Robert V. Funderburk
Residential Contractor at Old Concord Rd, Salisbury, NC

6443184, Sep 3, 2002

Jul 25, 2000

09/625682

Robert V. Funderburk - Salisbury NC

Conbraco Industries, Inc. - Matthews NC

F16K 1500

137535, 137529, 251337

A poppet-type check valve for controlling fluid flow including a valve housing having an interior and first and second ports therein communicating with the interior of said valve housing for permitting fluid flow from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof and at least one valve assembly disposed within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow therethrough. The valve assembly includes a valve seat positioned in the interior of the valve housing, and a seal retainer positioned in the interior of the valve housing downstream from the valve seat and mounted on a stem. The seal retainer and the stem are axially moveable away from the valve seat in response to fluid flow in a downstream direction, axially moveable toward the valve seat in response to fluid flow in an upstream direction, and in sealing engagement against the valve seat in the absence of fluid flow. A plurality of springs are pivotally mounted in the interior of the valve housing interconnecting the valve housing and stem for normally maintaining the seal retainer in sealing engagement with the valve seat in the absence of fluid flow. The springs are positioned in radial opposition to one another and extend outwardly from the stem in the downstream direction to cause the seal retainer to move away from the valve seat in response to fluid flow in the downstream direction, thereby increasing the force of the stem on the springs and causing the springs to pivot and compress to produce a diminishing resultant spring load on the stem.

6343618, Feb 5, 2002

Feb 28, 2000

09/514093

Greg L. Britt - Indian Trail NC
Danny S. Meyer - Monroe NC
Timothy D. Price - Monroe NC
Robert V. Funderburk - Salisbury NC

Conbraco Industries, Inc. - Matthews NC

F16K 1503

137527, 137512, 251337, 251 87

A swing check valve for controlling fluid flow, including a valve housing having a port for fluid flow therethrough with a removable cover for accessing an interior of the valve housing. A valve assembly is positioned within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow through the valve housing. The valve assembly includes a valve seat in fluid communication with the port and a clapper mounted in the valve housing on a pivotally-mounted rocker arm and moveable between an open position responsive to fluid flow in a flow direction and a closed position sealed against the valve seat responsive to fluid flow in an opposite, backflow direction. A spring is captured in the valve housing by the removable cover without attachment to either the cover or valve housing, and normally urges the clapper into the closed position sealed against the valve seat. A first pivot is carried by the spring and cooperates with a mating interior surface of the cover for permitting unattached pivotal movement of the spring relative to the cover. A second pivot is carried by the spring and cooperates with a mating pivot surface carried on the rocker arm for permitting unattached pivotal movement of the spring relative to the rocker arm whereby the spring is allowed to pivot within the valve housing responsive to movement of the clapper.

6694996, Feb 24, 2004

Mar 11, 2002

10/095264

Robert V. Funderburk - Salisbury NC

Conbraco Industries, Inc. - Matthews NC

F16K 1503

137 1518, 13731533, 137512, 1375272, 1375274

A swing check valve for controlling fluid flow, including a valve housing having a port for fluid flow therethrough. A valve assembly is disposed within the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow therethrough, and includes a valve seat communicating with the port. A clapper is pivotally mounted in the valve housing and moves between open and closed positions. A lever arm is pivotally mounted on the rocker arm for providing leverage against the rocker arm for positioning the clapper and rocker arm within the valve housing. A spring is captured in the valve housing, and normally urges the clapper into the closed position. A first pivot is carried by the spring for permitting unattached pivotal movement of the spring relative to the cover. A second pivot is carried by the spring for permitting the spring to pivot within the valve housing responsive to movement of the clapper.

7025085, Apr 11, 2006

Mar 9, 2004

10/796241

Timothy D. Price - Monroe NC, US
Robert V. Funderburk - Salisbury NC, US
Gareth P. Taylor - Indian Trail NC, US

Conbraco Industries, Inc. - Matthews NC

F16K 15/00

137512, 137529, 137536, 251337

A poppet-type check valve for controlling fluid flow, and including a valve housing having an interior and first and second ports therein communicating with the interior of the valve housing for permitting fluid flow from an upstream side to a downstream side thereof. At least one valve assembly is disposed within the interior of the valve housing for controlling the fluid flow therethrough. The valve assembly includes a valve seat positioned in the interior of the valve housing and a seal retainer positioned in the interior of the valve housing downstream from the valve seat and mounted on a stem. The seal retainer and the stem are axially moveable away from the valve seat in response to fluid flow in a downstream direction at a predetermined flow rate, and axially moveable towards and into sealing engagement with the valve seat in response to a downstream fluid flow at a flow rate less than the predetermined flow rate. A plurality of springs is allowed to compress past the position of neutral load for the purpose of elongating the stroke of the poppet. The elongated stroke results in enhanced flow performance.

2010016, Jul 1, 2010

Mar 4, 2008

12/449943

Robert V. Funderburk - Salisbury NC, US
John F. Higdon - Matthews NC, US
Julie C. Howell - Indian Trail NC, US
Steven P. Lehmbeck - Baltimore MD, US

A61B 17/3213

606167

A guarded surgical scalpel is provided with manually-manipulatable means carried by the scalpel for, first, securely mounting a surgical blade on the scalpel and, second, subsequently de-mounting the surgical blade off the scalpel, the de-mounting being essentially in a “hands free” environment; that is, it is not necessary to touch the used blade for its removal. Additionally, the scalpel may be quickly disassembled for cleaning and/or sterilization following a surgical procedure in the operating room (“O.R.”) of a hospital, clinic or physician's office.