U.S. patent application number 12/685801 was filed with the patent office on 2011-07-14 for sanitary bathroom item storage unit.
Invention is credited to Shirley Mae Williams.
Application Number | 20110168581 12/685801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44257694 |
Filed Date | 2011-07-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110168581 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Williams; Shirley Mae |
July 14, 2011 |
SANITARY BATHROOM ITEM STORAGE UNIT
Abstract
A bathroom storage device that effectively stores a plunger,
toilet bowl brush, and other bathroom accessories in a space
saving, decorative, and easily accessible manner while preserving
the hygienic and sanitary qualities needed in such an environment
by totally isolating the plunger in its own compartment.
Inventors: |
Williams; Shirley Mae;
(Summerville, SC) |
Family ID: |
44257694 |
Appl. No.: |
12/685801 |
Filed: |
January 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/216 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 10/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/216 |
International
Class: |
B65D 85/00 20060101
B65D085/00 |
Claims
1. A sanitary bathroom item storage unit, comprising: (a) a
cylindrical plunger canister with a convex curved baseplate, and
(b) an inner central tube in said cylindrical plunger canister
formed by a centrally located bore in the baseplate of the canister
that leads to a vertical tube not longer that the length of the
canister and which terminates in a sealed top, and (c) a
bowl-bottomed base that fits about the convex baseplate of the
cylindrical plunger canister, and (d) a lid for the plunger
canister, and whereby, a toilet plunger rests inside the bowl
shaped base and the vertically protruding handle of the plunger is
housed inside the inner central tube of the plunger canister and
multiple rolls of toilet paper can be mounted axially around the
vertical inner central tube inside the plunger canister.
2. The sanitary bathroom item storage unit according to claim 1
wherein the outermost surfaces of the cylindrical plunger canister,
the base, and the lid is at least covered partially covered with
decorative elements.
3. The sanitary bathroom unit according to claim 1 wherein a unique
cavity for a toilet plunger is formed by the combination of the
inner central tube of the plunger canister and the bowl shaped
base.
4. The sanitary bathroom unit according to claim 1 wherein the
plunger canister, lid, and base are secured in a rigid fashion by
mechanical means.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable
SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
[0004] 1. Field of Invention
[0005] Functional, and more importantly, sanitary storage for a
toilet plunger poses a difficult problem for nearly every
household. This invention, the sanitary bathroom item storage unit
provides a manner to store these common and necessary items in a
sanitary manner and in a practical, condensed and easily accessible
location. Furthermore the design of the proposed invention would
allow storage of other bathroom cleansing items, such as cleansers
and gloves, in its space saving, organized, and aesthetically
pleasing manner. This unit would also store and provide convenient
access to additional toilet tissue when needed. As a result, it
would eliminate those embarrassing moments of being caught without
toilet tissue nearby. With the sanitary bathroom item storage unit,
a plunger, toilet bowl brush, bathroom cleansing agents, etc.,
would be readily available and easily accessible when needed. This
decorative storage unit would be easy to use, clean and
hygienic.
BACKGROUND
[0006] 2. Prior Art
[0007] Examples of prior art patents include U.S. Pat. No.
4,008,993, U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,100, U.S. Pat. No. 6,193,059, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,769,542, U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,474, U.S. Pat. No.
5,887,818, U.S. Pat. Des. 403,906, and U.S. Patent Application
2002/0125168. Evidently, there have been a number of patents and
applications that suggest similar bathroom storage devices, but
they all lack one very important characteristic that this
invention, the sanitary bathroom item storage unit, embodies. That
common characteristic and disadvantage that all of the
aforementioned prior art shares is that they don't provide the
toilet plunger a unique encapsulated space to preserve the sanitary
and hygienic integrity that would be so desired in a bathroom
environment.
[0008] In conclusion, insofar as I am aware, no bathroom storage
device effectively stores a plunger, toilet bowl brush, and other
bathroom items/accessories in a space saving, decorative, and
easily accessible manner while preserving the hygienic and sanitary
qualities needed in such an environment by totally isolating the
toilet plunger in its own sealed cavity.
