초록 ▼

An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature. The sprinkler includes, in one embodiment, a tubular member having a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots thereon and an end portion having the same plurality of apertures therein. A plurality of lumens is formed inside the tubular m

An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature. The sprinkler includes, in one embodiment, a tubular member having a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots thereon and an end portion having the same plurality of apertures therein. A plurality of lumens is formed inside the tubular member. A plurality of longitudinal series of nozzles extend through the spaced apart longitudinal slots. Each lumen is associated with one of said series of nozzles; one end of each lumen includes a fluid inlet and the other end of each lumen is closed. A selector piece is fitted to the tubular member and includes an opening to be aligned with a selected fluid inlet. The sprinkler further comprises a water-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the tubular member. Finally, a support structure for supporting the tubular member is provided.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An oscillating sprinkler comprising: a fluid inlet, an oscillating mechanism, an engagement mechanism, a selector unit, an elongate tubular body member, and a support base; wherein an internal channel leading through each of the fluid inlet, the oscillating mechanism, and the selector

We claim: 1. An oscillating sprinkler comprising: a fluid inlet, an oscillating mechanism, an engagement mechanism, a selector unit, an elongate tubular body member, and a support base; wherein an internal channel leading through each of the fluid inlet, the oscillating mechanism, and the selector unit forms a first path of fluid communication, and wherein the elongate tubular body member comprises a single molded body structure having connected thereto a plurality of multi-nozzle series, wherein at least one of the plurality of multi-nozzle series has a number of nozzles that is different than another of the plurality of multi-nozzle series, a plurality of lumens, each of the plurality of lumens being connected in fluid communication with at least one of the multi-nozzle series, an end surface including a plurality of apertures, one aperture open to each of the lumens, such that each aperture is associated with one of the plurality of lumens and at least one of the multi-nozzle series; a second path of fluid communication from each aperture through its associated lumen to its associated at least one of the multi-nozzle series; wherein the engagement mechanism provides a plurality of positions for selectably providing a connection of the first path of fluid communication with one of the second paths of fluid communication, thereby providing fluid communication from the inlet to one selected multi-nozzle series. 2. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the plurality of multi-nozzle series is selected from one of two multi-nozzle series, three multi-nozzle series, four multi-nozzle series, five multi-nozzle series, and six multi-nozzle series. 3. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the lumens are symmetrically formed by walls extending substantially from a central longitudinal axis of the elongate tubular body member. 4. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises: a spring detent member mounted on at least one of the tubular body, the selector unit, and the support base; and at least two indentations opposite the spring detent member and independently selectably engageable by the spring detent member. 5. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises: each of the plurality of apertures embodied as a protruding inlet on the end surface of the tubular body; an inset outlet on the selector unit sized to selectably engage the protruding inlets; a biasing structure for biasing a selected one of the protruding inlet apertures into engagement with the inset outlet to provide a connection of the first path of fluid communication with the second path of fluid communication that is associated with the selected protruding inlet. 6. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises: each of the plurality of apertures embodied as an inset inlet on the end surface of the tubular body; a protruding outlet on the selector unit sized to selectably engage the inset inlets; a biasing structure for biasing a selected one of the inset inlet apertures into engagement with the protruding outlet to provide a connection of the first path of fluid communication with one of the second paths of fluid communication. 7. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises: an inset outlet on one of the selector unit and the tubular body; and at least two protruding inlets on the other of the selector unit and the tubular body, each protruding inlet being open to one of the lumens and sized to engage the inset outlet. 8. The sprinkler of claim 1, wherein at least one of the multi-nozzle series comprises one of a strip having nozzle apertures, a series of nozzles formed as openings in the body member, and a series of individually mounted nozzles. 9. The sprinkler of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a flow control element and a timer element. 10. The sprinkler of claim 1 wherein each of the multi-nozzle series is mounted into a longitudinal slot in a surface of the elongate tubular body member by a selected one of welding, gluing, and snap-fitting. 