(12) United States Patent
`Choi
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`Jul. 17, 2001
`
`US006260810B1
`
`4,717,099 *
`4,723,749 *
`5,595,363 *
`
`1/1988 Hubbard ............................... .. 248/57
`2/1988 Carraro et al.
`248/317
`
`1/1997 DeLeebeeck ......................... .. 248/72
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`220680 *
`670887 *
`
`2/1910 (DE) ................................... .. 248/317
`1/1939 (DE) ..................................... .. 248/72
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Ramon O. Ramirez
`Assistant Examiner—Kimberly Wood
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Shlesinger, Arkwright &
`Garvey LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Adevice for mounting a sprinkler to a ceiling support rail in
`a building is disclosed. This device consists of two vertical
`sidewalls integrated into a U-shaped single structure by a top
`wall. The two sidewalls are bent inwardly at their lower ends
`to form clip flanges for gripping the head of the ceiling
`support rail positioned between the two sidewalls. A first
`bolt hole is formed at the lower portion of each sidewall. A
`first locking bolt is threaded into the bolt holes of the two
`sidewalls so as to tighten the lower portions of the two
`sidewalls and allow the two sidewalls to firmly grip the
`ceiling support rail. Each of the two sidewalls also has a
`notch at its upper portion and seats the reducer support beam
`in the notch. The top wall has a second bolt hole. A second
`locking bolt is threaded into the second bolt hole so as to
`hold the reducer support beam seated in the notches of the
`two sidewalls.
`
`4 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`(54) SPRINKLER MOUNTING DEVICE
`
`(75)
`
`Inventor:
`
`Jin Lim Choi, Seoul
`
`(73) Assignee: Dong-A Flexible Metal Tubes Co.,
`Ltd., Seoul
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/627,153
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 27, 2000
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Aug. 16, 1999
`
`(KR)
`
`............................................... .. 99/16852
`
`Int. Cl.7 ...................................................... .. F16L 3/08
`(51)
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`............................ .. 248/65; 248/72; 248/343;
`248/534; 248/317; 52/712; 52/715; 52/506.07
`(58) Field of Search ................................... .. 248/317; 343;
`248/72; 48.1; 65; 534, 74.1, 68.1; 58, 59,
`62; 52/712, 715, 506.07
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/1945 Bach .................................... .. 248/72
`2,375,513 *
`9/1967 Havener
`.... .. 248/72
`3,341,909 *
`9/1971 Hibbeler
`248/317
`3,608,857 *
`3,612,461 * 10/1971 Brown ..... ..
`248/317
`3,652,780 *
`3/1972 Wilson . . . . . .
`. . . . .. 248/72
`3,874,035 *
`4/1975 Schuplin
`.... .. 248/72
`4,135,692 *
`1/1979 Ferguson ............................ .. 248/317
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 2 013
`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`
`Fig. 8
`
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 17, 2001
`
`Sheet 3 013
`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`
`

`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`
`1
`SPRINKLER MOUNTING DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`invention relates to sprinkler mounting
`The present
`devices and, more particularly, to a device for mounting a
`reducer support beam of a sprinkler to a ceiling support rail
`in a building.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`As well known to those skilled in the art, a plurality of
`ceiling support rails horizontally extend in parallel to the
`ceiling in a building to form a ceiling support structure, with
`a ceiling panel being mounted to the bottoms of the ceiling
`support rails so as to form a desired ceiling. A plurality of
`reducer support beams are mounted to the ceiling support
`rails at desired positions so as to hold the reducers of a
`sprinkler system in parallel to the ceiling. In such a case, a
`sprinkler mounting device is used for holding each end of a
`reducer support beam to a desired ceiling support rail.
`Aconventional sprinkler mounting device, used for hold-
`ing each end of a reducer support beam to a desired ceiling
`support rail, has a U-shaped profile defined by one top wall
`and two sidewalls. This conventional mounting device is
`thus provided with a fitting channel between the two side-
`walls and is fitted over a desired ceiling support rail at the
`fitting channel. The conventional sprinkler mounting device
`may be also provided with a locking projection on at least
`one sidewall thereof at a lower portion so as to be locked to
`a ceiling support rail at the fitting projection inserted into a
`hole of the ceiling support rail. Abolt hole is formed at the
`top wall. A notch is formed on the mounting device at an
`upper portion and perpendicularly receives a desired portion
`of a reducer support beam thereon.
`In order to mount
`opposite end portions of a reducer support beam of a
`sprinkler to desired two ceiling support rails, two sprinkler
`mounting devices are fitted over desired positions of the two
`ceiling support rails prior to seating the opposite end por-
`tions of the reducer support beam in the notches of the two
`mounting devices. Therefore, the reducer support beam is
`primarily mounted to the ceiling support rails by the two
`mounting devices. Thereafter, a locking bolt is threaded
`downward into the bolt hole of each mounting device, and
`so the reducer support beam is biased downward by the
`locking bolt, thus finally coming into close contact with the
`lower edges of the notches at its lower surface. The position
`of the reducer support beam relative to the two mounting
`devices is thus fixed.
`
`However, such a conventional sprinkler mounting device
`is problematic in that it has a structural defect undesirably
`inducing an incomplete engagement between the device and
`a ceiling support rail. In addition, when the locking bolt for
`fixing the position of the reducer support beam within the
`notch is exceedingly tightened, the conventional mounting
`device may be structurally deformed at positions around its
`fitting channel and or its notch,
`thus being easily and
`unexpectedly loosened even by a small external impact.
`Another problem experienced in the conventional sprinkler
`mounting device resides in that it is designed to be limitedly
`usable with a ceiling support rail having specified size and
`shape, and so it is necessary for manufacturers or users of
`such sprinkler mounting devices to separately produce or
`purchase a variety of mounting devices having different
`sizes and shapes since marketed ceiling support rails have
`different sizes and shapes. The conventional sprinkler
`mounting devices are thus very inconvenient to manufac-
`turers and users.
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, the present invention has been made keep-
`ing in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art,
`and an object of the present
`invention is to provide a
`sprinkler mounting device, which is designed to firmly
`mount a reducer support beam of a sprinkler to a ceiling
`support rail in a building.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`sprinkler mounting device, which is usable for firmly
`mounting a reducer support beam of a sprinkler to a ceiling
`support rail in a building regardless of a size or a shape of
`the ceiling support rail.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide a
`sprinkler mounting device, which is less likely to be
`deformed even when it is exceedingly tightened by a locking
`bolt to firmly mount a reducer support beam of a sprinkler
`to a ceiling support rail in a building.
`the present
`In order to accomplish the above objects,
`invention provides a device for mounting a sprinkler to a
`ceiling support rail in a building, comprising two vertical
`sidewalls integrated together into a U-shaped single struc-
`ture by a top wall, wherein the two sidewalls are bent
`inwardly at their lower ends to form clip flanges used for
`gripping the head of the ceiling support rail positioned
`between the two sidewalls, with a first bolt hole being
`formed at the lower portion of each of the two sidewalls and
`a first locking bolt being threaded into the bolt holes of the
`two sidewalls so as to tighten the lower portions of the two
`sidewalls and allow the two sidewalls to firmly grip the
`ceiling support rail, and a notch being formed at the upper
`portion of each of the two sidewalls and being used for
`seating a reducer support beam of the sprinkler therein; and
`the top wall has a second bolt hole, with a second locking
`bolt being threaded into the second bolt hole so as to hold the
`reducer support beam seated in the notches of the two
`sidewalls.
`
`In the above device, two inward projections are formed on
`each of the two sidewalls to space the two sidewalls apart
`from each other by a predetermined gap when the first
`locking bolt tightens the two sidewalls to each other.
`In addition, a reinforcing rib is formed along the edge of
`the notch of each of the sidewalls.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other objects, features and other advanta-
`geous of the present invention will be more clearly under-
`stood from the following detailed description taken in con-
`junction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing a reducer support
`beam of a sprinkler held on two ceiling support rails at its
`opposite end portions using two mounting devices in accor-
`dance with the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a perspective view, showing the construction of
`a mounting device in accordance with the preferred embodi-
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the mounting device taken
`along the line A—A of FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a front view of the mounting device of this
`invention, when the device mounts an end portion of the
`reducer support beam to a ceiling support rail; and
`FIG. 5 is a side view of the mounting device of this
`invention, when the device mounts an end of the reducer
`support beam to a ceiling support rail.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`As shown in FIG. 1, a reducer support beam 3 of a
`sprinkler is held on two ceiling support rails 2 in a building
`
`

`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`
`3
`at its opposite end portions using two mounting devices 10
`of this invention. Asprinkler reducer 4 is held on the reducer
`support beam 3 using a fixing bracket 6 mounted to the
`center of the support beam 3. A ceiling panel 5 is mounted
`to the bottoms of the ceiling support rails 2 so as to form a
`desired ceiling.
