Patent ID: 7784746

Claim:
A support assembly for positioning and supporting a sprinkler reducer in a ceiling, the support system comprising: a latitudinal support unit having two ends opposed from one another; a pair of longitudinal support units separately positioned on the two ends of the latitudinal support unit, each longitudinal support unit includes a support region for receiving and supporting a top portion of a T-shaped ceiling frame member; a mounting bracket positioned on the latitudinal support unit between the pair of longitudinal support units for positioning and supporting the sprinkler reducer, the mounting bracket having a pair of sidewalls extending from a base wall to form a mounting channel along a entire length of the base wall, the mounting bracket further having a mouth such that the latitudinal support unit may be positioned between the sidewalls in the mounting channel against the base wall, each sidewall includes an opening along an end of the sidewall opposite the base wall, the opening having a predetermined shape to accommodate a portion of a profile defined by the sprinkler reducer, each sidewall further includes a through hole and a flange; and a locking unit being shaped from a wire and having a pair of ends positioned in the through holes in each sidewall such that the locking unit may pivot about the through holes, the locking unit further including first intermediate sections extending from the pair of ends, the first intermediate sections traversing the openings in the sidewalls and having a predetermined shape to accommodate another portion of the profile defined by the sprinkler reducer, the locking unit further including second intermediate sections extending from the first intermediate sections to engage the flanges on the sidewalls, and further including a handle section extending from and joining the second intermediate sections.