TOILET PLUNGER SHROUD

Abstract

A device for removing obstructions from a drain is provided and is in the configuration of a toilet plunger having an agitator element for promoting movement of fluid and a shroud. The agitator element includes a driver having a cup that is formed with a plurality of accordion-like ribs or is semi-spherical in shape. The shroud limits any flow of fluid into a buffer space between the agitator element and the shroud, thereby operating as an anti-splash feature.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device for removing obstructions in a drain and, more particularly, to a device for removing obstructions in a drain having a movable portion for promoting fluid movement and a shroud for limiting fluid splashing. In a particularly useful configuration, the present invention is directed to a toilet plunger and a shroud for limiting fluid splashing.

When a person operates a toilet plunger, water from the toilet can project upwardly when the person pushes down and pulls up on the plunger. In addition, water in the toilet can sway or slosh around the toilet bowl which limits the thrust pressure. The projection of the water can easily come in contact with the user. There have been various attempts to deal with this problem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,555 issued to Bonilla; U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,170 issued to Witt; U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,368 issued to Webb; U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,730 issued to Pardo; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,456 issued to Taylor all show splash guards for use with toilet plungers. These prior patents do not eliminate or reduce the splash which occurs when a person is operating a toilet plunger, but simply attempt to block the splash from coming in contact with the user. This is the so-called splash guard technique. Obviously these prior devices will not work very well if the splash gets past the splash guard.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide an advantageous approach to the problem of water projecting upwardly when a person manually manipulates a device such as a toilet plunger for clearing a drain of obstructions.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a device for clearing a drain of obstructions that has a relatively compact configuration that permits ready and convenient storage of the device.

The present invention offers a novel advantageous approach to the problem of water projecting upwardly when the person pulls up and down on the plunger, in that the present invention provides a shroud which encases the entire cup of the plunger and, in some embodiments, portions of the handle of the plunger. By shrouding of the cup, water is displaced before the plunger is used and the plunger does not create substantial splash in the first place. To those ends, one aspect of the present invention is directed to a device for removing obstructions from a drain through which fluid drains from a fluid retaining structure. The device for removing obstructions comprises an agitator element for promoting movement of fluid, the agitator element including a drain facing portion defining an open end, a drain remote portion, and a driver intermediate the drain facing portion and the drain remote portion, the open end of the drain facing portion being positionable in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain, the driver being operatively connected to the drain facing portion, the agitator element having a peripheral region and a reference center line passing through the peripheral region, and the peripheral region of the agitator element is intermediate the drain remote portion and the open end of the drain facing portion relative to the reference center line. It also comprises a shroud, the shroud having a distal portion. The shroud and the peripheral region of the agitator element are joined in a substantially fluid impervious manner, the shroud having a proximate portion that is more proximate to the drain remote end of the agitator element than the distal portion of the shroud, and the shroud extending radially outwardly from the agitator element relative to the reference center line along the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion such that a buffer space is delimited between the agitator element and the shroud. The agitator element is positionable in a fluid retaining structure that retains a fluid volume having a top surface and whose drain is submerged below the retained fluid volume. The agitator element is also positionable relative to the fluid retaining structure such that the open end of the drain facing portion is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain and the shroud extends into the retained fluid volume. The agitator element is operable, when positioned relative to the fluid retaining structure, to apply a motive force to fluid via a movement of the driver, and the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion being such that the proximate portion of the shroud is above the top surface of the retained fluid volume during a movement of the driver of the agitator element, whereupon the shroud limits any flow of fluid into the buffer space between the agitator element and the shroud.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the present invention is directed to a shroud comprising a distal portion and a proximate portion. The shroud is operable with an agitator element for promoting movement of fluid, the agitator element having a drain facing portion defining an open end, a drain remote portion, and a driver intermediate the drain facing portion and the drain remote portion, the open end of the drain facing portion being positionable in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain. The driver being operatively connected to the drain facing portion, the agitator element having a peripheral region and a reference center line passing through the peripheral region, and the peripheral region of the agitator element is intermediate the drain remote portion and the open end of the drain facing portion relative to the reference center line and the distal portion and the peripheral region of the agitator element being joined in a substantially fluid impervious manner. The proximate portion of the shroud is more proximate to the drain remote end of the agitator element than the distal portion of the shroud, and the shroud extends radially outwardly from the agitator element relative to the reference center line along the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion such that a buffer space is delimited between the agitator element and the shroud The agitator element is positionable in a fluid retaining structure that retains a fluid volume having a top surface and whose drain is submerged below the retained fluid volume The agitator element is also positionable relative to the fluid retaining structure such that the open end of the drain facing portion is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain and the shroud extends into the retained fluid volume. The agitator element is operable, when positioned relative to the fluid retaining structure, to apply a motive force to fluid via a movement of the driver, and the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion being such that the proximate portion of the shroud is above the top surface of the retained fluid volume during a movement of the driver of the agitator element, whereupon the shroud limits any flow of fluid into the buffer space between the agitator element and the shroud.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, the present invention is directed to a toilet plunger, comprising a plunger cup, a handle attached to the plunger cup, and a shroud secured to the plunger cup with the shroud, on the one hand, and the handle and the plunger cup, on the other hand, defining therebetween a hollow space, and the shroud having an extent sufficient to extend above the water level of a toilet when the plunger cup is disposed over a drain of the toilet in contact with a basin of the toilet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the present invention is now described with reference to the following figures of the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the invention, whereby a cone-shaped shroud is attached to the cup of the plunger.

FIG. 2 shows the shroud of FIG. 1 without the plunger.

FIG. 3 shows a shroud, which is similar to the shroud of FIG. 2, connected to another type of plunger, portions of which are received inside of a toilet.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, whereby the plunger is being inserted into the shroud and the shroud has not yet been locked to the plunger cup.

FIG. 5 shows a partial view of FIG. 4 but with the shroud locked to the plunger cup.

FIG. 6 shows the shroud of FIG. 4 without the plunger.

FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a device for removing obstruction from a drain with portions of the device shown in operating disposition in a fluid retaining structure in the form of a toilet.

FIG. 8 shows a further additional embodiment of a device for removing obstruction from a drain.

FIG. 9 shows an exploded view of the further additional embodiment of a device for removing obstruction from a drain shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is provided toilet plunger 10 having plunger cup 12 attached to handle 14. A hollow shroud 16 is received over the major portion of plunger cup 12 and a portion of handle 14. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, shroud 16 is somewhat cone shaped. Handle 14 extends through opening 18 of the shroud. While shroud 16 fully encloses and thus would hide from view portions of plunger cup 12 and handle 14, those items are shown through the shroud in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4 for clarification. Shroud 16 includes lower edge 20, which may be adhered, attached, molded or locked to the lower portion of plunger cup 12. By the edges 20 making contact with the lower portion of cup 12, water from the toilet does not tend to enter into the hollow inside of shroud 16. In addition, the air filled hollow shroud 16 displaced the water which would normally splash if an unshrouded plunger or a plunger with a splash guard were used. Thus, when plunger 10 is being operated, the likelihood that the water will splash is greatly reduced.

FIG. 3 shows toilet plunger 22, which is of a different design than toilet plunger 10 of FIG. 1. Cup 24 of toilet plunger 22 includes a plurality of accordion-like ribs 26. The shroud 28, which covers a portion of cup 24 as well as handle 30 of toilet plunger 22, is more milk-bottle shaped than the cone-shaped shroud 16 of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 illustrates the shrouded plunger 22 having been inserted into toilet basin 32 containing water 34. As can be seen, shroud 28 occupies a volume, including air, within toilet 32, which was occupied by water prior to the shrouded plunger having been inserted into toilet basin 32. The invention thus displaces a substantial amount of the water which could splash if the shroud were not used. The shape of the shroud may vary although it is preferable that the top of the shroud be substantially higher than the water level and preferably higher than the rim of the toilet bowl so as to displace the water and create an air cavity around the cup.

