Adjustable soaker hose support assembly

Claim 1

In combination with a soaker hose having a plurality of longitudinally spaced water discharge openings therein, a plurality of support assemblies that may removably engage said hose to selectively hold the latter at any desired one of a plurality of possible positions relative to the earth surface when said support assemblies are partially embedded in the ground, each of said support assemblies including: a. an elongate member having first and second longitudinal sides and that has a first upwardly disposable end portion and a second downwardly disposable portion, said second downwardly disposable portion tapering longitudinally and terminating in a generally pointed free end, and said member formed from a polymerized resin of sufficient strength that said second downwardly disposable portion may be at least partially embedded in the soil when a longitudinally directed force is applied to said first upwardly disposable end portion; b. support means that can removably and transversely engage a segment of said soaker hose; c. first means connected to said support means and pivotally secured to said upper portion to permit said soaker hose to be disposed at any desired one of a plurality of possible positions relative to said earth surface to permit water from said discharge openings to be directed onto a plurality of areas of said earth surface, said first means including: 1. a bail secured to said support means and extending outwardly therefrom, said bail having a pair of oppositely disposed co-axially aligned openings therein, said bail formed from a resilient material; 2. a cylindrical shell having first and second ends; 3. a pair of pins that extend outwardly from said shell and pivotally engage said pair of openings, with said bail and shell having contacting surfaces, and said contacting surfaces having serrations defined thereon that pressure interlock to hold said bail and support means at the angle on said shell to which said bail is adjusted; 4. a stop that extends outwardly from said member at substantially the junction of said first upwardly disposable end portion and said second downwardly disposable portion, said stop rotatably engaged by said first end of said shell; 5. a cylindrical head on said first upwardly disposable end portion of said member, said head rotatably engaing the interior surface of said shell adjacent said second end thereof, said head having a circumferential groove therein, and said head of sufficient strength to receive hammer blows to drive said second portion of said support assembly into the earth; and 6. a snap ring that removably engages said groove to prevent said shell from being inadvertently displaced from said first portion of said member.