Drip irrigation lateral connector to feeder pipe with locking means

Abstract

A drip irrigation lateral connector to feeder pipe with locking means and a method for securing against unintentional opening of a drip irrigation lateral connector to a feeder pipe, wherein the connector comprising a bushing and a sleeve element and wherein said connector is operating in a manner that a multi-armed circumferential array are adapted for snap mounting of said sleeve into said bushing or disassembly from it by linearly pushing said sleeve towards said bushing or linearly retrieving said sleeve from said bushing while disconnecting said multi-armed circumferential array from said bushing and wherein said connector is characterized by that said connector further comprising a locking means with two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - connector secure mode and connector assembly or retrieval mode.

Description

[0001] DRIP IRRIGATION LATERAL CONNECTOR TO FEEDER PIPE

[0002] WITH LOCKING MEANS

[0003] FIELD

[0004] The various embodiments described herein generally relate to the field of accessories used in agricultural irrigation applications, and particular in the field of connectors for quick connection in the field of drip irrigation laterals to the feeder pipe as branching off from it.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In recent years, there has been growing use of irrigation systems that combine a feeder pipe with drip irrigation laterals that are mounted along the pipe as branching off from it. Lay-flat pipes are commonly used in the feeder pipe field.

[0007] A lay-flat pipe is a pipe which, when unpressurized, is substantially flat and, when pressurized by a relatively low pressure, has a substantially circular cross section. Such pipes are usually made of a flexible material and are employed in irrigation systems, as said, as manifold pipes that are each feeding an array of drip irrigation laterals.

[0008] In such systems, anchoring a drip irrigation lateral to a wall of the water supply pipe, namely to a wall of a pipe that naturally is a relatively thin wall (as the pipe that by its definition - is amenable to being flattened from the instant that a water pressure no longer prevails inside the pipe and it swells - returning to its regular (circular) pipe's shape; but from the instant of di novo (a new) increasing of the water pressure within it in repeating cycles of shape as per water pressure and so forth).

[0009] Such anchoring requires a reliable connector (adapter). The Patent Applicant in International Patent Application No. WO 2022 / 153296 Al entitled "Drip Irrigation Lateral Connector to Feeder Line", taught about such a connector (adapter) and also pointed to prior art publications (see there in the Background of the Invention chapter). The connector disclosed in the aforementioned patent application is characterized in that it comprises a bushing and a sleeve element, wherein the sleeve is formed with a multi-armed circumferential array that is adapted for snap mounting of a sleeve into a bushing or dismantling from it by linearly pushing the sleeve towards the bushing or linearly retrieving the sleeve from the bushing, while disconnecting the sleeve's multi-armed circumferential array from the bushing. The outer part of the sleeve element is formed with a multi-armed circumferential array that extends along and substantially parallel to it, each of which comprises a handle on its one side that extends parallel to the one end of the sleeve element and spaced apart from it, a protruding tongue on the other side, and a hinge means between them. Normally, the protruding tongue is stressed towards the outer surface of the sleeve element at its other end, and once the handle is pressed towards the outer surface of the sleeve element, this allows the protruding tongue to move around the hinge means, so that it moves away from the outer surface of the sleeve element. Once the sleeve element is mounted by pushing it into the passage formed in the bushing, the array of protruding tongues then snaps into contact with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section. The bushing is assembled and detached by moving the array of arms by pressing their handles in a motion around the hinge means until the protruding tongues are disconnected from contact with the circumferential recess, and then by pulling out said sleeve element from said passage formed in the bushing.

[0010] It was found at the time of the invention that is the subject of the Patent Application that connectors of the said type were disclosed in the Patent Application, i.e. connectors formed with a multi-armed circumferential array that are adapted for snap mounting of a sleeve into a bushing, may be susceptible, when mounted on the feed pipe, to dragging and pulling of the pipe on which they are mounted (for example, when the farmer wants to move the pipe). Such actions may stress the multi-armed circumferential array in a way that could simulate the voluntary opening of the connector and require the remounting of the sleeve into a bushing.

