Patent ID: 8678330

Claim:
A method of operating a hub assembly for supporting a flexible sprinkler assemblage, the hub assembly including: a secondary support member rotatable relative to a primary support member between an open position in which a free edge of the secondary support member is spaced apart from a free edge of the primary support member, and a closed position in which the respective free edges are overlapping and in which cut outs formed in the primary support member cooperate together with cut outs formed in the secondary support member to define a hub opening configured to receive a portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage; a locking mechanism configured to selectively connect the free edges of the primary support member to the free edges of the secondary support member, the locking mechanism including: a shaft rotatably engaged with one of the primary and secondary supports members, the shaft comprising a key extending in a direction generally perpendicular to the first plate of one of the primary and secondary support members; a catch for receiving the key, the catch provided on the other of the primary and secondary support members, the catch including a catch opening formed in the other of the primary and secondary support members, and a slot extending from the catch opening to a corresponding free edge of the other of the primary and secondary support members, the slot being open along the corresponding free edge, the slot having a slot dimension parallel to the corresponding free edge that is smaller than a catch opening dimension parallel to the corresponding free edge, wherein the shaft is rotatable between a first orientation in which the key can pass through the slot, and a second orientation in which the key is prevented from being passed through the slot; and an adjustment mechanism disposed on the primary support member that is configured to secure the position of the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage within the hub opening, and which is separate from the locking mechanism, wherein operation of the hub assembly includes the following method steps: providing the hub assembly such that the secondary support member is in the open position relative to the primary support member; inserting the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage within the cut outs formed in the primary support member; rotating the secondary support member to the closed position relative to the primary support member such that the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage is disposed in the hub opening; actuating the locking mechanism to secure the secondary support member to the primary support member and retain the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage within the hub opening; and actuating the adjustment mechanism to secure the position of the portion of the flexible sprinkler assemblage within the hub opening.