Patents Assigned to Kohler Co.
  • Publication number: 20230364626
    Abstract: A showerhead can include a rear face having an inlet and a front face having a plurality of outlets. The front face can couple to the rear face to define a shell having an internal waterway between the inlet and the plurality of outlets. The showerhead can include a first support disposed within the shell. The showerhead can include a second support disposed within the shell. The front face and the rear face can snap together. The first support and the second support can snap together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Kohler Co
    Inventor: Peter Kajuch
  • Patent number: 11812903
    Abstract: A toilet installed in a bathroom includes a toilet bowl and a tank coupled to the toilet bowl. The tank can contain fluid for the toilet bowl. A rear surface of the tank is flush against a wall of the bathroom such that there is no gap between the tank and the wall and a bottom surface of the tank is flush against a floor of the bathroom such that there is no gap between the tank and the floor. The tank extends longitudinally above and below the toilet bowl and laterally outward past the toilet bowl such that a first side surface and a second side surface of the tank define outermost side peripheries of the toilet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Stephanie Szemetylo, Erich D. Slothower, Gregory de Swarte, Margaret C. Mazz, Terrence K. Mahon, Nona J. Beining
  • Patent number: 11808182
    Abstract: An oil treatment system for an internal combustion engine in one implementation includes an elongated dipstick tube defining a tube axis and a first flow passageway, a housing arranged on the dipstick tube and defining an internal cavity, an oil treatment apparatus disposed in the internal cavity, and a retainer coupled to the housing. The retainer may have a cylindrical body comprising an elongated first flow protuberance insertably received through the oil treatment apparatus to establish fluid communication between the oil treatment apparatus and the first flow passageway of the dipstick tube. The retainer comprises a cavity through which oil may be added directly to the first flow passageway of the dipstick which may be fluidly coupled to an oil sump of the engine. The oil treatment apparatus may be an oil filter. An oil treatment additive may optionally be added to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Terrence M. Rotter
  • Patent number: 11802398
    Abstract: A drain assembly includes a drain body and an expanding assembly. The drain body includes a first flange and a second flange that each extend away from an inner surface of the drain body towards a center of the drain body. The expanding assembly is positionable within the drain body between the first flange and the second flange. The expanding assembly includes a lattice body. The lattice body can be adjusted relative to the drain body such that the expanding assembly applies an axial force to the first flange and the second flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Stout
  • Patent number: 11795999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bearing configured to couple a faucet spout to a faucet body. The bearing includes a plurality of fingers extending parallel to a central axis of the bearing. The plurality of fingers is configured to engage with the faucet spout at an intermediate position between a first end of the bearing and a second end of the bearing. The fingers are configured to exert an outward pressure to the faucet spout. The fingers are also configured to compress in a substantially axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Frye, Gabriel M. Niederlander
  • Patent number: 11795672
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sink assembly including a basin, an apron, and an apron module. The basin includes a floor and a plurality of sidewalls extending upwardly from the floor. The floor and the plurality of sidewalls together define a reservoir configured to receive fluid therein. The apron module is disposed within the volume and includes an audio system. The apron module may be sized to be fully received within the volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Niels J. Eilmus, Rafael A. Rexach, Kristin S. Morehouse, Steven F. Ellingsen
  • Patent number: 11799342
    Abstract: An electric machine includes a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of conductors. The plurality of permanent magnets are arranged radially around a rotation axis of the electric machine and spaced apart from the rotation axis of the electric machine. At least one of the plurality of magnets has a shape in a plane of rotation intersected by the rotation axis. The plurality of conductors are arranged relative to the plurality of magnets and spaced apart from each other circumferentially around the rotation axis of the electric machine. At least one of the plurality of conductors includes a trace having a polygon shape different than the shape of the at least one of the plurality of magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Isaac S. Frampton, Adam Larson
  • Publication number: 20230333663
