Plunger device and method of making and using the same thereof

Abstract

.[.New.]. .Iadd.A .Iaddend.plunger having a cylindrical hollow body .[.20 or 20B.]. , a handle .[.30, 30A, or 30B.]. , an outlet hose .[.40.]. , an outlet tip .[.42.]. , and a valve .[.or flap 50, 60, or 70.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.that .[.is able to.]. control.Iadd.s .Iaddend.the air flow within the hollow .[.25.]. .Iadd.portion .Iaddend.of the cylindrical body .[.20 or 20B.]. .Iadd.is shown.Iaddend.. .Iadd.The .Iaddend.valve .[.or flap 50, 60, or 70.]. .Iadd.structure .Iaddend.is moved into a closed position so that air is forced out of the front of the plunger and towards a clogged or stopped area .[.82 or 92.]. and is moved into an open position so that air enters the back of the plunger and .[.passes.]. .Iadd.proceeds past the .Iaddend.valve .[.or flap 50, 60, or 70.]. .Iadd.structure, .Iaddend.so that water and / or clogging material is not drawn or sucked into the interior of the plunger. .[.F.]. .Iadd.The hose attached to the cylindrical body is flexible and is smaller in diameter than the drain throat of a plumbing fixture allowing the hose to be placed into a clogged area. A f.Iaddend.irst embodiment plunger .[.10 discloses.]. .Iadd.shows .Iaddend.a flexible valve flap .[.50.]. that compresses against the inner wall of the cylindrical body .[.20.]. when in a closed position and flexes outwardly and away from piston plate .[.38.]. when in an open position. .[.S.]. .Iadd.A s.Iaddend.econd embodiment plunger .[.discloses.]. .Iadd.shows .Iaddend.a circular valve plate .[.60.]. that slidingly fits within inner portion of piston plate .[.38 wherein.]. .Iadd.such that the .Iaddend.valve plate .[.60.]. is coupled to and controlled by handle control mechanism .[.64.]. . .[.H.]. .Iadd.The h.Iaddend.andle control mechanism .[.64.]. controls and places .Iadd.the .Iaddend.valve plate .[.60.]. in .Iadd.either .Iaddend.a closed position or an open position. .[.T.]. .Iadd.A t.Iaddend.hird embodiment plunger .[.discloses.]. .Iadd.shows a .Iaddend.handle .[.30B.]. having piston plate .[.38 with.]. .Iadd.that .Iaddend.rotatingly engag.[.ing.]. .Iadd.es a first set of .Iaddend.tab portions .[.37.]. and .[.a.]. flexible valve flap.Iadd.s .Iaddend..[.70.]. with perforated by-pass holes .[.74 and slidingly engaging.]. .Iadd.that engage a second set of .Iaddend.tab portions .[.72.]. .

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Fields of InventionThe present invention relates to a plunger device, and, more particularly, relates to a new plunger device that is generally used for cleaning out clogged drains or pipes and methods of making and using the new plunger device.2. Discussion of Background and Prior ArtA conventional plunger is typically a device comprising a rubber or resilient suction cup that is attached to the end of a stick and is used to clean out stopped or clogged drains or pipes. The conventional plunger is utilized by placing the suction cup over the stopped or clogged area which is generally over the drain or pipe opening, and the plunger is moved up and down causing the suction cup to create a suction force over the stopped or clogged area. The suction force is able to draw or suck the debris, material, particles, feces, etc. (hereafter generically referred to as "clogging material") that is / are causing the stop or clog from the stopped or clogged area. After...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Accordingly, it is an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a new plunger having a cylindrical hollow body, a handle, an outlet hose, an outlet tip, and a valve or flap mechanism that is able to control the air flow within the hollow of the cylindrical body so that the user can readily push and pull the handle of the plunger.

to provide a new plunger having a cylindrical hollow body, a handle, an outlet hose, an outlet tip, and a valve or flap mechanism that is able to control the air flow within the hollow of the cylindrical body so that the user can readily push and pull the handle of the plunger.

It is one aspect and advantage of the present invention to provide a valve or flap mechanism that can be moved into a closed position so that air can be forced out of the front of the plunger and towards a clogged or stopped area and can also be moved into an open position so that air is allowed to flow in through the back end of the plunger and water and / or clogging material is not drawn or sucked into the interior of the plunger.

