U.S. patent application number 17/701917 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-29 for plungers, toilet brushes, and caddy assembiles.
The applicant listed for this patent is Unger Marketing International, LLC. Invention is credited to James Buckley, William Harrington, Stephen Huda, Brandon Temple.
Application Number | 20220307250 17/701917 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006274423 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220307250 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buckley; James ; et
al. |
September 29, 2022 |
PLUNGERS, TOILET BRUSHES, AND CADDY ASSEMBILES
Abstract
Plungers and cleaning implement assemblies are described. The
plungers include a handle having a tapering portion and a grip and
a plunger member attached to the handle opposite the grip. The
plunger member has a handle engagement portion configured to
securely engage with the handle, at least one compression rib, a
contact rib having an increased wall thickness section, wherein the
increased wall thickness section of the contact rib is greater than
a wall thickness of the at least one compression rib, and a plunger
rim defining an opening to an internal cavity defined by the
plunger member. The plunger member has a non-circular geometric
shape in profile taken in a plane normal to an axis through the
handle.
Inventors: |
Buckley; James; (New
Hartford, CT) ; Temple; Brandon; (Stamford, CT)
; Huda; Stephen; (Shelton, CT) ; Harrington;
William; (Newtown, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Unger Marketing International, LLC |
Bridgeport |
CT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006274423 |
Appl. No.: |
17/701917 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2022 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
63166523 |
Mar 26, 2021 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 15/0091 20130101;
E03C 1/308 20130101; A46B 2200/304 20130101; A47K 17/00
20130101 |
International
Class: |
E03C 1/308 20060101
E03C001/308; A47K 17/00 20060101 A47K017/00; A46B 15/00 20060101
A46B015/00 |
Claims
1. A plunger comprising: a handle having a tapering portion and a
grip; and a plunger member attached to the handle opposite the
grip, the plunger member comprising: a handle engagement portion
configured to securely engage with the handle; at least one
compression rib; a contact rib having an increased wall thickness
section, wherein the increased wall thickness section of the
contact rib is greater than a wall thickness of the at least one
compression rib; and a plunger rim defining an opening to an
internal cavity defined by the plunger member, wherein the plunger
member has a non-circular geometric shape in profile taken in a
plane normal to an axis through the handle.
2. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the increased wall thickness
section has a wall thickness that is between 5% and 50% greater
than the wall thickness of the at least one compression rib.
3. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the at least on compression rib
is three compression ribs.
4. The plunger of claim 3, wherein the three compression ribs are
different sizes such that when the plunger member is compressed the
compression ribs nest within each other.
5. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the handle engagement portion
has a greater material thickness than the rest of the plunger
member.
6. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric shape
is substantially D-shaped.
7. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a plunger
engagement portion configured to securely engage with the plunger
engagement portion of the plunger member.
8. The plunger of claim 7, wherein the plunger engagement portion
comprises a locking pin and the handle engagement portion comprises
a locking channel configured to receive the locking pin and secure
the engagement between the plunger engagement portion and the
handle engagement portion to prevent relative rotation between the
plunger engagement portion and the handle engagement portion.
9. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the grip of the handle is
bulbous.
10. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is a trapezoid shape.
11. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is one of an egg, oval, or ovoid shape.
12. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is a rectangular or rounded rectangular shape.
13. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is a triangular or rounded triangular shape.
14. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is a diamond or rounded diamond shape.
15. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is a pillow, peanut, or two-lobed shape.
16. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is an oval, racetrack, obround, or discorectangular
shape.
17. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape is a shape that is non-circular and asymmetrical about at
least one axis.
18. The plunger of claim 1, wherein the non-circular geometric
shape incorporates a multi-curvature geometry.
19. A cleaning implement assembly comprising: a caddy configured to
receive a plunger; and a plunger comprising: a handle having a
tapering portion and a grip; and a plunger member attached to the
handle opposite the grip, the plunger member comprising: a handle
engagement portion configured to securely engage with the handle;
at least one compression rib; a contact rib having an increased
wall thickness section, wherein the increased wall thickness
section of the contact rib is greater than a wall thickness of the
at least one compression rib; and a plunger rim defining an opening
to an internal cavity defined by the plunger member, wherein the
plunger member has a non-circular geometric shape in profile taken
in a plane normal to an axis through the handle.
20. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 19, wherein the caddy
comprises a body, a base, and a holder, wherein the holder is
configured to receive the tapered portion of the handle.
21. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 20, wherein the
plunger is retained by the holder such that the plunger rim does
not contact the base of the caddy.
22. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 19, further comprising
an assembly base, wherein the caddy is configured to be removably
supported on the assembly base.
23. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 22, wherein the
assembly base is configured to receive more than one caddy, the
cleaning implement assembly further comprising: a second caddy; and
a cleaning implement removably housed within the second caddy.
24. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 23, wherein the
cleaning implement is a toilet cleaning brush.
25. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 23, wherein each of
the caddy and the second caddy are removably coupled to the
assembly base and adjustable in orientation with respect to each
other when installed to the assembly base.
26. The cleaning implement assembly of claim 19, wherein the
non-circular geometric shape is substantially D-shaped.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 63/166,523, filed Mar. 26, 2021, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to
plungers, toilet brushes, and caddy assemblies for storing plungers
and toilet brushes.
[0003] The use of toilet bowl plungers for removing obstructions
from toilet bowl drainpipes is well known. A toilet bowl plunger is
typically used when a toilet bowl drainpipe (e.g., trap) becomes
obstructed with waste matter or is otherwise clogged. The
obstruction prevents water and other matter from flowing from the
toilet bowl.
[0004] A typical toilet bowl plunger comprises an elongated handle
and an inverted cup-shaped plunger portion connected to an end of
the handle. The plunger portion is formed of rubber or some
equivalent resilient material. When the trap becomes obstructed,
the open end of the plunger portion is placed over the opening at
the bottom of the toilet bowl and the walls of the plunger portion
are rapidly collapsed in response to a downward push on the handle,
thereby forcing air and/or water (under pressure) into the trap.
The plunger portion is then rapidly returned to an initial shape by
a user pulling upwardly on the handle, thereby applying suction to
the trap. The resulting agitation tends to dislodge and free the
obstruction from the trap.
[0005] A drawback to the use of conventional toilet bowl plungers
is that during the process of dislodging the obstruction from the
toilet trap, the plunger portion of the plunger comes into contact
with unsanitary waste material. Such plunging action (compression
and suction) can cause splashing of the water within the toilet
bowl, which may be undesirable for the user. This splashing issue
may be further exacerbated by the rapid and uncontrolled collapsing
of the walls of the plunger portion. These issues may be
exacerbated by high-efficiency toilets that may have non-circular
trap designs that improve waste removal flow with less water usage.
Further, after use, the plunger must be cleaned to ensure proper
sanitary conditions. Accordingly, improved plungers and systems may
be advantageous.
SUMMARY
[0006] According to some embodiments, plungers are provided. The
plungers have a handle having a tapering portion and a grip and a
plunger member attached to the handle opposite the grip. The
plunger member includes a handle engagement portion configured to
securely engage with the handle, at least one compression rib, a
contact rib having an increased wall thickness section, wherein the
increased wall thickness section of the contact rib is greater than
a wall thickness of the at least one compression rib, and a plunger
rim defining an opening to an internal cavity defined by the
plunger member. The plunger member has a non-circular geometric
shape in profile taken in a plane normal to an axis through the
handle.
[0007] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the increased wall thickness section has a wall
thickness that is between 5% and 50% greater than the wall
thickness of the at least one compression rib.
[0008] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the at least on compression rib is three compression
ribs.
[0009] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the three compression ribs are different sizes such
that when the plunger member is compressed the compression ribs
nest within each other.
[0010] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the handle engagement portion has a greater material
thickness than the rest of the plunger member.
[0011] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is substantially
D-shaped.
[0012] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the handle comprises a plunger engagement portion
configured to securely engage with the plunger engagement portion
of the plunger member.
[0013] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the plunger engagement portion comprises a locking pin
and the handle engagement portion comprises a locking channel
configured to receive the locking pin and secure the engagement
between the plunger engagement portion and the handle engagement
portion to prevent relative rotation between the plunger engagement
portion and the handle engagement portion.
[0014] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the grip of the handle is bulbous.
[0015] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is a trapezoid
shape
[0016] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is one of an egg,
oval, or ovoid shape
[0017] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is a rectangular or
rounded rectangular shape.
[0018] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is a triangular or
rounded triangular shape.
[0019] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is a diamond or
rounded diamond shape.
[0020] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is a pillow, peanut,
or two-lobed shape.
[0021] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is an oval,
racetrack, obround, or discorectangular shape.
[0022] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape is a shape that is
non-circular and asymmetrical about at least one axis.
[0023] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the plungers may
include that the non-circular geometric shape incorporates a
multi-curvature geometry.
[0024] According to some embodiments, cleaning implement assemblies
are provided. The cleaning implement assemblies include a caddy
configured to receive a plunger and a plunger. The plunger includes
a handle having a tapering portion and a grip and a plunger member
attached to the handle opposite the grip. The plunger member
includes a handle engagement portion configured to securely engage
with the handle, at least one compression rib, a contact rib having
an increased wall thickness section, wherein the increased wall
thickness section of the contact rib is greater than a wall
thickness of the at least one compression rib, and a plunger rim
defining an opening to an internal cavity defined by the plunger
member. The plunger member has a non-circular geometric shape in
profile taken in a plane normal to an axis through the handle.
[0025] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the cleaning implement
assemblies may include that the caddy comprises a body, a base, and
a holder, wherein the holder is configured to receive the tapered
portion of the handle.
[0026] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the cleaning implement
assemblies may include that the plunger is retained by the holder
such that the plunger rim does not contact the base of the
caddy.
[0027] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the cleaning implement
assemblies may include an assembly base, wherein the caddy is
configured to be removably supported on the assembly base.
[0028] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the cleaning implement
assemblies may include that the assembly base is configured to
receive more than one caddy. The cleaning implement assemblies
further include a second caddy and a cleaning implement removably
housed within the second caddy.
[0029] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the cleaning implement
assemblies may include that the cleaning implement is a toilet
cleaning brush.
[0030] In addition to one or more of the features described herein,
or as an alternative, further embodiments of the cleaning implement
assemblies may include that each of the caddy and the second caddy
are removably coupled to the assembly base and adjustable in
orientation with respect to each other when installed to the
assembly base.
[0031] The foregoing features and elements may be combined in
various combinations without exclusivity, unless expressly
indicated otherwise. These features and elements as well as the
operation thereof will become more apparent in light of the
following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be
understood, however, that the following description and drawings
are intended to be illustrative and explanatory in nature and
non-limiting.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The subject matter is particularly pointed out and
distinctly claimed at the conclusion of the specification. The
foregoing and other features, and advantages of the present
disclosure are apparent from the following detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0033] FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of a plunger in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 1B is an alternative view of the plunger of FIG.
1A;
[0035] FIG. 1C is a top-down plan view of the plunger of FIG.
1A;
[0036] FIG. 1D is a bottom-up plan view of the plunger of FIG.
1A;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional illustration of a plunger in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a set of geometric profiles of plungers in
accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a portion of a plunger
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 5A is a schematic front elevation illustration of a
plunger assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0041] FIG. 5B is a side elevation view of the plunger assembly of
FIG. 5A;
[0042] FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional illustration of the plunger
assembly of FIG. 5A;
[0043] FIG. 5D is an enlarged cross-sectional illustration of a
portion of the plunger assembly of FIG. 5A;
[0044] FIG. 6A is a schematic illustration of a cleaning implement
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure
showing a first orientation;
[0045] FIG. 6B is a schematic illustration of the cleaning
implement assembly of FIG. 6A illustration a second
orientation;
[0046] FIG. 6C is a schematic illustration of the cleaning
implement assembly of FIG. 6A illustration a third orientation;
[0047] FIG. 6D is a schematic illustration of the cleaning
implement assembly of FIG. 6A illustration a fourth orientation;
and
[0048] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a cleaning implement
assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1A-1D, schematic illustrations of a
plunger 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure are shown. FIGS. 1A-1B illustrate different perspective
views of the plunger 100, FIG. 1C is a top-down plan view of the
plunger 100, and FIG. 1D is a bottom-up plan view of the plunger
100. The plunger 100 includes a plunger member 102 and a handle
104. The plunger member 102 is configured for improved engagement
with a toilet bowl and to reduce potential backsplash during use of
the plunger 100. The handle 104 is ergonomically configured to
improve an application of force to the handle 104 and plunger
member 102 during use.
[0050] As shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, the plunger member 102 includes a
handle engagement portion 106, a plurality of compression ribs
108a-108c, a contact rib 110, and a plunger rim 112 that defines an
aperture or opening. The geometric shape of the plunger member 102
is substantially non-circular, and in this configuration is
D-shaped. The unique geometries of the plunger member of the
present disclosure can enable improved engagement with the bowl of
the toilet, such as higher efficiency toilets that have noncircular
entrances to the toilet trap for example. Further, the ribbed
structure of the plunger member enables a reduced force required to
actively use the plunger to unclog a toilet or other drain.
Further, in some embodiments, the ribbed structure allows for the
controlled compression of the plunger member 102 as opposed to the
rapidly collapsing walls of prior art plungers. As used herein, the
shape of the plunger member is described with respect to a plan
view or in a plane that is normal to a direction of an axis along
the handle 104 of the plunger 100. That is, in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure, the shape that contacts a
bowl of a toilet is non-circular. Further, other non-circular
geometries may be employed without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure, including, but not limited to, asymmetrical
shapes, multi-curved shapes, non-circular shapes, and the like. The
shape may be selected to improve a contact engagement between the
contact rib 110 and a surface of a bowl of a toilet. In accordance
with embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the compression
ribs 108a-108c may have the same geometry shape as the contact rib
110, and thus the overall appearance of the plunger member 102 may
have the non-circular shape, which, in addition to providing a
pleasing visual ornamental appearance, it also aids in the
compression/release action by enabling the nesting of the different
ribs into each other during the compression/release action.
[0051] The handle engagement portion 106 is configured to securely
and fixedly engage with the handle 104. Generally, the material
thickness of the plunger member 102 may be substantially uniform.
However, in some embodiments, the handle engagement portion 106 may
include increased material wall thickness in order to support the
engagement with the handle 104. Further, in some embodiments, at
least a portion of the contact rib 110 may include an increased
material thickness as compared to the compression ribs 108a-108c.
The increased material thickness of the contact rib 110 may be
provided to ensure an improved engagement and sealing contact with
a bowl of a toilet to ensure a seal about the drain of the toilet,
thus improving the plunging action while reducing the risk of
splashing of water in the toilet.
[0052] The compression ribs 108a-108c are configured to stack over
and into each other during compression and plunging of the plunger
member 102. That is, in a direction from the handle engagement
portion 106 toward the contact rib 110, the compression ribs
108a-108c may progressively increase in size. As such, during a
compression and plunging action of the plunger member 102, a first
compression rib 108a will compress and form, fit, or nest into the
next largest compression rib (a second compression rib 108b in this
embodiment). The second compression rib 108b will compress into and
fit or nest into a third compression rib 108c. Although shown in
this embodiment with three compression ribs 108a-108c, those of
skill in the art will appreciate that any number of compression
ribs may be employed without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure. For example, in some embodiments, a single
compression rib may be arranged between the handle engagement
portion 106 and the contact rib 110. In other embodiments, two,
three, four, or more compression ribs may be used. As described
herein, the ribs of the plunger members may nest or fit within each
other. To achieve such a nesting, each successive rib may have a
smaller diameter or smaller shape/dimension than the next/adjacent
rib. As such, when one rib section is pushed downward into the
adjacent rib, the edges of the ribs are not aligned, but rather the
smaller rib structure fits within the next larger structure. Stated
another way, nesting ribs of the present disclosure means that the
outer periphery of one rib is smaller and inwardly disposed
relative to the outer periphery of the next adjacent.
[0053] The compression ribs 108a-108c provide for a collapsible
configuration that can lessen the amount of force used by a user
when using the plunger to clear a clogged toilet. That is, the
compression ribs 108a-108c of the present disclosure are an
accordion structure. This geometry and tapered set of compression
ribs allows a user to easily displace air from an interior of the
plunger member 102 into the drain of a toilet without the need to
apply excessive force and/or cause the plunger member from snapping
or reacting quickly, which can cause splash or disrupt a sealed
contact between the plunger member 102 and a toilet bowl.
[0054] The handle 104 includes a bulbous grip 114, a first shaft
portion 116, and a second shaft portion 118. The bulbous grip 114
is a shaped head or handle portion that enables a user to more
firmly grip and apply downward pressure upon the handle 104 to
cause the plunging action with the plunger member 102. In an
embodiment, the bulbous grip 114 includes a curved top portion
having a first curvature, a pair of opposing sidewalls having a
second curvature, and a pair of ends having a third curvature. In
addition to providing a pleasing visually ornamental appearance,
the bulbous grip allows the operator to distribute the force
applied over a wider surface than prior art plunger handles to
further facilitate controlling the compression/release action of
the plunger portion. The first shaft portion 116 extends between
the bulbous grip 114 and the second shaft portion 118 and is
tapered. The size, shape, and length of the first shaft portion 116
may be selected for engagement with a caddy (described herein) to
enable storage and drying of the plunger 100 after use. The second
shaft portion 118 extends between the first shaft portion 116 and
the handle engagement portion 106 of the plunger member 102. The
second shaft portion 118 may also be tapered along a length
thereof. The second shaft portion 118 includes a plunger engagement
portion 120 that is configured to securely engage with the handle
engagement portion 106 of the plunger member 102. The engagement
between the handle engagement portion 106 and the plunger
engagement portion 120 may be by a threaded connection, press-fit,
snap engagement, pin-and-slot engagement, adhesive, fastener
engagement, or other means or mechanism for joining the handle 104
to the plunger member 102. The handle 104 may be non-circular in
cross-section, both along the first shaft portion 116 and the
second shaft portion 118. This non-circular cross-section may
assist in storage of the plunger 100 into a caddy, as described
below.
[0055] Turning now to FIG. 2, a schematic cross-sectional view of a
plunger 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure is shown. The plunger 200 may be similar to that shown
and described above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1D, and may be a
non-circular shape. Specifically, the plunger 200 includes a
plunger member 202 and a handle 204, and the plunger member 202 may
have a non-circular shape.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 2, the plunger member 202 includes a handle
engagement portion 206, a plurality of compression ribs 208a-208c,
a contact rib 210, and a plunger rim 212. The handle 204 includes a
plunger engagement portion 214 that is configured to securely
engage with the handle engagement portion 206 and connect the
plunger member 202 to the handle 204. The engagement, as shown in
this embodiment, is a threaded connection. The plunger member 202
defines an interior cavity 216. The interior cavity 216 is
configured to contain air such that when the plunger 200 is
compressed by a user, air can be forced into pipes of a toilet and
when the plunger 200 is released, the interior cavity 216 (in
combination with a sealed contact between the contact rib 210 and
the toilet bowl) causes a vacuum or suction to pull upon material
lodged in the drain of the toilet.
[0057] As shown, the progressive sizes of the compression ribs
208a-208c enables compression and nesting or stacking of the
compression ribs into/onto each other during a compression action.
Further, as shown, the contact rib 210 includes an increased wall
thickness section 218 relative to the wall thickness of the
compression ribs 208a-208c. The increased wall thickness section
218 of the contact rib 210 is arranged facing downward and defines
the portion of the plunger member 202 that contacts and sealingly
engages with a surface of a toilet bowl. The increased wall
thickness section 218 provides for increased structural rigidity to
the material of the plunger member 202 such that a proper seal is
formed and maintained during a plunging action. In other words, the
increased wall thickness reduces the risk of the increased wall
thickness section 218 deforming during use and disrupting the seal
with the surface of the toilet. The increased thickness of the
increased wall thickness section 218 may be between 5% and 50%
thicker than the material that forms and defines the compression
ribs 208a-208c.
[0058] Also shown in FIG. 2 is the increased thickness of the
handle engagement portion 206. This increased material thickness is
configured to provide mechanical or structural support at the
location where the handle 204 engages with the plunger member 202.
The increased thickness of the handle engagement portion 206 also
provides stiffness to the plunger 200 such that a downward force
applied to the handle 204 will be transferred into the plunger
member 202 in a substantially downward direction and may prevent or
minimize risk of application of force at an angle, which may reduce
the effectiveness of or prevent a seal from forming between the
contact rib 210 and a surface of a toilet bowl.
[0059] As noted above, the non-circular shape of the plungers of
the present disclosure is not limited to a single geometric shape.
For example, referring to FIG. 3, schematic illustrations of
different geometric shapes for plungers in accordance with the
present disclosure are shown. The shapes are non-circular. For
example, a first plunger shape 300 is a trapezoid shape, a second
plunger shape 302 is an egg, oval, or ovoid shape, a third plunger
shape 304 is rectangular or rounded rectangular, a fourth plunger
shape 306 is triangular or rounded triangular, a fifth plunger
shape 308 is a diamond or rounded diamond shape, a sixth plunger
shape 310 is a pillow, peanut, or two-lobed shape, and a seventh
plunger shape 312 is an oval, racetrack, obround, or
discorectangular shape (i.e., rectangular with semi-circular ends).
FIG. 3 presents some examples that may be incorporated into
embodiments of the present disclosure and the present disclosure is
not to be limited to just the shapes shown and described herein. In
each case, the geometric shape is non-circular, asymmetrical about
at least one axis, and/or incorporates a multi-curvature
geometry.
[0060] In accordance with some embodiments, the engagement between
the plunger member and the handle may include features to enable
alignment and desired orientation of the components to ensure a
desired and secure engagement and connection of the two parts.
Because the handle and/or plunger member may be non-circular, an
alignment of the handle relative to the plunger member may be
desired to allow the plunger member to be positioned in a desired
orientation within a caddy or holder as is discussed in more detail
herein.
