Patent Publication Number: US-10329757-B1

Title: Toilet and drain plunger

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/339,380 filed on May 20, 2016, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     This disclosure relates to a toilet and drain plunger, and, more specifically, this disclosure relates to an improved toiled and drain plunger for clearing blockages in toilets and drain lines. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Conventional toilet plungers of the type with a rigid handle and compressible bell are widely used for clearing minor blockages in toilets and drain lines. Generally, the bell of the plunger is made of a resiliently deformable material in a substantially circular, rounded, open, cup-like configuration, and it is formed with an open interior area or cavity which opens outwardly through the open end of the bell. The handle of the plunger of this general type is generally made from a relatively rigid material, such as wood or plastic, and it is connected to the bell so that it extends from the end thereof which is opposite the open end. A plunger of this general type is operable by first positioning the bell so that it is in substantially sealed engagement with the outlet portion of a toilet bowl or with a fixture, such as a shower stall, around the drain therein. The handle element is then reciprocally moved toward and away from the bell so that the bell is alternately deformed and returned to an un-deformed condition in order to alternately apply pressure and suction to the outlet portion of the toilet or the drain. 
     While plungers of the above-described general type have, for the most part, been found to be effective, they have been found to have a few drawbacks. Sometimes the bell caves in on the side causing the bell to unseal from the outlet portion of the toilet or the drain. When this occurs in the toilet, this can cause splash back to the user. Also, recently developed high efficiency toilets have oval shaped outlet portions that are difficult to seal with the standard plunger. What is needed is an improved toilet and drain plunger that solves these problems. 
     SUMMARY 
     Disclosed is a plunger comprising a handle for holding and manipulating the plunger with a working end attached to one end of the handle. The working end comprises of a neck for combining the working end to the handle, a bell combined to the neck and defining an interior cavity, and at least two reinforcement members extending on an outer surface of the bell from the neck down toward the end of the bell. In the illustrated embodiment, five reinforcement members are spaced a substantially equal distances apart around the outer surface of the bell. 
     The bell further comprises of an area of transition on an outer surface of the working end between the neck and the bell. The at least two reinforcement members reinforce the area of transition for increased stability. A threaded bore is in the neck to receive the threaded handle. The threaded bore can extend to a depth in line with the area of transition between the neck and the bell so as to not reduce the volume of air inside the internal cavity of the bell. 
     A plurality of ribs can extend around the circumference of the bell. The ribs cooperate with a sealing surface on a bottom surface of the bell to help the sealing surface deform to the shape of the drain yet retain some rigidity. A bevel can extend downward from the sealing surface to similarly deform to the shape of a toilet drain to help seal the drain so the full volume of air from inside the internal cavity of the bell is transferred into the drain. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an improved toilet and drain plunger according to this disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the working end of the plunger of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the working end of the plunger of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the working end of the plunger of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the working end of the plunger of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a plunger  100  according to this disclosure. Plunger  100  generally comprises of a working end  102  and a handle  104 . Working end  102  comprises generally of a neck  106  that attaches working end  102  to handle  104 , a bell  116  that defines an internal cavity  112  for a volume of air, and a bevel  108  that channels a volume of air from inside working end  102  into the drain. 
     More particularly, as shown in  FIG. 4 , neck  106  is a substantially solid mass of material with an internally threaded bore  110 . Bore  110  extends down the neck, but, importantly, not into the internal cavity  112  of working end  102  to decrease the volume of air inside the cavity. In this regard, bore  110  extends a depth in line with an area of transition  118  between neck  106  and bell  116 . This allows for an increased stroke of handle  104  to force a maximum amount of air in internal cavity  112  out through bevel  108 . 
     Bell  116  of working end  102  is substantially bell-shaped with a hollow interior that defines internal cavity  112 . Working end  102  has at least two reinforcement members  114  that begin at neck  106  and extend toward the end of the bell  116 , which stabilize bell  116  so that it substantially retains its shape when plunger  100  is in use. In the illustrated embodiment, working end  102  has five reinforcement members  114  substantially equal distances apart around the outer surface of bell  116 . These reinforcement members  114  further increase the stability of bell  116  so that it will not turn inside out in use. 
     Reinforcement members  114 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , each have substantially the same shape. Reinforcement members  114  go against the contour of neck  106  forming an inverted-arc or an opposing radius  117  between neck  106  and bell  116  that matches the radius between neck  106  and bell  116  and opposes the inward flexion in the area of transition  118  between neck  106  and bell  116  during the use of plunger  100 . Opposing radius  117  creates a thickness of material that is generally thickest in the area of transition  118  between neck  106  and bell  116  to provide support for working end  102 . In other words, reinforcement members  114  add additional structural support in area of transition  118  (which can be a radius) between neck  106  and bell  116 . This additional structural support means that neck  106  will generally always move in linear path of travel maintaining substantially the outer shape of bell  116  and causing a maximum volume of air to be forced out of internal cavity  112 . 
     The bottom of bell  116  has at least one and preferably a plurality of ribs  119  extending around the circumference of bell  116  that circumscribe an outer circumference of the bottom of bell  116 . Ribs  119  provide stability during flexion of bell  116  when in use so that the sealing face  120  maintains its seal during use. This will be better understood in connection with the discussion of a sealing face  120  and how plunger  100  is operated. 
     The bottom underside of bell  116  comprises of a sealing face  120  that fits around the drain (whether a floor drain or a toilet drain) and provides a seal between internal cavity  112  and the drain so that the volume of air inside internal cavity  112  is transferred into the drain, and not leaked out the side. From the inner circumference of sealing face  120 , a bevel  108  extends down. Bevel  108  is designed to either fold inward when plunger  100  is used on a floor drain or deform to an oval shape of a trough in a toilet drain at the bottom of the toilet bowl. 
     When plunger  100  is used, handle  104  is forced downward causing the neck  106  to move linearly inward toward internal cavity  112 . This downward force also forces bevel  108  down (with the general downward movement of plunger  100 ) into the trough of the toilet drain. The outer contour of bevel  108  can similarly deform to an oval shape as it is forced into the trough of the toilet drain and sealing face  120  seals against the outer rim of the toilet drain. Ribs  119  provide structural support around the outer circumference of bell  116  so that bevel  108  can deform without buckling the sides of bell  116 . 
     When plunger  100  is being used on a floor drain, bevel  108  folds inward and sealing face  120  seals around the perimeter of the drain. The downward fore of handle  104 , pushes the volume of air inside internal cavity  112  into the drain. Most importantly, the reinforcement members  114  prevent one side of bell  116  from buckling inward. 
     The foregoing description describes a plunger  100  that is sufficiently rigid so that bell  116  substantially maintains its geometry during use. Bell  116  won&#39;t buckle inward under the force of use causing a break in the seal or throwing water back up at the user. This allows a maximum volume of air from inside internal cavity  112  to be transferred down into the drain for maximum efficiency.