Irrigation sprinkler cover latch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10814342-B2
Application number	US-201815942324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 30, 2017
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A latching mechanism for a sprinkler can be actuated from underneath the cover by the user's fingers. An elongated, horizontal, latch member slides radially inward and outward along the underside of the cover to either engage the cover to the sprinkler head or disengage the cover from the sprinkler head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkler comprising:
a sprinkler body;
a nozzle assembly configured to rise from and lower within said sprinkler body;
a cover,
a latching mechanism located beneath said cover; said latching mechanism comprising an elongated latch member horizontally slidable between a first position and a second position and having a handle portion extending downward from a bottom of said cover, said latching mechanism selectively engaging and disengaging said cover from a top of said nozzle assembly; and said elongated latch member being movable by a user between said first position and said second position from beneath said cover; wherein horizontally sliding said elongated latch member between said first position and said second position changes a shape of a passage through said latching mechanism;
and a vertical post, wherein the vertical post is configured to be positioned within the passage when the cover is engaged with the nozzle assembly.

2. The sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein said handle portion extends perpendicularly from said elongated latch member.

3. The sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein said latching mechanism includes a base plate fixture that is fixed to an underside of said cover; and wherein said elongated latch member is engaged with and slides relative to said base plate fixture.

4. The sprinkler of claim 3 , wherein said passage of said elongated latch member includes a first aperture having a first portion with a first aperture width and a second portion having a second aperture width that is larger than said first aperture width.

5. The sprinkler of claim 4 , wherein said base plate fixture comprises a second aperture that is aligned with said first aperture.

6. The sprinkler of claim 5 , further comprising a detent mechanism engaged with said elongated latch member so as to provide a detent when said elongated latch member is in a first position and in a second position.

7. The sprinkler of claim 6 , wherein said handle portion is positioned near an edge of said cover; and wherein said elongated latch member is horizontally slidable towards said edge of said cover.

8. The sprinkler of claim 4 , wherein said elongated latch member includes a metal portion surrounding said first aperture.

9. A sprinkler comprising:
a sprinkler body;
a nozzle assembly configured to rise from and lower within said sprinkler body;
and,
a cover; and,
a latching mechanism having a latch member located under said cover and being horizontally movable between a first position in which said cover is engaged with said nozzle assembly and a second position in which said cover is disengaged and removable from said nozzle assembly;
wherein said latch member comprises a vertical handle portion extending downward from a bottom of said cover;
wherein said latch member is elongated, has a first aperture therethrough at a first end, and said vertical handle portion located at a second end;
wherein said first aperture of said latch member has a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width smaller than said first width,
and wherein the first portion has a central axis and the second portion has a second central axis and the central axes are spaced apart and parallel to each other.

10. The sprinkler of claim 9 , further comprising a base plate connected to an underside of said cover; said base plate having a channel in which said latch member is slidingly engaged within.

11. The sprinkler of claim 9 , further comprising a vertical post positioned on said nozzle assembly; said vertical post having a top portion having a first diameter and a lower portion having a second diameter smaller than said first diameter.

12. The sprinkler of claim 11 , wherein said first diameter of said top portion of said vertical post that can fit through said first portion of said latch member but not through said second portion.

13. The sprinkler of claim 12 , wherein said latching mechanism further comprises a detent mechanism that detents when said latch member is moved to said first position or to said second position.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Flik Günther

Classifications

• B05B3/02

  with rotating elements (electric spraying discharge apparatus characterised by having rotary outlet or deflecting elements B05B5/04) · CPC title

• B05B15/74

  driven by the discharged fluid · CPC title

• B05B15/16 Primary

  for preventing non-intended contact between spray heads or nozzles and foreign bodies, e.g. nozzle guards · CPC title

• A01G25/00

  Watering gardens, fields, sports grounds or the like (special apparatus or adaptations for fertilising-liquids A01C23/00; nozzles or outlets, spraying apparatus B05B) · CPC title

• Y02A40/22

  Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion · CPC title