Water sprinkler head with integral off-on water flow control valve and adaptive fittings therefor

Abstract

A sprinkler head assembly comprised of a base located at the upper end of a riser tube and which base carries a screen allowing for distribution of water. In accordance with the present invention, a control valve is located directly at the sprinkler head assembly. In one embodiment, the sprinkler head assembly may constitute a shrub or stationary head connected to the upper end of the riser tube. In this embodiment, the control valve would be preferably located in the body of the base of the stationary sprinkler head. In another embodiment, the sprinkler head assembly constitutes a pop-up sprinkler head and the control valve would be located in the pop-up shaft forming part of that sprinkler head. In still another embodiment of the invention, a retrofit coupling or adapter may be provided and which would be located between a riser tube and a sprinkler head forming part of that assembly. In this case, the adaptive coupling would include the control valve. In each case, water flow to the sprinkler head assembly may be temporarily interrupted to allow cleaning and repair or replacement of the sprinkler head from a point upstream of the insert, but yet in close proximity to that sprinkler head assembly.

Having thus described the invention, what I desire to claim and secure by letters patent is:  
     
         1 . A sprinkler head assembly having off/on water flow control for turning water off and on at said sprinkler head assembly, said sprinkler head assembly comprising: 
 a) a riser tube which carries water from a subterranean water conduit;    b) a sprinkler head body at the upper end of the riser tube;    c) an insert located at said sprinkler head body for allowing a directionalized spray of water from the subterranean conduit through the tube and sprinkler head; and    d) off/on water flow control valve means located at said sprinkler head assembly for stopping and reinitiating a flow of water to said sprinkler head assembly independently of a main control therefor, thereby allowing servicing of said sprinkler head assembly without the need of controlling water flow at the main control therefor.    
     
     
         2 . The sprinkler head assembly of  claim 1  further characterized in that said off/on control valve means is located in an upstream position with respect to said insert.  
     
     
         3 . The sprinkler head assembly of  claim 1  further characterized in that said off/on control valve means is located in one of a body of the sprinkler head, or in a sprinkler head pop-up shaft, or in an adapter between the sprinkler head body and the riser shaft, and is in an upstream position with respect to said insert to thereby cut-off water flow before the insert.  
     
     
         4 . The sprinkler head assembly of  claim 1  further characterized in that said off/on control valve means comprises a projection which extends into a duct passing through said valve means to block off water flow when said projection is introduced into said duct and which allows water flow when said projection is removed from said duct.  
     
     
         5 . The sprinkler head assembly of  claim 3  further characterized in that said off/on control valve means is located in a base of a shrub type stationary sprinkler head.  
     
     
         6 . The sprinkler head assembly of  claim 3  further characterized in that said valve means is in a pop-up shaft which forms part of a pop-up sprinkler head and carries said insert at its upper end thereof.  
     
     
         7 . An adaptive fitting for use with a sprinkler head assembly to provide off/on water flow control at said sprinkler head assembly, said adaptive fitting comprising: 
 a) a manually actuable on/off water flow control valve located in a position with respect to a riser tube assembly and sprinkler head assembly for controlling flow of water in the riser tube assembly to the sprinkler head assembly from a subterranean water sprinkler system line.    
     
     
         8 . The adaptive fitting of  claim 7  further characterized in that said fitting is attached to a riser tube which is used in or forms part of said sprinkler head assembly.  
     
     
         9 . The adaptive fitting of  claim 8  further characterized in that said off/on control valve is located in a section of said adaptive fitting forming a part of the riser tube assembly or said sprinkler head assembly and which has increased wall thickness with respect to the remaining portion of the component.  
     
     
         10 . The adaptive fitting of  claim 9  further characterized in that said off/on control valve comprises a manually actuable projection which extends into said duct for controlling water flow through said duct.  
     
     
         11 . The adaptive fitting of  claim 8  Further characterized in that said projection is threaded for manually turning said projection to cause said projection to extend into and retract outwardly from said duct.  
     
     
         12 . A method for turning water flow off and reinitiating water flow at a sprinkler head and which obviates the need to control water flow from a master controller or sprinkler valve in order to enable cleaning or servicing or replacement of that sprinkler head, said method comprising: 
 a) installing an off/on water flow control valve in a sprinkler head assembly connected to subterranean water pipe;    b) manually actuating a valve plug forming part of a valve means to turn water flow off at said sprinkler head assembly by introducing said plug into a duct of said assembly;    c) allowing for cleaning or servicing of said sprinkler head assembly; and    d) withdrawal of said plug from the duct to allow water flow to again commence through said sprinkler head assembly.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further characterized in that said method comprises locating said off/on control valve means in a position upstream with respect to an insert on said sprinkler head assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  further characterized in that said method allows for removal of said insert when water is turned off at said sprinkler head assembly, cleaning of the insert and reintroduction of the insert followed by initiating water flow again.