Tree soaker

• US 4,778,111 A
• Filed: 09/15/1987
• Issued: 10/18/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earl J. Leap
• Original Assignee: Earl J. Leap
• Inventors: Leap, Earl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Mary Beth O.
• Application Number:
  US07/096,652
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 239/542, 239/562, 239/565, 239/567, 239/581.1, 239/553.3, 239/DIG. 15, 239/536
• US Class Current: 239/536
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/205 characterised by the longitudinal shape of the elongated body
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3026 the controlling element being a gate valve, a sliding valve or a cock B05B1/3006, B05B1/326 take precedence; gate valves or sliding valves in general F16K3/00; cocks in general F16K5/00

Abstract

An irrigation apparatus for controlled watering of large plants, such as trees, shrubs and the like includes a hose connection for connecting to a garden hose or the like, a control valve for adjusting the flow of water through the apparatus, a manifold connected at one end thereof to the valve and also being flow connected to a pair of tubular arms and a pair of weights attached to the tubular arms at distal ends thereof. The tubular arms are flexible and adapted to wrap around the base of a tree or the like and are held in place against thermal expansion or water pressure acting within the tubular arms by the weighted ends. The tubular arms also have a plurality of spaced apertures along upper sides thereof. The valve has two flow apertures, one of which provides fixed relatively low flow and the other which is adjustable to provide for variation in water flow.

Claims

1. An irrigation apparatus comprising:

(a) hose connection means adapted to flow connect between a water supply and said irrigation apparatus;

(b) a flexible tubular arm flow connected to said hose connection means;

(c) a valve flow-positioned near said hose connection means and between said hose connection means and said tubular arm;

(d) said arm having an interior channel connected to said hose connection means;

said arm having a plurality of spaced apertures passing through said arm so as to flow connect said channel with an exterior of said arm;

said apertures being of a size to allow alternatively a trickle flow or a spray therethrough;

said valve also flow positioned relatively near at least a portion of said apertures;

(e) said valve being at least a two positional valve having a first position associated with a first flow orifice sized relatively small and a second position associated within a second flow orifice sized relatively large, such that when said valve is in said first position, said apparatus is adapted to produce said trickle flow from said apertures and when said valve is in said second position, said apparatus is adapted to produce said spray from said apertures; and

(f) a weighted element positioned at a distal end of said arm whereby said weighted element opposes movement of said arm under varying water pressures and varying ambient temperature conditions once said apparatus has been positioned for use.

2. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said valve includes valving means for variable control of water flow;

said valving means allowing a user to select a relatively low flow therethrough to allow slow soaking of water into the ground around a plant;

(b) said valve of said irrigation apparatus having an infinitely positionable operator controlled actuator;

(c) said valve including a valve body having said first flow orifice and said second flow orifice; and

(d) said body being positionable by means of said actuator to block flow of water through said first flow orifice while allowing flow through said second flow orifice.

3. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said arm apertures are located in generally evenly spaced relationship along the top of the arm and are positioned on opposite sides of the top of the arm so as to be adapted to spray water therefrom such that streams of water spray relatively both inward and outward when said flexible hose arm is positioned to encircle a plant.

4. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) a filter located in said hose connection means to prevent the passage of foreign objects into said irrigation apparatus.

5. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) a manifold between said valve and said arm, whereby water is allowed to flow from said valve through said manifold to said arm;

(b) said arm is a first arm and including a second flexible hose arm; and

(c) said first and second arms each originate at said manifold and each have a closed distal end.

6. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein:

(a) a weighted element is positioned at the closed distal end of each of said first and second arms.

7. An irrigation apparatus comprising:

(a) hose connection means adapted to flow connect a water supply to said irrigation apparatus;

(b) a pair of flexible and tubular members forming a pair of arms and having a plurality of relatively evenly spaced apertures located along each of said arms to allow fluid to flow from an interior to an exterior of each arm;

said apertures flow-connecting with said hose connection means through an associated tubular member;

each of said arms being connected to a common manifold at one end thereof and having an opposite distal end;

said apertures being of a size to allow alternatively a trickle flow or a spray therethrough;

(c) said arms being capable of being wrapped around the base of a plant so as to provide an even, circumferential distribution of water from said apertures;

(d) said manifold including a valve flow positioned to be relatively near the connection of each said arm to said manifold;

said valve having both a relatively small flow and a large flow orifice therein;

said valve being alternatively positionable such that either of said orifices are selectively positionable so as to require water passing through the valve to pass through only one of said orifices, such that said apparatus is adapted to provide alternatively relatively a large flow of water from said apertures to produce said spray or a small flow of water from said apertures to produce said trickle flow;

(e) a weighted element positioned at said distal ends of each of said arms whereby said weighted elements oppose movement of said arms under varying water pressures and ambient temperature condition.

8. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

(a) said valve includes valving means for variable control of water flow;

said valving means allowing a user to select a relatively low flow therethrough to allow slow soaking of water into the ground around a plant;

(b) said valve of said irrigation apparatus having an operator controlled actuator being infinitely positionable;

(c) said valve having a valve body having said large flow orifice and said small flow orifice; and

(d) said body being positionable by means of said actuator to block flow of water through said first flow orifice while allowing flow through said second flow orifice.

9. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein:

(a) said arm apertures are generally evenly spaced in spaced rows near the top of said arms and are located so as to be adapted to spray water such that streams of water spray relatively inward and outward when said flexible hose arms are placed in generally circumferential relationship to encircle a plant.

10. The irrigation apparatus as set forth in cliam 7 including:

(a) a filter located in said hose connection means to prevent the passage of foreign objects into said irrigation apparatus.

11. An irrigation apparatus comprising:

(a) a hose connection adapted to flow connect to a water supply;

(b) an infinitely adjustable valve flow connected to said hose connection and positioned relatively close thereto;

said valve having a large flow orifice and being manipulative to allow variation of water flow through said large orifice and also being manipulative to allow no water flow through said large orifice;

(c) said valve also having a relatively small orifice therethrough to allow a small stream of water to pass therethrough when said valve is in a low flow position thereof;

said small orifice being positioned generally perpendicular to said large orifice;

(d) a flexible hose arm flow connected to said valve;

said arm having a plurality of spaced apertures therein flow connecting with said hose connection through said arm;

said apertures being of a size to allow a trickle flow of water therethrough when said hose connection is connected to a water supply and when said valve is positioned such that water passes through said small orifice; and

said apertures being of a size to allow a spray flow of water therethrough when said hose connection is connected to a water supply and when said valve is positioned such that water passes through said large orifice;

(e) a weighted element at a distal end of said flexible hose arm to oppose movement of the end of said flexible hose once in position due to water pressure or the like; and

(f) said flexible hose arm being adapted to be wrapped around the base of a plant to allow for irrigation of the plant with an even distribution over a area surrounding the plant.

12. The irrigation apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) said small flow orifice is approximately one and one-half millimeter in diameter.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein:

(a) said arm comprises first and second arm sections of generally equal length;

both said first and second arm sections originating relatively close to said valve and being flow connected therewith by a connecting manifold.

14. An irrigation apparatus comprising:

(a) a female threaded inlet connector adapted to be connected to a male threaded outlet connector of a water supply;

(b) said inlet connector having a filter located within to prevent solid foreign objects from passing into said irrigation apparatus;

(c) a valve having a valve body and being flow connected to said inlet connector and relatively closely spaced therefrom;

(d) said valve having a first relatively large diameter flow orifice through said valve body allowing a relatively large flow of water to pass through the valve when completely aligned with water flow from said water supply;

said valve body being infinitely positionable to allow different flows through said first orifice, including no flow;

said valve having a second relatively small orifice of approximately one and one-half millimeter in diameter through said body generally perpendicular to said first orifice;

said second orifice allowing flow of water through said valve when said first orifice allows no flow;

(e) said valve being adjustable by a user by means of an actuator located on the exterior of said valve;

(f) a tee connection manifold flow connected to said valve;

(g) a pair of flexible hose arms with one end of each hose arm being flow connected to said manifold;

each arm having a plurality of spaced apertures therealong and adapted to release streams of water over a defined area;

each of said hose arms originating relatively close to said valve;

(h) said apertures being located near the top of said arms when in watering positioning and spaced such that streams of water spray both inward and outward when said arms are circularly positioned around a plant allowing for a relatively even distribution over an area surrounding the plant;

said apertures being of a size to allow cooperation with said orifices during flow of water through said apparatus, such that when said valve is positioned such that water from said water supply passes through said large orifice then water sprays from said apertures and, when said valve is positioned such that water from said water supply passes through said small orifice, then water trickles from said apertures;

(i) each of said arms terminate in an end cap;

(j) each of said end caps includes a weighted element to oppose movement of said arm once in position by water pressure or the like.