Patents by Inventor William Kalk
William Kalk 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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Patent number: 12296074Abstract: A panel for accumulation of aerosol particles in an indoor environment includes a surface plate and an electrostatic collector plate coupled to the surface plate and configured to hold an electrical charge to attract and accumulate aerosol particles. The panel may include or otherwise be coupled with an activation device.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2022Date of Patent: May 13, 2025Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20250116099Abstract: 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 17, 2024Publication date: April 10, 2025Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Patent number: 12209401Abstract: 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: November 14, 2023Date of Patent: January 28, 2025Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: William C. Kuru, William Kalk
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Publication number: 20250027311Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2024Publication date: January 23, 2025Inventors: Clayton C. Garrels, William Kalk, William C. Kuru
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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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Publication number: 20240393061Abstract: A heat exchanger for a shower environment includes a panel having an inlet, an outlet, and a plurality of flow channels. The panel is disposed within the shower environment. The plurality of flow channels fluidly couples the inlet with the outlet. The panel is configured to condense steam to heat a fluid flowing through the plurality of flow channels.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2024Publication date: November 28, 2024Applicant: Kohler Co.Inventors: William Kalk, William Kuru
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Patent number: 12139899Abstract: A tankless toilet includes a bowl, a trapway, and a jet. The bowl includes a rim at an upper portion of the bowl and a sump at a lower portion of the bowl. The trapway extends from the sump to a drain. The jet includes a main channel configured to receive a supply of water from a supply conduit, and a plurality of distribution channels configured to introduce water received from the main channel to at least one of the sump and the trapway. The jet is configured to receive the supply of water from the supply conduit at a first flow rate and induce a flow from the supply of water into the trapway at a second flow rate greater than the first flow rate to prime a siphon within the trapway. The second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate prior to priming the siphon.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 12, 2024Assignee: Kohler Co.Inventors: Sudip Mukerji, Michael J. Luettgen, William Kalk, Randy Mesun, Jeff Laundre, Jeremy Rauwerdink, John Esche, Keith Muellenbach, Clayton Garrels
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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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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: 20240065602Abstract: An apparatus for the measurement of urine flow includes a microphone, a temperature sensor, and a controller. The microphone is configured to detect an audio from the urine flow. The temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature in a toilet bowl associated with the urine flow. The controller is configured to calculate a urine volume in the toilet bowl based on the temperature in the toilet bowl and calculate a flow rate based on the urine volume and at least one time interval from the audio from the urine flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: William Kuru, William Kalk
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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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Publication number: 20220313864Abstract: A panel for accumulation of aerosol particles in an indoor environment includes a surface plate and an electrostatic collector plate coupled to the surface plate and configured to hold an electrical charge to attract and accumulate aerosol particles. The panel may include or otherwise be coupled with an activation device.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2022Publication date: October 6, 2022Inventors: William Kuru, Clayton Garrels, William Kalk