TOILET PLUNGER

Abstract

A plunger device comprising a piston pump assembly and a plunger head that is sized to fit inside a trap of a toilet and downstream of a siphon jet of the toilet. Pressurized air from the piston pump assembly is used to dislodge an obstruction and push it down the toilet drain. The plunger is easy to use, easy to clean and can be adapted to use different plunger heads to unclog different types of drains other than toilet drains.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to plunger devices for clearing clogged drains, and in a main aspect to a plunger device that may be inserted into a toilet to create a seal beyond or independent of the siphon jet that further employs pressurized air or water to dislodge a clogged toilet drain.

BACKGROUND

Toilet plunger devices typically employ a manual, hand-operated plunger, typically consisting of a rubber cup and stick to dislodge a clogged toilet drain. While the traditional suction cup plunger with a wide flat face may still be popular, it may be difficult to use these plungers on newer curved toilet drains.

Other hand-operated cup plungers will not have the open face of the traditional plungers but, instead, are typically designed to fit the tubular curve-shaped toilet drains and often have a rubber flange extending from the bottom of the cup to allow for the plunger to fit in the toilet drain with a tighter seal on curved surfaces. These plungers still suffer from a great deal of slippage while in use and require additional pumping strokes to be effective.

Cup plungers may have tiered-sections of rubber for the purpose of maintaining a better seal around the drain from all angles. In use, however, the pumping motion of these plungers often results in the undesired creation of waves, bubbling, and backsplash of the water within the toilet.

A spring plunger, with a bellows-shaped chamber, has a taller compression chamber and a funnel nose designed to be inserted into the toilet drain before plunging. The plunger therefore offers more pressure on the drain per square inch than standard plungers. This greater pressure that is created with every plunge is able to clear some of the most stubborn clogs. While spring plungers have the potential to be very effective, the size and shape of the plunger, namely the chamber, may prove to be cumbersome and difficult to use. For example, the chamber may remain compressed after several plunges, the chamber may turn inside out, and vigorous plunges may also result in backsplash. Also, the hard plastic cannot conform to and seal to hard curved surfaces like porcelain. In addition, water and/or sewage which may have entered the chamber may not be completely removed from the chamber after use.

Hydraulic plungers using pressurized water are also known in the art. However, these plungers do not form effective seals in the drains and they are complicated and messy to use.

There is a need for a toilet plunger that is capable of conforming to any toilet trap to provide a tight seal beyond or below the siphon jet in order to maximize the pressure that is to be applied to the blockage, while decreasing backsplash and the potential for contamination of surfaces nearby. By positioning the plunger head beyond or below the siphon jet, the plunger avoids plunging pressure loss that is unavoidable using prior art plungers, as the siphon jet connects to atmosphere through ports which encircle the toilet bowl. Furthermore, there is a need for a toilet plunger that that is easily cleaned after use to reduce risk of contamination of other areas with the plunger.

SUMMARY

In one aspect disclosed herein is plunger device comprising a piston pump assembly and a plunger head sized and shaped to fit inside a trap of a toilet and downstream of a siphon jet of the toilet, the piston pump assembly further comprising:

• • a) a hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, and defining a carrying passage extending within the cylindrical body and through the first end and the second end; and
  • b) a piston plunger slidably and sealingly disposed within the cylindrical body, said piston plunger comprising a piston rod, a piston attached to one end of the piston rod and a handle attached to the opposite end of the piston rod; and
    the plunger head further comprising:
  • a) an elongated carrier body having a liquid inlet end, a liquid outlet end, and an internal through-passage extending along the carrier body and through the liquid inlet and said liquid outlet ends;
  • b) a first flange encircling the elongated carrier body and projecting outwardly therefrom;
  • c) a second flange encircling the elongated carrier body and projecting outwardly therefrom, the second flange longitudinally spaced along said carrier body from said first flange;
  • d) a resilient foam body extending completely between said first and said second flanges and encircling said elongated carrier body; and
  • e) a water-proof skin covering at least said foam body and said first and second flanges, thereby sealing the foam body from the external environment; and
    wherein the plunger head is connected to the piston pump assembly so that the internal through-passage of the plunger head is fluidly connected with the carrying passage of piston pump assembly.

