Patent Publication Number: US-2004046065-A1

Title: Watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes, and more particularly to a watering hose having vibrating lids which enables a distance, which water sprayed through spray holes formed through the watering hose reaches, to change according to change of spray pressure of the water and restoring forces of the vibrating lids.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] An ordinary hose is widely used in irrigation for cultivation. In general, water supplied from a water supply source by a motor and the like is transferred to a desired place through the hose and sprayed on plants by a separate spray means. Especially, instead of the separate spray means, a watering hose may be used so as to supply the transferred water directly to crops or lawn.  
       [0005] Usually, the watering hose has a construction in which water under a predetermined pressure in the hose is sprayed through spray holes formed through the wall of the watering hose. In the watering hose having such a construction, one or more spray holes are spaced at regular intervals to form a group, and such groups are arranged along the watering hose, so that water can be sprayed through the groups of the spray holes.  
       [0006] However, in a conventional watering hose having spray holes formed along opposite side portions, since the spraying pressure or water through the spray holes rapidly decreases as the location of the spray holes grows farther from the water supply source, it is difficult to transfer water to a location far from the water supply source. Therefore, in order to transfer water to a location far from the water supply source, it is necessary to employ a high-pressure water-supplying apparatus or an additional pressurizing apparatus disposed at an intermediate position along the watering hose, which increase not only the number of elements of the watering hose but also the expense for irrigation by the watering hose.  
       [0007] Further, when the water supply pressure is increased in order as to prevent the spraying pressure from being lost even in a distanced location, the increased pressure may expand portions of the watering hose around the spray holes, thereby lowering the spray pressure or even tearing the watering hose in an extreme case.  
       [0008] In order to solve these problems, a watering hose as shown in FIG. 8 has been disclosed. Referring to FIG. 8, a nonwoven fabric  56  is contained in a watering hose  50  made from vinyl. When water is filled in the watering hose  50 , the nonwoven fabric  56  is deflected toward one semi-cylindrical side  52 , so that the water introduced in the hose is not directly sprayed through spray holes  58  but passes through gaps of the nonwoven fabric  56  so that the pressure of the water is reduced. That is, the nonwoven fabric  56  reduces the pressure of the water sprayed through the spray holes  58 , so as to prevent the high pressure of water in the watering hose  50  from being directly applied to the portions around the spray holes  58 , thereby preventing the portions around the spray holes  58  from being expanded or torn.  
       [0009] In the disclosed watering hose as described above, although the nonwoven fabric  56  can prevent the watering hose  50  from being expanded or torn, the spraying pressure is not maintained but is considerably reduced, so that the water cannot be evenly sprayed on both far and near areas but is sprayed on the near area. Further, although said one semi-cylindrical side  52  to which a water pressure reduced by the nonwoven fabric  56  is applied is not expanded or torn in spite of the spray holes  58  formed through said one semi-cylindrical side  52 , the other semi-cylindrical side  54  of the watering hose  50  is subjected to a relatively high pressure so that the other semi-cylindrical side  54  may be expanded or torn.  
       [0010] Further, in the above-mentioned spray hoses, the water is not sprayed in the form of mist and directly on plants, but may reach rear surfaces of leaves after bouncing up from the ground. In this case, various germs contained in the soil are carried by the water and come to cling to the leaves, thereby contaminating the leaves and causing the leaves to be afflicted with diseases.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes, which can prevent spray pressure from being abruptly reduced, thereby enabling water to be evenly sprayed to either near or far places.  
       [0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes, the restoring force of which changes according to pressure change in the watering hose, thereby enabling water to be evenly sprayed to either near or far places.  
       [0013] It is another object of the present invention is to provide a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes, which can spray water in the form of mist, so as to prevent germs in the soil from being carried up by the splashing water and contaminating the watered plants.  
       [0014] In order to accomplish this object, there is provided a watering hose having a plurality of spray holes perforated through an outer surface of the watering hose, the watering hose comprising a plurality of vibrating lids which cover over the spray holes, respectively, the vibrating lids changing the pressure of water sprayed through the spray holes, thereby changing a distance which the water reaches.  
       [0015] The vibrating lids are arranged in a longitudinal direction, and each of the vibrating lids may have a scale shape or a cross shape.  
       [0016] Further, it is preferred that the watering hose comprises a woven fabric layer and polyethylene coating layers coated on inner and outer surfaces of the woven fabric layer, and that a high-density coating layer is coated on the inner surface of the woven fabric layer. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0017] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
     [0018]FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0019]FIG. 2 is a transverse section of a spray pressure control assembly employed in the watering hose shown in FIG. 1;  
     [0020]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the laminated construction of a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 4A is a longitudinal section of the watering hose shown in FIG. 1, for showing the operation of the vibrating lids and the path through which the water is sprayed;  
     [0022]FIG. 4B is a longitudinal section a watering hose according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which spray holes are formed along two side portions opposed to each other;  
     [0023]FIG. 5 is a side view of a watering hose according to another embodiment of the present invention, in which each spray hole is formed in a shape of the letter “X”;  
     [0024]FIG. 6 is a side view showing a sprayed shape of water through the watering hose having the construction shown in FIG. 5;  
     [0025]FIG. 7A is a longitudinal section of a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which each of the spray holes has a shape of a slit like the letter “I”;  
     [0026]FIG. 7B is an enlarged view of the portion A in FIG. 7A; and  
     [0027]FIG. 8 is a transverse section of a conventional watering hose containing a nonwoven fabric. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0028] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
     [0029] Referring to FIG. 1, in a watering hose  200  having vibrating lids for spray holes according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of spray holes, through which fluid is sprayed out of the watering hose  200 , are formed along one side portion of the watering hose  200 . A spray pressure control assembly  100  is assembled with a portion of the watering hose  200 , through which fluid is supplied to the watering hose  200 , and controls the pressure of the fluid sprayed from the watering hose  200  to periodically change according to the passage of time.  
     [0030] The watering hose  200  includes a hose body  24 , a plurality of spray holes  26  formed along one side portion of the watering hose  200 , and a plurality of vibrating lids  22  formed over the spray holes  26 , which open or close the spray holes  26  according to the pressure change in the hose body  24 . It is preferred that the vibrating lids  22  are located at a level of a middle and upper portion of the watering hose  200  and that each of the vibrating lids  22  has a scale shape or an inverse scale shape, so that the vibrating lids  22  allow the fluid to be sprayed out of the hose body  24  to near or far areas according to the pressure change of the fluid in the hose body  24 .  
     [0031] The spray pressure control assembly  100  has an assembly housing  10  which includes an introduction section  16  and a discharge section  18  assembled with each other by screws and the like. Further, the spray pressure control assembly  100  includes a partition  13  and a fan  12  contained in the assembly housing  10 . The partition  13  has passing holes  14  formed through the partition  13 , and the fan  12  is fixed to the partition  13 .  
     [0032] According to the present invention, the watering hose  200  may have not only the construction described above but also various other shapes and constructions which can supply water to an object.  
     [0033] Referring to FIG. 2 which is a front view of the spray pressure control assembly  100  employed in the watering hose  200  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the partition  13  is formed inside of the assembly housing  10 , and the passing holes  14  are formed through the partition  13  and located symmetrically to each other. Further, the fan  12  rotating about a longitudinal axis of the assembly housing  10  is fixed to the partition  13 , so that the fan  12  repeatedly opens and covers the passing holes  14  while rotating periodically. Especially, the rotation of the fan  12  causes the pressure of the fluid supplied to the watering hose  200  to repeatedly alternate between a pressurized state and released or pressure-reduced state, thereby causing the spray pressure of the fluid sprayed through the spray holes  26  out of the watering hose  200  to change according to passage of time. This means that the spray pressure of the fluid sprayed against the vibrating lids  22  and the restoring force of the vibrating lids  22  change according to passage of time. As a result, the fluid can be evenly sprayed on both near and far areas, that is, on a wide area regardless of the distance from the watering hose.  
     [0034] In this case, the rotation of the fan  12  can be controlled by various methods. For example, although the fan  12  may have the construction described above, the fan  12  may be assembled with a motor, actuator, and the like, and a rotating speed of the fan  12  or an opening degree of the vibrating lids  22  may be controlled by a separate means, so that the pressure of the fluid supplied to the watering hose  200  can be controlled.  
     [0035]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the laminated construction of a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0036] As shown, the watering hose  200  includes a fluid-contact layer  20   a  serving as an innermost layer through which the fluid is supplied, and a high-density coating layer  20   b , a woven polyethylene fabric layer  20   c , and a low-density coating layer  20   d , which are laminated in sequence outside of the fluid-contact layer  20   a.    
     [0037] The vibrating lids  22  are formed along a side portion of the watering hose  200 , which is disposed at a predetermined height from the ground when the watering hose  200  has been placed to be used in watering. In this case, the vibrating lid  22  can be formed in various ways, that is, the vibrating lids  22  may be formed in a preform sheet and the preform sheet may be manufactured into the watering hose by adhering edges of the preform sheet to each other, or a hose without the vibrating lids  22  may be manufactured and the vibrating lids  22  may then be formed in the hose by a laser or other manufacturing means, so that the watering hose  200  can be manufactured.  
     [0038] The high-density coating layer  20   b  and the low-density coating layer  20   d  are formed at the inner and outer layers of the watering hose  200 , respectively, thereby increasing the restoring force of the vibrating lids  22 .  
     [0039] Further, FIG. 4A shows a longitudinal section of the watering hose  200  according to the present invention, in which one side of the hose body  24  of the watering hose  200  is cut out and the vibrating lids  22  and the spray holes  26  are formed through the cut-out portion. In the watering hose  200  as shown, the fluid introduced in the hose body  24  is sprayed through the spray holes  26  by a predetermined pressure formed in the hose body  24 . In this case, when the pressurized fluid is supplied, the vibrating lids  22  are spaced away from and open the spray holes  26  as widely as possible, so as to allow the fluid to be sprayed to farther distances. In contrast, when the fluid with a reduced pressure is supplied, the restoring force of the vibrating lids  22  causes the vibrating lids  22  to return nearer to and slightly close the spray holes  26 , so as to allow the fluid to be sprayed to a more adjacent area.  
     [0040] Further, FIG. 4B shows a modified construction of a watering hose  200  in which spray holes  26  are formed along two side portions opposed to each other. In the watering hose  200  having the construction described above, the fluid, the spray pressure of which changes according to passage of time, can be sprayed toward both sides of the watering hose  200 , that is, the fluid can be evenly sprayed on a wider area.  
     [0041] Further, FIG. 5 shows another modified construction of the watering hose  200  according to the present invention, in which each of the spray holes is formed in a cross shape, that is, a shape of the letter “X”. In addition, the vibrating lids  22  may have various shapes such as shapes of the letter “U” or “V”, or the like. In other words, there is no limitation to the shapes of the vibrating lids  22 .  
     [0042] In the above description, various constructions for facilitating the pressure control by the spray pressure control assembly  100  are shown and described as examples. Differently from the constructions described above, it goes without saying that the spray holes may be formed through the hose body  24  without the vibrating lids  22 .  
     [0043]FIG. 6 shows a resultant shape of the water sprayed through the watering hose having the construction shown in FIG. 5.  
     [0044] Referring to FIG. 6, it is shown that the distance the sprayed fluid reaches changes according to the pressure change in the watering hose  200 . That is, when the passing holes  14  (see FIG. 2) are completely open and the spray pressure has highest value, the fluid reaches the farthest position A. Thereafter, when the passing holes  14  are covered by the fan  12  according to the rotation of the fan  12  and the pressure formed in the watering hose  200  is reduced to the minimum value, the location the fluid reaches changes from position A through position B to position C. Thereafter, when the fan  12  further rotates and the passing holes  14  are opened again, the pressure in the watering hose  200  increases again and the location the fluid reaches changes again from C through B toward A.  
     [0045] When the spray pressure of the fluid and the distance the fluid reaches change according to the passage of time in this way, the fluid can be evenly sprayed on or supplied to a broad area.  
     [0046]FIGS. 7A and 7B show a watering hose having vibrating lids for spray holes according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which each of the spray holes has a shape of a slit like the letter “I”.  
     [0047] The spray holes  26  formed along a side portion of the watering hose  200  are normally closed. When water is filled and a predetermined pressure is formed in the watering hose  200 , the water is sprayed through the spray holes  26 . In this case, as shown in FIG. 7B which is an enlarged front view of the “A” portion in FIG. 7A, a peripheral portion around the spray hole  26  serves as the vibrating lid  22 , and the water is sprayed through the spray hole  26  against the vibrating lid  22 . In this case, the vibrating lid  22  has a tendency to maintain its unexpanded state and applies resistance to the spray or discharge of the water, so that the vibrating lid  22  starts to vibrate. As a result, the vibration of the vibrating lid  22  enables the water to be sprayed in the form of mist not in the form of a water stream through portions near side ends of the spray hole  26  where the hose body starts to be cut to form the spray hole  26 . Further, the water is sprayed farther through a central portion of the spray hole  26 , since a portion of the vibrating lid  22  around the central portion of the spray hole  26  applies a smaller resistance to the spray or discharge of the water, in comparison with a portion of the vibrating lid  22  around the side ends thereof.  
     [0048] In the watering hose having the construction described above according to the present embodiment, the water is supplied in the shape of mist or fine water drops, thereby not only preventing branches or leaves of plants from being damaged by the supplied water but also preventing plants from being contaminated by germs which may be carried by water bouncing up from the ground. These effects may be achieved also by the watering hose having the scale-shaped or cross-shaped vibrating lids.  
     [0049] In the watering hose according to the present invention, vibrating lids prevent the spray pressure from being abruptly reduced, thereby enabling water to be sprayed and supplied to a distanced area.  
     [0050] Further, in the watering hose according to the present invention, the restoring force of the vibrating lids changes according to the pressure change in the watering hose, so as to control the distance the sprayed water reaches, thereby enabling the water to be evenly sprayed on a broad area.  
     [0051] Also, in the watering hose according to the present invention, the pressure of the fluid introduced into the watering hose is periodically changed, so that the distance the sprayed water reaches is periodically changed, thereby enabling the water to be evenly sprayed on a broad area.  
     [0052] Moreover, in the watering hose according to the present invention, the water is sprayed in the form of mist or fine water drops, so that plants are prevented from being contaminated by germs which may be carried by water bouncing up from the ground.  
     [0053] Although several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.