Patent Publication Number: US-9423070-B2

Title: Gutter-anchored structure for portable fire sprinklers

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority on the basis of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,842,771 filed on Feb. 12, 2014. 
     I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Definition of the Invention 
     The present invention relates, in general, to fire sprinklers and, more special, to a gutter-anchored structure for portable fire sprinklers. 
     2. Description of the State of the 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. 
     II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A first objective of the present invention is to develop a structure, molded as an integral unit of dimensionally stable plastic material. 
     A second objective of the present invention is to develop a structure simple in design, inexpensive and dependable. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to develop a portable structure, easy to install and service, does not require placing on and attaching to the roof and is simple to winterize by turning off the faucet and detaching water hose. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to extend its versatility by using it for cooling houses in summer months—spraying water on the roof surface; the water evaporates and cools the surface, impliedly the house. Thus, the cooling bill could be substantially reduced. 
     Broadly stating, in view of the foregoing objectives, the Applicant developed a gutter-anchored structure for portable fire sprinklers comprising a monolithic plastic body incorporating a flat base with a top side and a bottom side and a rim perpendicular on the flat base and surrounding the latter. A pair of rectangular prolongations extending from a side of the flat base, each rectangular prolongation terminating into a downwardly extending end, bent back at 90 degrees and provided with a tapered plate, inwardly directed for tangentially contacting an interior of a gutter. A pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets, closely spaced and forming an unitary body, is partially embedded into the flat base. One of the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets has its longitudinal axis of symmetry angled with respect to the top side of the flat base, while another one of the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets has its longitudinal axis of symmetry perpendicular to the flat base. The aforementioned longitudinal axes of symmetry concur and at some point intersect, so that the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets changes into a common, hollow cylindrical inlet projecting outwardly from the bottom side of the flat base. A cantilever bar, having a bent longitudinal axis of symmetry and being located at midway between the pair of rectangular prolongations, incorporates a slanted, ribbed plate extending transversely at the bottom end of the cantilever bar and is adapted to tangentially contact the gutter, respectively a curvilinear external surface of the latter. A tubular housing, projecting perpendicularly out of the bottom side of the flat base, is intended to capture a pole end for positioning and anchoring the gutter-anchored structure to the gutter. 
     In one aspect of the present invention, the gutter-anchored structure for portable fire sprinklers comprises a molded monolithic body incorporating a flat base and having a top side and a bottom side. Viewed from the top, the flat base has a triangular-like shape with rounded corners. A pair of rectangular prolongations extends from a side of the flat base, this side being located oppositely to an apex of the flat base; each rectangular prolongation of the pair of rectangular prolongations is spacedly disposed at one of the opposed extremities of the side and terminates into a downwardly extending end, bent back at 90 degrees, i.e. perpendicularly directed to the flat base. The downwardly extending end incorporates a ribbed side, outwardly directed, and, oppositely, a tapered plate inwardly directed, the tapered plate being adapted to tangentially contact and secure to a gutter, respectively to a curvilinear, internal surface of the gutter. A rectangular opening is formed between the pair of rectangular prolongations. A rim perpendicular to the bottom side of the flat base extends below the latter, along its perimeter. A pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets, closely spaced and forming an unitary body, located adjacent the apex and partially embedded into the flat base. One of the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets, contiguous to the apex, has its longitudinal axis of symmetry angled with respect to the top side of the flat base, while the other one of the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets has its longitudinal axis of symmetry perpendicularly directed to the top side of the flat base. The aforementioned longitudinal axes of symmetry concur and at some point intersect, so that the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets changes into a common, hollow cylindrical inlet projecting outwardly from the bottom side of the flat base and having a female threaded surface, thus being adapted to interconnect with a threaded end of a hose. The pair of hollow cylindrical outlets are both provided with an internal thread; alternatively, only in one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets a fire sprinkler is adapted to be mounted. A cantilever bar having a fractured-like shape, i.e. a bent longitudinal axis of symmetry comprises an upper bar-segment followed by a lower bar-segment the upper bar-segment descends perpendicularly from a zone of the flat base, adjacent the rectangular opening, the farthest from the apex and at midway between the pair of rectangular prolongations. The lower bar-segment follows the upper bar-segment and is directed forwardly and downwardly. A slanted, ribbed plate extends transversely at the bottom end of the cantilever bar being adaptable to tangentially contact the gutter, respectively a curvilinear external surface of the latter. The cantilever bar, except a section of it incorporating the slanted, ribbed plate, has a U-shaped, upwardly directed cross-section, while the section incorporating the slanted, ribbed plate has a downwardly directed, inverted U-shaped cross-section. The U-shaped cross-section, upwardly directed and the inverted U-shaped cross section, downwardly directed, confer together to the cantilever bar a local flexural rigidity. 
     A tubular housing projecting perpendicularly out of the bottom side of the flat base is firmly, laterally unified with the upper bar-segment. The tubular housing incorporating, starting with its bottom, adjacent the flat base, a first hollow cylindrical body, encircled by a relatively thick wall. A disc-shaped magnet is secured at the bottom of the first hollow cylindrical body and a post provided with a metal end interacts with the disc-shaped magnet, by contacting it; thus, the gutter-anchored structure and the sprinkler attached to it can be lifted and anchored to the gutter. 
    
    
     
       III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The subject matter of the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctively claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both in structure and operation may be better understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the subjoined claims and the accompanying drawings of which 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a top view, in a horizontal plane, of a gutter-anchored structure, according the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a lateral, axonometric perspective projection of the gutter-anchored structure, according the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front view of the gutter-anchored structure shown in  FIGS. 1-2 ; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a side view of the gutter-anchored structure shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a bottom view, in a horizontal plane, of the gutter-anchored structure of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates the direction of intersection of  FIG. 1  along a vertical plan B-B, deviated at 45° with respect to the longitudinal axis of symmetry of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the cross-section B-B; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of a fire sprinkler and a gutter-anchored structure interconnected via a threaded joint, the longitudinal cross section of the latter being shown; 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the gutter-anchored structure assembled with a sprinkler and clasped together to a gutter, respectively to a curvilinear, internal surface of the latter; 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the gutter-anchored structure assembled with a sprinkler and clasped together to a gutter, respectively to a curvilinear, external surface of the latter; 
         FIG. 11  illustrates a perspective view of the gutter-anchored structure assembled with a sprinkler and clasped together to a gutter, respectively to a curvilinear, internal surface and to a curvilinear, external surface of the latter. 
     
    
    
     IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The accompanying drawings, as above described, illustrate a preferred embodiment of “GUTTER-ANCHORED STRUCTURE FOR PORTABLE FIRE SPRINKLERS”. Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 11 , in which like numerals indicate like components and features, the “GUTTER-ANCHORED STRUCTURE FOR PORTABLE FIRE SPRINKLERS”, further called “Gutter-anchored structure”, is designated with numeral  10 . 
     Gutter-anchored structure  10  constitutes a monolithic body, all molded from rigid plastic material, incorporating a flat base  15  and provided with a top side  20  and a bottom side  25 . Viewed from the top, flat base  15  has, basically, a triangular like shape, with rounded corners. A pair of rectangular prolongations  30  extends from a side  35  of the triangular like shape of flat base  15 . Side  35  is located oppositely to the apex A of the triangular like shape of flat base  15 . Each rectangular prolongation  30  of the pair of rectangular prolongations  30  is spacedly disposed at one of the opposed extremities of side  35  and terminates into a downwardly extending end  38 , bent back at 90 degrees, i.e. perpendicularly directed to flat base  15 . Downwardly extending end  38  incorporates a ribbed side  38   a,  outwardly directed and, oppositely, a tapered plate  38   b , inwardly directed. Tapered plate  38   b  is adapted to tangentially contact and secure to a gutter G, respectively to a curvilinear, internal surface GI of the latter. 
     A rectangular opening B is formed between the pair of rectangular prolongations  30 . 
     A rim  40  perpendicular to bottom side  25  of flat base  15  extends below the latter, along its perimeter. 
     A pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets  45 , closely spaced and forming an unitary body, is located adjacent apex A and is partially embedded into flat base  15 . 
     One of the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets  45 , contiguous to apex A, has its longitudinal axis of symmetry (not shown) angled with respect to top side  20  of flat base  15 , while the other one of the same pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets  45  has its longitudinal axis of symmetry (also not shown) perpendicularly directed to top side  20  of flat base  15 . 
     The aforementioned longitudinal axes of symmetry concur and at some point intersect, so that the pair of hollow, cylindrical outlets  45  changes into a common, hollow cylindrical inlet  50 ; the latter projects outwardly from bottom side  25  of flat base  15  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  50 , is divided into two distinct flows of water in the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets  45 . 
     The pair of hollow cylindrical outlets  45  are both provided with an internal thread; alternatively, only in one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets  45  a fire sprinkler S could be mounted. For example, when a fire sprinkler S is used for a pitched roof, it will be mounted in that hollow cylindrical outlet  45  defined by the angled longitudinal axis of symmetry; during this time, the other hollow cylindrical outlet will be closed by a cap  53 . Conversely, for a flat roof, the foregoing situation will be interchanged. 
     A cantilever bar  55  having a fractured-like shape, i.e. a bent longitudinal axis of symmetry (not shown), comprises an upper bar-segment  55   a  followed by a lower bar-segment  55   b.  Upper bar-segment  55   a  descends perpendicularly from a zone Z of flat base  15 , adjacent rectangular opening B, the farthest from apex A, and at midway between the pair of rectangular prolongations  30 . Lower bar-segment  55   b  follows upper bar-segment  55   a  and is directed forwardly and downwardly. 
     A slanted, ribbed plate  60  extends transversely at the bottom end of cantilever bar  55 . Slanted, ribbed plate  60  is adapted to tangentially contact gutter G, respectively a curvilinear external surface GE of the latter. 
     Cantilever bar  55 , except a section of it which incorporates slanted, ribbed plate  60 , has a U-shaped cross-section, upwardly directed, while another section of cantilever bar  55 , adjacent ribbed plate  60  has a downwardly directed, inverted U-shaped cross-section. U-shaped cross-section, upwardly directed and inverted U-shaped cross section, downwardly directed, confer together to cantilever bar  55  a local flexural rigidity. 
     A tubular housing  65  projecting perpendicularly out of bottom side  25  of flat base  15  is firmly, laterally unified with upper bar-segment  55   a.  Tubular housing  65  incorporates, starting with its bottom, adjacent flat base  15 , a first hollow cylindrical body  65   a,  encircled by a relatively thick wall  65   b.  A disc-shaped metal piece  70  is secured at the bottom of first hollow cylindrical body. A post (not shown) ending with a magnetic metal end (also not shown) is used to contact disc-shaped metal piece  70  and, thus, joining it. In this manner, gutter-anchored structure  10  and sprinkler S attached to it can be lifted and anchored to gutter G. 
     First hollow cylindrical body  65   a,  encircled by relatively thick wall  65   b,  extends outwardly into a second hollow cylindrical body  65   c,  encircled by a relatively thin wall  65   d.  First hollow cylindrical body  65   a  and second hollow cylindrical body  65   c  have a common generatrix. A series of triangular ribs  75  extending radially from an internal surface of second hollow cylindrical body  65   c,  connects the latter with first hollow cylindrical body  65   a,  respectively bottom surface of thick wall  65   b.    
     In order to confer flexural spatial rigidity to gutter-anchored structure  10 , a space under flat base  15 , circumscribed by rim  40 , is provided with radial connecting ribs  80  of substantially uniform thickness, all projecting from bottom side  25  of flat base  15 . Hollow cylindrical inlet  50  and tubular housing  65 , in order to prevent deformations, followed by fissuring, are reinforced for reliability by radial connecting ribs  80 . 
     A threaded joint  100 , of conventional type, is traversed by a through channel  105  and includes a central hexagonal area  110 . Central hexagonal area  110  is continued towards the top by a first threaded shank  115  provided with an O-ring  120 . After central hexagonal area  110  towards the bottom, a second threaded shank  125  follows. First threaded shank  115  is intended to be assembled with a conventional sprinkler S. Second threaded shank  125  is threadlike with each one of the hollow cylindrical outlets of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets  45 , respectively with its internal thread. A cap  50  is used to close one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets  45 , wherein in the other one of the pair of hollow cylindrical outlets  45 —a sprinkler S is mounted.