Patents by Inventor Michael R. Bates

Michael R. Bates 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: 10485390
    Abstract: A lid for a toilet including a bottom surface that faces a top surface of a seat for the toilet when the seat is in a lowered position proximate to a bowl of the toilet. The bottom surface of the lid has a sweeping profile that extends along at least a portion of the bottom surface of the lid and is configured to engage the top surface of the seat. A uniform gap between the seat and lid is defined by the sweeping profile of the lid and the material thickness of the lid when both the lid and the seat are in a lowered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Roger W. Murphy, Jeffrey T. Laundre, Michael R. Bates, David P. Ourada
  • Patent number: 10213060
    Abstract: A shower track guide system for a shower enclosure may include an elevated track positioned above a base and at least one stand disposed between the base and the track. The track may be mounted to the at least one stand. A shower door may be movable along a top of the track to permit access to the shower enclosure. The stand may elevate the track above the base to permit water to flow underneath the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Steven R. Aykens, Mark A. Johnson, James L. Marlowe, Roque M. Corpuz, Jr., Nicholas Pairolero, Michael R. Bates
  • Publication number: 20180078096
    Abstract: A shower track guide system for a shower enclosure may include an elevated track positioned above a base and at least one stand disposed between the base and the track. The track may be mounted to the at least one stand. A shower door may be movable along a top of the track to permit access to the shower enclosure. The stand may elevate the track above the base to permit water to flow underneath the track.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Publication date: March 22, 2018
    Inventors: Steven R. Aykens, Mark A. Johnson, James L. Marlowe, Roque M. Corpuz, JR., Nicholas Pairolero, Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: 9839330
    Abstract: A shower track guide system for a shower enclosure may include an elevated track positioned above a base and at least one stand disposed between the base and the track. The track may be mounted to the at least one stand. A shower door may be movable along a top of the track to permit access to the shower enclosure. The stand may elevate the track above the base to permit water to flow underneath the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Steven R. Aykens, Mark A. Johnson, James L. Marlowe, Roque M. Corpuz, Jr., Nicholas Pairolero, Michael R. Bates
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9003576
    Abstract: Grab rail assemblies are disclosed for mounting on walls, such as the tiled walls of a showering area or a mud room. The assemblies are designed to aesthetically meld with the surrounding environment by having a front tile mounting panel. They may also be provided with a drainage system to avoid water collecting long term within the rail when the rail is used in a shower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Leila M. Rubin, Michael R. Bates, Nicholas T. Pairolero, Katherine A. Stanchak
  • Patent number: 8973177
    Abstract: A drop-in mounted bath tub has a peripheral rim that is uniquely shaped to both support the tub on a mounting platform and provide integral handgrips used to assist the bather in entering and exiting the tub. The rim curves out from the top of the basin downward toward the mounting platform. The rim extends down further at the end walls of the basin than at the side walls so that it contacts the mounting platform only at the end walls while being spaced up from the mounting platform at the sides. The contoured rim provides a stable, comfortable surface for the bather to grasp. One or more partition walls extending from the rim between the basin side walls and the outer edge of the rim provides for sealing the basin to the mounting platform as well as keeping items from falling between the tub and the mounting platform and preventing the bather from touching or viewing the rough unfinished outer shell of the basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8863769
    Abstract: A sprayer seating assembly is disclosed for more securely docking a sprayer head to an escutcheon positioned on a countertop or the like. The escutcheon has a bore extending there through and a recess adjacent the bore. A sprayer head is linked to a supply hose and has a recess adjacent a base portion of the sprayer head. A flexible snap member is mounted in one of the recesses such that it can flex at least partially into the other of the recesses when the recesses are aligned. The escutcheon forms a rest seat for the sprayer head and the flexible snap member assists in removably retaining the sprayer head against the rest seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Terrence J. Andersen, Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D724712
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D725248
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D743516
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D759796
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D767742
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bates, Shawn J. Booth, Gary N. Clarke, Robin A. Goad
  • Patent number: D781405
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventor: Michael R. Bates
  • Patent number: D784502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bates, Shawn J. Booth, Gary N. Clarke, Robin A. Goad
  • Patent number: D801493
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bates, Shawn J. Booth, Gary N. Clarke, Robin A. Goad
  • Patent number: D815262
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: KOHLER CO.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bates, Shawn J. Booth, Gary N. Clarke, Robin A. Goad