Kohler Company

Terrence J Andersen

William C McKeone

Jeffrey L Mueller

Meghamukta Ghosh

Craig J Kohn

Michael R Bates

David K Rische

A handshower slide includes a bar with a passageway, a slide mechanism positioned along a length of the bar, and a showerhead holder movable with the slide mechanism along the length of the bar. The slide mechanism includes a handle and a cam, and the cam is positioned within the passageway and is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the bar. The slide mechanism is not movable along the length of the bar while the cam is in the first orientation and is movable along the length of the bar while the cam is in the second orientation. An orientation of the cam is correlated to a position of the handle, and a spring is coupled to the handle and the cam, so that the spring biases the cam toward the first orientation and away from the second orientation.

Handshower slide mechanism

A handshower slide comprising a bar with a passageway and a slide mechanism positioned along a length of the bar. The slide mechanism comprises a handle, a cam, and a shower holder. The cam is positioned within the passageway and is rotatable between a first orientation and a second orientation relative to the bar. The slide mechanism is secured along the length of the bar while the cam is in the first orientation and movable along the length of the bar while the cam is in the second orientation. An orientation of the cam is controlled by a spring and is biased toward the first orientation. The handle is coupled the slide mechanism through the spring and an orientation of the cam is correlated to a position of the handle. The cam is movable from the first orientation to the second orientation by an external force on the handle.

A swing spout assembly is disclosed which has a spout having a channel extending from an inlet end to a discharge end. A radially extending groove is formed adjacent the inlet end of the spout, and a snap ring is received in the groove of the spout. A pair of glides in the form of wear washers sandwich the portion of the snap ring extending out of the groove to form a bearing subassembly. An escutcheon is positioned around at least part of the inlet end of the spout. A stationary body has a portion that extends into the channel of the spout and a portion extending around an outer radial periphery of the inlet end of the spout. The portion extending around the outer periphery of the inlet end and the escutcheon defining a pocket that retains the bearing sub-assembly.

Retainer assembly for swivel spout

A sprayer seating assembly is disclosed for more securely docking a sprayer head to an escutcheon positioned on a countertop or the like. The escutcheon has a bore extending there through and a recess adjacent the bore. A sprayer head is linked to a supply hose and has a recess adjacent a base portion of the sprayer head. A flexible snap member is mounted in one of the recesses such that it can flex at least partially into the other of the recesses when the recesses are aligned. The escutcheon forms a rest seat for the sprayer head and the flexible snap member assists in removably retaining the sprayer head against the rest seat.

Sprayer seating assembly

A toilet, comprising a bowl, a rim provided at an upper portion of the bowl, a rim channel disposed in the rim, a rear extension that extends from the rim, and a water distribution structure provided in the rear extension and configured to receive water from a water supply. The rim channel includes a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening located between the first and second openings, the openings being configured to communicate water to the bowl. The water distribution structure having at least two exit channels configured to communicate water to at least two different locations of the rim channel.

Toilet with reduced water usage

A swing spout assembly is disclosed which has a spout having a channel extending from an inlet end to a discharge end. A radially extending groove is formed adjacent the inlet end of the spout, and a snap ring is received in the groove of the spout. A pair of glides in the form of wear washers sandwich the portion of the snap ring extending out of the groove to form a bearing sub-assembly. An escutcheon is positioned around at least part of the inlet end of the spout. A stationary body has a portion that extends into the channel of the spout and a portion extending around an outer radial periphery of the inlet end of the spout. The portion extending around the outer periphery of the inlet end and the escutcheon defining a pocket that retains the bearing sub-assembly.

A toilet includes a bowl having an upper rim channel and a water distribution structure for delivering water from a water supply to the bowl. The water distribution structure has an entry suitable to link with the water supply and at least three exit channels. A first of the exit channels communicates with the rim channel so as to provide at least a counter clockwise flow around a first side of the rim channel. A second of the exit channels communicates with the rim channel so as to provide at least clockwise flow around an opposed side of the rim channel from the first side of the rim channel.

Disclosed are low-profile valve assemblies for engaging a counter top or other mounting surface having a through opening. A special collar is provided which has a flange facing the outer surface of the mounting surface, and a skirt that extends into the through opening where the inward portion of the skirt connects to the valve body. This insets the valve body. o-ring and recess structures are provided to seal the construction, and a handle has an outer skirt to hide the collar.

Low-profile valve assembly

A flapper valve assembly for regulating the passage of water from a toilet tank is provided with a structure to reduce overflow risk. There is a yoke pivotally disposed in the tank and supporting a flapper seal that can be seated on and unseated from the flush opening. A flapper arm has a first segment coupled to the yoke along a pivot axis and a second segment extending away from the pivot axis toward the flapper seal. The flapper arm is configured such that it delays seating of the flapper seal when the water in the tank is above a predetermined level and assists seating of the flapper seal when the water is below a designated level.

Growing community of inventors

Sheboygan, WI, United States of America

Terrence J Andersen