`FIGS. 2 and 3 are views, showing the construction of a
`mounting device 10 in accordance with the preferred
`embodiment of this invention. As shown in the drawings, the
`mounting device 10 of this invention comprises two vertical
`sidewalls 11 and 11‘ integrated together into a U-shaped
`single structure by a top wall 19.
`The two sidewalls 11 and 11‘ are bent inwardly at their
`lower ends to form clip flanges 12, which are used for
`gripping the head of a ceiling support rail 2 positioned
`between the two sidewalls 11 and 11‘. A first bolt hole 20 or
`
`the lower portion of each of the two
`is formed at
`20‘
`sidewalls 11 and 11‘, while a first locking bolt 21 is threaded
`into the bolt holes 20 and 20‘ of the two sidewalls 11 and 11‘.
`
`In such a case, the locking bolt 21 is threaded in a direction
`from the bolt hole 20 of the sidewall 11 to the bolt hole 20‘
`
`of the sidewall 11‘, with the bolt hole 20‘ being internally
`threaded. Therefore, when the locking bolt 21 is threaded
`into the two bolt holes 20 and 20‘, the sidewall 11‘ is biased
`toward the other sidewall 11, thus reducing the width of the
`channel between the two sidewalls 11 and 11‘ at the lower
`
`portion.
`FIGS. 4 and 5 show the mounting device 10 of this
`invention, when the device 10 mounts an end portion of the
`reducer support beam 3 to a ceiling support rail 2. As shown
`in the drawings, in order to fix the mounting device 10 to a
`desired position of a ceiling support rail 2, the mounting
`device 10 is primarily fitted over the ceiling support rail 2 in
`a way such that the clip flanges 12 of the two sidewalls 11
`and 11‘ are positioned outside the opposite surfaces of the
`web of the rail 2 at a position under the head 2a of the rail
`2. Thereafter, the locking bolt 21 is fully threaded into the
`two bolt holes 20 and 20‘, and so the two sidewalls 11 and
`11‘ are reduced in the gap between them at the lower portions
`and compress the head 2a of the rail 2, thus finally fixing the
`position of the mounting device 10 on the rail 2.
`Two or more inward projections 13 and 14 are formed on
`the inside surface of each sidewall 11 or 11‘. In the preferred
`embodiment of this invention, the inward projections 13 and
`14 are formed by a pressing process, in which the projec-
`tions 13 and 14 are formed as inward grooves. When the
`locking bolt 21 is tightened, the inward projections 13 and
`14 of the two sidewalls 11 and 11‘ come into compression
`contact with each other at their lower portions as best seen
`in FIG. 4, thus allowing a predetermined gap to be remained
`between the two sidewalls 11 and 11‘ even when the locking
`bolt 21 is fully tightened. Such a gap between the two
`sidewalls 11 and 11‘ allows the clip flanges 12 to be
`prevented from being undesirably opened even when the
`locking bolt 21 is fully tightened. Therefore, it is possible for
`the clip flanges 12 to firmly hold the mounting device 10 to
`the ceiling support rail 2.
`That is, when the sidewalls 11 and 11‘ are not provided
`with such inward projections 13 and 14, the two sidewalls 11
`and 11‘ are brought into contact with each other at their
`lower portions in accordance with a tightening action of the
`locking bolt 21, thus undesirably allowing the clip flanges 12
`to be opened due to the head 2a of the rail 2. Such opened
`clip flanges 12 regrettably fail to firmly grip the web of the
`rail 2 and fail to firmly hold the mounting device 10 on the
`rail 2. However, the mounting device 10 of this invention
`
`10
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`50
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`60
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`65
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`4
`has the inward projections 13 and 14 on each of the
`sidewalls 11 and 11‘, thus effectively preventing the clip
`flanges 12 from being undesirably opened. The mounting
`device 10 thus overcomes such a problem caused by the
`opened clip flanges 12. The inward projections 13 and 14,
`formed through a pressing process, also act as reinforcing
`ribs for each sidewall 11 or 11‘.
`
`A notch 15 is formed at the upper portion of each of the
`two sidewalls 11 and 11‘. This notch 15 is used for seating
`a desired end portion of the reducer support beam 3 of the
`sprinkler. A stop lug 16 is formed on the lower edge of the
`notch 15 of each sidewall 11 or 11‘ at the mouth of the notch
`
`15. This stop lug 16 prevents an undesired movement of the
`reducer support beam 3 within the notch 15. Meanwhile, the
`top wall 19 has a second bolt hole 22, with a second locking
`bolt 23 being threaded into the second bolt hole 22 so as to
`hold the reducer support beam 3 seated in the notches 15 of
`the two sidewalls 11 and 11‘. That is, when the locking bolt
`23 is threaded downward into the bolt hole 22 of the
`
`mounting device 10, the reducer support beam 3 is biased
`downward by the locking bolt 23, thus finally coming into
`close contact with the lower edges of the notches 15 at its
`lower surface. The position of the reducer support beam 3
`relative to the two mounting devices 10 is thus fixed.
