Patent Publication Number: US-2023148806-A1

Title: Toilet tool concealment device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/113,384, filed Nov. 13, 2020, and entitled, TOILET TOOL CONCEALMENT DEVICE WITH OPTIONAL INTEGRATED FLORA POT, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a device for concealing a toilet tool, and more particularly to a toilet tool concealment device with an integrated decorative element, and still more particularly to a toilet tool concealment device with an integrated, removable flora pot. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Often the placement of a toilet tool, such as a plunger or a toilet scrubbing brush, for example, inside one&#39;s bathroom can be unsightly. Therefore, there exists a need for a device that provides some mechanism or design feature not only for storing such tools in a convenient location near the toilet, but also hiding or camouflaging those tools from view. The toilet tool concealment device should also be decorative in nature so as not to detract from the bathroom design. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The toilet tool concealment device with integrated decorative element, such as a flora pot, in accordance with the aspects of the present invention addresses the above needs by allowing for toilet tools to be concealed while providing additional decor to the user&#39;s bathroom. 
     According to some example embodiments, a device for concealing at least one toilet tool includes a container and a housing unit for the at least one toilet tool. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the present invention is directed to a device for concealing at least one toilet tool having a tool head and a handle. The device comprises a housing unit including a housing base and housing side wall having a top perimeter edge. The housing unit defines a cavity adapted to removably receive the tool head of the at least one toilet tool therein. A container is mounted to the housing unit. The container includes a container cut out adapted to removably receive a portion of the handle therein. The container is configured to receive a decorative element to conceal at least a portion of the at least one toilet tool. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith, wherein like reference numerals are employed to indicate like parts in the various views, and wherein: 
         FIGS.  1  and  2    comprise an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a toilet tool concealment device in accordance with the present invention including a removable container ( FIG.  1   ) that is intended to be inserted within a toilet tool housing unit ( FIG.  2   ); 
         FIG.  3    is a rear perspective view of the assembled device shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2    used in association with a toilet tool; 
         FIGS.  4 A and  4 B  show a sequence of two images illustrating how a user of the device would rotate said device to conceal the toilet tool that is placed vertically inside the toilet tool housing unit; 
         FIG.  5    shows a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a toilet tool concealment device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is a front perspective view of the toilet tool concealment device shown in  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is a partial exploded view of the toilet tool concealment device shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6    with the device including an exemplary removable container; and 
         FIG.  8    is a partial exploded view of the toilet tool concealment device shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6    with the device including an exemplary removable bottom tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is described below in enabling detail by the following examples, which may represent more than one example embodiment of the present invention. 
     An example embodiment of the invention is directed to a toilet tool concealment device  100  comprising a container  110  and a toilet tool housing unit  112  as shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   . By way of example and without limitation thereto, container  110  may be a flora pot configured to receive artificial or natural flora therein. 
     As best seen in  FIG.  1   , the container  110  includes a base  114  and a side wall  116  that extends upwardly from a peripheral edge  118  of base  114  to a terminal edge  120  so as to define a recess  122  configured to receive a decorative element therein. By way of example, recess  122  may operate as a basin that is capable of holding natural soil, faux dirt, pebbles or other similar materials  124  used to hold flora, e.g., plant  126  (see  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B ). It should be noted that base  114  may be coterminous with terminal edge  120  so as to eliminate recess  122  and provide an unbordered planar surface configured to receive the decorative element thereon. It should be further noted that while container  110  has been described as “removable,” it is envisioned that container  110  and toilet tool housing unit  112  may be constructed as a single, unitary construction such that container  110  is not, and cannot be, readily separated from toilet tool housing unit  112 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS.  1  and  3   , base  114  may include a cut out  128  defined therein that may extend from the outer peripheral edge  118  of base  114  and extend radially inward toward the center of base  114 . In one example, cut out  128  may be generally rectangular shaped with a rounded interior fillet end  128   a  configured to hold a handle  130   a  of various toilet tools  130 , such as but not limited to, a plunger  131 , a toilet bowl brush, or any other kind of toilet tool containing an elongated tubular handle element  130   a.    
