Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – With solid means as guard or protector – Bumper or guard protects distributor
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-03
2001-02-13
Kashnikow, Andres (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
With solid means as guard or protector
Bumper or guard protects distributor
C239S201000, C239S203000, C239S288000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186416
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to sprinkler head protective devices, and more particularly to a new and improved sprinkler trim ring adapted to be installed, substantially flush with the ground surface, in a surrounding relationship relative to a sprinkler head for indicating the location of the sprinkler head and for minimizing grass growth around it.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A common problem for owners of in-ground sprinkler systems, wherein the underlying piping is completely embedded in the ground with the sprinkler heads rising above ground level, is that grass grows excessively immediately around each of the lawn sprinkler heads. The excessive growth can occur to such a degree that it virtually covers the sprinkler heads and seriously interferes with their proper operation. An added problem of the excessive growth is that the sprinkler heads become hidden and thus are prone to be run over by a lawnmower and be damaged by the wheels or blades of the lawnmower.
Various prior art designs have attempted to overcome the above mentioned problems and such are exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 2,751,250 to Block, U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,642 to Di Santo, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,211,338 to Leite et. al. The Block Patent discloses an earlier concept wherein a plate assembly is provided in a slight recess in the ground and has slots to enable installing two semi-circular plates around the sprinkler body and under the flange portion of the sprinkler head. U-shaped closure clips keep the installed plates together in place. The Block device is time consuming to install, requiring the soil around a sprinkler head to be dug away a sufficient distance to enable the plates to slide under the flange portion of the sprinkler head. In addition, using the closure clips to lock the plates together is a cumbersome operation.
The Di Santo patent discloses a grass guard comprising two member pieces of which the first piece has a slot in it enabling installation under the top flange of a sprinkler head. The second piece, a slot closer piece, having grooves in the edges is slideably received in the slot to close the ring and complete coverage of the space immediately under the flange. A tongue-in-groove relationship of the slotted piece and the slot closer piece facilitates the alignment. The Di Santo device suffers the disadvantages that the tongue and groove locking mechanism is relatively expensive to manufacture, and that the grooves can trap dirt, thus making the sliding motion difficult.
The Leite patent discloses a sprinkler shield of a single plate construction having a plurality of radial slots extending from a central bore to provide sufficient flexibility to allow the plate to be installed around an existing sprinkler head. Thus, installing the sprinkler shield requires bending the plate and pushing the sprinkler head through the radial slots which can have the undesirable consequence of inadvertently damaging either the sprinkler head, the sprinkler shield, or both.
It may be appreciated therefore that there is a need for a new and improved sprinkler guard which is easy to use, reliable, and can be manufactured at low cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a trim ring for placing around a sprinkler head to minimize grass growth around it and to help protect a sprinkler head by indicating its location. The sprinkler trim ring comprises two overlapping and complementary members: a slotted member and a screw receiving member, each of which includes an indent. The indents are adapted for fitting partially around a sprinkler head. The slotted member includes at least one slot disposed therethrough. The trim ring is installed by sliding the two complementary members from opposing directions under the flange portion of a sprinkler head such that the slotted member stays on top, and the two indents enclose the sprinkler body. A screw having an enlarged head sized to be retained outside the slot, and a threaded stem sized to be slidingly received through the slot, is inserted through the slot and received in the screw receiving member, and also secures the trim ring to the sprinkler head. The trim ring thus installed is also restricted from upward travel by the extended flange portion of the sprinkler head. The sprinkler trim ring of the present invention is also provided with grooves scored on the surfaces of both members. These grooves enable various portions of the members to be easily separated, thus allowing the trim ring to be custom fit around sprinkler bodies of different sizes and for edge or comer installation.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive trim ring for placing around a sprinkler head to discourage grass growth around it and to protect a sprinkler head by indicating its location.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a trim ring which can be easily installed around an existing sprinkler system having sprinkler heads in open lawns and other spatially limited locations.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Consequently, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2751250 (1956-06-01), Block
patent: 2756099 (1956-07-01), Reynolds, Jr.
patent: 3015448 (1962-01-01), Hurless
patent: 3117724 (1964-01-01), Ray
patent: 3266730 (1966-08-01), Martini
patent: 3650478 (1972-03-01), Jones
patent: 3655132 (1972-04-01), Rosic
patent: 3762642 (1973-10-01), Di Santo
patent: 3874588 (1975-04-01), Flynn
patent: 3904120 (1975-09-01), Sbicca
patent: 3934820 (1976-01-01), Phaup
patent: 4582256 (1986-04-01), Jaquez
patent: 4781327 (1988-11-01), Lawson et al.
patent: 5037030 (1991-08-01), Apodaca
patent: 5211338 (1993-05-01), Leite et al.
patent: 6047897 (2000-04-01), Ueno et al.
Brady Products Incorporated
Ganey Steven J.
Kashnikow Andres
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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