In one embodiment the cylindrical body is sufficiently long such that when the plunger head is inserted into the trap of the toilet, the cylindrical body rests on a front edge of the bowl of the toilet.

In one embodiment the cylindrical body diameter is sized such that the cylinder can be grasped manually, such as by the user's hands.

In one embodiment the resilient foam body is made of open-celled foam.

In one embodiment the plunger head is ovoid shaped.

In one embodiment the major axis of the plunger head is at least 1.5× greater than the minor axis.

In one embodiment the connection of the plunger head to the piston pump assembly is reversible.

In another aspect, described herein is a kit comprising the plunger device above, and instructions for use. The kit may comprise at least one additional plunger head that can be reversibly connected to the piston pump assembly.

In one embodiment the additional plunger head is a cup-shaped plunger head, the edge of which forms a seal around a drain when the cup is positioned over the drain and contacts the sink, tub or shower.

In one embodiment the additional plunger head is a spheroid-shaped plunger head sized to fit into and seal the basket strainer of a kitchen sink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the plunger device illustrating the apparatus in use, the toilet bowl shown in cross-section;

FIG. 2A is a cross-section of an embodiment of the foam body of the device;

FIG. 2B is a cross-section of an embodiment of the foam body of the device;

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of an embodiment of the piston plunger assembly of the device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to FIGS. 1 through 3 of the drawings, a new plunger device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment described herein and generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

The plunger device 10 generally includes piston pump assembly 12 and a plunger head 14. The plunger head is secured to a lower end of the piston pump assembly and a means of actuating the piston pump assembly is provided at the upper end of the piston pump assembly. In use, the plunger head 14 is positioned below the siphon discharge nozzle 18 of a toilet so that the pressurized fluid (air or water) is discharged through the drainage passage to release any blockages therein. While the siphon jet aids in flushing, it hinders plunging and must be bypassed by inserting the plunger head into the trap below the siphon jet, or such that the siphon jet is sealed off.

As best illustrated in FIG. 2A, the plunger head 14 generally includes an elongated carrier body 22, a bushing 24, a first 26 and second 28 flange, and a resilient foam body 30.

The elongated carrier body 22 has a fluid inlet end 32, a fluid outlet end 34, and an internal through-passage 36 that extends along the carrier body between the liquid inlet end 32 and the liquid outlet end 34. In an embodiment, the elongated carrier body 22 is an elongated tubular member. In a preferred embodiment the diameter of the internal through-passage is ¾″, which is large enough to convey water in sufficient volume and pressure for the intended uses herein, however other sizes may be used, for example 1″ diameter.

The carrier body 22 may be rigid or semi-rigid. Thus, in some embodiments the carrier body is rigid, that is, it is not pliant or flexible. In other embodiments however the carrier body is semi-rigid, that is, it is made of a flexible material that is capable of bending, but that still has enough rigidity to resist axial forces that would act upon the plunger head while inserting it into the toilet trap. The use of a semi-rigid carrier body may be beneficial in that it can help accommodate the angle of insertion of the plunger head into the trap.

Located proximate to the liquid inlet end 32 is a bushing 24 that connects the elongated carrier body to the piston pump assembly 12. In one embodiment bushing is a 1¼″×¾″ bushing that fits into 2″×1¼″ reducer coupling 48, described below. A pressurized fluid is discharged from the piston pump assembly into the carrier body 22 through the fluid inlet end 32, along the length of the internal through-passage 36 and out through the fluid outlet end 34, whereupon it acts upon the blockage in the drain. In one embodiment the fluid is air. In another embodiment the fluid is water.

Encircling the fluid inlet end 32 of the elongated carrier body 22 is a first flange 26 that encircles the elongated carrier body 22 and projects generally radially outwardly from the elongated carrier body 22. In an embodiment, the first flange 26 is disposed at a longitudinally inward location from the fluid inlet end 32 and forms a seal shoulder. Encircling the fluid outlet end 34 of the elongated carrier body 22 is a second flange 28 encircling the elongated carrier body 22. The second flange 28, which also projects outwardly from the elongated carrier body 22, is longitudinally spaced along the carrier body 22 from the first flange 26. In an embodiment, the second flange 28 is flush with the fluid outlet end 34. In another embodiment, the second flange 26 is disposed at a longitudinally inward location from the fluid outlet end 34.

The first and second flanges may be any of a number of shapes, for example, dome shaped. These flanges function to keep the resilient foam body 30 from moving along the carrier body, when the plunger is inserted into or removed from, a toilet trap.

A resilient foam body 30 extends between the first 26 and the second 28 flange and encircles the elongated carrier body 22. The resilient foam body 30 may come in a variety of shapes that are sufficient in volume to allow the resilient foam body 30 to be positioned below the siphon discharge nozzle 18 and to make a sealing contact with the trap so that all of the pressurized fluid may be discharged through the drainage passage 16, and none of the pressurized fluid will make its way into the siphon discharge nozzle 18 or into the toilet bowl. The foam body 30 extends radially or laterally, in an outward direction from the elongated carrier body 22, beyond at least the second flange 28 and preferably also beyond the first flange 26, to provide a sealing surface that is deformable to complement the interior shape of the toilet trap passage 16.

The foam body 30 is disposed on the elongated carrier body between the first flange 26 and the second flange 28. The first flange prevents the foam body from dislodging upwardly during insertion, and the second flange prevents the foam body from dislodging downwardly upon removal. The foam body 30 may further be secured to the elongated carrier body 22, as by gluing, along its length. It is also pushed up against the second flange 28, thus increasing the density and stiffness at the bottom end which helps with insertion into and sealing of the toilet drain.

In one embodiment the foam body 30 is secured to the elongated carrier body 22, as by gluing, along its length. In this embodiment first and second flange 26 and 28 can be eliminated, because there is no movement of the foam body along the carrier.

This assembly may further be immersed in or coated with a liquid plastic to form a skin covering 38. The liquid plastic may be infused with antimicrobial or antibacterial compounds. The disposition of the foam body 30 over the elongated carrier body in this manner prevents the foam body from sliding, distorting, and bunching along the elongated carrier body 22 and also prevents sewage from entering any part of the elongated carrier body 22, bushing 24, and flange 26 and 28 assembly Skin covering may be made of Silicone, Natural Rubber, Neoprene, PVC, Polyethylene, Polyurethane, Vinyl or Nitrile. The positioning of the second flange longitudinally inward is preferred in some embodiments to enable the water-proof skin 38 to be thicker at the tip of the plunger, thus improving the durability of the skin. The skin covering 38 may be thicker at the end of the plunger head nearest fluid outlet 34, to provide greater cushioning. In this regard, foam or another compressible material may be inserted between the second flange 28 and the skin covering 38, in some embodiments.

It may be understood that the pump body, the elongated carrier body 22, the bushing 24, and the first 26 and second 28 flanges may be made of non-marring material, such as plastic, so as not to damage the porcelain toilet surface. The carrier body 22, flanges and bushing may be made of one seamless continuous piece of material to be completely unitary.

The shape and material of the foam body 30 will allow the foam body 30 to conform to the contours of any toilet trap and to bypass a toilet siphon jet to create a tight positive seal against the trap and, therefore, maximize the amount of pressure on the drain per square inch. This design, further, will not disturb the surface of the water in use, and will therefore not cause waves or backsplash of the water, which has enormous health and disease prevention benefits. This is because the plunger head is inserted into toilet trap, therefore it is under the surface of the water in the toilet and is not moved about when removing the blockage. All movement associated with the plunging action occurs at the other end, out of the water. Still water in the bowl also means that the water level does not have to be reduced by bailing before plunging commences.

The foam body 30 of FIG. 2A has a diameter that increases from the fluid outlet end 34 towards the fluid inlet end 32. This increase in diameter provides the foam body with a plurality of diameters along its length thereby enabling the foam body to create a tight seal against differently-sized toilet traps. The foam body is not spheroid-shaped, as a spheroid-shaped foam body 30 is not capable of creating a tight seal against differently-sized traps in commonly used toilets; although a sphere may be inserted into the trap of one type of toilet drain, it will be too large (or small) for another. The creation of a tight seal in the trap as described herein, is accomplished when a significant portion of the foam body, greater than 50% and up to about 80% of the volume of the foam body, is inserted into the trap. In some embodiments, the plunger head is angled from the longitudinal axis of the plunger, to aid with insertion and positioning of the plunger in the trap. For example, in some embodiments the plunger head is angled by about 30 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the plunger.

In the device described herein, the diameter of the foam body increases gradually from the fluid outlet end 34 in a direction towards the fluid inlet end 32, reaches a maximum, and then optionally decreases from this maximum in a direction towards the fluid inlet end. A foam body thus shaped and sized is capable of universal application because it fits into and seals the traps of most toilets in use today. Further, this foam body may also fit within and seal the drain of a urinal.

As discussed, in a preferred embodiment the foam body 30 has an ovoid shape as shown in FIG. 2A. In other words, the foam body has a major axis and a minor axis with different diameters, unlike a spheroid. In a preferred embodiment the length of the major axis of the foam body is at least 1.5× greater than the length of the minor axis of the foam body. In other embodiments the major axis is 1.2 to 1.8×, 1.3 to 1.7× or 1.5 to 1.6× longer than the minor axis.

As is apparent, it is not necessary that the foam body to decrease in diameter, in a direction towards the fluid inlet 32, after the maximum diameter has been achieved. Thus the foam body could have for example a half-ovoid or conical shape.

Foam body 30 comprises an open- or closed-cell foam, such as a polyurethane foam. Preferably it comprises an open cell foam, as this type of foam is generally more pliable and compressible, and therefore more readily conforms to the toilet trap to provide a good seal. Water-proof skin 38 covers the resilient foam body 30 and flanges 24 and 26, and it also may coat the inside of the elongated carrier body for at least a portion thereof. Therefore, the elongated foam body is sealed from the environment, avoiding contamination of the foam body with liquids in the toilet, and facilitating clean-up and sanitation of the plunger device after use. Closed-cell foam has the advantage, however, of being less prone to contamination if the waterproof skin 38 is compromised.

With reference to FIG. 3, the device further includes a piston pump assembly, which is a reciprocating pump that moves fluids through a cylindrical chamber. Piston pump assembly 12 comprises a cylindrical body or cylinder 46 having opposite first (upper) 40 and second (lower) 42 ends. The cylinder 46 is sized to be grasped manually, thus no additional handles are needed to place or hold the device in position when in use. In a preferred embodiment the cylinder has an outer diameter of 2⅜ inches. Extending between and through the first 40 and second 42 ends of cylinder 46 is an internal fluid carrying passage 44. As further illustrated in FIG. 3, the second end 42 of cylinder 46 is sealably connected to the bushing 24 that is located at the fluid inlet end 32 of the elongated carrier body 22. This may be accomplished for example using a reducer coupling 48. One end of reducer coupling 48 may be attached, as by gluing, to the second (bottom) end 42 of cylinder 46. The other end of reducer coupling 48 is sealably connected to bushing 24. This may be a friction fit, and may be reinforced with an adhesive, silicon or the like, if the plunger head 14 is to be permanently affixed to the piston pump assembly 12.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2B, for a reversible sealable connection, one or more circumferential O-rings 39 around bushing 24 may be used to seal the connection, and to enable the easy removal of plunger head 14b for replacement or cleaning

In a preferred embodiment, a 2″×1¼″ reducer coupling 48 is used between the plunger head 14 and the piston pump assembly 12. The reduction in size, and use of a longitudinally longer plunger head 14, spaces the bottom of the piston pump assembly away from the toilet bowl, so that the pump assembly itself does not contact the toilet bowl or interfere with the proper positioning of the plunger.

