IP Library Granted Patent US 11,105,082
Granted Patent B2
US 11,105,082 · App. 16/564,311 · Granted Aug 31, 2021

Clean toilet and accessories

Inventors: Michael Luettgen (Grafton, WI); William Kuru (Plymouth, WI); Clayton Garrels (Sheboygan, WI); Peter W. Denzin (Glenbeulah, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
E03D9/05A47K13/307A47K17/00C11D7/04C11D11/0023C11D11/0052E03D1/36E03D5/10E03D9/005E03D9/031E03D9/032E03D9/033E03D9/038G08B5/36G08B21/182E03D2009/024E03D2009/028
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,105,082
App. No.
16/564,311
Granted
Aug 31, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toilet that includes a tank configured to hold water from a water supply; a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.

Claims (35)

1. A toilet comprising:

a tank configured to hold water from a water supply;

a reservoir fluidly connected to the tank and configured to hold a cleaning compound comprising a chemical compound and water from the water supply; and

an actuator configured to control a flush cycle of the toilet upon a first activation, the actuator including at least one nozzle fluidly connected to the reservoir and configured to discharge an amount of the cleaning compound external to the tank upon at least one of the first activation or a second activation.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a trip lever comprising a base and at least one arm extending radially outward from the base.

3. The toilet of claim 2 , wherein the base houses the reservoir.

4. The toilet of claim 3 , wherein the base includes a visual indicator indicating the level of cleaning compound in the reservoir.

5. The toilet of claim 4 , wherein the visual indicator includes a transparent portion so that the level of cleaning compound in the reservoir can be seen through the transparent portion.

6. The toilet of claim 2 , wherein the at least one arm comprises:

a first arm extending radially outward from the base in a first direction; and

a second arm extending radially outward from the base in a second direction;

wherein the first arm controls the flush cycle of the toilet upon the first activation and the second arm controls discharge of the cleaning compound through the at least one nozzle upon the second activation.

7. The toilet of claim 6 , wherein the first arm is rotatable in a first rotational direction independently of the second arm, and wherein the second arm is rotatable in a second rotational direction independently of the first arm.

8. The toilet of claim 7 , wherein the first arm also controls discharge of the cleaning compound through the at least one nozzle upon the first activation.

9. The toilet of claim 7 , wherein the first activation is achieved by rotating the first arm a first angular travel, and wherein the second activation is achieved by rotating the second arm a second angular travel.

10. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising a visual indicator including a light source that illuminates to indicate the level of cleaning compound in the reservoir.

11. The toilet of claim 10 , wherein the light source illuminates upon the level of the cleaning compound dropping below a threshold level.

12. The toilet of claim 10 , wherein a size of an illumination from the light source is proportional to the level of the cleaning compound.

13. The toilet of claim 10 , further comprising:

a level sensor that detects the level of the cleaning compound; and

a controller that receives a signal from the level sensor and controls illumination of the light source based on the signal.

14. The toilet of claim 13 , further comprising a concentration sensor that measures a concentration of the cleaning compound and communicates the measured concentration to the controller; and wherein the light source of the visual indicator is a first light source and the visual indicator includes a second light source that is illuminated upon the concentration of the cleaning compound falling below a threshold concentration.

15. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a bowl supporting the tank; and

a seat that is moveably coupled to the bowl for supporting a user of the toilet;

wherein the at least one nozzle comprises a first nozzle and a second nozzle, wherein the first nozzle is configured to discharge a first amount of the cleaning compound toward the seat and the second nozzle is configured to discharge a second amount of the cleaning compound toward the actuator.

16. The toilet of claim 15 , wherein the first amount of the cleaning compound is discharged upon rotation of the actuator in a first rotation direction, and wherein the actuator activates the flush cycle and discharges the second amount of the cleaning compound upon rotation of the actuator in a second rotational direction.

17. The toilet of claim 15 , wherein the flush cycle is activated and the first amount of the cleaning compound is discharged upon rotation of the actuator in a first rotation direction, and wherein the actuator discharges the second amount of the cleaning compound upon rotation of the actuator in a second rotational direction.

18. The toilet of claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises:

a first arm extending radially outward from the base in a first direction; and

a second arm extending radially outward from the base in a second direction;

wherein rotation of the first arm discharges the first amount of the cleaning compound toward the seat; and

wherein rotation of the second arm discharges discharge the second amount of the cleaning compound toward the actuator.

19. The toilet of claim 18 , wherein the first arm is rotatable in a first rotational direction independently of the second arm, and wherein the second arm is rotatable in a second rotational direction independently of the first arm.

20. The toilet of claim 18 , wherein rotation of at least one of the first arm or the second arm activates the flush cycle of the toilet.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2019
From: LUETTGEN, MICHAEL; KURU, WILLIAM; GARRELS, CLAYTON; DENZIN, PETER W.
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 050316/0147 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 15900933 · Feb 21, 2018
Continuation PCTUS2016048419 · Aug 24, 2016
Provisional Application 62209198 · Aug 24, 2015
Related Publication 20200002930A1 · Jan 2, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,415,626