Patents by Inventor William C. Kuru
William C. Kuru 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: 20250019953Abstract: A cover system for a toilet tank including a receptable and a lid. The receptacle is configured to receive a cartridge. The lid configured to cover a rim portion of the receptacle. The receptacle is fluidly connected to the toilet tank and a toilet bowl. A flush valve is configured to initiate an operational cycle including dispensing water into the toilet bowl from the receptacle and dispensing water into the receptacle from the toilet tank. The receptacle is integrally formed with a cover for the toilet tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, Clayton C. Garrels
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Publication number: 20250019954Abstract: A disinfection system for a toilet includes a toilet tank, a drain opening at a bottom of the toilet tank, at least one disinfection channel extending from the drain opening of the toilet tank to a pedestal for the toilet, and a valve system in the toilet tank, the valve system configured to empty the toilet tank through the drain opening to below a predetermined level.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2024Publication date: January 16, 2025Inventors: William C. Kuru, Clayton C. Garrels, Jason M. Kwacz, Robin Whitfield, Peter Kajuch
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Publication number: 20240426094Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2024Publication date: December 26, 2024Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 12134885Abstract: An electro-chlorinating device includes a housing and a pair of electrodes. The housing comprises a reservoir; an inlet port fluidly coupled to the reservoir; and a discharge device fluidly coupled to the reservoir. The discharge device is configured to be fluidly coupled to a plumbing product. The discharge device is configured to release a fluid from the reservoir into the plumbing product in response to a movement of water through the plumbing product. The pair of electrodes is coupled to the housing such that at least a portion of each electrode of the pair of electrodes is disposed within the reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: November 5, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William Kalk, William C. Kuru
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Publication number: 20240247473Abstract: A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet includes a flush assembly having an outer chamber and an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber. The flush assembly further includes a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber, and a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve. The tank assembly further includes an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than a first distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Patent number: 11987969Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2023Date of Patent: May 21, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20240125103Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water, evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11933031Abstract: A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet includes a flush assembly having an outer chamber and an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber. The flush assembly further includes a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber, and a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve. The tank assembly further includes an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than a first distance.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20240084571Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a passage. The trapway is fluidly connected to the bowl at a trapway inlet and extends downstream from the bowl. The trapway includes an up-leg and a down-leg extending downstream from the up-leg. The passage is fluidly connected to the trapway downstream from the trapway inlet. The passage is configured to allow ambient air from outside the toilet to pass therethrough toward the trapway.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20240051852Abstract: A shear clarification device includes an input, a shear flow tube, a first output and a second output. The input to the shear clarification device receives water from a water consuming appliance. The shear flow tube is configured to place forces on particles in a water flow from the input toward an outer portion of the shear flow tube. The first output is coupled to the outer portion of the shear flow tube. The second output is coupled to an inner portion of the shear flow tube.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2023Publication date: February 15, 2024Inventors: William C. Kuru, Jason M. Kwacz
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Patent number: 11885111Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water; evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2021Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11851864Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a passage. The trapway is fluidly connected to the bowl at a trapway inlet and extends downstream from the bowl. The trapway includes an up-leg and a down-leg extending downstream from the up-leg. The passage is fluidly connected to the trapway downstream from the trapway inlet. The passage is configured to allow ambient air from outside the toilet to pass therethrough toward the trapway.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20230287671Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
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Patent number: 11739517Abstract: A toilet assembly includes a toilet body and a fluidic oscillator. The toilet body defines a toilet bowl that is configured to receive a volume of fluid therein. The fluidic oscillator is coupled to the toilet body in a rim area of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is positioned to direct a fluid onto an inner surface of the toilet bowl. The fluidic oscillator is configured to continuously redirect the flow of fluid to different locations along the inner surface of the toilet bowl.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
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Publication number: 20230119112Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a passage. The trapway is fluidly connected to the bowl at a trapway inlet and extends downstream from the bowl. The trapway includes an up-leg and a down-leg extending downstream from the up-leg. The passage is fluidly connected to the trapway downstream from the trapway inlet. The passage is configured to allow ambient air from outside the toilet to pass therethrough toward the trapway.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Patent number: 11560703Abstract: A toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a passage. The trapway is fluidly connected to the bowl at a trapway inlet and extends downstream from the bowl. The trapway includes an up-leg and a down-leg extending downstream from the up-leg. The passage is fluidly connected to the trapway downstream from the trapway inlet. The passage is configured to allow ambient air from outside the toilet to pass therethrough toward the trapway.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20220356688Abstract: A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet includes a flush assembly having an outer chamber and an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber. The flush assembly further includes a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber, and a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve. The tank assembly further includes an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than a first distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Patent number: 11427995Abstract: A tank assembly for a pressure-assist toilet includes a flush assembly having an outer chamber and an inner chamber disposed in the outer chamber. The flush assembly further includes a flush valve disposed in the inner chamber, and a pilot valve disposed in the inner chamber and extending through the flush valve. The tank assembly further includes an actuator engaging the pilot valve and configured to hold the pilot valve at each of a first height, a second height offset a first distance from the first height, and a third height offset a second distance from the first height greater than a first distance.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20220064929Abstract: A shower head includes a water input pipe, a fluidic oscillator, and at least one water outlet. The water input pipe is configured to supply a flow of water. The fluidic oscillator includes at least one predetermined geometry to control the flow of water ejected from the fluidic oscillator to include a repeating fan of water at a predetermined angle range. The at least one water outlet is configured to provide the flow water including the repeating pattern of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 9, 2021Publication date: March 3, 2022Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp, Jason Kwacz
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Publication number: 20220025628Abstract: A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water; evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2021Publication date: January 27, 2022Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp