Patents by Inventor Clayton Garrels
Clayton Garrels 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).
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Patent number: 11208798Abstract: A trip lever assembly for a toilet includes a body and an infrared sensor. The body is configured to be mechanically coupled to a flush valve assembly of the toilet. The infrared sensor is coupled to the body, and is configured to be electrically coupled to the flush valve assembly. The body is configured to be manually actuated to control the flush valve assembly. The infrared sensor is a time-of-flight sensor configured to detect the distance of an object in a detection region of the infrared sensor to control the flush valve assembly.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: John Lipinski, Clayton Garrels, Timothy Waack
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Publication number: 20210388592Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2021Publication date: December 16, 2021Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20210355668Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2021Publication date: November 18, 2021Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Patent number: 11105082Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 31, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20210207354Abstract: A chemical dispensing system for a toilet that includes a container configured to contain a chemical compound that mixes with water to form a cleaning compound; a bracket coupled to the container; a threaded protrusion that extends from the bracket and is configured to extend through a hole in an inside of the sidewall of the toilet; and a fastener having a threaded body and a head, which is larger radially than the threaded body such that the head is configured to contact an outside of the sidewall in a secured position in which the threaded body threads to the threaded protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20210102364Abstract: A tankless toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a jet. The bowl includes a rim at an upper portion of the bowl and a sump at a lower portion of the bowl. The trapway extends from the sump to a drain. The jet includes a main channel configured to receive a supply of water from a supply conduit, and a plurality of distribution channels configured to introduce water received from the main channel to at least one of the sump and the trapway. The jet is configured to receive the supply of water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the supply of water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime a siphon within the trapway. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate prior to priming the siphon.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2020Publication date: April 8, 2021Inventors: Sudip Mukerji, Michael J. Luettgen, William Kalk, Randy Mesun, Jeff Laundre, Jeremy Rauwerdink, John Esche, Keith Muellenbach, Clayton Garrels
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Patent number: 10927537Abstract: A tankless toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a jet. The bowl includes a rim at an upper portion of the bowl and a sump at a lower portion of the bowl. The trapway extends from the sump to a drain. The jet includes a main channel configured to receive a supply of water from a supply conduit, and a plurality of distribution channels configured to introduce water received from the main channel to at least one of the sump and the trapway. The jet is configured to receive the supply of water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the supply of water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime a siphon within the trapway. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate prior to priming the siphon.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2017Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Sudip Mukerji, Michael J Luettgen, William Kalk, Randy Mesun, Jeremy Rauwerdink, Jeffrey T. Laundre, John Esche, Keith Muellenbach, Clayton Garrels
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Publication number: 20200407962Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2020Publication date: December 31, 2020Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20200157792Abstract: A chemical dispensing system for a toilet that includes a container configured to contain a chemical compound that mixes with water to form a cleaning compound; a bracket coupled to the container; a threaded protrusion that extends from the bracket and is configured to extend through a hole in an inside of the sidewall of the toilet; and a fastener having a threaded body and a head, which is larger radially than the threaded body such that the head is configured to contact an outside of the sidewall in a secured position in which the threaded body threads to the threaded protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: May 21, 2020Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Patent number: 10544574Abstract: A toilet that includes a bowl; a tank having a sidewall and a bottom defining a reservoir; a container located inside the reservoir and configured to contain a chemical compound that mixes with water to form a cleaning compound; a connector for coupling the container to the sidewall; and a flush valve. The connector has a bracket coupled to the container, a threaded protrusion that extends from the bracket into a hole in the sidewall of the tank, and a threaded fastener having a threaded body and a head, which is larger radially than the threaded body such that the head contacts an outside of the sidewall in a secured position in which the threaded body threads to the threaded protrusion. The flush valve is fluidly connected to the container to introduce the cleaning compound into the bowl through an outlet in the bottom during a cleaning cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20200002930Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2019Publication date: January 2, 2020Inventors: Michael LUETTGEN, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20190368178Abstract: A toilet that includes a bowl; a tank having a sidewall and a bottom defining a reservoir; a container located inside the reservoir and configured to contain a chemical compound that mixes with water to form a cleaning compound; a connector for coupling the container to the sidewall; and a flush valve. The connector has a bracket coupled to the container, a threaded protrusion that extends from the bracket into a hole in the sidewall of the tank, and a threaded fastener having a threaded body and a head, which is larger radially than the threaded body such that the head contacts an outside of the sidewall in a secured position in which the threaded body threads to the threaded protrusion. The flush valve is fluidly connected to the container to introduce the cleaning compound into the bowl through an outlet in the bottom during a cleaning cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: December 5, 2019Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Patent number: 10450733Abstract: A toilet that includes a water tank having a vent hole; a bowl; and a system having a valve body connecting the tank and a fluid channel; a housing moveable relative to the valve body during a flush cycle to pass water from the tank into the bowl through the fluid channel, the housing having a bore that connects with the fluid channel; a fan in the bore that operates in first and second modes; a motor in the bore for rotating the fan in each mode; and a vent having an inlet fluidly connected with the bore and an outlet fluidly connected with the vent hole. In the first mode, the fan moves air from the bowl to the vent hole through the bore and vent; and in the second mode, the fan moves air from outside the tank to the bowl through the vent hole and bore.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter Denzin
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Publication number: 20190257064Abstract: A toilet that includes a bowl; a tank having a sidewall and a bottom defining a reservoir; a container located inside the reservoir and configured to contain a chemical compound that mixes with water to form a cleaning compound; a connector for coupling the container to the sidewall; and a flush valve. The connector has a bracket coupled to the container, a threaded protrusion that extends from the bracket into a hole in the sidewall of the tank, and a threaded fastener having a threaded body and a head, which is larger radially than the threaded body such that the head contacts an outside of the sidewall in a secured position in which the threaded body threads to the threaded protrusion. The flush valve is fluidly connected to the container to introduce the cleaning compound into the bowl through an outlet in the bottom during a cleaning cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2018Publication date: August 22, 2019Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
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Publication number: 20190203453Abstract: A trip lever assembly for a toilet includes a body and an infrared sensor. The body is configured to be mechanically coupled to a flush valve assembly of the toilet. The infrared sensor is coupled to the body, and is configured to be electrically coupled to the flush valve assembly. The body is configured to be manually actuated to control the flush valve assembly. The infrared sensor is a time-of-flight sensor configured to detect the distance of an object in a detection region of the infrared sensor to control the flush valve assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: John Lipinski, Clayton Garrels, Timothy Waack
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Publication number: 20190063054Abstract: A toilet that includes a water tank having a vent hole; a bowl; and a system having a valve body connecting the tank and a fluid channel; a housing moveable relative to the valve body during a flush cycle to pass water from the tank into the bowl through the fluid channel, the housing having a bore that connects with the fluid channel; a fan in the bore that operates in first and second modes; a motor in the bore for rotating the fan in each mode; and a vent having an inlet fluidly connected with the bore and an outlet fluidly connected with the vent hole. In the first mode, the fan moves air from the bowl to the vent hole through the bore and vent; and in the second mode, the fan moves air from outside the tank to the bowl through the vent hole and bore.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2018Publication date: February 28, 2019Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter Denzin
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Patent number: D819792Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2017Date of Patent: June 5, 2018Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Clayton Garrels, Carlos Uceda
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Patent number: D823446Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 17, 2018Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Clayton Garrels, Adam Moller
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Patent number: D823995Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Clayton Garrels, Carlos Uceda
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Patent number: D824005Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2017Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Clayton Garrels, Adam Moller