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:
Mar. 11, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 05, 2001
Theodore G. Santiesteban, Orlando, FL (US);
Davis T. Bradberry, Clermont, FL (US);
Senninger Irrigation, Inc., Orlando, FL (US);
Abstract
The subject invention is a Kick-Starter (KS) which can be readily adapted to a variety of sprinkler head designs to increase start up efficiency, as well as efficiency and uniformity of water distribution during operation of the sprinkler head. The Kick-Starter is incorporated into a sprinkler head comprising a sprinkler body with a water inlet disposed therein, a nozzle orifice in fluid connection with said water inlet, and a water deflecting pad movably attached to said sprinkler body. The Kick-Starter mechanism comprises a KS pass-through hole and a KS deflector in fluid connection with said pass-through hole. The Kick-Starter mechanism is connected to the water deflecting pad in a configuration such that a water jet exiting the nozzle orifice will encounter the KS pass-through hole and contact the KS deflector, whereby the water is redirected at an angle causing a propulsive force that drives said water deflecting pad from its resting position and into increasing engagement with the water jet, and motion of the sprinkler head is thereby initiated. As the water deflecting pad is increasingly engaged by the water jet, the KS pass-through hole is progressively disengaged from the water jet. The Kick-Starter mechanism of the subject invention can be used in connection with a variety of sprinkler head designs, including wobbler type and spinner type sprinkler heads.