[0011] However, even this task was found to be challenging to the farmer in the field. The need therefore arose to secure connectors of the type described by the Patent Applicant in the above publication from inadvertently and unintentionally opening, in a manner that is simple, easy, quick and not unwieldy for the farmer to perform when mounting the connector on the pipe or during its disassembly and voluntary retrieval from it. Providing the ability to secure the connectors should also be inexpensive in terms of the added cost involved.

[0012] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Aspects and embodiments are directed to a locking means for a drip irrigation lateral connector to a feeder pipe of the type described by the Applicant in said prior publication (WO 2022 / 153296 Al).

[0014] In the context of connectors of the type described briefly above (with reference to the Applicant's publication WO 2022 / 153296 Al), the invention is embodied in a locking means, which has two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - a connector secure mode and a connector assembly / retrieval mode, wherein once the connector is placed in the secure mode, the locking means limits the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means and thereby prevents the array of protruding tongues from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section, and when it is mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, the locking means again enables the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means (as is required for mounting the connector on the bushing or alternatively detaching from it).

[0015] In one of the embodiments of the invention, the locking means is formed as a sort of split ring, which is mounted in a groove formed around the circumference of the sleeve element of the connector and is adapted to be manually driven in an angular rotational motion within the groove, around the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, wherein the ring is formed on the outer surface of its circumference, with an array of alternating protrusions and recesses (depending on the number of arms in the specific connector), in such a way as to go into security mode - the ring is manually driven in an angular rotational motion until it reaches a position where its protrusions press on the arm’s handle in this mode, keep the protruding tongues in their snap contact mode with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them, and in order to go into assembly or retrieval mode - the ring is manually driven in an angular rotational motion until its recesses are positioned opposite the arm’s handle, and in this mode the recesses enable the protruding tongues to be retrieved from the snap contact mode with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them (by pressing on the arms handle).

[0016] The locking means of the invention could also be embodied in other and different configurations. For example - in the case of a connector of the type in question having a pair of arms, the locking means may be formed as a sort of U-shaped element, which is adapted to be pushed manually in a linear movement whose direction is mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and towards the sleeve, in such a way that in order to go into security mode - the element is driven towards the sleeve until it reaches a position where the arms of the U-shaped element are located between the arms handle and the outer surface of the sleeve, and in this position they prevent the arms handles from moving, thus keeping the protruding tongues in their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them, and in such a way as to go into assembly or retrieval mode - the U-shaped element is manually driven in a linear motion, whose direction is mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and away from the sleeve, until the position where its arms are pulled out and allow the protruding tongues to be retrieved from their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them (by pressing the arms handle).

[0017] Another example of embodiment of a locking means according to the present invention - in a connector of the type in question with a pair of arms, the locking means may be formed as two arms that are formed as an integral part of the sleeve that protrude from it on both sides and each pass through an opening that is formed in the arms handle. Additionally, the arms are formed with steps, which are normally placed between the arms handle and the outer surface of the sleeve. The arms are adapted to be manually pushed in a linear movement, whose direction is primarily parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, so as to bend around the area of their connection with the sleeve, in such a way as to go into security mode -the steps that are formed on the arms are normally placed between the arms handle and the outer surface of the sleeve. In this mode, they keep the arms handles from moving and keep the protruding tongues in their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them, and in a way that in order to go into assembly or retrieval mode - the arms are manually driven in linear motion, whose direction is primarily parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and bends until the steps are released in a way that allows the protruding tongues to be retrieved from their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them (by pressing the arms handle).

