Patents by Inventor Steven L. Shields

Steven L. Shields 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: 12215812
    Abstract: A pipe fitting assembly to allow for connecting of piping elements by inserting into the pipe fitting, and without the necessity of glued, soldered, or threaded connections. The fitting assembly can include a body element having an inlet and an outlet along a longitudinal axis. The body element can include a sealing recession and a retention recession. The fitting assembly can include a scaling ring to be inserted in the sealing recession, a spacer ring to also be inserted in the sealing recession, a grip ring to be inserted in the retention recession, or a retainer ring to be inserted in the retention recession and fixed to the body element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Shields, Lyle J. Miller, Kevin Wade Pressnell, Josh Keeling
  • Publication number: 20250033255
    Abstract: An injection mold for producing a sprinkler head part and related injection molding methods are described. The sprinkler head part includes a first, second, third and fourth mold portions. The first and second mold portions include first and second shaping elements structured to cooperatively form a body including a substantially cylindrical portion and a substantially planar portion, and two frame arms extending from the substantially planar portion of the body. The third mold portion includes a shaping element structured to form an orifice in the body of the sprinkler head. The fourth mold portion includes a shaping element structured to form a cross member connecting the two frame arms. The injection methods include injecting a composite material in molten form into the mold to form the molded sprinkler head part. The composite material includes thermoplastic polymeric resin and a plurality of reinforcing fibers dispersed in the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: William K. Rucker, Manuel R. Silva, JR., Lyle J. Miller, Daniel Cross, Steven L. Shields, Jose L. Almeida
  • Patent number: 12138831
    Abstract: An injection mold for producing a sprinkler head part and related injection molding methods are described. The sprinkler head part includes a first, second, third and fourth mold portions. The first and second mold portions include first and second shaping elements structured to cooperatively form a body including a substantially cylindrical portion and a substantially planar portion, and two frame arms extending from the substantially planar portion of the body. The third mold portion includes a shaping element structured to form an orifice in the body of the sprinkler head. The fourth mold portion includes a shaping element structured to form a cross member connecting the two frame arms. The injection methods include injecting a composite material in molten form into the mold to form the molded sprinkler head part. The composite material includes thermoplastic polymeric resin and a plurality of reinforcing fibers dispersed in the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: William K. Rucker, Manuel R. Silva, Jr., Lyle J. Miller, Daniel Cross, Steven L. Shields, Jose L. Almeida
  • Publication number: 20240307723
    Abstract: A sprinkler adapter includes a first pipe receiver, a second pipe receiver, a channel, a first sprinkler port, and a second sprinkler port. The first pipe receiver couples with a first pipe. The second pipe receiver couples with a second pipe. The channel extends between the first pipe receiver and the second pipe receiver along a pipe axis. The first sprinkler port is fluidly coupled with the channel, couples with a first sprinkler, and defines a first port axis spaced from the pipe axis. The second sprinkler port is fluidly coupled with the channel, couples with a second sprinkler, and defines a second port axis spaced from the first port axis and the pipe axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Shields, William K. Rucker, Lyle J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20240261616
    Abstract: A sprinkler installation tool includes a first member, a second member, and at least one bearing. The first member defines an axis and include a first surface transverse to the axis. The first surface includes at least one first opening. The second member includes a second member including a second surface in contact with the first surface. The second surface includes at least one second opening. The at least one bearing is between the at least one first opening and the at least one second opening to engage the at least one first opening and the at least one second opening such that a torque applied to the first member to cause the first member to rotate about the axis relative to the second member causes the second member to rotate with the first member responsive to the torque being less than a target torque of rotation of a sprinkler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: William K. Rucker, Steven L. Shields, Daniel Cross
  • Patent number: 12017103
    Abstract: A sprinkler adapter includes a first pipe receiver, a second pipe receiver, a channel, a first sprinkler port, and a second sprinkler port. The first pipe receiver couples with a first pipe. The second pipe receiver couples with a second pipe. The channel extends between the first pipe receiver and the second pipe receiver along a pipe axis. The first sprinkler port is fluidly coupled with the channel, couples with a first sprinkler, and defines a first port axis spaced from the pipe axis. The second sprinkler port is fluidly coupled with the channel, couples with a second sprinkler, and defines a second port axis spaced from the first port axis and the pipe axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Shields, William K. Rucker, Lyle J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20240075593
