Patents by Inventor Michael Funari
Michael Funari 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).
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Patent number: 11739512Abstract: A flush valve includes a valve housing defining a fluid passageway between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid passageway includes a diaphragm valve seat disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The flush valve additionally includes a diaphragm assembly including a diaphragm and a disc. The diaphragm includes a primary opening and a bypass opening. The primary opening receives the disc therein and the bypass opening allowing water under pressure supplied to the fluid inlet to pass from a fluid inlet side of the diaphragm into a chamber in the fluid passageway. The flush valve additionally includes a relief valve configured to selectively control fluid flow from the chamber to the fluid outlet. The relief valve comprises a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2022Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Publication number: 20230125815Abstract: A flush valve includes a valve housing defining a fluid passageway between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid passageway includes a diaphragm valve seat disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The flush valve additionally includes a diaphragm assembly including a diaphragm and a disc. The diaphragm includes a primary opening and a bypass opening. The primary opening receives the disc therein and the bypass opening allowing water under pressure supplied to the fluid inlet to pass from a fluid inlet side of the diaphragm into a chamber in the fluid passageway. The flush valve additionally includes a relief valve configured to selectively control fluid flow from the chamber to the fluid outlet. The relief valve comprises a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2022Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 11536014Abstract: A flush valve includes a valve housing defining a fluid passageway between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid passageway includes a diaphragm valve seat disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The flush valve additionally includes a diaphragm assembly including a diaphragm and a disc. The diaphragm includes a primary opening and a bypass opening. The primary opening receives the disc therein and the bypass opening allowing water under pressure supplied to the fluid inlet to pass from a fluid inlet side of the diaphragm into a chamber in the fluid passageway. The flush valve additionally includes a relief valve configured to selectively control fluid flow from the chamber to the fluid outlet. The relief valve comprises a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Publication number: 20210262211Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element. The axially-translatable valve element has an axial end that can be selectively translated to unseal an upper opening in a relief passageway through the stationary relief valve housing in order to permit fluid flow therethrough in order to initiate a flush cycle by the lifting of a diaphragm assembly. The axially-translatable valve element may include lead screw-like features which can be used to axially drive the axially-translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing to open or close the relief valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Roy F. Leviner, III, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 11001998Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element. The axially-translatable valve element has an axial end that can be selectively translated to unseal an upper opening in a relief passageway through the stationary relief valve housing in order to permit fluid flow therethrough in order to initiate a flush cycle by the lifting of a diaphragm assembly. The axially-translatable valve element may include lead screw-like features which can be used to axially drive the axially-translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing to open or close the relief valve.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Roy F. Leviner, III, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 10921832Abstract: A hot water valve assembly is disclosed including a dual inlet housing having a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, a thermostatic mixing cartridge disposed within the dual inlet housing, an inner conduit disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the dual inlet housing and a shell including a mixed water outlet that is connected to and in fluid communication with the inner conduit.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Marc G. Block, Michael A. Funari
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Publication number: 20200385971Abstract: A flush valve includes a valve housing defining a fluid passageway between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The fluid passageway includes a diaphragm valve seat disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The flush valve additionally includes a diaphragm assembly including a diaphragm and a disc. The diaphragm includes a primary opening and a bypass opening. The primary opening receives the disc therein and the bypass opening allowing water under pressure supplied to the fluid inlet to pass from a fluid inlet side of the diaphragm into a chamber in the fluid passageway. The flush valve additionally includes a relief valve configured to selectively control fluid flow from the chamber to the fluid outlet. The relief valve comprises a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2020Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 10753075Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve that has a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening, and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow. A disc contacts a diaphragm valve seat to form a seal between the disc and the diaphragm valve seat when the diaphragm assembly is in the closed position and with the relief valve closed. When the flush valve is activated, the relief valve is opened to permit a flow of water from the chamber into the fluid outlet. The opening of the relief valve relieves fluid pressure in the chamber and causes diaphragm assembly to move from the closed position to the opened position. The disc is unseated from the valve seat which permits water to pass from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the diaphragm assembly is in the open position.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Publication number: 20200208388Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element. The axially-translatable valve element has an axial end that can be selectively translated to unseal an upper opening in a relief passageway through the stationary relief valve housing in order to permit fluid flow therethrough in order to initiate a flush cycle by the lifting of a diaphragm assembly. The axially-translatable valve element may include lead screw-like features which can be used to axially drive the axially-translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing to open or close the relief valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Roy F. Leviner, III, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 10487486Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element. The axially-translatable valve element has an axial end that can be selectively translated to unseal an upper opening in a relief passageway through the stationary relief valve housing in order to permit fluid flow therethrough in order to initiate a flush cycle by the lifting of a diaphragm assembly. The axially-translatable valve element may include lead screw-like features which can be used to axially drive the axially-translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing to open or close the relief valve.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Roy F. Leviner, III, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 10214887Abstract: A diaphragm type flush valve for use with toilet devices such as urinals and water closets that includes a valve member, a diaphragm, a guide member extends downwardly from the diaphragm, and a disk positioned on top of the diaphragm. The disk is threadably attached to the guide member and functions to secure the diaphragm, the disk, and the guide member into the valve member. The disk includes a rigid body made of a composite material and a seal member made of an adhesive and a thin layer of rubber, with the seal member having a portion on an upper surface of the disk for sealing contact with a relief valve. The disk also includes a plurality of spaced protrusions and inwardly directed on its upper surface in order to add accuracy and stability to the diaphragm assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Larry M. Elting, Jerome S. Markijohn
