BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates generally to fire sprinklers and in particular to a gutter anchored sprinkler for portable fire sprinklers

2. Description of Related Art

From the prior art there are known systems by which building structures are protected from wildfire, adjacent of fires, and similar disasters. A multitude of patents has addressed this issue of buildings fire protection. One can say that only sprinklers disposed on and attached to roofs were envisaged.

Disadvantageously, such devices have been required to be permanently or semi-permanently secured to the building or gutter. In particular, the anchoring means of such devices are commonly selected to correspond to the structure shape to which they are intended to be secured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first embodiment of the present invention there is disclosed an apparatus for supporting a sprinkler head from a gutter comprising a molded monolithic body, incorporating a flat base extending between proximate and distal ends and provided with a top side and a bottom side having a passage therethrough proximate to the distal end and a passage through the body having a cylindrical inlet projecting outwardly from the bottom side and provided with a female threaded coupler adapted to interconnect with a threaded end of a hose, the passage having at least one outlets extending through a top side of the body adapted to receive a sprinkler therein. The apparatus further comprises a pair of stationary braces extending substantially perpendicularly from the bottom side of the body adjacent to the proximate end, each of the stationary braces having a fixed bracing surface thereon oriented towards the distal end of the body and a movable brace rotatably supported under the bottom side of the body having a moveable bracing surface thereon oriented towards the proximate end of the body, wherein the stationary braces and the movable brace are adapted to tangentially contact and secure the body to a curvilinear exterior portion of a gutter.

The body may include an arcuate support member wherein the movable brace is aligned with selectably secured to one of a plurality of locations therealong. The arcuate support member may include an engagement surface facing the movable brace. The movable brace may include an engagement surface facing the arcuate support member. Each engagement surface of the arcuate support member and the brace may comprise an engagement surface. Each engagement surface may include protuberances therealong selected to engage with each other. The arcuate support member and the movable brace may extend along a semi-circular path having a radius. The protuberances may comprise radial ridges extending radially relative to the support member and the movable brace.

The apparatus may further comprise a clamp for selectably compressing the support member and the movable brace together. The clamp may comprise threaded post extending from one of the support member or the movable brace through a slot in an other of the support member or the movable brace to a fastener operable to clamp the other of the support member or the movable brace therebetween.

The one of the support member or the moveable brace may include a guide extending therefrom sized to be received within the slot. The guide may comprise a pin. The at least one of the stationary braces includes a bore therethrough.

The movable brace may comprise a rotatable arm pivotable about a pivot axis. The arm may be supported by a support arm extending from the bottom side of the body. The rotatable arm may be pivotable about a pin passing through the rotatable arm and the support arm. The pin may be proximate to a bottom end of the support arm.

The pivotable arm may include a contact pivot face engaged against a corresponding contact support face on the support arm. The contact pivot face and contact support face may include interfacing ridges. The pin may include threading therearound and a fastener adapted to clamp the contact pivot face and contact support face together.

Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate embodiments of the invention wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view,

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an apparatus for gutter-anchoring a sprinkler according a first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus Figure 1 at a first or opened position.

Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 at a second or closed position.

Figure 4 is an exploded view of the movable support of the apparatus of

Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of Figure 1 as taken along the line 5-5.

Figures 6 is an exploded view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with a fire sprinkler.

Figures 7 is an exploded view of the apparatus for gutter-anchoring a sprinkler according a further embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to Figure 1 , an apparatus for supporting a sprinkler head from a gutter 8 according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown generally at 10. The apparatus comprises a body 12 having at least one stationary support 24 and a movable support (not shown in Figure 1).

The body 12 comprises a monolithic body extending between proximate and distal ends, 14 and 16, respectively. The body may be molded from rigid plastic material and includes a top side 18 and a bottom side 20. Viewed from the top, body 12 has, basically, a triangular like shape, with rounded corners. A pair of rectangular prolongations 22 extends from the proximate end 14 which are spacedly disposed at one of the opposed extremities of the proximate end 14 and terminates into a downwardly extending end 24 or stationary support, bent back at 90 degrees, i.e. perpendicularly directed to the top and bottom sides 18 and 20. Downwardly extending end 24 may include a stationary brace surface 26 oriented towards the distal end 16 of the body 12. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the stationary brace may be angularly oriented relative to the downwardly extending end 24 so as to improve gripping of the stationary surface on the gutter.

Turning now to Figures 2 and 3, the bottom side 20 of the body includes an arcuate support member 40 adapted to support a movable brace 50. The arcuate support member 40 extends from the bottom side 20 along an arcuate path which may be semi-circular having a radius, generally indicated at 41 in Figure 3. The support member 40 includes a plurality of protuberances or ridges 42 extending substantially radially transversely across the support member 40. The ridges 42 server to engage with corresponding protuberances or ridges 55 on the movable brace 50 to assist with securing the relative position therebetween. It will be appreciated that other grip enhancing means may also be used, such as roughening the mating surfaces or adding a higher friction material to such surfaces. The movable brace 50 includes an end body 56 having a movable brace surface 58 oriented in the direction of the stationary brace surfaces. The movable and stationary brace surfaces 58 and 26 are operable to grip or engage upon opposite sides of a gutter wall 6 as illustrated in Figure 3 retain the body 12 thereon.

The support member 40 incudes a pin 44 and a threaded rod 46 extending from the same surface as the ridges. The pin 44 and threaded rod 46 are passed through a slot 52 in the movable brace 50 so as to permit movement of the movable brace 50 along the path of the support member 40. A fastener, such as, by way of non-limiting example, a wing nut 48 or the like is secured to the threaded rod 46 so as to be operable to clamp the movable brace 50 between the nut 48 and the support member 40. In operation, a user may loosen the wing nut 48 to permit movement of the movable brace 50 relative to the support member 40. It will be appreciated that the adjustment of the position of the moveable member and therefore the movable brace surface 58 will server to enable the apparatus 10 to be applied to gutters having differing geometries. Such adjustment will also allow the orientation of the body 12 to be adjusted as desired by a user.

Optionally, the downwardly extending ends 24 may include bores or outlets 60 therethrough as will be more fully described below so as to enable the downwardly extending ends 24 to be secured to a surface of a building or the like by passing fasteners such as screws therethrough.

Turning now to Figure 5, the body includes first and second of hollow, cylindrical outlets, 60 and 62, respectively passing through the top side 18 proximate to the distal end. The outlets 60 are closely spaced and form a unitary cavity into the body.

The first outlets 60, proximate to the distal end 16, has its longitudinal axis of symmetry 61 angled with respect to top side 18 of body 12, while the second outlet 62 has its longitudinal axis of symmetry 63 perpendicularly directed to top side 18 of body 12. As illustrated, the aforementioned longitudinal axes of symmetry concur and at some point intersect, so that the first and second outlets 60 and 62 changes into a common, hollow cylindrical inlet 66; the latter projects outwardly from bottom side 20 of body 12 and is provided with a female threaded surface and adapted to interconnect with a threaded hose connector (not shown). Thus, one flow of water entering and passing through single, hollow cylindrical inlet 66, is divided into two distinct flows of water in the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets 60 and 62.

The pair of hollow cylindrical outlets 60 and 62 are both provided with an internal thread; alternatively, only in one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets 60 and 62 a fire sprinkler 100 could be mounted. For example, when a fire sprinkler 100 is used for a pitched roof, it will be mounted in the first outlet 60 defined by the angled longitudinal axis of symmetry; during this time, the other hollow cylindrical outlet will be closed by a cap 102 as illustrated in Figure 6. Conversely, for a flat roof, the foregoing situation will be interchanged.

A tubular housing 70 projects perpendicularly out of bottom side 20 of the body 12. The tubular housing 70 incorporates, starting with its bottom, adjacent the body 12, a first hollow cylindrical opening 72 and a second hollow cylindrical opening 74 which is wider than the first opening 72. A disc shaped metal piece 76 is secured at the top of first hollow cylindrical opening 72. A post (not shown) ending with a magnetic metal end (also not shown) may be used to contact disc-shaped metal piece 76 and, thus, joining it. In this manner, the apparatus 10 and sprinkler 100 attached to it can be lifted and anchored to gutter G. A series of triangular ribs 78 extend radially from an internal surface of second hollow cylindrical opening 74 to guide the post into the first opening 72.

A threaded joint 80, of conventional type, is traversed by a through channel 82 and includes a central hexagonal area 84. Central hexagonal area 84 is continued towards the top by a first threaded shank 86 provided with an O- ring 88. After central hexagonal area 84 towards the bottom, a second threaded shank 90 follows. First threaded shank 82 is intended to be assembled with a conventional sprinkler 100. Second threaded shank 90 is threadlike with each one of the hollow cylindrical outlets of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets 60 or 62, respectively with its internal thread. A cap 102 is used to close one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets 60 or 62, wherein in the other one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets 60 or 62 sprinkler 100 is mounted.

Turning now to Figure 7, according to a further embodiment, the body 12 may include a support arm 120 extending from the bottom thereof. The support arm 120 extends to a bottom end 122 and includes a pin 124 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The pin 124 may be located in a bore in the support arm or may be co-formed therewith. The pin 124 may include threading therearound so as to receive a wing nut 126 or the like thereon.

The body 12 as illustrated in Figure 7 may also include a pivotable arm 130 pivotally supported by the pin 124. The pivotable arm 130 extends between proximate and distal ends 132 and 134, respectively wherein the end body 56 is located at the distal end 134. The proximate end 132 includes a bore 136 therethrough sized to receive the pin 124 so as to be pivotally supported thereon. The support arm 120 and pivotable arm 130 each include a contact surface 128 and 140 adapted to interface with each other when the bore 136 of the pivotable arm 130 is located on the pin and a fastener 126 secured thereto. Optionally, each of the contact surfaces 128 and 140 may include indexing, such as ridges by way of non-limiting example so as to assist with rotational locking therebetween when the fastener is secured.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.