Sprinkling system and method
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a sprinkling system. The system comprises a body portion comprising a housing and a spike depending downward from the housing, wherein the housing comprises a lower platform and an upwardly open U-shaped groove aligned along a center line of the platform for holding the tubing. The system comprises a saddle adapted to fit within the housing, the saddle comprising a top face having an outlet therein, and a bottom face having downwardly open inverted U-shaped groove depending therefrom. The system also comprises a hollow piercing element extending from the bottom face of the saddle to a point above the platform and in fluid communication with the outlet. The system further comprises a cap adapted to fit over the saddle, wherein securing the cap to the body portion is achieved without rotating the piercing element.
1. A sprinkling system for use with a fluid carrying tubing, the system comprising:
a body portion comprising a housing and a spike depending downward from the housing, wherein the housing comprises a lower platform and an upwardly open U-shaped groove aligned along a center line of the platform for holding the tubing;
a saddle adapted to fit within the housing, the saddle comprising a top face having an outlet therein, a bottom face having downwardly open inverted U-shaped groove depending therefrom;
a hollow piercing element for piercing a top wall of the tubing placed in the U-shaped groove, the piercing element extending from the bottom face of the saddle to a point above the platform and in fluid communication with the outlet;
a cap adapted to fit over the saddle; and
a means for securing the cap to the body portion;
wherein securing the cap to the body portion produces a downward force on the piercing element without rotating the piercing element.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the piercing element is integrated with the saddle.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the securing means comprises a threaded engagement between the cap and the housing.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a nozzle attachment connected to the outlet.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the piercing element is wedge shaped and aligned perpendicular to the tubing.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the body portion is made of plastic.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a pair of approximately semi-cylindrical walls extending upward from opposite edges of the platform, wherein the cylindrical walls define a pair of opposite openings aligned along the center line.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein securing means comprises a plurality of locking clips.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the piercing element is made of plastic.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the piercing element is made of metal.
11. The system of claim 4 wherein the nozzle attachment is a flow control nozzle.
12. The system of claim 1 further comprising a deflector cap.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap has a grip-enhancing outer surface.
14. The system of claim 1 further comprising a riser.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein the body portion is made of metal.
16. A sprinkling system comprising:
tubing for carrying a fluid, the tubing having a first end for connection to a fluid source and a second opposite end;
a body portion comprising a housing and a spike depending downward from the housing, wherein the housing comprises a lower platform and an upwardly open U-shaped groove aligned along a center line of the platform for holding the tubing;
a saddle adapted to fit within the housing, the saddle comprising a top face having an outlet therein, a bottom face having downwardly open inverted U-shaped groove depending therefrom;
a hollow piercing element for piercing a top wall of the tubing placed in the U-shaped groove, the piercing element extending from the bottom face of the saddle to a point above the platform and in fluid communication with the outlet;
a cap adapted to fit over the saddle; and
a means for securing the cap to the body portion;
wherein securing the cap to the body portion produces a downward force on the piercing element without rotating the piercing element.
17. The system of claim 16 further comprising an end cap for plugging the opposite end of the tubing.
18. The system of claim 16 wherein the piercing element is integrated with the saddle.
19. The system of claim 16 wherein the securing means comprises a threaded engagement between the cap and the housing.
20. The system of claim 16 further comprising a nozzle attachment connected to the outlet.
21. The system of claim 16 wherein the piercing element is wedge shaped and aligned perpendicular to the tubing.
22. The system of claim 16 wherein the body portion is made of plastic.
23. The system of claim 16 wherein the housing further comprises a pair of approximately semi-cylindrical walls extending upward from opposite edges of the platform, wherein the cylindrical walls define a pair of opposite openings aligned along the center line.