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Patent number: 10189194Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for a unitary diaphragm assembly is for use in flush valves. The diaphragm assembly may have a flexible diaphragm which includes a seating portion and a mounting portion at the outer peripheral edge. A flow ring may be positioned adjacent to the seating portion of the diaphragm. An elongated barrel member may extend from the diaphragm in a longitudinal direction and may include a plurality of radial supports positioned circumferentially around the outer surface of the barrel member and along a portion of the length of the barrel member.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2015Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Michael A. Funari, Robert E. Saadi
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Patent number: 10138620Abstract: A faucet assembly including a faucet body having a spout, a base, and hot and cold water flow control valves. The base houses a thermostatic mixing cartridge that tempers hot and cold water and has passageways that place tempered water from the thermostatic mixing cartridge and a cold water passageway in selective fluid communication with the outlet of the spout. During use, mixed water from the thermostatic mixing cartridge is regulated by the hot water control valve, cold water is regulated by the cold water control valve, and both the mixed water and the cold water are further mixed at a juncture of the mixed water passageway and the cold water passageway prior to exiting the faucet assembly via the outlet of the spout.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2017Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Marc G. Block, Michael A. Funari
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Publication number: 20180223512Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve including a stationary relief valve housing and an axially-translatable valve element. The axially-translatable valve element has an axial end that can be selectively translated to unseal an upper opening in a relief passageway through the stationary relief valve housing in order to permit fluid flow therethrough in order to initiate a flush cycle by the lifting of a diaphragm assembly. The axially-translatable valve element may include lead screw-like features which can be used to axially drive the axially-translatable valve element relative to the stationary relief valve housing to open or close the relief valve.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Roy F. Leviner, III, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 9963861Abstract: A vacuum breaker having a supporting rib and a skirted section is disclosed. The supporting rib is configured to be axially aligned with air slots in an outlet tube and provide a more robust vacuum breaker sleeve under extreme operating conditions. The skirted section can prevent leakage through air slots during high back pressure operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2016Date of Patent: May 8, 2018Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Cesar J. Leon-Quintero, Brandon Ancona, Michael A. Funari
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Publication number: 20180087676Abstract: A low-torque valve for regulating fluid flow between a valve inlet and a valve outlet is disclosed. The low-torque valve has a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element. The stationary valve element and the rotatable valve element each may have a respective axially-facing mating surface in contact with each other. At least one opening in the rotatable valve element is rotationally positionable with respect to at least one opening in the stationary valve element between an open position and a closed position in order to regulate fluid flow from the valve inlet to the valve outlet based on an alignment of the openings of the stationary valve element and the rotatable valve element. In some forms, a torque threshold that is required to rotate the rotatable valve element into the open position from the closed position is less than 10 ounce-inches.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Publication number: 20180087252Abstract: A flush valve has a relief valve that has a stationary valve element and a rotatable valve element each having at least one opening, and being rotationally positionable relative to one another to regulate fluid flow. A disc contacts a diaphragm valve seat to form a seal between the disc and the diaphragm valve seat when the diaphragm assembly is in the closed position and with the relief valve closed. When the flush valve is activated, the relief valve is opened to permit a flow of water from the chamber into the fluid outlet. The opening of the relief valve relieves fluid pressure in the chamber and causes diaphragm assembly to move from the closed position to the opened position. The disc is unseated from the valve seat which permits water to pass from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet when the diaphragm assembly is in the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Michael A. Funari, Marc G. Block
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Patent number: 9896829Abstract: A diaphragm for use in a diaphragm-type flush valve includes a flexible diaphragm body having a first side and a second side and an outer periphery, a center passageway defined in the diaphragm body, a bypass orifice defined in the diaphragm body, and a sealing ring attached to the outer periphery of the flexible diaphragm body. The sealing ring defines an outer circumferential surface of the diaphragm. The outer circumferential surface of the sealing ring defines a recessed area. The recessed area is configured to be positioned in a keyed relationship with a flush valve body.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLCInventors: Matthew C. Davis, Michael A. Funari, John Kevin Schoolcraft
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Publication number: 20170342690Abstract: A faucet assembly including a faucet body having a spout, a base, and hot and cold water flow control valves. The base houses a thermostatic mixing cartridge that tempers hot and cold water and has passageways that place tempered water from the thermostatic mixing cartridge and a cold water passageway in selective fluid communication with the outlet of the spout. During use, mixed water from the thermostatic mixing cartridge is regulated by the hot water control valve, cold water is regulated by the cold water control valve, and both the mixed water and the cold water are further mixed at a juncture of the mixed water passageway and the cold water passageway prior to exiting the faucet assembly via the outlet of the spout.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Marc G. Block, Michael A. Funari
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Publication number: 20170344035Abstract: A hot water valve assembly is disclosed including a dual inlet housing having a cold water inlet and a hot water inlet, a thermostatic mixing cartridge disposed within the dual inlet housing, an inner conduit disposed adjacent to and in fluid communication with the dual inlet housing and a shell including a mixed water outlet that is connected to and in fluid communication with the inner conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2017Publication date: November 30, 2017Inventors: Marc G. Block, Michael A. Funari