those of skill in the art. Collar  20  is then slid up the outside of main body  32  until its upper surface  24  contacts the shoulder  39  created by the intersection of main body  32  and sprinkler head top  34 . Then, disc  12  and collar  20  are threaded together so as to sandwich sprinkler head top  34  between the area of disc  12  adjacent aperture  14  and upper surface  24  of collar  20 . Thereafter, sprinkler head  30  can be threaded or glued onto water supply conduit  40  in such a way that disc  12  is positioned essentially at the level of ground G. Disc  12  and sprinkler head  30  are, thereby, held in position by the tensile strength of water supply conduit  40 . 
     When installed, sprinkler head  30  is both positioned fairly rigidly in the location designated by the installer and substantially protected against impacts from objects moving over the ground such as vehicles, people, edgers, weed whackers, etc. 
     Preferably, but not by way of limitation, collar  20  includes a series of protrusions  23  around a portion of the outer periphery thereof to assist in the threading of collar  20  onto disc sidewall  16 . The user merely engages projections  23  to assist with exerting the necessary force on collar  20  to cause it to firmly engage shoulder  39  and urge the peripheral edge  35  of sprinkler head top  34  into engagement with area surrounding aperture  14  in disc  12 . 
     Likewise, similar protrusions  15  may be disposed in disc  12  to facilitate the threading of sprinkler head  30  onto water supply conduit  40  once the sprinkler head and guard of this invention are assembled, the installer merely grasps disc  12  near its outer periphery, engages protrusions  15  with his or her fingers, and threads or glues sprinkler head  30  onto water supply conduit  40 . Thereafter, the hole in ground G is back filled so as to retain sprinkler head  30  in place. 
     Also, preferably, but not by way of limitation, one or more ribs  50  may be included with disc  12  to provide additional resistance to potentially destructive impact by external objects. Rib or ribs  50  may be concentrically disposed as shown in  FIG. 2 , may be longitudinal, diametric, radial, or in any other orientation. 
     Disc  12  may be manufactured of any suitable material, such as high impact plastic, aluminum, stainless steel, cast iron or the like. If made of plastic, it may be impregnated with phosphorescent material to glow in the dark so that the disc  12  is visible in the dark to prevent it being stepped upon. 
     Additionally, as shown in  FIG. 4 , for pop-up sprinkler heads having sprinkler head tops  34  which are smaller than the inside diameter of aperture  14 , a retaining washer  60  or the like may be employed defining an aperture  62  which is smaller than the outside diameter of sprinkler head top  34 . To install the apparatus of this invention on a sprinkler head having a sprinkler head top  34  which is smaller than aperture  14 , merely place disc  60  in concentric registry with aperture  14 , place sprinkler head top  34  against washer  60 , thread collar  20  onto threaded internal surface of sidewall  16  until circumferential area  35  abuts the area adjacent aperture  62  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ), and install the sprinkler head  30  upon water supply conduit  40 . 
     It is to be understood that threads  18 ,  22  associated with sidewall  16  and collar  20 , respectively, are but an example of an arrangement to interconnect disc  12  and collar  20 . Alternatively, snap-fit or twist-lock arrangements are also contemplated as will occur to those of skill in the art. Also, adhesively interconnecting collar  20  to sidewall  16  is also contemplated as being within the scope of this invention, although less preferable as to separate the two from each other it is likely that some damage to the apparatus may occur. Any other arrangement for connecting collar  20  to sidewall  16  is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention. 
     The shape of the sprinkler head top  34  shown in the drawings is representative. Any of the commercially available sprinkler heads on the market will function with this invention. All that is required is for the central aperture  14  to have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the sprinkler head top  34 , and for the dispenser nozzle and tube  38  to have a diameter which is smaller than the diameter of central aperture  14 . 
     Various modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention, and it is understood that this invention is not limited to the illustrative embodiments set forth hereinbefore.