Patent Publication Number: US-7900287-B2

Title: Releasable handle mechanism for a disposable toilet implement

Description:
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/728,970, filed Oct. 21, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a disposable toilet implement and, in particular, to a handle capable of selectively releasing the disposable toilet implement in a hands-free manner for disposal to avoid biocontamination. 
     As the consuming public becomes more and more concerned with biocontaminants, the market for disposable toilet implements has grown exponentially. Traditionally, toilet brushes and toilet plungers were utilized for their designed task then rinsed and stored in an appropriate caddy for subsequent re-use as needed. 
     In order to reduce contamination, devices have recently entered the market which allow for disposal of the cleaning head after use. Many of these devices had limitations because the connection between the scrubbing pad and the handle did not allow a substantial amount of torque to be applied to the cleaning pad without inadvertent release. 
     Furthermore, known disposable toilet implements are typically designed for engagement with only a single implement as the connection is specifically tailored therefor. That is, a cleaning pad must resist a particular force application such as torque while a plunger must resist a longitudinal force typical of a plunging action. 
     Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a toilet tool which readily receives a toilet tool implement with sufficient engagement to prevent inadvertent release during use yet is thereafter easily released in a hands-free manner for disposal. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A toilet tool according to the present invention generally includes a handle assembly and one or more disposable toilet tool implements such as a cleaning pad and a plunger cup. The handle assembly receives either the cleaning pad or the plunger cup with sufficient engagement to prevent inadvertent release during use yet is easily released for disposal. 
     In use, the handle assembly is readily mounted to the toilet tool implement simply by applying downward pressure onto a protruding stud which extends from the disposable toilet tool implement. Flexible tabs are compressed inward by an annular shoulder of the handle assembly until the tabs enter a cavity a distance in which an outwardly formed shoulder is engaged with the annular shoulder. The desired disposable toilet tool implement is thereby snapped into place and may thence be employed. Once finished, the handle assembly is then moved to a waste receptacle for disposal of the implement. To do so, an actuator knob on the handle assembly is rotated and the toilet tool implement is released. 
     A storage caddy contains one handle assembly, a multiple of cleaning pads and a multiple of plunger cups. The multiple of cleaning pads and the multiple of plunger cups are stored in a stacked arrangement for ready hands-free access with the handle assembly. 
     The present invention therefore provides a toilet tool which readily receives a toilet tool implement with sufficient engagement to prevent inadvertent release during use yet is thereafter easily released in a hands-free manner for disposal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The various features and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the currently preferred embodiment. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a toilet tool according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle assembly; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the handle assembly taken along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a disposable cleaning pad receivable by the handle assembly; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a disposable plunger cup receivable by the handle assembly; 
         FIG. 4C  is a side view of a protruding stud which receives the handle; 
         FIG. 4D  is a perspective view of the protruding stud which receives the handle; 
         FIG. 4E  is a top view of the protruding stud which receives the handle; 
         FIG. 4F  is a bottom view of the protruding stud which receives the handle; 
         FIG. 5A  is a sectional view of the handle assembly prior to attachment to a disposable toilet tool implement; 
         FIG. 5B  is a sectional view of a disposable toilet tool mounted to the handle assembly; 
         FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of the handle assembly ejecting a disposable toilet implement; 
         FIG. 5D  is a sectional view illustrating the ejection of the disposable toilet implement shown in  FIG. 5C ; 
         FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a toilet tool caddy; 
         FIG. 6B  is a sectional view of the toilet tool caddy showing the stacked arrangement of the disposable toilet implement; 
         FIG. 6C  is a perspective view showing the handle interfacing with either of the disposable toilet tools contained within the caddy; 
         FIG. 6D  is a perspective view of the toilet tool caddy with the doors illustrated in an open position in response to a foot pedal; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the toilet tool caddy; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the toilet tool caddy; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the toilet tool caddy; 
         FIG. 10A  is an exploded view of a toilet tool caddy; 
         FIG. 10B  is a perspective view of the toilet tool caddy of  FIG. 10A  in a stored position in which the handle assembly conceals some of the disposable toilet implements; 
         FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of yet another toilet tool caddy; and 
         FIG. 11B  is a perspective view of the toilet tool shown in  FIG. 11A  being utilized on a toilet, the toilet tool having a disposable sleeve to protect the handle assembly during usage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a general exploded view of a toilet tool  10 . The toilet tool  10  generally includes a handle assembly  12  and one or more toilet implements such as a cleaning pad  14  and a plunger cup  16 . The handle assembly  12  is capable of receiving either the cleaning pad  14  or the plunger cup  16  with sufficient engagement to prevent inadvertent release during use of the implement. It should be understood that any number of implements will be usable with the handle assembly  12  of the present invention. 
     The handle assembly  12  generally includes an elongated body  18 , a slider  20  and an actuator knob  22 . The slider  20  is received within the elongated body  18  such that it is slidable along a longitudinal axis A within the elongated body  18  in response to rotation (illustrated by arrow B in  FIG. 2 ) of the actuator knob  22 . The slider  20  is preferably relatively square in cross-section with a pair of longitudinal slots  24  (also illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) to define a generally H-shape in cross-section. The slider  20  is received within a complementary support structure  26  formed within the elongated body  18  such that the slider  20  may slide but not rotate therein. 
