Patent Application
20200240127
Drains such as those in toilets, sinks, and tubs are typically unclogged by using a plunger comprised of a deformable head mounted on the end of an elongated handle or shaft. Plunger head designs typically include an air chamber or bellows coupled to a seal. During an unclogging operation, a plunger head seal is held over, or inserted into, the mouth of the drain while the plunger handle is reciprocated in an upward and downward motion that alternately contracts and enlarges the space within the head air chamber. This reciprocating motion then creates an alternating pressure and suction force in the drain passage that is often sufficient to dislodge an obstruction in the drain.
One exemplary automatic air release (AAR) plunger implementation for unclogging an obstructed drain in a plumbing fixture having undrained wastewater described herein includes a handle and a hollow, compressible plunger head. The plunger head is open at both a proximal and distal end, and is coupled to the handle at the proximal end of the plunger head. The plunger head also includes a seal extending from its distal end. This seal is capable of sealing the plunger head to a drain opening of the plumbing fixture. In addition, the handle and plunger head include automatic air release features that allow air to flow along an air-escape path from inside of the hollow plunger head into a void formed in the interior of the handle, and thereafter into a channel which extends from the proximal end of the plunger head to a gap that is open to the exterior of the AAR plunger at a proximal end of the handle whenever the plunger head is compressed. The air ultimately escapes out the gap.
In another exemplary AAR plunger implementation having multiple air escape paths, the automatic air release features allow air to flow from inside of the hollow plunger head into multiple voids formed in the interior of the handle, and thereafter into multiple channels which extend from the proximal end of the plunger head to a gap that is open to the exterior of the AAR plunger at a proximal end of the handle whenever the plunger head is compressed. The air ultimately escapes out the gap in this implementation as well.
Yet another exemplary AAR plunger implementation described herein also includes a handle and a hollow, compressible plunger head. As with other implementations, the plunger head is open at both a proximal and distal end, and is coupled to the handle at the proximal end of the plunger head. The plunger head also includes a seal extending from its distal end. This seal is capable of sealing the plunger head to a drain opening of the plumbing fixture. The handle and plunger head include automatic air release features that allow air to flow along an air-escape path from the inside of the hollow plunger head into a void formed in the interior of the handle and thereafter into one or more channels which extend from the proximal end of the plunger head to a gap that is open to the exterior of the plunger at a proximal end of the handle whenever the plunger head is compressed. However, in this implementation, the automatic air release features include a single hollow ring-shaped projection that wraps around the circumference of the handle and forms the void, a shoulder located at a proximal-most end of the plunger head stub, and a tab. The tab interferes with the shoulder of the plunger head and the proximal end of the handle so as to create the aforementioned gap therebetween.
Still another exemplary AAR plunger implementation described herein includes a handle and a hollow, compressible plunger head. As with other implementations, the plunger head is open at both a proximal and distal end, and is coupled to the handle at the proximal end of the plunger head. The plunger head also includes a seal extending from its distal end. This seal is capable of sealing the plunger head to a drain opening of the plumbing fixture. The handle and plunger head include automatic air release features that allow air to flow along an air-escape path from the inside of the hollow plunger head into a void formed in the interior of the handle and thereafter into one or more channels which extend from the proximal end of the plunger head to a gap that is open to the exterior of the plunger at a proximal end of the handle whenever the plunger head is compressed. However, in this implementation, the automatic air release features include an annular indentation that wraps around the circumference of the plunger head stub, and a shoulder located at a proximal-most end of the plunger head stub, and a tab. The tab interferes with the shoulder of the plunger head and the proximal end of the handle so as to create the aforementioned gap therebetween.
It should be noted that the foregoing Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified form, that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the claimed subject matter in a simplified form as a prelude to the more-detailed description that is presented below.
The specific features, aspects, and advantages of the AAR plunger implementations described herein will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:
In the following description of automatic air release (AAR) plunger implementations reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific implementations in which the AAR plunger can be practiced. It is understood that other implementations can be utilized and structural changes can be made without departing from the scope of the AAR plunger implementations.
It is also noted that for the sake of clarity specific terminology will be resorted to in describing the AAR plunger implementations described herein and it is not intended for these implementations to be limited to the specific terms so chosen. Furthermore, it is to be understood that each specific term includes all its technical equivalents that operate in a broadly similar manner to achieve a similar purpose. Reference herein to “one implementation”, or “another implementation”, or an “exemplary implementation”, or an “alternate implementation”, or “one version”, or “another version”, or an “exemplary version”, or an “alternate version”, or “one variant”, or “another variant”, or an “exemplary variant”, or an “alternate variant” means that a particular feature, a particular structure, or particular characteristics described in connection with the implementation/version/variant can be included in at least one implementation. The appearances of the phrases “in one implementation”, “in another implementation”, “in an exemplary implementation”, “in an alternate implementation”, “in one version”, “in another version”, “in an exemplary version”, “in an alternate version”, “in one variant”, “in another variant”, “in an exemplary variant”, and “in an alternate variant” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same implementation/version/variant, nor are separate or alternative implementations/versions/variants mutually exclusive of other implementations/versions/variants.
Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “includes,” “including,” “has,” “contains,” variants thereof, and other similar words are used in either this detailed description or the claims, these terms are intended to be inclusive, in a manner similar to the term “comprising”, as an open transition word without precluding any additional or other elements.
Automatic air release (AAR) plunger implementations described herein are employed when the drain of a plumbing fixture (such as toilet, sink, bathtub, and so on) is clogged by an obstruction and an amount of undrained wastewater remains in the fixture. In general, an AAR plunger includes an elongated handle attached to an upper end of a compressible plunger head. In one implementation, the plunger head is a pleated bellows which is generally conical and can vary in diameter from top to bottom. The plunger head also includes a seal which is attached to its lower end. In one implementation, the seal is designed to either seat securely within a typical drain opening, or alternately, in the case where the drain opening is smaller in diameter than the seal, to form a pressure seal around the smaller drain opening. This seal forms either or both a mechanical and pressure seal with the drain hole being cleared by the plunger, depending upon the diameter of the drain opening. Alternate seal designs and shapes are used in various other implementations to adapt the AAR plunger to better interface with various sizes, shapes, and styles of drain openings. The AAR plunger can be easily and inexpensively molded, for example from durable rubber or plastic.
An operator of an AAR plunger generally unclogs a plumbing fixture drain by placing the plunger into position above a clogged drain such that the plunger head seal interfaces with the opening of the drain. Thus, at least part of the AAR plunger head is surrounded by undrained wastewater. Next, as force is applied downward on the handle, the plunger head compresses, and the portion of the seal in contact with the drain opening forms a mechanical and/or a pressure/suction seal with the drain opening, depending upon the size of the drain opening. Consequently, the pressure generated by compression of the plunger head is directed through the sealing structure and into the drain in the direction of the obstruction. Next, as the handle is then pulled upwards, a suction force is applied to the obstruction in the drain. These upward and downward motions are repeated creating reciprocating pressure and suction forces that dislodge an obstruction from within the drain, thereby facilitating clearing of the drain.
More particularly, one exemplary automatic air release plunger implementation includes a handle and a hollow, compressible plunger head. The plunger head is open at both a proximal and distal end, and is coupled to the handle at the proximal end of the plunger head. The plunger head also includes a seal extending from its distal end. This seal is capable of sealing the plunger head to a drain opening of the plumbing fixture. In addition, the handle and plunger head include automatic air release features that allow air to flow along an air-escape path from inside of the hollow plunger head into a void formed in the interior of the handle, and thereafter into a channel which extends from the proximal end of the plunger head to a gap that is open to the exterior of the AAR plunger at a proximal end of the handle whenever the plunger head is compressed. The air ultimately escapes out the gap. The automatic air release features can also in some circumstances allow air to flow from the exterior of the AAR plunger along the same path but in the opposite direction whenever the plunger head is expanded. In this implementation, the proximal end of the plunger head includes a hollow stub having a coupling section that fits within a hollow coupling section forming a proximal portion of the handle. The aforementioned channel includes a slot that begins at a first end of the coupling section of the stub closest to the proximal end of the plunger head and ends at a second end of the coupling section of the stub farthest from the proximal end of the plunger head. In one version, the coupling section of the stub has male treads and the coupling section of the handle has female thread which thread onto the male threads of the stub to couple the handle to the plunger head. In this version, the plunger head stub slot extends from an outermost extent of the male threads inward past the thread roots and into the stub to a depth not penetrating an inner wall of the hollow stub. In addition, the hollow coupling section of the handle includes a ledge at the distal-most end of the hollow coupling section of the handle, the plunger head includes a shoulder located at the distal-most end of the plunger head stub as well as a stop at the proximal-most end of the plunger head stub. The plunger head stop interferes with the handle ledge whenever the handle threads are fully threaded onto the plunger head threads, thereby creating the gap between the plunger head shoulder and the proximal end of the handle. In one implementation, the interference of the stop and the handle ledge also causes the void formed in the interior of the handle to line up with a first end of the plunger head stub slot so that air from the inside of the hollow plunger head can more easily flow into the void and thereafter into the slot whenever the plunger head is compressed.