     As best seen in  FIG.  2   , the toilet tool housing unit  112  includes a housing base  132  and a housing side wall  134  extending upwardly from the peripheral edge  136  of housing base  132 . Housing base  132  and housing side wall  134  of housing unit  112  define a toilet tool base cavity  138  that is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a common toilet tool  130 , such as, but not limited to, a toilet plunger head  131   a  as shown in  FIG.  3   . Housing side wall  134  of housing unit  112  may include a housing cut out  140  defined therein. Housing cut out  140  may include a step portion  142  which may segregate cut out  140  into an upper portion  144  and a lower portion  146 . Cut out  140  may thus define a wider lower opening  148  that may be configured to accommodate toilet tools  130  having a tool end  130   b , such as toilet plunger head  131   a , which is wider than the width of handle  130   a . Upper portion  144  may then define a narrower upper opening  150  dimensioned to allow passage of handle  130   a  therein. 
     As seen in  FIG.  3   , cut out  128  of container  10  may be arranged to coincide with cut out  140  defined within housing side wall  134  so as to promote a straightforward insertion and retrieval process of common toilet tools. It should be understood that cut out  128  may take the form of other shapes as well, including, but not limited to, curved. Cut out  128  may also be directed from outer peripheral edge  118  towards a location that is not the center of base  114 . In an exemplary embodiment, outer peripheral edge  118  of container  110  may be dependent on the shape of the interior surface  152  of the toilet tool housing unit  112  since container  110  is configured to be positioned within cavity  138  of housing unit  112  (see  FIG.  2   ). It should be noted that each of components  110  and  112  of device  100  can be a variety of shapes and sizes (e.g., round, oval, rectangular, square, etc.). 
     In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, housing side wall  134  may be configured to include a stepped inner surface  154  located an intermediate distance along the vertical length of housing side wall  134 . Stepped inner surface  154  may delineate an upper cavity region  156  and a lower cavity region  158 , wherein upper cavity region  156  is slightly larger than lower cavity region  158  so as to form a ledge  160  along stepped inner surface  154 . The dimensions of outer peripheral edge  118  of container  110  may be selected so as to larger than lower cavity region  158  and smaller than upper cavity region  156  such that at least a portion of container  110  rests within upper cavity region  156  while base  114  of container  110  rests on, and is supported by, at least a portion of ledge  160 . 
     A practical example is depicted in  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , in which the user may use container  110  to place a plant  126  tall enough to conceal the top portion of the toilet tool  130 , for example, terminal end  131   b  of handle  130   a  of toilet plunger  131 . In one exemplary, non-limiting example, a user may rotate device  100  so that cut out  140  faces the user and exposes the tool base cavity  138  ( FIG.  4 A ). The user may then insert toilet tool  130  into the tool base cavity  138  by, for example, sliding the toilet plunger head  131   a  into wider lower opening  148  and the long handle  130   a  through the narrower upper opening  150 , respectively. Handle  130   a  of toilet tool  130  may then rest against, or be disposed adjacent to, the rounded interior fillet end  128   a  of cut out  128  of container  110 . In this position, terminal end  131   b  of plunger  131  may be located within, and be concealed by, the decorative element, (e.g., the braches and/or leaves  162  of plant  126  located on or in container  100 . 
     After toilet tool  130  has been placed inside the device  100 , the user may then rotate the device  100  (such as in a direction generally indicated by clockwise arrow  164   a  or counter-clockwise arrow  164   b ) so that cut out  140  is not in view, thereby concealing toilet tool  130  (See  FIG.  4 B ). If the user wishes to clean one or both of container  110  or housing unit  112 , the user can remove container  110  from housing unit  112  (such as by lifting container  110  upward), clean container  110  and/or housing unit  112 , and then return container  110  to housing unit  112  and arrange device  100  (with or without a toilet tool  130 ) with cut out  140  concealed as shown in  FIG.  4 B . It should be noted that base  132  of toilet tool housing unit  112  may be configured to contact the floor while allowing for selective rotation of the housing unit  112  for easier rotation/spinning of the device  100  to either conceal the toilet tool  130  during periods of non-use or to allow access the toilet tool  130  for use or cleaning. 
