Bounce reducing cover for a sprinkler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11192133-B2
Application number	US-201916354068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2019
Priority date	Mar 23, 2018
Publication date	Dec 7, 2021
Grant date	Dec 7, 2021

Abstract

Described herein is a bounce-reducing cover assembly that is positioned on the top of the cover and riser of a sprinkler to achieve a similar golf ball bounce characteristic as typical golf course turf. The cover assembly has a top surface that is composed of a plurality of vertical fingers or posts, which help achieve the desired bounce characteristics with a golf ball. Specifically, these fingers are flexible and provide some “give” so as to absorb some of the force from an incoming golf ball. Depending on the durometer of the material, size of the fingers, and spacing of the fingers, different bounce characteristics can be achieved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a rigid layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; the top surface of the irrigation sprinkler including a cover of a riser and a cover of a top sprinkler compartment; and,
a flexible layer engaged with said rigid layer;
wherein said bounce-reducing cover assembly, including said rigid layer and said flexible layer, comprises a first portion configured to connect to the cover of the riser and a second portion configured to connect to the cover of the top sprinkler compartment.

2. The bounce-reducing cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein a top surface of said flexible layer comprises a plurality of vertical posts.

3. The bounce-reducing cover assembly of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of vertical posts have a height in a range of 0.3 cm to 3 cm, have a bottom diameter in a range of 0.01 cm to 1 cm, have a top diameter in a range of 0.01 cm to 1 cm, and are spaced apart in a range of 0.05 cm to 1 cm.

4. The bounce-reducing cover assembly of claim 2 , wherein said plurality of vertical posts are about 0.635 cm in height, about 0.165 cm in diameter at their bottom, about 0.102 cm in diameter at their top, and are spaced at about 0.508 cm from each other.

5. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a rigid layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; the top surface of the irrigation sprinkler including a riser cover; and,
a flexible layer engaged with said rigid layer;
wherein said flexible layer comprises a bottom surface have a plurality of cylindrical posts positioned through apertures of said rigid layer.

6. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a rigid layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; the top surface of the irrigation sprinkler including a riser cover; and,
a flexible layer engaged with said rigid layer;
wherein said flexible layer further comprises an outer lip that is positioned over the outer edges of said rigid layer, so as to help retain said flexible layer with said rigid layer.

7. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a rigid layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; the top surface of the irrigation sprinkler including a riser cover; and,
a flexible layer engaged with said rigid layer;
wherein said rigid layer and said flexible layer has one or more aligned apertures that expose one or more sprinkler controls located on said top surface of said irrigation sprinkler.

8. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a flexible layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; said flexible layer having a top surface comprising a plurality of vertical posts;
wherein said plurality of vertical posts have a height in a range of 0.3 cm to 3 cm, have a bottom diameter in a range of 0.01 cm to 1 cm, have a top diameter in a range of 0.01 cm to 1 cm, and are spaced apart in a range of 0.05 cm to 1 cm.

9. The bounce-reducing cover assembly of claim 8 , wherein said plurality of vertical posts are about 0.635 cm in height, about 0.165 cm in diameter at their bottom, about 0.102 cm in diameter at their top, and are spaced at about 0.508 cm from each other.

10. The bounce-reducing cover assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a rigid layer connected to said flexible layer; said rigid layer shaped and configured to removably engage said top surface of said irrigation sprinkler.

11. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a flexible layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; said flexible layer having a top surface comprising a plurality of vertical posts;
a rigid layer connected to said flexible layer; said rigid layer shaped and configured to removably engage said top surface of said irrigation sprinkler;
wherein said flexible layer further comprises an outer lip that is positioned over the outer edges of said rigid layer, so as to help retain said flexible layer with said rigid layer.

12. A bounce-reducing cover assembly for an irrigation sprinkler, comprising:
a flexible layer shaped to cover and removably attach to a top surface of an irrigation sprinkler; said flexible layer having a top surface comprising a plurality of vertical posts;
a rigid layer connected to said flexible layer; said rigid layer shaped and configured to removably engage said top surface of said irrigation sprinkler;
wherein said rigid layer and said flexible layer has one or more aligned apertures that expose one or more sprinkler controls located on said top surface of said irrigation sprinkler.

Assignees

• The Toro Co

Inventors

• Renquist Steven C

Classifications

• B05B15/16 Primary

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

• B05B15/656

  whereby the flow conduit length is changeable · CPC title

• B05B15/74

  driven by the discharged fluid · CPC title