Kohler Company

Michael J Strege

Max Bock-Aronson

Benjamin W Marotz

Murali Natarajan

Jeffrey A Schumacher

Andrew James Stokes

Joel T Smith

Sharathkumar Badiger

A valve trim assembly for use in a shower environment. The valve trim assembly includes an outer covering and a valve assembly. The outer covering includes a first axis disposed through a midpoint of the outer covering. The valve assembly is at least partially disposed within the outer covering and configured to control a flow of fluid. The valve assembly includes a nut coupled to the outer covering, an adapter at least partially disposed within the nut and rotatable about the first axis, and an elongated joint coaxially aligned with the adapter. The nut and the adapter cooperatively define a joint where the adapter rotates within the nut to maintain engagement between the outer covering and a wall.

Shower trim assembly

A handle assembly configured to control water flow through a faucet valve. The handle assembly includes an output shaft rotatable about a first axis and configured to be operatively coupled to the valve; an input shaft rotatable about a second axis that is configured substantially transverse to the first axis, the input shaft configured to engage the output shaft to rotate the output shaft upon rotation of the input shaft; a handle coupled to the input shaft and configured to rotate the input shaft upon rotation of the handle about the second axis; and a saddle interconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft. The saddle includes a body having a channel that supports one of the input shaft and the output shaft, and a post extending away from the body and engaging an opening in the other of the input shaft and the output shaft.

Transverse handle assembly for a valve

A handle assembly for a valve system is provided. The handle assembly includes a first gear coupled to an input shaft, a handle coupled to the input shaft, a second gear coupled to an output shaft and positioned to engage the first gear, and a saddle interconnecting the input shaft and the output shaft.

A handle assembly for a valve system is provided. The handle assembly includes a body defining a cavity, an input shaft at least partially located in the cavity, a handle coupled to the input shaft, and a first gear located in the cavity and coupled to the input shaft. The handle assembly further includes an output shaft at least partially located in the cavity, a second gear coupled to the output shaft and located in the cavity engaging the first gear, and at least one key supported by the body. At least one of the input shaft and the output shaft include a first portion having cross-section that is other than circular, and the first portion selectively engages the at least one key, thereby limiting rotation of the at least one of the input shaft and the output shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Plymouth, WI, United States of America

Michael J Strege