Patents by Inventor James S. Giefer
James S. Giefer 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: 20240292948Abstract: A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a front wall. The sink includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the front wall in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink includes an apron extending from the rim. The apron extends vertically between a top wall and an opposing bottom wall and laterally between a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. The apron is coupled to the basin only at the top wall of the apron by the rim. The apron extends laterally outward past the rim such that a first rear edge of the first side wall and a second rear edge of the second side wall are spaced apart from the rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2024Publication date: September 5, 2024Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11980899Abstract: A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port receives water from a water source at an inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port, and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source even when the reservoir receives the water at a maximum inlet flow rate of up to 2.5 gallons per minute. Each of the plurality of drop outlet ports is configured such that water passes from the reservoir through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port by gravity only as discrete drops of water. A total flow capacity of the plurality of drop outlet ports is greater than or equal to the maximum inlet flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2022Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20240082856Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a reservoir configured to receive water from a water source and one or more outlets for passing water from the reservoir. The shower assembly also includes a plurality of shower mounting features provided in a first non-adjustable spatial orientation on the shower assembly. The mounting system is configured to couple the shower assembly to a building structure and adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a bracket configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The mounting system also includes a plurality of bracket mounting features provided in a second non-adjustable spatial orientation on the bracket and configured to align each of the plurality of bracket mounting features with one of the shower mounting features for coupling thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11918113Abstract: A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a front wall. The sink includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the front wall in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink includes an apron extending from the rim. The apron extends vertically between a top wall and an opposing bottom wall and laterally between a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. The apron is coupled to the basin only at the top wall of the apron by the rim. The apron extends laterally outward past the rim such that a first rear edge of the first side wall and a second rear edge of the second side wall are spaced apart from the rim.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2022Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11872575Abstract: A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port receives water from a water source at an inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port, and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source regardless of the inlet flow rate. Each of the plurality of drop outlet ports is configured such that water passes from the reservoir through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port by gravity only as discrete drops of water.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11850608Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a chamber configured to receive water from a water source and a plurality of outlets configured to pass water from the chamber. The chamber is unpressurized by a supply pressure of the water source. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure. The mounting system is configured to adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably coupled to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20230389700Abstract: A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Jason R. Miller, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11759011Abstract: A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Jason R. Miller, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20220410186Abstract: A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port receives water from a water source at an inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port, and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source even when the reservoir receives the water at a maximum inlet flow rate of up to 2.5 gallons per minute. Each of the plurality of drop outlet ports is configured such that water passes from the reservoir through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port by gravity only as discrete drops of water. A total flow capacity of the plurality of drop outlet ports is greater than or equal to the maximum inlet flow rate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2022Publication date: December 29, 2022Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20220192373Abstract: A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a front wall. The sink includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the front wall in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink includes an apron extending from the rim. The apron extends vertically between a top wall and an opposing bottom wall and laterally between a first side wall and an opposing second side wall. The apron is coupled to the basin only at the top wall of the apron by the rim. The apron extends laterally outward past the rim such that a first rear edge of the first side wall and a second rear edge of the second side wall are spaced apart from the rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2022Publication date: June 23, 2022Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: SHAWN J. BOOTH, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11325139Abstract: A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlets. The inlet is for receiving water from a water source. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source. Each of the drop outlet ports is configured, such that water passes from the reservoir, through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port only as discrete drops of water.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11278116Abstract: A sink is provided. The sink includes a basin having a first side wall, an opposite second side wall and a front wall. The sink also includes a rim supported at and extending outwardly from an upper end of the first and second side walls in a substantially horizontal orientation. The sink further includes an apron extending vertically below the rim and laterally between a first end and an opposite second end to define a front portion of the sink. The first end of the apron extends outwardly past the rim associated with the first side wall and the second end of the apron extends outwardly past the rim associated with the second side wall.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20220048049Abstract: A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port is configured to receive a flow of water from a water source. The reservoir is configured to receive the flow of water from the inlet port. Each drop outlet port of the plurality of drop outlet ports includes an inlet, an outlet, and a bore extending therebetween. The shower assembly is configured such that, even when the reservoir receives the flow of water at a maximum inlet flow rate, the drop outlet ports only produce discrete water drops. A first plurality of the drop outlet ports is configured to produce only discrete water drops having a first size and a second plurality of the drop outlet ports is configured to produce only discrete water drops having a second size that is greater than the first size.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: February 17, 2022Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20220000263Abstract: A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2021Publication date: January 6, 2022Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Jason R. Miller, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11213833Abstract: A shower assembly includes a first outlet, a second outlet, a first inlet, a stopper, and an actuator assembly. The first inlet is configured to provide water to the shower assembly from a water supply. The stopper is movable between a first stopper position and a second stopper position. When the stopper is in the first stopper position, water exits the shower assembly through the first outlet and is prevented from exiting the shower assembly through the second outlet. When the stopper is in the second stopper position, water is permitted to exit the shower assembly through the second outlet. The actuator assembly is configured to move the stopper between the first stopper position and the second stopper position.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 11140981Abstract: A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2020Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Jason R. Miller, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20200276597Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a chamber configured to receive water from a water source and a plurality of outlets configured to pass water from the chamber. The chamber is unpressurized by a supply pressure of the water source. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure. The mounting system is configured to adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably coupled to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer
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Publication number: 20200268150Abstract: A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2020Publication date: August 27, 2020Applicant: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Jason R. Miller, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 10687620Abstract: A mounting system for securing a sink to a countertop supported by a cabinet is provided. The mounting system includes a receiving structure configured to be supported under a rim of the sink, a bracket having a first portion configured to engage a portion of the cabinet and a second portion configured to engage a bottom of a basin of the sink, a linking member extending between the receiving structure and the bracket, a first connector configured to engage a first end of the linking member and retain the linking member relative to the receiving structure, and a second connector configured to engage a second end of the linking member and secure the bracket against the cabinet and the bottom of the basin of the sink.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Shawn J. Booth, Jason R. Miller, James S. Giefer
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Patent number: 10675644Abstract: A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly is configured to receive water from a water source and pass water through a plurality of outlets. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure, and is configured to adjust the shower assembly. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to fixedly couple to the building structure. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably received to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2015Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Rafael Alfredo Rexach, Stephanie Szemetylo, David J. Richter-O'Connell, Jeffrey James Elsesser, James S. Giefer