US3783947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic sprinkler head
Assignee: Fire Protection Co
•
Filing: 1973-04-02
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1993-04-02
Abstract
Abstract An automatic sprinkler head adapted to be mounted in a ceiling approximately flush with the ceiling surface including a dishshaped housing member having a water inlet adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, a deflector mounted on the housing opposite the inlet and having a fulcrum thereon opposed to the inlet, a valve disc closing the inlet, a strut holding the disc, a lever holding the strut, a cover closing the housing and having a portion engaging the lever to hold the latter in position, and latch tabs on the cover engaging the housing, at least one of which tabs is separably attached to the cover by fusible material which releases when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined high value. Four forms are shown.
Inventors
- 👤 K Dix
- 👤 B Bonbrake
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:11
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C37/00; A62C37/08; A62C37/10; A62C37/11; A62C37/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A sprinkler head, comprising, a. a housing having a fluid inlet adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, b. a valve closure member positionable to close the inlet, c. a fulcrum mounted on the housing opposite the inlet, d. a strut engaging the valve closure member to hold the member in closed position, e. a lever engaging the fulcrum and the strut to hold the strut, f. a cover on the housing holding the lever in position, and g. heat sensitive means acting between the cover and the housing for holding the cover in position when the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined value and for releasing the cover when the ambient temperature exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A sprinkler head, comprising, a. a housing having a fluid inlet adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, b. a valve closure member positionable to close the inlet, c. a fulcrum mounted on the housing opposite the inlet, d. a strut engaging the valve closure member to hold the member in closed position, e. a lever engaging the fulcrum and the strut to hold the strut, f. a cover on the housing holding the lever in position, and g. heat sensitive means acting between the cover and the housing for holding the cover in position when the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined value and for releasing the cover when the ambient temperature exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, including means mounting the fulcrum for adjustment toward and away from the inlet to increase the valve closure effect of the strut.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 2, wherein the cover Has a central aperture permitting access to adjust the fulcrum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, including a deflector mounted on the housing and disposed opposite the inlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes inwardly directed flange means and the heat sensitive means includes latch means engaging the flange means and the cover for holding the cover in position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 5, wherein the latch means includes at least one tab secured to the cover by heat-fusible material separable from the cover when the ambient temperature exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 5, wherein the latch means includes a lever arm having one end engaging the flange means, an intermediate portion engaging the cover, and an opposite end fusibly connected to the cover.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 5, wherein the inwardly directed flange means on the housing is integral with the housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 5, wherein the inwardly directed flange means on the housing includes an interior annular groove having an inwardly directed snap ring disposed in the groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, including a U-shaped support carrying the fulcrum and having opposite ends positioned in external lugs on the housing which are deformable to anchor the support.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 10, wherein the cover includes a central aperture permitting insertion of a plunger for forcing the U-shaped support toward the inlet to increase the valve closure effect of the strut before deformation of the external lugs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, including external lugs on the housing for receiving a wrench to attach the housing to the supply pipe.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 1, wherein the housing includes an externally threaded terminus for receiving a flanged escutcheon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
175 words
An automatic sprinkler head adapted to be mounted in an aperture approximately flush with a surface surrounding the aperture, comprising, a. an inverted dish-shaped housing having a centrally disposed water inlet conduit adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, b. a water deflector mounted on the housing and disposed opposite the inlet, c. a valve closure disc positionable to close the conduit, d. a fulcrum on the deflector opposite the inlet conduit, e. a strut engaging the valve disc to hold the disc in closed position, f. a lever having one end pivotal on the fulcrum and an intermediate portion engaging the strut to hold the strut in position, g. a cover closing the housing and having a portion acting against the opposite end of the lever to hold the lever in position, h. latch means engaging the cover and the housing to hold the cover in closed position, and i. fusible means connecting the latch means to the cover to separate from the cover in the event of a predetermined high ambient temperature.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
175 words
An automatic sprinkler head adapted to be mounted in an aperture approximately flush with a surface surrounding the aperture, comprising, a. an inverted dish-shaped housing having a centrally disposed water inlet conduit adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, b. a water deflector mounted on the housing and disposed opposite the inlet, c. a valve closure disc positionable to close the conduit, d. a fulcrum on the deflector opposite the inlet conduit, e. a strut engaging the valve disc to hold the disc in closed position, f. a lever having one end pivotal on the fulcrum and an intermediate portion engaging the strut to hold the strut in position, g. a cover closing the housing and having a portion acting against the opposite end of the lever to hold the lever in position, h. latch means engaging the cover and the housing to hold the cover in closed position, and i. fusible means connecting the latch means to the cover to separate from the cover in the event of a predetermined high ambient temperature.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 14, wherein the fulcrum comprises a threadable member adjustable in the deflector toward the inlet to increase the valve closure effect of the strut, and the cover has a central aperture permitting access to adjust the fulcrum.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 14, wherein the housing includes inwardly directed flange means and the latch means comprises tabs latched behind the flange means, at least one of which is secured to the cover by heat-fusible material separable from the cover in event of said predetermined high ambient temperature.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 16, wherein said opposite end of the lever acts against the cover remote from the separable tab.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 16, wherein said opposite end of the lever acts against the cover adjacent the separable tab.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
32 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 16, wherein the separable tab is secured to the inner surface of The cover and said opposite end of the lever engages the separable tab.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
53 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 16, wherein the housing includes inwardly directed flange means and the latch means includes a tab engaging said flange means, and a lever arm having one end engaging the flange means, an intermediate portion engaging the cover, and an opposite end fusibly connected to the cover.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 14, including a U-shaped support carrying the fulcrum and having opposite ends positioned in external lugs on the housing which are deformable to anchor the support, and a central aperture in the cover permitting insertion of a plunger for forcing the support toward the inlet to increase the valve closure effect of the strut before deformation of the external lugs.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
39 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 14, including an interior annular groove in the housing and a snap ring in the groove providing inwardly directed annular flange means on the housing engaging the latch means on the cover.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
68 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 22, including a gap in the snap ring, a tab on the cover secured in the groove in the housing through the gap in the snap ring, a tab on the cover latched behind the snap ring and heat-fusible material securing at least one tab to the cover to separate from the cover in event of said predetermined high ambient temperature.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 14, including an externally threaded terminus on the housing, and a flanged escutcheon on the terminus for closing an aperture in the surface receiving the head.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic sprinkler head adapted to be recessed in an aperture approximately flush with a surface around the aperture, comprising, a. a dish-shaped housing having a centrally disposed water inlet conduit adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, b. a water deflector fixedly mounted on the housing and disposed opposite the inlet adjacent the level of the lower extremity of the housing, c. a valve closure disc positionable to close the conduit, d. a cover closing the housing, e. a valve closure linkage engaging the disc and held by the cover, and f. heat sensitive means acting between the cover and the housing for holding the cover in position when the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined value and for releasing the cover when the ambient temperature exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
133 words
An automatic sprinkler head adapted to be recessed in an aperture approximately flush with a surface around the aperture, comprising, a. a dish-shaped housing having a centrally disposed water inlet conduit adapted to be attached to a supply pipe, b. a water deflector fixedly mounted on the housing and disposed opposite the inlet adjacent the level of the lower extremity of the housing, c. a valve closure disc positionable to close the conduit, d. a cover closing the housing, e. a valve closure linkage engaging the disc and held by the cover, and f. heat sensitive means acting between the cover and the housing for holding the cover in position when the ambient temperature is less than a predetermined value and for releasing the cover when the ambient temperature exceeds said predetermined value.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 25, wherein the deflector is generally circular.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 25, wherein the cover includes a tab engaging the housing, and the heat-sensitive means includes a lever arm having one end engaging the housing, an intermediate portion engaging the cover, and an opposite end having a fusible connection to a central portion of the cover.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 27, wherein the fusible connection includes a pin in the cover and fusible material connecting the pin and the lever end.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 28, including means thermally insulating the pin from the cover to prevent heat transfer from the fusible connection to the cover.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sprinkler head as defined in claim 27, including a heat gathering disc conductively attached to the fusible connection.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |