US20250341084A1

US20250341084A1 - Toilet Plunger with Disposable Sheathing

Info

Publication number: US20250341084A1
Application number: US19/265,992
Authority: US
Inventors: Elie Simonovits
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2025-07-10
Filing date: 2025-07-10
Publication date: 2025-11-06

Abstract

The disclosed a plunger apparatus comprised of two portions. The first portion is a plunger cup having a concave sidewall. The center of the sidewall contains an opening to securely house a proximate end of a plunger handle. The second side of the center opens into the concave cavity of the plunger cup and comprises of a recess that is configured to accept a first end of the second portion. The second portion is preferably disposable and easily installable and removable from the first portion. The second portion comprises a dense first end that is configured to be housed inside the recess. The rest of the second end comprises a skirt which extends downward past the rim of the plunger cup and terminates in an edge. The edge is then draped over the outside of the sidewall and over the length of the plunger handle.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a plunger with a recessed cavity for anchoring a plastic baglike protective disposable cover for a more hygienic toilet maintenance. The invention has two elements, a recess in the inside of the plunger bulb, and a disposable plastic covering which is anchored in the recess within the plunger bulb.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilet plungers are a necessary part of bathroom maintenance, and they generally comprise of a hollow rubber, resin or plastic cup, with some having a flange. The cup and the flange is designed to create an air pocket around a drain opening of a toilet or a sink. The cup is deployed at the end of a wooden handle and is used to clear a blocked toilet drain. The rubber cup faces downward, away from the handle, with the opening to the concave cup facing the drain opening. During the operation, the cup is inserted into the toilet bowl or the sink basin in a vertical position with the cup facing the drain opening. The vertical orientation of the cup with the opening in the direction of the drain enables the cup to trap a pocket of air the drain opening, and in presence of water, above the water immediately surrounding the drain opening. The plunger stick is then repeatedly pushed into the drain and released, thus creating pumping strokes that are intended to create a resonance which is used to promote dislodgement of the blockage inside the pipe with reciprocating flow of the water.
Unfortunately, a blockage in a toilet, sink, shower or bathtub is generally discovered after it has been used, when flow of refuse water down the drain is noticeably slow or non-existent. At that point any organic material and sewage that was intended to be flushed away with the refuse water is already present inside the toilet bowl or sink. Which means that the plunger will be in a very intimate association with the organic matter and other muck found in the toilet bowl or sink during the plunging operation. Therefore, at the end of a plunging operation, the individual operating the plunger must clean and disinfect the sections of the plunger that were exposed to the sewage. Traditionally, a plunger would have to be washed in a bathtub or a sink necessitating another round of cleaning and disinfecting of the facilities used to wash the plunger.
Therefore, what is needed is a way to wrap a plunger with a disposable covering, which securely mounts around the plunger cup with minimal effort and contact, and does not interfere with the plunging operation. At the end of such an operation, the wrap is removed and discarded with no further cleanup required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosed apparatus is comprised of two portions. The first portion is a plunger cup having a concave sidewall. The top central point of the sidewall contains an opening to securely house a proximate end of a plunger handle. The inner side of the concave sidewall, opens into the concave cavity of the plunger cup and comprises a recess that is configured to accept a first end of the second portion.
The second portion is preferably waterproof and very malleable, such as a bag or a sheath made from plastic, rubber or another form of polymer or resin. The second portion is easily deployable onto the first portion prior to the plunging operation and is securely held within the recess of the inner sidewall. The second portion is then easily removable from the first portion after plunging operation, preferably in a single jerking or tugging motion. The second portion comprises a dense first end, that is fashioned into a knot or a plug that is configured to be housed inside the recess of the first portion. The rest of the second end comprises a skirt, which is designed to extend downward past the rim of the plunger cup and terminates in an edge. Just prior to performing the plunging, but after deploying the second portion, a user handling the device drapes the skirt and the edge over the outside of the sidewall and extends it over a length of the plunger handle for the entire length of the second portion.
The edge is not exposed to the excrement as it preferably extends up to the place along the length of the handle where a user would normally be clasping the section of the plunger handle during operation. A user clasps the edge of the skirt and the handle of the plunger, preventing the skirt from slipping off of the plunger handle. Alternatively, the skirt may be held up using a string clamp or an elastic band. On completing the plunging operation, the edge is released and permitted to return into a downward position. Then, preferably while still clasping the edge. a user pulls on the skirt to dislodge the dense first end out of the recess within the plunger cup and deposits the second portion into refuse or into a cleaning solution without coming into contact with second portion or requiring any additional cleanup steps.
It is therefore the object of the disclosed device to create a plunger apparatus that requires very little cleanup.
It is another object of the disclosed invention to create a plunger apparatus having a disposable second portion, which eliminates the need to disinfect the plunger apparatus between each use.
It is still another object of the disclosed invention to create an easily cleanable plunger apparatus that deploys very easily and quickly, and demobilizes in a two motion maneuver comprising of orienting the edge downward and then pulling on the edge to dislodge the dense first end.
It is still another object of the disclosed invention to provide a plunger apparatus that offers the ability to unclog blocked drains without soiling user's hands or exposing skin to the excrement and other refuse present in the cup while it is clogged.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cut-away plane view diagram of one embodiment of the plunger cup.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the plunger cup.

