Company patents
Kohler Co.
Kohler Co.'s patent strategy reveals a surprising, albeit small, emerging focus in medical devices, with Physical Therapy Apparatus growing by 40.0% in 2025 and Sterilization & Biocompatible Materials surging by 166.7% in 2025, despite both categories seeing a sharp decline so far in 2026. While core manufacturing categories like Spraying & Atomizing (11.1% of portfolio) and Valves (7.4% of portfolio) remain significant, their patenting activity has notably declined by -17.6% and -36.0% respectively in 2025, indicating a potential shift in priorities from these traditional areas.
Patent Trend by Technology Area
Yearly patent publications since 2023
Product themes
Product-level themes inferred from filings since 2023, with category chips showing where each theme appears. Select a theme to filter the patents below.
910 US filings (since 2023) · 10 categories · 23 themes
Specialized valve designs for domestic and commercial applications involving water distribution, temperature control, and air conditioning, often focusing on integration, materials, and specific flow characteristics.
Spraying devices designed to handle, mix, or independently dispense multiple distinct fluid components, often with mechanisms for selection, blending, or sequential application.
Innovations in nozzle internal geometry, actuation, or multi-fluid mixing to achieve specific spray patterns, droplet sizes, or performance characteristics, especially for challenging fluids or conditions.
Systems and methods for accurately controlling the volume, location, and characteristics of sprayed fluids, often involving sensors, feedback, or specific nozzle geometries for precise application.
Systems specifically engineered to use sprayed liquids or aerosols for cleaning surfaces, removing residues, or distributing disinfectants in various environments.
Mechanisms allowing rapid, secure, and often sealed attachment and detachment of pipes, tubes, or hoses, frequently featuring locking, sealing, and release components for efficient assembly and maintenance.
Mechanisms and control systems for precisely moving valve elements, often involving electric motors, cams, solenoids, or pneumatic/hydraulic pilots, to achieve desired flow or position.
Systems and methods for dynamically adjusting light output, distribution, color, or intensity based on environmental conditions, user presence, content, or specific application needs.
Valves specifically designed for managing fluid power in hydraulic or pneumatic systems, including components for pressure regulation, flow direction, and system centering.
Furniture designs that incorporate specialized compartments, locking mechanisms, or automated retrieval systems to secure, organize, or control access to stored items within cabinets, desks, or appliances.
Couplings and fittings designed for specific fluid properties (e.g., cryogenic, chemical, medical, high-pressure) or requiring aseptic conditions, low-spill characteristics, or antimicrobial features to ensure safety and integrity.
Incorporating sensors and processing capabilities directly into valve systems to monitor operational state, detect malfunctions, measure flow parameters, or verify proper installation.
Compact and lightweight lighting devices designed to be worn on the body or easily carried, often featuring ergonomic designs, integrated power sources, and adjustable illumination.
Devices and methods for the regulated delivery, preservation, and emission of volatile chemical agents, often for fragrance or therapeutic purposes, within various environments or containers.
Methods and apparatus for disinfecting or sterilizing medical devices, waste, or environments, often employing radiation, chemical agents, or thermal processes, and including monitoring systems.
Optical structures and lens designs that improve light extraction efficiency from LED dies and modules, including diffractive films, micro-lens arrays, reflectors, and color-conversion layers.
Apparatus designed to deliver localized massage, percussive action, vibration, or combined thermal therapy to muscles and soft tissues for pain relief, circulation improvement, or muscle recovery.
Valves engineered to automatically open or close based on pressure differentials, preventing over-pressurization, controlling flow direction, or suppressing backflow in fluid systems.
Systems and materials designed for purifying biological fluids (like blood) or capturing airborne particles (like respiratory droplets) using membranes, filters, or specialized coatings.
Systems that utilize sensor arrays and processing capabilities to monitor patient activity, vital signs, or environmental conditions in therapeutic settings, providing alerts or adaptive control for safety and privacy.
Technologies for improving the efficiency, precision, and environmental impact of spraying applications in agriculture, including smart nozzles, boom control, and real-time sensing.
Systems and processes for applying coatings, films, or materials onto surfaces in manufacturing or industrial contexts, often involving automated movement, surface preparation, or post-application treatment.
Connectors, seals, and tubing solutions specifically designed for pipes, ducts, or conduits that deviate from standard circular cross-sections, or require flexible/collapsible forms for specific applications or installation challenges.
Patents
Showing 1-10 of 71
Integrated Multi-Component Spray Systems