[0061] For example, referring to FIG. 4, a schematic illustration
of a plunger 400 in accordance with the present disclosure is
shown. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the connection between a
plunger member 402 and a handle 404 of the plunger 400. The plunger
member 402 includes a handle engagement portion 406 and the handle
404 includes a plunger engagement portion 408. The handle
engagement portion 406 includes a locking channel 410 that is
configured to receive a locking pin 412 of the plunger engagement
portion 408. The locking channel 410 includes a first stop 414 and
a second stop 416 that define the bounds of the locking channel
410. During installation of the handle 404 to the plunger member
402, the plunger engagement portion 408 may be threaded into
engagement with the handle engagement portion 406. When the
material of the two components are in contact, the locking pin 412
may slide along a surface of the handle engagement portion 406 and
then snap into engagement within the locking channel 410. Once
engagement, the locking pin 412 will not be able to rotate either
clockwise or counterclockwise due to the stops 414, 416. For
manufacturing purposes, the locking pin 412 of each handle 404 may
be formed in the same location. Similarly, the locking channel 410
of the handle engagement portion 406 of the plunger member 402 may
be formed in the same location. As such, when the two components
are threadedly connected, the orientation of the handle 404
relative to the plunger member 402 will always be the same. In an
embodiment, the wider side of the handle 104 is aligned with a flat
side of the plunger portion 102 when the locking pin 412 is
disposed in the locking channel 410.
[0062] The plungers described herein include a non-round or
non-circular plunger member, which in addition to providing a
pleasing visual ornamental appearance, also provides for an
improved sealing engagement with a toilet bowl surface. Further,
the non-circular shapes can provide for improved and efficient
downward (compression) action for unclogging toilets and pushing
water down into the pipes. The non-circular shapes may also provide
for a gradual, but strong and effective, thrust via a stepped
bellows/pleats design, as shown and described herein. This stepped
bellows/pleats design may reduce a "snapping" action inherent in
conventional bell or globe shaped plungers. Further, the stepped
bellows/pleats design (e.g., accordion style) plunger member helps
with force application, preventing rapid collapsing of the plunger
walls and snap-back of the plunger member to reduce the risk of
splash back of water from the toilet. The bulbous grip on the
handle, which in addition to providing a pleasing visual ornamental
appearance, provides for an increase in surface area that a user
can grip and engage with a palm to apply force during plunging. In
accordance with some embodiments, the plunger member may be formed
from non-rigid materials. For example, some prior plungers were
formed using plastic materials. However, in accordance with
embodiments of the present disclosure, the plunger member may be
made from non-plastic materials, such as rubbers, elastomers,
thermoplastics, and the like. In accordance with some embodiments,
the material may be selected to further assist in the plunging
action, including the use of a pliable material that can work with
the accordion shape of the plunger member for smooth compression
and release actions of the plunger during use. In accordance with
some embodiments of the present disclosure, the accordion
configuration, the selection of the materials, and the non-circular
shape can all present a desired force application in both the
compression stage and the release stage of a plunging action. In
some embodiments, the same force applied to compress is achieved in
the release. This is in contrast to conventional bell-plungers,
which may generate an excessive release force (rapid collapse and
snap back) which can cause splash or lack of manual control of the
plunger.
[0063] Turning now to FIGS. 5A-5D, schematic illustrations of a
plunger assembly 500 in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure are shown. The plunger assembly 500 includes a
plunger 502 and a caddy 504. FIG. 5A is a front elevation schematic
of the plunger assembly 500, FIG. 5B is a side elevation schematic
of the plunger assembly 500, FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional
illustration of the plunger assembly 500, and FIG. 5D is an
enlarged illustration of a portion of the plunger assembly 500. The
plunger 502 of the plunger assembly 500 may be similar to the
plungers shown and described above, including an accordion plunger
member 506 having a non-circular geometric shape that is attached
to a handle 508.
[0064] The plunger 502 includes a handle having one or more tapered
portions 510a, 510b and a bulbous grip 512. At least one of the
tapered portion 510a, 510b may be configured to be received or
engage with a holder 514 of the caddy 504. The holder 514 includes
two arms 516a, 516b that define a tapered, conical, or funnel-like
channel or cavity for receiving and engaging with a portion of the
handle. For example, as shown, the tapered portion 510a of the
handle of the plunger 502 can be fittingly received and supported
by the holder 514 of the caddy 504. The holder 514 also includes an
optional tab 518 which, in addition to providing a pleasing visual
ornamental appearance, may be used for ease of picking up the caddy
504 with or without the plunger 502 installed therein.
[0065] The caddy 504 includes a body 520 with the holder 514 at a
top side thereof. The body 520 of the caddy 504 defines an interior
cavity for receiving the plunger member 506 of the plunger 502. At
the bottom of the body 520 is a base 522. The base 522 is shaped to
allow for a gap 524 to be present between a bottom of the plunger
member 506 and the material of the base 522. As such, air may be
able to flow between the interior cavity of the caddy 504 (e.g.,
ambient air) and an interior of the plunger member 506. This fluid
connection through the gap 524 can aid in drying the plunger member
506 after use, preventing stagnant water/air from being trapped
within the plunger member 506.
