IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,470,855
Granted Patent B2
US 12,470,855 · App. 18/648,711 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Shower assembly

Inventors: Kenneth Scott Hanna (Bellingham, WA); Michael James Soetaert (Sheboygan, WI); Keith Scott Ruh (Elkhart Lake, WI); William Clement Kuru (Plymouth, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
H04R1/026B05B1/18B05B1/185H04R2201/021
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,470,855
App. No.
18/648,711
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shower assembly. The assembly may include a housing defining a housing portion with a waterway through which water flows, the waterway extending parallel to an axis from an inlet to an outlet, the housing portion defining an inner wall, a passage housing portion defining a passage upstream of the inlet and the waterway, and a receptacle defined at least in part by the inner wall of the housing portion, the receptacle including an open first end aligned with the outlet and an open second end spaced apart from the open first end. The assembly may further include an auxiliary device removably supported in the receptacle. With the auxiliary device at least partially supported in the receptacle, the auxiliary device may block the receptacle. With the auxiliary device removed from the receptacle, the receptacle may be uncovered.

Claims (25)

1 . A shower assembly comprising:

a housing defining:

a housing portion with a waterway through which water flows, the waterway extending parallel to an axis from an inlet to an outlet, the housing portion defining an inner wall;

a passage housing portion defining a passage upstream of the inlet and the waterway; and

a receptacle defined at least in part by the inner wall of the housing portion, the receptacle including an open first end aligned with the outlet and an open second end spaced apart from the open first end, the open first end and the open second end of the receptacle being open to an exterior of the housing; and

an auxiliary device removably supported in the receptacle;

wherein with the auxiliary device is at least partially supported in the receptacle, the auxiliary device blocks the receptacle; and

wherein with the auxiliary device removed from the receptacle, the receptacle is uncovered.

2 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the auxiliary device it at least partially supported in the receptacle, the auxiliary device blocks the open first end and the open second end of the receptacle.

3 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the auxiliary device is removed from the receptacle, the auxiliary device uncovers both the open first end and the open second end of the receptacle.

4 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the auxiliary device is removed from the receptacle, one of the first open end and the second open end is visible from beyond the other of the first open end and the second end.

5 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when the auxiliary device is at least partially supported in the receptacle, one of the first open end and the second open end is blocked from view by the auxiliary device as viewed from beyond the other of the first open end and the second end.

6 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein when supported in the receptacle, the auxiliary device extends through both the open first end and beyond the open second end of the receptacle.

7 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device includes a grip surface at an axial end thereof, wherein when mounted to the receptacle, the grip surface projects beyond the open first end of the receptacle in parallel to enable a user to grasp the grip surface.

8 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device extends along a device axis, the device axis extending generally parallel with the axis of the housing when the auxiliary device is supported in the receptacle.

9 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a connection between the housing and the auxiliary device operable to releasably connect the auxiliary device to the housing.

10 . The shower assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connection includes a first magnet supported by the housing a second magnet supported by the auxiliary device and interacting with the first magnet to releasably magnetically connect the auxiliary device to the housing.

11 . The shower assembly of claim 9 , wherein the connection includes a first ramp surface supported by the housing and a second ramp surface supported by the auxiliary device and interacting with the first ramp surface to releasably mechanically connect the auxiliary device to the housing.

12 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is connectable to a water supply, the housing capable of passing water from the water supply through the passage to the inlet, through the waterway, and to eject water from the outlet independent of whether the auxiliary device is supported by the housing.

13 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary device comprises a speaker, the speaker including:

a speaker housing,

speaker components operable to output audio, and

a power source operable to power the speaker components.

14 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is annularly shaped and the waterway is annularly shaped.

15 . The shower assembly of claim 1 , wherein the passage housing portion is non-annularly shaped, and the passage is non-annularly shaped.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 29, 2024
From: HANNA, KENNETH SCOTT; SOETAERT, MICHAEL JAMES; RUH, KEITH SCOTT; KURU, WILLIAM CLEMENT
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 067255/0611 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 17157192 · Jan 25, 2021
Continuation 14470761 · Aug 27, 2014
Continuation In Part 13605587 · Sep 6, 2012
Provisional Application 61871054 · Aug 28, 2013
Provisional Application 61637009 · Apr 23, 2012
Provisional Application 61631912 · Jan 13, 2012
Provisional Application 61573448 · Sep 6, 2011
Related Publication 20240276132A1 · Aug 15, 2024
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