US 11,998,938 B2
Fire protection sprinkler guard
Martin H. Workman, Delton, MI (US); Gary William Pleyte, Hastings, MI (US); and Scott T. Franson, Hastings, MI (US)
Assigned to Viking Group, Inc., Caledonia, MI (US); and Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH, Bad Oldesloe (DE)
Filed by Viking Group, Inc., Caledonia, MI (US); and Minimax Viking Research & Development GmbH, Bad Oldesloe (DE)
Filed on Dec. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/079,455.
Application 18/079,455 is a continuation of application No. 17/615,656, granted, now 11,548,027, previously published as PCT/US2020/037775, filed on Jun. 15, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/862,502, filed on Jun. 17, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0149963 A1, May 18, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B05B 15/16 (2018.01); A62C 31/28 (2006.01); A62C 35/68 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 15/16 (2018.02) [A62C 31/28 (2013.01); A62C 35/68 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sprinkler guard having a central guard axis, the sprinkler guard comprising:
a first guard portion having a first end and a second end axially spaced from one another and a first end plate disposed at the first end;
a second guard portion having a first end and a second end axially spaced from one another and a second end plate disposed at the first end; and
a hinged connection between the first and second guard portions to define an open state for receipt of a fire protection sprinkler and a closed state for surrounding and guarding the fire protection sprinkler;
wherein in the closed state, the first and second guard portions form a plurality of latch connections radially spaced from and extending parallel to the central guard axis with the first ends of the first and second guard portions circumscribing the central guard axis to define a first end of the sprinkler guard with the first and second end plates disposed for cooperatively engaging a body of the fire protection sprinkler and the second ends of the first and second guard portions circumscribing the central guard axis to define a second end of the guard axially spaced from the first end of the guard; and
wherein the first and second end plates include an additional latch connection therebetween that is aligned with the plurality of latch connections.