Patents Assigned to Kohler
  • Patent number: 12065817
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: John Lipinski, Clayton Garrels, Timothy Waack
  • Publication number: 20240271718
    Abstract: A valve assembly includes a first tool interface that can receive a nut driver and transfer a first torque from the nut driver to rotate a service stop. The valve assembly includes a second tool interface that can receive a screwdriver and transfer a second torque from the screwdriver to rotate the service stop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Steven D. Williams, Chad J. Cochart
  • Patent number: 12061489
    Abstract: A control system for one or more ablutionary devices includes a mixer valve having a first inlet and a second inlet configured to receive a supply of hot and cold water, and an outlet configured to output cold water, hot water or a mixture thereof as an output stream for suppling water to the one or more ablutionary devices downstream of the mixer valve; and a controller in communication with the mixer valve. The controller is configured to obtain a supply coupling setting that indicates which of the first and second inlets is to receive, or is receiving, hot water during operation of the control system and which of the first and second inlets is to receive, or is receiving, cold water during operation of the control system; and control the mixer valve according to one or more target output water properties and the supply coupling setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Barry Steven Hobbs, Alexander Colin Fagg, Mark Frederick Florencio Barton, Charles Maxwell Parker
  • Patent number: 12060902
    Abstract: An accessory management device for a toilet accessory is disclosed. The accessory management device includes a mounting hole configured to receive a fastener, a first clip section configured to hold an electrical cord for supply power to the toilet accessory, a second clip section configured to hold a first portion of a water hose for providing water to a toilet accessory, and a body portion having a storage section to store a second portion of the water hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Dongha Lee, Kiki Wang
  • Patent number: 12059103
    Abstract: A shower receptor includes a base having a floor surface configured for a user to stand on. The floor surface includes a first portion having a first coefficient of friction and a second portion having a second coefficient of friction. The first portion is an etched area of the floor surface that defines a surface texture having a depth. The second portion is an unetched area of the floor surface. The first coefficient of friction of the first portion has a first value when the first portion is wet and the second coefficient of friction of the second portion has a second value when the second portion is wet. The first value is higher than the second value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Kenneth L. Stout
  • Patent number: 12054927
    Abstract: An undermount, apron-front sink is provided. The sink includes a basin, a ledge, a rim coupled with the basin, an upper portion, and an apron. The basin includes a first side wall, an opposite second side wall, a front wall, and a rear wall. The ledge is supported at and extends outwardly from an upper end of one of the front wall and the rear wall of the basin. The rim is supported at and extends outwardly from the basin in a substantially horizontal orientation to form a continuous planar surface that is configured to be mounted abutting an underside of a horizontal countertop. The upper portion extends between the ledge and the one of the front wall and the rear wall. The apron is coupled with the basin and includes a right end portion, a left end portion, a front face, and a rear face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Jason R Miller, Paul A. Bonack
  • Patent number: 12053128
    Abstract: A toilet seat mounting assembly that includes a hinge mount on an upper surface of a portion of a pedestal, the hinge mount having a body with a bore; an anchor underneath a lower surface of the portion; a fastener extending through the bore and operatively coupled to the anchor to clamp the portion between the hinge mount and the anchor; a hinge base having a mount supported by the upper surface, the mount having an outer wall, which defines an opening that receives the body, and a locking feature flexibly coupled to the outer wall; and a lock cap rotatably coupled to the mount and having a wall. The wall retains the locking feature into a locking engagement with the hinge mount in a locking position of the lock cap, and the mount is removable from the hinge mount in a non-locking position of the lock cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Laundre
  • Patent number: 12054925
    Abstract: A faucet includes a base configured to attach to a support, an outlet for dispensing a fluid, an articulable spout including a plurality of segments operatively coupled together sequentially between the base and the outlet and configured to rotate relative to one another to transition the articulable spout between a first position and a second position, and an actuator operatively coupled to at least two segments of the plurality of segments and configured to rotate the at least two segments in opposite rotational directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Chanseol Chung
  • Patent number: 12048397
    Abstract: A tissue holder includes a mounting bracket, a tube axle, a hanging rod, a cover plate, and a clamping driving mechanism. The tube axle is connected with the mounting bracket. The hanging rod is connected with the tube axle. The cover plate is pivotally mounted on the tube axle. The clamping driving mechanism is arranged between the tube axle and the cover plate. The clamping driving mechanism is configured to drive the cover plate to move toward a side of the hanging rod to clamp roll paper hung on the hanging rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: NANCHANG KOHLER LTD.
