Concealed sprinkler head

Claim 1

An automatic sprinkler head to be mounted above the level of a ceiling in a building, comprising an orifice body having an inlet to be connected to a water line and having a discharge outlet, a valve cap assembly to enclose the outlet and including deflector means, said deflector means acting to deflect the water being discharged from said outlet in a desired spray pattern when said valve cap assembly is moved to the open position, latch means disposed in engagment with said valve cap assembly to maintain said assembly in the closed position, one end of said latch means defining a projection, first abutment means formed on said orifice body and disposed to be engaged by said projection, said latch means having a recess located in spaced relation to said projection, said recess having a generally horizontal axis, said latch means includes a vertical opening communicating with the inner end of said recess, a tubular housing connected to said opening and projecting downwardly from said latch means, a fusible element disposed within said housing and adapted to melt at a predetermined elevated temperature, a series of balls disposed within said housing and said recess, the innermost of said series of balls being disposed in engagement with said fusible element, second abutment means formed on the orifice body and spaced from said first abutment means, the outermost of said series of balls being engaged with said second abutment means, and a decorative plate carried by said housing and adapted to bear against the undersurface of the ceiling, said housing projecting downwardly beyond said plate, melting of said fusible element resulting in said outermost ball being moved inwardly of said recess to release said latch means and open said discharge outlet.