Patents by Inventor William A. Swarts
William A. Swarts 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: 11401132Abstract: A cord management system for a cabinet or other similar furniture, appliances, or other applications include a conduit. A cord management weight is disposed within the conduit. The cord management weight includes a cord receiving portion and a weight locking feature. The cord receiving portion is configured to receive a portion of an electrical cord of an electronic device. The weight locking feature is configured to selectively prevent translational movement of the cord management weight within the conduit. The cord management weight is configured to be selectively retracted into the conduit and locked into position within the conduit.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Andrew L. Smith, Billy Jack Ahola, Alexander V. LeTourneau, Scott R. Krebs, Lawrence E. Duwell, Donald G. Bogenschuetz, Peter William Swart
-
Publication number: 20210230856Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank; a bowl; a mounting bracket comprising a base and three mounting locations; a valve having a valve body extending through the tank and an opening in the mounting bracket; a valve nut coupled to the valve body with the base of the mounting bracket retained between the tank and the valve nut; a flexible gasket disposed around the valve nut between the mounting bracket and the bowl; and three fasteners disposed externally to the tank, wherein each fastener extends through one mounting location and a hole in the bowl to couple the mounting bracket to the bowl; where the three mounting locations are arranged to provide both a pitch adjustment and a roll adjustment of the tank relative to the bowl about respective first and second axes m response to adjustment of one or more of the three fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 10995482Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank; a bowl; a mounting bracket comprising a base and three mounting locations; a valve having a valve body extending through the tank and an opening in the mounting bracket; a valve nut coupled to the valve body with the base of the mounting bracket retained between the tank and the valve nut; a flexible gasket disposed around the valve nut between the mounting bracket and the bowl; and three fasteners disposed externally to the tank, wherein each fastener extends through one mounting location and a hole in the bowl to couple the mounting bracket to the bowl; where the three mounting locations are arranged to provide both a pitch adjustment and a roll adjustment of the tank relative to the bowl about respective first and second axes in response to adjustment of one or more of the three fasteners.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2019Date of Patent: May 4, 2021Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 10738448Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank having an outlet; a mounting bracket including a base having a central opening, a first set of mounts, which comprises two mounting locations located on opposite sides of the central opening for mounting the tank to a first pedestal having a bowl and two mounting holes, and a second set of mounts, which comprises three mounting locations that are separate from the two mounting locations of the first set of mounts, are located in a triangular pattern around the central opening, and mount the tank to a second pedestal having a bowl and three mounting holes; a valve body extending through the outlet and the central opening, wherein the valve body fluidly connects the outlet to an inlet of one of the bowls; and two or more fasteners with each fastener engaging one mounting hole and an associated mounting location.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2018Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott R. Krebs, Billy Jack Ahola, Andrew L. Smith, Lawrence E. Duwell, Donald G. Bogenschuetz
-
Publication number: 20200130982Abstract: A cord management system for a cabinet or other similar furniture, appliances, or other applications include a conduit. A cord management weight is disposed within the conduit. The cord management weight includes a cord receiving portion and a weight locking feature. The cord receiving portion is configured to receive a portion of an electrical cord of an electronic device. The weight locking feature is configured to selectively prevent translational movement of the cord management weight within the conduit. The cord management weight is configured to be selectively retracted into the conduit and locked into position within the conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2019Publication date: April 30, 2020Inventors: Andrew L. Smith, Billy Jack Ahola, Alexander V. LeTourneau, Scott R. Krebs, Lawrence E. Duwell, Donald G. Bogenschuetz, Peter William Swart
-
Patent number: 10414540Abstract: A toilet seat package includes a toilet seat, a cover, and a band. The cover encloses the toilet seat. The cover includes a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, a fifth side, a sixth side, a first slot, and a second slot. The third side is contiguous with the first side and the second side. The fourth side is contiguous with the first side. The fifth side is contiguous with the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side. The sixth side is contiguous with the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side. The first slot extends from the first side through the fifth side. The second slot extends from the second side through the fifth side. An interaction between the band and the toilet seat biases the toilet seat against the sixth side.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2018Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Jacob Barry Meicher, Peter William Swart, Lawrence E. Duwell
-
Publication number: 20190169825Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank having an outlet; a mounting bracket including a base having a central opening, a first set of mounts, which comprises two mounting locations located on opposite sides of the central opening for mounting the tank to a first pedestal having a bowl and two mounting holes, and a second set of mounts, which comprises three mounting locations that are separate from the two mounting locations of the first set of mounts, are located in a triangular pattern around the central opening, and mount the tank to a second pedestal having a bowl and three mounting holes; a valve body extending through the outlet and the central opening, wherein the valve body fluidly connects the outlet to an inlet of one of the bowls; and two or more fasteners with each fastener engaging one mounting hole and an associated mounting location.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 27, 2018Publication date: June 6, 2019Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott R. Krebs, Billy Jack Ahola, Andrew L. Smith, Lawrence E. Duwell, Donald G. Bogenschuetz
-
Publication number: 20190153716Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank; a bowl; a mounting bracket comprising a base and three mounting locations; a valve having a valve body extending through the tank and an opening in the mounting bracket; a valve nut coupled to the valve body with the base of the mounting bracket retained between the tank and the valve nut; a flexible gasket disposed around the valve nut between the mounting bracket and the bowl; and three fasteners disposed externally to the tank, wherein each fastener extends through one mounting location and a hole in the bowl to couple the mounting bracket to the bowl; where the three mounting locations are arranged to provide both a pitch adjustment and a roll adjustment of the tank relative to the bowl about respective first and second axes in response to adjustment of one or more of the three fasteners.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 10260221Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank having a bottom and an outlet; a bowl having an inlet and three holes; a valve fluidly connecting the outlet and the inlet, the valve comprising a threaded valve body extending through the outlet; a rigid mounting bracket located adjacent to the bottom and comprising an aperture, which receives the valve body, and three openings spaced apart around the aperture in a triangular arrangement; a valve nut threaded to the valve body to clamp the mounting bracket between the valve nut and the bottom; a flexible gasket for sealing the valve body and the inlet, wherein the gasket contacts the valve body and the valve nut; and three fasteners, each fastener engaging one of the three openings and one of the three holes, wherein each fastener is located external to the tank and does not pass through the bottom of the tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 10214890Abstract: A toilet having a tank including a bottom with an outlet; a pedestal having a bowl and a ledge, an inlet and three holes around the inlet are disposed in the ledge; a valve having a threaded valve body extending through the outlet to the inlet; a mounting bracket having a generally triangular base and three mounting locations disposed around an opening in the base with one mounting location proximate each corner of the base, each mounting location includes an offset mounting surface; a valve nut threaded to the valve body to hold the mounting bracket between the bottom and the valve nut; a flexible gasket disposed around the valve nut between the mounting bracket and the pedestal; and three fasteners disposed externally to the tank, each fastener extending through one mounting location and one hole in the ledge to secure the mounting bracket to the pedestal.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 10208471Abstract: A method for securing a toilet tank to a toilet bowl through an attachment assembly. The method includes the steps of engaging a valve to the tank through an opening in the tank, moving a mounting bracket over the valve through an opening in the mounting bracket to position the mounting bracket adjacent to the tank, the mounting bracket having at least three mounting locations with fasteners attached thereto, coupling a valve nut to the valve to secure the mounting bracket between the tank and the valve nut, and securing the mounting bracket to the bowl through the fasteners. The at least three fasteners are disposed external to the tank and couple the tank to the bowl without directly engaging the tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Publication number: 20180290788Abstract: A toilet seat package includes a toilet seat, a cover, and a band. The cover encloses the toilet seat. The cover includes a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, a fifth side, a sixth side, a first slot, and a second slot. The third side is contiguous with the first side and the second side. The fourth side is contiguous with the first side. The fifth side is contiguous with the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side. The sixth side is contiguous with the first side, the second side, the third side, and the fourth side. The first slot extends from the first side through the fifth side. The second slot extends from the second side through the fifth side. An interaction between the band and the toilet seat biases the toilet seat against the sixth side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Jacob Barry Meicher, Peter William Swart, Lawrence E. Duwell
-
Publication number: 20180087257Abstract: A toilet having a tank including a bottom with an outlet; a pedestal having a bowl and a ledge, an inlet and three holes around the inlet are disposed in the ledge; a valve having a threaded valve body extending through the outlet to the inlet; a mounting bracket having a generally triangular base and three mounting locations disposed around an opening in the base with one mounting location proximate each corner of the base, each mounting location includes an offset mounting surface; a valve nut threaded to the valve body to hold the mounting bracket between the bottom and the valve nut; a flexible gasket disposed around the valve nut between the mounting bracket and the pedestal; and three fasteners disposed externally to the tank, each fastener extending through one mounting location and one hole in the ledge to secure the mounting bracket to the pedestal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Publication number: 20170037609Abstract: A toilet that includes a tank having a bottom and an outlet; a bowl having an inlet and three holes; a valve fluidly connecting the outlet and the inlet, the valve comprising a threaded valve body extending through the outlet; a rigid mounting bracket located adjacent to the bottom and comprising an aperture, which receives the valve body, and three openings spaced apart around the aperture in a triangular arrangement; a valve nut threaded to the valve body to clamp the mounting bracket between the valve nut and the bottom; a flexible gasket for sealing the valve body and the inlet, wherein the gasket contacts the valve body and the valve nut; and three fasteners, each fastener engaging one of the three openings and one of the three holes, wherein each fastener is located external to the tank and does not pass through the bottom of the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Peter William SWART, John F. EMMERLING, Scott W. STONECIPHER, Billy Jack AHOLA
-
Publication number: 20170037608Abstract: A method for securing a toilet tank to a toilet bowl through an attachment assembly. The method includes the steps of engaging a valve to the tank through an opening in the tank, moving a mounting bracket over the valve through an opening in the mounting bracket to position the mounting bracket adjacent to the tank, the mounting bracket having at least three mounting locations with fasteners attached thereto, coupling a valve nut to the valve to secure the mounting bracket between the tank and the valve nut, and securing the mounting bracket to the bowl through the fasteners. The at least three fasteners are disposed external to the tank and couple the tank to the bowl without directly engaging the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2016Publication date: February 9, 2017Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 9487937Abstract: A toilet comprising a tank having a bottom, a bowl, and an attachment assembly configured to secure the bottom of the tank to the bowl. The attachment assembly includes a mounting bracket having at least three mounting locations spaced apart around an opening, a valve configured to fluidly connect the tank and the bowl, the valve being configured to engage the bottom of the tank and the opening in the mounting bracket, a valve nut configured to couple to the valve to secure the mounting bracket between the valve nut and the tank, and at least three fasteners configured to secure the mounting bracket to the bowl. The at least three fasteners are disposed external to the tank and couple the tank to the bowl without directly engaging the tank.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: KOHLER CO.Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Publication number: 20130312172Abstract: A toilet comprising a tank having a bottom, a bowl, and an attachment assembly configured to secure the bottom of the tank to the bowl. The attachment assembly includes a mounting bracket having at least three mounting locations spaced apart around an opening, a valve configured to fluidly connect the tank and the bowl, the valve being configured to engage the bottom of the tank and the opening in the mounting bracket, a valve nut configured to couple to the valve to secure the mounting bracket between the valve nut and the tank, and at least three fasteners configured to secure the mounting bracket to the bowl. The at least three fasteners are disposed external to the tank and couple the tank to the bowl without directly engaging the tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2012Publication date: November 28, 2013Inventors: Peter William Swart, John F. Emmerling, Scott W. Stonecipher, Billy Jack Ahola
-
Patent number: 8465254Abstract: A joint assembly for a steam turbine includes a threaded stud extending through mating openings in a first flange of the first half shell and in a second flange of the second half shell; a first nut threaded onto a first end of the threaded stud adjacent the first flange; a screw coupling the first nut to the first flange; and a dowel extending between and into the first flange and the first nut so as to bear a substantial portion of a torque load applied to the first nut compared to the screw.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: June 18, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas William Swart, Jeyaruban Selliah Amirtharajah, Michael Thomas Hamlin
-
Publication number: 20120104750Abstract: Disclosed herein is a loose anti-rotation lock sleeve design for use in a flange and pipe assembly. The design includes a lock sleeve positioned between a pipe and a flange to prevent rotation of the pipe relative to the flange. The lock sleeve includes at least two openings in a first end of the lock sleeve configured to receive at least two pipe pins extending radially outward from the pipe. The lock sleeve further includes at least four openings in a second end of the lock sleeve configured to receive at least four flange pins extending radially inward from the flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2012Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Thomas William Swart, Jeyaruban Selliah Amirtharajah, Jeffrey Louis Palmer
-
Patent number: 8123259Abstract: A loose anti-rotation lock sleeve design for use in a flange and pipe assembly. The design includes a lock sleeve positioned between a pipe and a flange to prevent rotation of the pipe relative to the flange. The lock sleeve includes at least two openings in a first end of the lock sleeve configured to receive at least two pipe pins extending radially outward from the pipe. The lock sleeve further includes at least four openings in a second end of the lock sleeve configured to receive at least four flange pins extending radially inward from the flange.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2009Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas William Swart, Jeyaruban Selliah Amirtharajah, Jeffrey Louis Palmer