Patent ID: 8002046
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: A62C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for discouraging tampering with a sprinkler head of the type activated to discharge water when the sprinkler head is exposed to a predefined temperature or a trigger is moved, where the sprinkler head projects from a surface of a habitable structure into an area to be protected from fire, the apparatus comprising: magnetically active mounting means mountable to the surface; an enclosure sized to substantially impede access to a trigger of the sprinkler head, at least a portion of said enclosure disposed to lie within an expected path of water discharged by the activated sprinkler head, and further including at least one aperture operative to admit heat from the area to the sprinkler head; and magnetically active coupling means connected to said enclosure, sized and disposed to magnetically engage at least a portion of said mounting means, whereupon said enclosure is magnetically retained upon the surface to impede access to a trigger of the sprinkler head; wherein when said sprinkler head is activated, said enclosure is pushed by discharged water, and said enclosure is thereby detached from the surface; and wherein tampering is discouraged in that a tamperer must remove said enclosure in order to readily tamper with the sprinkler head by moving or damaging the sprinkler head trigger to cause activation of the sprinkler head.