US 12,168,865 B2
Air drive system for a toilet
William Kuru, Plymouth, WI (US); Clayton Garrels, Kohler, WI (US); and Jeremiah Rauwerdink, Sheboygan, WI (US)
Assigned to Kohler Co., Kohler, WI (US)
Filed by Kohler Co., Kohler, WI (US)
Filed on Jul. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/225,904.
Application 18/225,904 is a continuation of application No. 17/410,238, filed on Aug. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,753,808.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/184,523, filed on May 5, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/074,545, filed on Sep. 4, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0366184 A1, Nov. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. E03D 3/10 (2006.01)
CPC E03D 3/10 (2013.01) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air drive system for a toilet, the air drive system comprising:
a first chamber;
an air space disposed in the first chamber;
a base orifice of the first chamber in fluid communication with the air space;
an outlet orifice of the first chamber adjacent to the air space;
a water passage configured to carry a flow of water past the base orifice, wherein the flow of water increases an air pressure associated with the air space;
an air drive passage configured to supply pressurized air from the first chamber to an accessory associated with a toilet;
a seat, wherein the accessory comprises a pneumatic solenoid mechanically coupled to the seat and in fluid communication with the air drive passage,
wherein the pneumatic solenoid is configured to move from a first position to a second position when the pressurized air is supplied to the pneumatic solenoid;
a brake having a mechanical connection to the seat and the pneumatic solenoid,
wherein the pneumatic solenoid is mechanically coupled to the seat via the brake,
wherein, when the pneumatic solenoid is in the first position the brake is actuated and configured to hold the seat in an open position, and
wherein, when the pneumatic solenoid is in the second position, the brake is released and the seat is configured to move to a closed position.
 
15. An air drive system for a toilet, the air drive system comprising:
a first chamber;
an air space disposed in the first chamber;
a base orifice of the first chamber in fluid communication with the air space;
an outlet orifice of the first chamber adjacent to the air space;
a water passage configured to carry a flow of water past the base orifice, wherein the flow of water increases an air pressure associated with the air space;
an air drive passage configured to supply pressurized air from the first chamber to pneumatic solenoid associated with a toilet seat; and
a brake configured to hold the seat in an open position.
 
16. A toilet comprising:
a bowl;
a rim jet associated with a top of the bowl;
a siphon jet associated with a bottom of the bowl;
a first chamber;
an air space disposed in the first chamber;
a base orifice of the first chamber in fluid communication with the air space;
an outlet orifice of the first chamber adjacent to the air space;
a water passage configured to carry a flow of water past the base orifice, wherein the flow of water increases an air pressure associated with the air space; and
an air drive passage configured to supply pressurized air from the first chamber to a toilet seat using a pneumatic solenoid mechanically coupled to the seat and in fluid communication with the air drive passage,
wherein the pneumatic solenoid is configured to move from a first position to a second position when the pressurized air is supplied to the pneumatic solenoid;
a brake having a mechanical connection to the seat and the pneumatic solenoid,
wherein the pneumatic solenoid is mechanically coupled to the seat via the brake,
wherein, when the pneumatic solenoid is in the first position the brake is actuated and configured to hold the seat in an open position, and wherein, when the pneumatic solenoid is in the second position, the brake is released and the seat is configured to move to a closed position.