U.S. patent application number 12/460627 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-27 for tee handle toilet plunger.
Invention is credited to Robert G. Kares.
Application Number | 20110016621 12/460627 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43495993 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110016621 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kares; Robert G. |
January 27, 2011 |
Tee Handle Toilet Plunger
Abstract
An improved toilet plunger includes a plunger assembly having an
elongated plunger stem having an upper end and an opposite lower
end with the lower end having a flared portion and a threaded stub
extending therefrom for securement to the plunger socket of a
standard plunger head and the toilet plunger also including a
horizontally extending handle integrally formed to the upper end of
the plunger stem with the handle further defining left and right
hand portions and the underside of the handle having continuous
undulated handle grips for ease of gripping by the fingers of the
user and the horizontally extending handle reducing muscle strain
by changing the way the handle is gripped thereby making plunging
easier, more efficient, and less irksome.
Inventors: |
Kares; Robert G.;
(Stevensville, MT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THE INVENTORS NETWORK, INC.
332 ACADEMY STREET
CARNEGIE
PA
15106
US
|
Family ID: |
43495993 |
Appl. No.: |
12/460627 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/255.11 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/255.11 |
International
Class: |
E03D 11/00 20060101
E03D011/00 |
Claims
1. A tee handle toilet plunger, comprising: a plunger assembly
including: an elongated cylindrical stem; the stem including an
upper stem end and an opposite lower stem end; the lower stem end
including a flared portion and an externally threaded stub axially
extending therefrom; a handle attached to the upper stem end and
extending horizontal and perpendicular to the elongated stem; the
handle further including a left hand side portion and a right hand
side portion and both the left hand side portion and the right hand
side portion including an undulated hand grip to facilitate the
comfortable and firm gripping of the handle by the user; and the
externally threaded stub securable to the plunger socket of the
plunger member so that the handle is oriented perpendicular to the
elongated stem and the plunger member thereby facilitating ease of
use and reducing muscle strain when using the toilet plunger.
2. The tee handle toilet plunger of claim 1 wherein the plunger
assembly can be manufactured from wood.
3. The tee handle toilet plunger of claim 2 wherein the plunger
assembly can be manufactured from plastic.
4. The tee handle toilet plunger of claim 3 wherein the plunger
assembly can be manufactured from an alloy.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to household items, and more
particularly pertains to an improved manually operable toilet
plunger.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ergonomic designs for tools, equipment, implements, garden
tools, home renovation and carpentry tool, etc. are now common and
have made the use of the aforesaid items much easier and less
demanding. From the positioning and angle of the working end of the
item to the size, angle, and grip of the handle or holding end,
ergonomically designed tools and household items are a welcome
improvement over tools whose design was indifferent--or actively
worked against--their intended use and operation. One of the most
common household items is the standard toilet plunger that consists
simply of a vertically extending handle--cylindrical in
shape--having a lower end secured to a plunger head. To plunge a
drain or toilet bowl to unclog it, one simply places the plunger
head over the drain or into the toilet bowl with enough force to
create a suction; and then one grips the handle with the hands
turned inward and placed one above the other, and then lifts the
handle up and down with quick motions to unplug the clogged drain.
Although one is leaning over the plunger and the drain the awkward
position of the hands actually increase the strain to the upper
arms and the back when plunging. In addition, because the hands are
holding the plunger handle at an awkward vertical angle, their grip
is not as firm as it could be and the hands often slip in their
positioning due to the repetitive plunging action and slipperiness
of the handle. It is therefore desirable to have a plunger that is
ergonomically designed for ease of plunging, reduction of muscle
strain, and that provides a firm, non-slip grip.
[0003] For example, the Roop patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,001)
discloses a high security t-handle assembly of the type containing
a lock cylinder having high security features that defy forced
entry.
[0004] The Lang patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,519) discloses a
t-handle wrench kit for servicing threaded components such as nuts
and bolts that are not easily accessible includes a wrench and a
plurality of heads that are releasably engagable to the wrench
member.
[0005] The Vosbikian patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,916) discloses a
t-shaped broom head having a force-distributing handle socket.
[0006] The Leighton et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,918)
discloses a plunger device that provides for the conveyance of
water from a water source through the structural components of the
device to the drain line.
[0007] The Rankovic patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,455) discloses a
portable power-plumbing plunger for unclogging blocked drains in
sinks, toilets, bath tubs, etc. that includes a reciprocating pump
having a removable attachment that is adapted to cover the waste
water drain.
[0008] The Leaphart Jr. et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,326 B1)
discloses a compressed air drain opening device includes a pair of
barrels one slidably received in the other and an air seal for
placement over the drain.
