TOILET TOOL CONCEALMENT DEVICE

Abstract

A device for concealing at least one toilet tool includes a container and a housing unit for the toilet tool(s). The container may be a flora pot containing natural or artificial flora. The pot container and housing unit define respective cut outs therein. The cut outs are dimensioned to removably receive the at least one toilet tool within a cavity defined by the housing unit. The container may also be removable from the housing unit, and/or the device may further include a toilet tool tray that is removable from the housing unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/113,384, filed Nov. 13, 2020, and entitled, TOILET TOOL CONCEALMENT DEVICE WITH OPTIONAL INTEGRATED FLORA POT, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a device for concealing a toilet tool, and more particularly to a toilet tool concealment device with an integrated decorative element, and still more particularly to a toilet tool concealment device with an integrated, removable flora pot.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Often the placement of a toilet tool, such as a plunger or a toilet scrubbing brush, for example, inside one's bathroom can be unsightly. Therefore, there exists a need for a device that provides some mechanism or design feature not only for storing such tools in a convenient location near the toilet, but also hiding or camouflaging those tools from view. The toilet tool concealment device should also be decorative in nature so as not to detract from the bathroom design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toilet tool concealment device with integrated decorative element, such as a flora pot, in accordance with the aspects of the present invention addresses the above needs by allowing for toilet tools to be concealed while providing additional decor to the user's bathroom.

According to some example embodiments, a device for concealing at least one toilet tool includes a container and a housing unit for the at least one toilet tool.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the present invention is directed to a device for concealing at least one toilet tool having a tool head and a handle. The device comprises a housing unit including a housing base and housing side wall having a top perimeter edge. The housing unit defines a cavity adapted to removably receive the tool head of the at least one toilet tool therein. A container is mounted to the housing unit. The container includes a container cut out adapted to removably receive a portion of the handle therein. The container is configured to receive a decorative element to conceal at least a portion of the at least one toilet tool.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 comprise an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a toilet tool concealment device in accordance with the present invention including a removable container (FIG. 1) that is intended to be inserted within a toilet tool housing unit (FIG. 2);

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the assembled device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 used in association with a toilet tool;

FIGS. 4A and 4B show a sequence of two images illustrating how a user of the device would rotate said device to conceal the toilet tool that is placed vertically inside the toilet tool housing unit;

FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a toilet tool concealment device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the toilet tool concealment device shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the toilet tool concealment device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the device including an exemplary removable container; and

FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view of the toilet tool concealment device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 with the device including an exemplary removable bottom tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is described below in enabling detail by the following examples, which may represent more than one example embodiment of the present invention.

An example embodiment of the invention is directed to a toilet tool concealment device 100 comprising a container 110 and a toilet tool housing unit 112 as shown in FIGS. 1-3. By way of example and without limitation thereto, container 110 may be a flora pot configured to receive artificial or natural flora therein.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the container 110 includes a base 114 and a side wall 116 that extends upwardly from a peripheral edge 118 of base 114 to a terminal edge 120 so as to define a recess 122 configured to receive a decorative element therein. By way of example, recess 122 may operate as a basin that is capable of holding natural soil, faux dirt, pebbles or other similar materials 124 used to hold flora, e.g., plant 126 (see FIGS. 4A and 4B). It should be noted that base 114 may be coterminous with terminal edge 120 so as to eliminate recess 122 and provide an unbordered planar surface configured to receive the decorative element thereon. It should be further noted that while container 110 has been described as “removable,” it is envisioned that container 110 and toilet tool housing unit 112 may be constructed as a single, unitary construction such that container 110 is not, and cannot be, readily separated from toilet tool housing unit 112.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, base 114 may include a cut out 128 defined therein that may extend from the outer peripheral edge 118 of base 114 and extend radially inward toward the center of base 114. In one example, cut out 128 may be generally rectangular shaped with a rounded interior fillet end 128a configured to hold a handle 130a of various toilet tools 130, such as but not limited to, a plunger 131, a toilet bowl brush, or any other kind of toilet tool containing an elongated tubular handle element 130a.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the toilet tool housing unit 112 includes a housing base 132 and a housing side wall 134 extending upwardly from the peripheral edge 136 of housing base 132. Housing base 132 and housing side wall 134 of housing unit 112 define a toilet tool base cavity 138 that is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a common toilet tool 130, such as, but not limited to, a toilet plunger head 131a as shown in FIG. 3. Housing side wall 134 of housing unit 112 may include a housing cut out 140 defined therein. Housing cut out 140 may include a step portion 142 which may segregate cut out 140 into an upper portion 144 and a lower portion 146. Cut out 140 may thus define a wider lower opening 148 that may be configured to accommodate toilet tools 130 having a tool end 130b, such as toilet plunger head 131a, which is wider than the width of handle 130a. Upper portion 144 may then define a narrower upper opening 150 dimensioned to allow passage of handle 130a therein.

As seen in FIG. 3, cut out 128 of container 10 may be arranged to coincide with cut out 140 defined within housing side wall 134 so as to promote a straightforward insertion and retrieval process of common toilet tools. It should be understood that cut out 128 may take the form of other shapes as well, including, but not limited to, curved. Cut out 128 may also be directed from outer peripheral edge 118 towards a location that is not the center of base 114. In an exemplary embodiment, outer peripheral edge 118 of container 110 may be dependent on the shape of the interior surface 152 of the toilet tool housing unit 112 since container 110 is configured to be positioned within cavity 138 of housing unit 112 (see FIG. 2). It should be noted that each of components 110 and 112 of device 100 can be a variety of shapes and sizes (e.g., round, oval, rectangular, square, etc.).

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, housing side wall 134 may be configured to include a stepped inner surface 154 located an intermediate distance along the vertical length of housing side wall 134. Stepped inner surface 154 may delineate an upper cavity region 156 and a lower cavity region 158, wherein upper cavity region 156 is slightly larger than lower cavity region 158 so as to form a ledge 160 along stepped inner surface 154. The dimensions of outer peripheral edge 118 of container 110 may be selected so as to larger than lower cavity region 158 and smaller than upper cavity region 156 such that at least a portion of container 110 rests within upper cavity region 156 while base 114 of container 110 rests on, and is supported by, at least a portion of ledge 160.

A practical example is depicted in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in which the user may use container 110 to place a plant 126 tall enough to conceal the top portion of the toilet tool 130, for example, terminal end 131b of handle 130a of toilet plunger 131. In one exemplary, non-limiting example, a user may rotate device 100 so that cut out 140 faces the user and exposes the tool base cavity 138 (FIG. 4A). The user may then insert toilet tool 130 into the tool base cavity 138 by, for example, sliding the toilet plunger head 131a into wider lower opening 148 and the long handle 130a through the narrower upper opening 150, respectively. Handle 130a of toilet tool 130 may then rest against, or be disposed adjacent to, the rounded interior fillet end 128a of cut out 128 of container 110. In this position, terminal end 131b of plunger 131 may be located within, and be concealed by, the decorative element, (e.g., the braches and/or leaves 162 of plant 126 located on or in container 100.

After toilet tool 130 has been placed inside the device 100, the user may then rotate the device 100 (such as in a direction generally indicated by clockwise arrow 164a or counter-clockwise arrow 164b) so that cut out 140 is not in view, thereby concealing toilet tool 130 (See FIG. 4B). If the user wishes to clean one or both of container 110 or housing unit 112, the user can remove container 110 from housing unit 112 (such as by lifting container 110 upward), clean container 110 and/or housing unit 112, and then return container 110 to housing unit 112 and arrange device 100 (with or without a toilet tool 130) with cut out 140 concealed as shown in FIG. 4B. It should be noted that base 132 of toilet tool housing unit 112 may be configured to contact the floor while allowing for selective rotation of the housing unit 112 for easier rotation/spinning of the device 100 to either conceal the toilet tool 130 during periods of non-use or to allow access the toilet tool 130 for use or cleaning.

Another example embodiment of the invention is directed to a toilet tool concealment device 200 comprising a container 210 and a toilet tool housing unit 212 as shown in FIGS. 5-8. As best seen in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the container 210 includes a base 214 and a side wall 216 that extends upwardly from a peripheral edge 218 of base 214 to a terminal edge 220 so as to define a recess 22 configured to receive a decorative element therein. By way of example, recess 222 may operate as a basin that is capable of holding natural soil, faux dirt, pebbles or other similar materials 124 used to hold flora, e.g., plant 126.

Further, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 7 and 8, base 214 may include a cut out 228 defined therein that may extend from the outer peripheral edge 218 of base 214 and extend radially inward toward the center of base 214. In one example, cut out 228 may be generally rectangular shaped with a rounded interior fillet end 228a configured to hold a handle 130a of various toilet tools 130, such as but not limited to a toilet bowl brush 133 (or similarly, plunger 131 as shown in FIG. 3), or any other kind of toilet tool containing an elongated tubular handle element 130a.

As best seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the toilet tool housing unit 212 includes a housing base 232 and a housing side wall 234 extending upwardly from peripheral edge 236 of housing base 232. Housing base 232 and housing side wall 234 of housing unit 212 define a toilet tool base cavity 238 that is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a common toilet tool 130, such as, but not limited to, a toilet scrubbing brush head 133a of toilet scrubbing brush 133 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. Housing side wall 234 of housing unit 212 may include a housing cut out 240 defined therein. Housing cut out 240 may include a step portion 242 which may segregate cut out 240 into an upper portion 244 and a lower portion 246. Cut out 240 may thus define a wider lower opening 248 that may be configured to accommodate toilet tools 130 having a tool end 130b, such as toilet scrubbing brush head 133a, which is wider than the width of handle 130a. Upper portion 244 may then define a narrower upper opening 250 dimensioned to allow passage of handle 130a therein.

As seen in FIG. 5, cut out 228 of container 210 may be arranged to coincide with cut out 240 defined within housing side wall 234 so as to promote a straightforward insertion and retrieval process of common toilet tools 130. It should be understood that cut out 228 may take the form of other shapes as well, including, but not limited to, curved. Cut out 228 may also be directed from the outer peripheral edge 218 towards a location that is not the center of base 214. Outer peripheral edge 218 of container 210 may be dependent on the shape of the interior surface 252 of the toilet tool housing unit 212 since container 210 is configured to be positioned within cavity 238 of housing unit 212 (see FIG. 7). It should be noted that each of components 210 and 212 of device 200 can be a variety of shapes and sizes (e.g., round, oval, rectangular, square, etc.).

In contrast to the example embodiment device 100 shown in FIGS. 1-3, which includes a housing unit 112 having an interior ledge 160 on which container 110 rests when inserted into housing unit 112, housing unit 212 of example embodiment device 200 shown in FIGS. 5-8 does not include an interior ledge 160. Instead, the interior surface 252 of each housing side wall 234 of housing unit 212 is generally planar or smooth and without a stepped inner surface similar to stepped inner surface 154 described above with regard to device 100.

To mount or otherwise support container 210 on housing unit 212, terminal edge 220 of container 210 includes a lip extension 254 protruding outwardly along all or a portion of side wall 216 of container 210. Lip extension 254 is designed to rest on the top edge 256 of housing side wall 234 of housing unit 212 and support the container 210 as container 210 is suspended within cavity 238. Lip extension 254 may have a width W_L which is substantially the same or slightly larger than the thickness T of housing side wall 234. In one non-limiting embodiment, at least a portion of lip extension 254 may have a width W_L which is about ⅛ to about ¼ inches larger than thickness T such that lip extension 254 extends beyond the perimeter of housing unit 212 so as to provide a convenient location for a user to grasp container 210 when lifting and/or removing container 210 from housing unit 212, as will be described in greater detail below.

It should also be noted that base 214 of container 210 may be coterminous with terminal edge 220 so as to eliminate recess 222 and provide an unbordered planar surface configured to receive the decorative element thereon. It should be further noted that while container 210 has been described as “removable,” it is envisioned that container 210 and toilet tool housing unit 212 may be constructed as a single, unitary construction such that container 210 is not, and cannot be, readily separated from toilet tool housing unit 212.

As best seen in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, exemplary device 200 may further include a removable toilet tool tray 260 which may be proportioned so as to be readily inserted within lower opening 248 of housing unit 212 for supporting toilet tool 130 thereon when toilet tool 130 is not in use. Toilet tool tray 260 may include a recessed central portion 262 (e.g., near the center of tray 260), which has a width and depth designed to accommodate therein the tool end 130b, such as toilet scrubbing brush head 133a, of the toilet tool 130, as shown in FIG. 8 (or similarly, toilet plunger head 131a). The toilet tool tray 260 may include an extension 264 (or handle portion) at one end to assist with insertion and removal of the toilet tool tray 260 with respect to the housing unit 212.

By way of example and with reference to FIG. 8, extension 264 may have a width W_E that is greater than lower opening 248 of housing unit 212 but less than a width W_H of the housing unit 212. Toilet tool tray 260 may further include a pair of tabs 266 opposite extension 264 so as to define notches 268 formed in the tray 260 between tabs 266 and extension 264. The combination of the extension 264, the tabs 266, and the notches 268 formed therebetween allow the toilet tool tray 260 to be removably secured to the side wall 234 of the housing unit 212 at points corresponding to bottom corners 248a of lower opening 248 (see FIG. 8). Upon insertion of the tray 260, the pair of notches 268 may engage with the bottom corners 248a, with the extension 265 disposed externally to side wall 234 and with the tabs 266 disposed internally to side wall 234.

Similar to the practical example describe above with regard to FIGS. 4A and 4B, and with reference to FIGS. 5-6, a practical example in which a user may use container 210 to place a plant 126 tall enough to conceal the top portion of the toilet tool 130, for example, terminal end 131b of handle 130a of toilet scrubbing brush 133. In one exemplary, non-limiting example, a user may rotate device 200 so that cut out 240 faces the user and exposes the tool base cavity 238 (see FIGS. 5, 7 and 8). The user may then insert toilet tool 130 into toilet base cavity 238 by, for example, sliding the brush head 133a into wider lower opening 248 and the handle 130a through the narrower upper opening 250, respectively. Handle 130a of toilet tool 130 may then rest against, or be disposed adjacent to, the rounded interior fillet end 228a of cut out 228 of container 210. In this position, terminal end 133b of the toilet brush 133 may be located within, and be concealed by, the decorative element, e.g., branches and/or leaves 162 of plant 126 located on or in container 210.

After toilet tool 130 has been placed inside device 200, the user may then rotate the device 200 (such as in a direction generally indicated by clockwise arrow 270a or counter-clockwise arrow 270b) so that cut out 240 is not in view, thereby concealing toilet tool 130 (see FIG. 6). If the user wishes to clean either the container or the housing unit 212, the user can remove container 210 from the housing unit 212 (such as by lifting container 210 upward via lip extension 254), clean container 210 and/or housing unit 212 and return container 210 to the housing unit 212 and arrange device 200 (with or without a toilet tool 130) with cut out 240 concealed as shown in FIG. 6. It should be noted that base 232 of toilet tool housing unit 212 may be configured to contact the floor while allowing for selective rotation of the housing unit 212 for easier rotation/spinning of the device 200 to either conceal the toilet tool 130 during periods of non-use or to allow access the toilet tool 130 for use or cleaning.

It should be understood that the device of the present invention may be configured in accordance with the principals disclosed herein to conceal one or more toilet tools 130. Although the examples of FIGS. 1-8 show a single toilet tool 130 (e.g., plunger 131 or brush 133), the design of the device could be modified to accommodate more than one tool at a time (e.g., both a plunger 131 and a brush 133) by changing the shape or dimensions of the various components described above and shown in the drawings for the exemplary embodiments.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method and apparatus. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting.

The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. As used herein, the terms “having” and/or “including” and other terms of inclusion are terms indicative of inclusion rather than requirement.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for concealing at least one toilet tool having a tool head and a handle, the device comprising:

a housing unit including a housing base and housing side wall having a top perimeter edge, wherein the housing unit defines a cavity adapted to removably receive the tool head of the at least one toilet tool therein; and

a container mounted to the housing unit, wherein the container includes a container cut out adapted to removably receive a portion of the handle therein,

wherein the container is configured to receive a decorative element to conceal at least a portion of the at least one toilet tool.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container is a flora pot and wherein the flora pot is configured to contain natural soil, faux dirt, artificial moss, pebbles and/or other potting materials.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container cut out is rectangular with a rounded interior fillet end.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing side wall defines a housing cut out in communication with the cavity, wherein the container cut out is configured to coincide with the housing cut out.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the housing side wall further includes a step portion segregating the housing cut out into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein an upper opening defined by the upper portion of the housing cut out is narrower than a lower opening defined by the lower portion of the housing cut out.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the housing cut out is configured to receive the tool head and the upper portion of the housing cut out and container cut out are configured to receive the handle.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the housing side wall defines a stepped inner surface including a ledge delineating an upper cavity region and a lower cavity region, wherein the container is adapted to rest on the ledge.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container includes a terminal edge having an outwardly protruding lip extension, wherein the lip extension is adapted to rest on the top perimeter edge of the housing unit.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container is integrally mounted with the housing unit to form a unitary construction.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container is selectively removable from the housing unit.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a removable toilet tool tray adapted to be received within the cavity of the housing unit for supporting the at least one toilet tool

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the toilet tool tray defines a recessed center portion with a width and depth that is adapted to receive the tool head of the at least one toilet tool therein.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the removable toilet tool tray includes an extension at one end to assist with insertion and removal of the toilet tool tray with respect to the housing unit.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the removable toilet tool tray further includes a pair of tabs opposite the extension to thereby define a pair notches therebetween, wherein the extension, the pair of tabs and the pair of notches removably secures the toilet tool tray to the housing side wall.