Patents by Inventor Michael R. Bates

Michael R. Bates 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).

  • Publication number: 20110214230
    Abstract: A drop-in mounted bath tub has a peripheral rim that is uniquely shaped to both support the tub on a mounting platform and provide integral handgrips used to assist the bather in entering and exiting the tub. The rim curves out from the top of the basin downward toward the mounting platform. The rim extends down further at the end walls of the basin than at the side walls so that it contacts the mounting platform only at the end walls while being spaced up from the mounting platform at the sides. The contoured rim provides a stable, comfortable surface for the bather to grasp. One or more partition walls extending from the rim between the basin side walls and the outer edge of the rim provides for sealing the basin to the mounting platform as well as keeping items from falling between the tub and the mounting platform and preventing the bather from touching or viewing the rough unfinished outer shell of the basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: 7992234
    Abstract: A seat assembly for sliding along opposing rims of a bathtub is disclosed. The seat assembly includes a seat member, a friction element affixed to the seat member so as to extend under the seat member, and a flexible slider affixed to the seat member so as to also extend under the seat member. The slider and friction element are positioned and configured so that in a first state, if the seat member is positioned on the opposing rims without additional weight on the seat member, the slider holds the friction element up off a rim while facilitating sliding of the seat member along a rim. In a second state, if the seat member is positioned on the opposing rims with a human weighing over 50 pounds sitting on the seat member, the friction element can contact the rim and thereby impede sliding of the seat member along a rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bates, Jeffrey F. Tempas
  • Publication number: 20100251477
    Abstract: A sink assembly provides an enhanced overflow system for an under-counter mountable sink. The sink has an overflow cutout with an open top formed adjacent an upper rim of the basin of the sink. When the sink is mounted to the bottom surface of a counter top, the sink and counter together form an overflow opening, thereby permitting the overflow to be more easily concealed and increasing the fill capacity of the sink. Methods of installing such sink assemblies are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Publication number: 20100251476
    Abstract: A seat assembly for sliding along opposing rims of a bathtub is disclosed. The seat assembly includes a seat member, a friction element affixed to the seat member so as to extend under the seat member, and a flexible slider affixed to the seat member so as to also extend under the seat member. The slider and friction element are positioned and configured so that in a first state, if the seat member is positioned on the opposing rims without additional weight on the seat member, the slider holds the friction element up off a rim while facilitating sliding of the seat member along a rim. In a second state, if the seat member is positioned on the opposing rims with a human weighing over 50 pounds sitting on the seat member, the friction element can contact the rim and thereby impede sliding of the seat member along a rim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventors: Michael R. Bates, Jeffrey F. Tempas
  • Publication number: 20100102177
    Abstract: A sprayer seating assembly is disclosed for more securely docking a sprayer head to an escutcheon positioned on a countertop or the like. The escutcheon has a bore extending there through and a recess adjacent the bore. A sprayer head is linked to a supply hose and has a recess adjacent a base portion of the sprayer head. A flexible snap member is mounted in one of the recesses such that it can flex at least partially into the other of the recesses when the recesses are aligned. The escutcheon forms a rest seat for the sprayer head and the flexible snap member assists in removably retaining the sprayer head against the rest seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Terrence J. Andersen, Michael R. Bates
  • Publication number: 20090217452
    Abstract: Grab rail assemblies are disclosed for mounting on walls, such as the tiled walls of a showering area or a mud room. The assemblies are designed to aesthetically meld with the surrounding environment by having a front tile mounting panel. They may also be provided with a drainage system to avoid water collecting long term within the rail when the rail is used in a shower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventors: Leila M. Rubin, Michael R. Bates, Nicholas T. Pairolero, Katherine A. Stanchak
  • Patent number: D563121
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D564641
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D564644
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D565157
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D566251
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D573702
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Suzanne Berberet, Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D582022
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Suzanne Berberet, Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D593846
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D594939
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D594940
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D613833
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D626093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D639918
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D640779
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates