The Toro Company

Steven C Renquist

James T Wright, Iii

Peter Janku

Miguel A Santiago

Hyok Lee

Jeff R McKenzie

Richard C McClure

Chad P McCormick

Saroj Manandhar

Steve K Kish

James T Wright

Michael Williamson

Richard C Mcclure

Saroj Manadhar

A sprinkler includes a compartment that surrounds its riser portion in an offset or asymmetrical configuration. More specifically, the distance of the compartments walls from those of the riser vary (i.e., increase or decrease) at different locations surrounding the riser. Put another way, the riser is closer to one side of the compartment than other sides of the compartment. This non-concentric configuration allows larger components to fit inside the compartment than would otherwise fit if the riser was symmetrically surrounded by the compartment.

Sprinkler with internal compartments

Described herein is a bounce-reducing cover assembly that is positioned on the top of the cover and riser of a sprinkler to achieve a similar golf ball bounce characteristic as typical golf course turf. The cover assembly has a top surface that is composed of a plurality of vertical fingers or posts, which help achieve the desired bounce characteristics with a golf ball. Specifically, these fingers are flexible and provide some 'give' so as to absorb some of the force from an incoming golf ball. Depending on the durometer of the material, size of the fingers, and spacing of the fingers, different bounce characteristics can be achieved.

Bounce reducing cover for a sprinkler

A sprinkler height adjustment mechanism is described that can be used to increase the height of a top cover and a top of the riser relative to the sprinkler body. The height adjustment mechanism is particularly useful for sprinklers with compartments having removable tops, however, a similar design can also be adapted for sprinklers without compartments (e.g., components that connect to a sprinkler flange or the sprinkler riser).

Sprinkler with height adjustment

A turf cup is described that is mounted to a top of an irrigation sprinkler. The turf cup includes an outer sleeve and a plurality of drainage passages.

Irrigation sprinkler with turf cup

One embodiment provides a helical restrictor insert for a sprinkler nozzle. The helical thread of the insert imparts a helical swirl into the water stream which changes the flow and distribution pattern of the water leaving the nozzle. The position of the end of the helical thread can be adjusted to direct a portion of the water stream downward, close to the sprinkler head without adversely affecting the nearby turf.

Helical water distribution restrictor

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a sprinkler is provided, having a first shaft coupled to a drive mechanism and a grooved deflector. A second shaft is disposed within the first shaft, coupled to a water flow adjustment mechanism and an adjustment region on the top of the deflector. The first shaft transfers rotational movement from the drive mechanism to a grooved deflector on the top of the sprinkler. The second shaft rotates with the first shaft during normal operation due to a friction clutch within the sprinkler. When the user desires to adjust the water flow (i.e., the radius of the water), the friction of the clutch can be overcome by rotating the second shaft, increasing openings of flow passages within the sprinkler body. In this respect, flow adjustments can be made from the top of the sprinkler while the deflector rotates.

Sprinkler with dual shafts

One embodiment provides an asymmetrical nozzle housing within a nozzle base of a sprinkler which, when rotated, changes its angular orientation relative to the nozzle base. Since the nozzle is disposed within the nozzle housing, it similarly changes angular orientation relative to the nozzle base, thereby modifying the trajectory of ejected water during irrigation. In this respect, a user can change the trajectory of a watering stream by simply rotating the nozzle housing.

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Norco, CA, United States of America

Steven C Renquist