GB2284022A - Pump assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A pump assembly e.g. for watering hanging baskets comprises a pump unit 10 for standing vertically in a bucket of water 20, a piston movable lengthwise within the pump unit, and a tubular piston rod 13 extending from the piston and having a length of flexible tubing 15 coupled to its top end. In use, water from the bucket 20 is pumped out of the flexible tubing 15 as the piston rod 13 is moved alternately upwardly and downwardly. The pump has an inlet valve in the base of the pump unit and an outlet valve in the piston. A spring urges the piston in a downward direction. <IMAGE>

Description

Pump Assembly This invention relates to a pump assembly which may be used, for example, to water hanging baskets.

It is common for people to water hanging baskets from watering cans whilst standing on chairs, boxes or the like.

This can be dangerous because the weight of the water and the need to reach may lead to the user loosing balance. It is often inconvenient to use a hosepipe to water the few plants in a hanging basket. Similarly, often there is a need to water plants at the back of a flower bed, but the user may risk injury to the back be leaning over with a full watering can.

I have now devised a pump assembly which will overcome the above problems and which can also be used for a variety of other purposes.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a pump assembly which comprises a pump unit for standing vertically in a vessel of water, a piston movable lengthwise within the pump unit, a tubular piston rod extending from the piston and through the top end of the pump unit and having a length of flexible tubing coupled to its top end, a one-way valve in the piston to communicate the interior of the pump unit with the piston rod, and a one-way valve in or adjacent the bottom of the pump unit.

In use of this pump assembly, the user grips the piston rod at or adjacent its top end and the piston rod is made to move alternately upwardly and downwardly. Preferably the user pushes the piston rod downwardly against the bias of a spring, which is then allowed to raise the piston rod again.

Preferably on the downward stroke, the piston applies pressure to water within the pump unit and this opens the one-way valve in the piston for water to flow through the piston rod and flexible tubing, to be sprayed or otherwise dispensed from the other end of the flexible tubing: preferably a nozzle unit is coupled to this end of the flexible tubing. Preferably on the return stroke of the piston rod, the one-way valve in the piston closes and a one-way valve in or adjacent the bottom of the pump unit opens for water to be drawn into the pump unit from the bucket or other vessel in which the pump unit stands.

The pump assembly of this invention may be used for watering hanging baskets or plants at the back of flower beds.

The assembly can be used for a variety of other purposes, for example in car washing or washing windows.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a view showing the pump assembly in accordance with this invention; FIGURE 2 is a view showing the pump assembly being used to water a hanging basket; FIGURE 3 is a vertical section through the lower end of a pump unit of the assembly, to show its components and explain the operation of the pump unit on the downstroke of its piston; and FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, to explain the operation of the pump unit on the return stroke of its piston.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown a pump assembly 10 for pumping water from a bucket or similar vessel 20 and through a nozzle unit or wand 16 of the assembly.

As shown in Figure 2, the pump assembly may be used for watering a hanging basket 30, but it may be used for many other purposes, as mentioned previously.

The pump assembly 10 comprises a cylindrical pump unit 11 having an internal piston 12 carried by a tubular piston rod 13 which projects through the top end of the pump unit 11. The top end of the piston rod 13 is bent outwards at an inclined angle to form a handle, and is provided with a tubular grip 14.

A length of flexible tubing 15 couples the end of the handle to the elongate nozzle unit or wand 16, which has an adjustable spray nozzle 17 at its free end and a tubular grip 18 at its end coupled to the tubing 15.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the piston 12 has a central aperture formed as a conical seat for a one-way valve 21. A tension spring 22 encircles the tubular piston rod 13 and has one end fixed to the piston 12 and its opposite end (not shown) fixed to the top of the pump unit 11. The bottom of the pump unit 11 has an aperture which is provided with a one-way flap valve 23. A number of feet 24 project from the bottom end of the pump unit 11, so that when the pump unit is stood on the bottom of a bucket or other vessel 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 2, water can still pass to the aperture in the bottom end of the pump unit 11.

In use, and as shown in Figure 2, the user stands the pump unit 11 upright in the bucket of water, holds the nozzle unit or wand 16 in one hand and directs this at the hanging basket or other object to be watered, and holds the handle 14 of the pump unit piston rod with the other hand. The user then repeatedly pushes the piston rod downwardly and allows it to rise again under the bias of the tension spring 22.

Referring to Figure 3, as the user pushes the piston rod 13 downwardly, the piston 12 applies pressure to the water contained in the lower end of the pump unit 11: this closes the flap-valve 23 and opens the one-way valve 21 so that water passes through the latter valve, up the piston rod 13, through the flexible tubing 15 and is sprayed out of the nozzle 17.

At the end of the downstroke, the user allows the piston to rise under the bias of the tension spring 22, and as shown in Figure 4 the reduced pressure within the lower end of the pump unit 11 causes the one-way valve 21 to close and water to be drawn in from the bucket 20 through the flap-valve 23.

It will be appreciated that a pipe e.g. from a water butt may run into the bucket 20 so that use of the pump assembly is not limited by the capacity of the bucket: this arrangement is particularly useful for car washing for example.

Claims (7)

Claims

1) A pump assembly comprising a pump unit for standing vertically in a vessel of water, a piston movable lengthwise within the pump unit, a tubular piston rod extending from the piston and through the top end of the pump unit and having a length of flexible tubing coupled to its top end, a one-way valve in the piston to communicate the interior of the pump unit with the piston rod, and a one-way valve in or adjacent the bottom of the pump unit.

2) A pump unit as claimed in claim 1, comprising a spring which biases the piston and piston rod upwardly.

3) A pump assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2, arranged so that the piston applies pressure to water within the pump unit as the piston is moved downwardly, such that the one way valve in the piston opens and water flows through the piston rod and flexible tubing.

4) A pump assembly as claimed in claim 3, arranged so that the one-way valve in the piston closes and the one-way valve in or adjacent the bottom of the pump unit opens as the piston is moved upwardly, such that water is drawn into the pump unit from said vessel.

5) A pump assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the free end of the flexible tubing is provided with a nozzle unit.

6) A pump unit as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the tubular piston rod is bent outwards to form a handle.

7) A pump unit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.