In one implementation, the aforementioned void formed in the interior of the handle includes a void formed by a hollow projection extending from the handle and that opens into the hollow coupling section of the handle. In one version, the location where this void opens into the hollow coupling section of the handle corresponds to a first end of the plunger head stub slot such that air from the inside of the hollow plunger head can more easily flow into the void and thereafter into the slot. In one version, the first end of the plunger head stub slot is made wide enough to ensure that the slot at least partially opens into the void formed in the coupling section of the handle. In another version, the void formed in the coupling section of the handle is made wide enough to ensure the void at least partially opens into the first end of the plunger head stub slot.
In one implementation which may not include a threaded connection between the plunger head and the handle, the aforementioned hollow coupling section of the handle includes a ledge at its distal-most end, and the plunger head includes a shoulder located at a proximal-most end of the plunger head stub as well as a stop at the distal-most end of the plunger head stub. The plunger head stop interferes with the handle ledge so as to create the gap between the proximal end of the handle and the shoulder of the plunger head such that air flows from a second end of the plunger head stub slot located at the second end of the coupling section of the stub farthest from the proximal end of the plunger and out of the automatic air release plunger via the gap.
In another implementation, the plunger head includes a shoulder located at the proximal-most end of the plunger head stub and a tab projecting toward the handle. The plunger head shoulder tab interferes with the proximal end of the handle so as to create the gap between the proximal end of the handle and the shoulder of the plunger head such that air flows from a second end of the plunger head stub slot located at the second end of the coupling section of the stub farthest from the proximal end of the plunger head and out of the automatic air release plunger via the gap.
In yet another implementation, the plunger head includes a shoulder located at a proximal-most end of the plunger head stub, and the handle includes a tab at its proximal end that projects toward the plunger head shoulder. The handle tab interferes with the plunger head shoulder so as to create the gap between the proximal end of the handle and the shoulder of the plunger head such that air flows from a second end of the plunger head stub slot located at the second end of the coupling section of the stub farthest from the proximal end of the plunger and out of the automatic air release plunger via the gap.
In another exemplary automatic air release plunger implementation which has multiple air escape paths, the automatic air release features allow air to flow from inside of the hollow plunger head into multiple voids formed in the interior of the handle, and thereafter into multiple channels which extend from the proximal end of the plunger head to a gap that is open to the exterior of the AAR plunger at a proximal end of the handle whenever the plunger head is compressed. The air ultimately escapes out the gap in this implementation as well. The automatic air release features can also in some circumstances allow air to flow from the exterior of the AAR plunger along the same path but in the opposite direction whenever the plunger head is expanded. In this implementation the proximal end of the plunger head includes a hollow stub having a coupling section that fits within a hollow coupling section forming a proximal portion of the handle. The aforementioned multiple channels include multiple slots, each of which begins at a first end of the coupling section of the stub closest to the proximal end of the plunger head and ends at a second end of the coupling section of the stub farthest from the proximal end of the plunger. In one version, the coupling section of the stub has male treads and the coupling section of the handle has female thread which thread onto the male threads of the stub to couple the handle to the plunger head. The hollow coupling section of the handle includes a ledge at its distal-most end, and the plunger head includes a shoulder located at the proximal-most end of the plunger head stub as well as a stop at the proximal-most end of the plunger head stub. The plunger head stop interferes with the handle ledge whenever the handle threads are fully threaded onto the plunger head threads, thereby creating the gap between the plunger head shoulder and the proximal end of the handle. In one implementation, the interference of the stop and the handle ledge also causes each of the voids formed in the interior of the handle to line up with a first end of a different one of the plunger head stub slots so that air from the inside of the hollow plunger head can more easily flow into each void and thereafter into a correspondingly-located slot whenever the plunger head is compressed. In one version, each void formed in the interior of the handle includes a void formed by a hollow projection extending from the handle and that opens into the hollow coupling section of the handle. The location where each void opens into the hollow coupling section of the handle lines up with a first end of a different one of the plunger head stub slots such that, for each void, air from the inside of the hollow plunger head flows into the void and thereafter into the correspondingly-located slot.
