Toilet plunger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10443221-B2
Application number	US-201815874615-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 18, 2018
Priority date	Jan 18, 2018
Publication date	Oct 15, 2019
Grant date	Oct 15, 2019

Abstract

A resiliently deformable toilet plunger including a generally cup-shaped bell portion having an interior space. A socket is formed on the bell portion. A flange portion extends from the bell portion opposite the socket and includes an open end. The flange portion defines an arcuate tapering tubular passage wherein the interior space communicates with the open end. An annular skirt is formed at a junction of the bell portion and the flange portion, the skirt including a base portion attached to the bell portion and a terminal end opposite the base portion, the skirt extending outwardly from the junction and at an angle such that the terminal end is below a plane defined by the junction, wherein the angle is from about 20° to about 70°.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A resiliently deformable toilet plunger, comprising:
a generally cup-shaped bell portion having an interior space;
a socket formed on the bell portion;
a flange portion extending from the bell portion opposite the socket and including an open end, the flange portion defining an arcuate tapering tubular passage wherein the interior space communicates with the open end; and
an annular skirt formed at a junction disposed between the bell portion and the flange portion, the skirt comprising a base portion attached to the bell portion and a terminal end opposite the base portion, the skirt extending outwardly from the junction and at an angle such that the terminal end is below a plane defined by the junction, wherein the angle is from about 20° to about 70°,
wherein the skirt includes a vent formed on an undersurface of the skirt, the vent extending radially from the terminal end inwardly towards the junction.

2. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , including a plurality of vents.

3. The toilet plunger of claim 2 , including four vents.

4. The toilet plunger of claim 3 , wherein the four vents are spaced apart about 90° circumferentially from adjacent ones of the four vents.

5. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the skirt tapers from the base portion to the terminal end.

6. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the angle is from about 30° to about 60°.

7. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the angle is about 45°.

8. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the bell portion includes a generally constant thickness wall.

9. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the flange includes a funnel portion adjacent the junction and a cylindrical portion adjacent the open end.

10. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the skirt includes an undersurface and wherein an angle between the undersurface and an outside of the funnel portion is obtuse.

11. The toilet plunder of claim 10 , wherein the angle between the undersurface and the outside of the funnel portion is about 100-130°.

12. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the socket is shaped and sized to receive a handle.

13. The toilet plunger of claim 1 , wherein the bell portion includes an inside surface, the inside surface including a plurality of spaced reinforcing ribs.

14. The toilet plunger of claim 13 , wherein the bell portion includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the plurality of ribs extend between the upper end and the lower end.

15. The toilet plunger of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of ribs extends the full distance between the upper end and the lower end.

16. The toilet plunger of claim 15 , wherein one half of the plurality of ribs extends the full distance between the upper end and the lower end and the other half of the plurality of ribs extends less than the full distance between the upper end and the lower end.

17. The toilet plunger of claim 16 , wherein the one half of the plurality of ribs that extend the full distance between the upper end and the lower end alternate circumferentially with the other half of the plurality of ribs.

Assignees

• Freudenberg Carl Kg

Inventors

• Metzel Doug
• Alfaro Conrad

Classifications

• E03C1/308 Primary

  by means of a pumping device · CPC title