Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a utility device caddy, particularly a caddy capable of holding a toilet plunger. In particular, the present invention relates a toilet plunger caddy in which the toilet plunger may be removed from and returned to the caddy through a hinged door without having to touch the caddy. The utility device caddy may also be configured to hold both a toilet plunger and a brush.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/250,038 filed Oct. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a utility device caddy. One embodiment of the invention relates to the utility device caddy configured to receive a toilet plunger. The utility device caddy of the present invention may also be configured to receive brushes, scrubbers and other devices generally used in a bathroom. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Toilet plungers are traditionally used to unplug sink, utility or toilet drains. Most commonly used toilet plungers have a circular plunger base with a long handle attached to the base. During the use of the toilet plunger, the plunger may be exposed to unpleasant substances. Some of these substances may remain on the toilet plunger after use. If the toilet plunger is stored is stored directly on a bathroom or other surface, it may transfer these substances to the surface, thereby staining the surface. The substances may also be unsightly. The sight of a plunger in plain view may be aesthetically unappealing to many people. The toilet plunger, after use, may also have an unpleasant odor. 
         [0004]    To attempt to resolve, or mitigate the above problems, toilet plunger caddies have been utilized. Most toilet plunger caddies have structure which completely encloses the base of the plunger, with the handle protruding from an upper surface of the plunger. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,601,700, 6,813,785 and 7,185759 are examples of such caddies. Hinged doors, or other hinged surfaces are often utilized on the structure which enclose the base of the plunger and allow the plunger to be removed for use and then to be placed back within the structure which encloses the plunger after use. A common design utilizing hinged doors is to utilize a single hinged door which pivots from a lower portion of the caddy structure. U.S. D233,196, D276,291, D315,269, 5,924,566, U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,700, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,926,137 and 6,813,785 are examples of such caddies. All of these caddies would appear to generally adequately perform their basic intended purpose, but still have drawbacks. U.S. D315,269 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,566 as noted, are examples of caddies which have single hinged doors which pivot form a lower portion of the caddy structure. However, there appears to be noting to prevent the hinged door from pivoting until a portion of the hinged door contacts the floor. This would require a user to bend-over after using the plunger and manually closing the hinged door when returning the plunger to the caddy after use. Bending over, and manually closing the hinged door requires additional effort, which may be difficult for people with physical limitations. Alternately, the caddy hinged door could be closed after removing the plunger. However, this would require a use to again open the caddy door when returning the plunger to the caddy after use. Also, some users may find the act of touching the caddy, which likely is exposed to exposed substances, unpleasant. These designs may also require a user to manually open the hinged door, as well. U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,759 teaches a toilet-plunger caddy with a door which is not hinged, but instead moves in an open and closed direction in a circumferential direction along the outer structure of the caddy. Unfortunately, this design would also require manual opening and closing of the caddy door. U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,700 appears to overcome the problem of having to manually open and close the hinged door by using a double hinged-door design. However, this design would be disadvantageous from the standpoint of complexity and cost of manufacture. 
         [0005]    For the above reasons, there is a need for a toilet plunger caddy which does not have to be manually opened and closed, in which the toilet plunger may be removed and replaced without having to touch the caddy, is of a simple design and is inexpensive to manufacture. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed toward an improved utility device caddy capable of receiving a toilet plunger with an external structure capable of enclosing a toilet plunger and a hinged door to allow the toilet plunger to be inserted and removed from an interior portion of the external structure. An embodiment of the present invention may include a hook, or protruding portion from a side surface of the external structure. The protruding portion is capable of preventing the hinged door from opening beyond a point at which the toilet plunger may be easily inserted and removed from the caddy. This lessens the possibility of the caddy falling over and facilitates replacement of the plunger back in the caddy. 
         [0007]    An embodiment of the present invention may include the hinged door being formed from a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion allows the toilet plunger to be removed and returned to the caddy. The horizontal portion of the hinged door may be located at a lower end of the vertical portion proximal a hinge which supports the hinged door. The toilet plunger rests on the horizontal portion. The horizontal and vertical portions of the hinged door, the hinge and the protruding portion of the external structure together allow the toilet plunger caddy to be inserted and removed from the toilet plunger caddy without manual movement of the hinged door. 
