Patent Abstract:
An apparatus including a hose having a first connector on a first end of the hose and a second connector on a second end of the hose. A sprinkler head attaches to the first connector of the hose. A handheld water pressure adjustment device attaches to the second connector of the hose. When the hose is pressurized with water, the hose becomes substantially rigid such that the length of the hose extends in a rigid, stable manner and the pressure behind the sprinkler head causes the sprinkler head to extend and hover. A direction of movement of the sprinkler head while hovering is directed by a user holding the water pressure adjustment device.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The act of watering plants, trees, flower beds, gardens, and lawns may be performed in many different ways. In some instances, sprinklers are utilized to water fixed portions of an area without direct and/or constant supervision, and with minimal user interaction. While this may be effective in some instances, it often requires running the sprinklers for long durations to adequately water an entire area due to the variability of the distribution of the water spray from the sprinkler. In some instances, one may desire to water a particular location, which may be otherwise unreachable by the sprinklers or which may need additional or special attention. In such a circumstance, to use a sprinkler system (manual or automatic) to water the particular location may be impossible, impracticable, or wasteful. 
         [0002]    There are many types of sprinklers available for watering. Sprinklers may be used in automatically controlled systems and “manually” controlled devices. Automatic systems may generally be installed in fixed underground locations and interconnected to a programmable circuit. Many automatic systems include one or more series (or “zones”) of sprinkler heads that provide water to predefined sub-sections of an area. This type of sprinkler system often uses combinations of different types of sprinkler heads including heads with nozzles that spray in a fixed-orientation and nozzles that are actuated to rotate or pivot between two points so as to cover a particular area. Automatic systems may alleviate some of the watering burden on a user because, once installed, the activation of the watering system is typically programmed to run without further intervention, other than occasional maintenance or adjustment of the program. 
         [0003]    “Manually” controlled devices may include simple hose attachments that may require an operator to maintain control throughout the entire time of use such as, for example, a handheld, adjustable spraying nozzle that connects to the hose. Other “manual” devices, while not requiring a user to remain present to operate, may still require attention from the user to periodically to turn on/off the sprinkler and/or to move the sprinkler to cover different areas needing watering. 
         [0004]    Regardless of the watering system/device/method used, some areas that need water may be challenging to accomplish in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items. Furthermore, the drawings may be considered as providing an approximate depiction of the relative sizes of the individual components within individual figures. However, the drawings are not to scale, and the relative sizes of the individual components, both within individual figures and between the different figures, may vary from what is depicted. In particular, some of the figures may depict components as a certain size or shape, while other figures may depict the same components on a larger scale or differently shaped for the sake of clarity. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of a sprinkler apparatus in an unpressurized state. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a side view of an example embodiment of the sprinkler apparatus of  FIG. 1A  in a pressurized state. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2A  illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of a pressure adjustment valve. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2B  illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of a pressure adjustment valve. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3A  illustrates a top view of an example embodiment of a sprinkler head. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3B  illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of the sprinkler head of  FIG. 3A . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4A  illustrates an example embodiment of an end of the hose with the sleeve retracted. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4B  illustrates an example embodiment of the end of the hose with the sleeve in place. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Overview 
       [0014]    This disclosure is directed to a manually controlled sprinkler watering device. The watering device may be used generally anywhere. In an embodiment, the device may be used for concentrated watering of areas that may be difficult to reach, such as under and between bushes and small plants to provide water directly to the soil and thereby the roots. 
         [0015]    The watering device may include a section of hose terminating on one end with a sprinkler head, and terminating on the other end with a handheld pressure valve. The hose may have a generally static curvature in the shape thereof when in an unpressurized state (i.e., when no water is flowing through the pressure valve). In the unpressurized state, the sprinkler head may face toward the pressure valve and/or the inner curvature of the hose. When the watering device is in a pressurized state (i.e., water flows through the pressure valve into the hose and out the sprinkler head), the force of the water in the hose may cause the sprinkler head to move away from the pressure valve and the hose to extend out of the curved state (e.g., into a substantially straight state, or into another curved state different than the curved state when the watering device is in an unpressurized state). Furthermore, due to the force of the water exiting the sprinkler head downward, the sprinkler head “floats” or “hovers” in the air, and the user may then control the direction of extension by simply moving his arm in the direction desired. 
         [0016]    Several factors may be involved in the control and functionality of the watering device, including: the weight of the sprinkler head and hose; the length of the hose (which affects the overall weight as well); the thickness and flexibility/rigidity of the hose material; the amount of water pressure from the source; the shape and number of apertures in the sprinkler head; and the amount of pressure being provided by the user via the adjustable pressure valve. Each of these factors may contribute to the actuation of the instant device, however, as discussed further herein, some ranges of values of some of the above factors may be provided as examples. For example, the actual pressure of the water may depend on the water pressure at the water source such as the spigot on the user&#39;s house, over which a user may have little control and the pressure is further adjustable by hand. As such, a pressure value may vary widely. Regardless, in an example embodiment, a volumetric flow rate of water from a water source, which induced the sprinkler head to hover, ranges from about 3.5 gal/min to 5 gal/min. 
         [0017]    The handheld adjustable pressure valve may include a lever or other actuatable mechanical structure to allow the user to modify the amount of water flow, and thus the water pressure in the hose, to raise or lower the sprinkler head. The lever may be oriented to face away from the inner curvature of the hose at rest, such that the user may hold the pressure valve naturally in his or her hand and (in the case depicted in  FIGS. 1A and 1B ) control the water pressure using his or her thumb. Further, the valve may be a ball-type valve, or any other manually adjustable valve that is manipulable with one hand. 
         [0018]    The sprinkler head may be light in weight so as to float or hover above the ground when the device is pressurized, yet sufficiently heavy to prevent wild or erratic movement under pressure. Specifically, the weight of the sprinkler head may be proportional to the weight of the hose. For example, in some instances the weight of the sprinkler head may range between 0.1-0.4 lbs or between 0.2-0.3 lbs. Whereas the weight of the hose may range, for example, between 0.3-1.3 lbs or between 0.6-1.0 pound. Therefore, the weight of the sprinkler head may range between 25%-40% or between 30%-35% of the weight of the hose. 
         [0019]    Additionally, the sprinkler may include a face plate having a random or patterned plurality of apertures therein. The face plate may be removable to exchange with other face plates having different aperture groupings or patterns. Alternatively, the face plate may rotate to various positions presenting different flow patterns. The sprinkler may also have protrusions that extend from opposing sides. In some instances, the protrusions may extend like wings and may provide better balance to the device when pressurized. Furthermore, the flow of the water may be adjusted to make the sprinkler head hover more stably. 
         [0020]    Inasmuch as the hose may be formed by sectioning larger lengths of a hose, one end of the hose may have a male connection member that connects with a female connection member on the sprinkler head, and the other end of the hose may have a female connection member to connect with the male connection member of the pressure valve. An example embodiment of forming the various connections may include inserting a hose connection coupler to couple the connection means to the ends of the hose. A silicon adhesive may be applied to the joint to make a tight seal, and shrink tubing may be applied over the coupler to cover the rough edges of the coupler and help seal the joint. Alternatively, the connections may include threaded connections, quick connect, hose clamps, etc. 
       Illustrative Embodiments of a Sprinkler Watering Device 
       [0021]    An illustrative embodiment of a sprinkler watering device  100  according to this application is illustrated in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . The device may include a hose  102  having a first end  104  and a second end  106 .  FIG. 1A  illustrates the hose  102  in an unpressurized state such that a curvature  108 A is shown. The amount of naturally occurring curvature in the hose  102  may be minimal. For example, the curvature  108 A between the first and second ends  104 ,  106  of the hose  102  may range from about 1 to 50 degrees, or from about 10 to 40 degrees. The hose  102  may be flexible such that the curvature  108 A may be stretched to a straight or nearly straight position, as depicted in the line of extension  108 B in  FIG. 1B . For example, when the hose  102  is pressurized, as depicted in  FIG. 1B , the hose  102  extends and the amount of curvature  108 A is reduced. 
         [0022]    A length of the hose  102  may range from about 2 to 5 feet, or from about 2.5 to 4 feet, or from about 3 to 3.5 feet. The length of the hose  102  may vary depending on the type of material of the hose, the wall thickness, the diameter, the rigidity, etc. For example, for a premium duty, ⅝ inch diameter, 8-ply, nylon reinforced garden hose, the length may be about 3 feet long. 
         [0023]    The device may further include a sprinkler head  110  and a handheld pressure valve  112  connected respectively to the first end  104  and the second end  106  of hose  102 . The handheld pressure valve  112  may further include a hose coupler  114 , with which the handheld pressure valve  112  may be coupled to a secondary hose  116  as a water source to pressurize hose  102 . Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1B , when device  100  is pressurized by a water source, such as the secondary hose  116 , and supported by user hand  118  holding the pressure valve  112 , the force of the water may cause the hose  102  to extend such that the sprinkler head  110  moves away from the pressure valve  112 , where the direction “away from the pressure valve” may indicate that the sprinkler head moves in a direction against the naturally imparted curvature of the hose  102 . Further, a ground surface  120  may assist in creating lift for the sprinkler head  110  under the force of the water  122  hitting the ground surface  120 . 
         [0024]    A handheld pressure valve  200 , as seen in  FIG. 2A , may be manually adjustable to adjust the amount of water flowing into the hose  102 . A first end  202  of the handheld pressure valve  200  may include a connection member to connect to a secondary hose  116 , and a second end  204  may have a connection member, such as a threaded surface, to connect the pressure valve  200  to the hose  102  of device  100 . In some instances, the pressure valve  200  may include a lever  206 A with which the water pressure in the device  100  may be adjusted as desired. Although  FIG. 2A  depicts the lever  206 A as having a single pivot point about which the lever  206 A rotates, other embodiments are contemplated. For example, the lever  206 B may include two rotation points on opposite sides of the pressure valve  208 B, forming a rectangular bar (or semi-circular bar or other shape) around half of the pressure valve. In an embodiment, the pressure valve  200  may further include a hand grip  208 A,  208 B for manually gripping to assist in controlling the direction of the device  100 . 
         [0025]    Moreover, in some instances, the lever  206 A,  206 B may be bi-directional. That is, to accommodate both left-handed and right-handed users, the lever  206 A ( 206 B) may rotate to the left and to the right (up and down) to open the water pressure valve in both directions. Regardless of the rotation, the lever  206 A,  206 B of the pressure valve  200  may be located so as to extend from a position outside of the curvature  108 A of the hose  102  and away from the sprinkler head  110 , which faces toward an inside of the curvature  108 A (see  FIG. 1A ). 
         [0026]    In  FIGS. 3A and 3B , an embodiment of a sprinkler head  300  is shown from two different perspectives. The sprinkler head  300  may include an internal chamber  302  that defines the main body of the sprinkler head  300  and into which the water flows when device  100  is pressurized. The chamber  302  may be enclosed by a face plate  304  having a plurality of apertures  306  therethrough. The apertures  306  allow water to be sprayed out of the chamber  302 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the sprinkler head  300  may further include a pair of protrusions  308 , extending from opposite sides of the chamber  302 . The protrusions  308  may be wing-shaped, or may be any shape that provides balance to the sprinkler head  300  to counter the force of the water as it exits the chamber  302  when pressurized. The protrusions  308  may help stabilize the sprinkler head  300  and prevent erratic movements including turning over and spraying upwards. 
         [0028]    Additionally, the sprinkler head  300  may attach to hose  102  via a hose connection member  310 . The hose connection member  310  may be a threaded connection or other connection that provides a tight seal to avoid leaking water. 
         [0029]    The face plate  304 , as shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , depicts apertures  306  as arranged in a generally rectangular pattern  312 . It is contemplated, however, that multiple different patterns (for example,  312   a  and  312   b ) are possible and useful for different watering circumstances. As such, the face plate  304  may be removable and interchangeable with face plates having different aperture patterns. Face plate  304  may be removably attached to the chamber  302  in any way, including for example, by a threaded connection, or by a key/slot rotational connection. 
         [0030]    As discussed above, the hose  102  may be a section of a longer hose, and may need to have additional connection members added thereto for connecting the sprinkler head and the pressure valve. Accordingly,  FIGS. 4A and 4B  depict an end  400  of a hose  402  in which a hose connector  404  is inserted. The hose connector  404  may be retained tightly in hose  402  by inserting a hose connection coupler  406  into the hose  402  prior to inserting the connector  404 . The joint may be sealed with an adhesive, such as a silicon adhesive, and then covered with a shrink wrap sleeve  408 . 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0031]    Although several embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1