U.S. patent application number 13/744406 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-18 for bathroom tool assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to SIMPLEHUMAN LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is SIMPLEHUMAN LLC. Invention is credited to Juliana Hung, David Wolbert, Frank Yang.
Application Number | 20130180874 13/744406 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48779233 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130180874 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Yang; Frank ; et
al. |
July 18, 2013 |
BATHROOM TOOL ASSEMBLY
Abstract
A bathroom tool assembly having a bathroom tool and a supporting
holder, with a releasable interlock coupling between the bathroom
tool and the holder. The releasable interlock coupling conveniently
maintains a secured coupling of the bathroom tool to the holder, so
that the assembly of bathroom tool and holder can be easily moved
without leaving drips behind. The releasable interlock coupling is
structured to allow easy coupling of the bathroom tool to the
holder to securely interlock the bathroom tool to the holder and
easy decoupling of the bathroom tool from the holder by a user with
one-hand operation. In one embodiment, the releasable interlock
coupling does not include any moving parts. In one aspect of the
present invention, the releasable interlock coupling comprises a
magnetic coupling.
Inventors: |
Yang; Frank; (Rancho Palos
Verdes, CA) ; Hung; Juliana; (Pasadena, CA) ;
Wolbert; David; (Redondo Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SIMPLEHUMAN LLC; |
TORRANCE |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
SIMPLEHUMAN LLC
TORRANCE
CA
|
Family ID: |
48779233 |
Appl. No.: |
13/744406 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
29415442 |
Mar 9, 2012 |
|
|
|
13744406 |
|
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|
61587603 |
Jan 17, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/349 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 11/10 20130101;
E03D 9/00 20130101; A47K 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/349 |
International
Class: |
A47K 11/10 20060101
A47K011/10 |
Claims
1. A bathroom tool assembly, comprising: a tool comprising a handle
portion and a tool head at an distal end of the handle portion; and
a holder releasably supporting the tool via a releasable interlock
coupling that securely couples the tool and the holder so that the
tool and the holder can be moved together by a user lifting on the
handle portion of the tool only.
2. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 1, wherein the handle
portion of the tool comprises a handle and a rod connecting the
handle to the tool head, and the holder comprises a housing that
comprises an enclosure defining an opening to an interior space of
the enclosure sized to receive the tool head.
3. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 2, wherein the holder
further comprises a collar extending from the top of the enclosure
and defining a split opening releasably receiving the rod of the
tool, wherein when the handle portion is lifted, the collar rest on
the top of the tool head in an interlocking manner.
4. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 3, wherein the
interlocking coupling comprising a magnetic coupling.
5. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 4, wherein releasable
interlock coupling does not include any moving parts.
6. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 5, wherein the magnetic
coupling is provided at least between the rod of the tool and the
collar.
7. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 6, wherein the collar
comprises a permanent magnet, and the rod of the tool comprises a
magnetic material.
8. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 6, wherein the rod of the
tool comprises a permanent magnet and the collar comprises a
permanent magnet.
9. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 4, wherein the tool is a
plunger.
10. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 9, wherein the tool head
is configured for use to unclog a toilet.
11. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 4, wherein the tool is a
brush.
12. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 11, wherein the tool
head is configured for use to clean a toilet.
13. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 2, wherein the housing
fully encloses the tool head except for the opening in the
housing.
14. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 2, wherein the holder
further comprises a collar extending from the top of the enclosure
and defining a split opening releasably receiving the rod of the
tool, wherein when the handle portion is pivoted away from the
collar in the direction of the split opening, the tool can be
released from the canister.
15. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 14, wherein the tool can
be released from the holder without requiring a further tool.
16. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 15, wherein the
interlocking coupling comprising magnetic coupling.
