Sprinkler with trellis wire mounting clip

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12366259-B2
Application number	US-202318452843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2023
Priority date	Aug 21, 2023
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

Abstract

A mounting system and clip for mounting a sprinkler on a trellis wire. The clip includes a first living hinge, an actuator on one side of the first living hinge, and a gripping channel on an opposite side of the first living hinge. A locking tab is attached to the gripping channel via a second living hinge.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A clip for mounting a sprinkler on a trellis wire, the clip comprising:
a first living hinge;
an actuator on one side of the first living hinge;
a gripping channel on an opposite side of the first living hinge; and
a locking tab attached to the gripping channel via a second living hinge.

2. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping channel comprises a shoulder adjacent a distal end.

3. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping channel comprises an upper leg and a lower leg, wherein the locking tab is attached to the upper leg via the second living hinge.

4. The clip according to claim 3 , wherein the lower leg comprises a lock extension at a distal end, and wherein the locking tab is selectively engageable with the lock extension.

5. The clip according to claim 3 , wherein the lower leg comprises a first width from a distal end to an intermediate point, and the lower leg comprises a second width from the intermediate point to the first living hinge, and wherein the first width is narrower than the second width defining a stop for the clip.

6. The clip according to claim 5 , wherein the gripping channel comprises a shoulder adjacent a distal end, and wherein the shoulder is forward of the stop such that the shoulder and the stop engage and secure opposite sides of the sprinkler.

7. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator is displaceable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the first living hinge biases the actuator toward the closed position.

8. The clip according to claim 1 , wherein the gripping channel is configured to receive the sprinkler and the trellis wire.

9. A sprinkler mounting system comprising:
first and second posts;
a trellis wire connected between the first and second posts;
a lateral line coupled with a source of water and connected to the trellis wire; and
a plurality of sprinklers connected between the trellis wire and the lateral line, wherein each of the plurality of sprinklers is secured to the lateral line via a clip, the clip including:
a first living hinge,
an actuator on one side of the first living hinge,
a gripping channel on an opposite side of the first living hinge, and
a locking tab attached to the gripping channel via a second living hinge,

wherein each of the plurality of sprinklers is securable in the gripping channel, and wherein the gripping channel is securable on the trellis wire.

10. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 9 , further comprising binding clips that connect the lateral line to the trellis wire, wherein each of the plurality of sprinklers is connected between the trellis wire and the lateral line between the binding clips.

11. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of sprinklers comprises a barb at a distal end, and wherein the barb of each of the plurality of sprinklers extends into the lateral line.

12. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 9 , wherein the gripping channel is larger than a diameter of the trellis wire such that each of the plurality of sprinklers can slide horizontally on the trellis wire during mounting and can accommodate thermal expansion/contraction.

13. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 9 , wherein the gripping channel comprises a shoulder adjacent a distal end.

14. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 9 , wherein the gripping channel comprises an upper leg and a lower leg, wherein the locking tab is attached to the upper leg via the second living hinge.

15. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 14 , wherein the lower leg comprises a lock extension at a distal end, and wherein the locking tab is selectively engageable with the lock extension.

16. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 14 , wherein the lower leg comprises a first width from a distal end to an intermediate point, and the lower leg comprises a second width from the intermediate point to the first living hinge, and wherein the first width is narrower than the second width defining a stop for the clip.

17. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 16 , wherein the gripping channel comprises a shoulder adjacent a distal end, and wherein the shoulder is forward of the stop such that the shoulder and the stop engage and secure opposite sides of the sprinkler.

18. The sprinkler mounting system according to claim 9 , wherein the actuator is displaceable between a closed position and an open position, and wherein the first living hinge biases the actuator toward the closed position.

Assignees

• Nelson Irrigation Corp

Inventors

• Crawford Steven E
• Rowley John N
• Hellie Andrew B

Classifications

• F16M13/02

  for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle · CPC title

• A01G25/06

  Watering arrangements making use of perforated pipe-lines located in the soil · CPC title

• A01M7/0053

  Mounting of the spraybooms · 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

• F16B2/20 Primary

  Clips, i.e. with gripping action effected solely by the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening · CPC title