IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,655,616
Granted Patent B2
US 12,655,616 · App. 17/347,451 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Recycled water system

Inventors: Niels Eilmus (Sheboygan, WI); Chanseol Chung (Milwaukee, WI); Clayton Garrels (Kohler, WI); William Kuru (Plymouth, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
E03B1/042C02F1/001C02F1/008C02F2103/002C02F2201/005C02F2201/007C02F2209/42E03B2001/045
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,655,616
App. No.
17/347,451
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular wall frame for a recycled water system, the modular wall frame includes a horizontal frame module, a vertical frame module, a greywater tank coupled to the horizontal frame or the vertical frame, at least one water consuming appliance drain coupled to the horizontal frame module, and at least one water consuming appliance water input coupled to the vertical frame module.

Claims (51)

1 . A modular wall frame for a recycled water system, the modular wall frame comprising:

a horizontal frame module as a floor or ceiling of a building;

a vertical frame module that is configured to fit within and mounted into a wall of the building;

a greywater tank coupled to the vertical frame within the wall of the building;

at least one water consuming appliance drain coupled to the horizontal frame module; and

at least one water consuming appliance water input coupled to the vertical frame module.

2 . The modular wall frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one fresh water supply line supported by the modular wall frame and coupled to the vertical frame.

3 . The modular wall frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

at least one greywater supply line supported by the modular wall frame and coupled to the vertical frame.

4 . The modular wall frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

a pump coupled to the greywater tank.

5 . The modular wall frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

a filter upstream of the greywater tank.

6 . The modular wall frame of claim 1 , further comprising:

a water level sensor associated with the greywater tank.

7 . The modular wall frame of claim 6 , further comprising:

a first valve configured to selectively supply freshwater to the greywater tank when a level in the greywater tank falls below a first predetermined level.

8 . The modular wall frame of claim 6 , further comprising:

a second valve configured to selectively remove greywater from the greywater tank when a level in the greywater tank rises above a second predetermined level.

9 . The modular wall frame of claim 6 , wherein the horizontal frame module or the vertical frame module is configured to support:

a first set of water consuming appliances that consumes fresh water and outputs a first tier of greywater;

a first water recycling treatment device that treats the first tier of greywater and outputs a treated first tier of greywater;

a second set of water consuming appliances that consumes the treated first tier of greywater and outputs a second tier of greywater;

a second water recycling treatment device that treats the second tier of greywater and outputs a treated second tier of greywater; and

a third set of water consuming appliances that consumes the treated second tier of greywater.

10 . A water recycling system comprising:

a module frame including a wall portion, a floor portion, and a ceiling portion;

a filter configured to receive and filter greywater from at least one water consuming appliance;

a treatment device configured to treat the greywater from the filter; and

a delivery device within the wall portion of the module frame and configured to provide the greywater from the treatment device to at least one greywater consuming device.

11 . The water recycling system of claim 10 , further comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect a property of the treated greywater from the treatment device.

12 . The water recycling system of claim 11 , further comprising:

a feedback system configured to return treated greywater from the delivery device to the treatment device in response to the property of the treated greywater.

13 . The water recycling system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one greywater consuming device includes a dishwasher.

14 . The water recycling system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one greywater consuming device includes a garbage disposal.

15 . The water recycling system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one greywater consuming device includes a basin sprayer.

16 . The water recycling system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one greywater consuming device includes a compost compartment sprayer.

17 . The water recycling system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one greywater consuming device includes a trash compartment sprayer.

18 . A modular wall frame for a recycled water system, the modular wall frame comprising:

an upper horizontal frame module within a ceiling of a building;

a lower horizontal frame module within a floor of the building;

a vertical frame module within a wall of the building;

wherein the lower horizontal frame module or the vertical frame module is coupled to a greywater tank;

wherein the lower horizontal frame module or the vertical frame module is coupled to at least one water consuming appliance drain; and

wherein the lower horizontal frame module or the vertical frame module is coupled to at least one water consuming appliance water input.

19 . The modular wall frame of claim 18 , further comprising:

at least one fresh water supply line supported by the modular wall frame and coupled to the vertical frame.

20 . The modular wall frame of claim 18 , further comprising:

at least one greywater supply line supported by the modular wall frame and coupled to the vertical frame.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2024
From: EILMUS, NIELS; CHUNG, CHANSEOL; GARRELS, CLAYTON; KURU, WILLIAM
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 068676/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: EILMUS, NIELS; CHUNG, CHANSEOL; GARRELS, CLAYTON; KURU, WILLIAM C.
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 056713/0602 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63045970 · Jun 30, 2020
Related Publication 20210404152A1 · Dec 30, 2021
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