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).

  • Publication number: 20240125103
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
  • Patent number: 11933031
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Publication number: 20240084571
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Publication number: 20240051852
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, Jason M. Kwacz
  • Patent number: 11885111
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
  • Patent number: 11851864
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Publication number: 20230287671
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
  • Patent number: 11739517
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
  • Publication number: 20230119112
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Patent number: 11560703
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Publication number: 20220356688
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Patent number: 11427995
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Publication number: 20220064929
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp, Jason Kwacz
  • Publication number: 20220025628
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
  • Patent number: 11168471
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp
  • Publication number: 20210285199
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Patent number: 11047123
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
  • Publication number: 20200362548
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, William Kalk, Randal S. Graskamp
  • Publication number: 20200232200
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William Kalk, William C. Kuru
  • Publication number: 20200224399
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William C. Kuru, Randy S. Graskamp