Hub with locking mechanism

A support assembly configured to support a flexible fire sprinkler fitting within a ceiling structure comprising parallel, spaced beams, the support assembly including

• a leg transverse to the beams, opposed ends of the leg being connected to and supported by adjacent beams, and
• a hub assembly supported on the leg,
• the hub assembly comprising:
• a primary support configured to be mechanically coupled to the ceiling support structure and including a first plate, and a second plate extending generally parallel to and being spaced apart from the first plate,
• the first plate including
• a first plate base edge and a first plate free edge opposed to the first plate base edge, the first plate free edge having an first plate cut out along the first plate free edge, the first plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and
• first plate lateral side edges that extend between the first plate base edge and the first plate free edge,
• the second plate including
• a second plate base edge and a second plate free edge opposed to the second plate base edge, the second plate free edge having a second plate cut out along the second plate free edge, the second plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and being aligned with the first plate cut out,
• second plate lateral side edges that extend between the second plate base edge and the second plate free edge,
• the primary support further comprising a primary base which extends between the first plate base edge and the second plate base edge, the first plate, the primary base and the second plate defining a space in which the leg is received;
• a secondary support including a third plate, and a fourth plate extending generally parallel to and being spaced apart from the third plate,
• the third plate including
• a third plate base edge and a third plate free edge opposed to the third plate base edge, the third plate free edge having an third plate cut out along the third plate free edge, the third plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and
• third plate lateral side edges that extend between the third plate base edge and the third plate free edge,
• the fourth plate including
• a fourth plate base edge and a fourth plate free edge opposed to the fourth plate base edge, the fourth plate free edge having a fourth plate cut out along the fourth plate free edge, the fourth plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and being aligned with the third plate cut out,
• fourth plate lateral side edges that extend between the fourth plate base edge and the fourth plate free edge,
• the secondary support further comprising a secondary base which extends between the third plate base edge and the fourth plate base edge,
• the secondary support being rotatably connected to the primary support so as to rotate between an open position and a closed position about a first axis, the first axis being generally perpendicular to the first plate and intersecting the first plate between one first plate lateral side edge and the first plate cut out;
• a locking mechanism configured to detachably secure the primary support to the secondary support and including
• a shaft received in shaft openings provided on the primary support at a location between the corresponding other lateral side edges and cut outs, a key protruding from the shaft in a direction generally perpendicular to the first plate,
• a catch configured to receive the key, the catch provided on the secondary support at a location between the corresponding other lateral side edges and cut outs, the catch including
• catch openings formed in the third and fourth plates, and
• a slot extending from each catch opening to the corresponding free edge, the slot being open along the corresponding free edge at a location between the corresponding other lateral side edges and cut outs, the slot having a slot dimension parallel to the corresponding free edge that is less than the catch opening dimension parallel to the corresponding free edge,
• the shaft being rotatable about a shaft axis parallel to the first axis between a first orientation in which the key can pass through the slot, and a second orientation in which the key is prevented from being passed through the slot, and when the shaft is rotated to the second orientation while the key is positioned in the catch opening, the key is prevented from being withdrawn from the catch, and
• when the hub assembly is closed by positioning the key within the catch opening, the cut outs of the primary support cooperate together with the cut outs of the secondary support to define a hub opening configured to receive the fitting.

A support assembly configured to support a flexible fire sprinkler fitting within a ceiling structure comprising parallel, spaced beams, the support assembly comprising

• a leg extending transverse to the beams, opposed ends of the leg being connected to and supported by adjacent beams, and
• a hub assembly supported on the leg,
• the hub assembly comprising:
• a primary support configured to be mechanically coupled to the ceiling support structure and including a first plate, and a second plate extending generally parallel to and being spaced apart from the first plate,
• the first plate including
• a first plate base edge and a first plate free edge opposed to the first plate base edge, the first plate free edge having an first plate cut out along the first plate free edge, the first plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and
• first plate lateral side edges that extend between the first plate base edge and the first plate free edge,
• the second plate including
• a second plate base edge and a second plate free edge opposed to the second plate base edge, the second plate free edge having a second plate cut out along the second plate free edge, the second plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and being aligned with the first plate cut out,
• second plate lateral side edges that extend between the second plate base edge and the second plate free edge, the second plate lateral side edges further including protrusions extending outward beyond second plate lateral side edges in a plane parallel to the plane of the second plate, each protrusion including a through hole configured to receive a fastener for securing the second plate to the leg,
• the primary support further comprising a primary base which extends between the first plate base edge and the second plate base edge;
• a secondary support including a third plate, and a fourth plate extending generally parallel to and being spaced apart from the third plate,
• the third plate including
• a third plate base edge and a third plate free edge opposed to the third plate base edge, the third plate free edge having an third plate cut out along the third plate free edge, the third plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and
• third plate lateral side edges that extend between the third plate base edge and the third plate free edge,
• the fourth plate including
• a fourth plate base edge and a fourth plate free edge opposed to the fourth plate base edge, the fourth plate free edge having a fourth plate cut out along the fourth plate free edge, the fourth plate cut out having a shape that corresponds to a portion of a profile defined by the fitting, and being aligned with the third plate cut out,
• fourth plate lateral side edges that extend between the fourth plate base edge and the fourth plate free edge,
• the secondary support further comprising a secondary base which extends between the third plate base edge and the fourth plate base edge;
• the secondary support being rotatably connected to the primary support so as to rotate between an open position and a closed position about a first axis, the first axis being generally perpendicular to the first plate and intersecting the first plate between one first plate lateral side edge and the first plate cut out,
• a locking mechanism configured to detachably secure the primary support to the secondary support and including
• a shaft received in shaft openings provided on the secondary support at a location between the corresponding other lateral side edges and cut outs, a key protruding from the shaft in a direction generally perpendicular to the first plate,
• a catch configured to receive the key, the catch provided on the primary support at a location between the corresponding other lateral side edges and cut outs, the catch including
• catch openings formed in the first and second plates, and
• a slot extending from each catch opening to the corresponding free edge, the slot being open along the corresponding free edge at a location between the corresponding other lateral edges and cut outs, the slot having a slot dimension parallel to the corresponding free edge that is less than the catch opening dimension parallel to the corresponding free edge,
• the shaft being rotatable about a shaft axis parallel to the first axis between a first orientation in which the key can pass through the slot, and a second orientation in which the key is prevented from being passed through the slot, and when the shaft is rotated to the second orientation while the key is positioned in the catch opening, the key is prevented from being withdrawn from the catch, and
• when the hub assembly is closed by positioning the key within the catch opening, the cut outs of the primary support cooperate together with the cut outs of the secondary support to define a hub opening configured to receive the fire sprinkler fitting.