Adjustable sprinkler riser with offset joint

• US 6,874,696 B1
• Filed: 06/23/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Orbit Irrigation Products (Pro-Mark LLC)
• Inventors: Ericksen, Kent C., Madson, Craig J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scherbel, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GORMAN, DARREN W
• Application Number:
  US10/601,430
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 239/1, 239/200, 239/201, 239/281, 239202-209, 239/280, 239/280.5, 239/266, 285/302, 285/303, 285/342, 285/343
• US Class Current: 239/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/656 whereby the flow conduit length is changeable
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 19/12 with additional sealing means

Abstract

The adjustable sprinkler riser includes an outer and an inner telescoping member that telescopically interface with each other. A protrusion is spaced from a proximal end of the outer telescoping member. A first joint member slidably interfaces with the outer telescoping member, and a second joint member slidably interfaces with the inner telescoping member. The second joint member may be selectively secured to the first joint member to restrict movement of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member. In such a condition, areas of vulnerability to breakage in the joint members and inner telescoping member are offset from each other to provide greater strength to the adjustable sprinkler riser. In addition, manufacturing the adjustable sprinkler riser is simple because the first and second joint members may be conveniently placed on the telescoping members, and there is no need to form threads or other intricate structures on the telescoping members.

Claims

1. An adjustable sprinkler riser comprising:

an outer telescoping member having a proximal end and a protrusion spaced from the proximal end;

an inner telescoping member that telescopically interfaces with the outer telescoping member;

a first joint member that slidably interfaces with the outer telescoping member; and

a second joint member that slidably interfaces with the inner telescoping member, wherein the second joint member may be selectably secured to the first joint member to secure a position and restrict movement of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member, the first joint member engaging the protrusion when the first joint member is secured to the second joint member.

2. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 1, wherein the second joint member has a thin-walled section, the thin-walled section having a remote boundary, the first joint member having an engagement end dimensioned to receive the thin-walled section of the second joint member, and wherein an exposed segment of the second joint member between the engagement end of the first joint member and the remote boundary of the thin-walled section is offset from the proximal end of the outer telescoping member if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

3. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 2, wherein the exposed segment of the second joint member is offset from the proximal end of the outer telescoping member by at least an eighth of an inch if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

4. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 2, wherein the exposed segment of the second joint member is offset from the proximal end of the outer telescoping member by at least a quarter of an inch if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

5. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 1, further comprising a pinching seal that is selectably positionable along a length of the inner telescoping member.

6. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 1, wherein the first joint member threadably interfaces with the second joint member.

7. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 1, further comprising a first threaded interface that is positioned on a distal end of the outer telescoping member and that secures the outer telescoping member to a sprinkler system.

8. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 1, further comprising a second threaded interface that is positioned on an exposed end of the inner telescoping member and that secures the inner telescoping member to a sprinkler head.

9. An adjustable sprinkler riser comprising:

an outer telescoping member having a proximal end;

an inner telescoping member that telescopically interfaces with the outer telescoping member;

a first joint member that slidably interfaces with the outer telescoping member, the first joint member having an engagement end;

a second joint member that slidably interfaces with the inner telescoping member, wherein the second joint member may be selectably secured to the first joint member to secure a position and restrict movement of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member; and

a protrusion positioned on the outer telescoping member that prevents the engagement end of the first joint member from extending to the proximal end of the outer telescoping member.

10. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the second joint member has a thin-walled section, the thin-walled section having a remote boundary, the engagement end of the first joint being dimensioned to receive the thin-walled section of the second joint member, and wherein an exposed segment of the second joint member between the engagement end of the first joint member and the remote boundary of the thin-walled section is offset from the proximal end of the outer telescoping member if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

11. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 10, wherein the exposed segment of the second joint member is offset from the proximal end of the outer telescoping member by at least an eighth of an inch if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

12. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 10, wherein the exposed segment of the second joint member is offset from the proximal end of the outer telescoping member by at least a quarter of an inch if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

13. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the outer telescoping member and the inner telescoping member each have a generally cylindrical shape.

14. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, further comprising a pinching seal that is selectably positionable along a length of the inner telescoping member.

15. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the first joint member threadably interfaces with the second joint member.

16. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, further comprising a first threaded interface that is positioned on a distal end of the outer telescoping member and that secures the outer telescoping member to a sprinkler system.

17. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, further comprising a second threaded interface that is positioned on an exposed end of the inner telescoping member and that secures the inner telescoping member to a sprinkler head.

18. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the inner telescoping member and the outer telescoping member are made from metal.

19. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the inner telescoping member and the outer telescoping member are made from plastic.

20. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the protrusion comprises a ridge formed in the outer telescoping member.

21. The adjustable sprinkler riser of claim 9, wherein the protrusion comprises a recess formed in an outer surface of the outer telescoping member and an open-sided ring seated in the recess.

22. A method of manufacturing an adjustable sprinkler riser, the method comprising:

placing a first joint member on an outer telescoping member, the first joint member slidably interfacing with the outer telescoping member;

attaching a first threaded interface to a distal end of the outer telescoping member, wherein a range of motion of the first joint member relative to the outer telescoping member is bounded by the first threaded interface and a protrusion on the outer telescoping member;

placing a second joint member on an inner telescoping member, the second joint member slidably interfacing with the inner telescoping member; and

positioning the inner telescoping member within an inner channel defined by the outer telescoping member, the inner telescoping member telescopically interfacing with the outer telescoping member, wherein the second joint member may be selectably secured to the first joint member to secure a position and restrict movement of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a protrusion positioned on the outer telescoping member such that an exposed segment of the second joint member between a remote boundary of a thin-walled section of the second joint member and an engagement end of the first joint member is offset from a proximal end of the outer telescoping member if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a protrusion positioned on the outer telescoping member such that an exposed segment of the second joint member between a remote boundary of a thin-walled section of the second joint member and an engagement end of the first joint member is offset from a proximal end of the outer telescoping member by at least an eighth of an inch if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a protrusion positioned on the outer telescoping member such that an exposed segment of the second joint member between a remote boundary of a thin-walled section of the second joint member and an engagement end of the first joint member is offset from a proximal end of the outer telescoping member by at least a quarter of an inch if the second joint member is secured to the first joint member such that the position of the inner telescoping member relative to the outer telescoping member is secured.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising attaching a second threaded interface to an exposed end of the inner telescoping member.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising placing a pinching seal on the inner telescoping member, wherein the pinching seal is selectably positionable along a length of the inner telescoping member.