US3815821A

US3815821A - Adjustable escutscheon

Info

Publication number: US3815821A
Application number: US00311827A
Authority: US
Inventors: P Metcalfe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-12-04
Filing date: 1972-12-04
Publication date: 1974-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 1991-06-11

Abstract

An escutcheon for supporting, protecting, and in part concealing a portion of the sprinkler head and other parts of a sprinkler system, for preventing or minimizing fire losses, in combination with means for adjusting the position of the escutcheon to various desired positions relative to said sprinkler system. The escutcheon comprises two annular collars, both of which are Lshaped in cross section. Each of the collars has a portion which has a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of the ring of the other collar, and one ring is arranged to be positioned within the other ring. Each of the collars has a horizontal flange which in both cases extends horizontally away from the other ring. Either or both of the collars may be turned over so that the vertically extending portion extends either up or down and thus at one time the outer collar may have its vertically extending portion extending up and the inner ring have 1ts vertically extending portion extending down, or both of the inner and outer rings may have their vertically extending portions extending up, or both may have such portions extending down, or the outer ring may have its vertically extending portion extending down and the inner ring have its vertically extending portion extending up. Means are provided for adjusting the collars relative to each other.

Description

United States Patent [191 Metcalfe June 11, 1974 1 ADJUSTABLE ESCUTSCHEON [76] Inventor: Paul V. Metcalfe, 315 Southwood Rd, Palm Beach, Fla. 33480 [22] Filed: Dec. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 311,827

Primary ExaminerM. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner.lohn .1. Love Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lerome R. Cox

[57] ABSTRACT An escutcheon for supporting, protecting, and in part concealing a portion of the sprinkler head and other parts of a sprinkler system, for preventing or minimizing fire losses, in combination with means for adjusting the position of the escutcheon to various desired positions relative to said sprinkler system. The escutcheon comprises two annular collars, both of which are L-shaped in cross section. Each of the collars has a portion which has a vertical axis coinciding with the axis of the ring of the other collar, and one ring is arranged to be positioned within the other ring. Each of the collars has a horizontal flange which in both cases extends horizontally away from the other ring. Either or both of the collars may be turned over so that the vertically extending portion extends either up or down and thus at one time the outer collar may have its vertically extending portion extending up and the inner ring have lts vertically extending portion extending down, or both of the inner and outer rings may have their vertically extending portions extending up, or both may have such portions extending down, or the outer ring may have its vertically extending portion extending down and the inner ring have its vertically extending portion extending up. Means are provided for adjusting the collars relative to each other.

5 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures mtmem 1 1 I974 Fig.

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ADJUSTABLE ESCUTSCHEON In one embodiment, the positioning means which is also a support means is shown as a plurality of brackets and a pair of threaded rods whereby the escutcheon may be positioned relative to the ceiling at any desired point ranging through a distance of approximately 2 /5 inches of continuous adjustment from the uppermost position partially within the ceiling to the lowermost position substantially below the ceiling. The rods are externally threaded and extend upward parallel to the axes of the collars or rings. Each rod may be of steel and each rod has one of the pair of bracket members threadedly engaged thereon. Each bracket has a substantially vertically extending portion and a pair of oppositely extending substantially horizontal portions extending from the opposite ends thereof. One of the horizontally extending portions is threaded onto the threaded rod and the other horizontally extending portion is secured by screws to the inwardly extending flange of the inner ring.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As illustrative of the prior patents relating to escutcheons for sprinkler heads, there may be considered the U.S. Pat. Nos. to Metcalfe 2,946,329 and to Campbell et al. 3,195,647. The Metcalfe patent does not show any method of adjusting the escutcheon relative to the ceiling or to a recess formed in the ceiling. The Campbell et al Pat. No. 3,195,647 shows a method of adjusting the sprinkler head relative to the ceiling but does not show any escutcheon and therefore does not show any means for adjusting the escutcheon.

It is an object, therefore, of my invention to provide an improved escutcheon.