[0018] The mode of operation of the locking means of the present invention also embodies a general method for securing against the unintentional opening of a drip irrigation lateral connector to a feeder pipe of the type described briefly above (with reference to the Applicant's publication WO 2022 / 153296 Al). A method that comprises the step of providing a locking means with two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - a connector secure mode and a connector assembly or retrieval mode, wherein once the connector is placed in the secure mode, the locking means limits the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means, and thereby prevents the array of protruding tongues from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section, and once mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, the locking means again enables the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means (as is required for mounting the connector on the bushing or alternatively detaching from it).

[0019] A connector with locking means according to the invention may also be embodied in other and different embodiments - as a feeder pipe that comprises an array of bushings, which are adapted for mounting connectors with locking means according to any of the connector embodiments briefly described above, or as an irrigation system that comprises a feeder pipe with connectors with locking means according to any of the connector embodiment configurations briefly described above, and drip irrigation laterals that are mounted to these connectors by standard drip irrigation lateral connectors.

[0020] Still other aspects, embodiments, and advantages of these exemplary aspects and embodiment are discussed in detail below. Embodiments disclosed herein may be combined with other embodiments in any manner consistent with at least one of the principles disclosed herein, and references to "an embodiment," "some embodiments," "an alternate embodiment," "various embodiments," "one embodiment" or the like are not necessarily mutually exclusive and are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described may be included in at least one embodiment. The appearances of such terms herein are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0021] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0022] Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the figures, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every figure. In the figures:

[0023] Fig. 1 depicts in perspective (and in a partial cross-sectional view) exemplary components of a connector according to the invention (in an "exploded" view).

[0024] Fig. 2 depicts in perspective the split ring element, which is used in the locking means embodied in the exemplary connector according to the invention, whose elements are illustrated in Fig. 1.

[0025] Fig. 3 depicts in perspective and in a partial cross-sectional view, the gasket component mounted in the exemplary connector according to the invention, whose components are illustrated in Fig. 1 and schematically illustrate how it is mou8nted in the connector.

[0026] Figs. 4a - 4d depict in a sequence of perspectives and in top view the exemplary connector according to the invention, whose components are illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the locking means embodied therein is in assembly or retrieval mode (Figs. 4a, 4b and 4d) and in security mode (Fig. 4c).

[0027] Figs. 5a - 5b depict in perspective and in a top view the exemplary connector according to the invention, whose components are illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the locking means embodied therein is in security mode. Fig. 6 depicts a perspective view of a sleeve element of another exemplary connector that embodies a different configuration of a locking means than the one illustrated in Figs. 1 - 5, wherein the locking means embodied therein is in security mode.

[0028] Figs. 7a - 7b depict in perspective and in a cross-sectional view the sleeve element of another exemplary connector that embodies a different locking means than those illustrated in Figs. 1- 6, wherein the locking means embodied therein is in security mode.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0030] Aspects and embodiments are directed to a drip irrigation lateral connector to a feeder pipe of the type briefly discussed hereinabove with reference to the applicant publication WO 2022 / 153296 Al, wherein the connector is equipped with locking means that are designed to prevent the connector from inadvertently and unintentionally opening.

[0031] It is to be appreciated that embodiments of the and apparatuses discussed herein are not limited in application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the accompanying figures. The devices are capable of implementation in other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Examples of specific implementations are provided herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be limiting. Also, the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of "including," "comprising," "having," "containing," "involving," and variations thereof is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. References to "or" may be construed as inclusive so that any terms described using "or" may indicate any of a single, more than one, and all of the described terms.

[0032] Referring to Fig. 1, Fig. 1 depicts in perspective (in a partial cross-sectional view) exemplary elements of a connector 10 according to the invention (in an "exploded" view). Similar to the connectors described in the Applicant’s publication, WO 2022 / 153296 Al, connector 10 also comprises bushing 12, which is shaped in a ring-shaped configuration around the edge of an opening in the pipe wall 14 and with a hollow stem section 16 that protrudes outside from the pipe wall, formed at its outwardly protruding end with a ring-like surface 18 around its circumference and formed on its outer side with a circumferential recess 20 that is spaced apart from this surface and comprises a passage 22 along its length that allows the flow of water through the bushing, from inside the pipe through the hollow stem and out from it. Connector 10 further comprises sleeve element 24 formed at one end with bracket 26 that is adapted for mounting a standard drip irrigation lateral connector inside it (not illustrated); and is formed at its other end with passage 28 that extends from the bracket to the other end of the sleeve element, and allows the flow of water through the sleeve. Sleeve 24 is further formed on its outer side with a multi-armed circumferential array 30 (two in the depicted example) that extends along and substantially parallel to it, and each of the arms comprises a handle 32 on one side that extends parallel to the one end of the sleeve element and at a distance from it, a protruding tongue 34 on the other side, and a hinge means 36 between them (integral or living hinge in the depicted example), so that the protruding tongue 34 is normally stressed towards the outer surface of the sleeve element at said other end, and once the handle is pressed towards the outer surface of the sleeve element, this allows for movement of the protruding tongue around the hinge means, so that it moves away from the outer surface of the sleeve element. Sleeve 24 is further formed with a circumferential step 38 that is formed between the hinge means and the edges of the protruding tongues; and with a circumferential groove 40 that is formed between the edges of the protruding tongues and the other end of the sleeve element. The connector also comprises a ring gasket 42 (U cup type of seal in the illustrated example) that is adapted for mounting inside circumferential groove 40. Wherein upon assembly, connector 10 is operating in a manner that the multi-armed circumferential array 30 are adapted for snap mounting of sleeve 24 into bushing 12 or disassembly from it by linearly pushing sleeve 24 towards bushing 12 or linearly retrieving the sleeve from the bushing while disconnecting multi-armed circumferential array 30 from bushing 12 - once sleeve element 24 is mounted by pushing it inside passage 22 that is formed in bushing 12 - the circumferential step 38 of sleeve element 24 is stressed towards the circumferential ring-like surface at the protruding end of hollow stem section 16, the array of protruding tongues snaps into contact with the circumferential recess 20 that is formed in the hollow stem section of bushing 12, and ring gasket 42 ensures the routing of water flow from inside the pipe through the passage formed in the sleeve element and preventing water leak from the connector. Connector 10 is therefore operating in a manner that disassembly and detachment of the connector from bushing 12 is achieved by moving the array of arms by pressing the handles in a movement around the hinge means until the protruding tongues are disconnected from contact with circumferential recess 20, and then by pulling out sleeve element 24 from passage 22 formed in bushing 12.

[0033] Unlike the connector, as described above and also appearing in the connectors disclosed in the Applicant’s publication WO 2022 / 153296 Al, connector 10 also comprises locking means 50, which as to be clarified below (in referring to Figs. 4 and 5), has two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - secure mode of connector 10 and assembly or retrieval mode of connector 10, wherein once the connector is placed in secure mode, locking means 50 limits the movement of arms handle 32 around hinge means 36, thereby preventing an array of protruding tongues 34 from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from circumferential recess 20 that is formed in hollow stem section 16, and when it is mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, locking means 50 again enables the movement of arms handle 32 around the hinge means 36 (as is required for mounting connector 10 on bushing 12 or alternatively detaching from it).

[0034] In the illustrated example, locking means 50 is formed as a sort of split ring 60, which is adapted in its dimensions to be mounted in additional groove 70, which is formed in the circumference of sleeve element 24 of connector 10, and once mounted inside it, it is adapted to be manually driven in an angular rotational motion inside groove 70, around longitudinal axis 80 of sleeve 24 , wherein the ring is formed on the outer surface of its circumference, with array 90 of alternating protrusions and recesses (depending on the number of arms 30 in the specific connector).

[0035] Reference is made to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 depicts in perspective split ring element 60, which is used in locking means 50 embodied in connector 10. Split ring 60 is formed with inner opening 210, which is adapted in its dimensions to be mounted inside groove 70 which, as mentioned, is formed with sleeve element 24. Opening 212 forms split ring 60 into a ring configuration that is split in a way that facilitates its being stress-mounted over the surface of groove 70 (in taking advantage of its inherent flexibility due to its being made of plastic material, for example).

[0036] A person skilled in the art will understand that forming the ring as a split ring while taking advantage of its inherent flexibility in order to mount it inside groove 70, is only an example and the ring element may be formed from two parts connected to each other (e.g. by screws) while mounting it inside groove 70.

[0037] Ring 60 is additionally formed with a pair of brackets 214, 216, which facilitates its being manually set in motion (by applying fingers on the brackets) in an angular rotational motion within groove 70, around longitudinal axis 80 of sleeve 24. A person skilled in the art will understand that when seeking to slightly hinder the rotational motion and thereby give the farmer operating locking means 50 a sensory and even an auditory indication of the rotational action being performed by him, as well as to keep locking means 50 from inadvertently releasing, then the surface of opening 212 or alternatively or in addition groove area 70 in sleeve 24 may be formed with a roughened surface, for example (to increase friction). As noted, ring 60 is formed on the outer surface of its circumference with array 90 of alternating protrusions and recesses, wherein according to exemplary connector 10 that is illustrated, it comprises a pair of arms 30, array 90 having two protrusions 218, 220 and two recesses 222, 224.

[0038] For the sake of integrity and before describing the mode of operation of locking means 50 (in referring to Figs. 4 and 5), reference is made to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 depicts in perspective and in a partial cross-sectional view seal gasket component 42, which is mounted in connector 10, and schematically illustrates how it is mounted in the connector. When assembling connector 10, seal gasket 42 is mounted on sleeve element 24 inside circumferential groove 40 (see above with reference to Fig. 1). Ring gasket 42 ensures the routing of water flow from inside the pipe through the passage formed in the sleeve element. According to the illustrated example, ring gasket 42 is of the type known as a U-shaped seal, i.e. it has a non-circular cross-section. It was found that this type of gasket provides sealing capabilities when exposed to variable pressure pulses, and maintains proper sealing even in situations of oval geometry formation or variable deformation (as expected in agricultural irrigation pipe connectors), and providing proper sealing while encountering linear and angular motions.

[0039] We will again refer to the description of the mode of operation of locking means 50 in connector 10. Reference is made to Figs. 4 - 5. Figs. 4a - 4d depict in a sequence of perspectives and in top view connector 10, wherein locking means 50 embodied therein is in connector assembly or retrieval mode (Figs. 4a, 4b and 4d) and in security mode (Fig. 4c). Figs. 5a - 5b depict in perspective and in top view connector 10, wherein locking means 50 embodied therein is in security mode.

[0040] In order to go into assembly or retrieval mode, ring 60 is manually driven in an angular rotational motion (in the direction of arrow 410) until it reaches a position where recesses 222, 224 are located in front of arms handle 32 (see Figs. 4a, 4b and 4d). In this position, recesses 222, 224 allow protruding tongues 34 to be retrieved from their snap contact position with circumferential recess 20 that is formed in hollow stem section 16 for them (by pressing arms handle 32).

[0041] In order to go into security mode (Figs. 4c, 5a and 5b), ring 60 is manually driven in an angular rotational motion (in the direction of arrow 510) until protrusions 218, 220 press on arms handle 32, and in this position they keep protruding tongues 34 in their snap contact position with circumferential recess 20 that is formed in hollow stem 16 section for them.

[0042] A person skilled in the art would understand that locking means 50, which was described above in referring to Figs. 1-5, is just an example of one embodiment of a locking means and of connectors of the type disclosed in the Applicant’s publication WO 2022 / 153296 Al. There may be other embodiments of various types of locking means according to the invention, i.e. having two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - a connector secure mode and a connector assembly or retrieval mode, wherein once the connector is placed in the secure mode, the locking means limits the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means and thereby prevents an array of protruding tongues from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section, and once mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, the locking means again enables the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means (as is required for mounting the connector on the bushing or alternatively detaching from it).

