Quick-connect fittings for a trickle type irrigation system

Claim 1

A self-piercing, quick-connect irrigation fitting for trickle-type irrigation systems, comprising: a hollow, open-ended, semicylindrical, synthetic plastic body having a flat, planar side, the hollow interior of the body being semicylindrical and extending the length of the body; a projection on the center of said flat side of said body terminating in a sharpened free end; and tapered, enlarged piercing head on the free end of the projection defining an annular retaining shoulder facing away from the free end toward the body; the axis of the projection disposed perpendicular to the axis of the open-ended semicylindrical body; and a restricted passageway extending through the projection from the free end thereof to the hollow body, said hollow body thus defining a shrouded outlet against which water impinges as it passes from the restricted passageway when the fitting is attached to a water-containing conduit to effect flow of water from the open ends of the semicylindrical body to irrigate a localized area, said sharpened end adapted to penetrate the wall of a conduit whereby the shoulder engages behind the wall to retain the fitting in place.