It is a further object of my invention to provide improved means of adjusting an escutcheon relative to the ceiling and relative to the position of a sprinkler head which usually extends at least partly below the ceiling but which may be positioned well below the ceiling.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an adjustable escutcheon which may be economically and practically manufactured and used.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specifications and claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of the invention.

In the device which I disclose herein, there are means for adjusting the escutcheon from a position in which the escutcheon is in a recessed position wholly within the recess in the ceiling or is in the standard position in which the escutcheon is partially within the recess and is partially below the recess or in an extended position in which the escutcheon is wholly below the ceiling. So far as I know, no prior art patent discloses a structure in which the escutcheon for portions of the sprinkler system may be adjusted to such a plurality of positions. It is also to be noted that the escutcheon may not only be adjusted to the three positions specified above but may be adjusted substantially infinitesimally to any point between the upper position and the lower position. That is, it may be adjusted between the recessed position and the extended position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have found that the above and other objects can be attained by the provision of an automatic sprinkler system positioned relative to a recess in the ceiling of a building and provided for the purpose of preventing or minimizing fire damage wherein said system includes a fluid supply pipe, a sprinkler head attached to the pipe, and a valve associated with the pipe and the sprinkler head arranged to open if a fire occurs in the vicinity of the sprinkler head,

wherein there is provided in combination an escutcheon for protecting and beautifying the installation and means for adjusting the position of the escutcheon from a position wholly within the recess to a portion wholly below the recess and also to various positions relative to the sprinkler head.

The objects can also be attained by the provision of such an automatic sprinkler system wherein there is provided in combination an escutcheon for protecting and beautifying the installation and a universal support fixture adapted to position said escutcheon in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said ceiling and said recess and relative to the parts of the sprinkler system wherein said escutcheon is formed by a plurality of tubular collars one of which forms an outer housing and another of which forms an inner housing having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the outer housing, is telescoped or positioned within the outer housing, the inner housing has an inwardly extending substantially horizontal flange contacting with a portion of the sprinkler head and positioning ane supporting the escutcheon; and

wherein there is also provided means for adjusting the two collars relative to each other to any position intermediate an extreme recessed position and an extreme extended position.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in elevation showing a sprinkler head of a fire prevention or minimizing sprinkler system extending below the ceiling wherein the water or other liquid supply pipes and the escutcheon are concealed within a recess in the ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a view in section showing the liquid supply pipes as well as the sprinkler head and also my improved escutcheon surrounding the lower part of the sprinkler head and supply pipes wherein the escutcheon is adjusted to its most recessed position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing my improved escutcheon in an adjustment similar to FIG. 2 wherein a part of the sprinkler pipes are omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 wherein the escutcheon has been compressed thus allowing a lower position of the sprinkler head relative to the ceil- FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein the inner housing of the escutcheon has been reversed and wherein although the sprinkler head is held in approximately the same position as in FIG. 4, the collars or rings of the escutcheon overlap only slightly so that the escutcheon is extended to its greatest vertical length;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 wherein the escutcheon has been first compressed by telescoping the inner collar or ring within the outer, and then extended in the opposite direction thus allowing a still lower position of the sprinkler head,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 wherein the outer housing of the escutcheon has been reversed and wherein although the sprinkler head is held in approximately the same position as in FIG. 6, the escutcheon is again compressed in vertical length;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 wherein the escutcheon has again been extended vertically thus allowing a still lower position of the sprinkler head;

FIG. 9 is a view in elevation similar to FIG. 1, showing the sprinkler head extending below the ceiling to its maximum projection position and showing the fully vertically extended escutcheon also positioned substantially entirely below the ceiling;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the escutcheon illustrated in FIGS. 2 through 9, with the supply pipes and sprinkler head omitted for clarity;

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 10, of the escutcheon also with the pipes and sprinkler head omitted;

FIG. 12 is a view in elevation of an alternate escutcheon structure, the ceiling being shown insection;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12, showing'the escutcheon of FIG. 12 partially recessed into the ceiling;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIGS. 12 and 13, showing the escutcheon of FIGS. 12 and 13 substantially wholly recessed into the ceiling;

FIG. 15 is a view in plan of one half of the inner housing of the escutcheon of FIGS. 12, 13 and 14; 7

FIG. 16 is a view in side elevation of the structure of FIG. 15;

F IO. 17 is a view in front elevation of the structure of FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a view in top plan of the structure of FIG. 15 when combined with the other half of the inner housing of FIGS. l2, l3 and 14;

FIG. 19 is a view in top plan of the outer housing of FIGS. l2, l3 and 14; and

FIG. 20 is a view in vertical section of the structure of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a view in elevation showing a ceiling 10 having a sprinkler head 11 of an automatic sprinkler system for minimizing fire damage. As shown in FIG. 2, there is an escutcheon 12 surrounding a substantial portion of the sprinkler head, which sprinkler head includes a valve 13 controlled by

levers

14 and 15 which are normally held in a position to keep the valve closed by a meltable link 16. The sprinkler head includes an upper portion 17 and a lower portion 18. The escutcheon 12 is positioned and supported by the upper portion 17 of the sprinkler head and, as stated, surrounds a part of the-lower portion 18 of the sprinkler head of a head inches standard sprinkler.- The escutcheon 12 consists of an outer housing 21 formed as a tubular collar and having an outwardly horizontally extending flange 22 and a two-part inner housing 23. When the two parts of the housing 23 are held together they form a tubular collar having an inwardly extending flange. The two parts of the housing 23 are designated 24 and 25. The flanges of the housing 23 are respectively designated 26 and 27. The upper portion of the sprinkler head 17 is formed with a groove 19 (see'FIGS. 12, 13, and 14) in which the

inner flanges

26 and 27 rest to support the supporting structure for the escutcheon 12 and the escutcheon 12 itself.

There are provided a pair of mounting

brackets

28 and 29 which are in a sense Z-shaped in form and consist of flat straps having their opposite ends bent in opposite directions at a angle. Associated with these

brackets

28 and 29 are a pair of threaded

steel rods

31 and 32 which are at their upper ends secured to and threaded within holes in the outwardly extending portion of the brackets or

straps

28 and 29. The lower end of the

rods

31 and 32 are secured by

acorn lock nuts

41 and 42 to the flange 23 at opposite sides of the escutcheon. The lower ends of the

brackets

28 and 29 are secured to the inwardly extending flange portion of 26-27 of the inner housing 22 by four

machine screws

43, 44, 45 and 46. Water or other liquid for'controlling fire is supplied to the sprinkler head by means of a relatively large (probably 1 inch) steel supply pipe 51 and a reducer (usually 1 inch to one half inch) coupling 52.

In FIG. 10 there is shown a topplan view of the escutcheon structure and in FIG. 11 there is shown a bottom plan view thereof. Itmay be seen that the inner housing 23 is formed or two

halves

24 and 25. The lower flange of mounting

brackets

28 and 29 are secured to flange 24 by machine screws 43 44, 45 and 46, and the upper flange of mounting

brackets

28 and 29 are formed with threaded openings by which the brackets ar adjustably secured to threaded

steel rods

31 and 32. Threaded onto the lower ends

ofthreaded rods

31 and 32 are acorn lock nuts '41 and 42 whereby the

rods

31 and 32 are secured to the outwardly extending I flange 22 of outer housing 21.

Referring now to FIGS. 12-20 inclusive, wherein I have shown another embodiment of my invention, and especially to FIGS. 12-14, it will be seen that l have shown associated with a ceiling an escutcheon 112 having a sprinkler head 111 and an escutcheon 112, of which the outer collar or housing 121 has a flange 122 and the inner collarorhousing 123 has inwardly extending

flanges

126 and 127.

Referring also to FIGS. 15-17 inclusive, it may be seen that the inner housing 123 is formed in two

halves

124 and 125. It has a composite inner flange 126-127. Teeth 128 are formed on the outer surface of each of these halves and a lock is provided as'at 129 so that the two halves may be locked together when desired.

Now referring especially to FIGS. 19 and 20, it may be seen that the outer collar or housing 121 is formed turning the two collars relative to each other for a few degrees, the teeth will be out of alignment. Then the two collars may be adjusted vertically relative to each other and then turned backso that the teeth are in alignment so that the two collars are adjusted relative to. each other.

A fourth arrangement of the tubular collars or

housings

21 and 23 is not illustrated but may be used if desired. Therein the tubular portion of both of the

housings

21 and 23 extend downwardly. However such arrangement need not be used because such arrangement will achieve only positions of adjustment such as are illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 8.

OPERATION The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to inclusive is assembled by placing the inner collar 23 around the neck of the portion 18 of sprinkler head 11, placing the outer collar 21 around the inner collar 23 as desired as shown in either of FIGS. 3, 5, or 7, securing the

brackets

28 and 29 to the

flanges

26 and 27 of the inner housing 23, passing the

rods

31 and 32 upward through the flange 22 of the outer housing 21 and then through the threaded openings in

brackets

28 and 29, turning the

rods

31 and 32 to secure the desired adjustments and securing the

acorn nuts

41 and 42 on the lower ends of the

rods

31 and 32 to bear against the ceiling 10.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-20 is similarly assembled and adjusted.

It is to be understood that while detailed drawings and specific embodiments are given, they are for the purpose of illustration only, that the apparatus of the invention is not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed, that the method of the invention is not limited to the precise steps disclosed, and that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention which is defined by the following claims.

l claim:

1. For use in an automatic sprinkler system associated with a ceiling of a building, the ceiling being formed with a recess and the system being provided for the purpose of preventing or minimizing fire damage to said building, the sprinkler system including a fluid supply pipe, a sprinkler head attached to said pipe, and a valve associated with said pipe and the sprinkler head wherein the valve is arranged to open if a fire occurs in the vicinity of the sprinkler head, an escutcheon for protecting and beautifying the installation comprising in combination:

1. a tubular collar forming an outer housing surrounding a portion of said sprinkler head and having a horizontally outwardly and perpendicularly extending flange which is positioned to lie flat against the under side of said ceiling;

2. a second substantially similar tubular collar forming an inner housing which is of slightly smaller diameter than the first mentioned tubular collar and positioned within said first collar, the flange of said second collar housing extending inwardly and contacting with and positioned by and supported by a portion of said sprinkler head; and

3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which: the means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar comprising a series of members consisting of a plurality of aligned spaced teeth formed on one of said tubular collars and a series of members consisting of a plurality of aligned sockets formed on the other tubular collar, one of said series of members being formed on the outside of its collar and the other series of members being formed on the inside of the other collar and-the sockets of one collar being adapted at times to interlock with the teeth of the other collar.

2. For use in an automatic sprinkler system associated with a ceiling of a building, the ceiling being formed with a recess and the system being provided for the purpose of preventing or minimizing fire damage to said building, the sprinkler system including a fluid supply pipe, a sprinkler head attached to said pipe, and a valve associated with said pipe and the sprinkler head wherein the valve is arranged to open if a fire occurs in the vicinity of the sprinkler head, an escutcheon for protecting and beautifying the installation comprising in combination:

3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which: the means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar comprises:

1. a pair of threaded rods extending upward through the flange of said first collar at points on opposite sides of said collar; and

2. a pair of brackets consisting of straps each having a vertically extending main portion with a pair of oppositely and horizontally extending flanges, one flange extending outwardly and having an internally threaded opening into which the associated threaded rod is screwed and the other flange extending inwardly and being secured to the inwardly extending flange of the second collar.