[0043] For example, with reference made to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 depicts a perspective view of sleeve element 624 of another exemplary connector that embodies a configuration of locking means 650, which is different from the one illustrated in Figs. 1 - 5, wherein locking means 650 embodied therein is in security mode.

[0044] In a connector of the type in question having pair of arms handle 632, locking means 650 may be formed as a sort of U-shaped element 660, which is adapted to be manually pushed in a linear motion, whose direction is mainly perpendicular to longitudinal axis 680 of sleeve 624 and towards the sleeve (in the direction of arrow 682), in such a way that in order to go into security mode - element 660 is driven towards the sleeve until it reaches a position where the arms of the U-shaped element are located between arms handle 632 and the outer surface of the sleeve, and in this position they prevent the arms handles from moving, thus keeping protruding tongues 636 in their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them, and in such a way as to go into an assembly or retrieval mode - U-shaped element 660 is manually driven in a linear motion, whose direction is mainly perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and away from the sleeve (in the direction of arrow 683), until the position where its arms are pulled out and allow protruding tongues 636 to be retrieved from their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them (by pressing arms handle 632).

[0045] In addition, any person skill in the art will consider securing movable element 660 itself to the connector by anchoring means (e.g. - a tie string).

[0046] For an additional example, reference is made to Figs. 7a - 7b. Figs. 7a - 7b depict in perspective and in a cross-sectional view sleeve element 724 of another example of a connector that embodies a configuration of locking means 750, which differs from those illustrated in Figs. 1- 6, wherein the locking means embodied therein is in security mode.

[0047] In a connector of the type in question having pair of arms 730, locking means 750 is formed as two arms 710, 712, which are formed as an integral part of sleeve 724, wherein they protrude from it on both sides and each pass through opening 714 formed in arms handle 732. Arms 710, 712 are formed with steps 718, 721, which are normally placed between arms handle 732 and the outer surface of sleeve 724. Arms 710, 712 are adapted to be manually pushed in a linear motion, whose direction is primarily parallel to the longitudinal axis of sleeve 780, so as to bend around the area of their connection with sleeve 724 (in the direction of arrow 734), in such a way as to go into security mode. Steps 718, 721 that are formed on the arms are normally placed between arms handle 732 and the outer surface of sleeve 724. In this mode, they keep arms handles 732 from moving and keep protruding tongues 736 in their snap contact position with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them, and in a way that in order to go into assembly or retrieval mode, arms 710, 712 are manually driven in a linear motion whose direction is primarily parallel to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve and bend until steps 718, 721 are released in a way that allows protruding tongues 736 to be retrieved from their snap contact mode with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them (by pressing the arms handle).

[0048] A person skilled in the art will also understand that the mode of operation of a locking means according to the invention also embodies a general method for securing a drip irrigation lateral connector to a feeder pipe of the type described briefly (with reference to the Applicant's publication WO 2022 / 153296 Al) from inadvertently opening.

[0049] A method that comprises the step of providing locking means (50, 650, 750) having two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - a connector secure mode and a connector assembly or retrieval mode, wherein once the connector is placed in the secure mode, the locking means limits the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means and thereby prevents an array of protruding tongues from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section, and once mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, the locking means again enables the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means (as is required for mounting the connector on the bushing or alternatively detaching from it).

[0050] Therefore, in light of what is described above in referring to the accompanying figures, a person skilled in the art would appreciate the fact that a connector according to the invention provides a solution to the challenge of securing connectors of the type disclosed by the Patent Applicant in WO 2022 / 153296 Al from inadvertently and unintentionally opening. This can be performed by the farmer in a way that is simple, easy, quick and not unwieldy for the farmer when mounting the connector on the pipe or when disassembling and intentionally retrieving it from the pipe. Moreover, the solution described here to the challenge of securing the connectors can also be implemented inexpensively in terms of the added cost that this involves.

[0051] While the Applicant's teachings are described herein in conjunction with various embodiments for illustrative purposes, it is not intended that the Applicant's teachings be limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the Applicant's teachings described and illustrated herein encompass various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, without departing from the embodiments, the general scope of which is defined in the appended claims -

Claims

CLAIMS1. A drip irrigation lateral connector to feeder pipe with locking means comprising: a bushing, at least one, which is shaped in a ring-shaped configuration around the edge of an opening in the pipe wall and with a hollow stem section that protrudes outside from the pipe wall, formed at its outwardly protruding end with a ring-like surface around its circumference and formed on its outer side with a circumferential recess that is spaced apart from said surface and comprises a passage along its length that allows the flow of water through said bushing, from inside the pipe through said hollow stem and out from it; and a sleeve element formed at one end with a bracket that is adapted for mounting a standard drip irrigation lateral connector inside it; and is formed at its other end with a passage that extends from said bracket to said other end of said sleeve element, and allows the flow of water through said sleeve; and said sleeve is formed on its outer side with a multi-armed circumferential array that extends along and parallel to it, and each of said arms comprises a handle on one side that extends parallel to said one end of said sleeve element and at a distance from it, a protruding tongue on the other side, and a hinge means between them, so that said protruding tongue is normally stressed towards the outer surface of said sleeve element at said other end, and once said handle is pressed towards the outer surface of said sleeve element, this allows for movement of said protruding tongue around said hinge means, so that it moves away from said outer surface of the sleeve element; and with a circumferential step that is formed between said hinge means and the edges of said protruding tongues; and with a circumferential groove that is formed between the edges of said protruding tongues and the other end of said sleeve element and the connector also comprises a ring gasket that is adapted for mounting inside said circumferential groove; and wherein said connector is operating in a manner that said multi-armed circumferential array are adapted for snap mounting of said sleeve into said bushing or disassembly from it by linearly pushing said sleeve towards said bushing or linearly retrieving said sleeve from said bushing while disconnecting said multi-armed circumferential array from said bushing - once said sleeve element is mounted by pushing it inside said passage that is formed in said bushing - said circumferential step of said sleeve element is stressed towards said circumferential ring-like surface at the protruding end of said hollow stemsection, said array of protruding tongues snaps into contact with said circumferential recess that is formed in said hollow stem section, and said ring gasket ensures the routing of water flow from inside the pipe through the passage formed in said sleeve element; and in a manner that disassembly and detachment of the connector from said bushing is achieved by moving said array of arms by pressing said handles in a movement around said hinge means until said protruding tongues are disconnected from contact with said circumferential recess, and then by pulling out said sleeve element from said passage formed in said bushing; and wherein said connector is characterized by that said connector further comprising - a locking means with two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - said connector secure mode and said connector assembly or retrieval mode, wherein once the connector is placed in the secure mode, the locking means limits the movement of said arms handle around said hinge means and thereby prevents said array of protruding tongues from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from the circumferential recess that is formed in said hollow stem section, and once mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, said locking means again enables the movement of said arms handle around said hinge means as is required for mounting the connector on said bushing or alternatively detaching from it.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein said locking means is - formed as a sort of split ring, which is mounted in a groove formed around the circumference of said sleeve element of the connector and is adapted to be manually driven in an angular rotational motion within said groove, around the longitudinal axis of said sleeve; and wherein sad ring is formed on the outer surface of its circumference, with an array of alternating protrusions and recesses depending on the number of arms in the specific connector, in such a way as to go into security mode - the ring is manually driven in an angular rotational motion until it reaches a position where its protrusions press on the arm’s handle in this mode, keep the protruding tongues in their snap contact mode with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them, and in such a way as to go into the assembly or retrieval mode - said ring is manually driven into its snap mode where its recesses are positioned opposite the arm’s handle, and in this mode the recesses enable protruding tongues to be retrieved from the snap contact mode with the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section for them and by pressing on the arms handle.

3. The connector according to claim 2, wherein said multi-armed circumferential array consists of two arms that are disposed opposite each other on both sides of said sleeve element and the said array of alternating protrusions and recesses, which is formed on the outer surface of the circumference of said ring accordingly comprises two protrusions located opposite each other on both sides of the said ring and two recesses.

4. A method for securing against unintentional opening of a drip irrigation lateral connector to a feeder pipe of the type that comprises - a bushing, at least one, which is shaped in a ring-shaped configuration around the edge of an opening in the pipe wall and with a hollow stem section that protrudes outside from the pipe wall, formed at its outwardly protruding end with a ring-like surface around its circumference and formed on its outer side with a circumferential recess that is spaced apart from said surface and comprises a passage along its length that allows the flow of water through said bushing, from inside the pipe through said hollow stem and out from it; and a sleeve element formed at one end with a bracket that is adapted for mounting a standard drip irrigation lateral connector inside it; and is formed at its other end with a passage that extends from said bracket to said other end of said sleeve element, and allows the flow of water through said sleeve; and said sleeve is formed on its outer side with a multi-armed circumferential array that extends along and parallel to it, and each of said arms comprises a handle on one side that extends parallel to said one end of said sleeve element and at a distance from it, a protruding tongue on the other side, and a hinge means between them, so that said protruding tongue is normally stressed towards the outer surface of said sleeve element at said other end, and once said handle is pressed towards the outer surface of said sleeve element, this allows for movement of said protruding tongue around said hinge means, so that it moves away from said outer surface of the sleeve element; and with a circumferential step that is formed between said hinge means and the edges of said protruding tongues; and with a circumferential groove that is formed between the edges of said protruding tongues and the other end of said sleeve element and the connector also comprises a ring gasket that is adapted for mounting inside said circumferential groove; and wherein said connector is operating in a manner that said multi-armed circumferential array are adapted for snap mounting of said sleeve into said bushing or disassembly from it by linearly pushing said sleeve towards said bushing or linearly retrieving said sleeve from said bushing while disconnecting said multi-armed circumferential array from said bushing - once said sleeve element is mounted by pushing it inside said passage that is formed in said bushing - said circumferential step of saidsleeve element is stressed towards said circumferential ring-like surface at the protruding end of said hollow stem section, said array of protruding tongues snaps into contact with said circumferential recess that is formed in said hollow stem section, and said ring gasket ensures the routing of water flow from inside the pipe through the passage formed in said sleeve element; and in a manner that disassembly and detachment of the connector from said bushing is achieved by moving said array of arms by pressing said handles in a movement around said hinge means until said protruding tongues are disconnected from contact with said circumferential recess, and then by pulling out said sleeve element from said passage formed in said bushing; and wherein the method comprises the step of - providing a locking means with two modes of operation that are manually changeable on the spot - a connector secure mode and a connector assembly / retrieval mode, wherein once the connector is placed in the secure mode, the locking means limits the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means and thereby prevents an array of protruding tongues from being inadvertently and unintentionally pulled from the circumferential recess that is formed in the hollow stem section, and once mounted in the assembly or retrieval mode, the locking means again enables the movement of the arms handle around the hinge means as is required for mounting the connector on the bushing or alternatively detaching from it.

5. The connector according to any one of claims 1 - 3 wherein said feeder pipe is a lay-flat type of pipe.

6. The connector according to claim 5 wherein said lay-flat pipe wall is multi-layered.

7. A feeder pipe that comprises an array of bushings, which are adapted for mounting connectors according to any one of claims 1 - 3.

8. An irrigation system that comprises a feeder pipe with drip irrigation lateral connectors according to any one of claims 1 - 3, and drip irrigation laterals that are mounted to said connectors by standard drip irrigation lateral connectors.

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