US RE49,600 E1
Flexible assembly for sprinklers
John M. Stempo, Bethlehem, PA (US); Rudolf Szentimrey, Nazareth, PA (US); and Lawrence W. Thau, Jr., Flemington, NJ (US)
Assigned to Victaulic Company, Easton, PA (US)
Filed by Victaulic Company, Easton, PA (US)
Filed on Nov. 24, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/102,489.
Application 13/709,313 is a division of application No. 12/877,357, filed on Sep. 8, 2010, granted, now 8,336,920, issued on Dec. 25, 2012.
Application 15/176,590 is a continuation of application No. 13/873,505, filed on Apr. 30, 2013, granted, now 9,375,594, issued on Jun. 28, 2016.
Application 13/873,505 is a continuation of application No. 13/709,313, filed on Dec. 10, 2012, abandoned.
Application 17/102,489 is a reissue of application No. 15/176,590, filed on Jun. 8, 2016, granted, now 10,478,650, issued on Nov. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/241,615, filed on Sep. 11, 2009.
Int. Cl. A62C 35/68 (2006.01); F16L 27/08 (2006.01); F16L 27/047 (2006.01); E04B 9/06 (2006.01); F16L 3/16 (2006.01); F16L 37/088 (2006.01)
CPC F16L 27/047 (2013.01) [A62C 35/68 (2013.01); E04B 9/068 (2013.01); F16L 3/16 (2013.01); F16L 27/08 (2013.01); F16L 27/0808 (2013.01); F16L 37/088 (2013.01)] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An assembly for connecting a sprinkler to a branch line of a fire suppression system, said assembly comprising:
a flexible conduit having a first end connectable to said branch line, and a second end connectable to said sprinkler, said conduit providing fluid communication between said branch line and said sprinkler;
a first adapter positioned between said sprinkler and said second end of said conduit for effecting attachment of said sprinkler to said conduit, said first adapter having a bore providing fluid communication between said sprinkler and said conduit, said first adapter having a first adapter portion attachable to said sprinkler and a second adapter portion attached to said second end of said conduit, said first and second adapter portions being rotatable relatively to one another;
a bracket having an opening receiving said first adapter portion and a locking unit movably mounted on said bracket, said locking unit engaging and retaining said first adapter portion within said opening;
a cross beam received by said bracket for securing said bracket in relation to said branch line; and
said second adapter portion comprises a tube attached to said second end of said conduit, said tube being received within said bore of said adapter in said first adapter portion;
a ring seal is positioned between an outer surface of said tube and an inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion for effecting a fluid-tight connection between said first and second adapter portions;
a split ring is positioned between said outer surface of said tube and said inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion, said split ring having an inner portion sized to fit within an outwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said outer surface of said tube, said split ring further having an outer portion sized to fit within an inwardly facing circumferential groove positioned in said inner surface of said bore in said first adapter portion, said split ring preventing relative axial movement between said first and second adapter portions but permitting relative rotation between said first and second adapter portions about a longitudinal axis concentric with said bore.