Electronic water sprinkler timer

• US 4,858,827 A
• Filed: 07/13/1987
• Issued: 08/22/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: L.R. Nelson Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: L.R. Nelson Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Fletcher, Douglas C., Bruninga, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weldon, Kevin P.
• Application Number:
  US07/072,667
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 364/141, 364/143, 364/144, 364/420, 364/510, 239/69, 239/70, 239/572, 137/624.2, 137/624.18, 137/119, 251/131, 251/316, 251/129.13, 251/129
• US Class Current: 239/69
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/165 Cyclic operations, timing systems, timing valves, impulse operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86445 Plural, sequential, valve actuations

Abstract

Apparatus for connection with a sill cock for communicating water under pressure from the sill cock with a hose having a lawn sprinkler communicating therewith comprising a water control unit having a female coupler for connection with the sill cock, a male coupler for connection with the hose, a valve between the couplers and a battery operated valve mechanism operable in response to the connection of the electric current thereto for effecting movement of the valve from a closed position into an opened position, and a manually portable programming unit containing a battery operated programming keyboard, a battery operated display, and batteries operatively connected therewith. An extension cord accessory is provided which renders the portable unit operable to operate the water control unit either in its operative position or when the portable unit is disposed in a remote position. When the portable unit is provided with a modified keyboard permitting programming of three separate water cycles, the apparatus forms part of a whole lawn watering system which includes a stepping valve unit operable as each watering cycle occurs to connect the outlet of the water control unit to a different sprinkler.

Claims

1. Apparatus for connection with a sill cock for communicating water under pressure from the sill cock with a hose having a lawn sprinkler communicating therewith comprising

a female coupler for connection with the sill cock,

a male coupler for connection with the hose,

valve means between said couplers movable into opened and closed position with respect thereto so as to permit and prevent respectively communication of the water under pressure from the sill cock with the hose when said female coupler is connected with the sill cock and said male coupler is connected with the hose,

battery means for providing a source of electrical current,

battery operated valve moving means operable in response to the connection of the electric current from said battery means therewith for effecting movement of said valve means from its closed position into its opened position,

battery operated programming means for selecting a sprinkling time in the future when it is desired to water with the sprinkler,

battery operated display means for displaying the sprinkling time selected by said programming means,

a first water control unit containing said male coupler, said valve means, said battery operated valve moving means and said female coupler so as to render said first unit operable to be fixed to the sill cock in supported relation thereby when said female coupler is connected therewith,

a second manually portable programming unit containing said battery operated programming means, said battery operated display means, and said battery means operatively connected with said battery operated programming means and said battery operated display means,

mounting means operatively associated with both of said units for interengagement to mount said portable second unit in supported relation on said fixed first unit in an operative position and for disengagement to enable the portable second unit to be disposed in a remote position with respect to said fixed first unit such that a user can operate said programming means remote from said fixed first unit allowing for observation of said display means at close eye-level proximity, and

means operable either when said portable second unit is mounted on said fixed first unit in said operative position or when said portable second unit is disposed in a remote position with respect to said fixed first unit to connect an electrical current from said battery means contained in said portable unit with said battery operated valve moving means contained in said fixed first unit when the sprinkler time selected on said programming means arrives causing said valve means to be moved into its opened position and water under pressure from the sill cock connected with said female coupler to flow into the hose connected with said male coupler.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises a first tubular housing portion on said first unit and a cooperating second tubular housing portion on said second unit, said second tubular housing portion being open at one end so as to permit the same to be moved through a docking movement in the direction of said open end with respect to said first tubular housing portion in order to dispose said second unit in supported relation on said first unit, said electrical current connecting means including a first male electrical connector on one of said units, a first female electrical connector on the other of said units positioned to cooperatively interengage during said docking movement, a remote housing structure including a third tubular housing portion similar to said first tubular housing portion so as to permit the second tubular housing portion to be moved through a docking movement in the direction of said open end with respect to said third tubular housing portion in order to dispose said second unit in an operative position with respect to said remote housing structure, said remote housing structure including an electrical wire extending therefrom having a second female electrical connector connected to one end thereof and a second male connector connected to the other end thereof, said second male and female electrical connectors being operable to be cooperatively interengaged with said first female and male electrical connectors respectively when said second unit is disposed in said operative position with respect to said remote housing structure.