US 11,885,432 B2
Rigid piston valve incorporating a solenoid
Shawn D. Bush, Winter Park, FL (US); and Ryan W. Nottage, Marietta, GA (US)
Assigned to SDB IP Holdings, LLC, Oviedo, FL (US)
Filed by SDB IP Holdings, LLC, Oviedo, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 15, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/348,272.
Application 16/809,841 is a division of application No. 15/799,084, filed on Oct. 31, 2017, granted, now 10,619,754, issued on Apr. 14, 2020.
Application 17/348,272 is a continuation of application No. 16/809,841, filed on Mar. 5, 2020, granted, now 11,060,630.
Application 15/799,084 is a continuation of application No. 15/273,066, filed on Sep. 22, 2016, granted, now 9,822,896, issued on Nov. 21, 2017.
Application 15/273,066 is a continuation of application No. 14/955,567, filed on Dec. 1, 2015, granted, now 9,481,989, issued on Nov. 1, 2016.
Application 14/955,567 is a continuation of application No. 13/866,550, filed on Apr. 19, 2013, granted, now 9,228,662, issued on Jan. 5, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/636,174, filed on Apr. 20, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2021/0310577 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F16K 31/40 (2006.01); F16K 31/383 (2006.01); E03D 3/04 (2006.01); E03D 5/10 (2006.01)
CPC F16K 31/406 (2013.01) [E03D 3/04 (2013.01); E03D 5/10 (2013.01); F16K 31/3835 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49407 (2015.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rigid piston assembly for use in a flush valve, the flush valve having a valve body with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the rigid piston assembly comprising:
a cap configured to connect to the valve body at an end opposite the fluid outlet, the cap having a hollow stem that extends from a central opening in the cap;
a rigid piston comprising a disc shaped member having a central opening, an elongated hollow member that is attached to and extends down from the disc shaped member;
a solenoid connectable to the cap,
wherein the rigid piston includes a by-pass orifice defined in the disc shaped member; and
a by-pass device having a body with a first end, a second end, and a passageway positioned through the body, wherein the by-pass device is adapted to fit inside the by-pass orifice of the rigid piston, thereby establishing fluid communication between the fluid inlet and an upper chamber formed between the rigid piston and the cap,
wherein the flush valve further comprises a flow restricting element positioned within the hollow stem of the cap.