US5020601A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Concealed sprinkler assembly
Assignee: Viking Corp
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Filing: 1990-03-26
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Granted: 1991-06-04
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Expires: 2010-03-26
Abstract
Abstract A concealed sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler head having a body defining a nozzle, an arm structure extending from the nozzle and a deflector mounted on the arm assembly opposite the nozzle. A mounting or gauge base is secured to the sprinkler head. The base positions the deflector and head with respect to a ceiling. A cover plate is snapped onto the sprinkler head assembly by a pair of metal clips. The clips are fabricated from a material which returns towards an original prebent configuration upon being exposed to a predetermined ambient temperature thereby releasing the cover plate from the assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 James G. Retzloff
- 👤 Gerald W. Sanders
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:30
CPC Classifications
A; A62; A62C; A62C35/00; A62C35/58; A62C35/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly, comprising: a sprinkler head assembly including a body defining an orifice an arm extending from said body and a deflector mounted on said arm opposite said orifice; a mounting base secured to said sprinkler head body; a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said deflector in a snap-on detent fashion, said clip means releasing said cover plate from said deflector upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, said clip means including a pair of opposed metal clips secured to said cover plate, each of said metal clips including: a clip base; end tabs integral with said clip base, said end tabs extending upwardly from said clip base; and an actuator arm resiliently joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture said deflector with the deflector being positioned between said cover plate and said actuator arms, said actuator arms each moving towards an initial prebent configuration upon exposure to said predetermined ambient temperature.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly, comprising: a sprinkler head assembly including a body defining an orifice an arm extending from said body and a deflector mounted on said arm opposite said orifice; a mounting base secured to said sprinkler head body; a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said deflector in a snap-on detent fashion, said clip means releasing said cover plate from said deflector upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, said clip means including a pair of opposed metal clips secured to said cover plate, each of said metal clips including: a clip base; end tabs integral with said clip base, said end tabs extending upwardly from said clip base; and an actuator arm resiliently joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture said deflector with the deflector being positioned between said cover plate and said actuator arms, said actuator arms each moving towards an initial prebent configuration upon exposure to said predetermined ambient temperature.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 1 wherein said clips are each fabricated from a ternary metal material which returns towards the initial, prebent configuration when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined transformation temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly, comprising: a sprinkler head assembly including a body defining an orifice an arm extending from said body and a deflector mounted on said arm opposite said orifice; a mounting base secured to said sprinkler head body; a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said deflector in a snap-on detent fashion, said clip means releasing said cover plate from said deflector upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, clip means comprising a pair of individual, opposed metal clips secured to said cover plate, each of said metal clips including: a clip base; end tabs; and an actuator arm joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture said deflector with the deflector being positioned between said cover plate and said actuator arms, and wherein said clip base is generally trapezoidal in plan view, said end tabs being joined to the nonparallel sides of said clip base and extending upwardly therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly, comprising: a sprinkler head assembly including a body defining an orifice an arm extending from said body and a deflector mounted on said arm opposite said orifice; a mounting base secured to said sprinkler head body; a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said deflector in a snap-on detent fashion, said clip means releasing said cover plate from said deflector upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, clip means comprising a pair of individual, opposed metal clips secured to said cover plate, each of said metal clips including: a clip base; end tabs; and an actuator arm joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture said deflector with the deflector being positioned between said cover plate and said actuator arms, and wherein said clip base is generally trapezoidal in plan view, said end tabs being joined to the nonparallel sides of said clip base and extending upwardly therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 3 wherein said actuator arm is joined to a side of one of said end tabs by a transition portion, said actuator arm having a generally truncated V-shape in cross section and thereby including angularly related petal portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 4 wherein said clips are each fabricated from a metal material which returns towards an initial, prebent configuration when the ambient temperature reaches a predetermined transformation temperature.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 5 wherein said clips are each initially stamped as flat pieces, heat treated and then bent to define said base, end tabs and actuator arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 6 wherein said clips are each fabricated from a copper-zinc-aluminum alloy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 7 wherein said alloy has a transformation temperature of approximately 57° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A concealed sprinkler assembly as defined by claim 8 wherein said mounting base includes a plurality of depending arms, each arm terminating in an angled, ceiling engaging portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
155 words
A cover assembly for a concealed automatic sprinkler assembly, comprising: a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said sprinkler assembly in a snap-on detent fashion and for releasing said cover plate from said sprinkler assembly upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, said clip means including a pair of individual, opposed ternary alloy metal clips secured to said cover plate, said clips returning towards an initial, prebent configuration when the predetermined ambient temperature is reached thereby releasing said cover plate, each of said metal clips including a clip base, end tabs joined to and extending upwardly from said clip base, and a detent tab joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture at least a portion of said sprinkler assembly with the portion of said sprinkler assembly being positioned between said cover plate and said detent tabs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
155 words
A cover assembly for a concealed automatic sprinkler assembly, comprising: a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said sprinkler assembly in a snap-on detent fashion and for releasing said cover plate from said sprinkler assembly upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, said clip means including a pair of individual, opposed ternary alloy metal clips secured to said cover plate, said clips returning towards an initial, prebent configuration when the predetermined ambient temperature is reached thereby releasing said cover plate, each of said metal clips including a clip base, end tabs joined to and extending upwardly from said clip base, and a detent tab joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture at least a portion of said sprinkler assembly with the portion of said sprinkler assembly being positioned between said cover plate and said detent tabs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cover assembly for a concealed automatic sprinkler assembly, comprising: a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said sprinkler assembly in a snap-on detent fashion and for releasing said cover plate from said sprinkler assembly upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, said clip means comprising a pair of individual, opposed metal clips secured to said cover plate, each of said metal clips including: a clip base; end tabs; and a detent tab joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture said sprinkler assembly with-the sprinkler assembly being positioned between said cover plate and said detent tabs, and wherein said clip base is generally trapezoidal in plan view, said end tabs being joined to the nonparallel sides of said clip base and extending upwardly therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
A cover assembly for a concealed automatic sprinkler assembly, comprising: a cover plate; and clip means on said cover plate for resiliently securing said cover plate to said sprinkler assembly in a snap-on detent fashion and for releasing said cover plate from said sprinkler assembly upon exposure to a predetermined ambient temperature, said clip means comprising a pair of individual, opposed metal clips secured to said cover plate, each of said metal clips including: a clip base; end tabs; and a detent tab joined to one of said end tabs, said end tabs being configured and dimensioned to capture said sprinkler assembly with-the sprinkler assembly being positioned between said cover plate and said detent tabs, and wherein said clip base is generally trapezoidal in plan view, said end tabs being joined to the nonparallel sides of said clip base and extending upwardly therefrom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
50 words
A cover assembly as defined by claim 11 wherein said detent tab is joined to a side of one of said end tabs by a transition portion, said detent tab having a generally truncated V-shape in cross section and thereby including angularly related wing portions and a planar base portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cover assembly as defined by claim 12 wherein said clips are each initially stamped as flat pieces, heat treated and then bent to define said base, end tabs and detent tab.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cover assembly as defined by claim 13 wherein said clips are each fabricated from a copper-zinc-aluminum alloy.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cover assembly as defined by claim 14 wherein said alloy has a transformation temperature of approximately 57° C.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cover assembly as defined by claim 15 wherein said cover plate is generally cup-shaped and includes a base, a peripheral side wall and a plurality of upwardly extending air gap projections.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-06-03 | 1994-12-03 | 1995-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-06-03 | 1998-12-03 | 1999-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-06-03 | 2002-12-03 | 2003-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |