Bathroom fixtures and components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12376709-B2
Application number	US-202318367816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2023
Priority date	Nov 1, 2016
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A toilet installed in a bathroom includes a toilet bowl and a tank coupled to the toilet bowl. The tank can contain fluid for the toilet bowl. A rear surface of the tank is flush against a wall of the bathroom such that there is no gap between the tank and the wall and a bottom surface of the tank is flush against a floor of the bathroom such that there is no gap between the tank and the floor. The tank extends longitudinally above and below the toilet bowl and laterally outward past the toilet bowl such that a first side surface and a second side surface of the tank define outermost side peripheries of the toilet.

First claim

We claim:

1. A bathroom module, comprising:
a shower area comprising at least a shower head;
a toilet area comprising a toilet assembly;
a door configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the door encloses the shower area and the toilet area together, and wherein in a second position, the door separates the shower area from the toilet area; and
an elevating hinge configured to lift the door to a high vertical level in the first position and lower the door to a low vertical level in the second position.

2. The bathroom module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a grooming area comprising a sink assembly that comprises a faucet, wherein the door separates the grooming area from the shower area in the first position and the second position.

3. The bathroom module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transition area adjacent to the shower area, wherein in the first position, the door encloses the shower area and the transition area together, and wherein in the second position, the door separates the shower area from the transition area.

4. The bathroom module of claim 3 , wherein a floor of the transition area is lower than a floor of the shower area.

5. The bathroom module of claim 1 , wherein the first position of the door is a closed position and the second position of the door is a closed position.

6. The bathroom module of claim 1 , further comprising:
plumbing drainage lines configured to drain waste from the shower area and the toilet area.

7. The bathroom module of claim 1 , wherein the bathroom module is a prefabricated and transportable module.

8. The bathroom module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a foot ledge in the showering area that is a stop for the door.

9. A bathroom module, comprising:
a shower area comprising at least a shower head;
a transition area adjacent to the shower area;
a door configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the door encloses the shower area and the transition area together, wherein in a second position, the door separates the shower area from the transition area; and
an elevating hinge configured to lift the door to a high vertical level in the first position and lower the door to a low vertical level in the second position.

10. The bathroom module of claim 9 , further comprising:
a toilet area comprising a toilet assembly, wherein the door separates the toilet area from the shower area in the second position.

11. A bathroom module, comprising:
a shower area comprising at least a shower head;
a transition area adjacent to the shower area;
a door configured to pivot between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the door encloses the shower area and the transition area together, and wherein in a second position, the door separates the shower area from the transition area, wherein a floor of the transition area is lower than a floor of the shower area.

12. The bathroom module of claim 9 , wherein the first position of the door is a closed position and the second position of the door is a closed position.

13. The bathroom module of claim 9 , further comprising:
plumbing drainage lines configured to drain waste from the shower area and the grooming area.

14. The bathroom module of claim 9 , wherein the bathroom module is a prefabricated and transportable module.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Szemetylo Stephanie
• Slothower Erich D
• De Swarte Gregory
• Mazz Margaret C
• Mahon Terrence K
• Beining Nona J

Classifications

• E03C1/0408

  Water installations especially for showers (E03C1/06 takes precedence; shower heads B05B1/18) · CPC title

• A47K17/022

  Wall mounted grab bars or handles, with or without support on the floor · CPC title

• A47K3/281

  Accessories for showers or bathing douches, e.g. cleaning devices for walls or floors of showers (A47K3/30, A47K3/38, A47K3/40 take precedence) · CPC title

• A47K3/282

  Seats specially adapted for showers · CPC title

• E03C1/023

  with flow distribution, e.g. diverters · CPC title