When the piston pump assembly 12 is connected to the bushing 24, the internal fluid carrying passage 44 of cylinder 46 and the internal through-passage 36 of the plunger head are fluidly connected. A fluid, such as air or water, may then be discharged from the piston pump assembly through the plunger head and into the toilet drain.

The piston pump assembly further provides a piston plunger 49 slidably and sealingly engaged inside the carrying passage 44 of cylinder 46. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 3, the piston plunger 49 comprises a piston rod 50, which has a handle 64 disposed at a first (upper) end and a piston 66 disposed at a second (lower) end. Handle 64 and piston 66 may be press fit onto the hollow tubular, and optionally reinforced with adhesive, or may be formed integrally therewith. A small void 68 may be included at the bottom of the piston plunger, for air to collect and act as a shock absorber or water hammer arrestor. In the embodiment, piston 66 comprises two parts, a coupling 67 and a plug 70. Coupling 67 is inserted onto and glued to the end of piston rod 50. Plug 70 is inserted into and glued onto the end of coupling 67 on piston rod 50, leaving a space for circumferential seal 52 to be inserted between the coupling and the plug.

Piston rod 50 may be solid, not hollow as shown in FIG. 3. Piston plunger 49 and therefore piston 66 are actuable by pushing and pulling on handle 64. Handle 64 may have a larger end cap than is shown herein, or it may be a T-handle or have a shovel handle grip for more twisting leverage. Twisting of the handle is useful for loosening the piston within the cylinder after periods of inactivity. Bumping the end of the handle can also work to loosen the piston, if the O-ring 62 under the handle is replaced with a more compressible shock absorber like a spring, foam ring or perforated rubber annulus.

In one embodiment the sealing engagement of the piston plunger with cylinder 46 is accomplished by use of a circumferential seal 52 disposed about the piston 66. This sealing and sliding engagement may be further facilitated by the use of a lubricant such as a waterproof oil or grease in carrying passage 44. A preferred lubricant is silicone waterproof grease. When the piston plunger 46 is pulled upwards, that is, away from plunger head 14, a fluid such as air or water may be drawn into through-passage 36 and into carrying passage 44. When the piston plunger is pushed downwards, that is, towards plunger head 14, the fluid is pushed out of carrying passage 44 and out of through-passage 36. Sealing engagement of piston 66 with cylinder 46 ensures that all fluid drawn into the plunger exits by way of through-passage 36.

In a preferred embodiment, piston pump assembly 12 further comprises a means of preventing the piston plunger from being pulled out of cylinder 46. In the embodiment shown in

FIG. 3, this is accomplished by a shoulder 54 on piston 66 which interacts with a shoulder 56 on cap 58, to prevent the piston plunger from being pulled out of carrying passage 44. Cap 58 may be frictionally engaged, optionally reinforced with the addition of adhesive or silicon or the like, or it may be secured with a retaining screw or threaded connection, with end 40 of cylinder 46. Cap 58 may also be removable, so that the piston plunger 49 can be removed for easy cleaning and sanitation of the plunger.

The downward axial movement of piston 66 towards the plunger head 14 is also restricted. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, this is accomplished by a shoulder 61 on piston rod 50 which interacts with a shoulder 60 on cap 58 on the downstroke. A circumferential O-ring 62 around the top end of piston rod 50, or more compressible type of shock absorber such as a spring, foam ring or perforated rubber annulus may be used to dampen the impact of the handle 64 with the cap 58 at the top of the cylinder 46.

Cylinder 46, piston rod 50, piston 66, elongated carrier body 22, flanges 26 and 28, connectors, couplers and adapters may be made of any suitable material known to persons of skill in the art, with plastics, in particular PVC, being a preferred material for their durability and lightweight characteristics. Furniture grade PVC pipe, and Schedule 40 PVC pipe are preferred types of PVC pipe. The plunger 10 may be made with dedicated molds, or may be assembled from standard plumbing pipe/fittings. In various embodiments many, or all, of the surfaces of the plunger are coated with a hydrophobic coating such as, for example, NEVERWET®. This coating repels water and aids in keeping the plunger clean and dry.

Seals other than O-rings may be used, including for example, piston, rod, lip, wiper, rotary and radial seals. A preferred O-ring compression ratio is 3-5% for ease of stroke and to minimize “sticking” after periods of no usage.

The piston pump assembly is sufficiently long that the cylinder can be rested on the front edge of the toilet bowl after the foam body has been inserted into and positioned in the trap of the toilet drain and the device is ready to be actuated to remove the blockage. Typically, the length is provided by making the cylinder 46 sufficiently long. This length ensures that the user is distanced from the toilet bowl when the plunger is actuated, and also that they can grip the plunger outside of the toilet bowl when plunging. Also, by inserting the plunger head into the trap and by resting the end of the cylinder on the edge of the toilet bowl, the plunger 10 is essentially “wedged” into its proper position so that upon actuation of the plunger it is stabilized and there is minimal movement of the plunger and the fluid (air or water) is forced down into the drain where it will have maximal effect. In a preferred embodiment the piston pump assembly is 14 inches in length.

The length and diameter of the cylinder 46 determines the displacement capabilities of the pump. A ½ litre displacement is adequate for most low flow toilets (toilets that flush 1.6 gallons/flush). In a preferred embodiment the cylinder has an inner diameter of 2 inches and a length of 14 inches, providing a net displacement volume of greater than 500 cc. With a total stroke of 11 inches (28 cm), the net displacement is about 566 cc.

In use, and with reference to FIG. 1, in order to clear a clogged toilet drain, a user would forcibly insert the foam body 30 into the trap. Before insertion of foam body 30 into the trap, the user would have the option of pulling up on piston plunger 49 to load air and/or water into fluid carrying passage 44. Water may come from the toilet bowl or from a water-containing bucket or other receptacle nearby. In a preferred embodiment of the method, water is drawn into the passage, and water is used to dislodge and obstruction or blockage in the drain and push it down the toilet drain.

Upon insertion into the trap, the shape of the foam body will distort and conform to the shape of the trap, and will be inserted, at least in part, into the trap. In some embodiments, up to 50% of the volume of the foam body will be inside the trap. In other embodiments greater than 50% of the volume of the foam body will be inside the trap. In yet other embodiments, between about 50% to 80% of the volume of the foam body will be inside the trap. This insertion into the trap creates a complete and tight seal at the entrance of the trap so as to prevent any backflow of fluids into the toilet bowl and to force all of the fluid in the plunger into the drain.

The user may then pump piston plunger up and down to create positive and negative pressure forces in the drain and on the blockage—positive when the piston plunger is pushed down, and negative when the piston plunger is pulled up. This up-and-down motion alone may be sufficient to unblock the drain. Alternatively, or in addition a large bolus of air or water may be used to force the blockage down the drain to clear the drain, by pushing down on the piston plunger 49, for example, if the fluid carrying passage 44 was loaded with water or air before insertion of the plunger head into the toilet trap. Because the amount of pressure applied to the blockage is controlled by the user, the plunger will not create shockwave on the drain like CO₂ cartridge powered plungers.

In some embodiments of the piston pump assembly, the plunger is a single acting raft pump, such as the K-Pump™ (of Lake Oswego, Oreg.), and uses compressed air to push the obstruction down the drain. This pump includes a one-way valve that opens on the upstroke of piston plunger 49, drawing air into fluid carrying passage 44 from the environment, and that closes on the down-stroke of the piston plunger, so that air is expelled from carrying passage 44. This type of piston pump assembly uses air to generate a continuous source of positive air pressure, and thus a continuous motive force on the blockage that gradually moves the blockage along the drain pipe, until it is expelled from the drain. Other types of single-acting piston pumps well known to those of skill in the art may be used in the plunger device herein.

After use, the plunger may be cleaned by inserting the plunger head into fresh water in the toilet bowl, and pulling the piston rod up and down. Alternatively or in addition, the plunger assembly described herein may be cleaned by inserting the plunger head into clean water comprising soap or other disinfectant, and pulling the piston rod up and down. This forces the soap and water in and out of the interior passages of the plunger, cleaning it and sanitizing it.

In some embodiments the plunger is part of a kit that includes different plunger heads for use in different drain configurations. As described above, the plunger head 14, of FIG. 2A and described above, is used to unclog drains in toilets. It may also be used to unclog urinals. In addition a different head 14b, shown in FIG. 2B may be used to unplug drains in sinks or tubs.

This head is in the shape of a cup (the shape of which is in typical plungers), the edge of which forms a seal around the drain when the cup is positioned over the drain and brought down to contact the sink or tub. As above, for the oval head 14, the cup walls are comprised of flexible foam so the pump can be angled away from obstructions such as a spout. Alternatively, a spheroid-shaped plunger head sized to fit into and seal the basket strainer of a kitchen sink may be used In plunger kits it is preferred that bushing 24 include one or more circumferential O-rings that seal the head to second end 42 of the plunger piston assembly 12 to allow for reversible and removeable connection.

An advantage of having a kit which provides different plunger heads for different uses is to maximize effectiveness and minimize cross-contamination between use environments. One plunger head may be used in high risk environments such as toilets and urinals, another for moderate risk environments such as bathtubs, showers, mop sinks and floor drains, and yet another for sanitary low risk conditions such as sinks (bar, bath and kitchen).

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the disclosed embodiments and examples which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by illustration only. The scope of the claims should not be limited to the preferred embodiments but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.

Claims

1. A plunger device comprising a piston pump assembly and a plunger head sized and shaped to fit inside a trap of a toilet and downstream of a siphon jet of the toilet, the piston pump assembly further comprising: the plunger head further comprising: wherein the plunger head is connected to the piston pump assembly so that the internal through-passage of the plunger head is fluidly connected with the carrying passage of piston pump assembly.

a) a hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end, and defining a carrying passage extending within the cylindrical body and through the first end and the second end; and

b) a piston plunger slidably and sealingly disposed within the cylindrical body, said piston plunger comprising a piston rod, a piston attached to one end of the piston rod and a handle attached to the opposite end of the piston rod; and

a) an elongated carrier body having a liquid inlet end, a liquid outlet end, and an internal through-passage extending along the carrier body and through the liquid inlet and said liquid outlet ends;

b) a first flange encircling the elongated carrier body and projecting outwardly therefrom;

c) a second flange encircling the elongated carrier body and projecting outwardly therefrom, the second flange longitudinally spaced along said carrier body from said first flange;

d) a resilient foam body extending completely between said first and said second flanges and encircling said elongated carrier body; and

e) a water-proof skin covering at least said foam body and said first and second flanges, thereby sealing the foam body from the external environment; and

2. The plunger of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical body is sufficiently long such that when the plunger head is inserted into the trap of the toilet, the cylindrical body rests on the edge of the bowl of the toilet.

3. The plunger of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical body diameter is sized such that the cylinder can be grasped manually.

4. The plunger of claim 1 wherein the resilient foam body is made of open-celled foam.

5. The plunger of claim 1 wherein the plunger head is ovoid shaped.

6. The plunger of claim 5 wherein the major axis of the plunger head is at least 1.5× greater than the minor axis.

7. The plunger of claim 1 wherein the connection of the plunger head to the piston pump assembly is reversible.

8. A kit comprising the plunger device of claim 7 and instructions for use.

9. The kit of claim 8 comprising at least one additional plunger head that can be reversibly connected to the piston pump assembly.

10. The kit of claim 9 wherein the at least one additional plunger head is a cup-shaped plunger head, the edge of which forms a seal around a drain when the cup is positioned over the drain and contacts the sink or tub.

11. The kit of claim 9 wherein the at least one additional plunger head is a spheroid-shaped plunger head sized to fit into and seal the basket strainer of a kitchen sink.