Plumbing fixtures with insert-molded components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11913207-B2
Application number	US-202318107802-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 9, 2023
Priority date	May 22, 2017
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A plumbing fixture includes an electrical component insert-molded within a portion of the plumbing fixture, the portion formed from an epoxy. The electrical component is offset from and disposed below an outer surface of the plumbing fixture.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A toilet assembly comprising:
a flush engine formed from vitreous china, the flush engine comprising:
a bowl;
a sump at a lower portion of the bowl; and
a trapway extending from the sump;

and
a shell configured to conceal a portion of the flush engine formed from vitreous china, the shell comprising:
a first polymeric layer at least partially surrounding the flush engine;
a second polymeric layer provided on the first polymeric layer; and
a functional insert surrounded by at least the first polymeric layer and including an electrical component.

2. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the bowl and trapway is glazed and at least one surface of the flush engine is unglazed.

3. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flush engine comprises a glazed inner surface.

4. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flush engine comprises an unglazed outer surface.

5. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a rim opening formed proximate a rim of the bowl; and
a rim supply line fluidly coupled to the rim opening and configured to supply water to the bowl;
wherein the rim supply line is disposed in the first polymeric layer.

6. The toilet assembly of claim 5 , wherein the rim supply line engages the rim opening.

7. The toilet assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sump opening formed in the sump; and
a sump supply line fluidly coupled to the sump opening and configured to supply water to the sump;
wherein the sump supply line is disposed in the first polymeric layer.

8. The toilet assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sump supply line engages the sump opening.

9. The toilet assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sump supply line is formed from a flexible material in the first polymeric layer.

10. The toilet assembly of claim 7 , wherein the sump supply line is formed from a hollow core in the first polymeric layer.

11. A toilet comprising:
a toilet base structure formed from vitreous china; and
a shell configured to conceal a portion of the base structure, the shell comprising:
a first polymeric layer at least partially surrounding a flush engine;
a second polymeric layer provided on the first polymeric layer; and
a functional insert surrounded by at least the first polymeric layer and including an electrical component.

12. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein the toilet base structure includes a bowl with a glazed surface, a trapway with a glazed surface, and an inlet passage with a glazed surface.

13. The toilet of claim 12 , wherein other portions of the toilet base structure other than the bowl, the trapway, and the inlet passage are unglazed.

14. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein the toilet base structure comprises a glazed inner surface.

15. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein the toilet base structure comprises an unglazed outer surface.

16. The toilet of claim 11 , further comprising:
a rim opening; and
a rim supply line fluidly coupled to the rim opening and configured to supply water;
wherein the rim supply line is disposed in the first polymeric layer.

17. The toilet of claim 11 , further comprising:
a sump opening; and
a sump supply line fluidly coupled to the sump opening and configured to supply water to the sump;
wherein the sump supply line is disposed in the first polymeric layer.

18. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the first polymeric layer comprises a textured surface profile.

19. The toilet of claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the second polymeric layer comprises a smooth surface profile.

20. A toilet comprising:
a shell configured to conceal a portion of a flush engine formed from vitreous china, wherein an inner surface of the flush engine is glazed and at least one outer surface of the flush engine in contact with the shell is unglazed, the shell comprising:
a first polymeric layer at least partially surrounding the flush engine, the first polymeric layer comprising a foam; and
a second polymeric layer disposed on the first polymeric layer, the second polymeric layer comprising resin;

wherein a cavity is formed in the shell for a functional insert including an electrical component.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Schibur Mark
• Rauwerdink Jeremiah

Classifications

• E03D11/02 Primary

  Water-closet bowls (auxiliary chambers with connections to flushing water for bowl-cleaning utensils E03D9/06; modified for using upwardly-directed sprays E03D9/08; seats or covers A47K13/00 ){; Bowls with a double odour seal optionally with provisions for a good siphonic action; siphons as part of the bowl (parts or details of bowls E03D11/13)} · CPC title

• E03D11/13 Primary

  Parts or details of bowls; Special adaptations of pipe joints or couplings for use with bowls {, e.g. provisions in bowl construction preventing backflow of waste-water from the bowl in the flushing pipe or cistern, provisions for a secondary flushing, for noise-reducing} · CPC title

• B28B1/16

  for producing layered articles (coating B28B11/04) · CPC title

• B28B1/261

  Moulds therefor (absorbent moulds in general B28B7/344) · CPC title

• B32B5/18

  characterised by features of a layer {of} foamed material · CPC title