[0009] The Allenbaugh et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,074 B1)
discloses an air burst drain plunger that uses a sudden discharge
of compressed gas to forcibly act against a drain obstruction.
[0010] The Mercado patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,252 B2) discloses a
drain plunger handle arrangement wherein the handles are vertically
offset from each other.
[0011] Nonetheless, despite the advantages of the above-described
devices, there remains a need for a toilet plunger that is
ergonomically designed so that it works better with less
effort.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention comprehends an ergonomically improved
toilet plunger whose inexpensive design makes the task of plunging
a toilet easy and more efficient.
[0013] The improved toilet plunger includes a plunger assembly
comprising an elongated cylindrical plunger stem or rod having an
upper end and an opposite lower end. The lower end includes a
flared portion and integrally formed to the flared portion is an
externally threaded stub. The threaded stub is screwed to the inner
annular threads of the plunger socket of a standard plunger head or
member. A horizontal handle is integrally formed to the upper end
of the elongated plunger stem and includes both left hand and right
hand extending portions. Each portion of the horizontally extending
handle includes continuous undulated handle grips on and around
which the user can comfortably wrap his or her fingers. The entire
plunger assembly including elongated stem and handle can be sized
in any desired configuration and manufactured of wood, plastic, or
even from an alloy material.
[0014] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a tee
handle toilet plunger that includes an improved handgrip.
[0015] It is another objective of the present invention to provide
a tee handle toilet plunger that alters how a person grips and uses
a standard plunger.
[0016] It is yet another objective of the present invention to
provide a tee handle toilet plunger that reduces muscle strain by
move the hands from the vertical position to the horizontal
position.
[0017] It is still another objective of the present invention to
provide a tee handle toilet plunger that incorporates inexpensive
design changes to make the task of plunging a toilet easier and
less demanding.
[0018] It is still yet another objective of the present invention
to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that can be manufactured
from plastic, wood, a combination of both or from an alloy.
[0019] Still another objective of the present invention is to
provide a tee handle toilet plunger that is affordable and
ergonomically correct as pertaining to the grip of user's
hands.
[0020] These and other objects, features, and advantages will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the
following detailed description read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved toilet plunger
of the present invention illustrating the primary structural
components of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved toilet plunger
of the present invention illustrating the plunger assembly without
the plunger head mounted thereon;
[0023] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the improved toilet
plunger of the present invention illustrating the plunger assembly
without the plunger head mounted thereon; and
[0024] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the improved toilet
plunger of the present invention taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1
illustrating the components of the plunger assembly with the
plunger head mounted thereto.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0025] Illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is an improved toilet plunger 10
that includes a tee handle configuration that is ergonomically
efficient for making toilet plunging easier, more effective, and
greatly reducing arm and overall shoulder muscle strain and
exertion.
[0026] Thee improved toilet plunger 10 is removably securable to
any standard type of plunger head or member having a standard
convex/concave configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The plunger
member 12 includes an upwardly or externally facing convex plunger
face 14, an opposite inner concave underside 16, and a plunger
socket 18 centrally located on the plunger face 14 and upwardly
extending therefrom; and the plunger socket 18 further includes
inner annular threads 20.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the improved toilet plunger 10
includes a plunger assembly 22 comprising an elongated cylindrical
plunger stem or rod 24, with the stem 24 further defining an upper
stem end 26 and an opposite lower stem end 28. The lower stem end
28 includes a flared portion 30 and integrally formed to the flared
portion 30 is an externally threaded stub 32. The threaded stub 32
is adapted for being threadably engaged to the inner annular
threads 20 of the plunger socket 18.
[0028] As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a horizontal or perpendicularly
extending handle 34 is integrally formed to the upper end 26 of the
elongated plunger stem 24, and the handle 34 is further defined by
having a left hand side portion 36 and a right hand side portion
38. Each portion 36 and 38 of the perpendicularly extending and
oriented handle 34--relative the vertical extension of the plunger
stem 24--includes on their respective undersides a continuous
undulated handle grip 40 on and about which the user can wrap his
or her fingers for attaining a grip that is both more secure and
more comfortable. The entire plunger assembly 22 including the
elongated stem 24 and the perpendicularly extending handle 34 can
be manufactured from any of a variety of materials including wood,
plastic, composites, or even from an alloy material.
[0029] This invention having been disclosed, variations,
alterations, and modifications and additional embodiments in
accordance with the invention will now be apparent to persons
skilled in the art and whereas the invention is not to be intended
to be limited to the exemplary embodiments and shall encompass such
a range of such alterations, variations, and modifications as are
set forth in the detailed description and by the full and complete
scope of the claims appended hereto.
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