Patent ID: 6854668

Claim:
A sprinkler, comprising: a frame having an exit orifice through which a column of fire fighting liquid may be discharged downwardly; and a deflector positioned below said frame to at least partially intercept the column of liquid and to convert the column of liquid into a spray of droplets distributed in a predetermined pattern, said deflector having a generally planar central section having a generally circular periphery, said central section further including first and second cutouts inboard of said periphery and positioned at radially opposed positions along a diameter of said central section, said first cutout having a first edge and a first inboard tab extending downwardly at a first predetermined angle from said first edge to partially fill said first cutout, leaving a first opening through which the liquid may pass, and said second cutout having a second edge and a second inboard tab extending downwardly at said first predetermined angle from said second edge to partially fill said second cutout, leaving a second opening through which the liquid may pass, said deflector further including first and second peripheral tabs that extend from said periphery and are radially opposed to each other along a diameter of said central section, each said peripheral tab extending downwardly from said central section at a second predetermined angle to depress the sray of droplets leaving said deflector in the direction of said diameter down from horizontal so as to avoid skipping.