Patent Publication Number: US-11035111-B2

Title: Plunger

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/562,455 filed Jul. 31, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,041,238 B2, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments relate to a plunger for unclogging plumbing. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional household toilets with a capacity in a range of 1.6 to 3.5 gallons per flush (GPF) typically employ a round or radially symmetrical trapway. Some states have mandated that toilets with a 1.28 GPF capacity are sold in an effort to conserve water. In response to the legislation, toilet manufacturers have offered high efficiency toilets with a 1.28 GPF capacity. 
     Many 1.28 GPF capacity toilets have elongated trapways to provide compliant toilets while still providing acceptable flushing and bowl cleaning capabilities. The elongated trapways permit powerful flushing action, despite low water volume. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to at least one embodiment, a plunger is provided with a flange having a length, a width and a thickness. The length is greater than the width to cover an elongated toilet trapway. A peripheral seal extends away from the flange to seal with the elongated toilet trapway. 
     According to a further embodiment, the seal extends centrally inward. 
     According to another further embodiment, the flange is shaped as a pair of semi-circles each having a radius that is half of a width of the flange. The semi-circles are spaced apart in a direction of the length of the flange. 
     According to another further embodiment, the flange has a pair of parallel sides spaced apart in a direction of the width of the flange. 
     According to another further embodiment, the seal is tapered inward away from the flange. 
     According to another further embodiment, the seal extends from a periphery of the flange. 
     According to another further embodiment, a cylindrical receptacle is formed into the flange and spaced apart from the seal for cooperation with a radially symmetrical plunger. 
     According to another further embodiment, the receptacle includes a peripheral ring extending from the flange with an aperture formed therein. 
     According to another further embodiment, each of a plurality of structural ribs is oriented upon the flange and extends to an intersection of the flange and the peripheral ring. 
     According to another further embodiment, the seal has an opening therein facing away from the flange. 
     According to another further embodiment, a cavity is provided within the flange and the seal for fluid communication through the flange, the seal and the seal opening. 
     According to another further embodiment, a bell extends from the flange and is spaced apart from the seal so that manual compression of the bell forces fluid from the bell, through the flange and the seal. 
     According to another further embodiment, the bell is formed from an elastomeric material whereby upon release of the manual compression, the bell extends to an unloaded position thereby forcing fluid into the seal opening, through the seal and flange, and into the bell. 
     According to another further embodiment, the bell is generally dome-shaped. 
     According to another further embodiment, a receptacle is oriented upon the bell to receive a handle. 
     According to another further embodiment, a handle extends from the bell. 
     According to another further embodiment, each of a plurality of structural ribs is oriented upon the flange and extends to an intersection of the flange and the bell. 
     According to at least another embodiment, a plunger is provided with a flange that is symmetrical along a plane that is generally perpendicular to the flange. The flange is radially asymmetrical to cover an elongated toilet trapway. A seal extends from the flange that is symmetrical along the plane that is generally perpendicular to the flange, the seal being radially asymmetrical to seal with the elongated toilet trapway. 
     According to at least another embodiment, a plunger adapter is provided with a flange having a length, a width and a thickness. The length is greater than the width to cover an elongated toilet trapway. A peripheral seal extends away from the flange to seal with an elongated toilet trapway. A cylindrical receptacle is formed into the flange and is spaced apart from the seal for cooperation with a radially symmetrical plunger. 
     According to a further embodiment, a plunger assembly is provided with a radially symmetrical plunger and the plunger adapter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a plunger according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of the plunger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the plunger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation view of the plunger of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of a plunger adaptor according to another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a plunger for assembly to the plunger adapter of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a top perspective view of a plunger according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a side perspective view of the plunger of  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a side perspective view of a plunger according to yet another embodiment; and 
         FIG. 10  is a top perspective view of the plunger of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     As discussed above, the elongated trapways of 1.28 GPF capacity toilets are useful for flushing with reduced capacity. However, the elongated trapways may be difficult to create an adequate seal with a conventional force cup plunger or a bellows style plunger for plunging a clog in a 1.28 GPF capacity toilet. Conventional plungers employ a round or radially symmetrical seal, which is difficult to maintain contact with an asymmetrical trapway. Failure of a sealed engagement can result in reduced plunging pressure. Failure of a sealed engagement can also reduce or prevent vacuum during upstroke, wherein vacuum can be effective for loosening clogs. Seal failure can also generate a splash during a plunging operation, which may be undesirable to the user. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a plunger is illustrated according to an embodiment, and referenced generally by numeral  10 . The plunger  10  is illustrated disassembled from a handle  12 . The handle  12  is threaded and is received in a threaded receptacle  14  of the plunger  10 . The plunger  10  is illustrated as what is often referred to as a force cup plunger  10 . The plunger  10  includes a bell  16 , which is generally dome-shaped or hemispherical in the depicted embodiment. The bell  16  may also be referred to as a force cup. The receptacle  14  is provided on top of the bell  16  for attachment of the handle  12 . 
     A flange  18  extends about a periphery of the bell  16 . The flange  18  is elongated to match an elongated trapway profile. Accordingly, the flange  18  has a length L, a width W and a thickness T; and the length L is greater than the width W to provide an elongated footprint or plan. The flange  18  may have various shapes. The depicted flange  18  is formed from a pair of semi-circles  20 ,  22  each having a radius that is half of the width W of the flange  18 . The semi-circles  20 ,  22  are spaced apart in a direction of the length L of the flange  18 . The flange  18  is also depicted with a pair of parallel sides  24 ,  26  that are spaced apart in a direction of the width W of the flange  18 . Of course, various elongated flange profiles are contemplated for engagement with the elongated trapway. 
     For manufacturing purposes, the flange  18  may be symmetrical along a central plane x that is generally perpendicular to the flange  18 . The flange  18  may also be symmetrical along another central plane y that is also generally perpendicular to the flange  18  and perpendicular to plane x. The flange  18  moreover is radially asymmetrical in order to be elongate and to cover an elongated toilet trapway. 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 1-4 , a peripheral seal  28  extends from the flange  18  facing away from the bell  16  to seal with the elongated toilet trapway. The seal  28  has a continuous profile extending from the periphery of the flange  18  and consequently is also elongated for mating receipt within the elongated trapway. The seal  28  extends centrally inward. In the depicted embodiment, the seal  28  is radially tapered so that a distal rim  30  of the seal  28  extends into the trapway and the seal  28  engages the trapway with an area contact about the periphery for maintaining a seal during the plunging operation. The seal  28  may also be symmetrical along planes x and y, radially asymmetrical to seal with the elongated toilet trapway. 
     The plunger  10  has an opening  32  within the rim  30  for revealing a cavity  34  within the plunger  10 . The cavity  34  extends within the seal  28 , the flange  18  and the bell  16  for fluid communication from the bell  16 , through the flange  18 , the seal  28  and the seal opening  32 . The plunger  10  is formed from an elastomeric material to provide flexibility to the seal  28  for mating with the trapway, and to provide flexibility to the bell  16 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a downward force upon the handle  12  compresses the bell  16  by translating the receptacle  14  relative to the flange  18 . The volume of the cavity  34  is reduced thereby forcing water, an incompressible fluid, from the cavity  34  in the bell  16 , through the flange  18 , the seal  28 , and out of the opening  32 . With a uniform mating seal provided by the tapered exterior of the seal  28  within an elongated toilet trapway  36 , the water is forced into the trapway  36  thereby forcing upon a clog. 
     The plunger  10  has a uniform wall thickness that is sufficiently resilient such that when the plunger  10  is unloaded, the plunger  10  returns to the extended position, thereby expanding the volume of the cavity  34 , generating a vacuum which pulls fluid into the cavity  34 . The fluid vacuum upon the clog may also be effective in loosening or breaking the clog. 
     The plunger  10  may be provided with a plurality of structural ribs  38  that are oriented upon the flange  18  and extend to an intersection of the flange  18  and the bell  16  for maintaining the relative positioning of the bell  16  and the flange  18  such that bell  16  primarily deforms under the compression so that the flange  18  and the seal  28  maintain the sealed engagement during the plumbing operation. 
     Although discussed in the context of 1.28 GPF capacity toilets, the plunger  10  is effective for various capacity toilets with elongated trapways. Due to the flexibility of the seal  28 , the seal  28  can be inserted into a radially symmetrical trapway for plunging a conventional toilet. Thus, the plunger  10  is effective for plunging conventional and modern toilets. 
     A plunger  40  is illustrated in  FIG. 5  according to another embodiment. Moreover, the plunger  40  is a plunger adapter for use with conventional radially symmetrical plungers, such as a bellows plunger  42  illustrated in  FIG. 6 . Referring again to  FIG. 5 , the plunger adapter  40  has a flange  44  and a seal  46  structurally similar to the flange  18  and the seal  28  of the prior embodiment. A cylindrical receptacle  48  is provided centrally within the flange  44 , and is spaced apart from the seal  46  for receiving a seal  50  ( FIG. 6 ) of the radially symmetrical plunger  42 . The receptacle  48  includes a peripheral ring  52  extending from the flange  44 . A plurality of structural ribs  54  are each oriented upon the flange  44 . The ribs  54  extend to an intersection of the flange  44  and the peripheral ring  52  for structural reinforcement of the flange  44  and the receptacle  48 . 
     The seal  50  ( FIG. 6 ) of the radially symmetrical plunger  42  is inserted into the receptacle  48  ( FIG. 5 ) of the plunger adapter  40 . The plunger  42  provides the plunging operation, while the adapter  40  provides a fluid-tight seal  46  between the plunger  42  and the trapway. Thus, the plunger adapter  40  may be employed for converting a conventional plunger  42  into a plunger assembly  40 ,  42  for plunging an elongated trapway. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a plunger  56  is illustrated according to another embodiment. The plunger  56  includes a threaded receptacle  58  provided atop a bell  60  for receiving a handle  61  ( FIG. 8 ). A flange  62  extends about a periphery of the bell  60 . The flange  62  has a length L, a width W and a thickness T; and the length L is greater than the width W to provide an elongated footprint or plan. The depicted flange  62  is formed from two pairs of semi-circles  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 . One pair of semi-circles  64 ,  66  is spaced apart in a direction of the length L of the flange  62 . The other pair of semi-circles  68 ,  70  is spaced apart in a direction of the width W of the flange  62 . 
     For manufacturing purposes, the flange  62  may be symmetrical along a central plane x that is generally perpendicular to the flange  62 . The flange  62  may also be symmetrical along another central plane y that is also generally perpendicular to the flange  62  and perpendicular to plane x. The flange  62  moreover is radially asymmetrical in order to be elongate and to cover an elongated toilet trapway. The enlarged width semi-circles  68 ,  70  of the flange deflect splashing inward of the toilet during a plunging operation. 
     Similar to the prior embodiments, a peripheral seal  72  extends from the flange  62  facing away from the bell  60  to seal with the elongated toilet trapway. The seal  72  has a continuous profile extending from the periphery of the flange  62  and consequently is also elongated for mating receipt within the elongated trapway. The seal  72  extends centrally inward. In the depicted embodiment, the seal  72  is radially tapered so that a distal rim  74  of the seal  72  extends into the trapway and the seal  72  engages the trapway with an area contact about the periphery for maintaining a seal during the plunging operation. The seal  72  may also be symmetrical along planes x and y, radially asymmetrical to seal with the elongated toilet trapway. 
     The plunger  56  has an opening  76  within the rim  74  for revealing a cavity within the plunger  56 , for operation similar to the prior embodiments. The plunger  56  may be provided with a plurality of structural ribs  78  for additional structural support. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , a plunger  80  is illustrated according to another embodiment. The plunger  80  includes a handle  82  received within a threaded receptacle  84  provided atop a bell  86 . A flange  88  extends about a periphery of the bell  86 . The flange  88  has a length L, a width W and a thickness T; and the length L is greater than the width W to provide an elongated footprint or plan. The depicted flange  88  has a consistent radius about one-half or two quadrants of the bell  86 . The flange  88  includes a brim or an enlarged portion  90  about the other half or the other two quadrants of the bell  86 . 
     For manufacturing purposes, the flange  88  may be symmetrical along a central plane x that is generally perpendicular to the flange  88 . The flange  88  may also be symmetrical along another central plane y that is also generally perpendicular to the flange  88  and perpendicular to plane x. The flange  88  moreover is radially asymmetrical in order to be elongate and to cover an elongated toilet trapway. 
     The plunger  80  has an opening  92  within the bell  86  for revealing a cavity  94  within the plunger  80 , for operation similar to the prior embodiments. The flange  88  is seated directly upon the toilet bowl about the trapway. Unlike prior embodiments, the bell  86  is not centered relative to the trapway. The plunger  80  requires less material and is easier to manufacture than the prior embodiments. The enlarged portion  90  of the flange  88  also assists deflection of the splashing with the toilet bowl. 
     While various embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.