24. The system of claim 16 wherein securing means comprises a plurality of locking clips.
25. The system of claim 16 wherein the piercing element is made of plastic.
26. The system of claim 16 wherein the piercing element is made of metal.
27. The system of claim 20 wherein the nozzle attachment is a flow control nozzle.
28. The system of claim 16 further comprising a deflector cap.
29. The system of claim 16 wherein the cap has a grip-enhancing outer surface.
30. The system of claim 16 further comprising a riser.
31. The system of claim 16 wherein the body portion is made of metal.
32. A sprinkling system for use with a fluid carrying tubing, the system comprising:
a body portion comprising a housing and a spike depending downward from the housing, wherein the housing comprises a lower platform and an upwardly open U-shaped groove aligned along a center line of the platform for holding the tubing;
a cover portion comprising a top face having an outlet therein, and a bottom face having downwardly open inverted U-shaped groove depending therefrom;
a hollow piercing element for piercing a top wall of the tubing placed in the U-shaped groove, the piercing element extending from the bottom face of the cover portion to a point above the platform arid in fluid communication with the outlet; and
a means for securing the cover portion to the body portion;
wherein securing the cover portion to the body portion produces a downward force on the piercing element without rotating the piercing element.
33. The system of claim 32 wherein said securing means comprises a plurality of gripping members extending down from side walls of the cover portion, said gripping members each comprising one or more locking protrusions, and said locking protrusions engage slots in the housing.
34. The system of claim 32 wherein the piercing element is integrated with the cover portion.
35. The system of claim 32 further comprising a nozzle attachment connected to the outlet.
36. The system of claim 32 wherein the piercing element is wedge shaped and aligned perpendicular to the tubing.
37. The system of claim 32 wherein the body portion is made of plastic.
38. The system of claim 32 wherein the housing further comprises a pair of approximately semi-cylindrical walls extending upward from opposite edges of the platform, wherein the cylindrical walls define a pair of opposite openings aligned along the center line.
39. The system of claim 32 wherein securing means comprises a plurality of locking clips.
40. The system of claim 32 wherein the piercing element is made of plastic.
41. The system of claim 32 wherein the piercing element is made of metal.
42. The system of claim 35 wherein the nozzle attachment is a flow control nozzle.
43. The system of claim 32 further comprising a deflector cap.
44. The system of claim 1 wherein the cap has a grip-enhancing outer surface.
45. The system of claim 32 further comprising a riser.
46. The system of claim 32 wherein the body portion is made of metal.
47. A method for installing a sprinkling system in an area to be watered, comprising:
providing tubing for carrying a fluid, the tubing having a first end for connection to a fluid source and a second opposite end;
providing a body portion comprising a housing and a spike depending downward from the housing, wherein the housing comprises a lower platform and an upwardly open U-shaped groove aligned along a center line of the platform for holding the tubing;
providing a saddle adapted to fit within the housing, the saddle comprising a top face having an outlet therein, a bottom face having downwardly open inverted U-shaped groove depending therefrom;
providing a hollow piercing element for piercing a top wall of the tubing placed in the U-shaped groove, the piercing element extending from the bottom face of the saddle to a point above the platform and in fluid communication with the outlet;
providing a cap adapted to fit over the saddle; and
providing a means for securing the cap to the body portion;
inserting the spike into the ground in the area to be watered;
placing the tubing in the U-shaped groove;
placing the saddle and piercing element over the tubing; and
securing the cap to the body portion to pierce the tubing with the piercing element without rotating the piercing element.
48. The method of claim 47 further comprising plugging the opposite end of the tubing with an end cap.
49. The method of claim 47 wherein the piercing element is integrated with the saddle.
50. The method of claim 47 wherein the securing means comprises a threaded engagement between the cap and the housing.
51. The method of claim 47 further comprising connecting a nozzle attachment to the outlet.
52. The method of claim 47 wherein the piercing element is wedge shaped and aligned perpendicular to the tubing.
53. The method of claim 47 wherein the body portion is made of plastic.
54. The method of claim 47 wherein the housing further comprises a pair of approximately semi-cylindrical walls extending upward from opposite edges of the platform, wherein the cylindrical walls define a pair of opposite openings aligned along the center line.
55. The method of claim 47 wherein securing means comprises a plurality of locking clips.
56. The method of claim 47 wherein the piercing element is made of plastic.
57. The method of claim 47 wherein the piercing element is made of metal.
58. The method of claim 51 wherein the nozzle attachment is a flow control nozzle.
59. The method of claim 47 further comprising attaching a deflector cap.
60. The method of claim 47 wherein the cap has a grip-enhancing outer surface.
61. The method of claim 47 further comprising attaching a riser to the outlet.
62. The method of claim 47 wherein the body portion is made of metal.