# US 11,306,469 B2 · One-piece toilet with flush valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,469 B2 - Document ID: US11306469B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/869,936 - Filed: 2020-05-08 - Published: 2021-11-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2020-05-08 - Assignees: Kohler Co. - Applicants: Kohler Co. - Inventors: Daniel N. Halloran; Tony L. Lambert - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306469B2 ## CPC - E03D 1/34: Flushing valves for outlets; Arrangement of outlet valves - E03D 1/26: Bowl with flushing cistern mounted on the rearwardly extending end of the bowl (shape or material of the cistern E03D1/01; constructional features of the bowl E03D11/02 - E03D11/12) - E03D 1/33: Adaptations or arrangements of floats (actuating-floats in general F16K33/00) - E03D 11/14: Means for connecting the bowl to the wall, e.g. to a wall outlet - F16K 31/18: actuated by a float (floats F16K33/00; float-actuated valves in steam-traps F16T1/20, in boilers F22D5/08) - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} ## Abstract A toilet having a one piece structure, a flush valve, and a seal. The structure includes a base having a fluid channel in fluid communication with a bowl; a tank having an internal compartment; a wall disposed between the tank and the base, the wall having an opening fluidly connecting the internal compartment and the fluid channel; and a retaining structure in the internal compartment. The flush valve has a valve body including an inner wall, which is disposed in the opening and extends from a first end in fluid communication with the internal compartment to a second end in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and a locking flange extending radially outward from the inner wall, the locking flange being retained between the retaining structure and the wall in a locking position. The seal is disposed between the locking flange and one of the wall or the retaining structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toilet, comprising: an integral, one piece structure comprising: a base having a bowl and a fluid channel in fluid communication with the bowl; a tank having an internal compartment configured to hold water; a wall disposed between a lower portion of the tank and an upper portion of the base to separate the internal compartment from the fluid channel, the wall having an opening fluidly connecting the internal compartment and the fluid channel; and a retaining structure disposed within the internal compartment; a flush valve comprising a valve body comprising: an inner wall disposed in the opening and extending from a first end in fluid communication with the internal compartment to a second end in fluid communication with the fluid channel, and a locking flange extending radially outward from the inner wall, wherein the locking flange is retained between the retaining structure and the wall in a locking position; and a seal disposed between the locking flange and one of the wall or the retaining structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the second end of the inner wall has a size that is no more than ten percent (10%) smaller than a size of an inlet of the fluid channel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The toilet of claim 2, wherein each size is a diameter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The toilet of claim 2, wherein the flush valve comprises an outer wall extending from the locking flange at a position radially out from the inner wall, wherein the outer wall contacts the inlet of the fluid channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the second end of the inner wall has a size and a shape that complements a size and a shape of an inlet of the fluid channel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The toilet of claim 5, wherein the fluid passage has a uniform cross-section from the inlet to an outlet of the fluid channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the inner wall is flush with an inner surface of an inlet of the fluid channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the locking flange carries the seal, which is compressed between the locking flange and the wall in the locking position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the seal has an annular shape, is separate from the locking flange, and is compressed between the locking flange and the wall in the locking position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the locking flange has an outer profile that complements an inner profile of the retaining structure so that the locking flange is insertable through an inlet opening defined by the inner profile of the retaining structure in an installation position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The toilet of claim 10, wherein the inner profile includes a plurality of points that align with a plurality of points of the outer profile in the installation position, and wherein the plurality of points of the inner profile misalign with the plurality of points of the outer profile in the locking position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure comprises a flange extending from a sidewall of the tank, and wherein the locking flange and the seal are retained between the flange of the retaining structure and the wall in the locking position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure comprises: a base extending upwardly from a top of the wall; and a flange extending radially inward from the base, wherein the locking flange and the seal are retained between the flange of the retaining structure and the wall in the locking position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The toilet of claim 1, wherein the flush valve comprises: a guide post coupled to and extending from the valve body into the tank; and a float operatively coupled to the guide post to selectively seal with a valve seat on the valve guide in an open position of the flush valve. ### Claim 15 A flush valve for use with a toilet having an integral one piece tank and bowl, the flush valve comprising: a valve body comprising: an inner wall extending between a first end, which is configured to be in fluid communication with a first internal compartment of the integral one piece tank and bowl, and a second end, which is configured to be in fluid communication with a second internal compartment of the integral one piece tank and bowl; and a locking flange that extends radially outward from the inner wall and is configured to be retained between a first wall and a second wall of the integral one piece tank and bowl in a locking position of the valve body, wherein one of the first and second walls is configured to separate the first and second internal compartments; and a seal disposed between the locking flange of the valve body and one of the first and second walls of the integral one piece tank and bowl. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The flush valve of claim 15, wherein the second end of the inner wall has a size that is no more than ten percent (10%) smaller than a size of an inlet of the second internal compartment. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The flush valve of claim 15, wherein the second end of the inner wall has a size and a shape that complements a size and a shape of an inlet of the second internal compartment, and wherein the locking flange has an outer profile that complements an inner profile of the retaining structure so that the locking flange is insertable through an inlet opening defined by the inner profile of the retaining structure in an installation position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A toilet comprising: the flush valve of claim 15; and the integral one piece tank and bowl comprising: a base having a bowl and the second internal compartment in fluid communication with the bowl; a tank having the first internal compartment configured to hold water therein; and the first wall disposed between a lower portion of the tank and an upper portion of the base to separate the first and second internal compartments, the first wall having an opening fluidly connecting the first and second internal compartments; and the second wall disposed in the tank above the first wall, the second wall having an opening therein having a shape that complements a profile of an outer periphery of the locking flange.