Patents by Inventor Keith E. Muellenbach

Keith E. Muellenbach 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).

  • Patent number: 11021861
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl portion, a rim portion, and a reservoir. The bowl portion defines a bowl cavity that is in fluid connection with a trapway. The bowl cavity is configured to hold a volume of water to provide a water seal for the trapway. The rim portion extends about an upper portion of the bowl portion. The rim portion defines an internal rim cavity that extends about an upper portion of the rim portion and a plurality of apertures that extend from the internal rim cavity and through a sidewall of the rim portion to direct water from the internal rim cavity to the bowl cavity. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the internal rim cavity and the bowl cavity and configured to receive a supply of pressurized water from a water source and direct at least a portion of the pressurized water to the internal rim cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Keith E. Muellenbach, Randy O. Mesun, Kyle L. Hokel
  • Patent number: 11015330
    Abstract: A toilet includes a base and a basin. The base supports the toilet on a surface. The basin is supported by the base. The base defines a primary toilet outlet and a secondary toilet outlet spaced apart and independent from the primary toilet outlet. The basin is supported by the base. The basin defines a primary basin outlet and a secondary basin outlet. The primary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the primary toilet outlet by way of a primary drain path. The secondary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the secondary toilet outlet by way of a secondary drain path independent from the primary drain path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Keith E. Muellenbach
  • Publication number: 20210106191
    Abstract: A toilet includes a base, a cover, and a seat. The seat is rotatably coupled to the base, and the cover is rotatably coupled to the seat. The cover and the seat define an angled axis that is oriented upward and forward toward a front end of the base. The cover and the seat are each configured to rotate about the angled axis between a lowered position in which the cover and the seat are located adjacent the base and a stowed position in which the cover and the seat are oriented in an upward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Chanseol Chung, Karger D. Kohler, Daniel N. Halloran, Jeffrey T. Laundre, Keith E. Muellenbach, Jennifer Tarplee, Craig Loest
  • Publication number: 20200277775
    Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a nozzle system. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl and a rim area disposed along an upper edge of the toilet bowl. The rim area includes a flange defining an opening. The nozzle system includes a nozzle having a first end configured to be fluidly coupled to a water supply conduit and a second end fluidly coupled to the rim area. The second end defines an outlet formed at a compound angle. The connector assembly detachably couples the nozzle to the flange such that the nozzle extends through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Daniel N. Halloran, Tony L. Lambert, Randy O. Mesun, Rahul Bose, Keith E. Muellenbach, Sudip Mukerji, Jessica A. Grev
  • Publication number: 20200277774
    Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet, a non-vitreous fluid delivery component, and a connector assembly. The non-vitreous fluid delivery component is coupled to, and in fluid communication with, the toilet. The connector assembly couples the non-vitreous fluid delivery component to the toilet in a substantially watertight manner. The connector assembly includes a connector body, a nut adjustably coupled to the connector body, and a sealing member disposed on the connector body. The nut is configured to be adjusted relative to the connector body to cause the connector body to compress the sealing member against a portion of the toilet, such that the sealing member creates a substantially watertight seal between the toilet and the connector body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Inventors: Randy O. Mesun, Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Daniel N. Halloran, Keith E. Muellenbach, Jennifer L. Tarplee
  • Publication number: 20200253432
    Abstract: A toilet positionable above a floor comprise a toilet base and a foot ledge structure. The toilet base at least partially surrounds a lower portion of a toilet bowl and defines an inner area that at least partially contains the lower portion of the toilet bowl. The foot ledge structure comprises a foot ledge and a base bracket. The foot ledge is elevated above the floor and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the toilet base. The base bracket is positioned within the inner area of the toilet base and is configured to elevate the foot ledge above the floor. The foot ledge is movably attached to the base bracket. The base bracket is independently attachable to the floor from the toilet base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Erich D. SLOTHOWER, Keith E. MUELLENBACH
  • Publication number: 20190390450
    Abstract: A toilet includes a basin, a rim, and a heated water cleaning system. The basin includes a bowl. The rim includes a rim aperture in fluid communication with the bowl. The heated water cleaning system includes a heated water delivery channel and a heated water generator. The heated water delivery channel is positioned proximate the rim aperture. The heated water generator is in fluid communication with the heated water delivery channel. The heated water generator is configured to receive water, produce heated water, and provide the heated water to the heated water delivery channel. The heated water generator includes a heated water generator tank and a heater. The heated water generator tank is configured to contain at least one of water or heated water. The heater is positioned within the heated water generator tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventor: Keith E. Muellenbach
  • Publication number: 20190323222
    Abstract: A toilet includes a base and a basin. The base supports the toilet on a surface. The basin is supported by the base. The base defines a primary toilet outlet and a secondary toilet outlet spaced apart and independent from the primary toilet outlet. The basin is supported by the base. The basin defines a primary basin outlet and a secondary basin outlet. The primary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the primary toilet outlet by way of a primary drain path. The secondary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the secondary toilet outlet by way of a secondary drain path independent from the primary drain path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Publication date: October 24, 2019
    Inventor: KEITH E. MUELLENBACH
  • Publication number: 20190242105
    Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl portion, a rim portion, and a reservoir. The bowl portion defines a bowl cavity that is in fluid connection with a trapway. The bowl cavity is configured to hold a volume of water to provide a water seal for the trapway. The rim portion extends about an upper portion of the bowl portion. The rim portion defines an internal rim cavity that extends about an upper portion of the rim portion and a plurality of apertures that extend from the internal rim cavity and through a sidewall of the rim portion to direct water from the internal rim cavity to the bowl cavity. The reservoir is in fluid communication with the internal rim cavity and the bowl cavity and configured to receive a supply of pressurized water from a water source and direct at least a portion of the pressurized water to the internal rim cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Keith E. Muellenbach, Randy O. Mesun, Kyle L. Hokel
  • Patent number: 10352031
    Abstract: A toilet includes a base and a basin. The base supports the toilet on a surface. The basin is supported by the base. The base defines a primary toilet outlet and a secondary toilet outlet spaced apart and independent from the primary toilet outlet. The basin is supported by the base. The basin defines a primary basin outlet and a secondary basin outlet. The primary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the primary toilet outlet by way of a primary drain path. The secondary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the secondary toilet outlet by way of a secondary drain path independent from the primary drain path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Keith E. Muellenbach
  • Publication number: 20190085549
    Abstract: A urinal includes a bowl assembly and a trapway assembly. The bowl assembly includes a body. The body defines a bowl and a cavity. The cavity includes a receiver configured to receive a bracket. The trapway assembly is configured to be located in the cavity. The trapway assembly is configured to fluidly couple the bowl to a drain. The trapway assembly is configured to be coupled to the drain separate from the bowl assembly. The bowl assembly is configured to be coupled to a wall separate from the trapway assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jeremiah J. Rauwerdink, Keith E. Muellenbach
  • Publication number: 20180080209
    Abstract: A toilet includes a base and a basin. The base supports the toilet on a surface. The basin is supported by the base. The base defines a primary toilet outlet and a secondary toilet outlet spaced apart and independent from the primary toilet outlet. The basin is supported by the base. The basin defines a primary basin outlet and a secondary basin outlet. The primary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the primary toilet outlet by way of a primary drain path. The secondary basin outlet is in fluid communication with the secondary toilet outlet by way of a secondary drain path independent from the primary drain path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventor: Keith E. Muellenbach