IP Library Granted Patent US 10,214,887
Granted Patent B2
US 10,214,887 · App. 15/195,036 · Granted Feb 26, 2019

Diaphragm disk

Inventors: Michael A. Funari (Apex, NC); Larry M. Elting (Whispering Pines, NC); Jerome S. Markijohn (Sanford, NC)
Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLC
E03D3/06F16K31/3855Y10T137/0491
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,214,887
App. No.
15/195,036
Granted
Feb 26, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

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.

Claims (9)

1. A method of making a diaphragm disk for use in a diaphragm flush valve for use with toilet devices, the diaphragm flush valve including a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve seat between said inlet and outlet and a valve member movable to a closing position on said valve seat to stop flow between said inlet and outlet, said valve member, including a diaphragm peripherally attached to said body, a pressure chamber above said diaphragm for holding said valve member on said valve seat, the method of making the diaphragm disk comprising the steps of:

forming a disk body made of a composite material for use in the diaphragm flush valve in which the disk body is a rigid body,

applying an adhesive to said disk body, and

molding a layer of rubber onto a recessed area of the upper surface of said disk body to form the diaphragm disk, wherein the layer of rubber is a seal member providing a sealing surface on the upper surface of the disk body in which the sealing surface is configured to provide sealing contact with a relief valve extending through the disk body.

2. The method of making a diaphragm disk according to claim 1 , wherein said disk body has a portion on a lower surface thereof for contact with said diaphragm and said disk body has plurality of inwardly directed protrusions.

3. The method of making a diaphragm disk according to claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises a glass infused polyphthalamide.

4. The method of making a diaphragm disk according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of inwardly directed protrusions are formed integral with said disk body.

5. The method of making a diaphragm disk according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of inwardly directed protrusions are spaced about the upper surface of said disk body.

6. The method of making a diaphragm disk according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of inwardly directed protrusions are configured to center said relief valve on the upper surface of said disk body.

Assignments (8)
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY OF REEL/FRAME 057893/0121 Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS PRIOR AGENT (F/K/A CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 074945/0935 →
NOTICE OF SUCCESSION OF AGENCY OF REEL/FRAME 066293/0879 Recorded Feb 20, 2026
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS PRIOR AGENT (F/K/A CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS SUCCESSOR AGENT
Reel/Frame 074947/0479 →
CONVERSION Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 066336/0603 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2024
From: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: ZURN WATER, LLC
Reel/Frame 066337/0918 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS AT REEL 057893, FRAME 0121 Recorded Dec 19, 2023
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC (F/K/A ZURN INDUSTRIES, INC.)
Reel/Frame 066067/0937 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2023
From: ZURN WATER, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066293/0879 →
LETTERS TESTAMENTARY Recorded Dec 15, 2023
From: ELTING, LARRY M.
To: ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 065887/0228 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 8, 2021
From: AMERICAN DRYER LLC; GREEN TURTLE AMERICAS LTD.; WORLD DRYER CORPORATION; ZURN PEX, INC.; ZURN INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 057893/0121 →
Continuity (3)
Division 14164580 · Jan 27, 2014
Provisional Application 61757988 · Jan 29, 2013
Related Publication 20160305105A1 · Oct 20, 2016
Cited By (1)
US 1,130,687