Towable nonconductive pipe adapter for a sprinkler having laterally extending surfaces
First Claim
1. A towable, non-conductive, mechanically locking sprinkler fitting for making a fluid connection between irrigation pipes, comprising:
- a polymeric tubular fitting member having first and second open ends for mating with a pair of irrigation pipes, said tubular fitting member including a laterally extending, bevelled lower surface for permitting said fitting member to be slid across a field without tipping;
an orifice disposed generally opposite said bevelled lower surface for receiving a sprinkler riser;
said tubular fitting member having an annular recess located along its surface which corresponds with a mating annular recess on at least a first of said irrigation pipes to form an annular cavity; and
a flexible polymeric spline inserted into said annular cavity to form a mechanical lock between said first pipe and said tubular fitting member, said fitting being light-weight for easy towing and non-conductive so as to avoid electrocuting a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanically locking sprinkler fittings are provided by this invention for making a fluid connection between irrigation pipes. The sprinkler fittings contain a tubular fitting member having first and second open ends for mating with a pair of irrigation pipes. The tubular fitting member contains a laterally facing orifice for receiving a sprinkler riser and an annular recess located along its surface which corresponds with a mating annular recess on at least a first of the irrigation pipes to form an annular cavity. The fitting also includes a flexible spline inserted into the annular cavity to form a mechanical lock between the first pipe and the tubular fitting member. The sprinkler fittings of this invention are convenient to use, and can be made of lightweight polymeric materials.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A towable, non-conductive, mechanically locking sprinkler fitting for making a fluid connection between irrigation pipes, comprising:
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a polymeric tubular fitting member having first and second open ends for mating with a pair of irrigation pipes, said tubular fitting member including a laterally extending, bevelled lower surface for permitting said fitting member to be slid across a field without tipping; an orifice disposed generally opposite said bevelled lower surface for receiving a sprinkler riser; said tubular fitting member having an annular recess located along its surface which corresponds with a mating annular recess on at least a first of said irrigation pipes to form an annular cavity; and a flexible polymeric spline inserted into said annular cavity to form a mechanical lock between said first pipe and said tubular fitting member, said fitting being light-weight for easy towing and non-conductive so as to avoid electrocuting a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A light-weight, towable, non-conductive, mechanically locking sprinkler fitting fluidly connected between a pair of irrigation pipes, said combination comprising:
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a pair of irrigation pipes having at least one free, open end, each of said open ends having an annular recess located along an exterior surface thereof; a polymeric tubular fitting member having first and second open ends for receiving said open ends of said irrigation pipes, said tubular fitting member including a laterally extending, bevelled lower surface for permitting said fitting member to be slid across a field without tipping; said tubular fitting member also including an orifice for receiving a sprinkler riser; said tubular fitting member including a pair of annular recesses located along its inner surface which correspond with said annular recesses located on the exterior surfaces of said irrigation pipes to form a pair of annular cavities; a pair of polymeric flexible splines inserted into said pair of annular cavities to form a pair of mechanical locks between said irrigation pipes and said tubular fitting member; and gasket means for providing a fluid tight seal between said irrigation pipes and said tubular fitting member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A towable, non-conductive, mechanically locking sprinkler fitting, comprising a polymeric tubular fitting member having first and second open ends for mating with a pair of irrigation pipes, said tubular fitting member including a laterally extending, bevelled lower surface for permitting said fitting member to be slid across a field without tipping;
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a sprinkler riser orifice located between said first and second open ends of said tubular fitting member; said tubular fitting member having a pair of annular recesses located along the inner surface near said first and second open ends; and a pair of polymeric flexible splines for inserting into said annular recesses when said first and second irrigation pipes are inserted into said polymeric tubular fitting member. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification