ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,345,035, issued on July 1, was assigned to Kohler Co. (Kohler, Wis.).
"Toilet with non-vitreous flush engine" was invented by Billy Jack Ahola (Manitowoc, Wis.), Andrew L. Smith (Sheboygan, Wis.), Mark E. Baumgartner (Sheboygan, Wis.), Donald G. Bogenschuetz (Sheboygan, Wis.), Tobin J. Vetting (Sheboygan Falls, Wis.), Lawrence E. Duwell (Plymouth, Wis.) and Peter W. Swart (Oostburg, Wis.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A toilet assembly includes a flush engine having a bowl defining a sump and a trapway extending from the sump. A bowl insert is configured to be located in the bowl and a shroud is configured to be positioned over the flush ...