SUMMARY
[0009] The invention, sanitary bathroom item storage unit, is
comprised of a cylindrical plunger canister with an inner central
tube, a base, and a lid. The plunger canister, the base, and the
lid all attach via a mechanical means (friction-fit, latches,
screw-on, etc.) to form the assembled storage unit. Despite prior
inventions that are similar to the sanitary bathroom item storage
unit, there remains a need for an improved storage unit that will
fulfill the following needs: [0010] 1. provide for the sanitary
storage of a toilet plunger [0011] 2. provide for the convenient
storage of additional bathroom items/accessories [0012] 3. provide
for the storage of multiple rolls of toilet tissue [0013] 4.
provide for an aesthetically pleasing container that totally
conceals a toilet plunger and stores a toilet bowl brush and
additional bathroom accessories in a self-contained, free-standing,
and portable/moveable storage device
[0014] The sanitary bathroom item storage unit and its features and
advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed
description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
DRAWINGS
Figures
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the invention,
showing the components and their relationship.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled invention, but
showing the top not installed.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the assembled completely
assembled invention.
DRAWINGS
Reference Numerals
[0018] 10 Sanitary bathroom item storage unit [0019] 11 lid [0020]
12 toilet tissue [0021] 13 inner centralized tube [0022] 14 toilet
plunger canister [0023] 15 base [0024] 16 toilet plunger [0025] 30
plunger cavity
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] As shown in the detailed drawings, the sanitary bathroom
item storage unit 10 shows a concept for sanitarily storing a
toilet plunger and toilet tissue rolls 12 in a centralized and
organized manner. Sanitary integrity in the unit is maintained by
the use of the plunger canister 14 with the inner centralized tube
13 in conjunction with the base 15. As shown in FIG. 1 the inner
centralized tube 13 has one open end positioned at the bottom of
the plunger canister 14, and oppositely has one closed end. The
plunger canister 14 has a convex-curved baseplate located at the
bottom of the assembly. The baseplate permits clearance to fit the
profile of any commercially available toilet plunger. As shown in
FIG. 1-3, a toilet plunger 16 is placed inside the bowl-bottomed
base 15, and the plunger canister 14 on top of the toilet plunger
16 with the toilet plunger handle inserted into the opening on the
bottom of the inner centralized tube 13. As shown in the
cross-sectional drawing of FIG. 3, when the plunger canister 14 is
secured to the base 15, the plunger 16 is isolated in its own
cavity 30 inside the unit. This feature maintains the hygienic and
sanitary qualities of the sanitary bathroom item storage unit. The
bowl-bottomed base 15 provides for the collection of any water from
the use of the toilet plunger in its normal operation. The end of
the plunger canister 14 opposite the base is open except for the
closed end of the inner centralized tube 13. The inner centralized
tube 13 is located inside the plunger canister at the vertex to
allow toilet tissue rolls 12 to be place about it as shown in FIG.
2-3.
[0027] The plunger canister 14, the lid 11, and the base 15 of this
invention can be made out of metal, such as aluminum or stainless
steel, a molded plastic, ceramic, or any material deemed
well-suiting by anyone skilled in the art.
[0028] In the preferred embodiment, the sanitary bathroom item
storage unit is used as a toilet plunger, toilet brush, bathroom
accessory, and toilet tissue roll storage device. The toilet
plunger canister employs two pockets to store cleansing gloves and
a can of a commercially available cleansing solution. The plunger
canister and removable base also employs a mechanical latching
mechanism to secure the two pieces in a rigid manner. This latching
feature would maintain the isolation of the plunger inside the unit
and also facilitate moving the entire unit from location to
location. The plunger canister would employ two handles on the
opposite end of the base, which would pass through two
corresponding openings in the lid. When the lid is placed on the
canister these handles would also facilitate moving the assembled
unit from location to location.
[0029] In another embodiment of the proposed invention, the top of
the storage unit would provide a means to dispense a toilet
roll.
[0030] In another embodiment of the proposed invention, the toilet
tissue storage compartment would employ a spring loaded base to
automatically advance the next roll of toilet tissue in storage to
the top of the compartment.
[0031] In another embodiment of the proposed invention, unit would
employ pockets on the exterior of the plunger canister to provide
additional storage locations for bathroom items/accessories.
[0032] The above description(s) has described specific details in
the embodiment of the invention. However, one having skill in the
art can make modifications without departing from the spirit and
scope of the underlying inventive concept of the sanitary bathroom
item storage unit.
[0033] To use the sanitary bathroom item storage unit 10, one would
first place the base 15 on a floor and then place any commercially
available plunger 16 on the base 15. Next, the toilet plunger
canister 14 would be placed on top of the base and plunger with the
plunger's handle inserted into the inner centralized tube 13. Any
commercially available toilet tissue rolls would then be inserted
into the top of the toilet plunger canister with the inner
centralized tube inserted into the center hole of each roll. To
access the plunger at a time when its use is needed the toilet
plunger canister would simply be lifted vertically to uncover the
plunger and its handle. It would be set aside so the plunger could
be accessed. Normal cleaning and disinfecting of the base would be
routine maintenance of the invention.
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