Portable above ground water manifold and system for establishing a new lawn

• US 5,560,542 A
• Filed: 11/14/1994
• Issued: 10/01/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Randy C. Reid
• Original Assignee: Randy C. Reid
• Inventors: Reid, Randy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Application Number:
  US08/340,044
• Time in Patent Office: 687 Days
• Field of Search: 239/67, 239/70, 239/273, 239/276, 239/536, 239/556, 239/557, 239/548, 239/DIG.15, 137/883, 137/624.2
• US Class Current: 239/70
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 239/15 Sprinkler systems with controls

Abstract

A portable knockdown above ground watering system and method for establishing a new lawn is provided. The system includes a compact water manifold structure comprising a manifold housing having a water inlet in fluid communication with a plurality of water outlets. A plurality of solenoid actuated valves are connected adjacent to and in fluid communication with each of the water outlets. The solenoid actuated valves being electrically connected to a control cable plug. An inlet hose connector is connected in fluid communication with the water inlet for removable connection to an inlet hose. A plurality of sprinkler heads are connected in fluid communication to the manifold structure with removably connected outlet hoses. A flexible waterproof control cable is provided. The control cable is removably connected between the control cable plug and a timer assembly which is used for electronically regulating the solenoid actuated valves for operation of the sprinkler heads.

Claims

1. A portable knockdown above ground watering system for establishing a new lawn, comprising in combination:

(a) a compact water manifold structure comprising a manifold housing having a water inlet in fluid communication with a plurality of water outlets, a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected adjacent to and in fluid communication with each of the water outlets, each solenoid actuated valve having a solenoid valve water outlet having threaded means for removable engagement with a first end of an outlet hose, the solenoid actuated valves being electrically connected to a first control cable plug, and an inlet hose connector connected in fluid communication with the water inlet for removable connection to an inlet hose, the inlet hose being removably connected to a water source;

(b) a plurality of sprinkler heads, each sprinkler head being removably connected to a second end of the outlet hose;

(c) a flexible waterproof control cable having a first mated socket end and a second mated socket end, the first mated socket end being in removable watertight mated engagement with a socket end of the first control cable plug; and

(d) timer means for electronically regulating the solenoid actuated valves for operation of the sprinkler heads, the timer means being electrically connected to a timer control cable plug, the timer control cable plug having a timer socket end for removable watertight mated engagement with the second mated socket end of the flexible waterproof control cable.

2. The combination of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) a second control cable plug electrically connected to the first control cable plug of the compact water manifold structure;

(b) a second flexible waterproof control cable having a first mated socket end and a second mated socket end, the first mated socket end of the second flexible waterproof control cable being in removable watertight mated engagement with a socket end of the second control cable plug; and

(c) a second compact water manifold structure having a first control cable plug, the second mated socket end of the second flexible waterproof control cable being in removable watertight mated engagement with a socket end of the first control cable plug of the second compact water manifold structure.

3. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a second timer control cable plug electrically connected to the timer means.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein each sprinkler head is an impact sprinkler head having an elongated spike for removable securement into the new lawn.

5. The combination of claim 1, wherein a 120 volt supply line of the timer means is electrically connected to a power source, the timer means being in approximate adjacency to the power source so that high voltage is disposed away from the new lawn, the timer means having a 24 volt output for low voltage above ground electrical passage along the flexible waterproof control cable.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the flexible waterproof control cable is formed of multi-stranded wires having a vinyl insulation outer casing and the first mated socket end and a second mated socket end are molded integral with the flexible waterproof control cable.

7. A portable knockdown above ground watering system for establishing a new lawn having area of approximately one acre, comprising:

(a) a plurality of compact water manifold structures, each compact water manifold structure comprising a manifold housing having a water inlet in fluid communication with a plurality of water outlets, a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected adjacent to and in fluid communication with each of the water outlets, each solenoid actuated valve having a solenoid valve water outlet having threaded means for removable engagement with a first end of an outlet hose, the solenoid actuated valves being electrically connected to a first control cable plug, and an inlet hose connector connected in fluid communication with the water inlet for removable connection to an inlet hose, the inlet hose being removably connected to a water source, each of the compact water manifold structures being positionable on the new lawn so that a minimum length of outlet hoses are required;

(b) a plurality of sprinkler heads, each sprinkler head being removably connected to a second end of the outlet hose;

(c) a plurality of flexible waterproof control cables, each flexible waterproof control cable having a first mated socket end and a second mated socket end, the first mated socket end being in removable watertight mated engagement with a socket end of the first control cable plug; and

(d) a plurality of timer assemblies for electronically regulating the solenoid actuated valves of each compact water manifold structure for operation of the sprinkler heads, each timer assembly being electrically connected to a timer control cable plug, the timer control cable plug having a timer socket end for removable watertight mated engagement with the second mated socket end of each flexible water proof control cable.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising a second control cable plug electrically connected to the first control cable plug of one of the compact water manifold structures and a flexible waterproof control cable removably connected between the second control cable plug and the first control cable plug of another compact water manifold structure so that a single timer assembly can regulate both interconnected compact water manifold structures simultaneously when separate water sources are provided for each of these interconnected compact water manifold structures.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein each sprinkler head is an impact sprinkler head having an elongated spike for removable securement into the new lawn.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a 120 volt supply line of each timer assembly is electrically connected to a power source, each timer assembly being in approximate adjacency to the power source so that high voltage is disposed away from the new lawn, each timer assembly having a 24 volt output for low voltage above ground electrical passage along each flexible waterproof control cable.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein each flexible waterproof control cable is formed of multi-stranded wires having a vinyl insulation outer casing and the first mated socket end and a second mated socket end are molded integral with the flexible waterproof control cable.

12. A portable compact low profile water manifold structure for inconspicuous ground level placement for use in an above ground watering system for establishing a new lawn, the water manifold comprising a manifold housing having a water inlet in fluid communication with a plurality of water outlets, a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected adjacent to and in fluid communication with each of the water outlets, the solenoid actuated valves having a solenoid valve water outlet having threaded means for removable engagement with an outlet hose, the solenoid actuated valves being electrically connected to a first control cable plug, the first control cable plug having a socket end for removable watertight mated engagement with a mated socket end of a control cable, and an inlet hose connector connected in fluid communication with the water inlet for removable connection to an inlet hose.

13. The structure of claim 12, further comprising a second control cable plug electrically connected to the first control cable plug, the second control cable plug having a socket end for removable watertight mated engagement with a mated socket end of a second control cable.

14. The structure of claim 12, wherein the solenoid actuated valves include switching means for manually operating the valves.