Overhead sprinkler head proximity alarm

• US 4,866,423 A
• Filed: 05/03/1988
• Issued: 09/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tandy Corporation Forth Worth TX
• Original Assignee: Tandy Corporation (RS Legacy Corp.)
• Inventors: Marks, Stephen D., Anderson, Howard B. II, Cook, Randall W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mullen, Jr., Thomas J.
• Application Number:
  US07/189,905
• Time in Patent Office: 497 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/686, 340/51, 340/61, 200/61.41, 200/61.93, 169/23, 169/37, 180/274
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/02 Mechanical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/16 adapted for actuation at a limit or other predetermined position in the path of a body, the relative movement of switch and body being primarily for a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. for a door switch, a limit switch, a floor-levelling switch of a lift

Abstract

A proximity alarm (2) is used to protect overhead sprinkler heads (4) from damage by signaling when an object, typically carried by a forklift, comes too close to the sprinkler head. The alarm includes a signal circuit (24) mounted within a housing (22), a mounting clamp (10) and an arm (20) connecting the mounting clamp and the housing. The clamp secures the alarm to the sprinkler head adjacent the downwardly extending water pipe (8). The signal circuit includes a signal element (30), such as a horn, and a switch (26) for actuating the signal element. The switch is operated by a trigger (32) which extends downwardly from the housing. The trigger includes a portion (38, 44) positioned to contact an object coming close to the sprinkler head. Thus, when a forklift driver is lifting an object and the object contacts the trigger, the trigger actuates the switch causing the signal element to provide a signal, typically an audible alarm, warning the operator to halt movement of the load.

Claims

1. An overhead sprinkler head alarm, for protecting an overhead sprinkler head from mechanical damage, comprising:

a frame including a mounting element for removably mounting the frame to a support near the sprinkler head;

a signal circuit mounted to the frame including a signal element and a switch which, when operated, causes the signal element to be actuated; and

trigger means, coupled to the switch, for operating the switch when an object is within a chosen region associated with the sprinkler head so as to actuate the signal element to alert a user that the object is within the chosen region;

said trigger means and switch operable without physical contact with the object, providing the object is within the chosen region.

2. The alarm of claim 1 wherein the support includes an element associated with the sprinkler head and the mounting element includes a clamp configured for clamping onto said associated element so the associated element supports the alarm.

3. A proximity alarm for signaling a worker that an object the worker is moving is too close to an overhead sprinkler head so the user can do something to keep the object from hitting the sprinkler head so to prevent damage to the sprinkler head, the sprinkler head being mounted to a water pipe, the alarm comprising:

a housing;

a clamp connected to the housing and configured for engaging at least the water pipe or the sprinkler head, the clamp engaging a chosen one of the water pipe and the sprinkler head so to support the housing and support arm therefrom;

an alarm circuit mounted to the housing, the alarm circuit including a signal element and a switch which when operated completes the alarm circuit to actuate the signal element and alert the worker; and

a trigger mounted to and extending from the switch, the trigger including a portion positioned near but vertically below the sprinkler head so that when the object contacts the trigger in a manner to operate the switch, the signal element is actuated thereby alerting the worker that the object is close to the sprinkler head.

4. An overhead sprinkler head alarm, for protecting an overhead sprinkler head from mechanical damage, comprising:

a frame including a clamp configured for removably mounting the frame to an element associated with and near the sprinkler head, said clamp configured for clamping onto said associated element so the associated element supports the alarm;

a signal circuit mounted to the frame including a signal element and a switch which, when operated, causes the signal element to be actuated; and

trigger means, coupled to the switch, for operating the switch when an object is within a chosen region associated with the sprinkler head so as to actuate the signal element to alert a user that the object is within the chosen region.

5. The alarm of claim 4 wherein the trigger means include a mechanical trigger extending from the switch, a portion of the trigger extending vertically below the sprinkler head so that a vertically moving load will contact the trigger portion to operate the switch and actuate the signal element thereby alerting a user that the load is close to the sprinkler head.

6. The alarm of claim 5 wherein the trigger includes a vertically downwardly extending rod.

7. The alarm of claim 6 wherein the rod is straight.

8. The alarm of claim 5 wherein the switch is a multi-directional switch and is operated by moving the trigger in a plurality of directions.

9. The alarm of claim 4 wherein the frame includes a signal circuit housing and the mounting element includes a horizontally extending arm connecting the clamp and the signal circuit housing.

10. The alarm of claim 4 wherein the associated element is a part of the sprinkler head.

11. The alarm of claim 4 wherein the signal element includes an audible signal element.

12. An overhead sprinkler head alarm, for protecting an overhead sprinkler head from mechanical damage, comprising:

a frame including a mounting element for removably mounting the frame to a support near the sprinkler head;

a signal circuit mounted to the frame including a signal element and a switch which, when operated, causes the signal element to be actuated; and

a mechanical trigger extending from the switch and coupled thereto, a portion of the trigger extending vertically below and positioned to one side of the sprinkler head so that a vertically moving load moving within a chosen region associated with the sprinkler head will contact the trigger portion to operate the switch and actuate the signal element, thereby alerting a user that the load is close to the sprinkler head.

13. An overhead sprinkler head alarm, for protecting an overhead sprinkler head from mechanical damage, comprising:

a frame including a mounting element for removably mounting the frame to a support near the sprinkler head;

a signal circuit mounted to the frame including a signal element and a switch which, when operated, causes the signal element to be actuated; and

a mechanical trigger extending from the switch and coupled thereto, a portion of the trigger extending vertically below the sprinkler head and circumscribing a vertical centerline passing through the sprinkler head such that a vertically moving load moving within a chosen region associated with the sprinkler head will contact the trigger portion to operate the switch and actuate the signal element, thereby alerting a user that the load is close to the sprinkler head.