Concealed sprinkler cover
View Patent ↗A sprinkler cover apparatus conceals sprinkler heads using temperature-responsive materials that release the cover when exposed to a set temperature, allowing unobstructed water flow. The apparatus is an imperceptible component of the ceiling or wall. Embodiments include single- and multi-piece designs, mounted to the ceiling or sprinkler head housing. Some embodiments do not contact the sprinkler head directly. Actuation is achieved via materials like shape-memory polymers (SMPs), shape-memory alloys (SMAs), liquid crystalline polymers, melting substances (e.g., wax, solder), or bimetals. These materials change shape or phase at specific temperatures, enabling automatic cover release.
1 . An apparatus for concealing and uncovering an opening in a ceiling, comprising:
a collar with an aperture the same size or smaller than the opening in the ceiling,
a cover configured to fit within the aperture of the collar, and
at least one actuator at least partially comprised of a shape memory polymer, wherein
the at least one actuator is a component of the cover,
the collar is configured to be installed below the opening in the ceiling with the aperture of the collar located within the opening in the ceiling,
the shape memory polymer responds to a temperature at or above a specified transformation temperature,
the at least one actuator has an original shape,
the at least one actuator is configured to be transformed from the original shape into a deformed shape,
the at least one actuator is configured to transform from the deformed shape to the original shape at or above the transformation temperature, and
the at least one actuator is configured to displace the cover, at least partially exposing the opening in the ceiling.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is comprised of a plurality of actuators.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of actuators are positioned around the cover, permitting the cover to be installed to at least partially conceal the opening in the ceiling while the plurality of actuators are in the deformed shape.
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a sprinkler head is positioned inside the opening in the ceiling.
5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one actuator extends from the cover when the at least one actuator is in the deformed shape.
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collar is comprised of at least one edge and tapers to the at least one edge.
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is configured to be substantially flat, and forms a flush surface with the collar.
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the cover is at least partially comprised of thermally conductive material.
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the collar is treated to make it indistinguishable from the ceiling.
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transformation temperature is between 40° C. and 74° C.
11 . An apparatus for concealing and uncovering an opening in a surface of a ceiling, comprising:
a collar with an aperture the same size or smaller than the opening and configured to be installed below the opening with the aperture of the collar located within the opening,
a cover configured to fit within the aperture of the collar, and
at least one actuator at least partially comprised of a shape memory polymer, wherein
the at least one actuator is a component of the cover,
the shape memory polymer responds to a temperature at or above a specified transformation temperature, and
at or above the specified transformation temperature, the at least one actuator is configured to displace the cover, at least partially exposing the opening.
12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the at least one actuator has an original shape and a deformed shape, and the at least one actuator is configured to transform from the deformed shape to the original shape at or above the transformation temperature.
13 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the collar is configured to be installed below the opening in the surface of the ceiling by affixing the collar to the surface of the ceiling.
14 . An apparatus for concealing and uncovering an opening in a surface, comprising:
a collar and a cover, wherein
the collar is an independent component from the surface,
the collar is comprised of an aperture the same size or smaller than the opening in the surface, and
the collar is configured to be installed below the opening in the surface with the aperture of the collar located within the opening in the surface,
the cover is an independent component from both the surface and the collar,
the cover is configured to fit within the aperture of the collar,
the cover is comprised of at least one actuator at least partially comprised of a shape memory polymer,
the shape memory polymer responds to a temperature at or above a specified transformation temperature, and
at or above the specified transformation temperature, the at least one actuator is configured to displace the cover, at least partially exposing the opening in the surface.
15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the surface is a surface of a ceiling.
16 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the at least one actuator has an original shape and a deformed shape, and the at least one actuator is configured to transform from the deformed shape to the original shape at or above the transformation temperature.
17 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the collar is configured to be installed below the opening in the surface by affixing the collar to the surface.