Rain Bird Consumer Products Mfg. Corp.

Gary A Van Exel

Karl J Mussler

Glenn S White

Alfredo B Marmol

Victor Perez

A multiple pattern spray nozzle is provided for connection to a supply of water under pressure, wherein the spray nozzle is adjustable upon movement of a single selector ring to one of several different spray pattern settings. The spray nozzle comprises a nozzle housing for mounting, for example, onto a hose end trigger valve or the like and supporting a stem unit for receiving the supply of water under pressure. A pair of flow control sleeves are carried by a perforate faceplate for sliding movement relative to the stem unit and nozzle housing to define different water flow paths leading respectively from the stem unit to different nozzle outlets formed by the faceplate in cooperation with the stem unit and nozzle housing. The selector ring in turn supports the faceplate and flow control sleeves and is threaded onto the nozzle housing for rotation thereabout to displace the flow control sleeves to select the water flow path and associated nozzle outlet open to water flow, thereby selecting the spray pattern setting. In the preferred form, the selector ring is rotatable to any one of five different setting positions to provide a discharged water stream in the form of a low flow mist, a conical spray, a narrow collimated jet spray, a gentle shower spray, or a generous low-force soaker flow.

Multiple pattern spray nozzle

An improved quick connect coupling is provided for releasably connecting a pair of conduits, such as ordinary garden hose. The coupling comprises interlocking male and female fittings adapted for respective connection to a pair of hoses, wherein the male fitting includes a male member with an external circumferential groove for axial alignment with a generally opposed pair of arcuate slots in a female member on the female fitting. A C-shaped retainer is carried about the female fitting and includes a central spring base supporting a pair of locking arms which terminate in free ends having axially projecting lock tabs at the radially inner edges thereof, wherein these locking arms extend through the arcuate slots to position the arm free ends in engagement with radially oriented cam surfaces on the female member. In a normal unstressed condition of the retainer, the radially inner edges of the locking arms including the lock tabs extend into the male member groove to lock the coupling. When the coupling is subjected to water pressure, slight axial displacement of the male and female fittings move the lock tabs into locking engagement with the inner diameter surface of the female fitting thereby preventing retainer expansion and resultant inadvertent coupling disconnection. When the water pressure is turned off, however, the retainer spring base can be pushed radially inwardly to displace the locking arm free ends along the cam surfaces and outwardly from the male member groove to unlock the coupling.

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Fullerton, CA, United States of America

Gary A Van Exel