Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Antonucci

Thomas A. Antonucci 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: 8302887
    Abstract: A flow path is provided for a drip emitter to reduce the supply pressure in a manner reducing the potential for the flow path to become obstructed and clogged. The path employs a central path with a predetermined size and a series of baffles with predetermined spacing. The flow path further includes a metering chamber and a diaphragm to compensate for changes in supply pressure and an outlet that facilitates self-flushing in conjunction with the operation of the diaphragm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Park, Thomas Antonucci, Josh St. Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20110198411
    Abstract: An impact sprinkler has a nozzle connected to a housing and a discharge deflector member connected to a rotatable shaft assembly. The sprinkler has different replaceable nozzles and discharge deflectors for providing desired discharge characteristics. The shaft assembly and housing have contacting braking surfaces outside of the water flow providing a frictional braking force dependent on both water flow rate and pressure. The sprinkler has a deflection member for rotating an impact assembly relative to the shaft assembly while a pin supports the impact assembly at a position above the deflection member. A lower portion of the shaft assembly may be positioned in a recess in the housing such that a surface on the shaft assembly contacts a surface in the recess, and a highly wear-resistant material may be disposed on a surface of either the shaft assembly or the recess for providing improved wear characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas A. Antonucci, Brian W. Lees, Valery A. Monge, Kelly F. Olischefski, Michael F. Turk, Keith E. Turner, Richard J. Russell, II
  • Patent number: 7954731
    Abstract: A rotary impact sprinkler is disclosed having a nozzle connected to a housing and a discharge deflector member connected to a rotatable shaft assembly without a dynamic seal between the nozzle and the deflector. The sprinkler may be provided with different nozzles and discharge deflectors that are easily removed and replaced for providing desired water flow and discharge characteristics. The shaft assembly and housing may have contacting braking surfaces outside of the water flow. The braking surfaces may provide a frictional braking force dependent on both water flow rate and water flow pressure. The sprinkler has a rotatable impact assembly supported by the shaft assembly and including a deflection member for rotating the impact assembly relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may have a pin for supporting the impact assembly at a position above the deflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Antonucci, Brian W. Lees, Valery A. Monge, Kelly F. Olischefski, Michael F. Turk, Keith E. Turner, Richard J. Russell, II
  • Publication number: 20070162188
    Abstract: An irrigation control device has a controller sealed within a watertight housing. The control device also has an antenna, power supply and battery charging device, such as a solar array. The controller receives signals through the antenna and updates one or more watering schedules stored in a memory module, based on the received signals, and generates control signals to execute a watering schedule. The battery charging device recharges the power supply and the irrigation control device requires no external electrical connections for power or control. Control signals are generated in a central controller remote from the rotor, and are preferably transmitted to the rotor antenna through a commercial paging or other type of public broadcast network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: RAIN BIRD CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Bailey, Ronald Mickels, Mark Ensworth, Thomas Antonucci
  • Publication number: 20060237561
    Abstract: A flow path is provided for a drip emitter to reduce the supply pressure in a manner reducing the potential for the flow path to become obstructed and clogged. The path employs a central path with a predetermined size and a series of baffles with predetermined spacing. The flow path further includes a metering chamber and a diaphragm to compensate for changes in supply pressure and an outlet that facilitates self-flushing in conjunction with the operation of the diaphragm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Publication date: October 26, 2006
    Inventors: Joshua Park, Thomas Antonucci, Josh St. Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20050107924
    Abstract: An irrigation control device with a controller, antenna, power supply and battery charging device, such as a solar array, all contained within a housing, such as a rotor body. The controller receives signals through the antenna. The controller updates one or more watering schedules stored in a memory module, based on the received signals, and generates control signals to execute a watering schedule. The battery charging device recharges the power supply and the irrigation control device requires no external electrical connections for power or control. Control signals are generated in a central controller remote from the rotor, and are preferably transmitted to the rotor antenna through a commercial paging or other type of public broadcast network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Inventors: David Bailey, Ronald Mickels, Mark Ensworth, Thomas Antonucci
  • Publication number: 20040262426
    Abstract: A rotary impact sprinkler is disclosed having a nozzle connected to a housing and a discharge deflector member connected to a rotatable shaft assembly without a dynamic seal between the nozzle and the deflector. The sprinkler may be provided with different nozzles and discharge deflectors that are easily removed and replaced for providing desired water flow and discharge characteristics. The shaft assembly and housing may have contacting braking surfaces outside of the water flow. The braking surfaces may provide a frictional braking force dependent on both water flow rate and water flow pressure. The sprinkler has a rotatable impact assembly supported by the shaft assembly and including a deflection member for rotating the impact assembly relative to the shaft assembly. The shaft assembly may have a pin for supporting the impact assembly at a position above the deflection member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Applicant: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Antonucci, Brian W. Lees, Valery A. Monge, Kelly F. Olishefski, Michael F. Turk, Keith E. Turner, Richard J. Russell
  • Patent number: 5373126
    Abstract: A deceleration sensor switch comprises a base (12d) including a plate portion (15d) and a rod portion (18d) having a longitudinal central axis (99d). In one embodiment (FIGS. 11-15), a rectangular mass (20d) is mounted on the rod portion. The mass is spaced apart from the plate portion at a distance which prevents rotation of the mass about the axis of the rod portion. When the mass moves from an unactuated position to an actuated position, the mass moves away from a releasable tab portion (42d) of a contact (40d) to allow a contact portion (52d) of the contact to move into engagement with an electrical terminal (34d). The contact portion is spaced apart a predetermined distance (D) from the terminal when the mass is in the unactuated position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: TRW Technar Inc.
    Inventors: Saroj Manandhar, Robert J. Bolender, James Purves, Long T. Su, Thomas Antonucci
  • Patent number: D516669
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Rain Bird Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Antonucci, Brian W. Lees, Valery A. Monge, Kelly F. Olischefski, Michael F. Turk, Keith E. Turner, Richard J. Russell, II