Decorative support panel

1. An apparatus for positioning and supporting a sprinkler head coupled to a flexible conduit in a suspended ceiling having a T-bar grid, the apparatus comprising:

a hub configured to receive the sprinkler head and flexible conduit, the hub including:

a plate;

a sleeve defining an opening extending through a surface of the plate, the sleeve configured to receive the sprinkler head through tho opening; and

a panel attached to the hub and configured to be attached to the T-bar grid, the panel for supporting the sprinkler head and flexible conduit, the panel having a hole sized and shaped to allow the sprinkler head to extend therethrough.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hub is removably attached to the panel.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the hub is attached to the panel with a fastener.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hub is laminated to the panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hub is at least partially integrated within the panel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the panel has a length L and a width W and the plate has a length and width substantially equal to L and W, respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plate is in the shape of a ring having a thickness T and an inner diameter R 1 and an outer diameter R 2 and the sleeve is defined by the opening of the plate.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the panel has a certain rigidity characteristic and the plate has a certain rigidity characteristic greater than the rigidity characteristic of the panel.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the panel is formed at least partially from PVC and the plate is formed at least partially from stainless steel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plate has a hole extending through the surface and the sleeve is defined by a hole in the plate.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is attached to the plate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the sleeve is removably attached to the plate.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plate includes a plurality of sleeves, the sleeves being configured to receive one sprinkler head.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sleeve is telescopic being configured to open to receive the sprinkler head and close to secure the sprinkler head in place.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an attachment member having a first end attached to the plate and a second end configured to engage the T-bar grid.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the second end of the attachment member is adapted to be attached to the T-bar grid by a fastening device selected from a group consisting of a nail, a clip, a bolt, a screw, a tab connection, or a slot connection.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the attachment member is at least partially integrated within the decorative panel.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the attachment member further comprises a foot attached to its second end and configured to engage T-bar grid.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the panel is rectangular in shape and the attachment member extends to the corner of the panel.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the attachment member is angled relative to the plate.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a plurality of attachment members, each having a first end attached to the plate and a second end configured to engage T-bar mid.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the plurality of attachment members are in the form of legs.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plate comprises first and second plate sections, the sleeve comprises a first sleeve section attached to the first plate section, the first plate section being removably attached to second plate section.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first bracket having a first and second surface, the first surface of the first bracket attached to the plate and the second surface of the first bracket attached to the panel.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 , further comprising a second bracket having a first and second surface, the first surface of the second bracket attached the plate and the second surface of the second bracket attached to the panel.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the first and second brackets are removably attached to the panel.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the first and second brackets are removably attached to the plate.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a flexible sprinkler assembly comprising:

the flexible conduit;

a fitting attached to the flexible conduit; and

the sprinkler head attached to the fitting.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the flexible sprinkler assembly is releasably attached to the sleeve.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the sleeve is integral to the sprinkler head.

31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the plate defines a channel sized to slidably receive the sprinkler head assembly.

32. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a rod having a first end attached to the hub and a second end adapted to be attached to a support structure in a ceiling.

33. An apparatus for positioning and supporting a sprinkler head coupled to a flexible conduit in a suspended ceiling, having a T-bar grid, the apparatus comprising:

a panel configured to be removably attached to T-bar grid and having an exterior surface exposed to a room, the panel configured to support the sprinkler head and flexible conduit; and

a sleeve defining an opening extending through a surface of the panel, the sleeve configured to receive the sprinkler head through the opening.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the sleeve is defined by a hole in the panel.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the sleeve is attached to the panel.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the surface of the panel exposed to the room is coated with a material.

37. An apparatus for positioning and supporting a sprinkler head coupled to a flexible conduit in a suspended ceiling, having a T-bar grid, the apparatus comprising:

a plate; and

a decorative panel attached to the plate and configured to be attached to the T-bar said; the decorative panel for supporting the sprinkler head and flexible conduit, the decorative panel having an exterior surface exposed to a room and having a hole sized and shaped to receive the sprinkler head therethrough.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plate is at least partially integrated within the decorative panel.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plate is laminated to the decorative panel.

40. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the decorative panel is removably attached to the plate.

41. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the decorative panel has a length L and width W and the plate has a length and width substantially equal to L and W respectively.

42. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plate is in the shape of a ring having an thickness T and inner diameter R 1 and an outer diameter R 2 .

43. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plate is formed of stainless steel.

44. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plate comprises first and second plate sections, the first plate section being removably attached to second plate section.

45. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the plate has a hole sized and shaped to the receive the sprinkler head therethrough.

46. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising:

a sleeve attached to the plate and defining an opening extending through a surface of the plate, the sleeve configured to receive the sprinkler head through the opening.

47. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the sleeve is removably attached to the plate.

48. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising a flexible sprinkler assembly comprising:

the flexible conduit;

a fitting attached to the flexible conduit; and

the sprinkler head attached to the fitting.

49. The apparatus of claim 48 wherein the flexible sprinkler assembly is removably attached to the panel.

50. The apparatus of claim 46 wherein the sleeve is integral to the sprinkler head.

51. The apparatus of claim 37 further comprising an attachment member having a first end attached to the plate and a second end configured to engage the T-bar grid.

52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein the attachment member is at least partially integrated within the decorative panel.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein the second end of the attachment member is adapted to be attached to the T-bar grid by a fastening device selected from a group consisting of a nail, a clip, a bolt, a screw, a tab connection, or a slot connection.

54. The apparatus of claim 51 further comprising a plurality of attachment members, each having a first end attached to the plate and a second end configured to engage the T-bar grid.

55. A method of positioning a fire-protection sprinkler head coupled to a flexible conduit in a in a suspended ceiling having a T-bar grid, the method comprising:

providing a plate; and

attaching a decorative panel to the T-bar grid and to the plate, the decorative panel for supporting the sprinkler head and flexible conduit, the decorative panel having an exterior surface exposed to a room, the panel having a hole sized and shaped to allow the sprinkler head to extend therethrough.

56. The method of claim 55 further comprising

providing a sleeve defining an opening extending through a surface of the plate, the sleeve configured to receive the fire-protection sprinkler head; and

attaching the sleeve to the plate.

57. The method of claim 56 , further comprising:

providing a flexible conduit having a fitting and attaching the sprinkler head to the fitting; and

positioning the sprinkler head in the sleeve.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising adjusting the height of the sprinkler head relative to the opening.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising securing the sprinkler head to the sleeve.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising connecting a second end of the flexible conduit to a supply pipe.

61. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a flexible sprinkler assembly comprising:

the flexible conduit;

a fitting attached to the flexible conduit; and

the sprinkler head attached to the fitting.

62. The apparatus of claim 61 wherein the flexible sprinkler assembly is removably attached to the sleeve.

63. The apparatus of claims 1 , 33 and 37 wherein the panel is formed of a material capable of withstanding back pressure forces associated with the flow of water through the sprinkler head during operation.

64. The method of claim 55 further comprising forming the decorative panel from a material capable of withstanding back pressure forces associated with the flow of water through the sprinkler head during operation.

65. The apparatus of claims 1 , 33 and 37 wherein the panel is formed of a material capable of distributing forces from the sprinkler bead and flexible conduit, during operation, to the T-bar grid.

66. The method of claim 55 further comprising forming the decorative panel from a material capable of distributing forces from the sprinkler head and flexible conduit, during operation, to the T-bar grid.

67. The apparatus of claims 1 , 33 and 46 wherein the sleeve is a fitting.

68. The apparatus of claim 67 wherein the fitting is a reduced fitting.

69. The apparatus of claim 68 wherein the sprinkler head is attached to the reduced fitting.

70. The apparatus of claim 69 wherein the flexible conduit is attached to the reduced fitting.