     Another example embodiment of the invention is directed to a toilet tool concealment device  200  comprising a container  210  and a toilet tool housing unit  212  as shown in  FIGS.  5 - 8   . As best seen in  FIGS.  5 ,  6  and  7   , the container  210  includes a base  214  and a side wall  216  that extends upwardly from a peripheral edge  218  of base  214  to a terminal edge  220  so as to define a recess  22  configured to receive a decorative element therein. By way of example, recess  222  may operate as a basin that is capable of holding natural soil, faux dirt, pebbles or other similar materials  124  used to hold flora, e.g., plant  126 . 
     Further, as shown most clearly in  FIGS.  7  and  8   , base  214  may include a cut out  228  defined therein that may extend from the outer peripheral edge  218  of base  214  and extend radially inward toward the center of base  214 . In one example, cut out  228  may be generally rectangular shaped with a rounded interior fillet end  228   a  configured to hold a handle  130   a  of various toilet tools  130 , such as but not limited to a toilet bowl brush  133  (or similarly, plunger  131  as shown in  FIG.  3   ), or any other kind of toilet tool containing an elongated tubular handle element  130   a.    
     As best seen in  FIGS.  5 ,  7  and  8   , the toilet tool housing unit  212  includes a housing base  232  and a housing side wall  234  extending upwardly from peripheral edge  236  of housing base  232 . Housing base  232  and housing side wall  234  of housing unit  212  define a toilet tool base cavity  238  that is configured to accommodate at least a portion of a common toilet tool  130 , such as, but not limited to, a toilet scrubbing brush head  133   a  of toilet scrubbing brush  133  as shown in  FIGS.  5  and  7   . Housing side wall  234  of housing unit  212  may include a housing cut out  240  defined therein. Housing cut out  240  may include a step portion  242  which may segregate cut out  240  into an upper portion  244  and a lower portion  246 . Cut out  240  may thus define a wider lower opening  248  that may be configured to accommodate toilet tools  130  having a tool end  130   b , such as toilet scrubbing brush head  133   a , which is wider than the width of handle  130   a . Upper portion  244  may then define a narrower upper opening  250  dimensioned to allow passage of handle  130   a  therein. 
     As seen in  FIG.  5   , cut out  228  of container  210  may be arranged to coincide with cut out  240  defined within housing side wall  234  so as to promote a straightforward insertion and retrieval process of common toilet tools  130 . It should be understood that cut out  228  may take the form of other shapes as well, including, but not limited to, curved. Cut out  228  may also be directed from the outer peripheral edge  218  towards a location that is not the center of base  214 . Outer peripheral edge  218  of container  210  may be dependent on the shape of the interior surface  252  of the toilet tool housing unit  212  since container  210  is configured to be positioned within cavity  238  of housing unit  212  (see  FIG.  7   ). It should be noted that each of components  210  and  212  of device  200  can be a variety of shapes and sizes (e.g., round, oval, rectangular, square, etc.). 
     In contrast to the example embodiment device  100  shown in  FIGS.  1 - 3   , which includes a housing unit  112  having an interior ledge  160  on which container  110  rests when inserted into housing unit  112 , housing unit  212  of example embodiment device  200  shown in  FIGS.  5 - 8    does not include an interior ledge  160 . Instead, the interior surface  252  of each housing side wall  234  of housing unit  212  is generally planar or smooth and without a stepped inner surface similar to stepped inner surface  154  described above with regard to device  100 . 
     To mount or otherwise support container  210  on housing unit  212 , terminal edge  220  of container  210  includes a lip extension  254  protruding outwardly along all or a portion of side wall  216  of container  210 . Lip extension  254  is designed to rest on the top edge  256  of housing side wall  234  of housing unit  212  and support the container  210  as container  210  is suspended within cavity  238 . Lip extension  254  may have a width W L  which is substantially the same or slightly larger than the thickness T of housing side wall  234 . In one non-limiting embodiment, at least a portion of lip extension  254  may have a width W L  which is about ⅛ to about ¼ inches larger than thickness T such that lip extension  254  extends beyond the perimeter of housing unit  212  so as to provide a convenient location for a user to grasp container  210  when lifting and/or removing container  210  from housing unit  212 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     It should also be noted that base  214  of container  210  may be coterminous with terminal edge  220  so as to eliminate recess  222  and provide an unbordered planar surface configured to receive the decorative element thereon. It should be further noted that while container  210  has been described as “removable,” it is envisioned that container  210  and toilet tool housing unit  212  may be constructed as a single, unitary construction such that container  210  is not, and cannot be, readily separated from toilet tool housing unit  212 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS.  5 ,  7  and  8   , exemplary device  200  may further include a removable toilet tool tray  260  which may be proportioned so as to be readily inserted within lower opening  248  of housing unit  212  for supporting toilet tool  130  thereon when toilet tool  130  is not in use. Toilet tool tray  260  may include a recessed central portion  262  (e.g., near the center of tray  260 ), which has a width and depth designed to accommodate therein the tool end  130   b , such as toilet scrubbing brush head  133   a , of the toilet tool  130 , as shown in  FIG.  8    (or similarly, toilet plunger head  131   a ). The toilet tool tray  260  may include an extension  264  (or handle portion) at one end to assist with insertion and removal of the toilet tool tray  260  with respect to the housing unit  212 . 
