Patent Publication Number: US-10315204-B2

Title: Nozzle adjustment member for sprinkler

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a Divisional Application that claims priority to U.S. non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 15/015,122, filed Feb. 4, 2016, which is a Divisional Application that claims priority to U.S. non-provisional application, application Ser. No. 12/662,295, filed Apr. 9, 2010, the entire contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a sprinkler, and more particularly to a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler that adjusts water distribution patterns into a plurality of parallel water jets or a plurality of water jets with different angles therebetween by increasing of the angle between two adjacent water flows gradually. 
     Description of Related Arts 
     Referring to prior arts such as EP 0970752 A2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,356, DE 19830861, and US 20080054103 A1, the adjustment apparatus in these patents adjusts nozzles mounted therein synchronously by a parallel displacement of the nozzle or displacement on two-sides in different directions. Thus the nozzles move at an angle synchronously so as to provide sprinkling patterns with different angles. However, the adjustment apparatus is not located by a fixed pivot and the operation is not smooth. 
     Thus there is a need to improve the nozzle adjustment apparatus for sprinklers available now so as to provide a novel design of the nozzle adjustment apparatus for sprinklers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The invention is advantageous in that it provides a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler that includes at least one pivot support arranged on outside of a hollow pipe and the pivot support is pivoted with an adjustment piece having a plurality of guiding openings. Each guiding opening is positioned over a corresponding nozzle tube projecting from the hollow pipe. Thereby the adjustment piece swings around the pivot support (as a pivot) so as to drive the plurality of nozzles moving and tilting at different angles for providing various sprinkling patterns. 
     Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims. 
     In order to achieve the above object, a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to the present invention mainly includes a hollow pipe, at least one adjustment piece and a nozzle cover. 
     The hollow pipe is connected with a pivot disposed on a top of a seat of a sprinkler. A flat top stage with a plurality of holes is arranged on top of the hollow pipe. The plurality of holes is arranged into at least one row and each hole is positioned over a corresponding nozzle tube. A top end of each nozzle tube projects from the hole and a bottom of each nozzle tube is connected in series by at least one belt. Moreover, at least one pivot support is arranged at outside of the flat top stage and is pivoted with the adjustment piece for swinging and movement of the adjustment piece. 
     The adjustment piece includes a pivot hole pivoted with the above pivot support arranged at one end thereof, a plurality of guiding openings spaced at an interval on the other end thereof and at least one control part on the end opposite to the end with the pivot hole. The plurality of guiding openings is positioned over the plurality of nozzle tubes. The control part is for convenience of holding and moving the adjustment piece and is integrated with the adjustment piece. 
     The nozzle cover is fastened and connected with an outside of the hollow pipe for covering the adjustment piece. A plurality of long through holes for being assembled with corresponding nozzle tubes is disposed on top of the nozzle cover. 
     In accordance with the structure form by above components, the pivot hole and the pivot support pivoted with each other is used as a rotation pivot and the adjustment piece can swing and move for synchronously driving the nozzle tube positioned inside each guiding opening to move at different angles. Due to the change of the angle of the nozzle tube driven by the corresponding guiding opening of the adjustment piece, the water distribution pattern changes into a plurality of parallel water jets or a plurality of water jets with increasing angles therebetween and more sprinkling patterns are provided. 
     Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. 
     These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an explosive view of a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view along the A-A line of the embodiment in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic drawing showing an embodiment of the present invention connected with a sprinkler. 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of the embodiment connected with the sprinkler in  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is an explosive view of a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a nozzle cover according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a top view of a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross sectional view along the B-B line of the above preferred embodiment in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is an assembly view showing an adjustment piece with a hidden nozzle cover according to the above preferred embodiment in  FIG. 9  of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the above preferred embodiment in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is cross sectional view along the C-C line of the above preferred embodiment in  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of swinging adjustment pieces according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 15  is a cross sectional view along the D-D line of the above preferred embodiment in  FIG. 14 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic drawing showing an adjustment piece according to an embodiment of present invention. 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic drawing showing an adjustment piece according to another embodiment of present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is an explosive view of a further embodiment according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a partial front cross sectional view of the embodiment in  FIG. 18 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 4  of the drawings, a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to a first embodiment is illustrated, wherein the nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler comprises a hollow pipe  10 , two adjustment pieces  20 , a nozzle cover  30  and two nozzle sets  40 . 
     The hollow pipe  10  comprises a flat top stage  11  and a base  13  having a receiving slot  12  with an opening formed upwardly. A plurality of holes  14  spaced at an interval is disposed on a top wall of the hollow pipe  10 . The holes  14  are arranged in at least one row. The holes  14  are arranged into two rows in the embodiment of the present invention. Two pivot supports  15  with the same height extending upwardly are arranged at two diagonal corners of the two rows of holes  14 . The holes  14  are positioned over and assembled with a plurality of nozzle tubes  41  of the two nozzle sets  40  inside the hollow pipe  10 . The holes  14  inside the pivot supports  15  are assembled with corresponding the nozzle tubes  41  of the nozzle sets  40  while each of the pivot support  15  is received in a pivot hole  21  at one end of the adjustment piece  20 . 
     Each of the two nozzle sets  40  comprises a plurality of nozzle tubes  41  and a belt  42  connecting to the bottom of the plurality of nozzle tubes  41 . And the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  of each nozzle set  40  is assembled with and located in two rows of holes  14  on the hollow pipe  10 . Moreover, the belt  42  of each nozzle set  40  can be integrated into one piece. 
     Each of the two adjustment pieces  20  includes a pivot hole  21  disposed on one end and a plurality of guiding openings  22 , extending outwardly from the pivot hole  21  to the outer end thereof. A pivot bushing  211  extending downwardly is disposed on the bottom of one end of the adjustment piece  20 , around the pivot hole  21 . The pivot bushing  211  is for being pivoted in or covered around the pivot support  15  of the hollow pipe  10 . Moreover, at least one pin  24  is set on the bottom of the other end of the adjustment piece  20 . The pivot bushing  211  and the pin  24  are at the same height and their bottoms are leaning against the flat top stage  11  of the hollow pipe  10 . Furthermore, a sheet-like control part  23  is arranged on one end of the adjustment piece  20  and is opposite to the end of the pivot hole  21 . 
     The nozzle cover  30  is a cover with a downward opening for connecting with and covering the hollow pipe  10 . A plurality of long through holes  31  is disposed on top of the nozzle cover  30  and is arranged into two rows. Each row of the long through holes  31  is integrated to form a slot (not shown in figure). Each row of the long through holes  31  is positioned over the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  of one nozzle set  40  correspondingly. At least one shaft tube  32  is arranged at one end of each row of the plurality of through holes  31  so as to insert into the pivot support  15  of the hollow pipe  10  or the pivot hole  21  of the adjustment piece  20 . Moreover, a receiving space  33  is disposed on each of two diagonal corners of the two rows of the long through holes  31 . The receiving space  33  is not only for receiving the control part  23 , but also providing a certain space for displacement of the control part  23 . Each row of long through holes  31  can also be divided into a plurality of long grooves. It is worth mentioning that the shaft tube  32  is mounted inside the pivot support  15  and has a preset shaft hole  321  which is positioned over the corresponding nozzle tube  41  according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     Thereby, the nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to the present invention includes at least two rows of nozzle tubes  41  for adjusting parallel water jets. The two adjustment pieces  20  swing respectively around the pivot hole  21  which is used as a static pivot so as to move the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  at different angle synchronously. 
     In addition, the nozzle tube  41  mounted in the corresponding hole  14  of the pivot support  15  of the hollow pipe  10  can be removed and this has no effect on the movement and displacement of the adjustment piece  20 . 