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention. In that embodiment, shroud 36 is somewhat cylindrical in shape and includes a lower portion of 38 having a similar shape to the lower portion of 40 of cup 42, which forms a portion of plunger 44. Plunger 44 also includes handle 46. The upper opening 48 of shroud 36 is much larger than the openings 18 and 29 of shrouds 16 and 28, respectively. FIG. 4 shows the shroud 36 is not yet physically connected to cup 42. Thus, cup 42 is free to travel within shroud 36 and the lower portion 40 of cup 46 passes through or aligns with the lower opening 38 of shroud 36. However, when the plunger/shroud embodiment of FIGS. 4-6 is placed into the toilet, preferably the lower portion 40 of plunger cup 42 passes through the opening of lower portion 38 of shroud 36 and the shroud and cup are locked together so water will not enter the lower opening of the shroud. In that situation shoulders 50 and 52 of the lower portion 40 of cup 42 engage with shoulders 54 and 56 of the lower portion 38 of shroud 36. Shroud 36 includes indented rim 51 forming an inward projection which extends around lower portion 38 of shroud 36. As can be seen in FIG. 5, rim 51 engages with flange 53 which extends around lower portion 40 of plunger cup 42 so as to form a seal between plunger cup 42 and shroud 36 and to lock the shroud and seal together. This seal prevents water from entering into the inside of shroud 36. Thus, as the plunger is operated there is much less likelihood that water will splash upwardly through opening 48 of shroud 36.

FIG. 7 shows a device for removing obstruction from a drain with portions of the device shown in operating disposition in a fluid retaining structure in the form of a toilet. FIG. 7 shows a device for removing obstruction from a drain in the configuration of a toilet plunger 122. The toilet plunger 122 includes an agitator element 123 for promoting movement of fluid, the agitator element including a driver having a cup 124 that is formed with a plurality of accordion-like ribs 126. The toilet plunger 122 includes a handle 130 and a shroud 128 having an upper opening 129 and the toilet plunger 122 includes a handle 130 that projects through the upper opening 129 in the shroud 128. The shroud 128 covers a portion of the cup 124 as well as a portion of the handle 130. FIG. 7 illustrates the toilet plunger 122 having been inserted into a fluid retaining structure in the form of a toilet having a toilet basin 132 containing a fluid in the form of water 134. The toilet includes a drain 136 at a lower portion of the toilet basin 132 and the drain 136 is submerged below the water 134 in the toilet basis 132. The water 134 in the toilet basin 132 has a top surface or water level 138. As can be seen, the shroud 128 occupies a volume, including air, within toilet basin 132, which was occupied by water prior to the toilet plunger 122 having been inserted into the toilet basin 132. The toilet plunger 122 thus displaces a substantial amount of the water which could splash if the shroud 128 were not used. The shape of the shroud 128 may vary although it is preferable that the top of the shroud be substantially higher than the water level 138 and preferably higher than the rim of the toilet basin 132 so as to displace the water and create an air cavity around the cup 124.

With continued reference to FIG. 7, the agitator element 123 includes a drain facing portion 140 defining an open end 142, a drain remote portion 144, and the driver including the cup 124, this cup 124 being intermediate the drain facing portion 140 and the drain remote portion 144. The open end 142 of the drain facing portion 140 is positionable in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain 136 and the cup 124 of the driver is operatively connected to the drain facing portion 140. The agitator element 123 has a peripheral region 146 and a reference center line REF-CL passing through the peripheral region 146, and the peripheral region 146 of the agitator element 123 is intermediate the drain remote portion 144 and the open end 142 of the drain facing portion 140 relative to the reference center line REF-CL. The shroud 128 has a distal portion 148 connected to the peripheral region 146 of the agitator element 123 in a substantially fluid impervious manner and has a proximate portion 150 that is more proximate to the drain remote end 144 of the agitator element 123 than the distal portion 148. The proximate portion 150 forms the upper opening 129. The shroud 128 extends radially outwardly from the agitator element 123 relative to the reference center line REF-CL along the extent of the shroud 123 between its distal portion 148 and its proximate portion 150 such that a buffer space 152 is delimited between the agitator element 123 and the shroud 128. The volume of the buffer space 152 within the shroud 128 is preferably between 50% to 80% of the volume of the portion of the agitator element 132 within the shroud 128. The spacing of the interior surface of the shroud 128 from the agitator element 123, as measured perpendicularly to the reference center line REF-CL within the buffer space 152 generally at the level of the top surface of the water in the toilet basin 123 in which the toilet plunger 122 is deployed, has a minimum value of five percent (5%) of the transverse width of the agitator element 132 measured perpendicularly to the reference center line REF-CL at the same location and, preferably, has a value of at least ten percent (10%) of the transverse width of the agitator element 132.

The agitator element 123 is positionable relative to the toilet basin 132 such that the open end 142 of the drain facing portion 140 is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain 136 and the shroud 128 extends into the retained fluid volume—namely, the water 134. The agitator element 123 is operable, when positioned relative to the toilet basin 132, to apply a motive force to fluid via a movement of the driver—specifically, when a movement of the driver is caused by manually manipulation of the handle 130 by an operator, the accordion-like ribs 126 of the cup 124 contract toward one another or extend away from one another and the interior volume of the cup 124 is correspondingly reduced or enlarged. The changes or fluctuations in the interior volume of the cup 124 produces a motive force that acts on water 134 that has entered the agitator element 123 via the open end 142 of the drain facing portion, thereby promoting dislodgement of any obstructions that may be present in the drain 136. The extent of the shroud 128 between its distal portion 148 and its proximate portion 150 is such that the proximate portion 150 of the shroud 128 is above the top surface or water level 138 of the water 134 during the movements of the driver of the agitator element 123, whereupon the shroud 128 limits any flow of fluid into the buffer space 152 between the agitator element 123 and the shroud 128.

FIG. 8 shows a further additional embodiment of a device for removing obstruction from a drain and this embodiment is configured as a drain clearing device 200. As seen in FIG. 9, which shows an exploded view of the drain clearing device shown in FIG. 8, the drain clearing device 200 comprises a soft flexible rubber head 202 attached to a cylinder body 204 using a large stainless steel worm clamp 206 which is tightened or loosened by a driving head 208. The cylinder body 204 is capped off with a PVC cap 210 which is glued into position. A hole is formed in the side of the cap 210 and is connected to by a downwardly directed guide surface 212 which directs any material emerging from the hole downwardly toward the bottom end and onto the outer surface of the body 204. The cylinder body 204 contains a plunger in the form of a rod 214 with a piston 216 at the lower end and a surrounding handle 218 at the upper end made from soft but yet stiff sponge material and is held in place by friction or a tight fit onto the plunger rod 214.

The rubber injection molded piston 216 is formed as a generally annular band with an outside dimension just smaller than the inside dimension of cylindrical body 204 so as to slide inside the cylinder. The band is formed with slightly conical top and bottom portions which taper outwardly toward the top and bottom respectively to form top and bottom edges which are slightly larger than the diameter of the cylinder 204 and thus act as seals against the inside surface of the cylinder to effectively prevent the passage of air and water. The injection molded rubber piston 216 is designed to draw water via suction of, or force water into or out, a toilet basin, a bathroom sink drain hole, or a bathtub drain hole. The present invention has been described as operable with any suitable plunger that applies an unclogging action to a drain and it is to be understood that the advantages of the device of the present invention will still be obtained even if the respective plunger creates only an incomplete suction action relative to a drain that, as a result, leads to a back flow in the drain area. Even when used in such circumstances, the device of the present invention beneficially minimizes or fully prevents an undesired upward splashing of water when a person manually manipulates the plunger to clear the drain of obstructions. Also, while the plunger may be formed of a single “self-standing” rubber component with a bell-shaped curvature or may include several accordion-like ribs, it is to be understood that the device of the present invention is equally suitable for use with a plunger having another geometry or being formed of materials other than rubber. For example, the plunger may be formed with a membrane material that is secured to the plunger handle and whose interior volume can be increased and decreased (to produce a suction effect) via manual manipulation of the plunger handle.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent that many modifications may be made therein. It will be understood that this embodiment of the invention is an exemplification of the invention only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

Claims

1. A device for removing obstructions from a drain through which fluid drains from a fluid retaining structure, the device for removing obstructions comprising:

an agitator element for promoting movement of fluid, the agitator element including a drain facing portion defining an open end, a drain remote portion, and a driver intermediate the drain facing portion and the drain remote portion, the open end of the drain facing portion being positionable in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain, the driver being operatively connected to the drain facing portion, the agitator element having a peripheral region and a reference center line passing through the peripheral region, and the peripheral region of the agitator element is intermediate the drain remote portion and the open end of the drain facing portion relative to the reference center line; and

a shroud, the shroud having a distal portion, the distal portion of the shroud and the peripheral region of the agitator element being joined in a substantially fluid impervious manner, the shroud having a proximate portion that is more proximate to the drain remote end of the agitator element than the distal portion of the shroud, and the shroud extending radially outwardly from the agitator element relative to the reference center line along the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion such that a buffer space is delimited between the agitator element and the shroud, the agitator element being positionable in a fluid retaining structure that retains a fluid volume having a top surface and whose drain is submerged below the retained fluid volume, the agitator element being positionable relative to the fluid retaining structure such that the open end of the drain facing portion is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain and the shroud extends into the retained fluid volume, the agitator element being operable, when positioned relative to the fluid retaining structure, to apply a motive force to fluid via a movement of the driver, and the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion being such that the proximate portion of the shroud is above the top surface of the retained fluid volume during a movement of the driver of the agitator element, whereupon the shroud limits any flow of fluid into the buffer space between the agitator element and the shroud.

2. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 1, wherein the driver includes a cup communicated with the drain facing end and an interior volume defined by the cup and the drain facing end is variable in volume via manipulation of the driver.

3. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 2, wherein the drain facing end is formed of a deformable rubber material.

4. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 3, wherein the agitator element includes a handle that is connected to the driver.

5. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 4, wherein the driver has a semi-spherical shape with a largest diameter portion delimited by a rim, the rim delimits the open end of the drain facing portion of the agitator element, and the rim of the driver is adapted to be in contact with the fluid retaining structure in the operating disposition of the device.

6. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 5, wherein the rim of the driver forms the peripheral region of the agitator element and the distal portion of the shroud is joined to the rim of the driver.

7. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 1, wherein the shroud includes an upper opening and the handle extends through the upper opening of the shroud.

8. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 1, wherein the driver is a cup having a plurality of accordion-like ribs and manually manipulation of the agitator element causes the accordion-like ribs of the cup to contract toward one another or extend away from one another and the interior volume of the cup is correspondingly reduced or enlarged

9. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 8, wherein the shroud includes an indented rim forming an inward projection that extends around the distal portion of the shroud and the indented rim engages with a flange that extends around the cup so as to form a seal between the cup and the shroud.

10. The device for removing obstructions according to claim 1, wherein the driver includes a chamber having an inner surface and communicated with the drain facing end and a piston reciprocable in the chamber, the piston having a periphery in engagement with the inner surface of the chamber in a manner in which the passage of fluid past the piston is substantially prevented, and movement of the piston relative to the chamber acts to selectively draw fluid into the chamber or force fluid out of the chamber.

11. A shroud comprising:

a distal portion; and

a proximate portion, the shroud being operable with an agitator element for promoting movement of fluid, the agitator element having a drain facing portion defining an open end, a drain remote portion, and a driver intermediate the drain facing portion and the drain remote portion, the open end of the drain facing portion being positionable in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain, the driver being operatively connected to the drain facing portion, the agitator element having a peripheral region and a reference center line passing through the peripheral region, and the peripheral region of the agitator element is intermediate the drain remote portion and the open end of the drain facing portion relative to the reference center line and the distal portion and the peripheral region of the agitator element being joined in a substantially fluid impervious manner, the proximate portion of the shroud being more proximate to the drain remote end of the agitator element than the distal portion of the shroud, and the shroud extending radially outwardly from the agitator element relative to the reference center line along the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion such that a buffer space is delimited between the agitator element and the shroud, the agitator element being positionable in a fluid retaining structure that retains a fluid volume having a top surface and whose drain is submerged below the retained fluid volume, the agitator element being positionable relative to the fluid retaining structure such that the open end of the drain facing portion is in at least partial overlapping relationship with the drain and the shroud extends into the retained fluid volume, the agitator element being operable, when positioned relative to the fluid retaining structure, to apply a motive force to fluid via a movement of the driver, and the extent of the shroud between its distal portion and its proximate portion being such that the proximate portion of the shroud is above the top surface of the retained fluid volume during a movement of the driver of the agitator element, whereupon the shroud limits any flow of fluid into the buffer space between the agitator element and the shroud.

12. A toilet plunger, comprising:

a plunger cup;

a handle attached to the plunger cup; and

a shroud secured to the plunger cup with the shroud, on the one hand, and the handle and the plunger cup, on the other hand, defining therebetween a hollow space, and the shroud having an extent sufficient to extend above the water level of a toilet when the plunger cup is disposed over a drain of the toilet in contact with a basin of the toilet.