Hanging connector for flexible sprinkler conduit

Abstract

Provided herein is a fire protection sprinkler system including a hanging connector joining together a plurality of flexible conduits. In one approach a sprinkler assembly includes a sprinkler body coupled to a first flexible conduit, and a hanging connector coupled to the first flexible conduit and to a second flexible conduit, wherein the hanging connector includes a hanging member extending outwardly from the hanging connector. The sprinkler assembly further includes a metallic connector extending between the hanging member and a support structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sprinkler assembly comprising:
 a sprinkler body coupled to a first flexible conduit;   a hanging connector coupled to the first flexible conduit and to a second flexible conduit, the hanging connector including a hanging member extending outwardly from the hanging connector; and   a metallic connector extending between the hanging member and a support structure.   
     
     
         2 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic connector extends through an opening of the hanging member. 
     
     
         3 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic connector is a threaded rod. 
     
     
         4 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sprinkler head coupled at one end of the sprinkler body; and   a t-joint connector coupled at another end of the sprinkler body, wherein the t-joint connector is directly coupled to the first flexible conduit.   
     
     
         5 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 4 , the hanging connector comprising:
 a body including a first side opposite a second side; and   a first connection arm extending from the first side and a second connection arm extending from the second side.   
     
     
         6 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first connection arm and the second connection arm include threading for connection with corresponding threading of the first and second flexible conduits. 
     
     
         7 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the t-joint connector is directly coupled to the first connection arm or the second connection arm. 
     
     
         8 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the metallic connector is one of: a wire, a coil, or a rod. 
     
     
         9 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible conduit and the second flexible conduit are coupled together end-to-end by the hanging connector. 
     
     
         10 . A hanging connector comprising:
 a body including a first side opposite a second side; and   a first connection arm extending from the first side and a second connection arm extending from the second side, the first side and the second side separated by a sidewall;   a hanging member extending outwardly from the sidewall; and   a metallic connector extending between the hanging member and a support structure.   
     
     
         11 . The hanging connector of  claim 10 , wherein the metallic connector extends through an opening of the hanging member. 
     
     
         12 . The hanging connector of  claim 10 , wherein the metallic connector is one of: a wire, a coil, or a rod. 
     
     
         13 . The hanging connector of  claim 10 , wherein the first connection arm includes threading for connection with a first flexible conduit, and wherein the second connection arm includes threading for connection with a second flexible conduit. 
     
     
         14 . A sprinkler assembly comprising:
 a sprinkler body coupled at one end to a sprinkler head and at another end to a first flexible conduit;   a hanging connector coupled to the first flexible conduit and to a second flexible conduit, the hanging connector comprising:
 a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a sidewall extending between the first and second sides; 
 a hanging member extending outwardly from the sidewall; and 
 a first threaded connection arm extending from the first side and a second threaded connection arm extending from the second side, wherein the first flexible conduit is secured to the first threaded connection arm and the second flexible conduit is secured to the second threaded connection arm; and a flexible metallic connector extending between the hanging member and a support structure. 
   
     
     
         15 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the metallic connector extends through an opening of the hanging member. 
     
     
         16 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second flexible conduits are arranged linearly end-to-end, and wherein the first and second flexible conduits are substantially perpendicular to the sprinkler body. 
     
     
         17 . The sprinkler assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the metallic connector is a threaded rod.