Abstract:
A pinkie closet assembly may enclose a suspended plunger, a suspended toilet bowl brush, and may incorporate a shelf on which cleaning supplies and related items can be stored. A suspension mechanism holds the handle of the plunger, thus suspending the bell in mid-air. Similarly, a suspension mechanism, hanging hook, or similar device can be used to suspend a toilet brush. A removable drip tray is provided under the suspended tool(s) to catch any water that drips therefrom. A disposable absorbent pad may be adapted to fit within the tray. A door is provided so that the closet can be closed, concealing the items therein; and the entire assembly then adds to the appearance of the bathroom rather than detracting from it. A top exterior surface of the pinkie closet provides a convenient shelf to hold items for display, reading materials, etc.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/760,437 entitled PINKIE CLOSET and filed on Feb. 4, 2013, which is specifically incorporated by reference herein for all that it discloses and teaches. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to the field of bathroom and toilet accessories, and more particularly to a closet for cleanly and neatly storing and organizing toilet plungers, toilet brushes, and other toilet/bathroom items. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A number of tools, cleaning supplies, and other accessories are often stored in proximity to a toilet in a bathroom. For example, it is not uncommon to see a toilet brush, plunger, bottle of cleaner, etc. placed beside, behind, or near a toilet. Such open, visible storage is unsightly and unattractive. Further, both the toilet brush and the toilet plunger will often drip unsanitary water after usage and can create additional mess and unsightliness. 
         [0004]    A number of stand-alone holders or storage items have been developed to address these problems, but they fall woefully short of a complete solution. For example, small stands that enclose the base of a toilet brush are available. They hide the bristle head portion of the brush and collect any water, cleaning solution, etc. that drips off the brush head after use. However, the brush handle itself is still visible and the entire assembly is unattractive. Similar items are available for toilet plungers; but they have the same inherent flaws: the entire assembly is unattractive, and the head of the plunger rests on a surface and so traps water and bacteria therebetween. Further, the water that drips from both plungers and brushes into such currently known enclosures, often can not evaporate quickly and so creates a place for bacteria, mold, mildew, etc. to grow and flourish. Furthermore, such enclosures do no provide a neat and convenient place to store cleaning fluids and accessories. 
         [0005]    What is needed is a small closet that stores plungers, toilet brushes, and other accessories. The plungers, brushes and/or other toilet tools should be suspended such that the bristle/brush head or plunger bell (collectively, working portion) does not rest on a surface and trap water and bacteria, so it can quickly dry. A drip catch mechanism should be included under the suspended toilet tool(s) to catch any remaining water that drips from the tools. Further, a shelf or similar structure should be incorporated on which to store cleaning supplies, gloves, and related items. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One embodiment of the present invention comprises a pinkie closet assembly that encloses a suspended plunger and a suspended toilet bowl brush, and incorporates a shelf on which cleaning supplies and related items can be stored. A suspension mechanism holds the handle of the plunger, thus suspending the bell in mid-air. Similarly, a suspension mechanism, hanging hook, or similar device can be used to suspend the toilet brush as well. In other embodiments, other toilet tool(s) are suspended within the pinkie closet. A removable drip tray is provided under the suspended toilet tool to catch any water that drips from said tools. A disposable absorbent pad may be adapted to fit within the tray. The assembly can include additional storage hooks, clamps, shelves, and compartments to efficiently organize and store items such as gloves, brushes, sponges, etc. A door is provided so that the closet can be closed, concealing the items therein; and the entire assembly then adds to the appearance of the bathroom rather than detracting from it. A top exterior surface of the pinkie closet provides a convenient shelf to hold items for display, reading materials, etc. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevation view of another exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of three exemplary embodiments of differently shaped Pinkie Closets; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a top plan view of a top shelf inside an exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet highlighting a plurality of suspension mechanisms holding a brush and a plunger. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a top plan view of a plurality of suspension mechanisms, one empty and the other holding a plunger. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In the following discussion, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. Furthermore, lists and/or examples are often provided and should be interpreted as exemplary only and in no way limiting embodiments to only those examples. 
         [0014]    Exemplary embodiments are described below in the accompanying Figures. The following detailed description provides a comprehensive review of the drawing Figures in order to provide a thorough understanding of, and an enabling description for, these embodiments. One having ordinary skill in the art will understand that in some cases well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
         [0015]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet  100 . The closet assembly includes a top planar surface  10 , a bottom  18 , a left side  14  and a right side  12 , a back  16  and a front door  20  that together define an interior  11  that encloses a number of other components, including: a top shelf  19 , a side shelf  50 , and a drip tray  40 . The top exterior planar surface  10  of the Pinkie Closet provides a convenient shelf to hold items for display, reading materials, etc. In other embodiments, the back, top shelf, and/or other components may or may not be included. 
         [0016]    The embodiment in  FIG. 1  incorporates a top shelf  19  that has includes a plurality of suspension mechanisms  80  and  90 . In other embodiments, other suspension mechanisms  80  and  90  may be used without a top shelf  19 . For example, extended spring clamps may be mounting within the Pinkie Closet such that they suspend the toilet tools, without the need for a top shelf  19 . The suspension mechanisms  80  and  90  are adapted to vertically suspend one or more toilet tools such as a toilet bowl brush  60  and a toilet plunger  70 . In another embodiment, the Pinkie Closet is designed to hold a plunger  70  only and not a toilet brush  60 . In yet another embodiment, the Pinkie Closet is adapted to hold a toilet brush  60  only, and not a plunger  70 . 
         [0017]    Said tools  60  and  70  are suspended over a drip tray  40  that catches and contains any water, etc. that may drip from either tool after use. The drip tray  40  may incorporate a disposable absorbent pad  48  that is constructed of materials that function like a diaper or sanitary pad. The disposable absorbent pad  48  is adapted to fit within the drip tray  40 , and can include disinfectant(s) and/or deodorizer(s) therein. The pad  48  can be easily removed and disposed of after use. An additional new pad can then be installed. The drip tray can also incorporate a drip tray handle that is adapted to provide a grasping point on the drip tray to be used when inserting and removing the drip tray from the Pinkie Closet. 
         [0018]    The side shelf  50  is adapted to hold cleaning supplies such as containers of cleaning products  54 , gloves, sponges, etc. One or more hooks can be attached under the side shelf  50  from which to hang items. Because toilet tool(s) have a relatively narrow handle portion above and opposite a wider working portion (see the plunger bell  76  and the brush head  66  of the exemplary toilet tools  70  and  60 , respectively, in  FIG. 1  in comparison to the upper handle portions of both tools), the side shelf  50  can be tucked into the Pinkie Closet  100  above the working portion without unduly widening the assembly. Note that the toilet tools each have a handle portion and, opposite the handle portion, a working portion comprising that portion of the toilet tool that engages the toilet and performs the primary working function of the toilet tool. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the working portion of the toilet brush  60  is the brush head  66  and the working portion of the toilet plunger  70  is the plunger bell  76 . 
         [0019]    One or more air vents  30  and  32  can be incorporated into the Pinkie Closet  100 . The air vents  30  and  32  are adapted to provide air flow through the Pinkie Closet even when the front door  20  is closed. The air flow helps to dry the plunger and brush after use so as to minimize the moisture available to grow bacteria, mold, etc. 
         [0020]    Note that both the brush head  66  and the plunger bell  76  are completely suspended inside the Pinkie Closet  100 . By not allowing these items to contact other surfaces, the Pinkie Closet  100  helps to keep things sanitary while providing airflow around the brush head  66  and plunger bell  76  so that they can quickly dry after use. Any remaining water that drips from either tool will be caught by the drip pan  40  and absorbed by the disposable absorbent pad  48 . The entire drip tray  40  can be easily removed from the Pinkie Closet  100  simply by grasping the drip tray handle  42  and sliding the tray out from under the tools. 
         [0021]      FIG. 2  illustrates a front elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet. The closet assembly includes a top planar surface  10 , a bottom  18 , a left side  14  and a right side  12 , and a front door (not shown in  FIG. 2 , see  FIG. 1 , item  20 ) that together enclose a number of other components, including: a top shelf  19 , a side shelf  50 , and a drip tray  40 . Note that in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  there is no back component (see item  16 ,  FIG. 1 ). If the Pinkie Closet is placed in proximity to a wall, no back component is needed to hide the contents of the Pinkie Closet. Furthermore, air flow through the interior is enhanced when no back is built into the Closet. In another embodiment, only a portion of a back  16  is included in the Pinkie Closet assembly. In yet another embodiment, the back  16  incorporates holes or other air vents. 
         [0022]    Note how both the plunger  70  and the toilet brush  60  are suspended within the Pinkie Closet above the drip tray  40 . No portion of the brush head  66  or plunger bell  76  is in contact with any surface. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , two exemplary suspension mechanisms  80  and  90  are used to suspend both the toilet brush  60  and the plunger  70 . In other embodiments, other types of suspension mechanisms may be utilized. For example, one or more spring clamps can be attached within the interior of the Pinkie Closet to grasp and hold the handles of the tools and suspend them above the drip tray  40  without utilizing a top shelf  19 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevation view of another exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet. The closet assembly includes a top planar surface  10 , a bottom  18 , a left side  14  and a right side  12 , a back  16  and a front door (not shown in  FIG. 3 , see  FIG. 1 , item  20 ) that together enclose a number of other components, including: a top shelf  19 , a side shelf  50 , and a drip tray  40 . Note how both the plunger  70  and the toilet brush  60  are suspended within the Pinkie Closet above the drip tray  40 . No portion of the brush head  66  or plunger bell  76  is in contact with any surface. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a single exemplary suspension mechanism  90  is used to suspend the plunger  70  and a hook  89  is used to suspend the toilet brush  60 . In other embodiments, other types of hooks and suspension mechanisms may be utilized, see, for example,  FIG. 5B . 
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates a front perspective view of three exemplary embodiments of differently shaped Pinkie Closets. The leftmost Pinkie Closet  94  is triangular in shape and fits nicely within a bathroom corner location or against a shelf unit, shower stall, etc. The center Pinkie Closet  96  is a rounded design that fits a more elegant design motif The rightmost Pinkie Closet  98  is a boxy design that fits a modern design motif Regardless of their external look and feel, all three Pinkie Closets  94 ,  96 , and  98  provide the functionality described above. In yet other embodiments, the Pinkie Closet can have other shapes, sizes, height/width ratios, colors, styles, etc. without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a top plan view of a top shelf  19  inside an exemplary embodiment of a Pinkie Closet highlighting a plurality of suspension mechanisms  80  and  90  holding a brush  60  and a plunger  70 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , the suspension mechanisms comprise an elongated U shaped channel that decreases in width as you approach the trough of the U. On the sides of the channel are clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  that grasp and hold the handles of the tools inserted therebetween. Note how the tool handles  60  and  70  realign the clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  as the tool handles are pushed deeper into the U channel. The clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  can be any sufficiently deformable yet springy material, such as rubber, foam, silicone, etc. In other embodiments, other suspension mechanisms  80  and  90  and/or clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  can be utilized. For example, spring claws, spring clamps, pinch clamps, etc. can be used to hold the handle(s) of the tool(s) (see  FIG. 5B , for example). 
         [0026]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a top plan view of a plurality of suspension mechanisms  80  and  90 , one empty ( 80 ) and the other ( 90 ) holding a plunger  70 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B , the suspension mechanisms comprise clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  that grasp and hold the handles of the tools  70  inserted therein. Note how the tool handle  70  realigns the clamping mechanism  92  as the tool handle is pushed into the suspension mechanism  90 ; compare this to the arrangement of the clamping mechanism  82  within the empty suspension mechanism  80 . The clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5B  are spring clamps that have clamp arms on one end that grasp the tool handles, a hinge in the middle, and a spring mechanism on the other end. In other embodiments, other suspension mechanisms  80  and  90  and/or clamping mechanisms  82  and  92  can be utilized. For example, spring claws, spring clamps, pinch clamps, etc. can be used to hold the handle(s) of the tool(s) such that the working portion of each tool is suspended. 
         [0027]    While particular embodiments have been described and disclosed in the present application, it is clear that any number of permutations, modifications, or embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of this disclosure. 
         [0028]    Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the embodiments should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claims encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the claimed subject matter. 
         [0029]    The above detailed description of the embodiments is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise embodiment or form disclosed herein or to the particular fields of usage mentioned above. While specific embodiments and examples are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the embodiments provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
         [0030]    Any patents, applications and other references that may be listed in accompanying or subsequent filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of embodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of various references to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0031]    In light of the above “Detailed Description,” the Inventor may make changes to the disclosure. While the detailed description outlines possible embodiments and discloses the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, embodiments may be practiced in a myriad of ways. Thus, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the spirit of the embodiments as disclosed by the inventor. As discussed herein, specific terminology used when describing certain features or aspects should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the embodiments with which that terminology is associated. 
         [0032]    While certain aspects are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects. 
         [0033]    The above specification, examples and data provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary implementations of the described articles of manufacture and methods. It is important to note that many implementations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.