[0066] As shown in FIG. 5D, the gap 524 is present along a plunger
rim 526 at the open end of the plunger member 506. The base 522
includes a depressed plate 528 that accommodates and forms the gap
524 when the plunger 502 is installed to and stored in the caddy
504. As shown, the base 522 can includes a snap connection 530 to
secure the depressed plate 528 to the base 522. The gap 524 is
formed, in part, due to the location at which the holder 514
engages with the tapered portion 510a of the handle. That is, the
shape of the holder 514 is set to receive the shape of the tapered
portion 510a of handle and prevent the bottom of the plunger member
506 from contacting the depressed plate 528 of the base 522.
[0067] In some configurations, the plunger assembly shown and
described with respect to FIGS. 5A-5D may be combined with a toilet
brush for a cleaning implement assembly. For example, referring to
FIGS. 6A-6D, schematic illustrations of a cleaning implement
assembly 600 in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure are shown. The cleaning implement assembly 600, which in
addition to providing a pleasing visual ornamental appearance,
provides for an adjustable or module caddy system that enables
user-defined orientation of the components thereof. The cleaning
implement assembly 600 includes a first caddy 602 with a plunger
604 installed therein, a second caddy 606 with a brush 608
installed therein, and an assembly base 610.
[0068] In an embodiment, the assembly base 610 includes a first
portion 612 sized and shaped to receive the first caddy 602 and a
second portion 614 that is sized and shaped to receive the second
caddy 606. The first portion 612 and the second portion 614 are
connected by an intermediate portion 616. In the illustrated
embodiment, the portions 612, 614 are shaped to match or visually
complement the curved side walls of the caddies 602, 606. However,
is should be appreciated that the interface between the caddies
602, 606 and the portions 612, 614 may have other shapes, such as
but not limited to circular, semi-circular, or square for
example.
[0069] The first and second caddies 602, 606 are configured to be
removed from the portions 312, 314 of the assembly base 610,
allowing for rotation of the orientation of the first and second
caddies 602, 606 relative to each other. FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate
some (but not all) different orientations of the first and second
caddies 602, 606 within the assembly base 610. The caddies 602, 606
may be completely removed using a tab on the top thereof, which
provides for easy access can carrying by a user. As such, the
caddies 602, 606 and the respective cleaning implements 604, 608
may be removed, used for cleaning purposes, and then returned to
the assembly base 610 for storage/stowage.
[0070] In an embodiment, the portions 612, 614 each have a recess
sized and shaped to receive the bottom portion of the caddies 602,
606, respectively. In an embodiment, this allows the caddies 602,
606 to separately be removably coupled to the assembly base 610 in
a stable manner.
[0071] Turning now to FIG. 7, a schematic illustration of a
cleaning implement assembly 700 in accordance with an embodiment of
the present disclosure are shown. The cleaning implement assembly
700, which in addition to providing a pleasing visual ornamental
appearance, provides for an adjustable or module caddy system that
enables user-defined orientation of the components thereof. The
cleaning implement assembly 700 includes a first caddy 702 with a
plunger 704 installed therein, a second caddy 706 with a brush 708
installed therein, and an assembly base 710.
[0072] The assembly base 710 includes a first portion 712 sized and
shaped to receive the first caddy 702 and a second portion 714 that
is sized and shaped to receive the second caddy 706. The first
portion 712 and the second portion 714 are connected by an
intermediate portion 716. In the illustrated embodiment, the
portions 712, 714 are shaped to match or visually complement the
curved side walls/base of the caddies 702, 706. However, is should
be appreciated that the interface between the caddies 702, 706 and
the portions 712, 714 may have other shapes, such as but not
limited to circular, semi-circular, or square for example.
