Patents by Inventor Kyle L. Hokel

Kyle L. Hokel 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
  • 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: 10246864
    Abstract: A pressure toilet has a trapway providing “as needed” (bulk dependent) siphon assist. During normal liquid waste or low bulk flushing, no siphon is formed in the trapway, and the water and light waste in the bowl are evacuated solely under the force of the pressurized jet of water. A large volume near or just downstream from the dam is provided to accommodate the blow out from the water jet. Only upon reaching a threshold concentration of bulk waste material in the down leg does the trapway draw a siphon. A horizontal baffle at the lower part of the down leg assists in the accumulation of bulk material of sufficient concentration to establish a siphon in the trapway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, Kyle L. Hokel, Luke Benjamin Zimbric
  • Patent number: 10132068
    Abstract: A urinal is disclosed as having a spreader assembly. The spreader assembly includes a spreader body that may be mounted to the urinal, and a spreader mat. The spreader mat includes a series of spray holes. The spreader body is connected to a water supply, and a perimeter of the spreader mat is sealed to the spreader body. Each spray hole of the spreader mat is oriented to direct water onto a particular area of the urinal, when water is supplied to flush the urinal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Douglas E. Bogard, Kyle L. Hokel, Peter Kajuch
  • Publication number: 20150211223
    Abstract: A pressure toilet has a trapway providing “as needed” (bulk dependent) siphon assist. During normal liquid waste or low bulk flushing, no siphon is formed in the trapway, and the water and light waste in the bowl are evacuated solely under the force of the pressurized jet of water. A large volume near or just downstream from the dam is provided to accommodate the blow out from the water jet. Only upon reaching a threshold concentration of bulk waste material in the down leg does the trapway draw a siphon. A horizontal baffle at the lower part of the down leg assists in the accumulation of bulk material of sufficient concentration to establish a siphon in the trapway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, Kyle L. Hokel, Luke Benjamin Zimbric
  • Patent number: 9045890
    Abstract: A pressure toilet has a trapway providing “as needed” (bulk dependent) siphon assist. During normal liquid waste or low bulk flushing, no siphon is formed in the trapway, and the water and light waste in the bowl are evacuated solely under the force of the pressurized jet of water. A large volume near or just downstream from the dam is provided to accommodate the blow out from the water jet. Only upon reaching a threshold concentration of bulk waste material in the down leg does the trapway draw a siphon. A horizontal baffle at the lower part of the down leg assists in the accumulation of bulk material of sufficient concentration to establish a siphon in the trapway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, Kyle L. Hokel, Luke Benjamin Zimbric
  • Publication number: 20150026874
    Abstract: A urinal is disclosed as having a spreader assembly. The spreader assembly includes a spreader body that may be mounted to the urinal, and a spreader mat. The spreader mat includes a series of spray holes. The spreader body is connected to a water supply, and a perimeter of the spreader mat is sealed to the spreader body. Each spray hole of the spreader mat is oriented to direct water onto a particular area of the urinal, when water is supplied to flush the urinal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Douglas E. Bogard, Kyle L. Hokel, Peter Kajuch
  • Patent number: 6637044
    Abstract: A toilet trip lever assembly provides a lever arm that extends in the tank perpendicular to the tank wall. As an outer handle is rotated, it drives a stem, which in turn drives an arm inside the tank that extends parallel to the tank wall, which pushes down an end of a lever. A support holds the lever such that downward movement of that end of the lever drives the opposite end of the lever up. The opposite end of the lever is connected to a linkage to a flush valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: David K. Rische, Kyle L. Hokel, Virgil S. Eickhoff
  • Publication number: 20030150053
    Abstract: A toilet trip lever assembly provides a lever arm that extends in the tank perpendicular to the tank wall. As an outer handle is rotated, it drives a stem, which in turn drives an arm inside the tank that extends parallel to the tank wall, which pushes down an end of a lever. A support holds the lever such that downward movement of that end of the lever drives the opposite end of the lever up. The opposite end of the lever is connected to a linkage to a flush valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2002
    Publication date: August 14, 2003
    Inventors: David K. Rische, Kyle L. Hokel, Virgil S. Eickhoff