Patent ID: 7735787

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 openings having a predetermined shape to accommodate a portion of a profile defined by the sprinkler reducer; a locking unit being pivotally secured to at an end to both sidewalls, the locking unit includes a pair of side members extending downwardly from a base member, each side member further includes an opening along an end of the side members opposite the base member, the openings having a predetermined shape to accommodate a portion of the profile defined by the sprinkler reducer, the base member further includes a slot positioned such that an opening to the slot is positioned at an edge of the base member between the two side members; and a locking member pivotally mounted to the two sidewalls on the mounting bracket and having an elongated shaft extending upwardly for receipt into the slot on the base member of the locking unit, and a locking nut positioned on the elongated shaft, and wherein when the locking unit is in a closed positioned about the mounting bracket the openings in the sidewalls and in the side members align to accommodate the sprinkler reducer and the elongated shaft may be pivoted to be received into the slot and the locking nut tightened to secure the locking unit to the mounting bracket and secure a sprinkler reducer positioned therebetween.