Abstract: An evaporative cooling unit that sprays a water mist into the air to cool the air by evaporation of the water mist is disguised as to its function and purpose by including the misting nozzles and water supply conduits in a decorative structure, such as an artificial flower arrangement or plant. The misting unit of the invention includes a base and a decorative structure extending from the base. A water conduit extends through the base from a base end with a fitting for attachment to a source of pressurized water such as a garden hose, into the decorative structure where it ends in at least one decorative structure end with a misting nozzle thereon. The base may take the form of a flower pot with the decorative structure taking the form of flowers or a plant extending from the flower pot.

Abstract: An evaporative cooling unit that sprays a water mist into the air to cool the air by evaporation of the water mist is disguised as to its function and purpose by including the misting nozzles and water supply conduits in a decorative structure, such as an artificial flower arrangement or plant. The misting unit of the invention includes a base and a decorative structure extending from the base. A water conduit extends through the base from a base end with a fitting for attachment to a source of pressurized water such as a garden hose, into the decorative structure where it ends in at least one decorative structure end with a misting nozzle thereon. The base may take the form of a flower pot with the decorative structure taking the form of flowers or a plant extending from the flower pot.

Abstract: The activation and deactivation of an outdoors, hose faucet-mounted valve unit to control the flow of water through a standard garden hose with attached sprinkler is remotely controlled from indoors rather than at the valve unit. This is accomplished without the use of unwieldy and unsightly electrical cables by means of radio frequency (RF) signals. A remote, programmable, controller unit located indoors with attached transmitting unit commands such transmitting unit to send signals in accordance with preprogrammed instructions in the controller unit. A receiver unit attached to the valve unit intercepts the transmitted signals and instructs the valve unit to open or close the water valve and flow of water based thereon. Direct connection of the controller to the valve unit is possible such that the transmitter unit and receiver unit are not used such as during pleasant weather conditions.

Abstract: The activation and deactivation of a plurality of irrigation valves in accordance with instructions programmed into a programmable irrigation valve controller can be overridden by signals received by the controller from a remote control unit or a rain delay input. This allows remote control of sprinklers from the area being watered rather than at the location of the controller. This allows sprinkler repairs, modifications to watering patterns, and turning off and back on of sprinklers such as to access a portion of the irrigated area to be done without running back and forth to the controller. It also allows easy delay of watering after a rain. A construction of a programmable controller apparatus allows covering of wires extending from the apparatus and funneling of such wires into a conduit.

Abstract: A programmable controller apparatus and method for irrigation systems including at least one removable control module interfacing with internal circuitry of the programmable controller for activating and operating a plurality of watering valves. A housing unit is provided for the control module and the internal control circuitry of the programmable controller to prevent water contamination and unauthorized tampering. The removable control module interfaces with the internal circuitry of the controller to provide variations in programmable watering sequences for individual watering stations. The control module, in addition, comprises multiple programming keys and switches that provide interaction between the electronic programming and manual programming features which function in combination to provide easier programming options for the irrigation controller.

Abstract: A rainfall detector for detecting a set amount of rainfall and which functions to interrupt the normal operation of an automatic sprinkler or irrigation system upon detection of the set amount of rainfall, includes a rainwater-collection tray having an opening and mounted so that the portion of the opening exposed to rainwater during a rainstorm is adjustable. The rainwater-collection tray may be slidably mounted below a detector housing which houses a switching circuit with two sensors extending into the tray, and which serves to block the rain from the open portion of the tray beneath the housing. Thus, the portion of the tray opening exposed to rain is adjusted by sliding the tray so that more or less of the opening is covered by the housing. The tray may also include posts extending upwardly from the bottom of the tray and terminating below the top edge of the tray for preventing debris from filling the rain-collecting portion of the tray.

Abstract: The invention is a weather resistant container in the nature of a box with tightly fitting cover for a timer unit controlling operation of an irrigation system and associated transformer and electrical plug. The container also houses an electrical receptacle and wiring. Such container is adapted to receive electrical power from an outside source through conventional electrical conduit. Within the box are provided supports for a removable, broad partition wall defining a relatively shallow wiring compartment between the back wall and the partition wall and a relatively deep compartment between the partition wall and open front of the box for housing the timer components.