US20110016621A1

US20110016621A1 - Tee Handle Toilet Plunger

Info

Publication number: US20110016621A1
Application number: US12/460,627
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert G. Kares
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-07-23
Filing date: 2009-07-23
Publication date: 2011-01-27

Abstract

An improved toilet plunger includes a plunger assembly having an elongated plunger stem having an upper end and an opposite lower end with the lower end having a flared portion and a threaded stub extending therefrom for securement to the plunger socket of a standard plunger head and the toilet plunger also including a horizontally extending handle integrally formed to the upper end of the plunger stem with the handle further defining left and right hand portions and the underside of the handle having continuous undulated handle grips for ease of gripping by the fingers of the user and the horizontally extending handle reducing muscle strain by changing the way the handle is gripped thereby making plunging easier, more efficient, and less irksome.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to household items, and more particularly pertains to an improved manually operable toilet plunger.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ergonomic designs for tools, equipment, implements, garden tools, home renovation and carpentry tool, etc. are now common and have made the use of the aforesaid items much easier and less demanding. From the positioning and angle of the working end of the item to the size, angle, and grip of the handle or holding end, ergonomically designed tools and household items are a welcome improvement over tools whose design was indifferent—or actively worked against—their intended use and operation. One of the most common household items is the standard toilet plunger that consists simply of a vertically extending handle—cylindrical in shape—having a lower end secured to a plunger head. To plunge a drain or toilet bowl to unclog it, one simply places the plunger head over the drain or into the toilet bowl with enough force to create a suction; and then one grips the handle with the hands turned inward and placed one above the other, and then lifts the handle up and down with quick motions to unplug the clogged drain. Although one is leaning over the plunger and the drain the awkward position of the hands actually increase the strain to the upper arms and the back when plunging. In addition, because the hands are holding the plunger handle at an awkward vertical angle, their grip is not as firm as it could be and the hands often slip in their positioning due to the repetitive plunging action and slipperiness of the handle. It is therefore desirable to have a plunger that is ergonomically designed for ease of plunging, reduction of muscle strain, and that provides a firm, non-slip grip.
For example, the Roop patent (U.S. Pat. No. 4,552,001) discloses a high security t-handle assembly of the type containing a lock cylinder having high security features that defy forced entry.
The Lang patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,251,519) discloses a t-handle wrench kit for servicing threaded components such as nuts and bolts that are not easily accessible includes a wrench and a plurality of heads that are releasably engagable to the wrench member.
The Vosbikian patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,916) discloses a t-shaped broom head having a force-distributing handle socket.
The Leighton et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,918) discloses a plunger device that provides for the conveyance of water from a water source through the structural components of the device to the drain line.
The Rankovic patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,455) discloses a portable power-plumbing plunger for unclogging blocked drains in sinks, toilets, bath tubs, etc. that includes a reciprocating pump having a removable attachment that is adapted to cover the waste water drain.
The Leaphart Jr. et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,326 B1) discloses a compressed air drain opening device includes a pair of barrels one slidably received in the other and an air seal for placement over the drain.
The Allenbaugh et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,074 B1) discloses an air burst drain plunger that uses a sudden discharge of compressed gas to forcibly act against a drain obstruction.
The Mercado patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,252 B2) discloses a drain plunger handle arrangement wherein the handles are vertically offset from each other.
Nonetheless, despite the advantages of the above-described devices, there remains a need for a toilet plunger that is ergonomically designed so that it works better with less effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends an ergonomically improved toilet plunger whose inexpensive design makes the task of plunging a toilet easy and more efficient.
The improved toilet plunger includes a plunger assembly comprising an elongated cylindrical plunger stem or rod having an upper end and an opposite lower end. The lower end includes a flared portion and integrally formed to the flared portion is an externally threaded stub. The threaded stub is screwed to the inner annular threads of the plunger socket of a standard plunger head or member. A horizontal handle is integrally formed to the upper end of the elongated plunger stem and includes both left hand and right hand extending portions. Each portion of the horizontally extending handle includes continuous undulated handle grips on and around which the user can comfortably wrap his or her fingers. The entire plunger assembly including elongated stem and handle can be sized in any desired configuration and manufactured of wood, plastic, or even from an alloy material.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that includes an improved handgrip.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that alters how a person grips and uses a standard plunger.
It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that reduces muscle strain by move the hands from the vertical position to the horizontal position.
It is still another objective of the present invention to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that incorporates inexpensive design changes to make the task of plunging a toilet easier and less demanding.
It is still yet another objective of the present invention to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that can be manufactured from plastic, wood, a combination of both or from an alloy.
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a tee handle toilet plunger that is affordable and ergonomically correct as pertaining to the grip of user's hands.
These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved toilet plunger of the present invention illustrating the primary structural components of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved toilet plunger of the present invention illustrating the plunger assembly without the plunger head mounted thereon;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the improved toilet plunger of the present invention illustrating the plunger assembly without the plunger head mounted thereon; and