11. An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature comprising: a tubular member including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart nozzle-mounting surfaces therein, an end portion including the same plurality of apertures therein and the same plurality of indents thereon, wherein, each said nozzle-mounting surface includes a series of nozzles associated therewith, and wherein the interior of the tubular member comprises a plurality of water conduit cavities, wherein each water conduit cavity is associated with one of said series of nozzles; a generally cylindrical collar element disposed around the end portion; a selector piece mounted inside said collar element, wherein the selector piece comprises an opening to be aligned with a selected fluid inlet, and an outwardly biased protrusion extending towards the end portion; a water-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is in fluid communication with an interior channel of the selector piece and wherein the oscillating mechanism causes the selector piece to oscillate, said oscillating selector piece interacting with the indent of the end portion through the outwardly biased protrusion to oscillate the tubular member; and a support structure for supporting the tubular member. 12. The sprinkler of claim 11 further comprising at least one of a flow control element and a timer element. 13. The sprinkler of claim 11 wherein the sprinkler comprises at least three water conduit cavities. 14. The sprinkler of claim 11 wherein the opening on the selector piece comprises a cylindrical portion having an internal step, a sealing cup fitted within the cylindrical portion, an o-ring between the internal step and the sealing cup, and a rubber seal extending out from the sealing cup towards the end portion. 15. The sprinkler of claim 11 wherein each series of nozzles is mounted to one of the nozzle mounting surfaces by a selected one of welding, gluing, and snap-fitting. 16. An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature comprising: a tubular member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart longitudinal slots therein, and an endplate having the same plurality of apertures therein and the same plurality of indents therein, wherein each said longitudinal slot includes a series of nozzles associated therewith, and wherein the interior of the tubular member comprises a plurality of water conduit cavities, wherein each water conduit cavity is associated with one of said series of nozzles; a cylindrical collar element mounted adjacent the endplate; a selector piece connected inside said collar element, wherein the selector piece comprises an opening to be aligned with a selected fluid inlet and an outwardly biased protrusion extending towards the endplate, wherein the opening on the selector piece comprises a cylindrical portion having an internal step, a sealing cup fitted within the cylindrical portion, an o-ring between the internal step and the sealing cup, and a rubber seal extending out from the sealing cup towards the endplate; a water-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the collar element and wherein the oscillating mechanism causes the selector piece to oscillate, said oscillating selector piece interacting with the indent of the endplate through the outwardly biased protrusion to oscillate the tubular member; and a support structure for supporting the tubular member. 17. The sprinkler of claim 16 further comprising at least one of a flow control element and a timer element. 18. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein the sprinkler comprises at least three water conduit cavities. 19. The sprinkler of claim 16 wherein each series of nozzles mounted into one of the longitudinal slots by one of welding, gluing, and snap-fitting. 20. An oscillating sprinkler comprising: a tubular member having a first number of nozzle mounting slots thereon, and an end portion having substantially the same first number of apertures therethrough and wherein each of the nozzle mounting slots includes a series of nozzles associated therewith, each of said series of nozzles having a different number of nozzles, and wherein the interior of the tubular member comprises a plurality of lumens, wherein each lumen is associated with one of the series of nozzles and with one of the apertures; a selector unit comprising a fluid passage selectably in communication with each of the plurality of lumens and an engagement mechanism, said engagement mechanism being selectably engageable with the end portion in one of at least two engagement positions; a fluid-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member; wherein an oscillating movement of the oscillating mechanism causes the selector unit to oscillate, said oscillating selector piece interacting with the engagement mechanism to oscillate the tubular member. 21. An oscillating sprinkler having a pattern select feature and comprising: a tubular member comprising a plurality of spaced apart longitudinal slots therein, a first end having the same plurality of apertures therein and the same plurality of indents therein, and a closed end, and a plurality of water conduit cavities, wherein each water conduit cavity is associated with one of said longitudinal slots; a plurality of strips of nozzles for each of said longitudinal slots, wherein an interior side of each of the strips comprises a means for securing the strip to a longitudinal slot and an exterior side of the strips comprises outwardly projecting nozzles; a cylindrical collar element over the first end of the tubular member; a selector piece fitted inside said collar element, wherein the selector piece comprises an opening to be aligned with a selected aperture and an outwardly biased protrusion extending towards the first end of the tubular member; a water-driven oscillating mechanism for oscillating the tubular member, wherein the oscillating mechanism includes a water inlet and a water outlet, wherein the water outlet is in fluid communication with the interior of the collar element and wherein the oscillating mechanism causes the selector piece to oscillate, said oscillating selector piece interacting with the indent of the first end through the outwardly biased protrusion to oscillate the tubular member; and a support structure for supporting the tubular member.