Soaker hose assembly

• US 5,368,235 A
• Filed: 08/09/1990
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Plastic Specialties And Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Plastic Specialties And Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Hopps, Steven R., Drozdoff, Matthew L.
• Primary Examiner(s): YOUNG, KAREN MERRITT
• Application Number:
  US07/565,037
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 239/145, 239/271, 239/272, 239/396, 239/542, 239/547, 239/553.3, 138/44
• US Class Current: 239/542
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/06 Watering arrangements making use of perforated pipe-lines located in the soil

Abstract

A flexible water soaker hose is provided having a rigid disk with a fixed aperture for restricting pressurized water through the porous wall of the hose for gentle soaking. The hose is adapted for coupling to a pressurized water supply for delivery of water through the hose. The hose is specially suited for use as a garden hose to irrigate or soak desired areas.

Claims

1. A flexible soaker hose for the delivery of pressurized water therethrough comprising

a flexible porous hose having a water inlet end for coupling to a pressurized water source and a closed end, said hose having a flexible porous wall for slow seepage of water uniformly therethrough along the length of said porous wall when water is delivered under pressure through said inlet end, said flexible porous hose having a propensity to balloon under said water pressure by inflation of the porous wall, and

a rigid wall near the inlet end having a fixed aperture restricting the flow of water therethrough from the pressurized source through said porous wall for said uniform seepage of water along the length of said porous wall, said rigid wall and fixed aperture for preventing ballooning of said hose,

the size of said aperture being related to the thickness and porosity of the porous wall so that the hose has enough water flow to uniformly seep therethrough along the length of said porous wall without hose ballooning.

2. The hose of claim 1 for use with water at pressures ranging from about 25 to about 120 psi.

3. The hose of claim 1 for use as a garden soaker.

4. The hose of claim 1 made from a foamed polymer selected from the group of vinyl plastic, natural rubber, synthetic rubber or thermoplastic rubber.

5. The hose of claim 1 having an inside diameter of about 0.5 inch to about 3 inches.

6. The hose of claim 1 wherein said rigid wall is a separate circular rigid disk sized to said inlet end having a fixed central hole.

7. The hose of claim 6 made of foamed polyvinyl chloride and said disk made of polyolefin plastic.

8. The hose of claim 6 wherein said inlet end has a coupling for securement to said water source.

9. The hose of claim 8 having a coupling washer for securing the rigid disk in said coupling.

10. A flexible household water soaker hose for the delivery of pressurized water therethrough comprising

a flexible porous hose having a water inlet end with a coupling for securement to a pressurized water source and a closed end, said hose having a flexible porous wall for slow seepage of water uniformly therethrough along the length of said porous wall when water is delivered under pressures from about 25 to about 120 psi through said inlet end, said flexible porous hose having a propensity to balloon under said water pressure by inflation of the porous wall, and

a rigid disk secured in said coupling at the inlet end, said disk having a fixed aperture for restricting the flow of water therethrough from the pressurized source through said porous wall for said uniform seepage of water along the length of said porous wall, said rigid disk and fixed aperture for preventing ballooning of said hose,

the size of said disk aperture being related to the thickness and porosity of the porous wall so that the hose has enough water flow to uniformly seep therethrough the length of said porous wall without hose ballooning.

11. The hose of claim 10 made of foamed polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

12. The hose of claim 10 having an inside diameter between about 0.5 inch and about 1 inch.