Plunger system and method
A system and method for a plunger for unclogging a toilet. A plunger system comprising an elongated cylinder, a flexible material at a first end of the elongated cylinder, an air reservoir located inside the cylinder having an outlet extending through the flexible material, and a valve adapted to release compressed air stored inside the air reservoir through the outlet. The flexible material is capable of being expanded to seal the exit port of a toilet. A method for unclogging a toilet with a plunger device comprising the following steps: inserting a first end of a plunger device into an exit port of the toilet, expanding a flexible material attached to the first end of the plunger device to seal the exit port, and releasing a bolus of air into the exit port past the flexible material to unclog the toilet.
This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Number 60/555,748, entitled “Concealed plunger and concealed toilet brush,” filed Mar. 23, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention is generally related to clog eliminating systems and, more particularly, is related to a system and method for a plunger for unclogging toilets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONToilets commonly become clogged due to materials being lodged in traps, elbows, and channels in the toilet. Standard plungers are simple to use but can be very messy. Standard plungers attempt to form a seal near the bottom of the bowl of a toilet by encircling the exit port of the toilet. With the changes in the exit ports of toilets over the years many of which involve irregular shaped bowl bottoms or irregular shaped exit ports, standard plungers or plungers that use a similar type of seal do not form a good seal with the toilets. Without a good seal the plunger is not very efficient or effective and often causes a lot of splashing of water out of the toilet bowl. In addition standard plungers are not very attractive when sitting on the floor of a bathroom and can create a mess if stored in a cabinet.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the field of plungers to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for unclogging a toilet using a plunger that creates a seal within an exit port of the toilet, not around the outside edge of the exit port, and dislodges the clog with a bolus of air.
Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. A plunger system comprising an elongated cylinder, a flexible material at a first end of the elongated cylinder, an air reservoir located inside the cylinder having an outlet extending through the flexible material, and a valve adapted to release compressed air stored inside the air reservoir through the outlet. The flexible material is capable of being expanded to seal the exit port of a toilet.
Embodiments of the present invention can also be viewed as providing methods for unclogging a toilet with a plunger system. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: inserting a first end of a plunger device into an exit port of the toilet, expanding a flexible material attached to the first end of the plunger device to seal the exit port, and releasing a bolus of air into the exit port past the flexible material to unclog the toilet.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSMany aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The plunger system and method of the present invention permits people to unclog their toilets with a device that is easy to use, efficient in operation, and attractive to view. The plunger system includes an elongated tube, a flexible sealing material, and an air reservoir.
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The method 100 includes step 110 of inserting a first end of a plunger device into an exit port of the toilet. In step 120 a flexible material attached to the first end of the plunger device is expanded to seal the exit port. In step 130 a bolus of air is released into the exit port past the flexible material to unclog the toilet.
The various methods of expanding the flexible material attached to the plunger device as described in the embodiments above can all be use in the method 100.
The plunger system and method of the present invention allows the unclogging of a toilet in a convenient and easy manner. The plunger system is capable of being manufactured with a variety of materials and in a variety of styles to allow it to conform to the decor of any bathroom, thus eliminating the unsightly plunger.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.
Claims
1. A device for unclogging a toilet comprising:
- an elongated cylinder;
- a flexible material at a first end of the elongated cylinder and capable of being inserted into an exit port of the toilet and then expanded to seal the exit port of the toilet;
- an air reservoir located inside the cylinder having an outlet extending through the flexible material; and
- a valve adapted to release air stored inside the air reservoir through the outlet.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is expanded by filling with a fluid.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible material is expanded mechanically.
4. The device of claim 1, further including a reciprocal pump for increasing air pressure within the air reservoir.
5. The device of claim 4, further including an elongated pump arm.
6. A method of unclogging a toilet, comprising the following steps:
- inserting a first end of a plunger device into an exit port of the toilet;
- expanding a flexible material attached to the first end of the plunger device to seal the exit port; and
- releasing a bolus of air into the exit port past the flexible material to unclog the toilet.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the expanding step includes pumping a handle at a second end of the plunger device to increase air pressure within the plunger device.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein the expanding step includes mechanically expanding a dimension of the flexible material.
9. The method of claim 6, wherein the expanding step includes forcing a fluid into the flexible material.
10. A device for unclogging a toilet comprising:
- an elongated cylinder;
- a flexible material at a first end of the elongated cylinder;
- an air reservoir located within the elongated cylinder and in communication with the flexible material;
- a valve located within the flexible material and in communication with the air reservoir;
- a nozzle extending outside the flexible material and in communication with the air reservoir; and
- a handle attached to a second end of the elongated cylinder adapted to be moved in an upstroke and a down-stroke, wherein pressure within the air reservoir is increased during both the upstroke and down-stroke, the flexible material is inflated when the pressure increases, the valve is opened during a down-stroke releasing a bolus of air.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein the flexible material is inflated inside an exit port of the toilet.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the handle includes a piston located in the interior of the elongated cylinder.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the piston includes a check valve.
14. The device of claim 10, wherein the handle includes a transfer rod.
15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a transfer tube attached to the elongated cylinder to receive the transfer rod.
16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a flexible transfer tube connecting the transfer tube to the valve.
17. The device of claim 10, wherein the flexible material resides into the elongated cylinder when not inflated.
18. The device of claim 10, wherein the flexible material creates a seal inside the exit port when inflated inside the exit port.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 19, 2005
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventor: Justin Lanier (Kennesaw, GA)
Application Number: 11/084,708