Patent Abstract:
A wheeled lawn sprinkler assembly for easily moving a lawn sprinkler around a large or small size yard which assembly contains a shut off valve, a collapsible wheel assembly and a collapsible support assembly.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   A lawn sprinkler assembly and more particularly a wheeled support lawn sprinkler assembly for easily moving a lawn sprinkler around a large or small size yard which assembly contains a shut off valve, a collapsible wheel assembly and a collapsible support rod. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Proper irrigation of a lawn, garden or turf is a time consuming task requiring the constant movement of hoses and attached sprinklers. Each time the sprinkler is to be moved, the water line must be shut off at the shut off location, usually the house, the hose moved and then the water turned back on. This identical process may be undertaken several times a day depending upon the size of the area to be watered. While home owners desire a green lawn, the constant need to turn on and off the water supply and drag the hoses and sprinklers can become overwhelming and can, in certain circumstances, result in physical injury. 
   Water sprinkler systems of various designs, structure, configurations and materials of construction have been disclosed in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,959,886 to Wadsworth discloses a portable sprinkler support that has a tripod supporting ring having non-extendable bamboo legs for use in watering and spraying of fruit trees. The water is passed through a central non-extendable pipe and a sprinkler head. This prior art patent does not disclose the particular structure and design of the water sprinkler system of the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 2,694,600 to Richey discloses a lawn sprinkler stand having a C-shaped configuration base supported by a tripod collar having braces that are non-extendable and connected to the C-shaped base. The water is passed through a central extendable pipe and a sprinkler head. This prior art patent does not disclose the particular structure and design of the water sprinkler system of the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,020 to Harward discloses a sprinkler stand having a central support hub with a plurality of at least five non-extendable legs, and the water is passed through a short central pipe and a sprinkler head. This prior art patent does not disclose the particular structure and design of the water sprinkler system of the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,176 to Bussiere discloses a lawn-garden sprinkler having a tripod support structure. The tripod support structure includes a spindle axis having non-extendable support rods which radiate outwardly from the central axis being connected to tie rods. The tie rods are welded to the support rods to provide a rigid tripod construction resistant to fracture or bending forces. The water passes through a short angled pipe and a sprinkler head. This prior art patent does not disclose the particular structure and design of the water sprinkler system of the present invention. 
   None of the prior art water sprinkler systems disclose the structure, configuration and functionality of the present invention. 
   Accordingly, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler assembly which can be easily moved from place to place, can be easily and conveniently stored, and is inexpensive and non-corrosive. 
   A further objective of this invention is to provide a sprinkler assembly which is easy to use and inexpensive for the consuming public. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler assembly of simple design, durability and sturdiness. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler assembly containing a valve for stopping the water from continuing to the sprinkler, thereby eliminating the need for the water to be turned off at its source each time the sprinkler assembly is to be moved. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to allow a variety of sprinkler heads to be attached to the sprinkler assembly to properly accommodate the area to be watered. 
   It is the further object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler assembly that is of simple structural configuration for easy setup for water spraying of lawns, gardens, arenas, flowers, shrubs, orchards, and trees. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sprinkler assembly that is foldable into a portable configuration for easy carrying and storage by the user without removing any bolts or nuts. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A lawn sprinkler assembly according to the present invention includes a single length of suitable piping having two open ends to which a shut-off valve and a sprinkler are attached. To easily maneuver the sprinkler assembly, the sprinkler assembly includes a wheel assembly which wheel assembly can be collapsed for easy storage of the sprinkler assembly. 
   The sprinkler assembly also contains a support assembly which allows the sprinkler assembly to be maintained above ground level so as to avoid the need for the user to bend over and lift the piping when moving the sprinkler assembly. The rod assembly can also be easily collapsed for easy storage of the sprinkler assembly. 
   These, and other, aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention, is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the sprinkler assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the sprinkler assembly with an attached sprinkler head in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the sprinkler assembly in a folded position in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the sprinkler assembly&#39;s shut-off valve and supply hose in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a side perspective view of the plate and tubular receiver of the lock assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the plate of the lock assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the clamp, plate and tubular receiver of the lock assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the square tubing and the lock assembly&#39;s spring and tubular insert in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of the lock assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of the lock assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the lock assembly with the square tubing in a vertical position in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the lock assembly with the square tubing in a horizontal position in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of the wheel assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 14  is a front perspective view of a wheel and wheel arm in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 15  is a front perspective view of the wheel assembly with the attached tubular insert in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
       FIG. 16  is a front perspective view of the support assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments described in the following description. 
     FIGS. 1 through 16  show a device of the present invention which can be used for easily watering a lawn, garden, riding arena, flower bed and the like. The sprinkler assembly  20  is comprised of a section of suitable piping  22 , a wheel assembly, a support assembly  56  and a pair of lock assemblies  68 . 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the sprinkler assembly  20  consists of a single length of suitable piping  22  having a first open end  24  and a second open end  26 . Adjacent to the first open end  24  is a shut-off valve  28  which allows the user to turn off the water flowing into the piping  22 . The first open end  24  of the piping  22  is female threaded. The male end of a supply hose  30  is removable attached to the female threads of the first open end  24  of the piping  22 . 
   The second open end  26  of the piping  22  is a threaded male end. In the preferred embodiment, the female end of a sprinkler  32  is removably attached to the male threaded second open end  26 . In an alternative embodiment, the first female end of a ninety-degree elbow fitting  34  is removably attached to the male threaded second open end  26 . The male threaded end of a sprinkler head  36  is removably attached to the second female end of the ninety-degree elbow fitting  34 . 
