4,984,740
5 6
curve outer ends allowing for the vertical leg 72' to be means for variably adjusting said water-flap relative
cammed outwardly thereby, as explained below. The to said nozzle-means during one complete cycle of
array 80 defines a central opening 80' through which said mounting means in order to vary the position
passes the post 14. The individual reeds 82 are adjusted of said water-flap at least one time during said one
to a desired radial position by first loosening the nut 87, 5 complete cycle;
thereby releasing the plate 86 and washer 88 from said means for variably adjusting comprises means for
contact against the upper surfaces of the reeds, to allow pivotally mounting said water-flap to said nozzle
for the radial movement of the reeds. After the reeds means, and means for locating said water-flap in a
have been set to the desired pattern, such as that shown desired pivoted location by pivoting said water-
in FIG. 4, the nut 87 is retightened.In the radially unex- 10 flap a desired amount about said means for pivot-
tended, initial positions of the reeds 82, the leg portion ally mounting, said means for locating comprising a
72' is spaced outwardly from the outer curved ends of first portion in operative communication with said
the reeds, so that the control arm 72 is in its horizontal water-flap for causing the pivotal rotation thereof
state shown in FIG. 1, and the water flap 60 in its upper- about said means for pivoting, and a second portion
most state, allowing for a maximum spraying range. 15 spaced from said first portion; and a plurality of
This state of the leg portion 72' is the rest or normal horizontally, individually-slidable guide-elements
state thereof owing to the fact that the impinging water- stationarily mounted by said frame, said plurality of
stream on the water-flap urges the bracket-attachment guide-elements being arranged in a circular array
62 into its vertically-oriented, counterclockwise-rotated and being mounted above said mounting means for
state where the lowest end of the leg portion 72' 20 mounting said means forming a water passageway
contacts the surface of the platform. When each reed is and said nozzle-means for rotation relative to said
slid radially outwardly a desired distance, the leg por- stationary frame, each said guide-element defining
tion 72' will then hit thereagainst during its movement a radially-outer contact surface against which said
therepast, causing the control arm 72 to move for- second portion of said means for locating may abut
wardly thereby pivoting the bifurcated bracket-attach- 25 for controlling the movement of said first portion
ment 62 in the clockwise direction, when viewing FIG. for varying the pivoted-state of said water-flap,
1, to pivot the flap 60 downwardly, into a state where said second portion of said means for locating
the water-stream range is reduced. Since each distal end being movable in a horizontal direction by at least
of a reed is curved, the transition between differently- 30 chosen ones of said radially-outward contact sur-
positioned reeds will occur easily by camming action. faces of said guide-elements.
Any pattern of relative positions of reeds may be 2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein
formed, with there preferably being a transition zone said means for locating comprises a vertical leg portion
between different regions to allow for a gradual reposi- defining said second portion, and a substantially lon-
tioning of the control lever 72 to avoid binding. It is 35 gitudinally-extending horizontal leg portion defining
clear that by causing the control lever 72 to move out- said first portion; said water-flap comprising a bracket
wardly via the reeds, the lever arm 60 will be rotated means for coupling said water-flap to said means for
about the pivot shaft 66 to achieve its new shorter-range locating, said bracket means comprising a first lower
position. It is, also, possible to connect the pivot shaft 70 end portion and a second upper end portion, said first
to a lower pair of holes 64 to even further decrease the 40 lower end portion being connected to said means for
water-stream distance when the reeds 82 are slid to pivotally mounting, and said second upper end portion
outer positions, the pivot shaft being easily removable being connected to said horizontal leg portion, said
from the pair of holes 64 for that reason. means for locating further comprising pivot-connection
While a specific embodiment of the invention has means for pivotally connecting said horizontal leg por-
been shown and described, it is to be understood that 45 tion to said second portion.
numerous changes and modifications may be made 3. The improvement according to claim 2, wherein
therein without departing from the scope, spirit and each said guide-element comprises a pair of inwardly-
intent of the invention as set forth in the appended sloping, radially-inwardly converging side surfaces,
claims. The present invention may also, of course, be each said guide-element being sandwiched between two
used with conventional sprinkler heads that oscillate 50 other said guide-elements, one on each lateral side
back and forth in both directions, rather than rotating in thereof, each said side surface of said guide-element
one direction only, the movable blocks of the invention being in mutual contact with a said side surface of an-
and the mounting structure therefor being the same as other, directly adjacent said guide-element.
that above-described. 4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein
What I claim is: 55 each said guide-element defines a pair of arcuate transi-
1. In a lawn-sprinkler comprising a sprinkler-head tion regions, one said transition-region at the connec-
and a stationary frame, said sprinkler-head comprising tion of one end of said contact surface with one said side
means forming a water-passageway through which surface, and a second said transition region at the con-
water flows, nozzle-means in fluid communication with nection of the other end of said contact surface with the
said water-passageway and through which the water 60 other said side surface, whereby said transition regions
discharges, mounting means for mounting said means act as camming members for positioning said means for
forming a water passageway and said nozzle-means for locating.
rotation relative to said stationary frame, and a water- 5. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein
flap mounted by said mounting means for rotation said stationary frame comprises a hollow mounting tube
therewit4 said water-flap being operatively associated 65 through which the water initially flows, and upstanding
with said nozzle means for controlling the distance to means having a lower end connected to said mounting
which the water-discharge stream projects from said tube, and an upper end, and a housing for mounting said
nozzle means, the improvement comprising: circular array of sliding guide-elements, said upper end
Prev Page Next Page
