Patents by Inventor Shawn J. Feenstra

Shawn J. Feenstra has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8727030
    Abstract: A trim manifold assembly includes an alarm block and a release block. The alarm block is in communication with a fire suppressant fluid supply and defines a first alarm passage in communication with an alarm sensor. The release block is coupled to the alarm block and includes a drain passage and a first control passage. The first control passage is in communication with the fire suppressant fluid supply and a pressure-actuated system control valve to control communication between the fire suppressant fluid supply and the sprinkler system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 8727029
    Abstract: A trim manifold assembly is utilized to facilitate control of the control valve in a fire protection system. The trim manifold assembly utilizes a manifold block with numerous passageways to provide desired flow communication between various components, such as automatic and manual valves, check valves, inlet and exit ports, and sensor ports, by way of non-limiting example. The trim manifold assembly can be cost-effectively manufactured and may require less assembly steps. The trim manifold assembly can facilitate the assembly of a fire protection system and the attachment of the trim manifold assembly to the control valve for operation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20130105640
    Abstract: A support system for a fire protection sprinkler includes a support bar having a pair of end brackets disposed at the ends of the support bar. A center bracket assembly is mounted on the support bar and includes a support bracket and a hinge bracket pivotally connected to the support bracket by a hinge pin. The pair of end bracket assemblies each include an outside bracket and an inside bracket secured to the outside bracket wherein at least one of the outside and the inside bracket has an upper end connected to the support bar and includes an angled body extending laterally outward from the upper end away from the center bracket wherein the outside and inside brackets define a channel therebetween for receiving an upper rail of a T-shaped rail of a drop ceiling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 8376061
    Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler is provided with a sprinkler body having a fluid passage defining an inlet end and an outlet end. A plug member is disposed in the fluid passage and a heat responsive unit releasable secures the plug member and the passage. A deflector is mounted to frame arms extending from the sprinkler body and the deflector includes a peripheral edge including a plurality of slots extending radially inward from the peripheral edge. At least two of the plurality of slots have a first outer portion having a first diameter and a second intermediate portion adjacent the first outer portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter. A third inner portion extends radially inward from the second intermediate portion and has a third diameter greater than the second diameter. The deflector design is utilized for providing a desired water distribution pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 8281810
    Abstract: A dry valve is provided for a sprinkler system, including a housing including a valve body having an inlet end and a valve cover having an outlet end. A prime chamber housing is disposed within the housing and defines a prime chamber. A prime piston is disposed within the prime chamber and is movable between a closed position seated against a valve seat and an open position received within the prime chamber. A check valve diaphragm assembly is disposed within the housing and disposed against the prime chamber housing in a closed position and spaced from the prime chamber housing in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Vinh B. Hoa
  • Publication number: 20110108290
    Abstract: A trim manifold assembly includes an alarm block and a release block. The alarm block is in communication with a fire suppressant fluid supply and defines a first alarm passage in communication with an alarm sensor. The release block is coupled to the alarm block and includes a drain passage and a first control passage. The first control passage is in communication with the fire suppressant fluid supply and a pressure-actuated system control valve to control communication between the fire suppressant fluid supply and the sprinkler system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20110056709
    Abstract: A trim manifold assembly is utilized to facilitate control of the control valve in a fire protection system. The trim manifold assembly utilizes a manifold block with numerous passageways to provide desired flow communication between various components, such as automatic and manual valves, check valves, inlet and exit ports, and sensor ports, by way of non-limiting example. The trim manifold assembly can be cost-effectively manufactured and may require less assembly steps. The trim manifold assembly can facilitate the assembly of a fire protection system and the attachment of the trim manifold assembly to the control valve for operation thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20100276164
    Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler is provided with a sprinkler body having a fluid passage defining an inlet end and an outlet end. A plug member is disposed in the fluid passage and a heat responsive unit releasable secures the plug member and the passage. A deflector is mounted to frame arms extending from the sprinkler body and the deflector includes a peripheral edge including a plurality of slots extending radially inward from the peripheral edge. At least two of the plurality of slots have a first outer portion having a first diameter and a second intermediate portion adjacent the first outer portion and having a second diameter less than the first diameter. A third inner portion extends radially inward from the second intermediate portion and has a third diameter greater than the second diameter. The deflector design is utilized for providing a desired water distribution pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20100236795
    Abstract: A fire protection sprinkler includes a sprinkler body having a fluid passage extending therethrough. A plug member disposed in the fluid passage. A heat responsive unit releasably secures the plug member in the fluid passage. A pair of frame arms extend from the sprinkler body. A deflector is mounted to the pair of frame arms and includes a peripheral edge including a plurality of slots extending radially inward from the peripheral edge. The plurality of slots include a pair of slots orthogonal to the pair of frame arms and the deflector includes a pair of apertures radially inward of the pair of slots and orthogonal to the pair of frame arms. The pair of apertures include an inner arcuate portion and a radially outwardly extending portion extending from the inner arcuate portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: 7766252
    Abstract: A dry pipe sprinkler assembly is provided including a sprinkler body having a thermally responsive trigger mounted thereto. A housing, including an inlet end and an outlet end is provided with the outlet end being connected to the sprinkler body. A seal member is disposed at the inlet end of the housing, and a load mechanism extends between the thermally responsive element and the seal member. The load mechanism may include a support portion, a passage tube portion, and an outlet orifice portion slidably received within the housing and movable within the housing upon activation of the thermally responsive trigger to allow the seal member to be dislodged from the inlet end of the housing to allow suppressant fluid to flow therethrough. The dry pipe sprinkler assembly allows the use of different outlet orifice members to provide dry pipe sprinkler assemblies having different K factors while utilizing common components for the remaining dry pipe sprinkler assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventors: Eldon D. Jackson, Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20090294138
    Abstract: A dry pipe sprinkler assembly is provided including a sprinkler body having a thermally responsive trigger mounted thereto. A housing, including an inlet end and an outlet end is provided with the outlet end being connected to the sprinkler body. A seal member is disposed at the inlet end of the housing, and a load mechanism extends between the thermally responsive element and the seal member. The load mechanism may include a support portion, a passage tube portion, and an outlet orifice portion slidably received within the housing and movable within the housing upon activation of the thermally responsive trigger to allow the seal member to be dislodged from the inlet end of the housing to allow suppressant fluid to flow therethrough. The dry pipe sprinkler assembly allows the use of different outlet orifice members to provide dry pipe sprinkler assemblies having different K factors while utilizing common components for the remaining dry pipe sprinkler assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Eldon D. Jackson, Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Publication number: 20090272549
    Abstract: A dry valve is provided for a sprinkler system, including a housing including a valve body having an inlet end and a valve cover having an outlet end. A prime chamber housing is disposed within the housing and defines a prime chamber. A prime piston is disposed within the prime chamber and is movable between a closed position seated against a valve seat and an open position received within the prime chamber. A check valve diaphragm assembly is disposed within the housing and disposed against the prime chamber housing in a closed position and spaced from the prime chamber housing in an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Vinh B. Hoa
  • Publication number: 20070289751
    Abstract: A residential or commercial sprinkler system is provided wherein the sprinkler heads and piping distribution network are provided with a relatively low pressure fire suppressant liquid in place of pneumatic pressure, which is typical, and control valve keeps fire suppressant supply pressure from entering the discharge sprinkler system at design discharge pressure until a fire detection system detects a fire condition. Upon the detection of a fire condition, a control valve is opened to provide the sprinkler heads and piping distribution network with a fully pressurized supply of fire suppressant. Also in the case of electric control power loss the system will operate from loss of outlet supervised pressure releasing sprinkler liquid suppressant to the discharge system of closed fused sprinklers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: THE VIKING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shawn J. Feenstra, Eldon D. Jackson, Martin H. Workman, Michael J. Bosma
  • Patent number: D607084
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: D612450
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: D616062
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra
  • Patent number: D617415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: The Viking Corporation
    Inventor: Shawn J. Feenstra