Abstract:
The present invention describes a portable sprinkler riser mechanism that offers the location and stability of the stake type riser mechanisms, yet also provides the ease of placement and flexibility of the surface type riser mechanisms. This is accomplished through the use of a weighted impact hammer co-located with the riser.

Description:
[0001]    This non-provisional utility patent application claims the benefit of priority for U.S. Provisional patent application No. 61/134,402 filed Jul. 10, 2008. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
       [0002]    The subject of this invention relates to the irrigation industry. Specifically, the present invention discloses a riser mechanism that allows the user to quickly and easily set the sprinkler in a stable physical position. A threaded end allows the user to place a variety of sprinkler head types on the riser. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Irrigation systems have been in general use for centuries. In the more recent past, both sub-surface, or buried systems, as well as surface systems have been used to irrigate crops, lawns and gardens. Common to all systems is a delivery source such as a pipe or hose, a transitional section, most commonly referred to as a riser, for coupling the irrigation distribution device to the source, and a distribution device such as a sprinkler head. As is known, sprinkler heads come is a wide variety of types and sizes depending upon the exact irrigation problem to be solved. 
         [0004]    One common irrigation method in wide use, particularly in residential areas, is a surface mounted irrigation system comprised of a hose for the source, a hose coupling and base as the transitional mechanism, and some form of water dispersal device such as a spinner, a gear driven head, or an impact driven head. For simplification, the source, or delivery mechanism will be referred to as a hose, the transitional mechanism will be referred to a s a riser, and the dispersal mechanism will be referred to as a sprinkler head. It will be understood that these terms cover a wide spectrum of irrigation components and the intent of this application is to cover all theses devices within the ambit of the claims. 
         [0005]    Among the many methods available to the user for surface irrigation are riser mechanisms that use a base that simply sits on the ground or risers that have one form or another of a stake to push into the ground. As described below, each of these prior art methods has undesirable features. 
         [0006]    Regarding the type of riser that simply sits on the ground, any unwanted movement in the hose, for example, a child playing or a garden tool catching the hose, may cause the riser to tip over or, at a minimum, fail to irrigate the intended target. When this happens water is wasted and the user must reposition the riser and try again. 
         [0007]    Regarding the stake type riser mechanism, while these do provide some level of physical stability, they can be difficult to place, especially in hard or uneven ground. Further complicating the problem, many of these types of risers are made of plastic, so any pressure placed upon the mechanism in order to secure it in the ground can damage or break either the stake or the riser/head combination. 
         [0008]    What would be desirable would be a riser mechanism that provides the physical location and stability of the stake type riser mechanisms, yet offered the ease of placement and flexibility of the surface type riser mechanisms. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention describes a portable sprinkler riser mechanism that offers the ease of location and stability of the stake type riser mechanisms, yet also provides the ease of placement and flexibility of the surface type riser mechanisms. This is accomplished through the use of a weighted slide hammer co-located with the riser. The user simply places the riser mechanism where needed, then operates the impact hammer to drive a set of stakes into the ground. 
         [0010]    A base plate is provided that has three short stakes located on the bottom surface with pointed ends suitable for driving into the ground. Attached to the top surface of the base plate is a vertical shaft. Concentric on the shaft is a weight which can be easily moved up and down and is sized such that a human hand can easily grasp it. The combination of the shaft and the weight form a slide hammer, or impact hammer as it is sometimes called. At the top end of the vertical shaft is a coupling suitable for attaching a standard garden hose. The coupling has a female hose connector for receiving the hose and a standard half inch male thread for receiving a variety of sprinkler head devices. 
         [0011]    In operation, a user places the three short stakes at the location where the riser mechanism is to be used, then operates the weight up and down so as to hammer the stakes into the ground. Since the stakes are short, the entire riser mechanism is easily removed from a first location to a second location for the next use cycle. 
         [0012]    The method and apparatus of the present invention offer several advantages over the prior art. Among these are ease of use and physical stability. As well as these advantages, the present invention has other advantages discussed in detail below in conjunction with the drawings and figures attached. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1 : is an overall view of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 : shows the weight in various positions demonstrating use of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    The apparatus of the present invention provides a user with the ability to quickly locate and physically restrain a surface type sprinkler riser.  FIG. 1  shows an overview of the apparatus  10  of the present invention. A base plate  20  has three short spikes  24  attached to the bottom surface. In a preferred embodiment, the base plate  20  is made from steel, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other materials, such as aluminum or plastic, could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. The base plate  20  in a preferred embodiment is approximately seven inches by four inches, with a thickness of three-sixteenths of an inch, and is shaped like the home plate at a baseball field. Of course other shapes and/or dimensions are possible, thus the invention is limited only by the claims. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment the spikes  24  are approximately four inches long and one quarter inch in diameter, with the end of the spikes opposite the base  20  terminating in a point. It will be recognized that although the stakes in the preferred embodiment are dimensioned as stated, other greater or lesser dimensions could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. It will also be known to those of skill in the art that more or fewer spikes could be used while still adhering to the principles of the present invention. The spikes  24  in a preferred embodiment are also made from steel and are attached to the base  20  by screws  22 . However, it will be known to those of skill in the art that other methods, for example rivets or welds, and other materials, may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0017]    Attached to the top surface of the base  20  is a vertical shaft assembly  40 . The vertical shaft assembly  40  is comprised of two sections: a bottom part  41  and a top part comprised of several individual pieces described in detail below. The top part and bottom part are coupled together by sleeve  42 . The bottom part  41  in a preferred embodiment is made from a three eights solid steel bar approximately twelve inches in length. This is done so that no damage will occur to the bottom part  41  as the weight  30  is moved up and down. However, other materials, for example a one half inch aluminum bar, could be used as long as the selected material is able to withstand the action of the moving weight without damage. 
         [0018]    Vertical shaft assembly  40  is attached to base plate  20  by means of a screw (not shown) and as with the spikes  24 , other fastening means could be used without exceeding the ambit of the claims. For example, the shaft assembly  40  could have a male thread that mates with a female thread in the base plate  20 , or in the alternative, a twist lock method such as used with many mechanical devices. The only restriction on the shaft is that it be able to withstand the sliding action of the weight without damage. 
         [0019]    The top part of the vertical shaft assembly  40  is comprised of lower tube segment  43 , tee connector  44 , upper tube segment  46 , lateral tube segment  45  and input fitting  48 . The lower tube segment  43 , tee connector  44 , upper tube segment  46 , and lateral tube segment  45  are all standard one half inch PVC [polyvinyl chloride] parts well known to those in the art. Further, upper tube segment  46  terminates in a standard male sprinkler head thread  50  which serves as the output fitting, also well understood in the art. As such, none of these parts are discussed in detail, but the lack of such a detailed discussion should not be read as a limitation on the scope of the invention. 
         [0020]    The top part of the vertical shaft assembly  40  is mated with the bottom part  41  by means of a sleeve  42 . In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve  42  is also a standard PVC part with a slip fitting on one end and a one half inch female pipe thread on the other. Bottom part  41  has a corresponding male pipe thread. Bottom part  41  is thus screwed into sleeve  42  and lower segment  43  is cemented into sleeve  42  in the customary manner. 
         [0021]    A concentric weight  30  is fitted about the lower part  41 . The weight  30  in a preferred embodiment is approximately three inches in diameter, with an approximately seven sixteenths inch hole through its vertical axis, and weighing approximately four pounds. The size and weight of the weight  30  have been selected to make the weight  30  easily moveable by a human hand. It will be recognized that other size and weight combinations could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0022]    The input fitting  48  in a preferred embodiment is a standard three quarter inch female hose fitting. The output fitting  50 , as discussed just above, is a standard one half inch male threaded riser. Both the input and output fittings are capable of receiving standard irrigation components such as a garden hose or a variety of sprinkler head types. For example, a gear-driven sprinkler head or an impact-driven sprinkler head. Of course other input and/or output fittings could be used without departing from the spirit of the invention. 
         [0023]    Looking now at  FIG. 2 , the present invention  10  is shown again, but this time to illustrate the method of use. After placing the present invention on the surface of the area to be irrigated, the user grasps the weight  30  and moves it up from position A toward position B. Once at position B, the weight  30  is moved downward toward position A in a rapid manner, such as the motion used for a hammer. Repeating this movement several times, and allowing the weight  30  to contact the base plate  20  will cause the stakes  24  to be driven into the ground, thereby providing secure physical location of the sprinkler riser with little effort. 
         [0024]    A first advantage of the present invention is the ease with which a user can securely locate a sprinkler riser. This is so because, like many sprinkler mechanisms, the riser of the present invention is small, lightweight and thus very portable. By using the slide hammer weight, the spikes on the bottom of the present invention can be driven into the ground, thus preventing the sprinkler from migrating due to hose pressure or inadvertent dragging on the supply hose. 
         [0025]    A second advantage of the present invention is the ability to quickly attach a variety if sprinkler head types, making the present invention adaptable to a wide variety of irrigation problems. The riser of the present invention has a standard male thread which accepts many different sprinkler head types. 
         [0026]    A third advantage of the present invention is that no tools or accessories are required for a user to operate the apparatus. The integral slide hammer mechanism provides the requisite force needed to set the apparatus in a stable position. 
         [0027]    A fourth advantage of the present invention is that the three spikes form a tripod. This has the benefit of making it very easy to locate the apparatus on uneven ground, for example, in the presence of mole hills or berms.