The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Mar. 05, 1997
William H Lichfield, Corinne, UT (US);
Other;
Abstract
A subsurface irrigation apparatus and method, the apparatus including an underlayment of water resistant material which also serves as a mounting surface for the remaining elements of the subsurface irrigation apparatus. Water is supplied to the subsurface irrigation apparatus through a water supply conduit and distributed through a plurality of water distribution conduits. Each water distribution conduit includes a plurality of spaced holes through which the irrigation water distributed by the water distribution conduits. A diffuser is mounted across each hole to diffuse the water into the surrounding soil. Each diffuser includes a layer of fibrous material partially covered by a water resistant overlayment. The fibrous layer diffuses the water outwardly from the hole while simultaneously inhibiting root encroachment into the hole. A layer of coarse sand may be overlayed across said subsurface irrigation apparatus for helping diffuse the water into the soil, particularly those soils having a high content of clay. A valve and a controller to control the valve are also included. A moisture sensor can also be used to sense the moisture level in the soil to activate the controller.