Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Hollow work – internal surface treatment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-11-20
Gulakowski, Randy (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Hollow work, internal surface treatment
C134S042000, C134S022180, C239S104000, C239S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318383
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to servicing lawn sprinkler heads. More specifically, a coupling piece permits remote servicing of lawn sprinkler heads with a conventional garden hose.
2. Background Information
Lawn sprinkler systems for watering lawns include a system of pipes to which lawn sprinkler heads are attached. Lawn sprinkler heads conventionally have a pop-up perforated nozzle through which water issues from the system of pipes to sprinkle a lawn. When not used, a spring acts to maintain the nozzle of the head flush with the surface of the lawn. As pressurized water is fed through the system, the pressure of the water works against the spring to “pop” the nozzle of the head up and over the surface of the lawn.
Frequently, the perforations of sprinkler heads become obstructed with debris and restrict the flow of water to the lawn. Moreover, the debris frequently obstructs the vertical path of the nozzle so as to prevent the nozzle from deploying. An inoperative lawn sprinkler head, in turn, prevents the lawn sprinkler system from spraying the lawn in the localized area of the obstructed sprinkler head.
Historically, consumers have attempted to service an inoperative lawn sprinkler head as the head remains attached to the lawn sprinkler system. Two persons are required to fix an installed sprinkler head since one person must be stationed remotely at the water control device and the other stationed locally at the sprinkler head. Servicing an inoperative lawn sprinkler head as the head remains attached to the lawn sprinkler system is inconvenient since the obstruction of the sprinkler head generally is hard to reach and sometimes inaccessible. Moreover, coordination between two persons makes the conventional process an undesirably involved process.
Alternatively, consumers have attempted to service an inoperative lawn sprinkler head simply by removing and replacing the inoperative sprinkler head with a new sprinkler head. The problem with this solution is that it is expensive. Thus, there is a need for a convenient and less expensive method and apparatus that may be used to clean and service sprinkler heads remote from the sprinkler system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for servicing a lawn sprinkler head removed from a sprinkler system. Included within a servicing kit is a controller that may be used to regulate the flow of water through the sprinkler head remotely from the sprinkler system, a plug to secure the hole in the sprinkler system from where the sprinkler head was removed, a spacer that may be used to retain the nozzle of the sprinkler head in the deployed position, and a cleaning tool that may be used to dislodge debris from the nozzle water exit perforations. Other features are disclosed.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2605091 (1952-07-01), Socke
patent: 2720420 (1955-10-01), Seifferle
patent: 3385735 (1968-05-01), Brabrand et al.
patent: 3851352 (1974-12-01), Hibberd et al.
patent: 4995915 (1991-02-01), Sewell et al.
patent: 5376181 (1994-12-01), Reidick
patent: 5803983 (1998-09-01), Simandl et al.
patent: 5875969 (1999-03-01), Grundy
patent: 6045059 (2000-04-01), Weller
Blakely , Sokoloff, Taylor & Zafman LLP
Chaudhry Saeed
Gulakowski Randy
LandOfFree
Cleaning and servicing lawn sprinkler heads does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cleaning and servicing lawn sprinkler heads, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cleaning and servicing lawn sprinkler heads will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2603516