     By way of example and with reference to  FIG.  8   , extension  264  may have a width W E  that is greater than lower opening  248  of housing unit  212  but less than a width W H  of the housing unit  212 . Toilet tool tray  260  may further include a pair of tabs  266  opposite extension  264  so as to define notches  268  formed in the tray  260  between tabs  266  and extension  264 . The combination of the extension  264 , the tabs  266 , and the notches  268  formed therebetween allow the toilet tool tray  260  to be removably secured to the side wall  234  of the housing unit  212  at points corresponding to bottom corners  248   a  of lower opening  248  (see  FIG.  8   ). Upon insertion of the tray  260 , the pair of notches  268  may engage with the bottom corners  248   a , with the extension  265  disposed externally to side wall  234  and with the tabs  266  disposed internally to side wall  234 . 
     Similar to the practical example describe above with regard to  FIGS.  4 A and  4 B , and with reference to  FIGS.  5 - 6   , a practical example in which a user may use container  210  to place a plant  126  tall enough to conceal the top portion of the toilet tool  130 , for example, terminal end  131   b  of handle  130   a  of toilet scrubbing brush  133 . In one exemplary, non-limiting example, a user may rotate device  200  so that cut out  240  faces the user and exposes the tool base cavity  238  (see  FIGS.  5 ,  7  and  8   ). The user may then insert toilet tool  130  into toilet base cavity  238  by, for example, sliding the brush head  133   a  into wider lower opening  248  and the handle  130   a  through the narrower upper opening  250 , respectively. Handle  130   a  of toilet tool  130  may then rest against, or be disposed adjacent to, the rounded interior fillet end  228   a  of cut out  228  of container  210 . In this position, terminal end  133   b  of the toilet brush  133  may be located within, and be concealed by, the decorative element, e.g., branches and/or leaves  162  of plant  126  located on or in container  210 . 
     After toilet tool  130  has been placed inside device  200 , the user may then rotate the device  200  (such as in a direction generally indicated by clockwise arrow  270   a  or counter-clockwise arrow  270   b ) so that cut out  240  is not in view, thereby concealing toilet tool  130  (see  FIG.  6   ). If the user wishes to clean either the container or the housing unit  212 , the user can remove container  210  from the housing unit  212  (such as by lifting container  210  upward via lip extension  254 ), clean container  210  and/or housing unit  212  and return container  210  to the housing unit  212  and arrange device  200  (with or without a toilet tool  130 ) with cut out  240  concealed as shown in  FIG.  6   . It should be noted that base  232  of toilet tool housing unit  212  may be configured to contact the floor while allowing for selective rotation of the housing unit  212  for easier rotation/spinning of the device  200  to either conceal the toilet tool  130  during periods of non-use or to allow access the toilet tool  130  for use or cleaning. 
     It should be understood that the device of the present invention may be configured in accordance with the principals disclosed herein to conceal one or more toilet tools  130 . Although the examples of  FIGS.  1 - 8    show a single toilet tool  130  (e.g., plunger  131  or brush  133 ), the design of the device could be modified to accommodate more than one tool at a time (e.g., both a plunger  131  and a brush  133 ) by changing the shape or dimensions of the various components described above and shown in the drawings for the exemplary embodiments. 
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the method and apparatus. It will be understood that certain features and sub combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is also to be understood that all matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting. 
     The constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts and principles of the present invention. As used herein, the terms “having” and/or “including” and other terms of inclusion are terms indicative of inclusion rather than requirement. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof to adapt to particular situations without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.