3. The structure of claim 4 in which the second collar is formed of a plurality of interlocked sections.

4. For use in an automatic sprinkler system associated with a ceiling of a building, the ceiling being formed with a recess and the system being provided for the purpose of preventing or minimizing fire damage to said building, the sprinkler system including a fluid supply pipe, a sprinkler head attached to said pipe, and a valve associated with said pipe and the sprinkler head wherein the valve is arranged to open if a fire occurs in the vicinity of the sprinkler head, an escutcheon for protecting and beautifying the installation comprising in combination:

1. a tubular collar forming an outer housing surrounding a portion of said sprinkler head and having a horizontally outwardly and perpendicularly extending flange which is positioned to lie flat against the under side of ceiling;

3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which:

the means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar consists of a universal support fixture arranged to position said escutcheon in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the recess formed in said ceiling comprising:

2. a pair of brackets consisting of straps each having a vertically extending main portion with a pair of oppositely and horizontally extending flanges, one flange extending outwardly at one end of the bracket, and having an internally threaded opening into which the associated threaded rod is screwed and the other. flange extending inwardly at the other end of the bracket, and being secured to the inwardly extending flange of the second collar.

5. The structure of claim 4 in which the flange of the first collar bears at opposite sides against the under side of the ceiling, the lower ends of threaded rods are provided with acorn nuts which bear against the under sides of the flange of the first collar and hold the flange against the ceiling, the inwardly extending flange of the bracket straps being adjustable vertically by rotation of the threaded rods in the internally threaded openings of the outwardly extending flange, and the inwardly extending flange of the second collar rests upon a groove of the upper portion of the sprinkler head so that the universal support fixture is supported by the sprinkler head and in turn adjustably supports the escutcheon.

PO-150. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 1 1 Dated June 11, 1974 Inventor(d) Paul V. Metcalfe It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the Abstract of Title page, the street address of the inventor Paul V. Metcalfe should read 315 South Wood Road ---3- rather than"3l5 Southwood Road".

column 2, lines3l and 32.should read:

tionof the sprinkler head and positioning and supporting the escutcheon;

column 4, line 30 should read brackets are adjustably secured to threaded steelrods 3l column 5, lines 51-54 (claim 1, section 3) should read:

--- 3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which column 6, line 40 (claim 3, line 1) should read:

--- 3 The structure of claim 2 in which the second collar Signed and sealed this 29th day or October 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. For use in an automatic sprinkler system associated with a ceiling of a building, the ceiling being formed with a recess and the system being provided for the purpose of preventing or minimizing fire damage to said building, the sprinkler system including a fluid supply pipe, a sprinkler head attached to said pipe, and a valve associated with said pipe and the sprinkler head wherein the valve is arranged to open if a fire occurs in the vicinity of the sprinkler head, an escutcheon for protecting and beautifying the installation comprising in combination: 1. a tubular collar forming an outer housing surrounding a portion of said sprinkler head and having a horizontally outwardly and perpendicularly extending flange which is positioned to lie flat against the under side of said ceiling; 2. a second substantially similar tubular collar forming an inner housing which is of slightly smaller diameter than the first mentioned tubular collar and positioned within said first collar, the flange of said second collar housing extending inwardly and contacting with and positioned by and supported by a portion of said sprinkler head; and 3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which: the means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar comprising a series of members consisting of a plurality of aligned spaced teeth formed on one of said tubular collars and a series of members consisting of a plurality of aligned sockets formed on the other tubular collar, one of said series of members being formed on the outside of its collar and the other series of members being formed on the inside of the other collar and the sockets of one collar being adapted at times to interlock with the teeth of the other collar.

2. a pair of brackets consisting of straps each having a vertically extending main portion with a pair of oppositely and horizontally extending flanges, one flange extending outwardly at one end of the bracket, and having an internally threaded opening into which the associated threaded rod is screwed and the other flange extending inwardly at the other end of the bracket, and being secured to the inwardly extending flange of the second collar.

3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which: the means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar consists of a universal support fixture arranged to position said escutcheon in any one of a plurality of positions relative to the recess formed in said ceiling comprising:

3. means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar, in which: the means for adjusting the position of the first tubular collar relative to the second tubular collar comprising a series of members consisting of a plurality of aligned spaced teeth formed on one of said tubular collars and a series of members consisting of a plurality of aligned sockets formed on the other tubular collar, one of said series of members being formed on the outside of its collar and the other series of members being formed on the inside of the other collar and the sockets of one collar being adapted at times to interlock with the teeth of the other collar.