     As shown in the  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6 , the nozzle adjustment member of the present invention connected with a sprinkler in use is illustrated. The sprinkler  50  according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a seat  51  and at least one water inlet  52  arranged at least one side of the seat  51  for connected with a water source, a pivot  53  which rotates 360 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise, and a fine adjustment knob  54  for control of outlet water flow extending outwardly from the pivot  53 . The two sides of the pivot  53  are connected with the hollow pipe  10  of the nozzle adjustment member of the present invention. Moreover, a control button  55  for adjustment angle of the forward and backward movement of the hollow pipe  10  is disposed on a preset position of the pivot  53 . Thus the sprinkler is formed completely. 
     Referring from  FIG. 7  to  FIG. 15 , another embodiment of a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler with the same effects is revealed. The nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler includes a hollow pipe  10 , two adjustment pieces  20  and a nozzle cover  30 . 
     A flat top stage  11  with a plurality of holes  14  spaced at the same interval along an axis of the hollow pipe  10  is disposed on the top of the hollow pipe  10 . The holes  14  are assembled with a nozzle set  40  mounted in the hollow pipe  10 . A plurality of racks  16  equal in height is respectively arranged at the outside of the hollow pipe  10  and between the two adjacent holes  14 . The nozzle set  40  is formed by a plurality of nozzle tubes  41  arranged in parallel with a certain interval. Moreover, the bottom surfaces of the nozzle tubes  41  are connected with one another by a belt  42  to form a bar-like structure. Each nozzle tube  41  is inserted through the corresponding hole  14  of the hollow pipe  10  correspondingly. The bottom of each of the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  is fixed and located in the corresponding hole  14  firmly while the top end of the nozzle tube  41  projects to outside of the hole  14 . The height of the top end of the nozzle tube  41  out of the hole  14  is larger than the height of the rack  16 . A plurality sets of symmetrical fastening holes  17  is disposed along two long sides of the flat top stage  11  of the hollow pipe  10  so as to be fastened and assembled with the nozzle cover  30 . 
     The adjustment piece  20  is a flat plat. The bottom of the adjustment piece  20  is leaning against the top end of the plurality of racks  16  of the hollow pipe  10 . A round pivot hole  21  is disposed on one end of the adjustment piece  20 , near the edge of that end and a plurality of guiding openings  22  spaced at an interval is arranged on the adjustment piece  20  between the round pivot hole  21  and the other end of the adjustment piece  20 . The pivot holes  21  and the plurality of guiding openings  22  of the two adjustment pieces  20  are positioned over the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  of the nozzle set  40  correspondingly. A projecting control part  23  is arranged on the edge of the front end as well as the rear end of the adjustment piece  20 , near the outermost guiding opening  22  for convenience of holding and moving the adjustment piece  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , the nozzle cover  30  is a cover with a downward opening. Two shaft tubes  32  extending downwardly are disposed on a middle part thereof and shaft holes  321  of these two shaft tubes  32  penetrate the cover. Moreover, the nozzle cover  30  includes a plurality of long through holes  31  extending outwards from the two shaft tubes  32  to two ends of the nozzle cover  30 . The two shaft holes  321  and the plurality of long through holes  31  are aligned and are positioned over the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  of the nozzle set  40  correspondingly. The two shaft tubes  32  are respectively inserted through and located by the pivot holes  21  of the two adjustment pieces  20  while the shaft holes  321  are positioned over corresponding nozzle tubes  41 . Furthermore, a plurality sets of symmetrical fastening blocks  34  is disposed along an inner side of the two long sides on the bottom of the inner surface of the nozzle cover  30  so as to be assembled with the plurality sets of symmetrical fastening holes  17  of the hollow pipe  10  correspondingly. Two receiving spaces  33  with a downward opening for receiving the control part  23  of the adjustment piece  20  are arranged at two outer ends of the two long sides of the nozzle cover  30  respectively. 
     In accordance with the structure constructed by above components, after the two adjustment pieces  20  and the nozzle cover  30  being arranged and located over the top of the hollow pipe  10  in turn, each nozzle tube  41  of nozzle set  40  is inserted through the pivot holes  21  and the guiding hole  22  of the two adjustment pieces  20  as well as the shaft holes  321  and the long through holes  31  of the nozzle cover  30  respectively and correspondingly. The top end of each nozzle tube  41  is projecting out of or close to the top surface of each long through hole  31  with a certain distance therebetween. As to the control part  23  near the outer end of the two adjustment pieces  20 , the control part  23  is mounted in the receiving space  33  on the corresponding end of the nozzle cover  30 . 
     Thereby the nozzle cover  30  and the hollow pipe  10  are integrated in one piece. While adjusting and moving the adjustment pieces  20 , the nozzle cover  30  remains static. From a fixed pivot point formed by the connected pivot hole  21  and the shaft tube  32  on one end of the adjustment piece  20 , the two adjustment pieces  20  respectively swing through the movement of the control parts  23  on the opposite end ends. Thus while moving the control part  23 , the nozzle cover  30  is static and the nozzle tube  41  positioned in the shaft hole  321  of the shaft tube  32  is also static while other nozzle tubes  41  in the corresponding plurality of guiding opening  22  of the two adjustment pieces  20  are driven to be moved at an angle synchronously so as to generate radial water distribution patterns with different angles. 
     Moreover, the two adjustment pieces  20  are able to move to and fro in a swing independently. Thus once the nozzle set  40  is divided into two halves, approximately equal in area, or a plurality of independent parts to be driven and adjusted, more sprinkling patterns can be provided. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 , the pivot holes  21  of the two adjustment pieces  20  in the above embodiment are overlapped and integrated so as to swing around the same pivot point. Or as shown in  FIG. 17 , the two adjustment pieces  20  in the above embodiment are integrated into a single piece and the pivot hole  21  is arranged at the middle of the single adjustment piece  20 . A plurality of guiding opening  22  spaced at an interval is arranged at the adjustment piece  20 , extending from two sides of the pivot hole  21  to two ends of the adjustment piece  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 18  and  FIG. 19  of the drawings, a nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler according to a third embodiment is illustrated, wherein the nozzle adjustment member for a sprinkler comprises a hollow pipe  10 , two adjustment pieces  20 , a nozzle cover  30  and two nozzle sets  40 . 
     A flat top stage  11  with a plurality of holes  14  spaced at an interval along an axis of the hollow pipe  10  is disposed on the top of the hollow pipe  10 . The holes  14  are assembled with a plurality of nozzle tubes  41  of a nozzle set  40  mounted in the hollow pipe  10 . A pivot support  15  is extending around each of two holes  14  on the middle part of the hollow pipe  10 . The hole  14  inside the pivot support  15  is positioned over the corresponding nozzle tubes  41  of the nozzle set  40  for location while a tube hole  151  of the pivot support  15  is for receiving and locating shaft tubes  32  of a nozzle cover  30 . Each of the pivot support  15  is received in a pivot hole  21  at one end of the adjustment piece  20 . 
     The two adjustment pieces  20  have similar structure to that of the above embodiments. The pivot hole  21  positioned over the pivot support  15  is arranged at one end of the adjustment piece  20  and a plurality of guiding openings  22  extending outwardly from the pivot hole  21  is disposed on the adjustment piece  20 . The plurality of guiding openings  22  are assembled with the plurality of nozzle tubes  41  correspondingly. 
     The nozzle cover  30  also has similar structure. Two shaft tubes  32  extending downwardly and mounted in the tube holes  151  of the pivot support  15  are disposed on a middle part of the nozzle cover  30 . A plurality of long through holes  31  for being positioned over the corresponding nozzle tubes  41  is arranged on the nozzle cover  30 , extending outwardly from the two shaft tubes  32 . 
     Thereby the two nozzle tubes  41  on the middle of the nozzle set  40 , the pivot holes  21  of the two adjustment pieces  20  and the shaft tubes  32  of a nozzle cover  30  are all assembled with two pivot supports  15  of the hollow pipe  10  and are fixed. Thus while the adjustment piece  20  swings, the pivot hole  21  is used as a pivot, the nozzle tubes  41  move an angle along with the movement of the adjustment piece  20  except the nozzle tubes  41  in the holes  14  inside the pivot support  15  that are fixed and stopped. 
     One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. 
     It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims.