Patent landscapes › sprinkler

Patent landscapes › Garden & outdoor

Is a sprinkler patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a sprinkler have been patented many times, but "a sprinkler" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 2,003 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “sprinkler” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 1175 best keyword matches we examined, 300 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: NELSON IRRIGATION CORP (41), RAIN BIRD CORP (34), HUNTER INDUSTRIES (31), SENJU SPRINKLER CO LTD (20).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): B05B (778), A62C (315), A01G (183), Y10T (72).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a sprinkler

  1. Nozzle turret with an accelerating stream conditioner for a rotating irrigation sprinkler US-2023089249-A1 2023 · HUNTER INDUSTRIES
    A rotating sprinkler for irrigation is disclosed. The sprinkler can include a turret and a stream conditioner positioned in the turret. The stream conditioner can include a plurality of fins forming a plurality of flow regions. On…
    View on Google Patents
  2. Decorative rotating lawn sprinkler US-2021213468-A1 2021 · THOMPSON JAMES DAVID
    Implementations of a decorative rotating lawn sprinkler are provided. In some implementations, the decorative rotating lawn sprinkler comprises a rotating sprinkler head, a figurine, piping, and a support. In some implementa…
    View on Google Patents
  3. Rotating Lawn Sprinkler US-2018221895-A1 2018 · MCCARTY THOMAS LEON
    The present invention relates generally to an improved rotating lawn sprinkler capable of precisely watering lawns with straight edges without over-spraying onto sidewalks and fences. More specifically, the invention relates to a …
    View on Google Patents
  4. Irrigation sprinkler with ratcheting manual nozzle rotation US-8777124-B2 2014 · CLARK MICHAEL L
    A sprinkler includes a turbine, a nozzle, a gear train reduction and a reversing mechanism that rotatably couples the gear train reduction and the nozzle. The gear train reduction includes an input stage and a planetary gear drive…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Lawn sprinkler with changeable nozzles US-2007221756-A1 2007 · WANG PO-HSIUNG
    A lawn sprinkler with changeable nozzles has a main bracket, a rotating device, a connecting device and a nozzle tube. The rotating device is mounted in the main bracket and connects to a water pipe providing waters. The connectin…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Water distribution plate for rotating sprinklers US-7240860-B2 2007 · NELSON IRRIGATION CORP
    A rotor plate for a sprinkler includes a water impingement surface bounded by an annular peripheral wall and having a radial center, and adapted to be impinged upon by a stream emitted from a nozzle. The water impingement surface …
    View on Google Patents
  7. Lawn sprinkler nozzle provided with means to adjust spray angle thereof US-6820825-B1 2004
    A lawn sprinkler comprises a connection pipe, and a spray angle adjustment structure mounted at one end of the connection pipe and formed of a circular distribution member, an adjustment member and a control member. The control me…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Multi-jet watering nozzle with counter-rotating elements for underground pop-up sprinkler US-6651904-B2 2003 · CLABER SPA
    A watering nozzle ( 16 ) for underground pop-up sprinkler ( 1 ) comprises a bottom part ( 17 ) and a top part ( 37 ) comprising a distribution cylinder ( 40 ). The bottom part ( 17 ) is provided with an annular opening ( 100 ) tha…
    View on Google Patents
  9. Combination hose nozzle and lawn sprinkler US-6554209-B2 2003 · DJORDJEVIC SIMEON
    A combination hose nozzle and lawn sprinkler which is operable both as a hose nozzle by a user and as a lawn sprinkler when ground mounted. An internal jet and a member define a passageway for water to be directed from the passage…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Manual flow control structure of a lawn sprinkler nozzle US-6585174-B1 2003
    A lawn sprinkler nozzle includes a nozzle head, a hollow connection pipe, and a hollow handle. The connection pipe is connected between the nozzle head and the handle. The handle is provided at one end with a flow control structur…
    View on Google Patents
  11. Control device of a pistol nozzle of a lawn sprinkler US-6471145-B1 2002
    A pistol nozzle of lawn sprinkler including a handle, a barrel, and a water control device. The handle is provided with a water admitting channel, whereas the barrel is provided with a water discharging channel. The water control …
    View on Google Patents
  12. Design of the nozzle arrangement on the spray tube of the conventional, oscillating lawn or hose sprinkler US-2002092931-A1 2002
    This invention provides an improved water distribution at the end of the stroke of an oscillating lawn sprinkler to overcome the undesirable “puddling” affect. This is obtained through the use of more than one sized nozzle, each p…
    View on Google Patents
  13. Nozzle of water sprinkler US-6216965-B1 2001
    A sprinkler nozzle including a grip which is fastened to an outer pipe. An inner pipe is received in the outer pipe such that the inner pipe can be extracted or retracted in conjunction with a control member. The outer pipe is pro…
    View on Google Patents
  14. Water-powered aircraft lawn sprinkler US-6095428-A 2000
    A water-powered aircraft/sprinkler utilizes an airfoil and a water jet nozzle power source to provide a manually maneuverable aircraft/sprinkler supplied with a pressurized water stream through a movable boom and a portable statio…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a sprinkler been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Outdoor products differ mostly in weatherproofing, power source, folding mechanisms and how they mount or anchor.

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First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.