Patents Assigned to Kohler Co.
  • SHOWERHEAD
    Publication number: 20240326070
    Abstract: A spray head assembly includes a body and a plurality of nozzles. The body is configured to receive a supply of fluid. The plurality of nozzles are disposed on the body and fluidly connected to the body. The plurality of nozzles are arranged in a substantially linear row having at least three nozzles. The plurality of nozzles are positioned to produce a non-linear spray pattern over a distributed area at a focal length from the body. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of nozzles directs the fluid in a flow stream to a different location across the distributed area without intersecting the flow stream produced by another one of the plurality of nozzles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Rafael A. Rexach, Tory L. Hayner
  • Clean toilet and accessories
    Patent number: 12104366
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael Luettgen, William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, Peter W. Denzin
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF FILLING AND DRAINING PLUMBING FIXTURES
    Publication number: 20240318414
    Abstract: A plumbing assembly includes a tank, a bowl in fluid communication with the tank, and a re-fill assembly fluidly coupled to the tank, the re-fill assembly having at least one re-fill assembly valve and being configured to control a flow of water from the tank to the bowl. The plumbing assembly also includes at least one controller operably coupled to the re-fill assembly, the at least one controller being configured to control the at least one valve within the re-fill assembly. The plumbing assembly further includes a first sensor communicably coupled to the at least one controller, the first sensor being configured to sense a water level within the bowl, wherein the at least one controller is configured to stop the flow of water responsive to the water level within the bowl satisfying a first threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: David Ritter, Brian Core, Jesse Miller, Douglas J. Brouwer
  • ARTICULATING SHOWER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20240318413
    Abstract: An articulating shower assembly is provided. The articulating shower assembly includes a linkage assembly pivotally coupled to a spray head and a handle pivotally coupled upstream to the linkage assembly. The handle can cause both the spray head and the linkage assembly to transition between a plurality of operating positions responsive to a force applied to the handle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Chanseol Muraoka
  • BATH WITH HOT AND COLD WATER ZONES
    Publication number: 20240315493
    Abstract: A bath receptor includes a first basin, a second basin, and a partition positioned between the first basin and the second basin. The first basin includes a first whirlpool system configured to direct water in a first rotational direction within the first basin. The second basin includes a second whirlpool system configured to direct water in a second rotational direction within the second basin. The second rotational direction is opposite the first rotational direction. The partition is physically coupled to the first basin and the second basin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Jason Kwacz
  • Touchless flushing systems and methods
    Patent number: 12098534
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. The touchless sensor is located within a closed reservoir of the toilet. The processing circuit is configured to receive a signal from the touchless sensor and to detect an object within a detection region based on the signal. The detection region is external to the closed reservoir. The processing circuit is configured to facilitate flushing of the toilet through interaction with the motor assembly when the object is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Trash can
    Patent number: 12098025
    Abstract: A trash can that includes a frame, a liner, and a lid. The frame has a base and a casing supported on the base. The liner is removably disposed within a cavity of the casing. The lid is coupled to and rotatable relative to the frame between a closed position, in which the liner is concealed, and an open position, in which the liner is accessible. The lid is rotatably coupled to the frame by a hinge, such that the hinge and the lid do not extend rearward a rear surface of the casing in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Wegner, Christopher M. Shay
  • SHOWER SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20240307897
    Abstract: A shower system includes on one or more valves and a plurality of showerheads. The plurality of showerheads are electrically coupled to one another and configured to receive electrical signals from one another. The plurality of showerheads are fluidly coupled to the one or more valves and configured to receive water therefrom. The plurality of showerheads includes a sprayer, one or more sensors, and an integrated user interface. The sprayer is configured to dispense water provided by the one or more valves. The one or more sensors are configured to register motion gestures made by a user. The integrated user interface is configured to control operation of the sprayer. The one or more sensors generates an internal signal to the plurality of showerheads corresponding to the motion gesture. One of the plurality of showerheads is a master showerhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Todd W. Leonhard, Qi Cheng, Douglas J. Brouwer, Keith Ruh, Chad J. Cochart
  • Spray assembly
    Patent number: 12090495
    Abstract: A spray assembly includes an inner chamber, an outer chamber, a spray face, a plurality of shafts, a lever, a moving fulcrum, and a plurality of sleeves. The inner chamber provides a fluid in a first spray mode of a plurality of spray modes. The spray face is fluidly coupled to the outer chamber and includes one or more nozzles that are movable between a plurality of nozzle positions such that the spray face provides the fluid in a second spray mode and a third spray mode. The plurality of shafts are movable for directing the fluid within the spray assembly. The lever operates the plurality of shafts. The moving fulcrum changes a location of a fulcrum of the lever such that the fulcrum changes as the lever is operated. A first sleeve is configured to move the one or more nozzles of the spray face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Perry D. Erickson
  • Articulating faucet
    Patent number: 12085202
    Abstract: A water delivery device includes a first conduit section and a second conduit section rotatably coupled to the first conduit section by a magnetic joint. The magnetic joint includes a plurality of magnets that cooperatively define a plurality of rotational positions between the first conduit 5 section and the second conduit section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Chanseol Chung
  • LINEAR DRAIN ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20240295112
    Abstract: A linear drain assembly is provided. The linear drain assembly includes a base portion, a first peripheral portion slidable relative to the base portion, and a sealing member disposed between the first peripheral portion and the base portion forming a seal between the base portion and the first peripheral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Stokes, Vikas Salunke
  • CLICKER DRAIN ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING SAME
    Publication number: 20240295105
    Abstract: A clicker drain assembly includes a unitary main drain body. The clicker drain assembly further includes a drain stopper assembly, a clicker drain seal, an actuating assembly, and a drain trim ring. The drain trim ring is configured to couple to the main drain body and receive the clicker drain seal and the actuating assembly. The stopper assembly is configured to couple to the actuating assembly and actuate the actuating assembly when pressed by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Sharathkumar B. Badiger
  • ILLUMINATED BATH CADDY
    Publication number: 20240295316
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a bath caddy for use on a bathtub, where the bath caddy includes a tray having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a lighting assembly configured to couple to the bottom surface of the tray. The lighting assembly includes at least one light fixture configured to provide light to an interior of the bathtub. Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a bath caddy including a tray and a lighting assembly configured to couple to the tray, where the lighting assembly is configured to provide light to an interior of the bathtub. Then lighting assembly includes at least one light fixture and a controller operably coupled to the at least one light fixture, where the controller is configured to adjust at least one of a color, tone, or brightness of the at least one light fixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2024
    Publication date: September 5, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Xinyao Liu, Han Chew
  • Knife holder and cutting board for drying rack
    Patent number: 12075949
    Abstract: A cutting board is provided. The cutting board includes a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, and a first channel interrupting the third surface. The first surface lies within a first plane and comprises a first perimeter. The second surface extends away from the first surface proximate to the first perimeter. The third surface lies within a second plane and includes a second perimeter. The first channel extends along the second plane and interrupts the third surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Evan Grybush, Erika Kovesdi
  • Systems and methods for automatically controlling a faucet
    Patent number: 12077952
    Abstract: A faucet includes a spout configured to direct fluid into a sink, a camera arranged to capture images of the sink, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit may receive an image from the camera. The image may include an object positioned beneath the spout. The processing circuit may analyze the image received from the camera to assign a classification to the object included in the image. The processing circuit may cause the spout to direct fluid into the sink with fluid flow characteristics that correspond to the classification of the object in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Joel T. Smith, Gregory de Swarte, Marwan E. Estiban, Krishna C. Poduru
  • COMPOSITE FAUCET BODY AND INTERNAL WATERWAY
    Publication number: 20240287774
    Abstract: A faucet includes an internal waterway. The internal waterway is at least partially formed of a first material defined by a maximum temperature. The internal waterway includes a valve seat configured to receive water and a conduit coupled to the valve seat and configured to receive the water from the valve seat. The faucet further includes a body formed of a second material having a processing temperature less than the maximum temperature of the first material forming the internal waterway, wherein the body is cast around the internal waterway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. KOHLER, David J. MACON, Mark W. SCHIBUR, Thomas MANONI, Vindhya K. TIWARI, Jeffrey A. SCHUMACHER
  • Systems and Methods for Lighted Showering
    Publication number: 20240292505
    Abstract: A showerhead includes a plurality of water outlets for providing a flow of water. The showerhead includes one or more lighting elements and a light driver communicably coupled to the one or more lighting elements. The light driver is configured to control at least a subset of the lighting elements to output light based on various conditions corresponding to the showerhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Brandon H. Miller, Connor McManus, Brian M. Kaule
  • Ceiling mounted kitchen faucet
    Patent number: 12071749
    Abstract: A faucet system includes a housing assembly configured to be coupled to a ceiling structure, wherein the housing includes a mixing valve disposed therein. The faucet system further includes a hose assembly coupled to the housing assembly. The hose assembly includes a flexible hose being fluidly coupled to the mixing valve and configured to hang below the housing assembly, a rotatable arm coupled to the housing assembly, and a control knob communicably coupled to the mixing valve. The rotatable arm is configured to facilitate rotation and adjustment of the hose and the control knob configured to control at least one of a temperature or a flow of water within the faucet system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Gregory de Swarte, Jacob Frye, David Wortelboer, Rodney Weekley, Drew Johnson
  • Light fixture
    Patent number: D1041739
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Erin Leigh Hoover, Nicholas Robert Rindt, Dennis Lee Snyder, Seth M. Stevens, Maxwell Wasscher, Luke James Worth, Jovello Tijano Gomez, Jr.
  • Apron front sink
    Patent number: D1042759
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Niels J. Eilmus, Erika Kovesdi, Christopher J. Santos, Jason R. Miller