Abstract:
A sprinkler system that can be quickly deployed for preventing brush and forest fires from engulfing a home. The system includes at least one assembly with a sprinkler on a base. The base straddles the roof ridge. The base adjusts to different roof pitches. The assemblies include hose interfaces to allow connection of a hose routed from a water supply. A fire retardant solution or fire fighting foam can be added downstream of the supply. The sprinklers wet the rooftop and a portion of the surrounding grounds. An optional pump and independent power supply can be added to route water from an available reservoir.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to protection of buildings from wildfires with water sprinklers on roofs. Historically forest and brush fires have burned thousands of acres and destroyed many homes throughout the United States and the world, and this will continue to occur in the future. Many homes and buildings are burned from direct contact with flames or most often from embers that are blown ahead of the main fire and fall on roofs of homes and buildings, sometimes a long distance from the fire. The present invention is designed to wet the rooftop of a building and a portion of the surrounding grounds to help prevent ignition of the building. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Rooftop sprinkler systems can range from expensive and permanent hard-piped systems to a homeowner simply turning a hose on a building ahead of a wildfire. The present invention can be quickly and inexpensively deployed ahead of an impending wildfire and allow the homeowner to safely evacuate. 
   Examples of most-closely related known, but yet different devices and systems are described in the following patent documents. U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,968 issued to Orrange on Mar. 26, 2002, taught a sprinkler system with legs resting on opposite slopes of the roof, above the ridge, instead of an assembly that straddles the roof ridge as taught by this invention. U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,020, issued to Harward on Apr. 25, 1989, described a sprinkler stand on legs, with the points of the legs being positioned in soil to arrest pivoting. U.S. Pat. No. 4,330,040, issued to Ince, et al. on May 18, 1982, described a fire preventing and cooling system with tubes having orifices permanently on rooftops for dispensing water differently than a temporary roof ridge straddling assembly, such as taught by this Applicant. U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,876, issued to Valdatta on May 30, 1978, described a fire sprinkler system for mobile homes having a loop of tubing mounted on the perimeter of their flat roofs with sprinklers pointed inwardly. U.S. Pat. No. 3,576,212, issued to Siler on Apr. 27, 1971, taught a fire-shielding device with sprinklers on stands positioned on ground surfaces and extended higher than a roof of a building for spraying water on the roof effectively. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a wildfire rooftop sprinkler system which: directs spray of water and/or fire retardant or fire fighting foam on rooftops and also on limited peripheral areas for fire protection; includes sprinklers, each on a one piece A-frame assembly that straddles the roof ridge; can be deployed on a roof quickly in event of a wildfire; requires no assembly; low profile design requires no anchor weights or roof attachments; has series connectivity for multiple assemblies to be positioned wherever needed on large and multi-sectioned roofs; connects easily to a garden hose for a water supply; can be stacked for commercial distribution and for consumer storage when not in use; can be used to distribute a fire retardant solution or fire fighting foam; can be used as an effective irrigation sprinkler; is light enough to be easily carried on a ladder for positioning on a roof; can be produced inexpensively for low-cost but highly effective wildfire protection when needed; low profile design is aesthetic and may be positioned reliably on rooftops indefinitely. 
   This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a wildfire rooftop sprinkler system having sprinklers on a one piece base positioned temporarily or indefinitely as needed on roofs with the base formed to straddle the roof ridge. The invention can be removed for use in common sprinkler irrigation or stored when not in use for wildfire protection. The rotating sprinklers can wet rooftops, gutters, nearby trees, shrubs, and areas for protection against flying sparks and burning particles. Backup supply of water can be provided from an available reservoir with a pump powered by a motor or a heat engine in a power system that is isolated from a potential wildfire. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and the descriptive matter in which they are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a structure, such as a house, with the system of this invention deployed thereon and with water delivered from the system depicted being dispersed over the structure and surrounding area close the structure. 
       FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of one of the assemblies of the system including a base and a sprinkler thereon and with hoses coupled to the assembly, with the assembly shown mounted upon a roof of the structure. 
       FIG. 3  is a top plan view of that which is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an end elevation view of that which is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 5  is a front elevation view of an alternative embodiment of that which is shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is a front elevation view of the structure with the system of this invention deployed thereon and showing the system in operation distributing water over the structure. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to a system for protecting a structure from wildfire ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ) by placing at least one sprinkler  50  on a roof R of the structure (such as a house H) in a removable attachable fashion. The system  10  generally includes a series of separate assemblies  20  with each assembly including a base  30  and a sprinkler  50 . The assemblies  20  can be coupled together serially through hoses  70  so that the system can flexibly expand to match a size of the structure to be protected. Both the house H as well as surrounding shrubs S and trees T can be protected by the distribution of water W from the system  10  (along arrow A of  FIG. 6 ) of this invention ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ). 
   In essence, and with particular reference to  FIGS. 1-6 , basic details of this invention are described, according to a preferred embodiment. The system  10  could include as few as one of the assemblies  20  coupled to a hose  70  for supply of water W to the assembly  20 . Each assembly  20  ( FIGS. 2-5 ) includes a base  30  for straddling a ridge I of a roof R of a house H or other structure. The base  30  is generally configured as a loop  32  coupled to a center tube  40  extending parallel with and adjacent to the ridge I of the roof R. This loop  32  extends laterally on either side of the center tube  40  so that the base  30  provides a stable platform for the assembly  20 . The sprinkler  50  is mounted to the center tube  40  and extending up from the center tube  40 . The center tube  40  can interface with at least one hose  70  and preferably multiple hoses  70  for serial attachment of assemblies  20  within the system  10 . 
   In a simplest form of the invention, the hoses  70  are merely coupled to a hose bib B of the house H or other structure to supply water under pressure for the system  10 . As an alternative, and to provide redundancy should water pressure be lost during a wildfire, a pump  60  can be utilized coupled to a reservoir P. To make sure the pump  60  can operate even if the power should go out during a wildfire, the pump  60  preferably is powered by batteries  62  or an engine  66 . The hoses  70  can be routed through a fire retardant tank  80  before arriving at the assemblies  20 . This fire retardant tank  80  can be loaded with a water borne fire retardant material that is carried through the system  10  along with the water W for distribution over the house H (along arrow A of  FIG. 6 ). 
   More specifically, and with particular reference to  FIGS. 2-4 , details of the roof support base  30  of each assembly  20  are described, according to a preferred embodiment. The base  30  is preferably formed as a loop  32  of elongate rigid material, such as aluminum tubing or solid aluminum bar stock or thin walled steel tubing or tubing of some other strong but lightweight material. Other such potential materials include composite materials and plastic materials. Most preferably, the material is one which can maintain strength in a high UV radiation environment, such as on a roof R of a house H. Furthermore, it is somewhat desirable that the base  30  have some weight associated therewith to place a center of mass of the entire assembly  20  fairly low and preferably below the ridge I of the roof R, for maximum stability of the assemblies  20  upon the roof R. 
   This loop  32  includes two pairs of diagonal segments  34  which extend at a diverging angle down to lower ends where they transition into horizontal segments  36  on either side of the ridge I. The horizontal segments  36  then transition to separate diagonal segments  34  of the second pair which extend back up to the ridge I of the roof R. Bends  35  in the loop  32  are provided adjacent the ridge I. The horizontal segments  36  preferably include feet  38  near each end thereof. The feet  38  help to avoid damage to the roof by being formed of a rubber hydrocarbon foam or other resilient material. Also, the feet support the entire assembly  20  if the angle between the diagonal segments is greater than that of the roof R, or if the assembly  20  is used on the flat ground, such as for a sprinkler support when not in use for fire suppression. 
   The base  30  also includes a center tube  40  extending parallel with and adjacent to the ridge I of the roof R. This center tube  40  is coupled to the loop  32  at each of the bends  35 . These bends  35  are preferably adjacent ends  42  of the center tube  40 . 
   The bends  35  are preferably adjustable so that the loop  32  can be caused to have a diverging angle between pairs of diagonal segments  34  which match that of the pitch of the roof. Such pitch matching allows the diagonal segments to be in contact with the roof at a variety of different positions along the segments  34 , for load distribution and minimization of any potential damage to shingles or other structures on the roof R. As one example, the diverging angle could be 90° to match a roof pitch of 12 to 12 (a 50% slope). 
   Such adjustability of the diagonal segments  34  of the roof  30  at the bend  35  is most preferably provided by merely bending the loop  32 , so that the bends  35  act as a bendable junction until an appropriate angle is provided between the pairs of diagonal segments  34 . The loop  32  is preferably formed of materials and with a geometry which facilitates such bending, preferably by hand with a moderate amount of force applied. As another alternative, a tool could be provided or separately utilized for such bending. 
   As another alternative, the loop  32  could be interrupted by an adjustable fitting in each of the bends  35  which exhibit angle adjustability between the two diagonal segments  34 . For instance, the diagonal segments  34  could at their upper ends include somewhat planar ears which overlap each other and which have a bolt and nut combination passing through the two ears. When the bolt and nut are loosened, the diagonal segments  34  of each pair would be pivotable relative to each other. When the bolt and nut combination are tightened, the diagonal segments  34  would exhibit a fixed angle therebetween. Other means to adjust an angle between the diagonal segments  34  could also be utilized to cause matching of the angle of divergence between the diagonal segments  34  at the bends  35  to match that of the roof R pitch. 
   While two pairs of diagonal segments  34  are shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the base  30  could have only one pair of diagonal segments  34 , so that no loop  32  would be provided, or more than two pairs of diagonal segments could be provided. 
   The center tube  40  is preferably an elongate hollow tubular structure which is rigid and linear in form. Each end  42  preferably includes a fitting  44  thereon suitable for removable attachment to a hose, such as a standard garden hose. Preferably, at least one of the fittings  44  is provided with a removable plug. Thus, the assembly  20  can be utilized with only one of the fittings  44  coupled to a garden hose, or with both of the fittings  44  coupled to a garden hose  70 . These fittings  44  provide a preferred form of first and second hose  70  interfaces. 
   While a garden hose  70  is specified in a simplest form of this invention, more heavy duty versions of this invention could be provided where a larger diameter hose  70  or more heavy duty hose  70  might be utilized, even including a fire hose and fittings appropriate for computability with standard fire department fire hose. This center tube  40  preferably has a T-joint  46  at a midpoint thereof with a riser  48  extending up from the elongate main body of the center tube  40 . This riser  48  has the sprinkler  50  mounted thereto. 
   The sprinkler  50  is preferably an impact sprinkler of a type which rotates continuously spreading water out of a water outlet in a circular pattern away from the sprinkler  50 . One such suitable sprinkler  50  is similar to that described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,055,304, incorporated herein by reference. Other sprinklers could be provided, with the sprinklers most preferably providing 360° of coverage. In one form of the invention, the sprinkler  50  could be provided by a user and the system  10  would merely be provided with assemblies  20  that have risers  48  which are open and ready to receive sprinklers  50  to be selected by the user. 
   In an alternative embodiment, an alternative assembly  120  is disclosed ( FIG. 5 ). With this alternative assembly  120 , a base  130  is provided that includes diagonal segments that are not joined together by horizontal segments, but rather terminate at feet  138 . Thus, two pairs of diagonal segments make up the entire alternative base  130  of the alternative assembly  120 . As an alternative, one pair or more than two pairs might be provided. Other portions of the alternative assembly  120  including the center tube  40  and sprinkler  50  are similar to those described above. 
   With particular reference to  FIGS. 1 and 6 , other details of the overall system  10  are described, according to a preferred embodiment. Most preferably, the system  10  is provided to work with a variety of different water supplies. For instance, the system  10  could merely be provided with one or more assemblies  20  in a package, compatible with garden hoses  70  or other hoses available separately, and compatible with sprinklers  50  of a user&#39;s selection, or with the sprinklers  50  already mounted to the assemblies  20 . Alternatively, the system  10  could be provided with multiple assemblies  20  and/or hoses  70  together as a kit. 
   To couple to the water supply, at least one of the hoses  70  extends down from the ridge I of the roof R to ground level. In a simplest form of the invention this hose  70  has an end  72  coupled to one of the assemblies  20  with the other end coupled to a hose bib B ( FIGS. 1 and 6 ). The user need merely turn on a valve of the hose bib B and the system  10  commences operation. Specifically, water W flows through the hose  70 , up to the roof R (along arrow C of  FIGS. 1 and 6 ), to the first assembly  20  and out of the sprinkler  50  (along arrow A of  FIG. 6 ). The water W can continue out of the center tube  40  if a second assembly  20  is attached. The water W passes through a second hose  70  (along arrow C) to the second assembly  20  and possibly other serially attached assemblies, to distribute water W (along arrow A) preferably over the entire house H. 
   If desired, a fire retardant tank  80  can be provided along the hose  70  between the hose bib B and the first assembly  20  of the system  10 . The fire retardant tank  80  would preferably be a container with a fire retardant material therein, either solid or liquid, which is a water borne fire retardant. When water from the hose bib B enters the fire retardant tank  80 , it reacts with the fire retardant within the tank and causes the water borne mixture of water and fire retardant to pass through the hose  70  to the assemblies  20 . This fire retardant material would preferably be compatible with the sprinklers  50  so that the sprinklers  50  can adequately disperse the water and fire retardant over the roof R and surrounding structures including decks D and trees T and shrubs S surrounding the house H or other structure. In one form of the invention, the fire retardant within the tank  80  is of a type which forms a foam when coming into contact with water so that a foam material is dispersed by the sprinklers  50 . 
   Often water pressure in a hose bib B is not reliable during a wildfire. If the water is municipally provided, it may be diverted to fire hydrants for fighting of the wildfire. If water provided through a domestic well, fire related power loss may cause loss of pressure. A beneficial attribute of the system  10  in at least one form is the provision of a backup water supply to feed the system  10 . In particular, a pump  60  is provided coupled to a reservoir P and feeding the hoses  70  to deliver water W to the assemblies  20  of the system  10 . This reservoir P could be a pond, a creek, a swimming pool, or some other reservoir of water. The pump  60  could operate on electricity with an appropriate set of batteries  62  and a power system  64  to charge the batteries  62  when power is available. Then if power is out, the batteries  62  provide power to the pump  60  to supply water to the system  10 . As another alternative, an engine  66  could be provided along with a fuel tank  68  so that the engine  66  can be started and burn fuel  68  to generate power to drive the pump  60 . 
   This disclosure is provided to reveal a preferred embodiment of the invention and a best mode for practicing the invention. Having thus described the invention in this way, it should be apparent that various different modifications can be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention disclosure. When structures are identified as a means to perform a function, the identification is intended to include all structures which can perform the function specified. When structures of this invention are identified as being coupled together, such language should be interpreted broadly to include the structures being coupled directly together or coupled together through intervening structures. Such coupling could be permanent or temporary and either in a rigid fashion or in a fashion which allows pivoting, sliding or other relative motion while still providing some form of attachment, unless specifically restricted.