Fluid sprinkling – spraying – and diffusing – Flexible flow line or outlet storage or retrieval means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-20
2001-04-03
Morris, Lesley D. (Department: 3752)
Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing
Flexible flow line or outlet storage or retrieval means
C239S525000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209800
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a garden watering system, and more particularly to a system having an elongate flexible extendable and contractible helically coiled tube permitting a wide range of movement.
In the past, garden watering systems generally have relied on watering cans, permanently mounted sprinkler systems, or hoses of a defined length which had to be physically rolled up or otherwise stored to keep them out of the way when not in use. The permanently mounted systems have been expensive to install and lack the ability to reach new areas.
With prior hoses, a rather large diameter hose (usually having a diameter of ½ to ⅝ inch) is used which provides a large volume of water movement, although often such may not be required for plant watering. Such prior hoses have to be of a full length to reach appropriate parts of a garden, or yard, yet are far larger than necessary and are cumbersome to use and difficult to store.
The use of watering cans and full size hoses has been found to be particularly inconvenient for watering elevated plants, such as hanging baskets, due to the weight of the cans of water, the nozzle systems generally used on hoses, and the weight of water-filled hoses. Users often have been subjected to water running down their arms when attempting to water elevated plants with prior watering devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes many of the problems of prior watering devices by providing a garden watering system that allows a user to easily and conveniently water plants over a wide garden range. The system includes an elongate flexible tube of smaller diameter than the normal garden hose formed in extendable and contractible helical coils having opposed ends, a faucet connector coupled to one end of the tube, and a spray nozzle coupled to the opposite end of the tube. By providing a small diameter tube which is formed in extendable and contractible helical coils, a watering device is provided which is light weight, automatically contracts for storing, and is sized to provide an appropriate flow of water without demanding the weight and cumbersome qualities of prior watering devices.
More specifically, the present invention utilizes a tube comprised of polyurethane having a durometer hardness measurement in a range of 85-98 Shore A (preferably about 95 Shore A) to provide the needed flexibility and durability for use in such applications.
Further; it has been found advantageous to provide the tube in a size which has an inner diameter in a range of 0.125 to 0.375 inch (preferably about 0.160 inch) and an outer diameter in a range of 0.245 to 0.5625 inch (preferably about 0.245 inch) and forming the helical coils with an inner diameter in a range of 0.5 to 2.5 inches (preferably about one inch). The helical coils are formed so that adjacent coils are pressed against each other when in their contracted position and are capable of being extended manually to a length at least about 14 times the contracted length. This allows the system to be maintained in a compact lightweight contracted condition for storage, yet provides wide range of use throughout a garden upon extension.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a coiled tube watering system which has a connector for connecting it to a standard hose faucet and having a defined bore extending therethrough to permit controlled flow of fluid therethrough to the tube, and a strain relief sleeve surrounding the tube adjacent the hose connector.
Further, the system may have an elongate rigid tube spray wand with an adjustable spray nozzle at the user end of the system to allow watering otherwise difficult to reach regions. The lightweight easily extended flexible tube and the elongate spray wand provide a system that allows the user to conveniently water plants that were difficult to access with prior watering systems.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the drawings.
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Freelin Wade Company, Plastic Tubing Catalogue, 1730 Miller Street, McMinnville, Oregon, (noted Mar. 1996).*
“Aqua Coil” from Hose Everything2949 Sunrise Highway Islip Terrace, New York 11752; p. 23 unknown catalog source, no date.*
“WateringAccessories”, Charlie's Greenhoise Supply catalog, 1996.
Clark & Brody
Coil Solutions, Inc.
Morris Lesley D.
LandOfFree
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