   In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, multiple sprinklers can be utilized by attaching the female end of a “T” connector (not shown) to the male threaded second open end  26  of the piping  22 . The first ends of extension pipes (not shown) can then be removably attached to the open ends of the “T” connector with sprinklers attached to the second ends of the extension pipes. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 13 ,  14  and  15 , to easily move the sprinkler assembly  20  from point to point, a wheel assembly  38  is incorporated into the preferred embodiment. The wheel assembly  38  is comprised of a pair of wheels  40 , a first wheel arm  42 , a second wheel arm  44 , and a wheel assembly extension tube  46 . Each wheel arm  42 ,  44  has a first arm end  48  and a second arm end  50  with the first arm ends  48  fixedly attached to the second end  47   b  of the extension tube  46 . A portion of each second arm end  50  is bent  52  at an angle to the remaining portion of the second arm end  50 . Each of the bent portions  52  of the arms  42 ,  44  is so bent that when each of the arms  42 ,  44  is fastened to the extension tube  46 , the bent portions of each of the arms  42 ,  44  are coaxial, and form axles  54 . Each wheel  40  is held rotatably secured to the axle  54  by means of a suitable quick-acting lock mechanism (not shown) which is easily released when the wheels  40  are to be removed. 
   To maintain the sprinkler assembly  20  in a horizontal position so the user can attach or detach the supply hose  30 , adjust the shut-off valve  28  or move the sprinkler assembly  20  without having to bend over, a support assembly  56  is provided. Referring to  FIG. 16 , the support assembly  56  is comprised of a support assembly extension tube  58  having a first end  60  and a second end  62 . Fixedly attached to the extension tube&#39;s  58  second end  62  is an “O” shaped hook  64 . Attached to the hook  64  is a spike  66  which spike  66  can be pushed into the ground surface to maintain the sprinkler assembly  20  in its desired position. 
   Both the wheel assembly  38  and the support assembly  56  are rotatably maintained on the sprinkler pipe  22  through a pair of lock assemblies  68 . Referring to  FIGS. 5 through 12 , each lock assembly  68  is comprised of a plate  70 , a tubular receiver  72 , a clamp  74 , a tubular insert  76 , a spring  78 , and a pin  80 . The plate  70  is rectangular shaped having a front side  82 , a back side  84 , a top end  86  and a bottom end  88 . Below the top end  86  are a pair of vertically spaced small diameter cylindrical openings  90 . Above the bottom end  88  is a large diameter cylindrical opening  92 . 
   The first open end  94  of the tubular receiver  72  is fixedly attached over the large diameter cylindrical opening  92  so that the second open end  96  of the tubular receiver  72  is at a right angle to the plate  70 . The second open end  96  of the tubular receiver  72  contains a plurality of notches  98 . 
   The clamp  74 , which is mountable to the plate  70 , is preferably “U” shaped which defines a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the diameter of the pipe  22  to be retained therein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamp  74  has outwardly extending flanges  100  attached to the ends  102  of the generally horizontal leg sections  104 . The flanges  100  contain openings  106  which openings  106  are aligned with the small diameter openings  90  of the plate  70 . A bolt  108  is interested into the aligned openings  90 ,  106  and maintained in place with a nut  110  so the clamp  74  and plate  70  are removably attached. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 8 ,  15 ,  16 , fixedly attached near the first ends  47   a,    62  of the extension tubes  46 ,  58  is the first end  112  of a tubular insert  76 . The tubular insert  76  is at a right angle to the extension tubes  46 ,  58 . The diameter of the tubular insert  76  is slightly less than the diameter of the tubular receiver  72  so as to allow the tubular insert  76  to be rotatable within the tubular receiver  72 . Near the second end  114  of the tubular insert  76  is a cylindrical opening  116 . Maintained on the tubular insert  76  is a spring  78 . 
   The tubular insert  76  is rotatably inserted into the tubular receiver  72  with the plate  70  and extension tube  46 ,  58  pressed together so that the second end  114  of the tubular insert  72  extends beyond the second end  96  of the tubular receiver  72  and a pin  80  inserted into the cylindrical opening  116  of the tubular insert  76 . Releasing the plate  70  and extension tube  46 ,  58  causes the spring  78  to pull the extension tube  46 ,  58  away from the plate  70 . The pin  80 , removably attached to the tubular insert  76 , is pulled into the notches  98  of the tubular receiver  72  thereby resulting in the tubular insert  76  being maintained within the tubular receiver  72 . 
   To collapse or otherwise adjust the wheel assembly  38  and/or support assembly  56 , a user need simply press the extension tube  46 ,  58  and plate  70  together resulting in the pin  80  being dislodged from the notches  98 . With the pin  80  dislodged, the tubular insert  76  can be freely rotated within the tubular receiver  72 . Once the desired position of the wheel assembly  38  and/or support assembly  56  has been achieved, the user can release the extension tube  46 ,  58  and plate  70  causing the pin  80  to become lodged within the notches  98  corresponding with the position desired. 
   Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out the present invention is disclosed above, practice of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be manifest that various additions, modifications and rearrangements of the features of the present invention may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept. 
   The individual components mentioned herein need not be fabricated from the disclosed materials, but could be fabricated from virtually any suitable and strong materials. 
   Moreover, the individual components need not be formed in the disclosed shapes, or assembled in the disclosed configuration, but could be provided in virtually any shape, and assembled in virtually any suitable configuration. It is intended that the appended claims cover all such additions, modifications and rearrangements.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0