Rotatable fire sprinkler fitting

1. A fire sprinkler fitting comprising:

(a) a cylindrical polymeric body defining a bore with a center line, an open bore end, the bore having a distal portion adjacent to the open bore end and a proximal portion spaced apart from the open bore end, the proximal portion defining a shoulder disposed in a plane perpendicular to the center line;

(b) an insert having an outer end and an inner end, the inner end being disposed within the proximal portion of the bore such that the outer end protrudes beyond the open bore end, the outer end having internal threads which are sized and dimensioned to accept and retain a fire sprinkler therein, the inner end having a circumferential flange which abuts and is retained by the shoulder defined within the proximal portion of the bore in the cylindrical body, the insert having a melting point greater than that of the polymeric body; and

(c) a metal collar disposed tightly around the polymeric body such that the collar extends around the distal bore portion, but not around the proximal bore portion;

whereby the insert is rotatable within the polymeric body.

2. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 1 wherein the insert comprises a base and wherein the fitting further comprises an elastomeric seal disposed within the insert, at the base of the insert, for sealing a fire sprinkler to the insert.

3. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 2 wherein the elastomeric seal is an O-ring.

4. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 1 wherein the insert is retained within the proximal portion of the bore a distance of L from the open bore end, and wherein the metal collar extends downwardly from the open bore end in a direction parallel to the center line of the bore a distance of between about ¼ L and about ¾ L.

5. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 1 wherein the insert further comprises a wrench head defined around the outer end.

6. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 1 wherein the insert is rotatable within the polymeric body only by application of a torque to the insert greater than about 2.5 ft-lbs.

7. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 1 wherein the insert has a melting point at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit greater than that of the polymeric body.

8. A fire sprinkler fitting comprising:

(a) a cylindrical polymeric body defining a bore with a center line, an open bore end, the bore having a distal portion adjacent to the open bore end and a proximal portion spaced apart from the open bore end, the proximal portion defining a shoulder disposed in a plane perpendicular to the center line;

(b) a metallic insert having an outer end and an inner end, the inner end being disposed a distance L within the proximal portion of the bore such that the outer end protrudes beyond the open bore end, the outer end having internal threads which are sized and dimensioned to accept and retain a fire sprinkler therein, the inner end having a circumferential flange which abuts and is retained by the shoulder defined within the proximal portion of the bore in the cylindrical body, the metallic insert further comprising a wrench head defined around the outer end; and

(c) a metal collar disposed tightly around the polymeric body such that the collar extends around the distal bore portion, but not around the proximal bore portion;

whereby the metallic insert is rotatable within the polymeric body.

9. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 8 further comprising an elastomeric seal disposed within the metallic insert, at the base of the metallic insert, for sealing a fire sprinkler to the metallic insert.

10. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 9 wherein the elastomeric seal is an O-ring.

11. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 8 wherein the metallic insert is rotatable within the polymeric body only by application of a torque to the metal insert greater than about 2.5 ft-lbs.

12. A fire sprinkler fitting comprising:

(a) a cylindrical polymeric body defining a bore with a center line, an open bore end, the bore having a distal portion adjacent to the open bore end and a proximal portion spaced apart from the open bore end, the proximal portion defining a shoulder disposed in a plane perpendicular to the center line;

(b) a metallic insert having an outer end and an inner end, the inner end being disposed a distance L within the proximal portion of the bore such that the outer end protrudes beyond the open bore end, the outer end having internal threads which are sized and dimensioned to accept and retain a fire sprinkler therein, the inner end having a circumferential flange which abuts and is retained by the shoulder defined within the proximal portion of the bore in the cylindrical body, the metallic insert further comprising a wrench head defined around the outer end;

(c) an elastomeric seal disposed within the metallic insert, at the base of the metallic insert, for sealing a fire sprinkler to the metallic insert; and

(d) a metal collar disposed tightly around the polymeric body such that the collar extends around the distal bore portion, but not around the proximal bore portion;

whereby the metallic insert is rotatable within the polymeric body but only upon application of a torque to the metal insert greater than about 2.5 ft-lbs.

13. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein the elastomeric seal is an O-ring.

14. A fire sprinkler fitting comprising:

(a) a cylindrical body defining a bore with a center line, an open bore end, the bore having a distal portion adjacent to the open bore end and a proximal portion spaced apart from the open bore end, the proximal portion defining a shoulder disposed in a plane perpendicular to the center line; and

(b) an insert having an outer end and an inner end, the inner end being disposed within the proximal portion of the bore such that the outer end protrudes beyond the open bore end by a distance D, the outer end having internal threads which are sized and dimensioned to accept and retain a fire sprinkler therein, the inner end having a circumferential flange which abuts and is retained by the shoulder defined within the proximal portion of the bore in the cylindrical body;

wherein the insert is rotatable within the body without affecting the distance D.

15. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 14 further comprising an elastomeric seal disposed within the insert, at the base of the insert, for sealing a fire sprinkler to the insert.

16. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 15 wherein the elastomeric seal is an O-ring.

17. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 14 wherein the insert further comprises a wrench head defined around the outer end.

18. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 14 wherein the insert is rotatable within the body only by application of a torque to the insert greater than about 2.5 ft-lbs.

19. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 14 wherein the insert has a melting point at least 10 degrees Fahrenheit greater than that of the body.