`In addition, a reinforcing rib 18 is formed along an edge
`of the notch of each of the sidewalls. The reinforcing rib 18
`is preferably formed on each sidewall 11 or 11‘ to be bulged
`outward. Due to such a specifically designed structure of the
`reinforcing ribs 18, it is possible to prevent an undesired
`deformation of the upper portion of the mounting device
`even when the locking bolt 21 is fully tightened into the
`holes 20 and 20‘.
`
`The sprinkler mounting device 10 of this invention is used
`as follows:
`
`In order to mount opposite end portions of a reducer
`support beam 3 of a sprinkler to desired two ceiling support
`rails 2,
`two mounting devices 10 are primarily fixed to
`desired positions of the two ceiling support rails 2. In such
`a case, each mounting device 10 is fitted over an associated
`ceiling support rail 2. Thereafter, a locking bolt 21 is fully
`threaded into the two bolt holes 20 and 20‘ of each mounting
`device 10, thus compressing the head 2a of the rail 2 by the
`two sidewalls 11 and 11‘ and firmly fixing the position of the
`mounting device 10 on the rail 2. In such a case, the inward
`projections 13 and 14 of the sidewalls 11 and 11‘ come into
`compression contact with each other, and so the clip flanges
`12 are prevented from being undesirably opened even when
`the locking bolt 21 is fully tightened.
`Thereafter, a reducer support beam 3 of the sprinkler is
`seated in the notches 15 of the two mounting devices 10, and
`a second locking bolt 23 is fully threaded into the second
`bolt hole 22 of each mounting device 10. The reducer
`support beam 3 is thus biased downward and finally comes
`into close contact with the lower edges of the notches 15 at
`its lower surface. The position of the reducer support beam
`3 relative to the two mounting devices 10 is thus fixed, and
`so the opposite end portions of the reducer support beam 3
`are firmly mounted to desired ceiling support rails 2. In such
`a case, the reinforcing rib 18 prevents an undesired defor-
`mation of the upper portion of the sidewalls 11 and 11‘ of
`each mounting device 10.
`invention provides a
`As described above,
`the present
`sprinkler mounting device, designed to firmly mount a
`reducer support beam of a sprinkler to a ceiling support rail
`in a building. This sprinkler mounting device is also usable
`for firmly mounting the reducer support beam to any ceiling
`
`

`
`US 6,260,810 B1
`
`5
`support rail regardless of the size and shape of the ceiling
`support rail. In addition, the sprinkler mounting device is
`less likely to be deformed even when it
`is exceedingly
`tightened by a locking bolt to firmly mount the reducer
`support beam to the ceiling support rail.
`Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention
`has been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in
`the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions
`and substitutions are possible, without departing from the
`scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accom-
`panying claims.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A device for mounting a sprinkler to a ceiling support
`rail in a building, comprising two vertical sidewalls inte-
`grated together into a U-shaped single structure by a top
`wall, wherein
`the two sidewalls are bent inwardly at their lower ends to
`form clip flanges used for gripping a head of the ceiling
`support rail positioned between the two sidewalls, with
`a first bolt hole being formed at a lower portion of each
`of the two sidewalls and a first locking bolt being
`threaded into the bolt holes of the two sidewalls so as
`
`to tighten the lower portions of the two sidewalls and
`allow the two sidewalls to firmly grip the ceiling
`
`6
`support rail, and a notch being formed at an upper
`portion of each of the two sidewalls and being used for
`seating a reducer support beam of the sprinkler therein;
`and
`
`said top wall has a second bolt hole, with a second locking
`bolt being threaded into the second bolt hole so as to
`hold the reducer support beam seated in the notches of
`the two sidewalls.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`2. The device according to claim 1, wherein an inward
`projection is formed on each of said two sidewalls to space
`the two sidewalls apart from each other by a predetermined
`gap when the two sidewalls are tightened to each other by
`the first locking bolt.
`3. The device according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing
`rib is formed along an edge of the notch of each of the
`sidewalls.
`
`4. The device according to any one of claim 1, wherein a
`stop lug is formed on a lower edge of the notch of each of
`the sidewalls at a mouth of said notch and is used for
`
`20
`
`preventing an undesired movement of the reducer support
`beam within the notch.