IP Library Granted Patent US 12,622,549
Granted Patent B2
US 12,622,549 · App. 18/734,532 · Granted May 12, 2026

Bath with hot and cold water zones

Inventor: Jason Kwacz (Kohler, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
A47K3/022A47K3/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,622,549
App. No.
18/734,532
Granted
May 12, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bath receptor includes a first basin, a second basin, and a partition positioned between the first basin and the second basin. The first basin includes a first whirlpool system configured to direct water in a first rotational direction within the first basin. The second basin includes a second whirlpool system configured to direct water in a second rotational direction within the second basin. The second rotational direction is opposite the first rotational direction. The partition is physically coupled to the first basin and the second basin.

Claims (29)

1 . A bath receptor, comprising:

a first basin comprising a first whirlpool system configured to direct water in a first rotational direction within the first basin;

a second basin comprising a second whirlpool system configured to direct water in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction within the second basin; and

a partition positioned between the first basin and the second basin and physically coupled to the first basin and the second basin.

2 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein the first whirlpool system comprises a heating element configured to form hot water passing through the first whirlpool system, and wherein the second whirlpool system comprises a cooling element configured to form cold water passing through the second whirlpool system.

3 . The bath receptor of claim 2 , wherein the first whirlpool system is configured to form a hot water vortex within the first basin, and wherein the second whirlpool system is configured to form a cold water vortex within the second basin.

4 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein the first whirlpool system comprises a first suction system positioned proximate a bottom of the first basin, and wherein the second whirlpool system comprises a second suction system positioned proximate a bottom of the second basin.

5 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein the partition is vertically provided along at least a portion of a height of the bath receptor, wherein the water from the first basin and the second basin are directed in a same translational direction along the partition.

6 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein the first basin further comprises a first shallow zone and a first deep zone, the first shallow zone defining a first water depth and the first deep zone defining a second water depth, and wherein the first water depth is less than the second water depth.

7 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein a height of the partition is less than a height of the bath receptor such that the water in the first basin and the water in the second basin converge along a fluid contact plane vertically provided above the partition when a water level within the first basin and the second basin exceeds the height of the partition.

8 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein the first whirlpool system further comprises a first plurality of jets configured to output water into the first basin at an angle relative to a sidewall of the first basin, and wherein the second whirlpool system further comprises a second plurality of jets configured to output water into the second basin at an angle relative to a sidewall of the second basin.

9 . The bath receptor of claim 1 , wherein a sidewall of the first basin includes a radius portion adjacent to the partition and configured to direct water in an annular direction aligned with a side wall of the partition.

10 . A bath receptor, comprising:

a first basin comprising a first basin floor, a first basin drain, and a first whirlpool system configured to direct water in a first rotational direction within the first basin, wherein the first basin floor is sloped towards the first basin drain; and

a second basin comprising a second basin floor, a second basin drain, and a second whirlpool system configured to direct water in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction within the second basin, wherein the second basin floor is sloped towards the second basin drain;

wherein the first basin floor and the second basin floor are sloped in opposite directions.

11 . The bath receptor of claim 10 , wherein the first basin comprises a first suction system positioned proximate a bottom of the first basin, and wherein the second basin comprises a second suction system positioned proximate a bottom of the second basin.

12 . The bath receptor of claim 11 , wherein a hot water vortex directs water from an outer portion of the first basin to an inner portion of the first basin proximate the first suction system, and wherein a cold water vortex directs water form an outer portion of the second basin to an inner portion of the second basin proximate the second suction system.

13 . The bath receptor of claim 10 , further comprising a partition positioned between the first basin and the second basin, wherein water in the first basin and water in the second basin converge along a fluid contact plane vertically provided above the partition.

14 . The bath receptor of claim 10 , further comprising a heating element configured to heat water in the first basin and a cooling element configured to cool water in the second basin.

15 . The bath receptor of claim 10 , further comprising a partition positioned between the first basin and the second basin, wherein the first basin and the second basin are configured to direct water in opposite rotational directions in the first basin and the second basin and configured to direct the water in a same translational direction along the partition.

16 . A water circulation system, comprising:

a first basin comprising a heating element configured to heat water circulating in the first basin to form hot water;

a second basin comprising a cooling element configured to cool water circulating in the second basin to form cold water; and

a partition positioned between the first basin and the second basin, the partition having a height less than a height of the first basin and the second basin;

wherein the hot water and the cold water converge on a fluid contact plane vertically provided above the partition.

17 . The water circulation system of claim 16 , wherein the first basin further comprises a first whirlpool system configured to direct the hot water in a first rotational direction within the first basin and the second basin further comprises a second whirlpool system configured to direct the cold water in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction within the second basin, and wherein the hot water and the cold water are directed in a same translational direction along the partition.

18 . The water circulation system of claim 16 , wherein the hot water and the cold water fluidly contact each other along the fluid contact plane vertically provided above the partition, and wherein the water circulation system is configured to prevent the hot water and the cold water from mixing along the fluid contact plane.

19 . The water circulation system of claim 16 , wherein the first basin and the second basin are bounded by a plurality of side walls that form a continuous perimeter surrounding both the first basin and the second basin and separated from each other by the partition extending between opposite side walls of the plurality of side walls within the continuous perimeter.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: KWACZ, JASON
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 073219/0361 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17858627 · Jul 6, 2022
Provisional Application 63220172 · Jul 9, 2021
Related Publication 20240315493A1 · Sep 26, 2024
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