Patents Assigned to Kohler
  • Publication number: 20240344377
    Abstract: A removable center guide for shower doors includes a center guide, and a mount. The center guide is releasably coupled to the mount. The center guide includes a button, a center plate, and a latch coupled to the center plate. The mount includes a recess configured to receive the latch, thus coupling the center guide to the mount. When the button is pressed, the button forces the center plate to move along a horizontal plane disengaging the latch from the recess releasing the center guide from the mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Andrew McClure, James Leland Marlowe
  • Publication number: 20240341468
    Abstract: One implementation of the present disclosure is an apparatus including a mirror frame configured to support a mirror substrate that provides a reflection of one or more users in proximity of the mirror cabinet, a sensor cavity coupled to the mirror frame and configured to support a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the one or more users in proximity to the mirror cabinet, and a controller configured to analyze data received from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Kathryn Clouse, Jennifer Tarplee, Maria Jahn, Steve Hammond, Erin Lilly, Sasha Drumm, John Lipinski
  • Patent number: 12116760
    Abstract: A sink system includes a basin and a rinsing system. The basin includes a first wall configured to contain water within the basin. The rinsing system is integrated with the basin. The rinsing system includes one or more water outlets and a fluid conduit. The one or more water outlets are located along the first wall of the basin and are configured to dispense water into the basin. The fluid conduit extends at least partially along the first wall of the basin. The fluid conduit is fluidly coupled to the one or more water outlets and is configured to deliver water to the one or more water outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Niels Eilmus, Chanseol Chung, Steven F. Ellingson, Christopher Santos
  • Patent number: 12116766
    Abstract: A drain installation assembly includes a drain body and a drain coupling. The drain coupling is configured to be inserted into a drain opening of a wash basin from a top side of the wash basin. The drain coupling comprises a first coupling end and a second coupling end, the second coupling end positioned opposite to the first coupling end. The drain coupling further includes a squeeze portion positioned between the first coupling end and the second coupling end, the squeeze portion formed of a flexible material. The drain body comprises a body flange extending radially away from the drain body. The squeeze portion is configured to deform, so as to define a squeeze bulge when the drain coupling is coupled to the drain body, the squeeze bulge having a diameter greater than a diameter of the drain opening of the wash basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Kenneth Stout
  • Patent number: 12120955
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering heat in an ablutionary or plumbing system includes first and second pipes for carrying fluids at different temperatures. A first heat transfer element is configured to be thermally coupled to the first pipe and a second heat transfer element configured to be thermally coupled to the second pipe, with each having an elongate portion extending in a direction away from the associated pipe. The elongate portions of the first and second heat transfer elements at least partially overlap. A thermoelectric device is provided that includes one or more thermoelectric elements located between the elongate portions, the thermoelectric element(s) being in thermal communication with the elongate portion of the first heat transfer element and the elongate portion of the second heat transfer element and being arranged to generate electricity from a temperature differential between the elongate portions of the first and second heat transfer elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Oliver Jones, Charles Parker
  • Patent number: 12110669
    Abstract: A shower system for controlling a spray pattern of water includes a sprayer and a control device. The sprayer includes a housing and an electronic diverter. The housing includes a water inlet and a plurality of water outlets configured to discharge water from the housing to form a plurality of different spray patterns. The electronic diverter is located within the housing and configured to automatically divert the water to different sets of the plurality of water outlets to form the plurality of different spray patterns responsive to an instruction signal. The control device is separate from the sprayer and is configured to provide the instruction signal to the electronic diverter to cause the electronic diverter to change between the plurality of different spray patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Chanseol Chung
  • 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
  • Patent number: 12105539
    Abstract: A control system for one or more ablutionary devices includes a valve having one or more valve members, one or more supply inlets, and an output for supplying output water to one or more ablutionary devices downstream of the valve. The control system may include one or more temperature sensors arranged to communicate one or more temperature signals indicative of one or more upstream water supplies to a controller when the ablutionary devices are not in use. The controller may then generate an indicator signal based on a comparison of the one or more temperature signals to one or more thresholds. In response to an indicator signal being generated, the control system may activate the valve to prevent or reduce the likelihood of damage due to severe environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Barry Steven Hobbs, Alexander Colin Fagg, Charles Maxwell Parker
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20240315922
    Abstract: A bathtub comprises a bathtub body, a water pump mounted on an outer side of a bathtub body side plate of the bathtub body, and a bubble water generating device mounted on the bathtub body side plate. The bathtub body side plate is provided with a side plate water outlet hole. A first water pipe is connected between the side plate water outlet hole and a water inlet of the water pump. A second water pipe is connected between a water outlet of the water pump and the bubble water generating device. A device water inlet in communication with the mixing flow channel is provided at one end of the device main body. A radius of the device water inlet is greater than a radius of the mixing flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler (China) Investment Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Weimin ZHANG, Jason KWACZ
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 12085176
    Abstract: A switching valve includes a base including a bottom wall and a side wall that extends from the bottom wall of the base along a circumferential direction of the bottom wall, a body that can couple to the base to define a cavity between a bottom plate of the body and the bottom wall and the side wall of the base, in which the bottom plate includes two through holes that are each fluidly coupled to the cavity, two sliders disposed within the cavity, and two driving rods each movably coupled to one of the two through holes of the body, in which each driving rod can move relative to the two through holes to block or unblock each respective through hole. Each slider can slide responsive to movement of one of the two driving rods such that only one through hole is unblocked at one time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: NANCHANG KOHLER LTD.
    Inventor: Shenghe Chen
  • Patent number: 12085498
    Abstract: A corrosion testing device includes a test chamber (10), a climate conditioning system (12) for maintaining a controlled atmosphere in the test chamber (10), and a measurement system including a feeler (16) having a measurement element (24) arranged on a printed circuit board (22) for measuring the moisture content of the atmosphere, in which the printed circuit board (22) is detachably held on a feeler base (18) via plug connectors (28) and is, with the possible exception of certain contact or measurement surfaces, fully encapsulated in an anti-corrosion coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Köhler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Riedel, Fabian Muller
  • 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