l||||||||||||||ll||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
`
`U3006390390B1
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`(16) Patent M:
`(12> Ulllted States Patent
`
`Hung
`(45) Date of Patent:
`May 21, 2002
`
`[54) SPRINKLER STRUCTURE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor: Hang-Chung Hung, Chaflghua hSicn
`(TWJ
`
`4,618,100 A * 10.31986 While el al.
`4,909,443 A *
`3,-"1990 Takagi
`5,934,203 A * 11:19.99 Wang
`6,253,654 B1 *
`titZUUl Ktlo
`
`
`
`239,526
`239,-“526
`239,626
`239526
`
`[73) Assigncc: Ruey Ryh Enterprise Co], Ltd.,
`Changhua Hsien (TW)
`
`_
`_
`* Cited by cxammcr
`
`(* ) Notice:
`
`Subject to an);r disclaimer, the term ot‘this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b] by 0 days.
`
`Primary Examiner—Robin 0. Evans
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Finn—Bacon & Thomas, PLLC
`
`(21) Appl. No: 09,934,650
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`AUB- 23! 2001
`
`Filed:
`(22)
`Int. C1.T
`(51)
`[52) U.S. Cl.
`[58) Field of Search
`
`BOSE 9t01
`2391525; 2391526; 239569
`239525, 526,
`2393569, 289, 548, 586
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PAI‘LN’I‘ [)(lCUML-‘N’l‘S
`
`Water flow through a sprinkler is controlled by a valve
`assembly that includes a spring—biased slide shaft disposed
`within a valve tube and controlled by the pivotal movement
`of a trigger to permit accurate control of water dispensed
`through a barrel body by varying the separation between a
`stop flange of the slide shaft and a water inlet of the valve
`tube.
`
`4,396,156 A *
`
`8t1983 Southworlh el al.
`
`239,626
`
`3 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 1 0f 5
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`
`
`
`PRIOR ART
`
`F1C. 2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 3 0f 5
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 4 0f 5
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`
`
`
`F 1G. 4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`May 21, 2002
`
`Sheet 5 0f 5
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`
`
`
`FIG.5
`
`

`

`US 6,390,390 31
`
`1
`SPRINKLER STRUCTURE
`
`BACKGROUND ()1’ TIlL-' INVENTION
`
`The present invention is related to a sprinkler structure
`having less components which can be easily and quickly
`assembled. The controlling valve assembly can be tightly
`and precisely fitted in the controlling valve seat without
`leakage. The amount of the water discharged from the
`sprinkler can be micro—adjusted as necessary.
`FIG. 1 shows a conventional sprinkler. The controlling
`valve assembly is arranged in the tubular barrel body 1 of the
`sprinkler. A thread rod 2 rearward extends from the barrel
`body '1. A controlling trigger 4 is pivotally connected with
`back side of the tubular handle 3. The top end of the
`controlling trigger 4 via a nut 5 chucks the thread rod 2. In
`operation, a user‘s hand holds the controlling trigger 4 and
`the handle 3 and presses the trigger 4 to drive the thread rod
`2 for operating the controlling valve assembly inside the
`barrel body 1.
`The above conventional sprinkler structure has some
`shortcomings as follows:
`1. In operation. the thumb of the user presses the trigger
`4 to open or close the sprinkler. Such operation is not
`easy to perform.
`the amount of the
`2. When it
`is necessary to adjust
`sprinkled water, the user needs to adjust the nut 5 at the
`top of the trigger 4. It is inconvenient for the user to
`perform such adjustment.
`FIG. 2 shows another conventional sprinkler. The barrel
`body 11 and the handle 12 communicate with each other.
`The barrel body 11 and the handle 12 are integrally ooated
`with a plastic layer to form the sprinkler main body 10. The
`front end of the barrel body 11 is formed with a thread
`section 13 for connecting with a sprinkling head 14. The rear
`end of the handle 12 is formed with inner thread 15 for
`
`connecting with a water hose. A controlling valve tube seat
`20 is disposed in upper section of the handle 12 and
`positioned at an adjoining section between the handle 12 and
`the barrel body 11. The inner end of the valve tube seat 21
`integrally communicates with the barrel body 11 and the
`handle 12. The inner face of outer end of the valve tube seat
`
`1!]
