Patents Assigned to Kohler
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Patent number: 11851864Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a passage. The trapway is fluidly connected to the bowl at a trapway inlet and extends downstream from the bowl. The trapway includes an up-leg and a down-leg extending downstream from the up-leg. The passage is fluidly connected to the trapway downstream from the trapway inlet. The passage is configured to allow ambient air from outside the toilet to pass therethrough toward the trapway.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Patent number: 11852963Abstract: At least one embodiment relates to a mirror assembly. The mirror assembly includes an interior portion and a wall. The wall includes an exterior reflective surface. At least a portion of the wall can allow light to pass from the interior portion through the wall. The mirror assembly includes a light source and a lens located within the interior portion. The lens can be arranged to receive light from the light source and to direct such light through the portion of the wall so as to project an image beyond the exterior reflective surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Kevin Peel, Craig Fitton, Nigel Sansum, Chanseol Chung
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Publication number: 20230405614Abstract: A spray head includes a front cover, a spray plate, and an actuator. The front cover includes a plurality of exit openings. The spray plate is oriented substantially parallel to the front cover. The spray plate includes a pin that is aligned with at least one exit opening of the plurality of exit openings. The pin is configured to selectively engage with the at least one exit opening to control a flow of water through the at least one exit opening. The actuator is coupled to the spray plate and is configured to reposition the spray plate relative to the front cover based on user input.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 1, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventor: Hiroyuki Chanseol Muraoka
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Publication number: 20230407608Abstract: A bathroom system includes a shower system, a sink system, a gray water tank, a toilet, a first conduit, and a second conduit. The shower system includes a drain ring configured to collect gray water from the shower system. The gray water tank includes an internal filtration system and is configured to filter and store gray water. The gray water tank is configured to introduce a chemical into the gray water and is configured to draw electrical power from a power supply. The first conduit is coupled to the gray water, it connects the shower system and the gray water tank, and it is configured to transfer the gray water from the drain ring to the gray water tank. The second conduit is configured to transfer the gray water from the gray water tank to the toilet to provide water for flushing.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 2, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Diego Alejandro Cuervo Ayala, Connor McManus, Colin Clarke
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Publication number: 20230405615Abstract: A shower device includes an elongated hollow waterway, a spray head configured to emit water, and a valve. The elongated hollow waterway extends in a longitudinal direction and has a first end configured to receive water, a second end, and an internal fluid passage extending from the first end to the second end. The second end has a port extending in a radial direction from the internal fluid passage through the waterway. The valve is configured to control a water flow rate from the internal fluid passage of the waterway to the spray head. The valve includes a valve body that surrounds the port and a control member operatively coupled to the valve body and surrounding at least a portion of the valve body. Rotation of the control member and valve body relative to the waterway provides a variable adjustment of the water flow rate to the spray head.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventor: Matthew Ball
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Publication number: 20230383510Abstract: A drain system for controlling a water level in a bathtub includes a drain exit assembly coupled to an exit drain of the bathtub and configured to receive water exiting the bathtub, a valve fluidly coupled to the drain exit assembly and operably coupled to a motor, and a pressure sensor communicatively coupled to the valve and in fluid communication with the drain exit assembly. The motor is configured to change the operational state of the valve based on a pressure sensed by the pressure sensor to control a water level within the bathtub.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: David H. Ritter, Brian S. Core, Douglas J. Brouwer, Keith S. Ruh, Autumn-Storm Antoinette McFaul
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Patent number: 11832042Abstract: An assembly may include a speaker supportable for movement relative to a reference external to the speaker and a speaker housing supporting speaker components operable to produce an audio output. A sensor is operable to sense a direction of movement of the speaker during movement of the speaker relative to the reference. Control components are operable to control the speaker components based on the direction of movement of the speaker relative to the reference. When the speaker is sensed to be moving in a first direction relative to the reference, an operational characteristic of the speaker components is controlled to increase or advance during movement in the first direction. When the speaker is sensed to be moving in a second direction relative to the reference different from the first direction, the operational characteristic of the speaker components is controlled to decrease or retreat during movement in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Kenneth Scott Hanna, Michael James Soetaert, Keith Scott Ruh, William Clement Kuru, Gregory de Swarte