FIG. 3 is a sideview of the second portion, also referred to as the bag portion.

FIG. 4 is a cut-away diagram of the first and second portion fully deployed and ready to conduct a plunging operation.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway sideview of another embodiment of the plunger cup with plunger handle.

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the interior cavity of the plunger cup.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.
FIGS. 1 and 2 disclose a plunger device comprising a first portion 10. The first portion 10 is preferably a flexible cup formed by a curved sidewall 20. The top 22 of the sidewall 20 having a first socket 30 that is configured to secure one end of a plunger handle (80). The bottom 24 of the sidewall 20 having a flange 26. The sidewall 20 forms an inner cavity 28 having an opening 29. The inner cavity 28 is concave to better trap an air pocket above a toilet drain which is then used to agitate the water inside the drain in press and release reciprocating motions. The sidewall 20 is shown having a flange 26. The flange 26 is shown having a tapered skirt section 27, which is favored in some settings. However, the disclosed cup forming the first portion 10 will work just as well with a flange 26 that does not have a tapered skirt section 27 as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , or even with a sidewall featuring a bellows style plurality of folds.
The top portion 43 of the inner cavity 28 contains a second socket 40. The wall 44 defining the second socket 40 is preferably above the flange 26, so as not to interfere with the plunging operation. The sidewall 32 defines the first socket 30 that houses an end of a plunger handle (80), while the sidewall 44 defines the second socket 40 that houses the second portion (60). In the embodiment shown, the first socket 30 and second socket 40 are adjacent and in a stacked configuration with each other, with the first socket extending from the upper surface 46, with the opening 42 of the second socket 40 opening into the inner cavity 28. While the stacked configuration of the first and second sockets (30 and 40) is shown, either the first or second sockets (30 and 40) may be disposed anywhere along the upper surface 46 or inner cavity 28.
FIGS. 3-5 further describe the second portion 60. The second portion 60 comprises the first end 62 and the second end 64. The first end 62 contains a stiff part 66. The stiff part 66 may be a knot, a bulb, or an insert member. The stiff part 66 is designed to be coupled with the first portion 10 by achieving a snug fit within the second socket 40. Further shown in FIG. 3 is the first end 62 the second end 64. Separating the first and second end is expandable skirt 70 which terminates with an edge 68.
FIG. 4 demonstrates the operation of the disclosed plunging apparatus. The stiff portion 66 is deployed within the second socket 40. At this point, the skirt 70 and the edge 68 would be hanging down and protruding from within the inner cavity 28. The user would then grasp the edge 68 and pull it upward, in the process enveloping the inner surface 48 of the inner cavity 28, the outer surface 46 of the sidewall 20 and substantially the entire length of the plunger handle 80.
FIG. 4 diagrams a fully deployed first and second portions 10 and 60, respectively. The material from which the second portion 60 is made is preferably waterproof and made as a think film so as not to interfere in a suction achieved by the flange 26.
In detail, the assembly and demobilization of the device preferably involve no more than two steps each. To assemble the device, a user inserts the stiff portion 66, preferably a knot or a plug, into the opening 42 of the second socket 40. The opening 42 is partially blocked by a plurality of converging flexible flaps 49. When the knot 66 is pushed against the converging flexible flaps 49, they spread apart, allowing the knot to pass through into the second socket 40. Once the knot 66 is through the opening 42, the converging flexible flaps 49 resume their shape around the narrow neck 66 a. Thus, the second portion 60 is now coupled with the first portion 10. The user then pulls the edge 68 over the handle 86 toward the distal end 84. The inner surface 48 of the cavity 28 would be covered by the outer surface 70 b of the skirt 70.
After the plunging operation, the first step would be to release the edge 68, to allow it to drop downward, exposing the handle 86 and the cup 10. Then, by clasping the inner surface 70 b of the second portion 60 pulling or shacking the plunger in the direction 67, to dislodge the stiff connector 66. Notably, only the inner surface 70 a of the skirt becomes soiled during a plunging operation, while the outer surface 70 b remains clean. Thus, a user is not exposed to any fluids, food refuse or other muck present in a toilet bowl or sink during the demobilization process.
FIG. 5 demonstrates another embodiment of the first portion 10 comprising the cup 12 coupled with a handle 86 through the first socket 30. The second socket 40 is formed along the inner cavity 28 that is defined by the sidewall 22. The flange 26 is featured without the secondary skirt second (27). The opening 42 of the second socket 40 contains a plurality of flexible flaps 49 partially blocking the opening 50 between the converging flexible flaps 49.
The inner cavity 28 is shown in the plan view diagram shown in FIG. 6 . Shown are the cup 12, the flange 26, the secondary skirt 27, having a secondary flange 31 around the opening 29. The second socket 40 contains an opening 42, which is partially closed by plurality of flexible converging flaps 49 partially blocking the open space 50. The stiff portion 66 of the second portion 60 can thus be depressed into the opening 42, causing the flaps 49 to spread and then lock behind the thicker stiff portion 66. To decouple the second portion 60 from the first portion 10, the knot is pulled out, which causes the converging flexible flaps 49 to spread outwardly to permit the knot 66 to be removed. Threading, peg and socket or a snug connection with the opening 42 can be used as an alternative to the converging flexible flaps 49.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention. While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts, and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts, and features of the inventions—such as alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on—may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed. Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some features, concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a preferred arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such feature is required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure, however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are intended to be critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Parameters identified as “approximate” or “about” a specified value are intended to include both the specified value and values within 10% of the specified value, unless expressly stated otherwise. Further, it is to be understood that the drawings accompanying the present disclosure may, but need not, be to scale, and therefore may be understood as teaching various ratios and proportions evident in the drawings. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention, the inventions instead being set forth in the appended claims, as currently written or as amended or added in the future. Descriptions of exemplary methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being required in all cases, nor is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or necessary unless expressly so stated.

Claims

1. A plunger device comprising, a first portion, said first portion having a flexible cup, said flexible cup having a sidewall; wherein a top of said sidewall having a first socket configured to secure a proximal end of a plunger handle; wherein a bottom of said sidewall having a flange; an inner cavity of said sidewall; said inner cavity being concave; wherein said inner cavity having a second socket; and wherein a wall forming said second socket is oriented above said flange.

2. The plunger device of claim 1, further comprising a second portion; said second portion comprising a first end and a second end; said first end being stiff; and wherein said second end comprising an edge; a flexible skirt separating said first end and said second end.

3. The plunger device of claim 2, wherein said first end is configured to be removably housed within said second socket; and wherein said edge is configured to be stretched over an inner and an outer surface of said sidewall such that said skirt covers said outer surface and a majority of the length of the plunger handle.

4. The plunger device of claim 3, wherein said first end is a knot; and wherein an opening of said second socket is comprised of a plurality of converging flexible flaps configured to retain said knot within said second socket.

5. The plunger device of claim 4, wherein said second portion is configured to remain coupled said inner cavity, said outer surface and said plunger handle during a plunger operation.

6. The plunger device of claim 3, wherein said second portion is configured to remain coupled said inner cavity, said outer surface and said plunger handle during a plunger operation.

7. The plunger device of claim 4, wherein said second portion is configured to be detached from said cup using a single tug motion or a downward lunge of said plunger device.

8. The plunger device of claim 2, wherein said second socket is oriented immediately below said first socket and wherein said first socket opening outwardly above said top of said sidewall, and wherein said second socket opening into said inner cavity.