17. A bathroom tool assembly, comprising: a tool comprising a
handle, a tool head, and a rod connecting the handle to the tool
head; a holder comprising a housing that comprises an enclosure
defining an opening to an interior space sized to receive the tool
head, and a collar extending from the top of the enclosure and
defining a split opening receiving the rod of the tool; and a
releasable interlocking coupling between the holder and the tool to
securely coupled the tool and the holder so that the tool and the
holder can be moved together by a user lifting the handle of the
tool only.
18. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 17, wherein the tool can
be released from the holder without requiring additional tool.
19. The bathroom tool assembly as in claim 18, wherein the
interlocking coupling comprising a magnetic coupling.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S.
Provisional Application No. 61/587,603 entitled "Plunger Assembly",
filed Jan. 17, 2012; and this application is a continuation-in-part
of copending U.S. Design Patent Application No. 29/415,442 entitled
"Plunger And Housing Assembly", filed Mar. 9, 2012, which claims
the priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
61/587,603, filed Jan. 17, 2012. These applications are being
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. All
publications noted below are fully incorporated by reference as if
fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to bathroom tools, such as
plungers for use in unclogging drainage fixtures (e.g., toilets and
sinks) and brushes for cleaning toilets.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Heretofore, plungers for unclogging sinks are typically
configured without any supporting holder, and plungers for
unclogging toilets are configured with or without a holder for
storing the plunger when not in use. However, for a plunger with
the plunger head supported by a holder, to move the combination of
the plunger and the holder from one place to another (e.g., from
one toilet to another), a user must hold the holder in order to
keep the plunger in place. Otherwise, if the user were to lift the
plunger alone, the plunger would be separated from the holder,
which may lead to drips from the plunger onto the floor.
[0006] Similarly heretofore, toilet brushes are configured without
a secure coupling between the toilet brush and its holder.
[0007] It is desirable to provide a bathroom tool assembly which
overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention provides a bathroom tool assembly that
overcomes many of the drawbacks of the prior art. The bathroom tool
assembly comprises a bathroom tool (e.g., a toilet brush, a toilet
plunger, etc.) and a holder that supports the bathroom tool when
not in use. The holder assembly in accordance with the present
invention is designed to provide a releasable interlock coupling
between the bathroom tool and the holder. "Releasable" as used
throughout herein refers to a coupling in which no additional tool
is required to release two coupled components (e.g., to release the
interlock coupling to separate the bathroom tool from the holder).
The releasable interlock coupling conveniently maintains a secured
coupling of the bathroom tool to the holder, so that the assembly
of bathroom tool and holder can be easily moved without leaving
drips behind.
[0009] The releasable interlock coupling is structured to allow
easy coupling of the bathroom tool to the holder to securely
interlock the bathroom tool to the holder and easy decoupling of
the bathroom tool from the holder by a user with one-hand
operation. In one embodiment, the releasable interlock coupling
does not include any moving parts.
[0010] In one aspect of the present invention, the releasable
interlock coupling comprises a magnetic coupling. The releasable
interlock coupling may comprise other types of couplings, for
example key and groove type couplings, interference fit couplings,
press fit couplings, pressure grip couplings, spring-biased grip
coupling, etc.
[0011] In one embodiment, the bathroom tool comprises a handle
supporting a bathroom tool head (e.g., a plunger head shaped for
use to unclog drainage structures, e.g., toilets or sinks, or a
brush head shaped for use to clean toilets and sinks) The holder is
in the form of a canister comprising a housing having a body, cover
or enclosure with an interior sized to store the bathroom tool
head. The enclosure has an opening sized to receive the bathroom
tool head, so that it can be inserted or removed from the
enclosure. The canister supports and stores the bathroom tool by
hiding the bathroom tool head discreetly out of sight when not in
use. The canister further comprises a collar sized to releasably
receive the bathroom tool handle (e.g., a rod or shaft of the
bathroom tool handle). The size of the collar is significantly
narrower than the size of the bathroom tool head. The collar
provides a constriction of the canister housing enclosure, so that
the collar interlocks with the bathroom tool handle shaft at or
near the point of connection of the shaft to the large bathroom
tool head, to prevent the canister housing enclosure from
separating from the bathroom tool when the bathroom tool handle is
lifted by a user. To further secure the interlock coupling between
the collar and the bathroom tool, a magnetic coupling is provided
between the collar and the bathroom tool shaft, in accordance with
one embodiment of the present invention. One of the bathroom tool
shaft and collar comprises a permanent magnet and the other one of
the bathroom tool shaft and collar comprises a ferromagnetic
material, or both the bathroom tool shaft and the collar comprise
permanent magnets.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of
the invention, as well as the preferred mode of use, reference
should be made to the following detailed description read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following
drawings, like reference numerals designate like or similar parts
throughout the drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a plunger and housing
assembly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front view thereof;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a right side view thereof (the left side view is a
mirror image thereof);
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top plan view thereof;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view thereof; and
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front perspective view thereof, with its housing
depicted in broken lines to illustrate the portion of the plunger
supported therein.
[0020] FIGS. 8A-C are further pictorial views of the plunger and
housing assembly.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a plunger head, in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a side view of a toilet brush and housing
assembly, in accordance with another embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] This invention is described below in reference to various
embodiments with reference to the figures. While this invention is
described in terms of the best mode for achieving this invention's
objectives, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
variations may be accomplished in view of these teachings without
deviating from the spirit or scope of the invention.
[0024] The present invention provides a bathroom tool assembly that
overcomes many of the drawbacks of the prior art. The bathroom tool
assembly comprises a bathroom tool and a supporting holder that
supports the bathroom tool when not in use. The bathroom tool
assembly in accordance with the present invention is designed to
provide a releasable interlock coupling between the bathroom tool
and the holder. "Releasable" as used throughout herein refers to a
coupling in which no additional tool is required to release two
coupled components (e.g., to release the interlock coupling to
separate the bathroom tool from the holder). The releasable
interlock coupling conveniently maintains a secured coupling of the
bathroom tool to the holder, so that the assembly of bathroom tool
and holder can be easily moved without leaving drips behind.
[0025] The releasable interlock coupling is structured to allow
easy coupling of the bathroom tool to the holder to securely
interlock the bathroom tool to the holder and easy decoupling of
the bathroom tool from the holder by a user with one-hand
operation. In one embodiment, the releasable interlock coupling
does not include any moving parts.
[0026] In one embodiment, the holder is in the form of a canister
comprising a housing having a body, cover or enclosure with an
interior sized to store the bathroom tool head. The bathroom tool
comprises a handle supporting a bathroom tool head shaped for use
to unclog drainage structures, such as toilets. While the present
invention is described below in connection with the embodiment of a
plunger for unclogging toilets and a brush for cleaning toilets, it
is understood that the inventive concept is applicable to bathroom
tools having tool head of different shapes and sizes configured for
use with other types of drainage fixtures and for other
applications outside of unclogging and/or cleaning toilets.
[0027] FIGS. 1-8 illustrate an embodiment of a bathroom tool
assembly, in the form of a plunger assembly 1. The plunger assembly
1 comprises a plunger 2 and a canister having a housing 3, in which
the plunger is interlocked to the canister housing 3 to securely
support the plunger head (or cup) 6 in the canister housing 3 when
not in use. The interlock mechanism is structured to allow easy
insertion of the plunger head 6 into canister housing 3 to securely
interlock the plunger 2 to the housing 3 and easy withdrawal of the
plunger head 6 from the housing 3 by a user with one-hand
operation. In the illustrated embodiment, the interlock mechanism
does not include any moving parts. The canister housing 3 includes
an enclosure 8 defining an opening 15 sized to receive the plunger
head 6, so that it can be inserted or removed from the enclosure 8.
The canister housing 3 supports and stores the plunger head 6 by
hiding the plunger head discreetly out of sight when not in
use.
[0028] In one embodiment, the plunger 2 comprises a handle portion
supporting a plunger head 6 shaped for use to unclog drainage
structures (e.g., toilets or sinks) In the illustrated embodiment,
the plunger 2 includes a handle 5, a flexible head 6, and a shaft
or rod 7 that connects the handle 5 and the head 6. In some
embodiments, the handle 5 can be integrated with the rod 7. In some
embodiments, the handle 5 and/or rod 7 can be made from materials
such as plastic, wood, metal (e.g., steel), and rubber, etc., which
may have a polished, textured, coated, plated, chrome or painted
finish, etc., or a combination of the foregoing. In some
embodiments, the flexible head 6 can be made from pliant materials
such as rubber, silicone, etc.
[0029] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-8, the canister
housing 3 includes a domed shaped enclosure 8 and a base 10
configured and sized to contain the plunger head 6. In some
embodiments, the canister housing enclosure 8 and base 10 can be
made from materials such as plastic, wood, metal (e.g., steel), and
rubber, etc., which may have a polished, textured, coated, plated,
chrome or painted finish, etc., or a combination of the foregoing.
The canister housing enclosure 8 is configured and sized to house
the entire plunger head 6 so that any water drips from the plunger
head 6 can be caught and retained by the canister base 10. In the
illustrated embodiment, the canister housing enclosure 8 defines a
fixed opening 15 to the interior space of the canister housing 3,
wherein the opening 15 is sized so that the plunger 2 can be
attached to or detached from the canister housing 3 by inserting
into and removing from the canister housing 3. The canister housing
3 fully encloses the plunger head 6 except for the opening 15
defined in the canister housing 3. However, when the plunger
assembly 1 is not in use and the plunger 2 does not need to be
removed, the plunger assembly 1 can be positioned so that the
opening 15 of the canister housing enclosure 8 is turned away from
the user's view to hide the plunger 2. The bottom of the base 10
may be provided a non-skid surface (e.g., a rubber pad).
[0030] The canister housing 3 further comprises a collar 9
extending from the top of the enclosure 8 defining a vertical split
opening 17 sized to releasably receive the plunger rod 7 (the axis
of the plunger rod 7 and the split opening 17 are aligned in the
same direction). The size of the split opening 17 of the collar 9
is significantly narrower than the size of the plunger head 6. The
collar 9 effectively provides a constriction of the canister
housing enclosure 8, so that the collar 9 interlocks with the
plunger rod 7 at or near the point of connection of the rod 7 to
the large plunger head 6, to prevent the canister housing enclosure
8 from separating from the plunger head 6 when the plunger handle
is lifted upwards by a user. The collar 9 rests on top of the
plunger head 6 in an interlocking manner. In some embodiments, the
collar 9 may be a separate part connected to the housing enclosure
8, or may be an integral part of the enclosure 8.
[0031] To further secure the releasable interlock coupling between
the collar 9 and the plunger 2 (i.e., to securely retain the rod 7
within the collar 9), a magnetic coupling is provided at the
interlocking coupling, in particular between the collar 9 and the
plunger rod 7, in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention. One of the plunger rod 7 and the collar 9 comprises a
permanent magnet and the other one of the plunger rod 7 and the
collar 9 comprises a ferromagnetic material, or both the plunger
rod 7 and the collar 9 comprise permanent magnets.
[0032] The releasable interlock coupling may comprise other types
of couplings (mechanical or non-mechanical), for example key and
groove type couplings, interference fit couplings, press fit
couplings, pressure grip couplings, spring-biased grip coupling,
etc.
[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the rod 7 (at least the
portion of the rod 7 adjacent the collar 9) is comprise a permanent
magnetic material, or made of magnetic, magnetizable or
magnetically conductive material such as steel, stainless steel,
iron, nickel, etc., although other materials may be used. In some
embodiments, a magnet 10 can be embedded in the collar 9 region. In
other embodiments, the magnet 10 can be attached to the collar 9.
Yet in other embodiments, the collar 9 can comprise composed of
permanent magnetic material (e.g., permanent magnet). In the
illustrated embodiment, the magnetic coupling (e.g., represented by
the magnet 10) is configured to hold the magnetically conductive
rod 7 against the collar 9. In some embodiments, the magnet 10 can
be strong enough so that when the plunger 2 is lifted by a user,
the canister housing 3 does not fall off the plunger 2 under its
weight so as to prevent drips. The strength of the magnetic
coupling (i.e., the magnet 10) can be designed so that the plunger
2 can be removed from the canister housing 3 and the collar 9, when
the plunger 2 is pivoted or pulled away from the magnet coupling of
the collar 9 in the direction of the split opening 17 defined by
the collar 9, in the direction of the arrow 14 in FIG. 8C. By
pushing the base 10 of the canister housing 3 flat against the
floor while pivoting away from the collar 9 in the direction of
arrow 11, the plunger rod 7 may be separated from the collar 9 by
one-hand operation. Accordingly, it can be seen that the plunger 2
can be released from the canister 3 (i.e., to decouple releasable
interlock coupling) without requiring a tool.
[0034] In an alternate embodiment, the collar 9 may be a magnetic,
magnetizable or magnetically conductive material, and the adjacent
portion of the rod 7 is made of permanent magnetic material.
[0035] FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the flexible plunger
head 6. The plunger head 6 can have a profile such that it has a
tip 11 to engage with a typical toilet water drain opening. The tip
11 can be flexible so that it fits the contours of the water drain.
In some embodiments, the tip 11 can have an accordion like
structure. The flexible plunger head 6 can also have a bulb 12
portion that seals the flexible head 6 onto the water drain surface
when pressed.
[0036] FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of a bathroom tool
assembly, in the form of a toilet brush assembly 21 comprising a
toilet brush 22 and a canister 23. This embodiment is similar to
the previous embodiment, except that the bathroom tool in this
embodiment is a toilet brush 22, and the holder comprises a
canister 23 having a housing 28 and base 30 that is sized and
shaped to receive the toilet brush head 26. As was in the case of
the plunger 2, the toilet brush 22 has a handle 25 and a rod 27
connecting the handle to the brush head 26. As was in in the case
of the canister 3 in the previous embodiment, the housing 28 of the
canister 23 defines an opening 35 to removably receive the toilet
brush head 26, and the collar 29 extending from the top of the
housing 28 has a split opening 37. The interactions of the toilet
brush 22 and canister 23 are similar to those of the plunger 2 and
canister 3 in the plunger assembly 1 in the previous embodiment.
The structures, design considerations and operations of the plunger
assembly 1 in the previous embodiment are equally applicable in the
toilet brush assembly 21 in the present embodiment. For example,
the releasable interlocking coupling includes a magnetic coupling
between the rod 27 of the toilet brush and the collar 29, in
similar fashion as in the case of the plunger assembly 1. The
toilet brush 22 can be supported with the toilet brush head 26
stored in the canister 23 (schematically represent with the toilet
brush 22 at the position represented by dotted line 22'). A user
can lift the handle 25 and move the toilet brush 22 along with the
housing 23 together. The strength of the magnet coupling can be
designed so that the toilet brush 22 can be removed from the
canister housing 23 and the collar 29, when the toilet brush 22 is
pivoted or pulled away from the magnet coupling of the collar 29 in
the direction of the split opening 37 defined by the collar 29, in
the direction of the arrow 31 in FIG. 10. By pushing the base 30 of
the canister housing 23 flat against the floor while pivoting the
rod 27 away from the collar 29 in the direction of arrow 31, the
toilet brush rod 27 may be separated from the collar 29 by one-hand
operation.
[0037] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be made without departing from the spirit, scope,
and teaching of the invention. Accordingly, the disclosed invention
is to be considered merely as illustrative and limited in scope
only as specified in the appended claims.
* * * * *