`
`'IS
`
`1E]
`
`2
`
`attaching to the annular step 28 of the slide shaft hole 27.
`The middle section of the slide shaft 31 is formed with an
`
`annular neck groove 34 with a width bridging over the notch
`25 and the through hole 26 ofthc valve tube member 23. The
`front section of the slide shaft 31 is formed with an annular
`
`groove 29 in which a water—scaling ring 30 is fitted for
`slidably watertight attaching to the inner wall face of the
`slide shaft hole 27.
`The above conventional structure has some shortcomings
`as follows:
`
`1. The sprinkler has numerous components and it
`troublesome to assemble these components.
`2. In the case of little error of the dimension of the
`
`is
`
`components, the assembly of the components will have
`poor watertight effect. As a result. when operating the
`sprinkler, water will leak therefrom.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
`provide an improved sprinkler structure having less com—
`ponents which can be easily and quickly assembled.
`It isa further object ofthe present invention to provide the
`above sprinkler in which the components can be assembled
`at high precision without leakage.
`invention to
`It is still a further object of the present
`provide the above sprinkler which can be maintained in a
`state of maximum water flow or a water-sealing state. In
`addition, the amount of the discharged water can be micro—
`adj LLsted as necessary. Therefore, the sprinkler can be con-
`veniently operated.
`The present invention can be best understood through the
`following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION ()I’ THE DRAWINGS
`
`II‘IG. 1 is a side view of a conventional sprinkler;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of another type of
`conventional sprinkler;
`II‘IG. 3 is a perspective assembled view of the present
`invention;
`
`4D
`
`21 is formed with symmetrical locating dents 22. A spring 35
`and a cylindrical valve tube member 23 are fitted in the valve
`tube seat 21. The valve tube member 23 is formed with
`
`45
`
`protuberances 24 corresponding to the locating dents 22 of
`the valve tube seat 21. The valve tube member 23 is inserted
`in the valve tube seat 21. One side of the inner end of the
`
`valve tube member 23 is formed with a through hole 26
`facing the barrel body 11. The other side thereof is formed _
`with a notch 25 facing the handle 12. The notch 25 is
`deflected from the through hole 26 by a certain distance. The
`slide shaft hole 27 in the valve tube member 23 within the
`
`deflection distance between the notch 25 and the through
`hole 26 is enlarged to form an annular step 28. The circum- _
`ferential face of the valve tube body 23 opposite to the inner
`side of the protuberances 24 and the deflection distance
`between the notch 25 and the through hole 26 is respectively
`formed with an annular groove 29 in which a water-sealing
`ring 30 is fitted to slidably watertight attach to the valve tube
`seat21.Aslidc shaft 31 is passed through the slide shaft hole
`27 of the valve tube member 23. The front end thereof
`
`6E]
`
`protrudes from the valve tube member 23. The circumfer—
`ence of the rear end of the slide shaft 31 is formed with an
`
`annular stop flange 32. The slide shaft 31 is formed with an
`annular groove 29 on front side of the stop flange 32 in
`which a water-sealing washer 33 is fitted for watertight
`
`65
`
`II‘IG. 4 is a sectional assembled view of the present
`invention; and
`FIG. 5 is a sectional assembled view according to FIG. 4,
`showing the operation of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`Please refer to FIG. 3. The sprinkler structure of the
`present invention includes a main body 40, a controlling
`valve assembly 50 and a trigger 60. The main body 40 is
`integrally coated with a plastic layer. A controlling valve seat
`43 is disposed at the adjoining section between the upper
`section of the handle 42 and the barrel body 41. The
`controlling valve seat 43 is formed with a stepped hole 431.
`The upper side of the stepped hole 431 is formed with a
`water outlet 433 under the barrel body 41. The upper side of
`the handle 42 is formed with a water inlet 434. The top end
`of the controlling valve seat 43 is provided with a locating
`section 432 for receiving the controlling valve assembly 50
`therein. A locating seat 45 downward extends from the
`middle of the barrel body 41. One end 511 of a conic spring
`51 of the controlling valve assembly 50 abuts against the
`locating section 432. The stop flange 521 of the slide shaft
`52 is fitted with a washer 522 to abut against the water inlet
`531 of the controlling valve tube 53. The slide shaft 52 is
`
`

`

`3
`filled into a washer 54 and then one end 523 of the slide shaft
`52 abuts against the other end 511 of the conic spring 51.