It is a further aspect and advantage of the present invention to provide a handle of the plunger having a piston plate attached to one of its ends and a flexible valve flap attached to the piston plate wherein the flap compresses against the inner walls of the cylindrical body and is automatically forced in a closed position against the piston plate covering and sealing perforated by-pass holes in the piston plate so that air is compressed and forced out of the plunger when the handle is pushed into the plunger and wherein the flap flexes outwardly and away from the piston plate and is forced into an open position in which the perforated by-pass holes of the piston plate are in an open position to allow air to flow through them so that air flows in through the back end of the plunger and a suction force is prevented from being created at the front portion of the plunger that would draw or suck water and / or clogging material into the interior of the plunger when the handle is pulled and extended from the plunger.

It is a further aspect and advantage of the present invention to provide a handle having a piston plate attached to one of its ends and a circular valve plate that slidingly fits within the inner portion of the piston plate wherein the valve plate is coupled to and controlled by a handle control mechanism wherein the handle control mechanism controls the valve plate in a closed position that covers and seals the perforated by-pass holes on the piston plate that allows air to be forced out of the front end of the plunger and wherein the handle control mechanism further controls the valve to be in an open position that allows air to flow in through the back end of the plunger so that water and / or clogging material is prevented from being drawn or sucked into the plunger.

It is a further aspect and advantage of the present invention to provide a handle that has attached to it a piston plate with a rotatingly engaging tab portion and a flexible valve flap with perforated by-pass holes and slidingly engaging tab portions attached to the piston plate and a cylindrical body of the plunger further having a top groove along its top inner wall to engage and allow semi-rotational movement of the rotatingly engaging tab portion and having side grooves along its inner side walls that engage and allow sliding movement of the slidingly engaging tab portions wherein the piston plate can be rotated to an offset and closed position so that the handle can be pushed towards the front portion of the plunger to compress and force air out of the plunger and wherein the piston plate can also be rotated to an aligned and open position so that the handle can be pulled or extended from the plunger to allow air to flow in through the back end of the plunger which prevents water and clogging material from being drawn or sucked into the plunger.

Problems solved by technology

The conventional plunger, however, presents many problems.

One problem with the conventional plunger is that it draws or sucks the clogging material from the stopped or clogged area which can be very messy for the person having to clear the stop or clog.

The plunger can be very messy since the clogging material is being directed from the clogged or stopped area and towards the person performing the plunging function.

The moving of the plunger up and down in the water and clogged area may cause splashing of the water and corresponding clogging material (i.e. splashing of particles, debris, feces, etc.) onto the person that is using the plunger.

If the amount of clogging material is excessive, then the person may have to manually remove and separately dispose of the clogging material (i.e. manually remove the particles, debris, feces, etc. from the drain or pipe of a toilet or sink).

Another problem is that the suction cup may not fit well or fit entirely over the clogged drain or pipe.

This problem is especially true for toilets where the drain area is typically too large for a conventional size plunger.

A further problem exists in that the clogging material is drawn or sucked from the stopped or clogged area, and if the clogging material is not physically and separately removed (i.e. manually, etc.) from the drain or pipe area, then the clogging material again flows back into the drain or pipe area which can result in the drain or pipe not being cleared or the drain or pipe being stopped or clogged again.

However, the main problems with this plunger is that its pumping or plunging action can be very messy (i.e. causing splashing onto the user, etc.), and, in order to be able to re-use the plunger in one method of use, the entire plunger must be removed from the clogged or stopped area before the handle can be pulled out and re-extended from the cylindrical body.

Otherwise, if the handle is pulled or extended from the cylindrical body when the plunger is still inserted over the clogged area, then the circular plate and moving handle create a suction force in which water and / or clogging material from the clog or stop will be drawn or sucked into the hollow of the cylindrical body resulting in the plunger not working and creating a mess for the user.

However, due to the nature of these chemicals, these caustic chemicals present potential hazards, harms, or dangers to persons that are exposed to them or that accidentally ingest or come into contact with them (i.e. especially internal contact), and some caustic chemicals can corrode or harm the drains or pipes to which they are poured and come into contact.

These caustic chemicals also present potential environmental problems, especially those issues relating to their disposal into the environment.

Otherwise, if the clogged or stopped area persists and cannot be cleared, then a professional plumber must be contracted to clear the clogged or stopped area, and the contracting of a professional plumber can be very expensive.

Images