Douglas J Brouwer, 62Sheboygan, WI

8079381, Dec 20, 2011

Feb 12, 2009

12/369824

Keith R. Fischer - Kiel WI, US
Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI, US
Brian S. Core - Fond du Lac WI, US
David H. Ritter - Kohler WI, US

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16L 5/00

137359, 13731515

A handle assembly is disclosed that is suitable for mounting a valve housing that has a valve stem to a support. In one form, the handle assembly includes a handle, an escutcheon, a bonnet, a recess, and a flexible snap ring. The handle is operationally linked to the valve stem of the valve housing for controlling movement of the valve stem. The escutcheon is positionable on a first side of the support adjacent the handle. The bonnet is linked to the valve housing. The recess is formed in one of the bonnet and escutcheon. The flexible snap member mounted to the other of the bonnet and escutcheon and suitable to snap into the recess when the bonnet and escutcheon are telescoped together, while thereafter permitting relative rotation of the bonnet and escutcheon.

8297305, Oct 30, 2012

Jan 23, 2009

12/358696

David H. Ritter - Kohler WI, US
Chad J. Cochart - Sheboygan WI, US
Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI, US
Christopher M. Shay - Fredonia WI, US
Brian S. Core - Fond du Lac WI, US
Michael W. Smith - Plymouth WI, US

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16K 3/08

1374542, 13762532, 1376142, 251208

A valve assembly is disclosed providing a disk valve, a retaining clip configuration, and a bonnet nut. The disk valve comprises a moveable disk having a pair of recesses that is rotatable relative to a stationary disk to regulate the flow of a fluid through two ports in communication with the disks. The retaining clip configuration comprises a hose clip engaging a retaining segment on a valve housing and two hoses to connect the two hoses to two ports on the valve housing. The bonnet nut provides a tactile resistance to an applied torque when a portion of the valve cartridge assembly is rotated in relation to the valve housing.

2013004, Feb 21, 2013

Oct 25, 2012

13/660913

Chad J. Cochart - Sheboygan WI, US
Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI, US
Christopher M. Shay - Fredonia WI, US
Brain S. Core - Fond du Lac WI, US
Michael W. Smith - Plymouth WI, US

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16K 43/00

13731501

A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing having an internal generally cup-shaped bore, a valve control cartridge inserted into the bore and having a rotatable control stem extending upwardly therefrom, and a bonnet nut threaded to an internal wall of the valve housing. The bonnet nut has a through channel that surrounds the control stem, and means are provided along the through channel to control a level of resistance to rotation of stem.

2013004, Feb 21, 2013

Oct 25, 2012

13/660921

Chad J. Cochart - Sheboygan WI, US
Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI, US
Christopher M. Shay - Fredonia WI, US
Brian S. Core - Fond du Lac WI, US
Michael W. Smith - Plymouth WI, US

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16L 33/02
F16K 51/00
F16L 17/06

251151, 251155, 137798

A valve assembly is provided. The valve assembly includes a valve housing and a harbor provided at a lower portion of the valve housing. The valve housing has an internal bore for receiving a valve control cartridge, and the harbor has a first recess suitable for receiving a water supply tube, and a second recess suitable for receiving a second water tube, wherein the harbor also has a slot. The valve assembly further includes the water supply tube mounted in the first recess, the second water tube mounted in the second recess, and a retainer clip positioned in the slot with that clip simultaneously engaging both tubes. The retainer clip comprises a first leg and a second leg connected by a waist to define there between a retaining area, and at least the first leg has formed thereon a notch adjacent a heel of the leg.

5531524, Jul 2, 1996

Sep 2, 1994

8/300027

Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16C 2702

384220

A resilient annular bearing positionable around a rotating shaft which self-adjustingly stabilizes the shaft with respect to a sleeve in which the shaft rotates. The bearing has opposite undulating surfaces, made up of a series of alternating peaks and valley, which provide resiliency. The opposite undulating surfaces extend radially, axially or obliquely to provide radial or axial stabilization or both. The peaks may be plateaued or shaped like a truncated pyramid.

5611628, Mar 18, 1997

Dec 28, 1995

8/580221

Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16C 1704

384220

A resilient annular bearing positionable around a rotating shaft which self-adjustingly stabilizes the shaft with respect to a sleeve in which the shaft rotates. The bearing has opposite undulating surfaces, made up of a series of alternating peaks and valley, which provide resiliency. The opposite undulating surfaces extend radially, axially or obliquely to provide radial or axial stabilization or both. The peaks may be plateaued or shaped like a truncated pyramid.

5402822, Apr 4, 1995

Nov 17, 1993

8/154223

Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI
Clarence E. Klessig - Sheboygan WI

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

F16K 2402

137589

In a shut-off or diverter valve, an anti-cavitation valve located downstream of the shut-off or diverter valve member vents an outlet passageway to the atmosphere to minimize cavitation in an outflowing column of water which has suddenly been isolated from the inlet. The anti-cavitation valve may be located in the interior of the shut-off or diverter valve member. When the pressure gradient between atmospheric pressure and the pressure in the just closed outlet passageway exceeds the force exerted by a spring, the anti-cavitation valve opens an air passageway communicating between the atmosphere and the outlet passageway. Part of the air passageway may be in the interior of the push rod of the diverter valve member.

5333327, Aug 2, 1994

Feb 17, 1993

8/018651

John C. Redding - Oostburg WI
Douglas J. Brouwer - Sheboygan WI

Kohler Co. - Kohler WI

E03C 123

4693

Disclosed herein is a mechanism for remotely opening and closing a drain of a basin by means of a flexible rod moving through a non-linear tube. The rod connects a drive member, pushed or pulled by a user, with a member linked to a plug which opens and closes the drain. Within the bend of the tube, the flexible rod and/or tube are configured to leave a void between them in order to reduce friction. The configuration of the rod may include one or more bulbous ends or a lobed cross-section.