Resilient sprinkler nipple
First Claim
1. A flexible plastic nipple for coupling a sprinkler head to a sprinkler system pipeline comprising:
- a generally elongated single plastic molded tubular piece having a pair of end sections and a resilient center section defined by an outer wall carrying annular undulations including recesses and protrusions;
said recesses having relatively thin walls for flexibility and said protrusions having relatively thicker walls for strength and stability so that said center section is sufficiently rigid to maintain said elongated tubular piece in a fixed position under the normal operation of a sprinkler system and is responsive to a deflecting force greater than the rigidity of said center section for bending and for subsequently rebounding to its original position when said deflecting force is removed;
each end section including a rigid portion, positioned adjacent said center section, a flexible threaded section connected to said rigid portion for mating the nipple with a connector fitting on the sprinkler head or pipeline, and a snub portion connected to said threaded section for leading said threaded section into the connector fitting, said threaded section having sufficient flexibility to prevent rupturing or stripping when a force is transmitted thereto and said center section bending before the force transmitted to said threaded section becomes excessive.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A flexible plastic nipple for coupling a sprinkler head to a sprinkler system pipeline. The nipple includes an elongated plastic tube having a resilient center section and a pair of end sections. The center section has a uniform set of annular undulations which provides both rigidity and flexibility to the nipple. Each end section includes a rigid portion, a flexible threaded section, and a snub portion for mating the nipple with a connector fitting on the sprinkler head or pipeline. The threaded portions have sufficient flexibility to prevent rupturing or stripping when a force is transmitted to the nipple. In addition, the center section will bend before the force transmitted to the threaded portions becomes excessive and will rebound to its original position when the excessive force is removed.
47 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A flexible plastic nipple for coupling a sprinkler head to a sprinkler system pipeline comprising:
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a generally elongated single plastic molded tubular piece having a pair of end sections and a resilient center section defined by an outer wall carrying annular undulations including recesses and protrusions; said recesses having relatively thin walls for flexibility and said protrusions having relatively thicker walls for strength and stability so that said center section is sufficiently rigid to maintain said elongated tubular piece in a fixed position under the normal operation of a sprinkler system and is responsive to a deflecting force greater than the rigidity of said center section for bending and for subsequently rebounding to its original position when said deflecting force is removed; each end section including a rigid portion, positioned adjacent said center section, a flexible threaded section connected to said rigid portion for mating the nipple with a connector fitting on the sprinkler head or pipeline, and a snub portion connected to said threaded section for leading said threaded section into the connector fitting, said threaded section having sufficient flexibility to prevent rupturing or stripping when a force is transmitted thereto and said center section bending before the force transmitted to said threaded section becomes excessive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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Specification