         [0008]    An embodiment of the present invention may include the external structure including first and second portions. The first portion of the external structure encloses the toilet plunger. The second portion of the external structure encloses a cleaning brush. 
         [0009]    An embodiment of the present invention may include the external structure being configured as animal shapes. These animal shapes may include shapes such as a kitten or monkey. 
         [0010]    An embodiment of the present invention may include the external structure being decorated with decorative art. This decorative art may include art such as a sea shell, or a flower which may be matched to any decor. 
         [0011]    An embodiment of the present invention may include these and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows an external view of an embodiment of a utility device caddy viewed from a first side and with a hinged door in a closed position. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a section view of an embodiment of the utility device caddy viewed from a first side with a plunger shown within the caddy and with the hinged door in a closed position. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a section view of an embodiment of the utility device caddy with the hinged door of the caddy in an open position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4A  shows a perspective detail view of a portion of  FIGS. 2 and 3  of an interior portion of the caddy. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4B  shows a detail view of a portion of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 4C  shows a detail view of a portion of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows an external view of another embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy including a brush holder and a hinged door of the brush holder and a hinged door of a plunger holder in a closed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows a section view of another embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy including the brush holder and the hinged door the brush holder and the hinged door of the plunger holder in an open position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a detail view of a portion of  FIG. 6 , with the hinged door of the brush holder in an open position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy configured as an animal shape such as a cat. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy configured as an animal shape such as a monkey. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    As illustrated on  FIGS. 1 through 4C , an embodiment of the present invention is directed toward the utility device caddy  10  configured as a toilet plunger caddy  10 . The utility device caddy  10 , or toilet plunger caddy  10  encloses a toilet plunger  15  with a plunger handle  17 . The toilet plunger caddy  10  includes a base portion  20  and an upper portion  30 . The base portion  20  includes a lower surface  21  and an upper surface  22 . The toilet plunger caddy  10  may be made of plastic, but other materials are within the scope of the invention. The toilet plunger caddy  10  may be of any color. The upper portion  30  may include decorative art  31 , such as butterflies, kittens, sea shells or flowers. The upper portion  30  further including a front portion  33  and a rear portion  34 . The base portion  20  includes a rubber gasket  23  and a front hinge and hinged door support portion  25 , located on the front portion  33  of the upper portion and a rear hinge and hinged door support portion  26  located on the rear portion  34  of the upper portion  30 , as illustrated on  FIGS. 1-3 . The upper portion  30  includes a body portion  32  and a hinged door  60 . 
         [0024]    The hinged door  60  includes a base portion lower surface  61 , a front hinge support portion  62  and a rear hinge support portion  64 . As illustrated on  FIG. 4A , a front hinge support portion  62  of the hinged door  60  is pivotally attached to the front hinge and hinged door support portion  25  by a front hinge  36 . The front hinge support portion  62  is further composed of a front hinge support portion outer support tab  62 A and a front hinge support portion inner support tab  62 B. As further illustrated on  FIG. 4A , a rear hinge support portion  64  of the hinged door  60  is pivotally attached to the rear hinged door support portion  26  by a rear hinge  37 . The rear hinge support portion  64  is further composed of a rear hinge support portion outer support tab  64 A and a rear hinge support portion inner support tab  64 B. 
         [0025]    As best illustrated on  FIG. 4B , a first vertical distance  63  is defined as a vertical distance of the base portion  20  upper surface  22  above the base portion  20  lower surface  21 . A second vertical distance  64  is defined as a vertical distance of the hinged door  60  base portion lower surface  61  is above the base portion  20  lower surface  21 . As best illustrated on  FIG. 4B , the first vertical distance  63  is substantially the same as the second vertical distance  64 . 
         [0026]    The body portion  32  further includes vent holes  46 , a semi-circular hole  48  at a top portion  50  of the body portion  32  and a stopping device  52  with a protruding, or hook portion  53  located on a side portion  54  of the body portion  32 . The hook portion  53  of the stopping device  52  forms a receiving area  58 , as best illustrated on  FIG. 4C . The hinged door  60  further includes a base portion  66  with an outer side portion  67  which will form a lip  68 , when viewed in cross-section on  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 C. Together, the base portion  66 , the outer side portion  67  and the lip  68  when considered about an entire circumference in which they extend, form a recess  71  in which the toilet plunger  15  is seated. The hinged door  60  additionally includes a semi-circular hole  69  located on an upper portion  70  of the hinged door  60  and a handle  72 . 
         [0027]    As illustrated on  FIGS. 1 and 2 , when the hinged door  60  is in a closed position  80 , the semi-circular hole  48  on the body portion  32  and the semi-circular hole  69  on the hinged door  60  are aligned. This allows the plunger handle  17  of the toilet plunger  15  to protrude above the toilet plunger caddy  10  through an aperture  73  formed by the semi-circular hole  48  on the body portion  32  and semi-circular hole  69  located on the hinged door  60 , when the toilet plunger  15  is installed in the toilet plunger caddy  10 . 
         [0028]    As illustrated on  FIG. 3 , the handle  72  of the hinged door  60  is capable of being pulled, which allows the hinged door  60  to be placed in an open position  90 . However, as further explained below, the handle  72  does not have to be pulled in order to place the hinged door  60  in the open position  90 . With the hinged door  60  in the open position  90 , the toilet plunger  15  is allowed to be removed from the toilet plunger caddy  10 . As illustrated on  FIGS. 3 and 4C , in order to prevent the hinged door  60  from opening until it hits a floor, the lip  68  of the outer side portion  67  of the base portion  66  of the hinged door  60  contacts the receiving area  58  of the stopping device  52 . This allows the hinged door  60  from being opened too far, which makes it more difficult to close the hinged door  60 . 
         [0029]    When the hinged door  60  is in the open position  90 , and it is desired to remove the toilet plunger  15  from the toilet plunger caddy  10 , the toilet plunger  15  is capable of being manually removed from the toilet plunger caddy  10 . However, due to the position of the hinged door  60 , the hinged door  60  will stay in the open position  90 , due to the acceleration of gravity on the mass of the hinged door  60 . To further assure the hinged door  60  stays in the open position  90 , when the toilet plunger  15  is removed, and to facilitate the opening of the hinged door  60 , a torsional spring  95  may be used to bias the hinged door  60  in the open position  90 . 
         [0030]    When the hinged door is in the open position  90 , and it is desired to return the toilet plunger  15  to the toilet plunger caddy  10  after use, the toilet plunger  15  is simply placed on the base portion  66  of the hinged door  60 . The weight of the toilet plunger  60  will then overcome the weight of the hinged door  60  and the bias of the torsional spring  95 , to allow the hinged door  60  of the toilet plunger caddy  10  to close without actually touching the toilet plunger caddy  10 . 
         [0031]    As illustrated on  FIGS. 5-7 , another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The toilet plunger caddy  110  of this embodiment encloses a toilet plunger  115  with a plunger handle  117 . The toilet plunger caddy  110  includes a base portion  120  and an upper portion  130 . The upper portion  130  includes a body portion  132  and a hinged door  160 . The hinged door  160  includes a front portion  162  and a rear portion  164 . The hinged door  160  is pivotally attached to the body portion  132  by hinges  136 , which are attached to the body portion  132  on a front portion  142  and a rear portion  144  of the body portion  132  and the front portion  162  and the rear portion  164  of the hinged door  160  in the same manner as was described for the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4C . The body portion  132  includes vent holes  146 , a semi-circular hole  148  at a top portion  150  of the body portion  132  and a stopping device  152  with a hook portion  153  located on a side portion  154  of the body portion  132 . The hinged door  160  further includes a base portion  166  with an outer side portion  167  with a lip  168 , in the same manner as was described and illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4C . The hinged door  160  further includes a semi-circular hole  169  located on an upper portion  170  of the hinged door  160  and a handle  172 . The movement of the hinged door between open and closed positions is the same as described for the embodiment illustrated on  FIGS. 1 to 4C . 
         [0032]    As further illustrated on  FIGS. 5-7 , the toilet plunger caddy  110  further includes a brush holder  210 . The toilet plunger caddy  110  of this embodiment encloses a brush  215  with a brush handle  217 . The brush holder  210  includes a base portion  220  and an upper portion  230 . The base portion of the brush holder  210  is integral with the base portion  120  of the toilet plunger caddy  110 . The upper portion  230  includes a body portion  232  and a hinged door  260 . The hinged door  260  includes a front portion  262  and a rear portion  264 . The hinged door  260  is pivotally attached to the body portion  232  by hinges  236 , which are attached to the body portion  232  on a front portion  242  and a rear portion  244  of the body portion  232  and the front portion  262  and the rear portion  264  of the hinged door  260  in the same manner as the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4C . The body portion  232  includes vent holes  246 , a semi-circular hole  248  at a top portion  250  of the body portion  232  and a stopping device  252  with a hook portion  253  located on a side portion  254  of the body portion  232 , as best illustrated on  FIGS. 6 and 7 . The hook portion  253  of the stopping device  252  forms a receiving area  258 . As best illustrated on  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the hinged door  260  further includes a base portion  266  with an outer side portion  267  with a lip  268 , a semi-circular hole  269  located on an upper portion  270  of the hinged door  260  and a handle  272 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated on  FIGS. 5 and 6 , when the hinged door  260  is in a closed position  280 , the semi-circular hole  248  on the body portion  232  and the semi-circular hole  268  on the hinged door  260  are aligned. This allows the brush handle  217  of the brush  215  to protrude above the brush holder  210  through an aperture  271  formed by the semi-circular hole  248  on the body portion  232  and semi-circular hole  268  located on the hinged door  260 , when the brush  215  is installed in the brush holder  210 . 
         [0034]    As illustrated on  FIG. 6 , the handle  272  of the hinged door  260  is capable of being pulled, which allows the brush holder  210  to be placed in an open position  290 . In this open position  290 , the brush  215  is allowed to be removed from the brush holder  210 . As illustrated on  FIG. 7 , in order to prevent the hinged door  260  from opening until it hits a floor, the lip  268  of the outer side portion  267  of the base portion  266  of the hinged door  260  contacts the receiving area  258  of the stopping device  252 . This allows the hinged door  260  from being opened too far, which makes it more difficult to close the hinged door  260 . 
         [0035]    When the hinged door  260  is in the open position  290 , and it is desired to remove the brush  215  from the brush holder  210 , the brush  215  is capable of being removed from the brush holder  210  without interference from the brush holder  210 . However, due to the position of the hinged door  260 , the hinged door  260  will stay in the open position  290 , due to the acceleration of gravity on the mass of the hinged door  260 . To further assure the hinged door  260  stays in the open position  290 , when the brush  215  is removed, a torsional spring  295  may be used to bias the hinged door  260  in the open position  290 . 
         [0036]    When the hinged door is in the open position  290 , and it is desired to return the brush  215  to the brush holder  210  after use, the brush  215  is simply placed on the base portion  266  of the hinged door  260 . The weight of the brush  215  will then overcome the weight of the hinged door  260  and the bias of the torsional spring  295 , to allow the hinged door  260  of the brush holder  210  to close without actually touching the brush holder  210 . 
         [0037]    In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the toilet plunger caddy  10  has a conventional configuration. However, other embodiments of the invention allow for other configurations of the toilet brush caddy  10 .  FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the invention of the upper portion  30  of toilet brush caddy  10  configured as an animal  310 , such as a cat.  FIG. 9  illustrates an embodiment of the invention of the upper portion  30  of the toilet brush caddy  10  configured as another type of animal  320 , such as a monkey. Other animal configurations of the upper portion  30  of the toilet brush caddy  10 , such as a puppy, or a bird may form an embodiment of the invention. 
         [0038]    Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with references to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred version contained herein.