US 12,257,465 B2
Fire protection systems and methods using fire protection devices installed in pipe fittings with an internally housed seal member
Shawn J. Feenstra, Caledonia, MI (US); Gary William Pleyte, Hastings, MI (US); and Derek John Scheffers, Mattawan, MI (US)
Assigned to Minimax Viking Patent Management GmbH, Bad Oldesloe (DE)
Filed by Minimax Viking Patent Management GmbH, Bad Oldesloe (DE)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/514,577.
Application 18/514,577 is a continuation of application No. 17/915,291, granted, now 11,872,425, previously published as PCT/US2022/016868, filed on Feb. 17, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/150,421, filed on Feb. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/150,439, filed on Feb. 17, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/247,630, filed on Sep. 23, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0198151 A1, Jun. 20, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A62C 31/28 (2006.01); A62C 31/02 (2006.01); A62C 37/11 (2006.01)
CPC A62C 31/28 (2013.01) [A62C 31/02 (2013.01); A62C 37/11 (2013.01)] 37 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of providing a fire protection system comprising:
placing an annular seal member in an unloaded condition within an internal gasket chamber of a unitary tubular member formed along an internal surface extending along and circumscribed about a central axis, the gasket chamber being located between an internally straight threaded surface and an internal stepless surface of the internal surface, the internally straight threaded surface being between the internal gasket chamber and a terminal outlet end of the unitary tubular member, the internal stepless surface extending from the internal gasket chamber to a terminal inlet end of the unitary tubular member in a welded connection to a pipe header of a network of pipes; and
placing the annular seal member in a loaded condition within the internal gasket chamber with a fire protection device having a tapered thread in threaded engagement with the internally straight threaded surface and fluid communication with the pipe header;
wherein placing the annular seal member in the unloaded condition includes:
inserting and locating the annular seal member within the internal gasket chamber with a nozzle body and a plunger coaxially aligned with the terminal inlet and outlet ends of the tubular member;
locating the annular seal member within a guidance channel of the nozzle body inserted in the terminal outlet end of the tubular member; and
displacing the plunger in a sliding engagement with the nozzle body so as to eject the annular seal member from the guidance channel and into the internal gasket chamber.