Hand-securable sprinkler fitting
First Claim
1. A manifold system comprising:
- a pipe section comprising a plurality of threaded manifold fittings; and
at least one coupling, each of the at least one coupling having a centerline and defining a fluid flow passageway, wherein each of the at least one coupling comprises;
a base member shaped to define;
a base member distal end comprising base member threads;
a base member proximal end;
a shank intermediate the base member distal end and the base member proximal end; and
a flange intermediate the base member distal end and the shank, the flange having a greater exterior dimension than the shank, wherein the flange comprises;
a flange proximal surface;
a flange distal surface, the flange proximal surface being intermediate the shank and the flange distal surface, the flange distal surface being intermediate the flange proximal surface and the base member distal end; and
a first locking extension that protrudes from the flange proximal surface; and
a grip member shaped to define;
a bore sized to receive the shank such that the grip member is slidable axially along the shank of the base member between a locked configuration in which rotation of the grip member about the centerline induces rotation of the base member about the centerline, and an unlocked configuration in which the grip member is rotatable about the centerline independently of the rotation of the base member;
a grip member proximal end comprising grip member threads configured to engage one of the plurality of threaded manifold fittings; and
a grip member distal end comprising a grip member distal surface, the grip member distal end being disposed intermediate a grip member proximal end and the flange proximal surface when the shank is received within the bore, wherein the grip member distal surface is shaped to define a first recess that receives the first locking extension in the locked configuration, and not in the unlocked configuration.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A coupling for an irrigation system may have a first member and a second member, each of which has threads that engage a threaded fitting of an adjacent component. The first member may have a shank and a flange that has a greater exterior dimension than the shank. The flange may have a first locking extension. The second member may have a bore that receives the shank such that the second member is slidable along the base member between a locked configuration in which rotation of the second member about the centerline induces rotation of the base member about the centerline, and an unlocked configuration, in which the second member is rotatable about the centerline independently of rotation of the base member. The second member may further have a first recess that receives the first locking extension in the locked configuration.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A manifold system comprising:
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a pipe section comprising a plurality of threaded manifold fittings; and at least one coupling, each of the at least one coupling having a centerline and defining a fluid flow passageway, wherein each of the at least one coupling comprises; a base member shaped to define; a base member distal end comprising base member threads; a base member proximal end; a shank intermediate the base member distal end and the base member proximal end; and a flange intermediate the base member distal end and the shank, the flange having a greater exterior dimension than the shank, wherein the flange comprises; a flange proximal surface; a flange distal surface, the flange proximal surface being intermediate the shank and the flange distal surface, the flange distal surface being intermediate the flange proximal surface and the base member distal end; and a first locking extension that protrudes from the flange proximal surface; and a grip member shaped to define; a bore sized to receive the shank such that the grip member is slidable axially along the shank of the base member between a locked configuration in which rotation of the grip member about the centerline induces rotation of the base member about the centerline, and an unlocked configuration in which the grip member is rotatable about the centerline independently of the rotation of the base member; a grip member proximal end comprising grip member threads configured to engage one of the plurality of threaded manifold fittings; and a grip member distal end comprising a grip member distal surface, the grip member distal end being disposed intermediate a grip member proximal end and the flange proximal surface when the shank is received within the bore, wherein the grip member distal surface is shaped to define a first recess that receives the first locking extension in the locked configuration, and not in the unlocked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for assembling a coupling, the coupling defining a fluid passageway and having a centerline, the coupling comprising a first member shaped to define a first member distal end comprising first member threads, a first member proximal end, a shank intermediate the first member proximal end and the first member distal end, and a flange having a greater exterior dimension than the shank, the flange being intermediate the shank and the first member distal end, the flange comprising a flange proximal surface and a flange distal surface, the flange proximal surface being intermediate the shank and the flange distal surface, the flange distal surface being intermediate the flange proximal surface and the first member distal end, a first locking extension that protrudes from the flange proximal surface, wherein the coupling comprises a second member shaped to define a bore sized to receive the shank, a second member distal end comprising a second member distal surface, and a second member proximal end comprising second member threads, wherein the distal second member surface is shaped to define a first recess shaped to receive the first locking extension, the method comprising:
aligning the first member threads with a first threaded fitting; sliding the second member axially along the shank from an unlocked configuration in which the second member is rotatable about the centerline independently of rotation of the first member, to a locked configuration; wherein sliding the second member to the locked configuration comprises inserting the first locking extension into the first recess, wherein, when the second member is in the locked configuration, applying pressure to the second member to move the second member closer to the flange does not disengage the second member from the locked configuration; in the locked configuration, rotating the second member by hand; and in response to rotation of the second member, rotating the first member via engagement of the first locking extension with the first recess to cause the first member threads to engage the first threaded fitting. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A coupling defining a fluid flow passageway and having a centerline, the coupling comprising:
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a first member shaped to define; a first member distal end comprising first member threads; a first member proximal end; a shank intermediate the first member distal end and the first member proximal end; and a flange intermediate the first member distal end and the shank, the flange having a greater exterior dimension than the shank, wherein the flange comprises; a flange proximal surface; a flange distal surface, the flange proximal surface being intermediate the shank and the flange distal surface, the flange distal surface being intermediate the flange proximal surface and the first member distal end; and a first locking extension or recess disposed on the flange proximal surface; and a second member shaped to define; a bore sized to receive the shank such that the second member is slidable axially along the shank of the first member between a locked configuration in which rotation of the second member about the centerline induces rotation of the first member about the centerline, and an unlocked configuration in which the second member is rotatable about the centerline independently of the rotation of the first member; a second member proximal end comprising second member threads configured to engage a threaded manifold fitting; and a second member distal end comprising a second member distal surface, the second member distal end being disposed intermediate a second member proximal end and the flange proximal surface when the shank is received within the bore, wherein the second member distal surface is shaped to define a second locking extension or recess shaped to engage the first locking extension or recess in the locked configuration and not in the unlocked configuration. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification