Patent Publication Number: US-7896153-B2

Title: Toilet utensil kit

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to bathroom accessories, and more particularly to an aesthetically pleasing toilet utensil holder and kit. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Residential and commercial toilets require frequent cleaning, and may also sometimes require clearance of a blockage which prevents proper drainage of water from the toilet. The most frequently used cleaning utensil is a brush or similar tool which is used to scrub the toilet bowl. If the drain from the toilet becomes blocked, a plunger is commonly used to alternately produce pressure and suction in the trap to dislodge the obstruction. In many instances one or more of these utensils is simply placed on the floor near the toilet, or in a cabinet under a sink, or in a nearby location. Placing utensils on the floor near the toilet or in a cabinet under a sink is both unsightly and unsanitary. Placing them in a nearby location may remove them from sight, and they can be stored in a sanitary manner, but they are not readily available when needed. 
     Several types of holders and/or covers have been developed in the art to hold toilet utensils near the toilet and readily available, but out of sight. Most of these comprise a holder or cover for supporting only a single utensil, such as a brush or a plunger. Others, such as those disclosed in applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,971,141 and D530,550 are designed to hold multiple utensils, such as a toilet brush and a plunger, and even extra rolls of toilet paper. The holder disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,141 is designed to hold a toilet brush and plunger as well as extra rolls of toilet paper, and although it clearly has advantages over not using any holder at all, or using multiple holders that support only a single utensil, it has a very simple design intended primarily to cover and enclose the utensils. The holder disclosed in D530,550 has a more intricate, aesthetically pleasing design and also holds more than one utensil, but the utensils themselves remain at least partially exposed and visible. 
     Other prior patents disclosing various types of toilet utensil holders are U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,464,085, 2,539,838, 3,429,474, 4,033,650, 4,432,451 and 5,456,356, and U.S. design Pat. D161,014, D272,874 and D356,893. U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,356 describes a plunger accessory including a housing which encloses the plunger and has an elongate handle portion upon which extra rolls of toilet paper may be stored. Design Pat. D161,014 and D272,874, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,464,085, 2,539,838, 3,429,474 and 4,033,650 all disclose toilet brush holders of various styles and constructions. Design Pat. D356,893 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,451 both disclose devices for holding and storing toilet plungers. In addition, D356,893 discloses use of the device for holding a brush. None of the patents noted above discloses a toilet utensil holder with means for supporting and covering both a toilet brush and plunger, wherein the holder has a thematic shape, with the handles of the utensils forming a part of the holder design theme, and a cover or covers to hide the operative ends of the utensils from view, said cove or covers also forming part of the design theme. In prior art devices, the toilet brush and plunger are either stored separately in different holders, or are stored in the open and in plain sight, detracting from the decor of the bathroom, or the brush and plunger are stored in a remote location, detracting from the convenience of use. 
     Accordingly, there is need for a toilet utensil holder that holds and covers multiple, commonly used toilet utensils, such as a toilet brush and a plunger, with parts of the utensils forming part of the design of the holder, rendering the holder aesthetically pleasing so that it may be left in a bathroom without detracting from the decor thereof. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a toilet utensil holder for at least one toilet utensil, and preferably a plurality of utensils such as a toilet cleaning brush and a plunger, adjacent a point of use, wherein parts of the utensils are incorporated as parts of the holder design. 
     The holder and kit comprise a one-piece molded base section, preferably shaped as the hull of a ship, in the embodiments disclosed herein, with a receptacle or basin in each end of the base section for holding a brush and a plunger, respectively. As used herein the term “ship” is intended to encompass a tug, boat, sailing vessel, and the like. In preferred embodiments one or more covers are pivoted to the base section in covering relation to the operative ends of the plunger and brush, and in the particular embodiments disclosed herein these covers preferably form a superstructure of a ship, boat, etc. The handles of the brush and plunger project above the covers and simulate masts or other structure extending above the superstructure. To remove the plunger and/or brush from the holder it is necessary only to grasp the handle and lift, causing the cover or covers to pivot upwardly out of the way. A lever arm can be connected to the covers to normally extend beneath the respective plunger or brush, whereby upon replacement of the plunger or brush in its respective basin the lever arm is pushed downwardly to close the cover. 
     In one form of the invention a separate pivoted cover is provided for each utensil, with the handle of the utensil extending through a slot in the free edge of the cover so that it is necessary only to grasp the handle and lift the utensil from its basin, which action also raises the cover to an upright, out-of-the way position. In a preferred embodiment a lever arm can be connected to the cover in a position to extend beneath the utensil when the utensil is in place in its basin. Upon return of the utensil to its basin, the utensil engages the arm to swing the cover closed. Thus, the user need not touch any part of the holder or utensil except the utensil handle. 
     In other forms of the invention a pair of pivoted covers are provided for each utensil, with the covers of each pair having their free edges lying adjacent one another at approximately a midpoint of the respective utensil basin, and their hinged edges lying outwardly of the respective basin. 
     Another form of the invention can include a fixed handle conveniently located to enable the user to lift the holder and kit as a unit for moving it to different locations. 
     In still other forms of the invention the holder can comprise only a base portion, with receptacles, for holding the utensils, and the superstructure, or parts of the superstructure, can be omitted. 
     The holder can be made of plastic or other suitable material, and the utensils can comprise conventional, commercially available utensils. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing, as well as other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a first embodiment of toilet utensil holder and kit according to the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the kit of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side view in elevation of the holder of  FIG. 1 , with the utensils shown in broken lines and with the covers for the respective utensils shown in their opened positions. 
         FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the holder of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 2 , with some parts shown in broken lines. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view in elevation of a second embodiment of the invention, wherein two oppositely pivoted covers are provided for each utensil, and showing the covers partially pivoted open in broken lines. 
         FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the plunger of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIGS. 7 and 8  are top perspective views of further embodiments of the invention, wherein a fixed handle can be provided on the holder to facilitate carrying it, and wherein one of the utensil holding basins and its associated cover are smaller than the other utensil holding basin and its associated cover. 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded top perspective view of a still further form of the invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of yet another form of the invention wherein the holder comprises only a base portion. 
         FIG. 11  is a longitudinal sectional view of the base portion of  FIGS. 9 and 10 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Referring more specifically to the drawings, a first form of toilet accessory kit according to the invention is indicated generally at  10  in  FIGS. 1-4 . The kit includes a base member  11  having the shape of the hull of a ship in the particular example described. The base member is hollow and defines utensil basins  12  and  13  in opposite ends. If desired, a dividing wall  14  (shown in broken lines in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ) may be provided between the basins. 
     Covers  15  and  16  are pivoted by hinge members  17  at one end to opposite ends, respectively, of the hull. In a preferred embodiment the covers simulate the superstructure of a ship, boat, or the like, and extend from their respective pivoted edges to approximately the midportion of the base member, in covering relation to the basins  12  and  13 . The covers have free inner end edges disposed in closely adjacent opposed relationship to one another when they are in their closed positions, and slots  18  and  19  are formed in the inner end edges of the respective covers, extending from approximately the center of each cover through its respective free edge. The slots may be left open or they may be closed with suitable means such as opposed rows of bristles  20   a  and  20   b  as shown in the left side of  FIG. 2 , or a split rubber cover  21  as shown in the right side of  FIG. 2 . 
     A lever arm  22  may be connected at one end thereof to each cover near its pivoted end and extended at its other end in spaced relation below the associated cover, as seen in broken lines in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and full lines in  FIG. 4 . Thus, when the respective cover is raised to its open position, the lever arm is raised. When it is desired to return the utensil to its stored position in the holder, the utensil engages the lever arm and pushes it down, causing the associated cover to close. The lever arm may be made of a flexible material so that it has limited resilient movement to avoid interference with opening or closing movement of the associated cover. Only one lever arm is shown in the drawings but it should be understood that a lever arm could be associated with each cover, or the lever arms could be omitted entirely. 
     First and second utensils, such as a plunger P and a brush B, indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 3 , are received in the basins  12  and  13 , respectively, with their handles  23  and  24  projecting upwardly through the respective slots  18  and  19  in the covers. In a preferred embodiment the handles simulate parts of the holder, such as masts of the ship in the particular examples described and illustrated herein. When it is desired to use one or more of the utensils, the user need only grasp the handle and lift, which will cause the cover to pivot open, with the handle exiting through the open end of the slot. When the utensil is returned to the basin, it will contact the lever arm and pivot the associated cover closed. 
     Decorative items  25  such as port holes, lifesavers, or the like, can be provided on the sides of the base member and/or superstructure. 
     A second embodiment of the invention is indicated generally at  30  in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . This form of the invention shows a different ship design than that shown in  FIGS. 1-4 . In this regard it should be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular ship design, but the design of any ship, boat, tug, sailing vessel, and the like could be employed. The shape of the hull  11 ′ in this form of the invention differs from the previous form, as seen in the drawings, but this form differs from the previous forms primarily in that two covers  31  and  32  are associated with one utensil P, and two covers  33  and  34  are associated with the other utensil B. The covers  31  and  34  essentially comprise shortened versions of the covers  15  and  16  in the previous embodiment, with only a semi-circular notch  35  in their free edge to accommodate one-half of the diameter of the handle of the associated utensil. The covers  32  and  33  are pivoted to a common hinge  36  at adjacent edges, with their free edges  37  and  38  extending to adjacent the free edges of the covers  31  and  34 . Semi-circular notches  39  are provided in the free edges of the covers  32  and  33 , in alignment with the notches  35 , for accommodating the other half of the diameter of the associated utensil handle. The use of two covers associated with each utensil can facilitate opening of the covers when the utensil is withdrawn from the holder, and can provide more clearance room during withdrawal and insertion of the utensils. If desired, the covers  32  and  33  can be biased toward an open position so that they remain raised to an out-of-the-way upright position when the associated utensil has been removed from the holder, to thereby enable the utensil to be returned to the holder without requiring the user to first lift that cover, but which include a lever arm  40  as in the previous embodiment to cause the cover to close when the utensil is returned to the holder. The lever arm  40  is indicated by broken lines in  FIG. 5 . In all other respects this form of the invention is essentially the same as the previous embodiment. 
     Third and fourth embodiments of the invention are indicated generally at  50  and  60  in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively, and have different hull designs  11 ″ and  11 ′″, respectively. These forms of the invention function essentially the same as in the previous embodiments, except that the basin and associated cover  51  or  61 , respectively, associated with the brush utensil B is smaller than the basin and cover  52  or  62 , respectively, associated with the plunger utensil P. Further, the covers  51 ,  52  and  61 ,  62 , respectively, are spaced from one another at their free edges and a fixed portion  53 ,  63 , respectively, is positioned between the respective free edges. As shown in  FIG. 7 , a handle H may be attached to this fixed portion to enable the holder and associated utensils to be picked up and carried. Further, only parts  54  or  64 , respectively, of the superstructures are pivoted by a hinge  55  or  65 , respectively, rather than the entire deck and superstructure as in the previous embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , a fifth embodiment is indicated generally at  70 . In this embodiment there are four major components of the holder, comprising a base portion  71 , first cover  72 , and second and third covers  73  and  74 . The base portion  71  has an open top  75  and dividers  76 ,  77  and  78  dividing the interior into two generally circular basins  79  and  80  for receiving a plunger P and brush B, respectively. The first cover  72  is substantially flat, with a narrow depending flange  81  adapted to fit snugly or snap into the marginal upper edge of the base portion. The cover  72  also has a large central opening  82  that generally follows the contour of the base portion and extends at its margins at least to the outer diameter of the basins  79  and  80 , and hinge structures  83  and  84  at opposite ends of the opening  82 . The second and third covers  73  and  74  are shaped similarly to the covers  15  and  16  in the  FIG. 1  embodiment, but are formed separately from the first cover portion or “deck”  72 , and have hinge structures  85  and  86  on their outer ends adapted to cooperate with the hinge structures  83  and  84  on the first cover, whereby the covers  73  and  74  are pivotally mounted to the first cover  72 . The purpose and function of this embodiment are otherwise generally the same as in the previous embodiments. 
       FIG. 10  shows a sixth embodiment generally at  90 . This embodiment comprises the base portion  71  of  FIG. 9 , and omits the first, second and third covers. Although not specifically illustrated, a seventh embodiment could comprise the base portion  71  and cover  72 , but omit covers  73  and  74 . 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit and intent of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claims.