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Publication number: 20230374818Abstract: A handle assembly for a shower door, which includes a handle, a fastener having a shank, a head, and a post. The handle includes a receiver having a keyway and the post extends radially away from the shank and is configured to be received by the keyway.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Jacob Dulmes, Drew Vettel, Calvin Doornbos
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Patent number: 11821192Abstract: A water spraying device comprises a housing comprising a mechanism mounting cavity, an effuser mounting cavity located at a front portion of the mechanism mounting cavity, and a water pipe accommodating cavity located at an upper portion of the mechanism mounting cavity and communicated with the effuser mounting cavity. The device also comprises an effuser comprising a nozzle and slidably arranged in the effuser mounting cavity; a water supply hose accommodated in the water pipe accommodating cavity and configured to supply water and move in the water pipe accommodating cavity; a driving mechanism mounted in the mechanism mounting cavity and configured to drive the effuser to move; and a transmission mechanism connecting the driving mechanism to the effuser. The housing comprises a housing water inlet and the effuser comprises an effuser water inlet. The water supply hose is connected between the housing water inlet and the effuser water inlet.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics, Ltd.Inventor: Dong Yang
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Publication number: 20230364627Abstract: An exemplary embodiment relates to a showerhead for use in a shower environment. The showerhead includes a plurality of replaceable covering panels, at least one integrated light, and at least one integrated speaker that is configured to emit music. The showerhead also includes a central showerhead and a separate structure external to the central showerhead. The central showerhead and the separate structure are configured to emit water in a plurality of spray patterns. The showerhead is also configured to emit the light, music, and water simultaneously.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Hiroyuki Chanseol Muraoka, James Bourne
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Publication number: 20230364626Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: Kohler CoInventor: Peter Kajuch
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Patent number: 11815188Abstract: A switching valve includes a base having a bottom wall. The switching valve includes a body that couples to the base to define a cavity between the body and the bottom wall. The body includes through holes that are each fluidly coupled to the cavity. The switching valve includes a driven slider set disposed within the cavity and having sub-sliders evenly distributed about the base. The switching valve includes driving rods each movably coupled to one of the through holes of the body. Each driving rod moves in a linear direction relative to the through holes to block or unblock each through hole. Each sub-slider slides in a linear direction responsive to movement of the driving rods. Only one through hole is unblocked at one time.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Nanchang Kohler Ltd.Inventor: Shenghe Chen
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Patent number: 11812903Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 11, 2022Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Stephanie Szemetylo, Erich D. Slothower, Gregory de Swarte, Margaret C. Mazz, Terrence K. Mahon, Nona J. Beining
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Publication number: 20230356974Abstract: A retractor assembly includes a housing, a cover, a rotary plate, a swing arm, an outlet pipe, and an elastic drive member. The housing includes a cavity. The rotary plate is pivotally mounted within the cavity. The swing arm is pivotally mounted and includes a guide protrusion. The elastic drive member is configured to bias the rotary plate toward a reset position. A side of the rotary plate includes an outer guide groove and in inner guide groove. A first channel and a second channel span between the outer guide groove and the inner guide groove. The guide protrusion is configured to enter the inner guide groove from the outer guide groove via the first channel, and enter the outer guide groove from the inner guide groove via the second channel. The second channel includes a locking groove therein configured to catch the guide protrusion.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicant: Beijing Kohler Ltd.Inventors: Xiugui WANG, Peng ZHANG, Hui LI, Guang CHENG
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Patent number: 11808182Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 14, 2022Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventor: Terrence M. Rotter
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Patent number: 11802398Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventor: Kenneth L. Stout
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Patent number: D1003859Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Zhiyu Liu, Rafael A. Rexach
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Patent number: D1004052Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2023Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Matthew T. Harrison, Margaret C. Mazz, Paul B. Georgeson
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Patent number: D1006485Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2018Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Douglas J. Diemel, Jr., David P. Ourada
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Patent number: D1007652Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2023Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Margaret C. Mazz, Matthew T. Harrison, Gregory de Swarte