Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention illustrating a fixed sprinkler head with emergency shut-off valve in an open position;

Figure 1A is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the valve body and shut-off valve of the Figure 1 embodiment, illustrating the valve in the open position;

Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the Figure 1 embodiment after the sprinkler head has been damaged and the shut-off valve is in a closed position;

Figure 2A is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the valve body and shut-off valve of the Figure 1 embodiment, illustrating the valve in the closed position;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side elevational view of the cylindrical hollow body of the Figure 1 embodiment illustrating a spherical, perforated spheroid controlling the position of the shut-off valve;

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional side elevational view of the valve body and shut-off valve of the Figure 1 embodiment, illustrating the valve in the closed position and an orifice in the valve disk designed to provide a whistling noise upon breakage of the sprinkler head;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention, illustrating a pop-up sprinkler pipe in a lowered position and an emergency shut-off valve in an open position;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the Figure 5 embodiment, illustrating the pop-up sprinkler pipe in a raised position and the emergency shut-off valve in the open position;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the Figure 5 embodiment, illustrating the pop-up sprinkler pipe in a raised position after breakage of the sprinkler head and the emergency shut-off valve in the closed position;

Figure 8 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the valve body of the Figure 5 embodiment illustrating a circular valve seat and valve combination;

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional side view of the Figure 5 embodiment incorporating an alternative spherical shut-off valve shown in the open position; and

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the Figure 5 embodiment incorporating the alternative spherical shut-off valve shown in the closed position after breakage of the sprinkler head.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

(1) Figures 1-10 illustrate a leak stopping sprinkler head 10, providing all of the desired features that can be constructed from the following components.  A cylindrical hollow body 14 is provided.  The hollow body 14 has an upper portion 18 and a lower portion 22.  The lower portion 22 is fluidly connected to a valve body 26.  The upper portion has a spraying nozzle 30 at a top end 32.  The upper portion 18 has a first predetermined internal diameter 34 and the lower portion 22 has a second, larger predetermined internal diameter 38.  The valve body includes an upper connection 42, a valve seat 46 fluidly connected to the upper connection 42 and a lower connection 50.  The lower connection 50 is fluidly connected to a water supply line 54. A hollow regular spheroid 58 is provided.  The spheroid 58 has a diameter larger than the first predetermined internal diameter 34, an attachment point 62 on an outer surface 66 and a series of perforations 70.  The perforations 70 permit water 74 to pass through the spheroid 58.  A rigid connecting rod 78 is provided.  The connecting rod 78 has a first end 82 and a second end 86 and is attached at the first end 82 to the attachment point 62. 

A sealing disk 90 is provided.  The sealing disk 90 has a diameter 94 larger than the second predetermined internal diameter 38 and a central connecting point 98 on an upper surface 102.  The connecting point 98 is hingedly attached to the second end 86 of the connecting rod 78.  The connecting rod 78 is located inside of the hollow body 14 and sized to hold the sealing disk 90 away from the valve seat 46 when the hollow spheroid 58 is restrained from upward movement by the first predetermined diameter 34 within the cylindrical hollow body 14.  Removal or destruction of the cylindrical hollow body 14 permits the hollow spheroid 58 to be urged upwardly by pressure of water 74 flowing upwardly in the hollow body 14.  The spheroid 58 pulls the rigid connecting rod 78 and the sealing disk 90 upwardly, causing the sealing disk 90 to seat against the valve seat 46, thereby terminating the flow of water 74 upwardly through the hollow body 14.  The sealing disk 90 is held against the valve seat 46 by water pressure from the water supply line 54.

            (2) In a variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 2A, the sealing disk 90 includes a resilient upper surface 106.  The resilient upper surface 106 provides an improved seal to the valve seat 46.

            (3) In another variant, as illustrated in Figure 3, the regular spheroid 58 is a sphere 110.

            (4) In still another variant, as illustrated in Figure 4, the sealing disk 90 further includes a central aperture 114.  The aperture 114 penetrates the disk 90 and is sized and shaped to produce a sound when water 74 flows through the aperture 114 under pressure from the supply line 54.  The sound 118 alerts a user (not shown) to a broken or missing sprinkler head 10.

            (5) In yet another variant, as illustrated in Figures 5-7, a leak stopping sprinkler head 12, includes a hollow cylindrical casing 126.  The casing 126 has a top surface 130, a central aperture 134 penetrating the top surface 130 and a threaded attachment 142 at a lower end 146 of the casing 126.  The threaded attachment 142 connects the casing 126 to a water supply line 58.  A sprinkler pipe 150 is provided.   The pipe 150 has an upper end 154, a lower end 158 and has a spray nozzle 162 located at the upper end 154.  The pipe 150 is sized to fit slidably through the central aperture 134. 

A sealing flange 166 is provided.  The flange 166 is located about an outer circumference 170 of the sprinkler pipe 150 at a height 174 to limit upward travel of the sprinkler pipe 150 to a first predetermined distance 178 through the central aperture 134 as water pressure from the water supply line 54 urges the sprinkler pipe 150 upwards.  The flange 166 bears against an underside 180 of the top surface 130 of the casing 126.  A self-closing spring operated valve 182 is provided.  The valve 182 is held in an open position 186 by the sprinkler pipe 150 located through it.  The valve 182 controls the flow of water (not shown) from the water supply line 54 into the casing 126 and the sprinkler pipe 150.  The valve 182 moves to a closed position 190 if the sprinkler pipe 150 moves upwardly beyond the first predetermined distance 178 due to breakage or removal of either or both of the casing 126 and the sprinkler pipe 150, thereby terminating the flow of water from the water supply line 54.

            (6) In a further variant as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, the valve 182 further includes a sphere 194.  The sphere 194 is pivotally mounted in a spherical seat 198.  The seat 198 is in fluid connection with the water supply line 54 and the casing 126.  The sphere 194 has a passage 202 through it.  The passage 202 is sized to fit slidably about the sprinkler pipe 150.  An elastic member 206 is provided.  The member 206 urges the sphere 194 to rotate to a closing position 210 in the spherical seat 198, thereby terminating the flow of water 78 from the water supply line 54.  The sprinkler pipe 150 is located through the passage 202 upon mounting of the sprinkler head 12, thereby holding the valve 182 in an open position 214.  The valve 182 moves to the closing position 210 upon removal of the sprinkler pipe 150 from the passage 202 due to either breakage or removal of either or both of the casing 126 or the sprinkler pipe 150.

            (7) In a final variant of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 8, the valve 182 further includes a circular seat 218.  The seat 218 is sized to fit slidably about the sprinkler pipe 150 and is in fluid connection with the water supply line 54 and the casing 126.  A valve door 222 is provided.  The valve door 222 is hingedly mounted and sealably located adjacent the seat 218.  A closing spring 226 is provided.  The spring 226 urges the valve door 222 toward the seat 218.  The sprinkler pipe 150 is located through the valve door 222 upon mounting of the sprinkler head 12, thereby holding the valve door 222 in an open position 230.  The valve 182 moves to a closed position 234 upon removal of the sprinkler pipe 150 from the valve door 222 due to either or both of breakage or removal of either the casing 126 or the sprinkler pipe 150.

            The leak stopping sprinkler heads 10 and 12 have been described with reference to particular embodiments.  Other modifications and enhancements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims that follow.