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the improved toilet plunger of the present invention taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1 illustrating the components of the plunger assembly with the plunger head mounted thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 is an improved toilet plunger 10 that includes a tee handle configuration that is ergonomically efficient for making toilet plunging easier, more effective, and greatly reducing arm and overall shoulder muscle strain and exertion.
Thee improved toilet plunger 10 is removably securable to any standard type of plunger head or member having a standard convex/concave configuration as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. The plunger member 12 includes an upwardly or externally facing convex plunger face 14, an opposite inner concave underside 16, and a plunger socket 18 centrally located on the plunger face 14 and upwardly extending therefrom; and the plunger socket 18 further includes inner annular threads 20.
As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the improved toilet plunger 10 includes a plunger assembly 22 comprising an elongated cylindrical plunger stem or rod 24, with the stem 24 further defining an upper stem end 26 and an opposite lower stem end 28. The lower stem end 28 includes a flared portion 30 and integrally formed to the flared portion 30 is an externally threaded stub 32. The threaded stub 32 is adapted for being threadably engaged to the inner annular threads 20 of the plunger socket 18.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, a horizontal or perpendicularly extending handle 34 is integrally formed to the upper end 26 of the elongated plunger stem 24, and the handle 34 is further defined by having a left hand side portion 36 and a right hand side portion 38. Each portion 36 and 38 of the perpendicularly extending and oriented handle 34—relative the vertical extension of the plunger stem 24—includes on their respective undersides a continuous undulated handle grip 40 on and about which the user can wrap his or her fingers for attaining a grip that is both more secure and more comfortable. The entire plunger assembly 22 including the elongated stem 24 and the perpendicularly extending handle 34 can be manufactured from any of a variety of materials including wood, plastic, composites, or even from an alloy material.
This invention having been disclosed, variations, alterations, and modifications and additional embodiments in accordance with the invention will now be apparent to persons skilled in the art and whereas the invention is not to be intended to be limited to the exemplary embodiments and shall encompass such a range of such alterations, variations, and modifications as are set forth in the detailed description and by the full and complete scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A tee handle toilet plunger, comprising:

a plunger assembly including:

an elongated cylindrical stem;

the stem including an upper stem end and an opposite lower stem end;

the lower stem end including a flared portion and an externally threaded stub axially extending therefrom;

a handle attached to the upper stem end and extending horizontal and perpendicular to the elongated stem;

the handle further including a left hand side portion and a right hand side portion and both the left hand side portion and the right hand side portion including an undulated hand grip to facilitate the comfortable and firm gripping of the handle by the user; and

the externally threaded stub securable to the plunger socket of the plunger member so that the handle is oriented perpendicular to the elongated stem and the plunger member thereby facilitating ease of use and reducing muscle strain when using the toilet plunger.

2. The tee handle toilet plunger of claim 1 wherein the plunger assembly can be manufactured from wood.

3. The tee handle toilet plunger of claim 2 wherein the plunger assembly can be manufactured from plastic.

4. The tee handle toilet plunger of claim 3 wherein the plunger assembly can be manufactured from an alloy.