    Abstract: A control unit for a plumbing assembly includes a first sensor for sensing a gesture and at least one direction associated with the gesture. The control unit also includes a first pair of sensors arranged along a first axis of the control unit, which determine a velocity of the gesture along the first axis. The control unit includes a second pair of sensors arranged a long a second axis of the control unit, which determine a velocity of the gesture along the second axis. The control unit includes at least one controller operably coupled to the first sensor, the first pair of sensors, and the second pair of sensors, where the at least one controller adjusts an operational state of the plumbing assembly based on the velocity of the gesture along the first axis, the velocity of the gesture along the second axis, and the at least one direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Gaurav Kumar Verma, Braden Daniel Schmidt, Drew Johnson, Nikhil Bangar, Nikhil Sanjay Ghatole, Jiunn Tyng Chen
  • Patent number: 11786919
    Abstract: A spray head assembly that includes a body configured to receive water; and a plurality of nozzles on or in the body, wherein the plurality of nozzles is configured to receive and discharge the water in a plurality of nonintersecting streams that together form a spray pattern having either a dotted ā€œSā€ shape or a dotted ā€œ8ā€ shape at a focal distance from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Perry Erickson
  • Publication number: 20230320538
    Abstract: A method for installing a receptor in a shower environment includes measuring a distance between a drain of the shower environment and a wall of the shower environment. The method also includes identifying a marking on the receptor that corresponds to the distance. The marking indicates where to cut the receptor to remove a portion of a rim of the receptor such that an opening in the receptor aligns with the drain when the receptor is installed in the shower environment. The marking is identified from a plurality of different markings on the receptor, each of the plurality of different markings corresponding to a different distance. The method also includes cutting the receptor at a location indicated by the marking. The method also includes installing the receptor in the shower environment after cutting the receptor at the location indicated by the marking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth L. STOUT, Jose Luis Ortiz PALACIOS
  • Patent number: 11781296
    Abstract: A valve trim assembly for use in a shower environment. The valve trim assembly includes an outer covering and a valve assembly. The outer covering includes a first axis disposed through a midpoint of the outer covering. The valve assembly is at least partially disposed within the outer covering and configured to control a flow of fluid. The valve assembly includes a nut coupled to the outer covering, an adapter at least partially disposed within the nut and rotatable about the first axis, and an elongated joint coaxially aligned with the adapter. The nut and the adapter cooperatively define a joint where the adapter rotates within the nut to maintain engagement between the outer covering and a wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Andrew James Stokes, Michael J. Strege
  • Patent number: 11781302
    Abstract: A sink system includes a basin and an apron. The basin includes a floor, a front wall, and a basin rim. The front wall is contiguous with the floor. The basin rim has a rim front side that is contiguous with the front wall. The rim front side includes an aperture. The apron includes an apron coupling wall. The apron coupling wall is configured to be coupled to the rim front side. The apron coupling wall includes an apron slot that is configured to be aligned with the aperture when the apron is coupled to the basin rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Evan M. Grybush, Steven F. Elllingsen, Niels J. Eilmus, Terrence K. Mahon
  • Patent number: 11781301
    Abstract: A method for making a sink with a supporting structure including providing a sink including at least one basin and a rim extending outwardly from at least one side of the at least one basin, and coupling a support structure in the form of at least one channel to an underside of the at least one side of the rim using a tool. The tool includes a channel support configured to receive one channel of the at least one channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jason R. Miller, Brian Siehr, Theodore Nikolai, Joseph Bolden
  • Patent number: 11771222
    Abstract: A sink includes a front wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall. The front wall includes an inner surface that defines part of a basin of the sink, and an outer surface located opposite the inner surface that is configured to be exposed in front of an opening of a cabinet in which the s sink is installed. The front wall includes first and second lateral portions that extend outwardly past the first and second side walls. The first and second lateral portions of the front wall are configured to at least partially overlap a front face of the cabinet adjacent the opening, so as to substantially conceal the opening when the sink is installed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jason R. Miller, Niels J. Eilmus
  • Patent number: D1001538
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Gregory De Swarte, Anna-Pia K. Slothower, Drew Johnson
  • Patent number: D1001543
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Gregory De Swarte, Anna-Pia K. Slothower, Drew Johnson
  • Patent number: D1001967
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Roque M. Corpuz, Jr., Brandon H. Miller
  • Patent number: D1003395
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Margaret C. Mazz
  • Patent number: D1003859
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Zhiyu Liu, Rafael A. Rexach
  • Patent number: D1004052
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Harrison, Margaret C. Mazz, Paul B. Georgeson