BRACKET

• US 20120061106A1
• Filed: 05/08/2009
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uponor Innovation AB (Uponor Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Uponor Innovation AB (Uponor Oyj)
• Inventors: McAllister, Christopher, Skare, Eric, Liebelt, John, Sellner, Chris, Cota, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 8,876,067 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/5
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 35/68 Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/085 for pipes being in an angled relationship to each other
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 41/12 using attaching means embracing the pipe

Abstract

A fire sprinkler fitting support bracket (100) is disclosed for mounting fire sprinkler tee-fitting (30) to a building structural component (5). The bracket (100) includes a mounting portion (103), and a cradle portion (101) cantilevered from the mounting portion (103). The cradle portion (101) is configured to receive and support the fitting body (32) on a concave surface (190a, 190b) thereof. The fitting (30), which may be a tee fitting, elbow fitting, or the like, is detachable from the bracket (100).

Claims

1. A fire sprinkler fitting support bracket, the bracket comprising:

a leg plate including

a base edge;

a free edge opposed to the base edge;

opposed first and second side edges extending between the base edge and the free edge,

a foot plate, a fold edge of the foot plate fixed to the base edge so that a first surface of the leg plate and a first surface of the foot plate define an angle therebetween,

a pair of cradle plates extending from a second surface of the leg plate, the second surface being opposed to the first surface,

one of the pair of cradle plates extending along each of the first and second side edges of the leg plate,

wherein

the leg plate is formed having a concave cut-out that opens along the free edge, and

each cradle plate is formed having a concave cut out that opens along an edge thereof that is opposed to the second surface of the leg plate.

2. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 1, wherein the foot plate has a trapezoidal peripheral shape.

3. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 1, wherein

the foot plate includes a free edge opposed to the fold edge,

the free and fold edges of the foot plate are parallel, and

the free edge of the footplate is longer than the fold edge of the footplate.

4. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 3 where the foot plate includes a first pair of through holes, each hole of the first pair of through holes located a first distance from the free edge.

5. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 4 wherein the foot plate includes a second pair of through holes, each hole of the second pair of through holes located a second distance from the free edge, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

6. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 1, wherein the leg plate, the foot plate, and the pair of cradle plates are formed of a single plate member that includes

a first bend portion disposed at a location corresponding to the base edge, the first bend joining the leg plate to the foot plate,

a second bend portion disposed at a location corresponding to the first side edge of the of the leg plate, the second bend joining a first one of the pair of cradle plates to the leg plate, and

a third bend portion disposed at a location corresponding to the second side edge of the leg plate, the third bend joining a second one of the pair of cradle plates to the leg plate.

7. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 6, wherein the first, second and third bend portions are of approximately 90 degrees, and the bend direction of the first bend portion is opposed to that of the second and third bend portions.

8. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 6, wherein the first bend portion includes a gusset.

9. The fire sprinkler fitting support bracket of claim 1 wherein

the leg plate cut-out includes a substantially semi-circular portion having a center,

each cradle plate cut-out includes a substantially semi-circular portion having a respective center, and

the distance of the center of the leg plate cut-out from the first surface of the foot plate, and the distance of the center of each of the cradle plate cut-outs from the first surface of the foot plate, are the same.

10. A fire protection sprinkler assembly for use in a fire protection system within a building, the assembly comprising:

a fire protection sprinkler head;

a tee-fitting configured to connect the sprinkler head to a water supply line of the system; and

a bracket according to claim 1 above for mounting the tee-fitting to a structural component of the building, the fitting disposed in and supported by the cradle portion of the bracket.

11. A fire sprinkler fitting, the fitting comprising

a hollow fitting body including

a first arm aligned along a first axis and defining first passage;

a second arm defining a second passage, the first and second passages in fluid communication with each other, the second arm aligned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and

a bracket which permits mounting of the fitting body to a building structure, the bracket including;

a mounting portion, and

a cradle portion cantilevered from the mounting portion, the cradle portion configured to receive and support the fitting body,

wherein the fitting body is detachable from the bracket.

12. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 11, wherein

the cradle portion includes:

a leg plate having

a base edge;

a free edge opposed to the base edge; and

opposed first and second side edges extending between the base edge and the free edge,

the mounting portion includes a foot plate having a fold edge that is fixed to the base edge of the leg plate so that a first surface of the leg plate and a first surface of the foot plate define an angle therebetween,

the cradle portion further includes a pair of cradle plates extending from a second surface of the leg plate, the second surface being opposed to the first surface, one of the pair of cradle plates extending along each of the first and second side edges of the leg plate,

wherein

the leg plate is formed having a concave cut-out that opens along the free edge, and

each cradle plate is formed having a concave cut out that opens along an edge thereof that is opposed to the second surface of the leg plate.

13. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein

the leg plate cut-out and the cradle plate cut-outs are each sized and shaped to receive one of the first and second arms.

14. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein the cradle portion is cantilevered from the fold edge of the foot plate.

15. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein,

the leg plate cut-out and the cradle plate cut-outs are sized and shaped to receive one of the first and second arms, and

the fitting body is disposed on the leg plate such that the first arm is disposed in one of the cradle plate cut-outs, and the second arm extends through the leg plate cut out.

16. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein the

the leg plate cut-out includes a generally semi-circular portion having a center,

each cradle plate cut-out includes a generally semi-circular portion having a respective center, and

the distance of the center of the leg plate cut-out from the first surface of the foot plate, and the distance of the centers of each of the cradle plate cut-outs from the first surface of the foot plate, are the same.

17. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 11 wherein an interior surface of the second passage comprises threads configured to cooperatively engage corresponding threads formed on an outer surface of a fire sprinkler head.

18. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein

the fitting body is formed having a T-shape, the fitting body further including a third arm defining a third passage, the third arm aligned along the first axis and in fluid communication with the first and second passages,

the leg plate cut-out and the cradle plate cut-outs are sized and shaped to receive one of the first, second, and third arms, and

the fitting body is disposed on the leg plate such that the first arm is disposed in one of the cradle plate cut-outs, the third arm is disposed in the other of the cradle plate cut outs, and the second arm extends through the leg plate cut out.

19. The fire sprinkler fitting of claim 12 wherein

the fitting body is formed having a T-shape, the fitting body further including a third arm defining a third passage, the third arm aligned along the first axis and in fluid communication with the first and second passages,

the leg plate cut-out and the cradle plate cut-outs are sized and shaped to receive one of the first, second, and third arms, and

the fitting body is disposed on the leg plate such that first and third arms are disposed between the cradle plates and the first axis is parallel to the side edges of the leg plate, and the second arm extends through the leg plate cut out.