    Inventor: Kuihua Zhang
  • Patent number: 12049747
    Abstract: A shower system installed in a shower installation including a wall and a water supply pipe with a pipe outlet. The shower system includes an adapter, a supply pipe, a shower bar, and a diverter valve assembly. The adapter has an inlet connectable to the pipe outlet on a first side of the wall. The supply pipe is slidably couplable to the adapter, has a supply outlet in fluid communication with the adapter, and is on the second side of the wall. The shower bar has a shower bar inlet fluid connectable to the adapter. The shower bar is on the second side of the wall. First and second shower members are fluidly connectable to the shower bar. The diverter valve assembly is connectable to the shower bar and is operable to direct water to at least one of the first shower member or the second shower member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: John M. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20240247469
    Abstract: A sensing faucet assembly includes a body having an inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet. The sensing faucet assembly includes a first passageway defined between the inlet and the first outlet and a second passageway defined between the inlet and the second outlet. A solenoid valve can control the opening and closing of the first passageway. A valve core can control the opening and closing of the second outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: Beijing Kohler Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiagao Huang, Peng Zhang
  • Patent number: 12043993
    Abstract: A diverter for use in a shower system, the diverter having a diverter inlet and at least two diverter outlets. The diverter inlet is provided with a diverter inlet fitting adapted to be connected to a hose or pipe. The diverter inlet fitting is freely movable about an axis of the diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER MIRA LIMITED
    Inventors: Colin Beattie, Stuart Banham
  • Patent number: 12042043
    Abstract: A power supply system for a toilet includes a controller power supply circuit, including an input end electrically connected to an external power supply and an output end. The system includes an assembly driving power supply circuit, including an input end electrically connected to the external power supply and an output end. The power supply system also includes a controller circuit, including a power supply end electrically connected to the output end of the controller power supply circuit and an output end communicably connected to a control end of a switch control circuit of the assembly driving power supply circuit. The system also includes a driving component circuit, including a power supply end electrically connected to the output end of the assembly driving power supply circuit. An output power of the controller power supply circuit is lower than an output power of the assembly driving power supply circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Kathryn Clouse, Jennifer Tarplee, Maria Jahn, Steven Mark Hammond, Erin Lilly, Sasha Drumm, John Lipinski
  • Patent number: 12037778
    Abstract: A toilet having a water inlet structure, a bowl structure, a rim, and an outlet structure. The water inlet structure is configured to receive water from a water source. The bowl structure includes a toilet bowl and a water channel, which is fluidly connected to the water inlet structure and is configured to feed water into the toilet bowl from an outlet of the water channel that is located between a back portion and a side portion of the toilet bowl. The rim has a solid, annular member disposed around a top of the toilet bowl and entirely above the water channel, is formed separately from and coupled to the bowl structure. The outlet structure is fluidly connected to the toilet bowl to carry the water and contents from the toilet bowl to an outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: John F. Emmerling, John A. Zutz
  • Patent number: D1035832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Roque M. Corpuz, Jr., Brandon H. Miller
  • Patent number: D1037420
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Evan M. Grybush, Erin E. Lilly
  • Patent number: D1038327
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Matthew T. Harrison, Margaret C. Mazz, Paul B. Georgeson
  • Patent number: D1039197
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 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.
  • Patent number: D1039659
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William M. McKeone, Seth M. Stevens, Coralee S. Sandee, Jovello T. Gomez
  • Patent number: D1039661
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: François Kergoët