Irrigation hose nozzle

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

0001The present invention is in the field of irrigation equipment and more specifically it is concerned with a nozzle of the type typically attached at a free end of a flexible hose. Pistol nozzles, hose nozzles and spray nozzles are collectively referred to as <i>"hose nozzles"</i>.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0002Hose nozzles of the specified type have long been known and are used for mounting on a free end of a garden hose for the purpose of emitting a water jet or spray at a desired discharge rate and at a suitable pattern. It may, for example, be required to use a sharp and strong water jet for rinsing a concrete or paved surface, or to use a gentle shower for irrigating a flower bed or a fan-like shaped spray for irrigating a lawn or a powerful wide jet which may be used for distant irrigation.

0003The so called "pistol" or "spray" nozzles typically comprise a body having a shape resembling that of a pistol and comprising a water inlet connected to a hose, a water outlet and an activator, usually being in the form of a lever or a trigger. In some cases, the water outlet comprises a rotatable head comprising several discharge patterns which may be rotated so that a desired pattern faces the water outlet.

0004A serious drawback of such hose nozzles is that they require manually retaining of the activator for controlling the water discharge rate, and they usually employ a biasing spring against which force should be constantly applied. It is known to use a locking member e.g. in the form of a ratchet mechanism or an adjustable screw, however such means require using both hands of the operator for locking or releasing. Furthermore, in case of a rotatable head, only one pattern may be used at a time, and again, two hands are required for changing positions of the head to obtain a different irrigation pattern.

0005It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hose nozzle wherein the above-referred to disadvantages are significantly reduced or overcome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0006According to the present invention there is provided a hose nozzle comprising a housing with a water inlet and at least one water outlet and a water duct intermediate said water inlet and each of said at least one water outlet; a flow regulator associated with each water outlet and being operable between a closed position in which Water flow is prohibited and an open position in which water flow is admitted; each flow regulator being provided with an adjustable activator on a surface of the housing.

0007In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flow regulator consists of a first chamber in flow communication with a water inlet side of the water duct and a second chamber in flow communication with the water outlet side of the water duct, with a sealing port intermediate said chambers; and a piston being displaceable between a closed position in which water flow between the chambers is prohibited and an open position in which water flow between the chambers is admitted.

0008The piston of the flow regulator comprises a portion projecting through an opening in one of the chambers and being engageable with the adjustable activator.

0009According to a specific application of the invention, the sealing port between the chambers is a necking portion and preferably the sealing port is encircled by a resilient seal.

0010In still a preferred embodiment, the adjustable activator is a slide accommodated in the housing and engageable with the piston for transmitting axial displacement to the piston upon displacement of the slide between a first and a second position and wherein the adjustable activator may be retained at any position. In a specific embodiment, one of a portion of the slide and a portion of the housing opposite the respective portion of the slide comprises a serrated surface and the other of the portion of the slide and the portion of the housing comprises a matching projecting tooth or toothed surface for releasable engagement with the serrated surface, whereby the slide may be releasably retained at any location between the first and second positions thereof.

0011In order to impart axial displacement to the piston, the slide has an inclined path adapted for engaging the projecting portion of the piston, depending on the relative position of the inclined path with respect to the piston.

0012By one application of the invention, the piston is supported in the chamber by a resilient gasket biasing the piston to its open position and sealing the opening of that chamber. The arrangement is such the resilient gasket operates as a dynamic sealing member wherein biasing of the piston and sealing of the chamber are improved by aid of water applying pressure on the gasket.

0013Preferably, the second chamber is positioned essentially above the first chamber and wherein the piston is supported in the second chamber and projects from a top wall of the second chamber, said resilient gasket also serving for sealing the opening in the chamber through which the piston projects.

0014According to one embodiment of the invention, the hose nozzle comprises a single water outlet with an adjustable spout mounted thereon for adjusting the discharge rate and pattern of the water emitted. By another embodiment of the invention, the hose nozzle comprises at least two water outlets, each having a spout for emitting water at a different pattern, e.g. a gentle shower, a sharp jet, a wide stream, etc.

0015In a preferred application of the invention all the first chambers are in flow communication with one another and a common resilient seal is provided between the first and second chambers of the adjacent flow regulators.

0016According to the embodiment comprising more than one water outlet, it is possible to have more than one flow regulator in an open position, simultaneously, whereby it is possible to obtain combined water patterns and at varying ranges, e.g. a shower for irrigating at the short distance and a jet for irrigating at a larger range, etc.

0017Preferably, the spouts of the water outlets are replaceable and the water inlet end of the duct comprises a hose connector, as known <i>per se</i>.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0018For better understanding, the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none" compact="compact"><li><b>Fig. 1</b> is a top view of a first embodiment of a hose nozzle according to the present invention comprising a single outlet spout;</li><li><b>Fig. 2</b> is a side view of the hose nozzle of Fig. 1;</li><li><b>Fig. 3</b> is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Fig. 1;</li><li><b>Fig. 4</b> is an isometric view of a seal used in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3;</li><li><b>Fig. 5</b> is a side view of a second embodiment of a hose nozzle according to the invention comprising three outlet spouts;</li><li><b>Fig. 6</b> is a top view of the hose nozzle seen in Fig. 5;</li><li><b>Fig. 7</b> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6, illustrating a hose nozzle according to the present invention comprising three water outlets;</li><li><b>Fig. 8</b> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6;</li><li><b>Fig. 9</b> is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in Fig. 8 of the drawings, illustrating a front portion of the hose nozzle according to the present invention, with the housing removed; and</li><li><b>Fig. 10</b> is an isometric view of a seal used with a hose nozzle according to the second embodiment of the invention comprising three outlet nozzles.</li></ul>

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

0019Attention is first directed to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings directed to a first embodiment of the invention which is a single outlet hose nozzle. An ergonomically designed housing generally designated <b>10</b> has a gripping portion <b>12</b> with a bulged surface <b>14</b> for improved gripping.

0020The housing <b>10</b> further comprises an inlet <b>16</b> for water ingress, provided with a standard hose snap-type connector <b>18</b> connected to a duct generally designated <b>20</b> and being supported within the housing <b>10</b>. The duct <b>20</b> is divided by a flow regulator generally designated <b>22</b> into an inlet portion <b>24</b> and an outlet portion <b>26</b>, the later having an outle<b>t 28</b> screw fitted with an adjustable spout <b>30</b>, whereby rotating a grip ring <b>32</b> brings about changing the cross-sectional area of the discharge nozzle <b>34</b> for controlling the water discharge pattern, as known <i>per se</i>.

0021The flow regulator <b>22</b> consists of a bottom chamber <b>40</b> being in flow communication with the inlet portion <b>24</b> of the duct <b>20</b> and a top chamber <b>42</b> above the bottom chamber <b>40</b> and being in flow communication with the outlet portion <b>26</b> of the duct <b>20</b>. Intermediate the top and bottom chambers there is a necking sealing port <b>44</b> and a resilient seal <b>46</b> having an eight-like shape as seen in Fig. 4, encircling both the sealing port <b>44</b> and the passage <b>48</b> between the bottom chamber <b>40</b> and the inlet portion <b>24</b> of the duct <b>20</b>.

0022A piston <b>50</b> is mounted in the top chamber <b>42</b> having at a bottom end thereof a sealing ring <b>52</b> suitable for sealing engagement with the sealing port <b>44</b> as will hereinafter be explained, and a stem <b>54</b> projecting through an opening <b>56</b> in the top chamber <b>42</b>. The piston <b>50</b> is supported in the top chamber by a resilient gasket <b>60</b> which serves also for biasing the piston into its uppermost position, as seen in Fig. 3.

0023An activating slide <b>76</b> is supported in the housing by suitable grooves (not seen) and adapted for sliding within the housing <b>10</b> having a knob <b>78</b> projecting through a slot <b>80</b> in the housing <b>10</b>. A bottom face of the activator <b>76</b> has an inclined ramp <b>82</b> slidingly engaging the top end of the stem <b>54</b> of the piston <b>50</b>. A ridged projection <b>86</b> is provided on bed <b>88</b> integral with the outlet portion <b>26</b>, slidingly supporting the activating slide <b>76</b>, the ridged projection <b>86</b> adapted for snapping engaging with any of a plurality of recesses <b>90</b> provided at the front of the activating slide on a bottom face, for arresting the slide.

0024The arrangement is such that displacing the activating slide <b>76</b> by sliding the projecting knob <b>78</b> rearwardly, entails gradual axial displacement of the piston <b>50</b> downward, whereby the cross-sectional area of the sealing port <b>44</b> decreases or entirely closes, whereby water flow between the chambers is prohibited. The activating slide may be set at any intermediate position resulting in change of the water discharge. Changing position of the slide is by applying gentle pressure on the know <b>78</b> for releasing the ridged projection <b>86</b> and sliding the activator within the slot <b>80</b>.

0025The construction of the resilient gasket <b>60</b> is such that it serves as a dynamic seal, whereby pressure applied by the water on the bottom surface of the gasket <b>60</b> tensions the gasket and thus improves the sealing of the opening <b>56</b> and assists in the upward biasing of the piston <b>50</b>.

0026Attention is now directed to Figs. 5 to 7 of the drawings illustrating a second embodiment of the hose nozzle according to the invention. As in the previous embodiment, the hose nozzle has a housing <b>100</b> with an ergonomic design and comprises a gripping portion <b>102</b> with a plurality of bulges <b>104</b>. The hose nozzle further comprises a duct generally referred to at <b>106</b> having an inlet portion <b>108</b> with a hose connector <b>110</b> at its rear end. The inlet portion <b>108</b> of the duct <b>106</b> leads to a bottom chamber <b>111</b> of three flow regulators generally designated at <b>112</b>, the bottom chamber is provided with three compartments <b>114, 116</b> and <b>118</b> (seen in Fig. 8), all three compartments being in flow communication with one another. Top chambers <b>120, 122</b> and <b>124</b> are located above each respective bottom compartment of the bottom chamber <b>111</b>, each top chamber being associated with an outlet portion <b>126, 128</b> and <b>130</b> respectively, as seen in Fig. 9. A distribution head <b>134</b> is secured to the front end of the housing <b>100</b> having an opening opposite each of the outlet portions <b>126</b>, <b>128</b> and <b>130</b>. A first opening <b>136</b> leads to a wide stream spout <b>138</b>, a second opening <b>140</b> opposite outlet <b>128</b> leads to a gentle shower discharge grid plate <b>142</b> and a third opening <b>144</b> (see Fig. 9) opposite outlet <b>130</b> leads to a narrow jet stream spout <b>146</b>.

0027Similar to the arrangement described with regard to the first embodiment, each of the top chambers <b>120, 122</b> and <b>124</b> of the flow regulators <b>112</b> accommodates a piston <b>150, 152</b> and <b>156</b> respectively, each of the pistons being supported by a resilient gasket <b>158</b> which serves also for sealing the openings at the top chambers through which a stem <b>160, 162</b> and <b>164</b> of each of the pistons projects, and also for biasing the pistons upwardly, to the position seen in Fig. 8.

0028As seen in Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings, between each of the top chambers <b>120, 122</b> and <b>124</b> and the bottom compartment of chamber <b>111</b>, there is a sealing port <b>168, 170</b> and <b>172</b>, respectively. A resilient seal <b>174</b>, seen in perspective view in Fig. 10, has four openings, a first opening <b>176</b> for sealing opening <b>177</b> between the bottom chamber <b>111</b> and the inlet portion <b>108</b> of the duct <b>106</b> and three other openings <b>178</b>, each encircling the sealing ports <b>168, 170</b> and <b>172</b>.

0029Each of the pistons <b>150</b>, <b>152</b> and <b>156</b> has a sealing portion <b>176, 178</b> and <b>180</b>, respectively, adapted for sealing engagement with the respective sealing ports <b>168, 170</b> and <b>172</b>.

0030Each of the flow regulators <b>112</b> comprises an adjustable activator <b>184, 186</b> and <b>188</b> provided over each of the piston stems <b>160, 162</b> and <b>164</b>, respectively, for sliding engagement therewith, as already explained with reference to the first embodiment of the invention.

0031As seen in Fig. 7, a slide <b>186</b> has an operating knob <b>190</b> projecting through a slot <b>192</b> in the housing <b>100</b>, the slide having at a front end thereof an inclined ramped surface <b>194</b> adapted for sliding engagement with the piston stem <b>162</b>, whereby rearward displacement of the activating slide <b>186</b> entails axial displacement of the piston <b>152</b> downward, whereby the cross-sectional area of the seal port <b>170</b> gradually decreases until it is completely sealed by the sealing portion <b>178</b> of the piston <b>152</b>. The two other flow regulators operate in a similar manner so as to control the water flow through their respective sealing ports <b>168</b> and <b>172</b>, controlled by activating slides <b>196</b> and <b>198</b>, respectively (seen in Fig. 6).

0032The arrangement is such that each of the flow regulators <b>112</b> may be set at any position regardless of the position of the other flow regulators, whereby combined water patterns may be obtained, the discharge and range of watering determined by the amount in which each of the flow regulators is opened.

0033It should be readily understood that in this embodiment too, arrangements may be provided for retaining the activating sides at any required position.