# US 12,181,089 B2 · Fire protection sprinkler having a push-in connection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,181,089 B2 - Document ID: US12181089B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/483,665 - Filed: 2023-10-10 - Published: 2024-02-01 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2019-10-21 - Assignees: The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. - Applicants: The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co. Inc. - Inventors: Steven D. Wolin; George S. Polan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12181089B2 ## CPC - F16L 37/0885: {with access to the split elastic ring from a radial or tangential opening in the coupling} - F16L 37/133: using flexible hooks {(F16L37/1215 takes precedence)} - A62C 35/68: Details, e.g. of pipes or valve systems (valves in general F16K) - A62C 37/08: comprising an outlet device containing a sensor, or itself being the sensor, i.e. self-contained sprinklers - A62C 37/12: with fusible links - E03C 1/023: {with flow distribution, e.g. diverters} - F16L 37/138: using an axially movable sleeve - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL - A62C: FIRE-FIGHTING (fire-extinguishing compositions, use of chemical substances in extinguishing fires A62D1/00; spraying, applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces in general B05; alarm arrangements G08B, e.g. fire alarms actuated by smoke or gases G08B17/10) - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS ## Abstract A sprinkler with a push-in connection includes a sprinkler frame, an operating element, and a sealing cap. The sprinkler also includes one or more sealing gaskets and a retainer. Each such sealing gasket is located at least partially within a groove in the sprinkler frame. The retainer is also at least partially located within a groove in the sprinkler frame. The retainer connects to an internal bore of an outlet of a fluid supply conduit when the sprinkler is installed in the outlet. The one or more gaskets seal against the internal bore of the outlet when the sprinkler is installed in the outlet. The retainer is a spring mechanism so that the diameter of the retainer is reduced when the sprinkler is inserted into the internal bore of the outlet, and the retainer maintains pressure against the outlet internal bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fire protection sprinkler having a push-in connection for being connected to a fluid supply conduit, the fluid supply conduit having an outlet, the outlet having an internal bore with an internal circumferential groove, the fire protection sprinkler comprising: a sprinkler frame having an input end and an output end, and a plurality of grooves at the input end; a frangible element designed to fail at a predetermined temperature so that fluid flows from the fluid supply conduit to the output end of the sprinkler frame; at least one sealing gasket, each of the at least one sealing gasket being located at least partially within a corresponding one of the plurality of grooves in the sprinkler frame; and a retainer also at least partially located within a corresponding one of the grooves in the sprinkler frame, wherein the retainer is oval and has an inner peripheral surface, an upper edge, and a recessed groove, and the retainer connects the fire protection sprinkler to the internal circumferential groove of the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is connected to the fluid supply conduit, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is inserted into the fluid supply conduit so as to be connected to the fluid supply conduit, the at least one sealing gasket seals against the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is a notched gasket having an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and a notch. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing gasket has one or more lobes, each lobe including a sealing lobe, a recess, and an inner peripheral surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the retainer is a spring mechanism having a diameter, the diameter of the retainer being reduced when the fire protection sprinkler is inserted into the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit, and the diameter of the retainer expanding to maintain pressure against the internal bore of the outlet when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 4, wherein the retainer is located at least partially within both the corresponding groove in the sprinkler frame and the internal circumferential groove in the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore, in order to maintain a positive connection between the fire protection sprinkler and the internal bore. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 5, wherein the fire protection sprinkler is removed from the internal circumferential groove of the internal bore of the outlet by compressing the retainer so that the diameter of the retainer is reduced to be less than a diameter of the internal bore of the outlet, allowing the fire protection sprinkler to be pulled from the internal bore of the outlet for removal of the fire protection sprinkler. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is a pressure sealed gasket having one or more sealing fins. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 7, wherein one side of each fin contacts the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore, and another side of each fin is exposed to water or air contained within the fluid supply conduit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 8, wherein, when the water or the air contained within the fluid supply conduit is pressurized, the water or the air presses a respective sealing fin against the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit, to seal the fire protection sprinkler. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the retainer is a multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 10, wherein the multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism has a depending leg, an arcuate segment, and an adjoining arcuate segment. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 10, wherein the multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism is made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, music wire, cold drawn wire, oil tempered wire, and brass. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is an O-ring made of a synthetic rubber or a thermoset material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 13, wherein the synthetic rubber or the thermoset material is selected from the group consisting of butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, epichloronhydrin rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomers, ethylene propylene rubber, fluoroelastomers, nitrile rubber, perfluoroelastomer, polyacrylate rubber, polychloroprene, polyisoprene, polysulfide rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, sanifluor, and silicon rubber. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is an O-ring made of a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 15, wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer styrenics, thermoplastic polyolefin LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, ULDPE, thermoplastic polyurethane polyether or polyester, thermoplastic etheresterelastomer copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, melt processible runner, and thermoplastic vulcanizate. ### Claim 17 A fire protection sprinkler having a push-in connection for being connected to a fluid supply conduit, the fluid supply conduit having an outlet, the outlet having an internal bore with an internal circumferential groove, the fire protection sprinkler comprising: a sprinkler frame having an input end and an output end, and a plurality of grooves at the input end; a frangible element designed to fail at a predetermined temperature so that fluid flows from the fluid supply conduit to the output end of the sprinkler frame; at least one sealing gasket, each of the at least one sealing gasket being located at least partially within a corresponding one of the plurality of grooves in the sprinkler frame and each of the at least one sealing gasket being a notched gasket having an inner peripheral surface, an outer peripheral surface, and a notch; and a retainer also at least partially located within a corresponding one of the grooves in the sprinkler frame, the retainer connecting the fire protection sprinkler to the internal circumferential groove of the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is connected to the fluid supply conduit, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is inserted into the fluid supply conduit so as to be connected to the fluid supply conduit, the at least one sealing gasket seals against the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 17, wherein the retainer is oval and has an inner peripheral surface, an upper edge, and a recessed groove. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 17, wherein the retainer is a spring mechanism having a diameter, the diameter of the retainer being reduced when the fire protection sprinkler is inserted into the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit, and the diameter of the retainer expanding to maintain pressure against the internal bore of the outlet when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 19, wherein the retainer is located at least partially within both the corresponding groove in the sprinkler frame and the internal circumferential groove in the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore, in order to maintain a positive connection between the fire protection sprinkler and the internal bore. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 20, wherein the fire protection sprinkler is removed from the internal circumferential groove of the internal bore of the outlet by compressing the retainer so that the diameter of the retainer is reduced to be less than a diameter of the internal bore of the outlet, allowing the fire protection sprinkler to be pulled from the internal bore of the outlet for removal of the fire protection sprinkler. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is a pressure sealed gasket having one or more sealing fins. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 22, wherein one side of each fin contacts the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore, and another side of each fin is exposed to water or air contained within the fluid supply conduit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 23, wherein, when the water or the air contained within the fluid supply conduit is pressurized, the water or the air presses a respective sealing fin against the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit, to seal the fire protection sprinkler. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 17, wherein the retainer is a multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 25, wherein the multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism has a depending leg, an arcuate segment, and an adjoining arcuate segment. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 25, wherein the multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism is made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, music wire, cold drawn wire, oil tempered wire, and brass. ### Claim 28 (depends on 17) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is an O-ring made of a synthetic rubber or a thermoset material. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 28, wherein the synthetic rubber or the thermoset material is selected from the group consisting of butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, epichloronhydrin rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomers, ethylene propylene rubber, fluoroelastomers, nitrile rubber, perfluoroelastomer, polyacrylate rubber, polychloroprene, polyisoprene, polysulfide rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, sanifluor, and silicon rubber. ### Claim 30 (depends on 17) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 17, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is an O-ring made of a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 30, wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer styrenics, thermoplastic polyolefin LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, ULDPE, thermoplastic polyurethane polyether or polyester, thermoplastic etheresterelastomer copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, melt processible runner, and thermoplastic vulcanizate. ### Claim 32 A fire protection sprinkler having a push-in connection for being connected to a fluid supply conduit, the fluid supply conduit having an outlet, the outlet having an internal bore with an internal circumferential groove, the fire protection sprinkler comprising: a sprinkler frame having an input end and an output end, and a plurality of grooves at the input end; a frangible element designed to fail at a predetermined temperature so that fluid flows from the fluid supply conduit to the output end of the sprinkler frame; at least one sealing gasket, each of the at least one sealing gasket being located at least partially within a corresponding one of the plurality of grooves in the sprinkler frame and each of the at least one sealing gasket having one or more lobes, each lobe including a sealing lobe, a recess, and an inner peripheral surface; and a retainer also at least partially located within a corresponding one of the grooves in the sprinkler frame, the retainer connecting the fire protection sprinkler to the internal circumferential groove of the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is connected to the fluid supply conduit, wherein, when the fire protection sprinkler is inserted into the fluid supply conduit so as to be connected to the fluid supply conduit, the at least one sealing gasket seals against the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 32, wherein the retainer is oval and has an inner peripheral surface, an upper edge, and a recessed groove. ### Claim 34 (depends on 32) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 32, wherein the retainer is a spring mechanism having a diameter, the diameter of the retainer being reduced when the fire protection sprinkler is inserted into the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit, and the diameter of the retainer expanding to maintain pressure against the internal bore of the outlet when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 34, wherein the retainer is located at least partially within both the corresponding groove in the sprinkler frame and the internal circumferential groove in the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore, in order to maintain a positive connection between the fire protection sprinkler and the internal bore. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 35, wherein the fire protection sprinkler is removed from the internal circumferential groove of the internal bore of the outlet by compressing the retainer so that the diameter of the retainer is reduced to be less than a diameter of the internal bore of the outlet, allowing the fire protection sprinkler to be pulled from the internal bore of the outlet for removal of the fire protection sprinkler. ### Claim 37 (depends on 33) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 33, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is an O-ring made of a synthetic rubber or a thermoset material. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 37, wherein the synthetic rubber or the thermoset material is selected from the group consisting of butadiene rubber, butyl rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene, epichloronhydrin rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomers, ethylene propylene rubber, fluoroelastomers, nitrile rubber, perfluoroelastomer, polyacrylate rubber, polychloroprene, polyisoprene, polysulfide rubber, polytetrafluoroethylene, sanifluor, and silicon rubber. ### Claim 39 (depends on 32) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 32, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is a pressure sealed gasket having one or more sealing fins. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 39, wherein one side of each fin contacts the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit when the fire protection sprinkler is installed in the internal bore, and another side of each fin is exposed to water or air contained within the fluid supply conduit. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 40, wherein, when the water or the air contained within the fluid supply conduit is pressurized, the water or the air presses a respective sealing fin against the internal bore of the outlet of the fluid supply conduit, to seal the fire protection sprinkler. ### Claim 42 (depends on 32) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 32, wherein the retainer is a multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism. ### Claim 43 (depends on 42) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 42, wherein the multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism has a depending leg, an arcuate segment, and an adjoining arcuate segment. ### Claim 44 (depends on 42) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 42, wherein the multi-lobe retainer spring mechanism is made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, music wire, cold drawn wire, oil tempered wire, and brass. ### Claim 45 (depends on 32) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 32, wherein the at least one sealing gasket is an O-ring made of a thermoplastic material. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The fire protection sprinkler according to claim 45, wherein the thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic elastomer styrenics, thermoplastic polyolefin LDPE, HDPE, LLDPE, ULDPE, thermoplastic polyurethane polyether or polyester, thermoplastic etheresterelastomer copolyesters, thermoplastic polyamides, melt processible runner, and thermoplastic vulcanizate.