Patents by Inventor Eric M. Plate

Eric M. Plate 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).

  • Publication number: 20240426091
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. 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 touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region. In some embodiments, the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor. The processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2024
    Publication date: December 26, 2024
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20230137908
    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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Patent number: 11560702
    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: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Publication number: 20210054608
    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: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Patent number: 10851532
    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: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Publication number: 20170241118
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. 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 touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region. In some embodiments, the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor. The processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Patent number: 9689156
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plumbing fixture (e.g. a bidet or toilet) of the type having a frontal basin and means for directing a supply of water to the basin for cleaning the basin. The plumbing fixture includes a modular housing mountable behind the basin and at least one control positioned in the modular housing to control operation of the plumbing fixture. The control may be selected from the group Consisting of light controls, bidet wand position controls, bidet wand heated air supply controls, bidet wand water supply controls, lid position movement controls, seat position movement controls, deodorizer controls, audio device controls and ultra violet sanitizer controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Peter W. Denzin, Joseph L. Stauber
  • Patent number: 9657472
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit having a digital media interface, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes a rear face having a section extending therefrom. The section extending from the housing includes a first face parallel to the rear face and a second face connecting the first face to the rear face. The second face includes ports allowing access to the digital media interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Patent number: 9657471
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. 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 touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region. In some embodiments, the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor. The processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Patent number: 9339156
    Abstract: A cover installation 120 includes a cover 40 which is connected to the base 60 by a connecting module 80. The connecting module 80 enables the cover 40 to be opened and closed. A driving device 30 drives the connecting module 80 so that the cover is automatically opened and closed. A locking module can allow the cover 40 to be operated manually by disabling the driving device 30. Two connecting components 82 and 84 are connected to the cover 40 and configured to allow the top surface of the cover 40 to face the user when the cover 40 is opened automatically, while allowing the bottom surface of the cover 40 to face the user when the cover 40 is opened manually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SHANGHAI KOHLER ELECTRONICS, LTD.
    Inventors: Yihua Wang, Eric M. Plate, Nicholas W. Paterson
  • Publication number: 20160017585
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit having a digital media interface, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes a rear face having a section extending therefrom. The section extending from the housing includes a first face parallel to the rear face and a second face connecting the first face to the rear face. The second face includes ports allowing access to the digital media interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Patent number: 9170720
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes ports on the second face allowing access to a digital audio input, the plumbing fixture configured to output audio via a speaker based on the digital audio input. The plumbing fixture further includes a remote control configured to control the plumbing fixture and further configured to customize selectable audio sources for playback via the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Publication number: 20150184368
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plumbing fixture (e.g. a bidet or toilet) of the type having a frontal basin and means for directing a supply of water to the basin for cleaning the basin. The plumbing fixture includes a modular housing mountable behind the basin and at least one control positioned in the modular housing to control operation of the plumbing fixture. The control may be selected from the group Consisting of light controls, bidet wand position controls, bidet wand heated air supply controls, bidet wand water supply controls, lid position movement controls, seat position movement controls, deodorizer controls, audio device controls and ultra violet sanitizer controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Peter W. Denzin, Joseph L. Stauber
  • Patent number: 8978172
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture, such as a bidet or toilet, includes a frontal basin and a supply of water for cleaning the basin. The plumbing fixture includes a modular housing mountable behind the basin and at least one control positioned in the modular housing to control operation of the plumbing fixture. The control may be light controls, bidet wand position controls, bidet wand heated air supply controls, bidet wand water supply controls, lid position movement controls, seat position movement controls, deodorizer controls, audio device controls and ultra violet sanitizer controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Peter W. Denzin, Joseph L. Stauber
  • Publication number: 20140373263
    Abstract: A plumbing fixture includes a basin, a plumbing system configured to supply water to the basin, a processing circuit, and a housing containing the plumbing system and the processing circuit. The housing includes ports on the second face allowing access to a digital audio input, the plumbing fixture configured to output audio via a speaker based on the digital audio input. The plumbing fixture further includes a remote control configured to control the plumbing fixture and further configured to customize selectable audio sources for playback via the speaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Michael R. Bates, Fei Shen, Xue Jiongjun, Andy Zhu, Michael Cao, Li Ni
  • Publication number: 20140123378
    Abstract: A touchless actuation system for a toilet includes a touchless sensor, a motor assembly, and a processing circuit. 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 touchless sensor lacks an optical path to the detection region. In some embodiments, the touchless sensor is a projected capacitive sensor. The processing circuit is configured to activate the motor assembly upon detecting the object and the motor assembly is configured to actuate flushing of the toilet when activated by the processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Michael Luettgen, Peter W. Denzin, Jeffrey C. Hildebrand, Brian D. Renzelman, Clayton C. Garrels, Joseph L. Stauber, Eric M. Plate
  • Publication number: 20130007951
    Abstract: A cover installation 120 includes a cover 40 which is connected to the base 60 by a connecting module 80. The connecting module 80 enables the cover 40 to be opened and closed. A driving device 30 drives the connecting module 80 so that the cover is automatically opened and closed. A locking module can allow the cover 40 to be operated manually by disabling the driving device 30. Two connecting components 82 and 84 are connected to the cover 40 and configured to allow the top surface of the cover 40 to face the user when the cover 40 is opened automatically, while allowing the bottom surface of the cover 40 to face the user when the cover 40 is opened manually.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventors: Yihua Wang, Eric M. Plate, Nicholas W. Paterson
  • Publication number: 20110113540
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plumbing fixture (e.g. a bidet or toilet) of the type having a frontal basin and means for directing a supply of water to the basin for cleaning the basin. The plumbing fixture includes a modular housing mountable behind the basin and at least one control positioned in the modular housing to control operation of the plumbing fixture. The control may be selected from the group consisting of light controls, bidet wand position controls, bidet wand heated air supply controls, bidet wand water supply controls, lid position movement controls, seat position movement controls, deodorizer controls, audio device controls and ultra violet sanitizer controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Eric M. Plate, Peter W. Denzin, Joseph L. Stauber