Patent Abstract:
A tool is constructed and adapted for dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and similar other drains. An elongate longitudinal shaft extends from a handle end to a curved blade end. The curved blade end is broadened, expanded and flattened from the shaft. The blade gradually curves and narrows from the broadened, expanded and flattened portion to a pointed tip end. Sharpened edges surround the perimeter of the curved blade end. In use, the worker grasps the tool by the handle end and inserts the curved blade end into the debris obstruction. Twisting, chopping and churning actions are exerted with the tool to agitate the debris obstruction to a flushable state.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention is a tool for dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and other similar plumbing fixtures and drains. More particularly, this invention is a tool and a method for using the tool to exert twisting, chopping and churning actions to agitate the debris obstruction to a flushable state.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     All those involved with the care and maintenance of toilet bowls, drain pipes, tubes and the like are well aware of the difficulty encountered in dislodging and comminuting various types of debris that become lodged in and clog such plumbing passageways. Currently available tools and methods are often ineffective and may require a great deal of time and expertise for proper and effective use. Other available tools and methods are inherently unsanitary, particularly between periods of actual use. The plumbing industry requires a simple, easily usable, and effectively sanitizable tool that even an unskilled worker can use to effectively dislodge debris obstructions to a flushable state. A tool that is easily storable near the toilet bowl, ready for further use, is also required.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A toilet tool of this invention is designed and adapted for dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and similar drains and pipes to a readily flushable state. The tool has an elongate longitudinal shaft extending from a handle end to a curved blade end. The curved blade end broadens from the shaft to an expanded and flattened portion. The blade gradually curves and narrows from the flattened portion to a pointed tip end. The blade may have a slight spoon shape. Sharpened edges surround the perimeter of the curved blade end.  
         [0004]     The handle may be of any suitable shape. A handle with an aperture for hanging the tool may be formed by curving the proximate end of the shaft back on itself and fastening to the shaft. Another handle may be comprised of vanes extending perpendicularly from the proximate end of the shaft and planar parallel to each other, in the style of a “honey dipper.” The handle end of the shaft may have a thumb rest for a secure grasp. The tool may have an overall length of more than 12 inches to about 18 inches. The tool may be of a flexible material and construction, such as metal, plastic and combinations thereof.  
         [0005]     The novel toilet tool is used to dislodge debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and similar drains and pipes to a readily flushable state. A worker grasps the tool by the handle end and inserts the curved blade end into the debris obstruction in the toilet bowl and beyond the observable point of view if the debris is deeply lodged. The worker exerts twisting, chopping and churning actions with the tool to agitate the debris obstruction to a flushable state. The dislodged debris is then flushed down the drain in the normal manner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]      FIG. 1 , is a front view of a toilet tool of this invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a cut-away side view of the elongate longitudinal handle and shaft of the tool of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a top end view of the tool of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the tool, similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a curved blade of a novel tool.  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  is a front view of a curved blade of a novel tool of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  is a detail of the tip end of the curved blade of the novel tool of  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a curved blade of the novel tool  FIGS. 4-6 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates an alternate handle of a toilet tool of this invention, in which the shaft turns back on itself to form a handle and hanging loop.  
         [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates an alternate handle of a toilet tool of this invention, with vanes extending perpendicular to the handle and mutually parallel to each other, in the fashion of a “honey dipper.” 
         [0016]      FIG. 10  is a cut-away side view of a conventional toilet fixture with an obstruction lodged at the toilet trap, showing a novel tool in position for use. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017]     The invention will now be described in detail with reference particularly to  FIGS. 1-10 , in which all numerals refer to like portions of the inventive tool.  FIGS. 1-3  illustrate an embodiment of a toilet tool  10  of this invention.  FIG. 1  is a front view of a toilet tool  10 . The tool  10  has an elongate longitudinal shaft  12  with a handle end  14  and a curved blade end  16 . The handle end  14  is expanded from the cross-sectional area of the shaft  12  to provide a secure grip. The handle end  14  has an aperture  18  for conveniently hanging the tool  10  out of the way yet ready for access. The expanded handle end  14  tapers outward from and then back toward the shaft  12 , forming a convenient thumb rest  20 , as perhaps better seen in reference to  FIG. 2 , to further provide a secure grip of the tool  10  in use.  FIG. 2A  is a top view of the tool of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]     The curved blade end  16  broadens from the shaft  12  in an expanded and flattened portion  22 , as perhaps better seen in reference to  FIGS. 4-7 . Note that  FIG. 3  shows the handle end  14  rotated 90° from the position shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . This is intended to illustrate that the handle of the present inventive tool may be in either position to suit the requirements of a particular user or a particular situation. The blade  16  gradually curves and narrows from the flattened portion  22  to a pointed tip end  24 . Sharpened edges  26  surround the perimeter of the curved blade end  16 . Preferably, the curved blade end  16  has a slight spoon-shape  28 , as perhaps best seen with reference to  FIGS. 4-7 .  
         [0019]      FIGS. 4-7  further illustrate the configuration of the curved blade  16  of the inventive tool  10 .  FIG. 4  is an enlarged side view of the curved blade  16  of the tool  10 . In a tool  10  with an overall length of about 15 inches, about the last 3½ to about 4½ inches form the curved blade  16 . The curve of the blade may have a curve diameter of about 2⅜ inches.  FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of the curved blade  16  of the tool  10 .  FIG. 6  shows that the sharpened edges  26  of the curved blade  16  may have a beveled edge. The detail of  FIG. 7  shows that the beveled edge  26  may have a thickness of about {fraction (1/16)} of an inch and a bevel angled back from the edge  26  to about {fraction (1/16)} of an inch. The spoon-shape  28  of the curved blade  16  is perhaps best illustrated in comparing  FIGS. 5 and 7 , where the blade  16  has a width of about ⅞ of an inch, the spoon depth is about {fraction (3/64)} of an inch.  
         [0020]     An effective handle can be an extended shaft loop  40 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The handle  40  portion extends coextensive with the shaft  44  about 5 inches proximally beyond the length of the shaft  44  of the tool. The shaft  44  bends back on itself in about a 180° curve to run parallel to the shaft  44  at a determined hand length space and then bends, with an additional curve of about 90°, to join shaft  44  as one integrally molded handle  40  or bends to nearly contact tool shaft  44 . This design forms both a comfortable, secure handle  40 , and an aperture  46  to hang the tool.  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  illustrates another handle  30  for a toilet tool of this invention, with vanes  32  extending perpendicular to the shaft  12  at the handle end. The vanes  32  are parallel to each other in the general fashion of a “honey dipper.” This handle  30  provides resiliency to ensure a comfortable, secure and workable grasp by workers of various hand sizes and grip strength. A convenient hanger hole  34  is also provided.  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a cut-away side view of a conventional toilet fixture  50  with an obstruction  52  lodged in the toilet trap  54 , where most obstructions occur. The novel tool  10  is shown in position for use.  
         [0023]     Plastic is a preferred material for the inventive tool based on strength, flexibility, corrosion resistance, material life and ease of cleaning. The service environment, including cleaning chemicals and extreme water temperatures, presents some difficulty with many materials. Plastic, an industry standard for many toilet tools, offers less of a tendency to mar a glazed or porcelain surface. Fiberglass is a strong composite material suitable for a professional or industrial grade tool. Metals, such as brass or aluminum, are easy to form and long lasting, and may be plastic-coated to be non-damaging to fixtures. Plastics provide the desired forgiveness, flexibility, design retention, and tool durability. Working contact requires impact forgiveness and flexibility to ensure effectiveness. The tool requires a smooth surface for appearance and ease of sanitation.  
         [0024]     The term plastic is intended in its broadest sense to include various types of materials. Acrylic nylon and polyvinyl recycled material are two representative materials that have been found to be suitable, because they are hard and strong, resistant to the debris and chemicals they may contact in use, easily cleanable, and ensuring long-life for the tool. Any other plastic material that will meet the needs of the inventive tool would be suitable.  
         [0025]     The tool length is determined relative to the depth of a standard toilet bowl dimension measured from the bowl inner rim to the drain throat at the bottom of the trap. See, for example,  FIG. 10  illustrating a standard toilet bowl fixture  50  with the tool of this invention in position for use. Toilet water depth, the desired sanitary margin, and the length of handle grip also determine tool length. A standard toilet bowl depth dimension can range anywhere from more than about 12 inches up to about 18 inches. A tool between about 15 inches up to about 18 inches allows extended reach of several inches into the occluded drain area beyond the throat ridge, without the need for hand submersion or tool distortion. A 15-inch tool will fit into a space occupied by a conventional toilet brush caddy.  
         [0026]     The shaft diameter is determined by resistance to breakage. A more heavily shafted tool may be required to agitate a large obstruction to a flushable state. The shaft may be of any desired cross-sectional shape, such as a round and square shaft style. Typically, a shaft cross-sectional measurement of about ¼ inch or slightly larger has been found suitable under actual use conditions. A round smooth plastic shaft allows the necessary degree of flexing and ease of cleaning. The shaft may be tapered. A tapered shaft may be thickest at the handle with progressively increasing flexibility toward the tip to avoid a possible fatigue break at the base of the handle or along the shaft. The diameter of the handle should be sufficient to allow the worker to impart twist to the shaft without the tool slipping in the worker&#39;s hand.  
         [0027]     The curved cutting blade of the toilet tool of this invention is designed to tear, chop, and churn through waste that may be floating, submerged, or lodged in a stationary positioned. A stationary obstruction is easiest to dislodge. A floating or submerged obstruction is more difficult to dislodge, because swift chopping movements are required without splashing the worker or the surroundings. The pointed tip end of the blade is designed to pick, spear, or penetrate obstructions at an obtuse angle, to include even obstructions in the out of view portion of the drain. In a reverse pick and pull direction, the worker can even retrieve lost or misplaced items, such as small toys, eyeglasses, and jewelry. The curve of the point can range from about 45° to about 90°, for example, about 60°. The curved point adds to the extended reach beyond the drain throat, allowing deeply submerged obstructions to be broken up and flushed free.  
         [0028]     Cut resistant buoyant waste material may be difficult to dislodge to a flushable condition. Quick swirls with a chopping action have usually been found to be most effective. The thin sharpened blade edge can pin down and cut or chop the waste, while avoiding unwanted splashing. The curved blade also allows the user to chop and cut at the material without dragging the pointed end back and forth over the porcelain. The point allows spearing the obstructing material, then rolling over the toilet tool edge and making a cut. The length and curve of the blade and of the point can be designed and constructed to meet the needs of a particular use situation and plumbing fixture. The arched profile of the cutting blade is used to churn the water and waste to a slurry consistency. The spoon shape reinforces the tool&#39;s working strength.  
         [0029]     Best results are obtained by using the novel tool as soon as a toilet obstruction is noted and before any flushing is attempted. Flushing an obstructed toilet can lead to plugging. However, if an obstruction becomes apparent after an attempted flush, the novel tool can remedy this situation as well. The worker takes the tool by the handle, submerges the curved blade into the waste and wastewater, and agitates the accumulation into a flushable consistency. The resulting slurry is then ready to be flushed. If the consistency of the waste is hard and resistant to water disbursement the cutting edge of the tool breaks the obstruction into smaller pieces. Water flow, water volume, toilet style, drain size and drain line waste retention all affect the ability to flush the obstruction.  
         [0030]     If there is no visible obstruction and the toilet is plugged with standing water, the worker takes the handle of the tool and submerges the tip deeply enough to create a swirling, circular vortex motion in the wastewater to loosen the debris. The circular vortex motion also dislodges the deep debris to allow the water in the bowl to flush free or to allow high water in the bowl to seep down the drain, to a workable level. Therefore, with use of the novel toilet tool of this invention overflow of water out of the bowl is almost never a problem.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0