Abstract:
A toilet tool cleansing system employs a mixing eductor that disperses a disinfectant solution into a water stream that is sprayed onto the tool and thereafter collected and discharged into a toilet via a drain eductor. The cleansing system includes plumbing and a valve adapted to be in fluid communication with an existing water supply source. A housing receives the toilet tool. The housing has at least one spray nozzle in fluid communication with the mixing eductor for dispensing the water and disinfectant on the tool. The drain eductor propels waste liquids from the system into a toilet bowl.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a nonprovisional of and claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 61/808,305 filed 4 Apr. 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by this reference and made a part hereof. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to storage and cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a system for storing and cleaning a toilet tool. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Toilet bowl plungers for flushing a toilet bowl to remove obstructions and clogging are well known. Such obstructions prevent water in the bowl from being flushed from the toilet bowl through the drain pipes into the sewage system. 
     Similarly, toilet bowl brushes for cleaning the inside of a toilet bowl are well known. Many such brushes are non-disposable and intended for repeated use. 
     Typically, plungers include an elongated handle with an inverted cup-shaped plunger portion, generally of rubber or other resilient material, connected to an end of the handle. In order to plunge a clogged toilet bowl, the plunger portion is placed over the opening at the bottom of the bowl and pushed downwardly. The walls of the plunger portion collapse and force air under pressure through the opening. The plunger handle is pulled upwardly to release the plunger portion and restore it to its initial position. This applied suction usually dislodges any obstructions in the bowl and the bowl trap. 
     Likewise, a toilet brush includes an elongated handle. A brush or sponge or other cleaning element is attached to one end of the elongated handle. 
     Each tool includes an element or portion that comes in contact with water and residue in the toilet bowl. The plunger portion or brush portion, and the lower part of the plunger or brush handle, come into contact with unsanitary material in the bowl. It is preferred if such tools can be stored in close proximity to the toilet, so that they are available when needed. However, it is difficult to store, in a sanitary and aesthetically pleasing manner, a dripping wet toilet tool. 
     Accordingly, a need remains for a toilet tool storage and cleansing device in order to overcome at least one prior art shortcoming. The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a toilet tool cleaning system rinses and to some extent disinfects a toilet plunger or brush after it is used to unclog or clean a toilet. The toilet tool is rinsed with water or a mixture of water and a liquid disinfectant that removes undesirable bacteria and residue from interior and exterior surfaces of the toilet tool. Then, the waste is drained directly into the toilet via the drain line. The system allows guests to access, use and disinfect a toilet tool thereby avoiding possible embarrassment by not having to notify the host about a clogged or soiled toilet. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the system includes a frusto-conical housing containing at least one spray nozzle and preferably two or more spray nozzles. In an embodiment with two nozzles, one of the spray nozzles is positioned adjacent to and underside of the plunger cup or brush of the tool. The other spray nozzle may be positioned adjacent to a topside of the plunger cup or brush; mimicking a shower head. The interior cavity of housing includes ledges to support a plunger at a slightly raised and substantially stable position during cleansing procedures. Additionally, the housing includes a drain port located at the bottom of a funnel-like receptacle. A drain line extends from the drain port to a toilet, for draining the waste away from the housing. A drain eductor propels waste to the toilet. 
     The frusto-conical housing includes an access door coupled with a hinge. The door may be pivoted between open and closed positions. When the door is in an open position, a tool may be placed in or removed from the housing. When the door is in a closed position, the tool is contained in the housing for cleaning and/or storage. 
     The system may be wall-mounted or recessed partially into a wall. Anchoring the system to a wall may be accomplished with conventional fasteners. To recess the system into a wall, an opening that outlines the shape of the system may be cutout from the wall. Then screws may be inserted into holes provided in anchor flaps attached to the housing exterior. The screws may be secured to the wall and thereby support the system at a substantially stable position. 
     In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a mixing eductor having a venturi design enables efficient introduction of disinfectant solution to the cleaning water. A stream of flowing water creates a low pressure area that draws disinfectant solution into the stream. The disinfectant is contained in a replaceable or refillable bottle. The mixture of disinfectant and water is sprayed from the nozzles onto the plunger cup or brush. 
     A manual valve selectively permits pressurized clean water to flow from an external water supply source, such as a water supply line in a bathroom, to plumbing that supplies liquid to the nozzles. A Tee-coupling may connect a water inlet line to the water supply line. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the invention will become better understood with reference to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings, where: 
         FIG. 1  conceptually illustrates an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system operably coupled to a toilet water supply according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 2  provides a back perspective view of the exemplary toilet tool cleaning system operably coupled to a toilet water supply according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 3  provides a front perspective view of the exemplary toilet tool cleaning system operably coupled to a toilet water supply according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 4  conceptually illustrates an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system apart from a toilet according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 5  provides a back perspective view of an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system apart from a toilet according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6  provides a perspective view of an exemplary housing with a removed access panel for an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system apart from a toilet according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 7  provides a back perspective view of an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system in an open configuration, apart from a toilet, with a support disc removed, according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 8  provides a front perspective view of an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system in an open configuration, apart from a toilet, with a support disc removed, according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 9  provides a front perspective view of a section of an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system in an open configuration, apart from a toilet, with a support disc removed, according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  provides a first perspective view of an exemplary wall mount for an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 11  provides a second perspective view of an exemplary wall mount for an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 12  conceptually illustrates an exemplary toilet tool cleaning system apart from a toilet with wall mounting flanges according to principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 13  is a high level schematic of a nonlimiting example of an eductor, for use as an input eductor (aka “mixing eductor”) or as a drain eductor, in accordance with the principles of the invention; and 
         FIG. 14  provides a high level schematic conceptually illustrating components of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of a toilet tool cleaning system according to principles of the invention. 
     
    
    
     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the invention. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the specific components, configurations, shapes, relative sizes, ornamental aspects or proportions as shown in the figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a toilet tool cleaning system  100  operably coupled to a toilet  200 . The system  100  includes a door  105  that opens to provide access to an interior compartment in which a toilet tool  10  may be stored and cleaned. When closed (as shown), the door  105  provides a drip-proof seal. The toilet tool may be a plunger  10 , toilet bowl brush or any other tool that comes in contact with toilet bowl water. If the tool  10  is taller than the container, a hole may be formed in the container top to allow passage of the handle. 
     Water is supplied from a supply line  130  through a manual valve  115  to one or more spray nozzles in the interior compartment. By way of example and not limitation, the valve  115  may comprise a ball valve (e.g., a three-position ball valve). Opening the valve  115  allows water to flow into the system for either cleaning a stored tool or for evacuating waste liquids. Closing the valve  115  stops the flow of water to the system. 
     As described below, the system includes an eductor in which supplied water flows through a path in fluid communication with a cleaning solution supply. The water and cleanser solution is sprayed on the working end of the toilet tool. 
     A funnel-shaped receptacle  110  collects the water, cleanser and residue from the tool and directs the substances to an outlet  120  coupled to a drain line  125 . The drain line  125  extends to the bowl  205  of the toilet  200 . The line  125  is thin enough to extend through the space between the seat  210  and the bowl  205 . In one embodiment, the substances flow into the bowl  205  of the toilet  200  under the influence of gravity, as the system  100  may be positioned at a height above the bowl height. In such an embodiment, the system may be mounted to a wall or supported on a stand at an elevated height. 
     However, In a particular preferred embodiment, the drain port includes an eductor, which is fed by water from the valve  115 . In this embodiment, the valve  115  is a three way valve, having an off position that prevents the flow of water through the valve, a first on position that feeds the eductor for the cleaning solution as described below, and a second on position that feeds the eductor for the drainage. In this particular preferred embodiment, the system does not depend upon gravity for drainage and may be positioned below the height of the toilet bowl. Rather suction from the water flowing past the drain port to the drainage line will draw accumulated waste liquids and residue from the receptacle  110  through the drain port into the bowl. 
     In yet another embodiment, a solenoid valve with a float switch may be provided to control the flow of substances from the receptacle  110  through the outlet  120  through the drain line  125  into the bowl  205 . In such embodiment, the accumulated liquids in the receptacle  110  trigger the float switch which allows flow of water to the drain eductor for drainage to the toilet bowl. 
       FIG. 2  provides a back view of the exemplary system. A water supply line  140  for the toilet  200  is equipped with a tee-fitting  135  coupled with the water supply line  130  for the system  100 . An attached housing  145  with a removable access panel  180  contains plumbing and a cleaning solution supply. A plurality of snap fit connections  150 ,  155  hold the door  105  in a closed position, until the door  105  is urged open. The back of the housing  145  may attach to a wall or other vertical support structure using angled mounting flanges  170  and a wall mounting pad  175 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the terminus of the drain line  125  is shown expelling effluent into the bowl  205 . Again, in an exemplary embodiment the flow into the toilet bowl is induced by gravity. Thus, the system  100  is positioned higher than the bowl  205 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , a hinge  185  for attaching the door  105  and snap fit connections  150 ,  155 ,  160 ,  165  are shown. The door pivots open and closed using the hinge  185 . The invention is not limited to the illustrated hinge  185  or to any form of hinge. Rather, any means for temporarily opening the door may be utilized without departing from the invention. 
     In  FIG. 5 , the access panel  180  and wall mount are more clearly shown. The wall mount comprises angled mounting flanges  170  and a wall mounting pad  175 . The wall mounting pad  175  may be attached to a wall. The flanges are attached to the back of the housing  145  of the system  100 . The flanges  170  are fixed to the back of the housing  145  at an angle relative to each other. The distance between the flanges is greater towards the bottom of the flanges. The space between the flanges  170  is sized and shaped to snugly receive the engageable portion of the wall mounting pad  175 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , an exemplary housing  145  is shown. The housing  145 , which encloses the cleaner solution and plumbing, may have any of various suitable shapes and sizes. In the exemplary embodiment a removable access panel  180  provides access to the interior compartment  182  defined by the housing. The front  146  of the housing  145  is shaped to securely abut the corresponding frusto-conical toilet tool container  107  of the system  100 . The housing  145  is preferably permanently attached to the frusto-conical toilet tool container  107  of the system  100 . 
       FIG. 7  provides a perspective view of the system, without the housing  145 , to reveal the housed plumbing  184 ,  186 ,  188 ,  190 ,  192  and a cleaner solution bottle  184 . A threaded fitting defines a port (e.g., an eductor port) to which a threaded neck of the bottle attaches. The port is located between the valve and the nozzle in fluid communication with the plumbing that supplies the water. Water enters through the valve  115 . At side outlet elbow  188 , the cleaner solution  184  is in fluid communication with entering water via cleaner outlet line  186 . The Bernoulli effect from the flow of water causes suction through the cleaner outlet line  186 . The cleaner outlet line  186  extends into the cleaner solution bottle  184  towards the bottom of the bottle  184 . Cleaner solution is sucked from the bottle  184  via the cleaner outlet line  186  and introduced into the water stream provided to nozzles. An upper nozzle  102  receives the water and cleaner solution mixture via upper supply line  190 . A lower nozzle  104  receives the water and cleaner solution mixture via lower supply line  192 . 
     A support disc  195  is also shown in  FIG. 7 . The support disc snaps into the frusto-conical container  107  of the system  100 . A slot  196  allows a handle of a toilet tool  10  to extend through the disc  195 . A notch  198  allows an upper nozzle  102  to extend through the disc  195 . If the upper nozzle  102  is positioned below the disc, the notch  198  is unnecessary. 
     In the perspective view of  FIG. 8  and the cutaway perspective view of  FIG. 9 , the upper nozzle  102  is partially visible. The upper nozzle sprays cleaning fluid (e.g., water or water with cleaner) downwardly onto the working portion (e.g., deformable plunger head) of the toilet tool  10 . The lower nozzle sprays cleaning fluid (e.g., water or water with cleaner) upwardly onto the working portion (e.g., deformable plunger head) of the toilet tool  10 . The head of the toilet tool  10  is kept elevated above the receptacle  110  by a plurality of spacers  111 ,  112 ,  113 . This prevents a plunger from forming a seal that would prevent drainage of fluid sprayed from the upper nozzle  102 . In  FIG. 5 , the access panel  180  and wall mount are more clearly shown. The wall mount comprises angled mounting flanges  170  and a wall mounting pad  175 . The wall mounting pad  175  may be attached to a wall. The flanges are attached to the back of the housing  145  of the system  100 . 
       FIGS. 10 and 11  provide perspective views of a wall mount. Any wall mounting elements suitable for attaching the system  100  to a wall adjacent to a toilet at an elevated height, may be used. Examples of such other mounts include shelves, hooks, cables, nails, screws, and any other mounts suitable for attaching pictures frames or cabinets to a wall. The mount shown in the figures is a nonlimiting example of one possible mount. The flanges  170 ,  172  are fixed to the back of the housing  145  at an angle relative to each other. 
     The distance between the flanges  170 ,  172  is greater towards the bottom of the flanges. The space between the flanges  170  is sized, tapered and shaped to snugly receive the engageable portion of the wall mounting pad  175 . A spacer  176  maintains a space between the wall and the pad  175  to allow the engaging portions of the flanges  170 ,  172  to fit between the pad  175  and the wall. Without the spacer  176 , the pad would be flush against the wall providing nothing to grip. A plurality of flush mount screws extend through holes in the pad for attachment to a wall. The screws are aligned so that they may be screwed into an available vertical wall stud. 
     In yet another embodiment, side flanges  220 ,  225  are provided for an alternative form of wall mounting. The system may be mounted in a recess in a wall. The recess may be shaped and sized to receive the back end of the system. The flanges may mount against the surface of the wall. Each flange  220 ,  225  includes a plurality of screw holes for mounting. After mounting, the flanges may be visible or concealed using a wall covering such as joint compound. In such an embodiment, an access panel may be provided in the frusto-conical housing  107  to provide access to the disinfectant bottle for replenishment or replacement. Other means of wall mounting, including shelves, straps, hooks and the like may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     As discussed above, a preferred exemplary embodiment includes two eductors. One eductor, an input eductor, draws cleaning liquid into the water stream supplied to the spray nozzles for cleaning the toilet tool. The other eductor draws liquid wastewater and entrained matter through the drain port and propels the substances into the toilet bowl. Using the drain eductor avoids the need to use a mechanical pump or gravity to drain the device. Thus, with a drain eductor, the device may be positioned at a height lower than the toilet bowl. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 13 , a high level schematic provides a nonlimiting example of an eductor  300 , for use as an input eductor or drain eductor, in accordance with the principles of the invention. The exemplary eductor  300  includes a water inlet  325  through which water flows. A nozzle  310  leads to a chamber  320  or venturi of the eductor. A low pressure area is formed in the venturi  320 , which will draw liquids, air, and any free floating materials in the drawn fluids, from the suction inlet  305  through the venturi  320  to the outlet  315  of the eductor  300 . In other words, the low pressure area sucks flowable substances from within the venturi to a downstream location. 
     In the input eductor, the suction inlet  305  leads to the cleaner bottle  184 , while the outlet  315  leads to the nozzles  102 ,  104 , and the water inlet is coupled to the water supply line  130  via three-way valve  115 . Thus, when water is supplied to the water inlet  325 , cleaner liquid is drawn through the suction inlet  305 , mixes with the water and exits through the outlet  315 , which are fluidly coupled to the nozzles  102 ,  104 . 
     In the drain eductor, the suction inlet  305  leads to or constitutes the drain port, while the outlet  315  leads to the drain line  125 , and the water inlet is coupled to the water supply line  130  via three-way valve  115 . Thus, when water is supplied to the water inlet  325 , waste liquid and floating residue is drawn through the suction inlet  305 , mixes with the water and exits through the outlet  315 , from where they are propelled through the drain line  125  into the toilet bowl  205 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , a high level schematic illustrates components of a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment of the present invention. A plunger  400  is shown in the housing  405 , which may include air vents. Mounting flanges  410 ,  465  are provided for wall attachment. A support disc  415  positions the handle of of the plunger  400 , and may include an integrated or attached upper nozzle  460  aimed downwardly towards the cup of the plunger  400 . The receptacle  420  collects waste. A lower nozzle  425  is aimed upwardly towards the cup of the plunger  400 . A drain eductor  440  facilitates draining of liquid waste accumulated in the receptacle  420 . The drainage flows to the toilet  470  via drain line  430 . A plumbing tee  440  is installed downstream of a valve  445  for the water supply line  435  to the toilet  470 . This tee directs water to the system. 
     A three way valve  450  controls the flow of water to either (a) a mixing inductor  455 , in which cleaner liquid  480  is drawn into the lines that supply liquid to the lower and upper nozzles  425 ,  460 , or (b) to a drain eductor  440 , in which water supplied via line  475  draws waste liquid from the receptacle  420  and propels it to the toilet  470  via drain line  430 . 
     While an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the components and steps of the invention, including variations in order, form, content, function and manner of operation, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. The above description and drawings are illustrative of modifications that can be made without departing from the present invention, the scope of which is to be limited only by the following claims. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents are intended to fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.