    Abstract: At least one aspect is directed to a device to configure a fire sprinkler. The device can have an elongated member. The elongated member can have an open end, an opposing closed end, and a body extending laterally therebetween. The open end can receive a portion of a fire sprinkler. The closed end can have a main aperture. The main aperture can receive a portion of a ratcheting socket wrench drive. The closed end can have at least one surrounding aperture. The surrounding aperture can be positioned apart from the main aperture to define a solid partition therebetween. The solid partition can have non-uniform thickness between the main aperture and the at least one surrounding aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: William K. Rucker, Steven L. Shields, Daniel Cross, Jianhu Nie
  • Publication number: 20230383889
    Abstract: A fire protection system can include one or more pipes coupled with a fluid source, a pipe fitting coupled with the one or more pipes downstream of the fluid source, and at least one sprinkler coupled with the one or more pipes and the pipe fitting. The pipe fitting can include a wall defining an opening, the wall having an outer diameter, a first wall thickness at the opening, and a second wall thickness inward from the opening, the second wall thickness greater than the first wall thickness. The at least one sprinkler can be coupled with the one or more pipes and the pipe fitting to receive fluid from the fluid source through the one or more pipes and the pipe fitting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: November 30, 2023
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventor: Steven L. Shields
  • Publication number: 20230265953
    Abstract: A pipe fitting assembly to allow for connecting of piping elements by inserting into the pipe fitting, and without the necessity of glued, soldered, or threaded connections. The fitting assembly can include a body element having an inlet and an outlet along a longitudinal axis. The body element can include a sealing recession and a retention recession. The fitting assembly can include a sealing ring to be inserted in the sealing recession, a spacer ring to also be inserted in the sealing recession, a grip ring to be inserted in the retention recession, or a retainer ring to be inserted in the retention recession and fixed to the body element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Shields, Lyle J. Miller, Kevin Wade Pressnell, Josh Keeling
  • Publication number: 20230201644
    Abstract: A concealed sprinkler can include a body that defines an outlet, a seal that seals the outlet, an activation element coupled with the seal, a housing, a cover plate, and a wall. The activation element changes from a first state to a second state responsive to a fire condition to allow the seal to be displaced from the outlet. The housing extends from a first housing end that extends from the body to a second housing end, and defines a chamber around the activation element. The cover plate is coupled with the second housing end. The wall extends towards the activation element to form an air flow channel to the activation element adjacent to the wall. At least one of the cover plate and the wall are removably coupled with the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Alex Laprade, Sean E. Cutting, Krista Nolan, Barbara L. Churchill, Steven L. Shields, Prashant A. Kulkarni
  • Publication number: 20230149756
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a body including an internal passageway extending from an inlet to an orifice. The body can be made of a composite material, such as a polymeric material. The sprinkler can include a first frame arm extending from the body, a second frame arm extending from the body, and a connector member connecting the first frame arm with the second frame arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: William K. Rucker, Steven L. Shields, Lyle J. Miller, Daniel Cross
  • Publication number: 20230100828
    Abstract: An injection mold for producing a sprinkler head part and related injection molding methods are described. The sprinkler head part includes a first, second, third and fourth mold portions. The first and second mold portions include first and second shaping elements structured to cooperatively form a body including a substantially cylindrical portion and a substantially planar portion, and two frame arms extending from the substantially planar portion of the body. The third mold portion includes a shaping element structured to form an orifice in the body of the sprinkler head. The fourth mold portion includes a shaping element structured to form a cross member connecting the two frame arms. The injection methods include injecting a composite material in molten form into the mold to form the molded sprinkler head part. The composite material includes thermoplastic polymeric resin and a plurality of reinforcing fibers dispersed in the resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: William K. Rucker, Manuel R. Silva, JR., Lyle J. Miller, Daniel Cross, Steven L. Shields, Jose L. Almeida
  • Publication number: 20230001249
    Abstract: A sprinkler includes a body, a button, and a spring. The body includes an opening and a shoulder arranged around a sprinkler axis. The spring including an aperture that receives the button, a first spring surface, and a second spring surface. At least one of (i) the shoulder includes a first extension that contacts the first spring surface and (ii) the button includes a second extension that contacts the second spring surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Shields, William K. Rucker, Lyle J. Miller, Daniel Cross
  • Publication number: 20210379433
    Abstract: A sprinkler adapter includes a first pipe receiver, a second pipe receiver, a channel, a first sprinkler port, and a second sprinkler port. The first pipe receiver couples with a first pipe. The second pipe receiver couples with a second pipe. The channel extends between the first pipe receiver and the second pipe receiver along a pipe axis. The first sprinkler port is fluidly coupled with the channel, couples with a first sprinkler, and defines a first port axis spaced from the pipe axis. The second sprinkler port is fluidly coupled with the channel, couples with a second sprinkler, and defines a second port axis spaced from the first port axis and the pipe axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: Tyco Fire Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Shields, William K. Rucker, Lyle J. Miller