Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Obstruction remover – Force cup
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-12
2001-04-17
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Obstruction remover
Force cup
C004S255010, C004S255050, C004S255080
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216283
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Technical Field
This invention relates to an improved toilet bowl plunger for use with a new narrow throat 1.6 gallon toilet. However, the plunger of the present invention can be used equally well with conventional or standard toilets.
Background Art
There are various problems associated with plunging a clogged toilet. Some of these problems are related to the toilet configuration, while other problems are related to the design of the plunger itself.
By way of background, toilet drains are usually unclogged by using a toilet plunger comprised of a large deformable plunger cup mounted on the end of an elongated handle shaft. During the plunging operation, the plunger cup is held over the mouth of the toilet bowl drain while the plunger handle is reciprocated in an upward and downward motion that alternately contracts and enlarges the space within the cup. Preferred plunging action creates an alternating pressure and suction force in the drain passage that is often sufficient to dislodge an obstruction.
Recently toilets have been redesigned to conserve water. The newer toilets, as compared to older models, have a substantially reduced water flow (approximately 1.6 gallons per flush) and smaller waste drain passages than their older counterparts Since the waste drain passages, or throats, of the newer toilets are narrower, these toilets are more prone to clogging. As shown in
FIG. 1
, the new 1.6 gallon toilets
10
have a bowl
12
which drains through a relatively narrow throat
14
. Conventional plungers are typically too wide to fit into the narrow throat of the new toilet. As such, they do not seal the throat opening. Consequently, conventional plungers are unable to provide the appropriate pressure or suction for the purpose of dislodging any obstruction blocking the throat. As a result, the user must have different plungers on hand for use with new and old toilets.
Another problem related to the configuration of the newer toilets, as can be determined by looking at
FIG. 1
, is that while the older toilets have a waste drain passage located at the bottom of the toilet bowl, the newer toilets have a waste drain passage or throat that is vertically located in relation to the toilet bowl. The fact that the drain passage or throat is vertical in relation to the bowl makes it practically impossible to use a standard plunger to plunge the toilet since the position of the throat makes it difficult to get the conventional plunger head to seal around the throat.
In addition to problems related to the newer toilet designs, there are two common problems that frequently occur during plunging operations which are related to the design of the common toilet plunger. These are “splash back” and “spillover”. First of all, the pressure and suction generated during plunging often causes water to spray out from any gaps between the plunger cup and bowl surface with great force, and then splash up and outside of the toilet bowl onto the plunger operator and onto nearby walls and floors. This phenomenon is called “splash back”. Additionally, many times when a toilet is clogged, the water and sewage in the toilet tend to fill the toilet to the brim. Hence, when the toilet plunger head is inserted into the toilet, the displacement of the toilet plunger head causes the toilet water and sewage to spill over the sides of the toilet. This phenomenon is called “spill over”.
Therefore, in order to overcome the limitations of prior toilet plungers, what is needed is a toilet plunger that can be used with the newer 1.6 gallon toilets. This plunger should be able to effectively plunge toilets that have throat or waste drain passages that are difficult to access, including those where the throat is generally perpendicular in relation to the toilet bowl. However, this improved plunger should also be compatible with the older toilet models. Furthermore, this plunger should minimize spillage and splash back problems during plunging operations. The plunger should also be simple, capable of being easily fabricated and used, and be inexpensive and durable.
SUMMARY
The toilet drain plunger of the present invention satisfies all of the foregoing needs. This plunger can be used with the new narrow throat 1.6 gallon toilets, even those with a vertically oriented drain hole, but can equally well be used with older toilets of various configurations. The design of the plunger embodied in the present invention is such that plunger head displacement is minimized so that the problem of spill over is lessened. Additionally, the plunger design minimizes splash-back as well. Furthermore, the plunger can be easily and inexpensively molded, preferably of durable rubber or plastic. The plunger is also easy to use.
The plunger of the present invention has a handle and a head. In a preferred embodiment, the head portion of the plunger of the present invention consists of two sections, a first section that is a pleated bellows and a second section extending from the first section which is sized to interface with the throat of a toilet. The first bellows section has a larger diameter at the rear end of the head and tapers down to a narrower diameter in a direction away from the rear end of the head. The bellows section then continues to the second section of the head in a direction away from the rear end and towards the front end of the head. The second section of the head preferably has a pleated-rib structure with a constant average diameter, and resembles an elephant-like trunk or nose. The second section of the plunger's head also preferably has two annular semi-circular shell sections abutting each other at the distal end of the second section, which interface with the throat of the toilet and cause the front most end of the plunger head to be stiff. A narrow lip section extends from the front end of the most forward annular semicircular shell toward the forward end of the head.
When inserted into the toilet bowl, the second, constant diameter section of the head penetrates into the toilet's throat, while the forward end of the first, larger diametered, bellows section of the head seats over the outer perimeter of the mouth of the throat. The second, constant diameter section of the head flexes and bends to follow the path of the throat due to the pleated-rib design of the plunger. Thus, it can readily follow the path of the throat and access vertical throats and other throats that are in hard to reach places. The stiffer forward portion of the second section of the plunger's head follows the throat without compressing or jamming. As pressure is applied downward on the handle, the first bellows section of the head compresses against the mouth of the toilet throat forming a seal. As a result, the pressure generated by the compression of the bellows is directed through the second constant diameter section of the head, along the path of the throat and towards any obstruction. This tends to effectively dislodge the obstruction.
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Lyon Katrina A.
Lyon Richard T.
Lyon, Harr & Defrank, LLP
Nguyen Tuan
Recla Henry J.
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