IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,274,402
Granted Patent B2
US 12,274,402 · App. 18/390,616 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Toilet

Inventors: Chanseol Chung (Milwaukee, WI); Karger D. Kohler (Kohler, WI); Daniel N. Halloran (Fredonia, WI); Jeffrey T. Laundre (Sheboygan, WI); Keith E. Muellenbach (Sheboygan, WI); Jennifer Tarplee (Sheboygan, WI); Craig Loest (Kohler, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
A47K13/247A47K13/10A47K13/12A47K13/28A47K13/242A47K13/245A61G5/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,274,402
App. No.
18/390,616
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A toilet includes a base, a cover, and a seat. The seat is rotatably coupled to the base, and the cover is rotatably coupled to the seat. The cover and the seat define an angled axis that is oriented upward and forward toward a front end of the base. The cover and the seat are each configured to rotate about the angled axis between a lowered position in which the cover and the seat are located adjacent the base and a stowed position in which the cover and the seat are oriented in an upward direction.

Claims (34)

1. A toilet comprising:

a base; and

a seat rotatably coupled to the base;

a cover movable between a stowed position and a lowered position; and

a bidet configured to retract into the cover to a retracted position and extend out of the cover to an extended position when the cover is in the stowed position.

2. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the bidet is configured to further extend to a second extended position.

3. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a seat opening mechanism configured to move the cover and the seat relative to the base.

4. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the bidet is configured to clean the seat opening mechanism.

5. The toilet of claim 1 , wherein the bidet includes upper nozzles pointed in a first direction and lower nozzles pointed in a second direction.

6. The toilet of claim 5 , wherein the upper nozzles dispense water and the lower nozzle dispense chemical cleanser.

7. The toilet of claim 1 , further comprising:

a motor configured to move the bidet between the retracted position and extended position.

8. The toilet of claim 7 , wherein the motor receives instructions from a mobile communication device.

9. The toilet of claim 8 , wherein the instructions cause the bidet to dispense water for cleaning a user, dispense water for cleaning the toilet, or dispense water for filling a bowl.

10. A toilet seat assembly comprising:

a seat;

a cover movable between a stowed position and a lowered position; and

a bidet configured to retract into the cover to a retracted position and extend out of the cover to an extended position when the cover is in the stowed position.

11. The toilet seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the bidet is configured to further extend to a second extended position.

12. The toilet seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the bidet is configured to clean a seat opening mechanism for opening the seat and cover.

13. The toilet seat assembly of claim 10 , wherein the bidet includes upper nozzles pointed in a first direction and lower nozzles pointed in a second direction.

14. The toilet seat assembly of claim 13 , wherein the upper nozzles dispense water and the lower nozzle dispense chemical cleanser.

15. The toilet seat assembly of claim 10 , further comprising:

a motor configured to move the bidet between the retracted position and extended position.

16. The toilet seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the motor receives instructions from a mobile communication device.

17. The toilet seat assembly of claim 16 , wherein the instructions cause the bidet to dispense water for cleaning a user, dispense water for cleaning the toilet, or dispense water for filling a bowl.

18. A method for operation of a toilet, the method comprising:

generating a first control signal for opening a cover of the toilet from a lowered position to a stowed position; and

generating a second control signal for extending a bidet wand from a retracted position inside of the cover to an extended position out of the cover when the cover is in the stowed position.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

generating a third control signal to cause the bidet to dispense water for cleaning a user.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

generating a third control signal to cause the bidet to dispense water for cleaning the toilet or dispense water for filling a bowl.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 29, 2023
From: HALLORAN, DANIEL N.; KOHLER, KARGER D.; CHUNG, CHANSEOL; LAUNDRE, JEFFREY T.; MUELLENBACH, KEITH E.; TARPLEE, JENNIFER; LOEST, CRAIG
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 065978/0577 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 18233588 · Aug 14, 2023
Continuation 17985461 · Nov 11, 2022
Continuation 17322335 · May 17, 2021
Continuation 17046506
Provisional Application 62655904 · Apr 11, 2018
Related Publication 20240115089A1 · Apr 11, 2024
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Cited By (1)
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