Trends Talkt h e m e d i a’ s r e s o u r c e f o r w r i t i n g k i t c h e n a n d b at h t r e n d s a r t i c l e s

KOHLER Cachet™ Quiet-Close™ toilet seat with Quick-Release™ functionality (above and right).

an interview with shane allis

senior Product manager – toilet seatskohler co.

Q: What’s new in KOHLER toilet seats?

allis: most people think a toilet seat is a toilet seat — just a

barrier between the person and the porcelain toilet. but

kohler engineers and designers have once again proven

that even products thought to be mature in the marketplace

can be refined and enhanced to the point where they have

essentially been reinvented. kohler has made toilet seats more

convenient, functional, comfortable, versatile and beautiful

— and perhaps even safer. in fact, kohler toilet seats have

probably changed more over the last five years than they have

since they first made appearances on early toilets.

Q: How can a toilet seat be made more “convenient”?

allis: the kohler cachet Quiet-close toilet seat with Quick-

release functionality was developed in response to consumer

feedback. homeowners didn’t like toilet seats that slammed

shut, and they wanted a seat that was easier to clean,

especially around the hinges. with Quiet-close rings and

lids, you’ll never have another toilet seat slam.

You don’t have to hear any noise, and parents

don’t have to worry about children pinching

their fingers. most importantly, though, a

Qu iet-c lose to i le t seat is conven ient .

responding to the slightest touch, the kohler

cachet toilet seat slowly and silently closes.

and consumers tell us that the first time they see Quiet-close

technology in action, they just enjoy watching it. it’s cool.

for easy cleaning of both the seat and the hinge area,

kohler Quick-release toilet seats offer easy-open hinges

— just pop up two hinge caps and the entire seat can be

removed. no need to hang on to those old toothbrushes!

toilet seats, reinventedKohler introduces quiet, functional, beautiful new toilet seats

Q: You mentioned making the toilet seat more

comfortable; how does Kohler do that?

allis: technology continues to filter into all aspects of our

lives. in the bathroom environment, it’s now common to see

a media mirror — that is, a bathroom mirror that includes a

television screen. or an internet connection. even products

that may seem technically inert — like a toilet seat — are being

completely reevaluated. how? the kohler human factors group

has borrowed a practice from manufacturers of office chairs

and automobile seats, and for the past three years has been

extensively using pressure mapping technology to study how we

sit. we’re not aware of anyone else in the toilet seat industry

using this advanced technology. Pressure mapping studies,

along with test-group interviews, have led kohler designers to

make ergonomic design modifications to the shape and contour

of kohler toilet seats to make them more comfortable for more

users. the result? kohler technology has literally reshaped the

toilet seat.

Q: Has Kohler designed or modified a toilet seat

based on pressure mapping data?

allis: kohler now offers three different shapes within our plastic

toilet seat line. the french curve toilet seat represents the most

influence of the pressure mapping studies. take even a quick

look at the seat, and you can easily see that there’s a great deal

of contour to the surface area. one of the things that kohler

studies have found is that men will typically sit back further on

the toilet seat than women — so elongated seats and some

particular design shapes will tend to be more comfortable for

men than women. but it’s much more than just a gender issue.

a user’s height and weight and body type also substantially

influence what is more comfortable to whom. despite all these

variables, kohler engineers and designers have found ways to

shape toilet seats that are surprisingly comfortable to as many

people as possible.

Q: What is the newest trend in toilet seats?

allis: we’re seeing an overall trend in the bath to do more than

just “get clean.” consumers want more than that. the master

bath is being transformed into a special place — a personal

sanctuary where it’s about the experience you have while you’re

getting clean. whirlpool baths and the great new performance

showers with digital technology are all about “experiential”

bathing and showering. the same principles apply to bidets or

“Pressure mapping studies, along with

test-group interviews, have led kohler

designers to make ergonomic design

modifications to the shape and

contour of kohler toilet seats.

shane allis

”

KOHLER French Curve™ Quiet-Close™ toilet seat.

to the new kohler c3 toilet seat with bidet functionality. the c3

name reflects the key benefits to the homeowner: cleanliness,

comfort and convenience.

when you really think about it, using toilet paper isn’t the best

approach to getting clean. in fact, it’s interesting that the one

situation where we should be using water to ensure cleanliness

is the one where we use paper instead.

at any rate, the water-based cleansing of a bidet offers increased

comfort and overall wellness — a much better “experience” with

more hygienic results. kohler has attractively and seamlessly

infused bidet functionality into the new c3 toilet seats, and

— like the sophisticated dtv showering technology — put the

user in control of the experience. the c3 200 model includes a

remote control with a simple interface for fingertip control and

programmable settings for water temperature and pressure, as

well as the temperature and air speed of the warm air emitted

from the seat to initiate partial drying.

to use the bidet function, the user chooses one of two extending

wands to receive gentle water-based cleansing. the back wand

is designed for use by the whole family; the front wand offers a

softer water delivery for women. both wands are constructed

of anti-microbial material and undergo a self-cleaning process

before and after each use. the wands offer varying levels of

either an oscillating or pulsating water flow and can be precisely

positioned for optimum user comfort. consumers love the result:

a shower-fresh feeling after every visit to the bathroom.

when kohler designers unobtrusively integrate bidet functionality

into a toilet seat, incorporate a deodorizing fan option and have

the imagination to integrate a soft blue nightlight, i think you can

say that kohler has reinvented the toilet seat.

Q: Any other new ideas?

allis: also new is the kohler transitions toilet seat, an

ingenious offering that allows both adults and small children to

use the same toilet without the hassle of swapping in and out

a “child-friendly” seat. instead, kohler designers have created a

toilet seat with two rings — one for adults, and a smaller, nesting

seat with a comfortable forward position for children. both seats

offer kohler Quiet-close and Quick-release technology so

parents do not need to worry about heavy rings slamming on

little fingers — plus, everything cleans up easily. in addition to

KOHLER C3™ toilet seat with bidet functionality.

c3 nightlight

a soft blue light illuminates the bowl

giving users the option of keeping bright lights off when making nighttime

trips to the bathroom.

“consumers love the result: a shower-fresh

feeling after every visit to the bathroom.

shane allis

”

KOHLER Transitions™ Quiet-Close™ toilet seat with Quick-Release™ functionality.

toilet training your children, another

dimension to the transitions toilet seat

is that grandparents are buying them for

visits from grandchildren. the transitions

seat looks great and the functionality of the

adult seat is really no different than any

other Quiet-close, Quick-release seat in

the kohler line.

Q: You mentioned making toilet seats more beautiful?

allis: homeowners are always looking for more ways to express

individuality in the bathroom, so the kohler industrial design

group has created five new designer toilet seats in an array of

colorful and expressive designs that will effortlessly integrate

with designer-inspired bathroom decors.

for example, the kohler ostera toilet seat offers a simple,

elegant floral pattern that isn’t bold enough to make a statement

on its own. instead, it acts as a nice accent to carry the colors

and shapes of other decorative items throughout the bathroom.

the subtle kohler haiku toilet seat has asian design

influences.

there are three other designs, including a consumer favorite.

have you ever received a relatively plain gift box that, when you

open it, delights you with a surprisingly colorful interior? well,

then you should see the kohler surprise toilet seat!

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about kohler co.founded in 1873 and headquartered in kohler, wis., kohler co. is one of america's oldest and largest privately held companies. kohler is a global leader in the manufacture of kitchen and bath products, engines and power generation systems, cabinetry, tile and home interiors, and international host to award-winning hospitality and world-class golf destinations.

For additionalpress information,

contact the kohler Public relations department

920-457-4441

For additionalconsumer information,

call 1 800 4 kohler(1-800-456-4537)

KOHLER Haiku™ toilet seat (left).KOHLER Ostera™ toilet seat (center).KOHLER Surprise™ toilet seat (right).