Kohler Co was founded in 1873 by John Michael Kohler in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. It started out making plows and farm tools and is now known for kitchen and bath products, wellness products like saunas and spas, and (until 2024) engines and generators. Its first bathtub, from 1883, was made by adding legs to a cast iron horse trough, and bathroom products are still a cornerstone of the portfolio 143 years later.
This article looks at Kohler’s patent portfolio: how many patents it holds, how many are still alive, where it files, which group companies hold the most patents, and what technologies it protects. It also covers Kohler’s newest filings, recent acquisitions and the Rehlko spin-off.
Looking ahead, Kohler has set 2035 goals to cut Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from a 2018 baseline, run its manufacturing on 100% carbon-free electricity, and reduce freshwater intake by 50%. Source: Kohler 2025 Global Impact Report
How many patents does Kohler have?
Kohler has a total of 8,875 patents globally. Out of these, 6,601 are granted patents and 2,274 are pending or published applications.
How many Kohler patents are alive or dead?
Out of 8,875 patents, 6,382 are alive, which is about 72% of the portfolio. 2,345 patents are dead, and the status of 148 patents is not available.
| Patent status | Records |
| Alive | 6,382 |
| Dead | 2,345 |
| Not available | 148 |
| Total | 8,875 |
How many patents did Kohler file every year?
Kohler patent portfolio data · innovation count by priority year, 2006 to 2026
Kohler’s filing has picked up over the last decade. From 2009 to 2016 it filed between 127 and 214 inventions a year. Since 2017 it has stayed between 231 and 302 a year, with the highest count in 2023.
Why do 2025 and 2026 look so low? A patent application can take up to 18 months to get published. So the numbers for the last two years are not complete yet, and they do not mean Kohler is filing less.
How many patents did Kohler file in different countries?
Kohler patent portfolio data · patent records by country or office, excluding WIPO applications.
The United States is Kohler’s biggest market for patents with 3,385 records, followed by China with 2,664. Several Kohler group companies that hold patents are based in China (Kohler China Investment, Shanghai Kohler Electronic, Beijing Kohler, Nanchang Kohler), which helps explain the high count there.
Where has Kohler filed in the last 5 years?
The US and China are still the top filing focus in the last five years. India and Europe come next, each with 30 to 45 filings a year. Numbers for 2025 and 2026 are not complete yet because of the publication delay.
A few other countries (Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway and Israel) saw one to three filings in this period.
Top patent holding companies in the Kohler group
Kohler patent portfolio data · innovation count by assignee
Kohler Co files most patents in its own name. Kohler Investment Co Ltd comes next with 658, followed by the China-based group companies: Shanghai Kohler Electronic, Kohler China Investment, Beijing Kohler and Nanchang Kohler. Kohler Novita (the South Korean bidet seat maker bought in 2011), Kohler Mira (the UK shower maker that joined in 2001) and Klafs (the sauna maker that joined in 2024) also hold a good number of inventions.
What technologies are covered by Kohler patents?
Kohler patent portfolio data · innovation count by technology area
Most of Kohler’s inventions are about the bathroom and kitchen. Bathroom fixtures and accessories (1,483), toilets and urinals (1,108) and sinks (672) are far ahead of the rest. Smaller areas such as sauna and spa equipment, air purification, lighting and wireless connectivity line up with Kohler’s wellness and smart home products.
What are Kohler’s latest patent filings?
Kohler’s newest filings show two areas it is working on right now: hydrotherapy for the home and health tracking built into the bathroom.
US20260215993A1: Lounger for hydrotherapy
This filing covers a lounger made for hydrotherapy. It has a seat for the body, a set of sleeves attached to the seat, and a control unit. Each sleeve can hold an air system (an air pump and an air bag) and a water system (a water pump and a water bag). The pumps fill the bags with air or water, and the control unit runs both systems to operate the lounger.
US2026303938A1: Biometric data collection device for a toilet
The related product is Dekoda™ by Kohler Health℠. The filing covers a device that sits on the rim of a toilet and collects health data. It has two compartments, each with its own circuit board. A bridge joins them so one compartment hangs inside the bowl and the other stays outside. The bridge can change length to fit toilet rims of different widths.
Image Source: [Dekoda™ by Kohler Health]
Kohler’s recent acquisitions and spin-off
In the last few years Kohler has added two brands and spun off its energy business.
| Year | Event |
| 2024 | Kohler Energy becomes an independent business and later rebrands as Rehlko. |
| 2024 | KLAFS, a German maker of premium saunas, infrared cabins, steam baths and pool solutions, joins Kohler to grow its wellness offerings. |
| 2023 | Kast Concrete Products, a UK designer and maker of concrete basins and sinks known for bold colors, joins Kohler’s luxury brands. |
KLAFS already shows up in the patent data. Klafs GmbH holds 54 inventions in the portfolio, and Sauna and Spa Equipment is one of Kohler’s top technology areas with 133 inventions.
Kohler Energy is now Rehlko
Kohler Co. completed the spin-off of its energy business in May 2024. Platinum Equity bought a majority stake, and Kohler Co. stayed on as an investment partner. On September 17, 2024, the business took the name Rehlko (said RELL-koh). The name uses the same six letters as Kohler.
Rehlko is based in Wisconsin and runs more than 100 locations across the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Its businesses include Power Systems, Engines, Uninterruptible Power, Home Energy, Clarke Energy, Curtis Instruments and Heila Technologies. As of now Brian Melka is the CEO.
This matters when reading the patent numbers. Kohler’s older engine and generator patents (Engine Control and Throttle Assemblies with 152 inventions, Electrical Power and Generator Systems with 94) most likely come from the energy side, which is now a separate company.
Conclusion
Kohler holds 8,875 patents, and the spread says a lot about the company. The US (3,385 records) and China (2,664) account for most of its coverage. Filing has stayed high since 2017 and peaked at 302 inventions in 2023. With the engine and generator business now part of Rehlko, the portfolio that stays with Kohler leans more toward kitchen, bath and wellness.
These numbers are a starting point, though. A patent count doesn’t tell you whether a portfolio is strong, where it has gaps, or how it compares with the competition. Is Kohler’s lead in bathroom fixtures well protected? Are rivals filing faster in the same technology areas? Which patents will expire soon, and what opens up when they do? You can only answer these with a closer look at the portfolio and a comparison against competitors.
That is the work GreyB does. If you’re assessing a company’s IP, planning where to file, or sizing up a competitor, our team can map your patent portfolio against peers by technology, geography and filing trend, and show where the real opportunities and risks are. To see how your portfolio compares with your competitors, [get in touch with GreyB for a patent portfolio analysis or competitor benchmarking report].
