Protector for thermally responsive member of sprinkler head

A removable protector for protecting a thermally responsive member of a sprinkler head from damage while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, the sprinkler head having a base with depending arms extending therefrom, the depending arms separated from each other by a depending arm space, the depending arms positioning a deflector at a position that is distal the base of the sprinkler head and separated therefrom by a deflector space, the deflector having a deflector width, the depending arms extending along either side of the thermally responsive member, the base of the sprinkler head having a base width and a plurality of tool gripping surfaces for engaging the inside surface of an installation tool, the thermally responsive member having a surface area which includes an exposed portion that is capable of making contact with objects that are external to the sprinkler head, said protector further comprising:

• a first shield and a second shield, each of said first and second shields having a receiving end and a connecting end, each of said first and second shields having a major protective surface which extends along the exposed portion of the surface area of the thermally responsive member when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• a cross member connected to each said connecting end of each of said first and second shields, said cross member being connected to said connecting end of said first shield with a first living hinge, said first living hinge allowing said first shield to be rotated about said first living hinge to variable angles with respect to said cross member, said cross member being connected to said connecting end of said second shield with a second living hinge, said second living hinge allowing said second shield to be rotated about said second living hinge to variable angles with respect to said cross member;
• a releasable fastener including a male stanchion mounted on said major protective surface of said first shield proximate said receiving end of said first shield and a female stanchion mounted on said major protective surface of said second shield proximate said receiving end of said second shield, said male stanchion being positioned to engage and lock within said female stanchion when said major protective surfaces of said first and second shields are proximate the exposed portions of the surface area of the thermally responsive member of the sprinkler head to provide continuous protection of the thermally responsive member from objects that are external to the sprinkler head while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said first and second shields each having preselected lengths that permit each of said first and second shields to extend along the depending arm space between the depending arms when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, said first and second shields each having preselected heights that permit said major protective surfaces to extend along the exposed portion of the surface area of the thermally responsive member, said first and second shields also having preselected heights that permit said first and second shields to fit within the deflector space, said lengths and heights of said first and second shields thereby permitting said first and second shields to provide continuous protection of the thermally responsive member while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said cross member of said protector having a width that is less than the base width of the sprinkler head and that is less than the deflector width so that said major protective surfaces of said first and second shields are spaced apart from each other by an attachment clearance when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, said attachment clearance being less than said base width of the sprinkler head and being less than said deflector width wherein said major protective surfaces are locked in positions to protect the thermally responsive member when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said attachment clearance also being less than said base width to permit an installation tool to engage said tool gripping surfaces for installing the sprinkler head while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head.

A removable protector for protecting a thermally responsive member of a sprinkler head from damage while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, the thermally responsive member having a surface area which includes an exposed portion that is capable of making contact with objects that are external to the sprinkler head, said protector comprising:

• a first shield and a second shield, each of said first and second shields having a first end and a second end, each of said first and second shields having a major protective surface which extends at least partially along the exposed portion of the surface area of the thermally responsive member when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• a cross member connected to said second end of each of said first and second shields;
• a releasable fastener which attaches said protector to the sprinkler head and secures said major protective surfaces of said first and second shields to positions that are proximate the exposed portions of the surface area of the thermally responsive member to provide continuous protection of the thermally responsive member from objects that are external to the sprinkler head while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said first end of each of said shields being adjacent one another and said second ends of each of said shields being adjacent one another when said protector is attached to a sprinkler head.

A removable protector for protecting a thermally responsive member of a sprinkler head from damage while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, the sprinkler head having a base with depending arms extending therefrom, the depending arms separated from each other by a depending arm space, the depending arms positioning a deflector at a position that is distal the base of the sprinkler head and separated therefrom by a deflector space, the deflector having a deflector width, the depending arms extending along either side of the thermally responsive member, the base of the sprinkler head having a base width and a plurality of tool gripping surfaces for engaging the inside surface of an installation tool, the thermally responsive member having a surface area which includes an exposed portion that is capable of making contact with objects that are external to the sprinkler head, said protector further comprising:

• a first shield and a second shield, each of said first and second shields having a first end and a second end, each of said first and second shields having a major protective surface which extends along the exposed portion of the surface area of the thermally responsive member when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• a cross member connected to each said second end of each of said first and second shields, said cross member being connected to said second end of said first shield with a first living hinge, said first living hinge allowing said first shield to be rotated about said first living hinge to variable angles with respect to said cross member, said cross member being connected to said second end of said second shield with a second living hinge, said second living hinge allowing said second shield to be rotated about said second living hinge to variable angles with respect to said cross member;
• a releasable fastener including a male stanchion mounted on said major protective surface of said first shield proximate said first end of said first shield and a female stanchion mounted on said major protective surface of said second shield proximate said first end of said second shield, said male stanchion being positioned to engage and lock within said female stanchion when said major protective surfaces of said first and second shields are proximate the exposed portions of the surface area of the thermally responsive member of the sprinkler head to provide continuous protection of the thermally responsive member from objects that are external to the sprinkler head while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said first and second shields each having preselected lengths that permit each of said first and second shields to extend along the depending arm space between the depending arms when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, said first and second shields each having preselected heights that permit said major protective surfaces to extend along the exposed portion of the surface area of the thermally responsive member, said first and second shields also having preselected heights that permit said first and second shields to fit within the deflector space, said lengths and heights of said first and second shields thereby permitting said first and second shields to provide continuous protection of the thermally responsive member while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said cross member of said protector having a width that is less than the base width of the sprinkler head and that is less than the deflector width so that said major protective surfaces of said first and second shields are spaced apart from each other by an attachment clearance when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head, said attachment clearance being less than said base width of the sprinkler head and being less than said deflector width wherein said major protective surfaces are locked in positions to protect the thermally responsive member when said protector is attached to the sprinkler head;
• said attachment clearance also being less than said base width to permit an installation tool to engage said tool gripping surfaces for installing the sprinkler head while said protector is attached to the sprinkler head.