`The other end 523 of the slide shaft 52 is passed through the
`stepped through hole 533 of the controlling valve tube 53.
`The controlling valve tube 53 is formed with a semicircular
`water outlet 532 behind the water inlet 531. The water outlet
`532 is upward aimed at the water outlet 433 in the control-
`ling valve seat 43 and then inward pressed and tightly
`engaged therewith. Then, a small washer 535 is fitted and
`located in the large diameter section 534 of the stepped
`through hole 533. Then, two washers 55 are fitted therein.
`The other end 523 of the slide shaft 52 abuts against the
`press plate 62 in the trigger 60. The through hole 61 of the
`trigger 6|] is aligned with the locating seat 45 of the main
`body 4|] and pivotally connected therewith by a rivet 63.
`Referring to FIG. 5, when controlling and using the
`sprinkler, the trigger 60 is pressed toward the handle 42 of
`the main body 40 to make the press plate 62 of the trigger
`60 abut against one end 523 of the slide shaft 52. The stop
`flange 521 of the slide shaft 52 is separated from the water
`inlet 531 of the controlling valve tube 53. At this time, the
`water can flow through the water inlet 434 of the handle 42
`into the controlling valve seat 43. The water passes through
`the water inlet 531 of the controlling valve tube 53 and
`discharges from the water outlet 532 ofthe controlling valve
`tube 53. The water then passes through the stepped hole 431
`and injects from the water outlet 433 of the barrel body 41.
`By means of controlling the depth by which the trigger 60
`is pressed toward the handle 42,
`the amount of the dis—
`charged water can be controlled. When the slide shaft 52 is
`pressed by the trigger 60,
`the distance between the stop
`flange 52] and the water inlet 531 of the controlling valve
`tube 53 is variable to change the amount of the discharged
`water. Such operation is easy.
`According to the above arrangement, the present inven- ‘
`tion has the following advantages:
`1. The sprinkler has less components which can be easily
`and quickly assembled.
`2. The components can be assembled at high precision
`without leakage.
`3. The sprinkler can be maintained in a state of maximum
`water flow or a water—sealing state. In addition,
`the
`
`1!]
`
`'IS
`
`1E]
`
`4D
`
`US 6,390,390 B1
`
`4
`
`5
`
`amount of the discharged water can be micro—adjusted
`as necessary. Therefore,
`the sprinkler can be conve-
`niently operated.
`is only used to illustrate the
`The above embodiment
`present invention, not intended to limit the scope thereof.
`Many modifications of the above embodiment can be made
`without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A sprinkler structure comprising:
`
`a.) A main body including a barrel body and a tubular
`handle in communication with the barrel body, an upper
`side of the handle having a water inlet, and a locating
`seat extending from the barrel body;
`b.) A trigger pivotally secured to the locating seat for
`movement
`towards and away from the handle,
`the
`trigger including a press plate;
`c.) A valve seat disposed at an adjoining section between
`the barrel body and the handle, the valve seat including
`a stepped hole, an upper side of the stepped hole having
`a water outlet disposed below the barrel body, and a top
`end of the valve seat having a locating section; and
`d.) A valve assembly disposed within the valve seat, the
`valve assembly including a valve tube having a water
`inlet, a semi circular water outlet directed at the water
`outlet of the valve seat and a stepped hole, a slide shaft
`disposed within the valve tube and having a stop fiange
`thereon for engaging the water inlet of the valve tube,
`a first portion of the slide shaft extending through the
`stepped hole of the valve tube and engaging the press
`plate of the trigger, and a conic spring surrounding a
`second portion of the slide shaft, the spring having a
`first end in engagement with the stop flange and a
`second end in engagement with the locating section.
`2. The sprinkler structure of claim 1, wherein the valve
`tube is tightly fitted within the valve seat.
`3. The sprinkler structure of claim 1 further including a
`first washer means provided on the stop flange of the slide
`shaft and a second washer means provided within the
`stepped hole of the valve tube.
`)1:
`)1:
`38
`
`38
`
`35‘
`
`