[0073] FIG. 7 illustrates the first and second caddies 702, 706 as
removed from the assembly base 710. Each caddy 702, 706 is
configured to be removably placed and supported by a respective
portion 712, 714 of the assembly base 710. When placing each of the
caddies 702, 706 in the respective portions 712, 714 of the
assembly base 710, each caddy 702, 706 may be independently
oriented or placed. As such, the different orientations shown in
FIGS. 6A-6D or other configurations/orientations may be possible
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0074] Further, as shown, each portion 712, 714 of the assembly
base 710 includes a respective rim 712a, 714a. The rims 712a, 714a
are sized and shaped to receive a portion of the respective base or
bottom 702a, 706a of the caddies 702, 706. In some non-limiting
embodiments, the interface between the rims 712a, 714a of the
assembly base 710 may be a shape fit that provides no physical
engagement, but may provide for placement, orientation, and support
to prevent the caddies 702, 706 from tipping over or moving
relative to the assembly base 710. In other embodiments, a snap-fit
or releasable fixed connection may be employed, without departing
from the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in some
embodiments, the first portion 712 and the second portion 714 may
be removably connected to the intermediate portion 716, such as by
snap-fit, press-fit, fastener, or the like. In other embodiments,
the three components of the assembly base 710 may be uniformly or
integrally formed as a single structure/body, such as by molding or
machining. Still, in other embodiments, the portions 712, 714, 716
may be formed or made separated and then assembled using fasteners,
glue, adhesives, bonding, welding, or the like, as will be
appreciated by those of skill in the art.
[0075] Advantageously, embodiments described herein provide
improved plungers and cleaning implement assemblies. The plungers
described herein improve plunging action through improved force
application by including a bulbous grip on the handle and a
non-circular plunger member. The non-circular plunger member
provides for improved sealing between the plunger member and a
surface of a toilet bowl. The improved seal can enable improved
compression/release action to unclog a clogged drain. Further, the
non-circular shape can eliminate, reduce, or minimize splash back
of water during a plunging action.
[0076] The non-circular plunger members can also include an
increased wall thickness or material thickness at the location
where the plunger member contacts the toilet bowl. This increased
material or wall thickness ensures a desired seal and provides for
structural and/or mechanical strength at the contact surface
between the plunger and the toilet bowl. The increased thickness
may be present only on a contact rib of the plunger member, and
other compression ribs may be provided to form an accordion-style
plunger, which enables controlled force application both on the
downward compression action and the upward release action during a
plunging action.
[0077] Further, advantageously, caddies are provided herein for the
non-circular plungers. The caddies can provide storage or stowage
for the plunger in a housing that can suspend the plunger with an
air gap between the plunger and a base of the caddy. This gap may
improve drying of the plunger after use. Further, the caddy may be
an adjustable structure that can be oriented in a desired way by a
user. Double caddies can accommodate both a plunger and a toilet
cleaning brush or other cleaning implement. The double caddy may be
customizable at least with respect to the orientation of each caddy
of the double caddy system. A single assembly base may be provided
to receive each of a first caddy (for a plunger) and a second caddy
(for a brush), and permit adjustment of the two caddies relative to
each other. Furthermore, the assembly base can enable removal of
one or both caddies during use, and serve as a single location to
store the caddies and cleaning implements when not in use.
[0078] It should be appreciated that the particular shapes,
relative sizes and configurations of the components illustrated in
the drawings may be chosen for a desired ornamental appearance and
the functions described herein may be performed by components
having a different size, shape, and/or configuration in accordance
with, and without deviating from, the teachings provided herein.
For example, the bodies of the caddies may have square or circular
shapes rather than a wall that curves in two directions, or the
assembly base may have a different shape (e.g., circular) than the
caddy bodies.
[0079] The use of the terms "a", "an", "the", and similar
references in the context of description (especially in the context
of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the
singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or
specifically contradicted by context. The modifiers "about" and
"substantially" used in connection with a quantity is inclusive of
the stated value and has the meaning dictated by the context (e.g.,
it includes the degree of error associated with measurement of the
particular quantity). All ranges disclosed herein are inclusive of
the endpoints, and the endpoints are independently combinable with
each other. As used herein, the terms "about" and "substantially"
are intended to include the degree of error associated with
measurement of the particular quantity based upon the equipment
available at the time of filing the application. For example, the
terms may include a range of .+-.8%, or 5%, or 2% of a given value
or other percentage change as will be appreciated by those of skill
in the art for the particular measurement and/or dimensions
referred to herein. Further, the terms "about" and "substantially,"
when applied to non-quantity properties (e.g., shapes, relative
alignment, levelness, etc.) are used to represent that variations
on the described characteristic or property within a level of
understanding of those of skill in the art. For example, the term
"circular" may not only encompass a perfect circle, but also shapes
that are considered "circular" by those of skill in the art (e.g.,
with a margin of error from a perfect circle).
[0080] While the present disclosure has been described in detail in
connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be
readily understood that the present disclosure is not limited to
such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the present disclosure can be
modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations,
substitutions, combinations, sub-combinations, or equivalent
arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate
with the scope of the present disclosure. Additionally, while
various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described,
it is to be understood that aspects of the present disclosure may
include only some of the described embodiments.
[0081] Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to be seen as
limited by the foregoing description but is only limited by the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *