Patents by Inventor Clayton C. Garrels
Clayton C. Garrels 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).
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Publication number: 20240125103Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water, evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20240093473Abstract: An educator assembly for a toilet includes a suction reservoir, a flow driving device, a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and a discharge outlet. The suction reservoir is configured to store a supply of water. The flow driving device is configured to supply a flow of water to the eductor assembly and in fluid communication with the suction reservoir to create a suction port proximate to the flow driving device and the suction reservoir. The first nozzle is at the end of the flow driving device. The second nozzle is downstream of the suction port. The discharge outlet is coupled to a trapway of the toilet and configured to receive discharge from the second nozzle downstream of the suction port.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2023Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11885111Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water; evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11879242Abstract: An educator assembly for a toilet includes a suction reservoir, a flow driving device, a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and a discharge outlet. The suction reservoir is configured to store a supply of water. The flow driving device is configured to supply a flow of water to the eductor assembly and in fluid communication with the suction reservoir to create a suction port proximate to the flow driving device and the suction reservoir. The first nozzle is at the end of the flow driving device. The second nozzle is downstream of the suction port. The discharge outlet is coupled to a trapway of the toilet and configured to receive discharge from the second nozzle downstream of the suction port.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20230358028Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a sump and a trapway connecting the sump to an outlet of the toilet. The trapway has a zeta shape and is configured to induce a siphon which provides pressure to suction waste water from the bowl during a flush cycle. A trapway supply conduit is connected to the trapway in a tangential orientation to an upleg region of the trapway. The trapway supply conduit supplies water to the trapway, which follows a contour of the inner surface of the trapway supply conduit and continues in the same direction into the upleg region of the trapway by relying on a fluid flow to follow the curve of a convex surface placed proximate to the flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20230287671Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11739517Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11739519Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a sump and a trapway connecting the sump to an outlet of the toilet. The trapway has a zeta shape and is configured to induce a siphon which provides pressure to suction waste water from the bowl during a flush cycle. A trapway supply conduit is connected to the trapway in a tangential orientation to an upleg region of the trapway. The trapway supply conduit supplies water to the trapway, which follows a contour of the inner surface of the trapway supply conduit and continues in the same direction into the upleg region of the trapway by relying on a fluid flow to follow the curve of a convex surface placed proximate to the flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2021Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20230137908Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2022Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
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Patent number: 11560702Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 26, 2020Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
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Publication number: 20220074182Abstract: An educator assembly for a toilet includes a suction reservoir, a flow driving device, a first nozzle, a second nozzle, and a discharge outlet. The suction reservoir is configured to store a supply of water. The flow driving device is configured to supply a flow of water to the eductor assembly and in fluid communication with the suction reservoir to create a suction port proximate to the flow driving device and the suction reservoir. The first nozzle is at the end of the flow driving device. The second nozzle is downstream of the suction port. The discharge outlet is coupled to a trapway of the toilet and configured to receive discharge from the second nozzle downstream of the suction port.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 19, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20220064929Abstract: A shower head includes a water input pipe, a fluidic oscillator, and at least one water outlet. The water input pipe is configured to supply a flow of water. The fluidic oscillator includes at least one predetermined geometry to control the flow of water ejected from the fluidic oscillator to include a repeating fan of water at a predetermined angle range. The at least one water outlet is configured to provide the flow water including the repeating pattern of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp, Jason Kwacz
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Publication number: 20220025628Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water; evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11168471Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water; evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20210277644Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a flush engine having a bowl, a sump at a lower portion of the bowl, and a trapway extending from the sump. The toilet assembly further includes a first polymeric layer at least partially surrounding the flush engine, the first polymeric layer comprising a foam. The toilet assembly further includes a second polymeric layer provided on the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer comprising resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventors: Mark W. Schibur, Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink
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Patent number: 11047122Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a flush engine having a bowl, a sump at a lower portion of the bowl, and a trapway extending from the sump. The toilet assembly further includes a first polymeric layer at least partially surrounding the flush engine, the first polymeric layer comprising a foam. The toilet assembly further includes a second polymeric layer provided on the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer comprising resin.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2018Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Mark W. Schibur, Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink
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Publication number: 20210189709Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a sump and a trapway connecting the sump to an outlet of the toilet. The trapway has a zeta shape and is configured to induce a siphon which provides pressure to suction waste water from the bowl during a flush cycle. A trapway supply conduit is connected to the trapway in a tangential orientation to an upleg region of the trapway. The trapway supply conduit supplies water to the trapway, which follows a contour of the inner surface of the trapway supply conduit and continues in the same direction into the upleg region of the trapway by relying on a fluid flow to follow the curve of a convex surface placed proximate to the flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2021Publication date: June 24, 2021Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 10961694Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl with a sump and a trapway connecting the sump to an outlet of the toilet. The trapway has a zeta shape and is configured to induce a siphon which provides pressure to suction waste water from the bowl during a flush cycle. A trapway supply conduit is connected to the trapway in a tangential orientation to an upleg region of the trapway. The trapway supply conduit supplies water to the trapway, which follows a contour of the inner surface of the trapway supply conduit and continues in the same direction into the upleg region of the trapway by relying on a fluid flow to follow the curve of a convex surface placed proximate to the flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: D924379Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, Robin A. Goad
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Patent number: D938563Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2020Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Clayton C. Garrels, Dongha Lee, Gabriela Christina Burton-Rodriguez, Carlos F. Uceda, Matthew R. Wegner, Fabiana Antonella Valleta Betancourt, Yidan Zhang