Patent ID: 7648082

Claim:
In an irrigation sprinkler of the type including a nozzle assembly for dispersing water to an area of vegetation by rotation of at least a portion of the nozzle assembly, the improvement comprising: a first magnet connected to the nozzle assembly and adapted to produce a first magnetic field, wherein the first magnet moves in response to a movement of the at least a portion of the nozzle assembly; and a sensor unit disposed adjacent to the nozzle assembly for detecting the first magnetic field when the at least a portion of the nozzle assembly is moving; further comprising a second magnet connected to the nozzle assembly and adapted to produce a second magnetic field, wherein the second magnet moves in response to the movement of the at least a portion of the nozzle assembly, and wherein the sensor unit is further for detecting the second magnetic field when the at least a portion of the nozzle assembly is moving; further comprising a generally ring-shaped member adapted to surround the at least a portion of the nozzle assembly and adapted for cooperative engagement with the at least a portion of the nozzle assembly, wherein the first magnet is attached to the generally ring-shaped member; further comprising a case adapted to surround at least a second portion of the nozzle assembly, said case having a case seating surface, wherein the nozzle assembly is adapted to move vertically relative to the case from a lower position to an upper position, wherein the generally ring-shaped member is adapted to abut the case seating surface when the nozzle assembly is in the lower position, and wherein the nozzle assembly has a ledge adapted to abut the generally ring-shaped member and to lift the generally ring-shaped member off of the case seating surface when the nozzle assembly is in the upper position.