Patent Abstract:
A plunger storage and transportation device that is adapted to store, hold, and secure, and is capable of storing, holding, and securing, many different sizes, shapes, and styles of plungers. The plunger storage and transportation device includes structure that secures at least the plunger head within a housing. The device can be easily transported from one location to another while securing a plunger in a contained, clean, and easy manner. Accordingly, the plunger storage and transportation device may be used with, and can transport, a multitude of different plungers produced by a wide variety of plunger manufacturers, and therefore not be limited to one type or size of plunger.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/979,689, entitled “Plunger Storage and Transportation Device,” filed Oct. 12, 2007 by the same inventors of the present application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to the field of plumbing plunger storage and transportation devices, and more specifically relates to plunger storage and transportation devices that accept and hold a variety of manufactured plungers of varying sizes and shapes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of various aspects of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. 
     Households, stores, and industries usually have a plumbing plunger for use in the event of a blockage in a drain (e.g., in a toilet, sink, etc.) Such plungers are also kept by the plumbing industry, and can be of many varying sizes. A typical plunger generally includes a head in the shape of a cup (usually made of a flexible material, such as rubber or plastic) and an elongate, rigid shaft attached to, and extending from, the plunger head. In use, the plunger head is pushed down against a drain, and either pressed hard into the drain to force air in, or is pushed down until the head is flattened, and then pulled out, causing a vacuum. The intent is to loosen or break up a clog, excessive material, or other blockage. In many households, stores, and other locations, the plunger is stored in open view because of the difficulty of finding a location where a used plunger can be placed without liquid draining from the plunger, thereby causing unsanitary contamination or some other type of damage. Further, many people are reluctant to pick up and transport a plunger to another room after use due to the likelihood of the plunger dripping liquid. In addition, the relatively large size of the typical plunger makes it difficult to store in homes, stores, industries, or other locations that have limited storage space. 
     Further, when dealing with various drain problems, it is convenient for the plunger to be stored close to the drain. Sometimes drain blockages can result in overflow, causing water damage, odorous contamination, mold formation, bacterial growth, or other types of damage or unsanitary conditions. Because such overflows can happen quickly, storage of the plunger in an easily accessible location is desirous. However, the plunger head is considered unsightly by many, and may be contaminated with materials due to its use. As a result, many homeowners and storeowners do not keep the plunger in an accessible location, but rather keep it out of sight, where it is not easily accessible. Further, when the plunger is kept within reach of a drain, it may be within view of users, customers, etc. and have an unsightly appearance, be malodorous, etc., thereby contributing to the perception of the drain, and perhaps the business itself, as being unsanitary. 
     Further, plungers are commonly perceived to be unsanitary because it is likely they have come into close contact with unsanitary substances (such as toilet bowl liquids or drain pipe liquids). Consequently, plungers are a habitat for disease germs, and people do not want plungers to be close by or within their view. As a result, the plunger needs to be in an accessible location, but without the unsightly appearance or unsanitary conditions. Further, a problem arises in that plungers may often be needed to be transported from one location to another, but there is no sanitary and rapid manner to store and transport the plunger. 
     Further, depending on the type, size, and/or location of the drain, different plungers may be employed. These various plungers come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles. Thus, a business or industry may need to keep several different plunges on hand. However, storage and transportation devices generally do not accept most or all of the wide variety of plunges. Alternatively, if a single size, shape, or styles of plunger is kept in a house, business, industry, etc., it would be laborious to find a storage and transportation device that specifically matches that plunger. Containers for storing and transporting plumbing plungers and related articles have previously been developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,951,281 (issued to Jeffery on Oct. 4, 2005), U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,759 (issued to Rich on Mar. 6, 2007), U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,700 (issued to Rudnick on Aug. 5, 2003), and U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,709 (issued to Kent on Mar. 21, 2000) disclose plunger storage devices. However, they include drawbacks in that they do not allow for storage and/or transportation of a multitude of plungers produced by a wide variety of manufactures, having varying sizes, shapes, and styles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain exemplary aspects of the invention are set forth below. It should be understood that these aspects are presented merely to provide the reader with a brief summary of certain forms the invention might take and that these aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Indeed, the invention may encompass a variety of aspects that may not be explicitly set forth below. 
     One aspect of the present invention includes a plunger storage and transportation device that is adapted to store, hold, and secure, and is capable of storing, holding, and securing, many different sizes, shapes, and styles of plungers. The device can be easily transported from one location to another while securing a plunger in a contained, clean, and easy manner. Accordingly, the plunger storage and transportation device may be used with, and can transport, a multitude of different plungers produced by a wide variety of plunger manufacturers, and therefore not be limited to one type or size of plunger. 
     In particular, the plunger storage and transportation device includes structure that secures at least the plunger head within a housing. For example, such structure may include multiple indentations in a housing that assist in securing the plunger in place. Thus, a first embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device may include a housing having at least one side wall defining an interior compartment, and a plurality of indentations associated with the at least one side wall and extending inwardly into the interior compartment of the housing. The indentations may provide resistance to hold varying plungers, as well as hold the plunger head in place during transport, but also allow for removal of the plunger as the user, using an upward pulling motion while holding the plunger neck, exerts enough pressure on the indentations to remove the plunger. Further, the at least one side wall may taper inwardly from a first end (being an open end through which the plunger is inserted) toward a second end of the housing, the second end being opposite the first end. The taper of the side wall may also, or alternatively, assist in maintaining the plunger head within the housing during storage and/or transport. For example, in a cylindrical device having a tapered side wall, the diameter of the interior compartment will be larger near the first end and smaller near the second end. Thus, plungers having a plunger head of a smaller diameter will be inserted further into the interior compartment (i.e., closer to the second end) before contacting the side wall, than plungers having a plunger head of a larger diameter. The contact force and friction between the side wall and the plunger head may assist in maintaining the plunger head within the housing. 
     Alternatively, in a second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device, the plunger head may be placed within an interior compartment defined by a side wall of a housing, and an opening at a first end of the housing may be closed off by a lid. The housing may include structure that complements the lid in order to ensure that the lid is securely fastened thereto. Thus, the device may include (1) a housing having at least one side wall defining an interior compartment, and an outer rim defining an opening at a first end of the housing, wherein the at least one side wall extends from the first end toward a second end of the housing, the second end being opposite the first end; (2) a plurality of lid retaining members on the at least one side wall and extending inwardly into the interior compartment of the housing; and (3) a flexible and removable lid adapted to confront at least two of the plurality of lid retaining members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a plunger storage and transportation device made in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of the first embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device of  FIG. 1  taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the first embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device of  FIG. 1  illustrating a plunger used in combination with the plunger storage and transportation device. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view in partial cross section of a second embodiment of a plunger storage and transportation device according to the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of a plunger retaining lid used as part of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device of  FIG. 5 , taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device, taken along line  9 - 9  of  FIG. 8 , and illustrating a plunger inserted into the device. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device, illustrating a common plunger inserted into the device. 
         FIG. 12  is a top view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device. 
         FIG. 13  is a top view of the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device, illustrating the front half of the device removed and a plunger inserted into the device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     One or more specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below. In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, not all features of an actual implementation may be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made to achieve the developers&#39; specific goals, such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints, which may vary from one implementation to another. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication, and manufacture for those of ordinary skill having the benefit of this disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , a first embodiment of a plunger storage and transportation device  10  in accordance with the principles of the present invention is shown. In particular, the plunger storage and transportation device  10  includes a housing  12  having at least one side wall  14  defining an interior compartment  16 , and a plurality of indentations  18  associated with the at least one side wall  14  and extending inwardly into the interior compartment  16  of the housing  12 . As will be described in greater detail below, the indentations  18  provide enough resistance to hold varying plungers, as well as hold the plunger head in place during transport, but also allow for removal of the plunger as the user, using an upward pulling motion while holding the plunger neck, exerts enough pressure on the indentations  18  to remove the plunger. Further, the device  10  may include an outer rim  20  defining an opening  22  at a first end  24  of the housing  12 , the opening  22  being adapted to receive a plunger head as it is inserted into the interior compartment  16  of the device  10 . Further, a portion of the at least one side wall  14  that defines the interior compartment  16  may taper inwardly from a point at or proximal to the first end  24  of the housing  12  toward a second end  26  of the housing  12 , the second end  26  being opposite the first end  24 . Thus, cross sections of the interior compartment  16  taken perpendicular to a longitudinal axis  28  of the housing  12  grow progressively smaller in area as one moves in a direction from the first end  24  of the housing  10  toward the second end  26  of the housing  10 . As will be described in greater detail below, the taper of the side wall  14  also contributes to the ability of the device  10  to accept and retain varying sizes, shapes, and styles of plungers. 
     More specifically,  FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the plunger storage and transportation device  10 . The plunger storage and transportation device  10  includes an outwardly flared rim at, and defining, the top opening  22  at the first end  24  of the device  10  (see also  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The housing  12 , in the illustrated embodiment, has a generally cylindrical shape which is open at the first end  24 , and closed at the second end  26 , whereby the cylindrical side wall  14  extends from the first end  24  in a direction toward the second end  26  for a distance which is sufficient to accommodate a variety of existing plunger products. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, the portion of the side wall  14  including the taper defines the interior compartment  16 . Further, the taper of the cylindrical side wall  14  is part of the design of the plunger storage and transportation device  10  that allows for acceptance and retention of a number of different sizes of plunger products. When used in combination with the device of the present invention, the plunger may be held within the device  10  due to a contact and confrontation between the plunger head (and particularly the outer edge, e.g., the circumference, thereof) with the interior surface of the side wall  14  of the device  10 . Thus, plungers having plunger heads of a smaller diameter or size will be positioned within the interior compartment  16  of the device  10  and closer to the second end of the side wall  14  in order to cause a contact between the plunger head and side wall  14 , while plungers of larger diameter or sized plunger heads may be retained nearer the first end of the cylindrical side wall  14  of the device  10 . 
     Further, and referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the illustrated embodiment includes a plurality of indentations  18  associated with the side wall  14  of the housing  12 . The plurality of indentations  18  assists in accepting and securing a plunger within the interior compartment  16  of the device  10 . In the illustrated embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device  10 , each indentation  18  of the plurality of indentations  18  includes an arcuate surface  30 . As will be described in greater detail below, as a plunger head is inserted into an interior compartment  16  of the device  10 , the arcuate surface  30  of the indentations  18  may allow for greater ease of moving the plunger head, and particularly an outer edge portion thereof, past the plurality of indentations  18 , in that the curvilinear shape of the arcuate surface  30  results in a protrusion into the interior compartment  16  that does not include any ledge perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device, which might act as a stop against the plunger head. However, as will be recognized by those of skill in the art, an arcuate surface  30  is not necessary to the present invention, and thus the indentations  18  may have other shapes. Further, as can be seen from the illustrated embodiment and as described above, the plurality of indentations  18  may be molded as a part of the cylindrical side wall  14  of the housing  12 . However, as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the indentations  18  do not need to be molded monolithically with the side wall  14  of the device  10 , but rather may be a separate component that is affixed to the interior surface of the side wall  14  of the device  10 . 
     In one embodiment, each indentation  18  of the plurality of indentations  18  may be coplanar with each of the other indentations  18  of the plurality of indentations  18 . Thus, a plurality of indentations  18  may be spaced equidistant from one another and in the same plane around the circumference of the cylindrical side wall  14  of the illustrated embodiment. However, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, it is not necessary that the indentations  18  that lie in the same plane be equidistant from one another about the interior surface of the side wall  14 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, and referring particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the plurality of indentations  18  may include at least a first subset  32  of indentations  18  and a second subset  34  of indentations  18 . In such an embodiment, each indentation  18  of the first subset  32  of indentations  18  is coplanar with each of the other indentations  18  of the first subset  32  of indentations  18  along a first plane, and each indentation  18  of the second subset  34  of indentations  18  is coplanar with each of the other indentations  18  of the second subset  34  of indentations  18  along a second plane, with the second plane not being coplanar with the first plane. Although not shown in the figures, there may be additional (i.e., third, fourth, fifth) subsets of indentations that each lie in their own planes, which are separate from the first and second planes. Further, as can be seen in the illustrated embodiment (see  FIG. 2 ), there are five such indentations  18  located in one plane around the circumference of the side wall  14 . However, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, five is not a required number of indentations  18  to the invention, and there is no particular number of indentations which is necessary to the invention of the present application. Further, while a plurality of indentations is shown, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that an indentation may be a continuous ring about the interior compartment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a plunger  36  is shown in combination with the first embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device  10 . As can be seen, the plunger  36  is positioned within the interior compartment  16  of the device  10 , with the plunger head  38  being substantially surrounded by the side wall  14  of the device  10 , and the elongate rigid handle  40  of the plunger  36  extending outwardly from the open first end  24  of the device  10 . As the plunger head  38  is inserted into the device  10  through the open first end  24  thereof, a portion of the outer circumference or edge  42  of the plunger head  38  will eventually come into contact with the side wall  14  and/or at least some of the plurality of indentations  18  of the device  10 . The illustrated embodiment of the device  10  in  FIG. 4  includes first and second subsets  32 ,  34  of indentations  18 , wherein the indentations  18  of the first subset  32  are coplanar with one another. When the plunger  36  in the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4  is inserted into the interior compartment  16  of the device  10 , the portion of the outer circumference or edge  42  of the plunger  36  will eventually come into contact with an upper portion  44  of some of the indentations  18 . With a continued insertion force applied to the plunger  36  (i.e., a downward force in the illustrated embodiment), the flexible plunger head  38  will flex so as to push past those indentations  18 . Once the portion of the circumference or edge  42  of the plunger head  38  has moved past the first subset  32  of indentations  18  in the illustrated embodiment, it will flex back to its substantially original shape, and be disposed beneath a lower portion  46  of the first subset  32  of indentations  18 . In this position, the plunger  36  of the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4  is held within the interior compartment  16  of the device  10  with sufficient force such that grasping the handle and lifting the plunger  36  will not be sufficient force to remove the plunger  36  from the interior compartment  16  of the device  10  (i.e., will not be sufficient to move it in an upward direction past the first subset  32  of indentations  18 ). Rather, the device  10  will lift with the plunger  36  such that the plunger  36  may be transported within the device  10 . 
     While not illustrated, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that, alternatively, a plunger having a smaller circumference or sized plunger head than that illustrated in  FIG. 4  could be inserted into the device  10  such that it would push past the second subset  34  of indentations  18  to be held within the device  10  (in the same manner as described above). Further, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art, while the plunger head  38  of the illustrated embodiment of  FIG. 4  appears to be insinuated between the first subset  32  and second subset  34  of indentations  18 , it is not necessary for such an insinuation to be present in order for the plunger  36  to be sufficiently held within the device  10 . Finally, it will be recognized by those of skill in the art that while the first and second subset  32 ,  34  of indentations  18  in the illustrated embodiment are useful for helping to retain the plunger  36  within the device  10 , the plunger  36  may also be held in the device  10  by a sufficient grip between the tapered side wall  14  and the plunger head  38  itself, or by both the tapered side wall  14  and indentations  18 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  3 , and  4 , proximal to the portion of the interior compartment  16  that is opposite the first end  24  of the housing  12 , the side wall  14  curves inwardly in a concave shape  48  (in the illustrated embodiment) towards the longitudinal axis  28  of the housing  10 . This region of the side wall  14  defines a drainage shaft  50  in the housing  12  that allows for drainage of any liquids or other substances introduced into the housing  12 , and prevents pooling of the liquids and other substances in the interior compartment  16  of the housing  12 . The drainage shaft  50  is fluidly connected to a base  52  of the device  10 , which has a circular closed bottom surface  54  in the illustrated embodiment. The drainage shaft  50  connects the interior compartment  16  to the base  52 , which allows for liquids, and other substances, to pool in the base  52 . Because the liquids and other substances pool in the base  52 , they can drain off of the plunger  36 , out of the interior compartment  16 , through the drainage shaft  50 , and into the base  52 . Thus, when the plunger  36  is removed from the device  10  for its next use, no liquids or other substances are removed from the device  10  along with the plunger  36 . Further, the base  52  may include a drainage port (not shown in the illustrated embodiment), which can be opened or closed, and in an open position can be used to remove the liquids and other substances from the base  52 . 
     Further, the side wall  14 , at the area of the drainage shaft  50  (i.e., the concave portion in the illustrated embodiment) includes a plurality of ventilation openings  56 . These ventilation openings  56  allow for airflow between the outside of the device  10  and the inside of the device  10  at or near the drainage shaft  50  to assist drying of the plunger  36 , which further assists in reducing and preventing mildew and other contamination. In alternate embodiments, the ventilation openings  56  may also include filters (not shown in the illustrated embodiment). As an example, each of the ventilation openings  56  may be covered by or may contain an air permeable and water impermeable filter. Such a filter allows airflow between the outside and the inside of the device  10  in order to assist in drying of the plunger  36  and prevention of mildew and other contaminants, while not allowing the passage of water, other liquids, or other substances therethrough. Thus, any water or other substances contained in the base  52  would be prevented from spilling out of the ventilation openings  56 . 
     Further, the base  52  of the device  10  provides a foot step region  58  that assists in removal of a plunger  36  from the device  10 . In particular, the foot step region  58  provides enough space to allow a user to step on the base  52  of the plunger storage and transportation device  10  (with one or both feet). In particular, the concave shape  48  of the drainage shaft  50  (on the first embodiment) allows room for a user&#39;s foot to be placed on the base  52  while removing a plunger  36  from the device  10 . The diameter of the foot step region  58  may be the same as the outwardly flared rim  20  at the top opening  22  of the device  10 . As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the base  52  is circular. However, in alternate embodiments, squared-off edges may be included on the foot step region  58  located on opposing sides at 180 degrees, allowing for the plunger storage and transportation device  10  to be placed on its side in a horizontal position. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-13  (where like numbers are used to designate like components), a second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device  10  is shown. In this second embodiment, the device  10  includes a housing  12  having at least one side wall  14  defining an interior compartment  16 , and an outer rim  20  defining an opening  22  at a first end  24  of the housing  12 , wherein the at least one side wall  14  extends from the first end  24  toward a second end  26  of the housing  12 , the second end  26  being opposite the first end  24 ; a plurality of lid retaining members  60  on the at least one side wall  14  and extending inwardly into the interior compartment  16  of the housing  12 ; and a flexible lid  62  adapted to confront at least two of the plurality of lid retaining members  60 . 
     The housing  12 , in the illustrated embodiment (as seen particularly in  FIGS. 8 ,  9 , and  12 ), has a side wall  14  that is open at the first end  24 , and closed proximal the second end  26 . Further, a portion of the side wall  14  that defines an interior compartment  16  is generally cylindrical (in the illustrated embodiment) and extends from the first end  24  in a direction toward the second end  26  for a distance which is sufficient to accommodate a variety of existing plunger products. The flexible lid  62  (see  FIGS. 6 ,  9 ,  12 , and  13 ) has a round, planar shape that is slightly smaller in diameter than the interior diameter of the housing  12 . The lid retaining members  60  that position the lid  62  may be embodied as a lip or edge that runs around the interior compartment  16  of the housing  12  in a continuous manner. Alternatively, the lid retaining members  60  may be provided around the interior compartment  16  in a noncontinuous manner, such as tabs. 
     The lid position can be adjusted up or down within the housing  12 , to accommodate the height of a wide variety of plunger devices. The plunger retaining lid  62  has a center opening  64  that is slightly larger than the diameter of a common plunger handle, through which the plunger handle  40  will protrude when the plunger  36  is in the stored position. The plunger retaining lid  62  may have a plurality of segments  66  that may be embodied as separate segments of flexible material, or may be connected along the edges by folds of excess material, which allows for the segments  66  to be urged downward and apart when the plunger  36  is being inserted into the housing  12 , while maintaining a continuous seal that prevents any upward splashing of liquids during use or transport. The flexible lid  62  will have sufficient resistance to the insertion and removal of the plunger  36  so that a user is compelled to step on the foot step base region  52  of the housing  12  to hold the housing  12  in position while removing the plunger  36 . This resistance will allow a user to pick up and carry the plunger  36  and the housing  12  as a single unit, by the plunger handle, without pulling the plunger  36  out of the housing  12 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 11 , the plurality of lid retaining members  60  can be seen in greater detail. In one embodiment of the present invention, each lid retaining member  60  of the plurality of lid retaining members  60  may be coplanar with each of the other lid retaining members  60  of the plurality of lid retaining members  60 . Thus, the plurality of lid retaining members  60  may be spaced equidistant from one another and in the same plane around the circumference of the side wall  14  of the illustrated embodiment. However, as will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, it is not necessary that the lid retaining members  60  that lie in the same plane be equidistant from one another about the interior surface of the side wall  14 . Further, as can be seen from the illustrated embodiment, the plurality of lid retaining members  60  may be molded as a part of the side wall  14  of the housing  12 . However, as will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art, the lid retaining members  60  do not need to be molded monolithically with the side wall  14  of the device  10 , but rather may be a separate component that is affixed to the interior surface of the side wall  14  of the device  10 . 
     Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of lid retaining members  60  may include at least a first subset  76  of lid retaining members  60  and a second subset  78  of lid retaining members  60 . In such an embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 11 , each lid retaining member  60  of the first subset  76  is coplanar with each of the other lid retaining members  60  of the first subset  76  along a first plane, and each lid retaining member  60  of the second subset  78  is coplanar with each of the other lid retaining members  60  of the second subset  78  along a second plane, wherein the second plane is not coplanar with the first plane. Thus, with particular reference to  FIG. 11 , the first and second subsets  76 ,  78  of lid retaining members  60  are positioned such that the outer circumference of the lid  62  can be insinuated between the first subset  76  and second subset  78  of lid retaining members  60  in order to hold the lid  62  at varying heights along the side wall  14  of the device  10 . Further, there may be additional (i.e., third, fourth, fifth, sixth) subsets of lid retaining members  60  that each lie in their own planes, which are separate from the first and second planes. 
     Thus, and referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 11 , a plunger  36  is shown in combination with the second embodiment of the plunger storage and transportation device  10 . As can be seen, the plunger  36  is positioned within the interior compartment  16  of the device  10 , with the plunger head  38  being substantially surrounded by the side wall  14  of the device  10 , and the elongate rigid handle of the plunger  36  extending outwardly from the open first end of the device  10 . As the plunger head  38  is inserted into the device  10  through the open first end thereof, the plunger head  38  may eventually contact the side wall  14  or will eventually contact a lower region of the interior compartment  16 , thereby defining the maximum distance that the plunger head  38  can be inserted into the device  10 . Once in this position, the lid  62  is then positioned relative to the plunger  36  with the elongate and rigid handle of the plunger  36  extending through the central orifice  64  of the lid  62 . The lid  62  is then pressed downwardly into the interior compartment  16  until it engages between first and second subsets  76 ,  78  of lid retaining members  60 . In particular, as the lid  62  is pressed down, it is either flexible and/or segmented, and so can move around the top surface of the first subset  76  of lid retaining members  60  in order to insinuate between the first and second subset  76 ,  78  of lid retaining members  60 . The lid retaining members  60  are intended to locate and secure the position of the plunger retaining lid  62 , and are disposed at the interior surface of the cylindrical vertical wall  70  of the housing  12 , and may be arrayed in a variety of patterns around the interior  16  of the housing  12  to locate and secure the lid  62  into position. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate methods of attaching, affixing, or securing into position the plunger retaining lid may be used, including, but not limited in use to, screws, bolts, resistive notches, clips, clasps, and other methods of attaching, affixing, or securing well known to those skilled in the art. 
     Proximal to the portion of the interior compartment  16  that is opposite the first end  24  of the housing  12 , the side wall  14  includes a tapering component  68  that tapers toward the longitudinal axis  28  of the housing  12  for a distance which is less than the radius of the housing  12 , at an angle which, in the illustrated embodiment, is less than 90 degrees, thereby creating a funnel shape at the interior of the housing  12 , which will allow for drainage and prevent pooling of liquids that may be introduced into the interior compartment  16  of the housing  12 . Beneath the tapered component  68  (i.e., opposite the interior component  16 ), the side wall  14  then extends downward a distance, in a manner which is parallel to the main cylindrical housing  12  (in the illustrated embodiment), thereby creating a vertical cylindrical wall  70 , which is smaller in diameter than the housing  12  defining the interior compartment  16 . This defines a drainage shaft  50  in the housing  12  that allows for drainage of any liquids or other substances introduced into the housing  12  and prevents pooling of the liquids and other substances in the interior compartment  16  of the housing  12 . The vertical cylindrical wall  70 , and thus the drainage shaft  50 , connects to a base  52 , which, in the illustrated embodiment, has a square planar bottom surface  72 , and four planar side surfaces  74  that extend upward from the bottom surface  72  and inward towards the center of the housing  12  at an angle which is less than 90 degrees. The drainage shaft  50  connects the interior compartment  16  to the base  52 , which allows for liquids, and other substances, to pool in the base  52 . Because the liquids and other substances pool in the base  52 , they can drain off the plunger  36 , out of the interior compartment  16 , through the drainage shaft  50 , and into the base  52 . Thus, when the plunger  36  is removed from the device  10  for its next use, no liquids or other substances are removed from the device  10  along with the plunger  36 . Further, the base  52  may include a drainage port (not shown in the illustrated embodiment), which can be opened or closed, and in an open position, can be used to remove the liquids and other substances from the base  52 . 
     The housing  12  includes one or a plurality of ventilation openings  56  that allow for air displacement to occur, thereby reducing the collection of unpleasant odors within the housing  12 . First and second ventilation openings  80 ,  82 , in the illustrated embodiment, are disposed at the side wall surface of the housing  12  on opposing sides of the housing  12  proximal to the interior compartment  16 . Third and fourth ventilation openings  84 ,  86  are disposed at the angled planar side surfaces  74  of the drainage base  52  and foot step region  58  on opposing sides of the unit. In alternate embodiments, the ventilation openings  56  may also include filters (not shown in the illustrated embodiment). As an example, each of the ventilation openings  56  may be covered by or may contain an air permeable and water impermeable filter. Such a filter allows airflow between the outside and the inside of the device  10  in order to assist in drawing plunger  36  and prevention of mildew and other contaminants, while not allowing the passage of water, other liquids, or other substances therethrough. Thus, any water or other substances contained in the base  52  would be prevented from spilling out of the ventilation openings  56 . 
     It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of the features of the illustrated first and second embodiments of the plunger storage and transportation device  10  are merely exemplary. For example, while the figures depict the device  10  being used in an upright position, the device  10  may be designed for use in either a vertical upright position, or in a horizontal, or lying-down position. Further, alternate embodiments of the invention may comprise a housing  12  having a variety of different shapes, such as triangular, rectangular, octagonal, oval, semicircular, and other shapes not referred to herein. 
     Those skilled in the art will further recognize that the sizes, such as overall height and width of the device  10 , may be embodied to suit specific type or styles of plumbing plungers while performing the use and function disclosed herein. 
     Further, the present invention may be made of a variety of a materials that allow the product to perform the function disclosed herein, including but not limited in use to, metals such as stainless steel, steel, aluminum, as well as synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products or plastics, rubbers, recycled materials, and other materials well known to those skilled in the art. 
     Additionally, while the figures depict a particular number of ventilation openings  56  in the first and second embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that alternate embodiments of the invention may comprise fewer or more ventilation openings that may be embodied in a variety of sizes and shapes to allow for proper ventilation of the unit during use. 
     Further, in alternate embodiments, the device  10  may comprise features that will act to alter the odor or bacteria levels in and around the invention during use or nonuse periods, including scented features that may be embodied as a spray, tablet, or scented pad that is placed inside, or affixed to, the interior  16  of the housing  12  or the drainage region  50  of the base  52  and will act to continuously or periodically release a scent or fragrance into the air to alter, mask or cover the odors within and around the plunger container, thereby acting as a deodorizer. 
     Further, the device may include ultraviolet lights at the interior of the housing  12  which will act to kill bacteria at the interior of the main body housing  12  or drainage region  50  of the invention in a continuous or periodic manner by allowing the user to turn on and off the ultraviolet light feature as desired, or by emitting a burst or quantity of ultraviolet light into the interior environment as directed by the user by means of a variety of switches or buttons that may be hand or foot operated. 
     While the present invention has been disclosed by reference to the details of preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the disclosure is intended as an illustrative rather than in a limiting sense, as it is contemplated that modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the amended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0