IP Library Granted Patent US 11,779,788
Granted Patent B2
US 11,779,788 · App. 17/355,497 · Granted Oct 10, 2023

Fire protection sprinkler assemblies and installations with adjustable push-to-connect fittings

Inventors: George B. Coletta (West Warwick, RI); Robert Kyle Fullerton (Matthews, NC); Scott Alan Going (Lubbock, TX); Michael W. Horgan (East Greenwich, RI); Alaine Christine Liotta (Conshohocken, PA); Gary James Luiz (Warwick, RI); Todd F. Orsini (Sterling, MA); Darren Palmieri (Chalfont, PA); Dennis Michael Phillips (Mount Juliet, TN); Kevin Wade Pressnell (Athens, AL); Manuel R. Silva, Jr. (Cranston, RI)
Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
A62C37/09F16L37/0915A62C35/68
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,779,788
App. No.
17/355,497
Granted
Oct 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Adjustable fire protection assemblies and methods are provided. The assembly includes a sprinkler having a body with an outer encasing surface and a deflector supported from the body. An escutcheon having a receiver and a rim surround the fire protection sprinkler to define an aperture between the receiver and the sprinkler. A push-to-connect fitting of the assembly includes a tubular member with an end for connection to a pipe and an internal conduit that receives the sprinkler body. A seal member and a retaining ring are disposed within the tubular member to form an adjustable seal and grip about the sprinkler body. A releasing member translates to disengage the retaining ring from the sprinkler body; and the escutcheon translates with respect to the tubular member in a sliding surface engagement to define an adjustable deflector-to-rim distance between the rim of the escutcheon and the deflector of the sprinkler.

Claims (58)

1. A sprinkler fitting assembly, comprising:

a sprinkler;

a fitting comprising an inner surface to receive the sprinkler;

a retaining ring to be received between the inner surface and the sprinkler to engage the sprinkler; and

a releasing member to be received between the inner surface and the sprinkler, the releasing member having an inner wall, an outer wall outward from the inner wall, and a traversing portion connecting the inner wall with the outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining an annular channel between the inner wall and the outer wall, the releasing member to disengage the retaining ring from the sprinkler.

2. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

the retaining ring comprises a plurality of prongs that engage the sprinkler, and the releasing member displaces the plurality of prongs outward to disengage the retaining ring from the sprinkler.

3. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

the fitting comprises a tubular member defining the inner surface and a seat extending inward from the inner surface;

the sprinkler fitting assembly comprising a seal to be received between the seat, the inner surface, the retaining ring, and the sprinkler.

4. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

the outer wall is to engage a groove defined on an outer surface of the fitting.

5. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

a resilient member to be received between the fitting and the releasing member.

6. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

an escutcheon around the fitting and the sprinkler.

7. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

the inner surface is threadless.

8. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

the retaining ring resists a translation of the sprinkler relative to the fitting along a longitudinal axis of the fitting; and

a translation of the releasing member along the longitudinal axis disengages the retaining ring from the sprinkler to allow the translation of the sprinkler relative to the fitting.

9. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 1 , comprising:

the fitting comprises an annular flange that engages the releasing member.

10. A push-to-connect sprinkler fitting, comprising:

a sprinkler;

a tubular member, comprising:

a threadless inner surface;

a seat extending inward from the inner surface; and

an outer surface defining a groove;

a retaining ring coupled with the inner surface, the retaining ring comprising a plurality of prongs to engage the sprinkler;

a seal between the seat, the inner surface, and the retaining ring;

a releasing member coupled with the inner surface and the retaining ring, the releasing member comprising an inner wall, an outer wall outward from the inner wall and engaged with the groove, and a traversing portion connecting the inner wall with the outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining an annular channel between the inner wall and the outer wall; and

a resilient member between the tubular member and the releasing member.

11. The push-to-connect sprinkler fitting of claim 10 , comprising:

an escutcheon around the fitting and the sprinkler.

12. A sprinkler assembly, comprising:

a sprinkler;

a fitting comprising an inner surface to receive the sprinkler;

a retaining ring to be received between the inner surface and the sprinkler to engage the sprinkler; and

a releasing member to be received between the inner surface and the sprinkler, the releasing member to disengage the retaining ring from the sprinkler, the releasing member having an inner wall, an outer wall outward from the inner wall, and a traversing portion connecting the inner wall with the outer wall, the inner wall and outer wall defining an annular channel between the inner wall and the outer wall.

13. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

the retaining ring comprises a plurality of prongs that engage the sprinkler, and the releasing member displaces the plurality of prongs outward to disengage the retaining ring from the sprinkler.

14. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

the fitting comprises a tubular member defining the inner surface and a seat extending inward from the inner surface;

the sprinkler assembly comprising a seal to be received between the seat, the inner surface, the retaining ring, and the sprinkler.

15. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

the outer wall is to engage a groove defined on an outer surface of the fitting.

16. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

a resilient member to be received between the fitting and the releasing member.

17. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

an escutcheon around the fitting and the sprinkler.

18. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

the inner surface is threadless.

19. The sprinkler fitting assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

the retaining ring resists a translation of the sprinkler relative to the fitting along a longitudinal axis of the fitting; and

a translation of the releasing member along the longitudinal axis disengages the retaining ring from the sprinkler to allow the translation of the sprinkler relative to the fitting.

20. The sprinkler assembly of claim 12 , comprising:

the fitting comprises an annular flange that engages the releasing member.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 29, 2023
From: COLETTA, GEORGE B.; FULLERTON, ROBERT KYLE; GOING, SCOTT ALAN; HORGAN, MICHAEL W.; LIOTTA, ALAINE CHRISTINE; LUIZ, GARY JAMES; ORSINI, TODD F.; PALMIERI, DARREN; PHILLIPS, DENNIS MICHAEL; PRESSNELL, KEVIN WADE; SILVA, MANUEL R., JR.
To: TYCO FIRE PRODUCTS LP
Reel/Frame 064162/0916 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 16470799
Provisional Application 62439665 · Dec 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62439744 · Dec 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62439689 · Dec 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62439632 · Dec 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62439725 · Dec 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62439701 · Dec 28, 2016
Provisional Application 62439617 · Dec 28, 2016
Related Publication 20210316179A1 · Oct 14, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,447,365