     The actuator knob  22  includes a radial flange  28  and a threaded section  30 . The threaded section  30  engages a complementary female threaded section  32  of the slider  20  (also illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). As seen in  FIG. 2 , the actuator knob  22  is engaged with the slider  20  by way of the threaded section, and is rotatably engaged with the elongated body  18  by way of, at least, the radial flange  28 . The actuator knob  22  may also be rotatably engaged with the elongated body  18  near the adjacent axial end of the elongated body  18 . A spring  33  is preferably mounted to the actuator knob  22  to rotationally bias the actuator knob  22 . For example, a first end  33   a  of the spring  33  may be in rotational engagement with the radial flange  28 , and a second end  33   b  may be mounted to the interior of the elongated body  18  such it is rotationally fixed relative to the radial flange  28 . It should be understood, however, that the actuator knob  22  need not be so biased. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the slider  20  includes a conical end segment  34  opposite the threaded section  32 . The conical end segment  34  is received within the elongated body  18  adjacent a stop  36  formed by the support structure  26 . The support structure  26  further defines an annular shoulder  46  formed adjacent an end cavity  38  of the elongated body  18 . 
     The spring  33  rotationally biases the actuator knob  22  to axially bias the slider  20  into the elongated body  18  such that the conical end segment  34  is biased into contact with the stop  36 . Rotation of the actuator knob  22  drives the slider  20  along axis A; release of the knob  22  drives the conical end segment  34  into contact with the stop  36  under the bias of the spring  33 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the cleaning pad  14  and the plunger cup  16  include a protruding stud  40 . Notably, the protruding stud  40  is identical for both the cleaning pad  14  and the plunger cup  16 . The protruding stud  40  preferably includes a multitude of flexible tabs  42 . Each of the tabs  42  is generally barb-shaped in cross section ( FIG. 5A ) to define an outwardly formed shoulder  44  adjacent an angled outer surface  50  to lockingly engage the annular shoulder  46  of the end cavity  38  formed in the elongated body  18  ( FIG. 5B ). Preferably, the annular shoulder  46  includes an angled surface  48  to receive the angled outer surface  50  of each of the flexible tabs  42  to facilitate receipt thereof. Furthermore, the protruding stud  40  includes a base  43  that distends about ⅛″ (best seen in  FIGS. 4C-4F ) into a die cut hole of the scrubber pad ( FIG. 5D ) such that when the pads are nested ( FIG. 6B ), a firm surface to apply the downward force of the handle  12  to engage the scrubbing pad  14 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5A , the handle assembly  12  is readily mounted to the implement (here illustrated as the pad  14 ) simply by applying downward pressure. The end cavity  38  is pressed over the protruding stud  40  such that the tabs  42  are compressed inward by the annular shoulder  46  until the tabs  42  enter the cavity  38  a distance in which the outwardly formed shoulder  44  is engaged with the annular shoulder  46  ( FIG. 5B ). The desired implement is thereby snapped into place and may thence be employed. 
     Once finished, the handle assembly  12  is then moved to a waste receptacle for disposal of the implement. To do so, the actuator knob  22  is rotated ( FIG. 5C ) and the implement is released. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5D , the actuator knob  22  is rotated ( FIG. 5C ) to overcome the bias which causes the slider  20  to move axially within the elongated body  18 . The conical end segment  34  is driven onto the tabs  42  to compress the tabs  42  inward toward axis A such that the outwardly formed shoulder  44  is disengaged from within the annular shoulder  46  and the disposable toilet tool implement is released. The handle assembly  12  may then be stored for a subsequent use with a replacement implement. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6A , a storage caddy  60  preferably contains a handle assembly  12 , a multiple of cleaning pads  14  and a multiple of plunger cups  16 . The multiple of cleaning pads  14  and the multiple of plunger cups  16  are preferably stored in a stacked arrangement ( FIG. 6B ) for ready access with the handle assembly  12  ( FIG. 6C ). The storage caddy  60  preferably includes a foot pedal  62  which operates a set of doors  64  to conceal and protect the components therein ( FIG. 6D ). It should be understood that various known mechanisms may be utilized to operate the doors  64  with the pedal  62 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , another storage caddy  70  stores only a handle assembly  12  and a multiple of plunger cups  16 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , another storage caddy  80  stores only a multiple of plunger cups  16  and hangs the handle assembly  12  in a cutout  82  along an edge thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , another storage caddy  90  may be mounted along a cabinet interior door D. 
     Referring to  FIG. 10A , another storage caddy  100  stores a handle assembly  12 ′, a multiple of cleaning pads  14  and a multiple of plunger cups  16  . The handle assembly  12 ′ includes an integral lid  110  which operates to cover the plunger cups  16  when stored in the caddy ( FIG. 10B ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 11A , another storage caddy  110  stores a handle assembly  12 ″, a multiple of cleaning pads  14 , a multiple of plunger cups  16  and a multiple of disposable protective sleeves S. The sleeves S cover the handle assembly  12 ″ along a length adjacent the implement and may be discarded after ( FIG. 11B ) use as described above. 
     It should be understood that relative positional terms such as “forward,” “aft,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” and the like are with reference to the normal operational attitude of the vehicle and should not be considered otherwise limiting. 
     It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed in the illustrated embodiment, other arrangements will benefit from the instant invention. 
     Although particular step sequences are shown, described, and claimed, it should be understood that steps may be performed in any order, separated or combined unless otherwise indicated and will still benefit from the present invention. 
     The foregoing description is exemplary rather than defined by the limitations within. Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. For that reason the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.