US20160215487A1

US20160215487A1 - Triangular-Shaped Plunger Head and Toilet Plunger Having the Same

Info

Publication number: US20160215487A1
Application number: US15/002,646
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert Ginther
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-01-28
Filing date: 2016-01-21
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Also published as: CA2918555A1

Abstract

A triangular-shaped plunger head has a construction to make a sealing contact with a triangular-shaped toilet drain hole. The plunger head includes a triangular-shaped bottom wall and a triangular-shaped bottom edge that has three rounded corners and three straight sides, one side extending between a different pair of rounded corners. A triangular-shaped lip is formed around an opening through the bottom wall. The triangular-shaped lip includes three rounded corners and three straight sides, one side extending between a different pair of rounded corners.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/108,587, filed Jan. 28, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to toilet plungers, and more particularly, relating to a triangular-shaped plunger head and a toilet plunger having the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Toilet plungers have been in use for years and conventionally have a circular-shaped plunger head or cup. Some newer toilets have triangular-shaped drain holes, and conventional circular-shaped plunger heads are incapable of making a sealing contact with the triangular-shaped drain holes for the plunger to work properly in clearing a clogged drain. Accordingly, a desire and need exists for a new toilet plunger head and toilet plunger having the same that provides an adequate seal for the newly designed toilet drain holes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing problems with existing toilet plungers, embodiments of the present invention provide a new triangular-shaped plunger head and toilet plunger having the same. The plunger head has a novel design that makes a sealing contact between the plunger head and a triangular-shaped drain hole of a toilet bowl.
In general, in one aspect, a triangular-shaped plunger head for a plunger is provided. The triangular-shaped plunger head includes a triangular-shaped bottom edge having first, second, and third rounded corners, a first straight side extending between the first and second rounded corners, a second straight side extending between the second and third rounded corners, and a third straight side extending between the third and first rounded corners. Further included is a bottom wall, an opening through the bottom wall, and a lip formed around the opening. The lip being triangular shape and includes fourth, fifth, and sixth rounded corners, a fourth straight side extending between said fourth and fifth rounded corners, a fifth straight side extending between said fifth and sixth rounded corners, and a sixth straight side extending between said sixth and fourth rounded corners.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution he art may be better appreciated.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a triangular-shaped plunger head and toilet plunger having the same that is constructed in accordance with the principles of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the triangular-shaped plunger head and toilet plunger having the same;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the triangular-shaped plunger head;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of triangular-shaped plunger head;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the triangular-shaped plunger head and toilet plunger having the same; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the triangular-shaped plunger head, shown in use, in connection with a toilet having a triangular-shaped drain hole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1-5, there is representatively illustrated a new toilet plunger that is constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention and is designated by reference number 10.
In the representatively illustrated embodiment, the toilet plunger 10 has an elongated handle 12 that is connected to a plunger head 14. The handle 12 is constructed of a rigid material. The handle 12 has a first end 16 and a second end 18, and is representatively shown as being cylindrically shaped. The first end 16 includes a rubber grip 20 for holding the plunger 10 and the second end 18 is connected to the plunger head 14 at a coupling 22 located on the top of the plunger head.
The plunger head 14 has a novel triangular shape that is designed to making a sealing contact with triangular-shaped toilet drain holes. The plunger head 14 is cup shaped and is made of a flexible and resilient material, such as rubber, for example. The plunger head 12 is triangular shaped in cross-section and includes a bottom edge 24 having three rounded corners 26 a, 26 b, and 26 c and three straight sides 28 a, 28 b, and 28 c. Side 28 a extends between corners 26 a and 26 b, side 28 b extends between corners 26 b and 26 c, and side 28 c extends between corners 26 c and 26 a.
The plunger 14 further includes a triangular-shaped opening 30 formed through a bottom wall 32. A lip 34 is formed around the circumference of opening 30 and extends generally perpendicular to bottom wall 32. Similar to edge 24, lip 34 includes three rounded corners 36 a, 36 b, and 36 c and three straight sides 38 a, 38 b, and 38 c. Side 38 a extends between corners 36 a and 36 b, side 38 b extends between corners 36 b and 36 c, and side 38 c extends between corners 36 c and 36 a.
With reference to FIG. 6, there is shown a partial view of a toilet 40 (from the underside) having a triangular-shaped drain hole 42 and with the plunger head 14 making sealing contact with the drain hole 42. A shown, the edge 24 and the bottom wall 32 contact the toilet bowl 40 at a position around the drain hole 42 and the lip 34 extends into the drain to create a sealing contact between the plunger head 14 and the toilet bowl 40. In operation, the plunger 10 is manipulated in a conventional manner to dear a clog.
A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A toilet plunger comprising:

a triangular-shaped plunger head having a bottom edge, a bottom wall, an opening through said bottom wall, and a lip formed around said opening;

said bottom edge being triangular shaped and including first, second, and third rounded corners, a first straight side extending between said first and second rounded corners, a second straight side extending between said second and third rounded corners, and a third straight side extending between said third and first rounded corners;

said lip being triangular shaped and includes fourth, fifth, and sixth rounded corners, a fourth straight side extending between said fourth and fifth rounded corners, a fifth straight side extending between said fifth and sixth rounded corners, and a sixth straight side extending between said sixth and fourth rounded corners; and

a handle having first and second ends, said second end connected to said triangular shaped plunger head.

2. The toilet plunger of claim 1, wherein said opening is triangular shaped.

3. The toilet plunger of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall is triangular shaped.

4. The toilet plunger of claim 1, wherein said lip extends generally perpendicular to said bottom wall.

5. The toilet plunger of claim 1, wherein said triangular-shaped plunger head is constructed of a resilient material.

6. The toilet plunger of claim 5, wherein said resilient material is rubber.

7. A triangular-shaped plunger head for a plunger, the triangular-shaped plunger head comprising:

a triangular-shaped bottom edge having first, second, and third rounded corners, a first straight side extending between said first and second rounded corners, a second straight side extending between said second and third rounded corners, and a third straight side extending between said third and first rounded corners;

a bottom wall;

an opening through said bottom wall; and

a lip formed around said opening, said lip being triangular shape and having fourth, fifth, and sixth rounded corners, a fourth straight side extending between said fourth and fifth rounded corners, a fifth straight side extending between said fifth and sixth rounded corners, and a sixth straight side extending between said sixth and fourth rounded corners.

8. The triangular-shaped plunger head of claim 7, wherein said lip extends generally perpendicular to said bottom wall.

9. The triangular-shaped plunger head of claim 7, wherein said triangular shaped plunger head is constructed of a resilient material.

10. The triangular shaped plunger head of claim 9, wherein said resilient material is rubber.