Kohler Company

David J Richter-O'Connell

Rafael A Rexach

James S Giefer

Stephanie Szemetylo

Jeffrey James Elsesser

David C Shafer

Carter J Thomas

Fred Judson Heinzmann

Andrew J Paese

William Robert Burnett

Anton J Kolar

Steven M Tervo

A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port receives water from a water source at an inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port, and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source even when the reservoir receives the water at a maximum inlet flow rate of up to 2.5 gallons per minute. Each of the plurality of drop outlet ports is configured such that water passes from the reservoir through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port by gravity only as discrete drops of water. A total flow capacity of the plurality of drop outlet ports is greater than or equal to the maximum inlet flow rate.

Shower

A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlet ports. The inlet port receives water from a water source at an inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port, and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source regardless of the inlet flow rate. Each of the plurality of drop outlet ports is configured such that water passes from the reservoir through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port by gravity only as discrete drops of water.

A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly includes a chamber configured to receive water from a water source and a plurality of outlets configured to pass water from the chamber. The chamber is unpressurized by a supply pressure of the water source. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure. The mounting system is configured to adjust a position of the shower assembly relative to the building structure. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to be coupled to the building structure at a fixed position. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably coupled to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.

A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, and a plurality of drop outlets. The inlet is for receiving water from a water source. The reservoir receives water from the inlet port and is not pressurized by a line pressure of the water source. Each of the drop outlet ports is configured, such that water passes from the reservoir, through the plurality of drop outlet ports, forms a drop at each drop outlet port, and falls from each drop outlet port only as discrete drops of water.

Rain shower

A shower assembly includes a first outlet, a second outlet, a first inlet, a stopper, and an actuator assembly. The first inlet is configured to provide water to the shower assembly from a water supply. The stopper is movable between a first stopper position and a second stopper position. When the stopper is in the first stopper position, water exits the shower assembly through the first outlet and is prevented from exiting the shower assembly through the second outlet. When the stopper is in the second stopper position, water is permitted to exit the shower assembly through the second outlet. The actuator assembly is configured to move the stopper between the first stopper position and the second stopper position.

A shower system includes a shower assembly and a mounting system. The shower assembly is configured to receive water from a water source and pass water through a plurality of outlets. The mounting system is for coupling the shower assembly to a building structure, and is configured to adjust the shower assembly. The mounting system includes a post and a fitting. The post is configured to fixedly couple to the building structure. The fitting is coupled to the shower assembly and adjustably received to the post, such that a vertical position of the shower assembly may be adjusted relative to the post and the building structure.

A shower assembly includes an inlet port, a reservoir, a valve, a plurality of first outlets, and a plurality of second outlets. The inlet port is for receiving water from a water source at a source flow rate. The reservoir is for receiving the water from the water source through the inlet port. The valve is for controlling a flow rate of water from the inlet port to the reservoir to maintain an unpressurized reservoir. The plurality of first outlets are configured to continuously pass water from the reservoir. The plurality of first outlets have a first collective flow rate that is approximately equal to the source flow rate. The plurality of second outlets are configured to selectively pass water from the reservoir simultaneously with water being passed from the plurality of first outlets.

A shower assembly includes a panel and a stopper movable between a first position and a second position. The panel includes a first region having a plurality of first openings passing through the panel and a second region having a plurality of second openings passing through the panel. When the stopper is in the first position, water provided to the shower assembly is permitted to pass through the plurality of first openings but is prevented from passing through the plurality of second openings. When the stopper is in the second position, water provided to the shower assembly is permitted to pass through the plurality of second openings.

A shower assembly includes an inlet, a first tank, and a second tank. The inlet is configured to receive water from a water source. The first tank is associated with a plurality of first outlets configured to pass water from the first tank. The second tank is associated with a plurality of second outlets configured to pass water from the second tank. The second tank is configured to receive and collect water from the inlet and also to distribute water to the first tank.

A shower assembly includes an inlet, a reservoir, a plurality of first outlets, and a plurality of second outlets. The inlet is for receiving water from a water source, and is configured to restrict water flow from the water source to a maximum inlet flow rate. The reservoir receives from the inlet. The plurality of first outlets are configured to pass water from the reservoir. The plurality of second outlets are configured to selectively pass water from the reservoir. The shower assembly is configured for a user to selectively control whether water passes through the plurality of second outlets. A sum of a first collective flow rate of the plurality of first outlets and a second collective flow rate of the plurality of second outlets is greater than the maximum inlet flow rate.

The present invention is a system for controlling a plumbing fixture. The system includes at least two sensors, each sensor including a receiver, and a controller coupled to receive detection signals from the sensors and to generate a control signal in response to the received signals. An actuator is coupled to receive the control signal from the controller and couplable to the plumbing device to act on the bathroom device. The invention is also a method of controlling plumbing fixtures that includes receiving detection signals from a plurality of sensors in a central controller, selecting, in the central controller, which of a plurality of actuators attachable to the plumbing fixtures to operate and directing control signals to the selected actuator to operate the selected actuator.

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Sheboygan, WI, United States of America

David J Richter-O'Connell