In the depicted implementation, the plunger head 104 is an elongated pleated bellows 108 which is generally conical and varies in diameter from top to bottom. The bellows 108 has thin walls which define a hollow interior space 110 forming the internal volume of the bellows. Further, the pleats 112 forming the bellows 108 can be of progressively greater flexibility from the top to the bottom. This allows the pleats 112 to easily and smoothly compress and nest together into a relatively small volume during use of the AAR plunger 100. The flexibility of the pleats 112 also allows the AAR plunger 100 to be adapted to drains in tight or curved spaces, as the bellows will easily bend to fit such spaces.
In alternate implementations of the AAR plunger (not shown), the shape and size of the collapsible plunger head may be modified to better accommodate different sizes and shapes of plumbing fixtures. For example, in one alternate implementation, the collapsible plunger head can have a conical pleated bellows which, unlike the plunger head depicted in
The plunger head seal 106 depends from the bottom of the bellows 108 as illustrated in the implementation depicted in
As illustrated by
In the aforementioned threaded implementation, as depicted in
The automatic air release features of the handle and plunger head of the AAR plunger are integrated into the overall plunger configuration and jointly release air from within the interior of the plunger head during compression of the plunger. For example, as applied to the implementation depicted in
The male threads 330 of the plunger head 304 include one or more slots 338. As better seen in
Referring to
The foregoing alignment allows air to more easily flow from the inside of the hollow plunger head 304 into the handle 302, then between the interior surface of the handle above its proximal-most thread and the exterior surface of the plunger head stub 316 above its distal-most thread during compression of the plunger head. It is noted that air does not flow into the mating threads of the handle and plunger head stub because the threads form a substantially air-tight seal. Instead, air then flows into the void 346 and through the plunger handle's interior ledge 336. In some implementations, the void 346 interfaces with the slot 338 in the male threads 330 of the plunger head 304. Thus, the void 346 allows air to directly enter the slot 338. The air then follows the slot 338 and exits the AAR plunger 300 via the gap 326 between the plunger head shoulder 328 and the proximal end of the handle 302. During expansion of the plunger head, air flows along the same air-escape path, but in the reverse direction. The air-escape path is shown by the two-way path line 348 in
In some implementations with multiple plunger head stub slots, there is a corresponding handle projection/void for each slot. More particularly, implementations with two slots 538 and two projection voids 546, or three slots 638 and three projection voids 646 (as shown in
An operator of an AAR plunger generally unclogs a plumbing fixture drain by placing the plunger into position above a clogged drain such that the plunger head seal interfaces with the opening of the drain. Thus, at least part of the AAR plunger head is surrounded by undrained wastewater. The previously-described automatic air release features of the AAR plunger provide a considerable advantage during the insertion of the plunger into a clogged plumbing fixture. When the AAR plunger is inserted into the undrained wastewater and pushed toward the drain opening, the wastewater exerts a force on the air trapped inside the hollow plunger head. The automatic air release features allow the air inside the plunger head to escape in a controlled manner, thus allowing wastewater to begin filling the plunger head. More particularly, air from inside the plunger head flows out of the open end of the plunger head stub and into the handle. Air then flows between the interior surface of the threaded portion of the handle and the exterior surface of the plunger head stub, and from there through the one or more handle projection voids, then through the handle ledge and into one or more of the slot(s) in plunger head stub. The air then exits the AAR plunger via the previously-described gap between the plunger head shoulder and the distal end of the handle. Absent this release of air from the plunger head, the volume of the plunger head structure and the air trapped inside the plunger head would cause a significant rise in the undrained wastewater level within the plumbing fixture owing to displacement of the wastewater. The rise in wastewater level could result in it overflowing from the fixture onto surrounding surfaces and floor—an occurrence often referred to as “spillover”.
In one implementation of the seal, such as illustrated in
Next, the handle 102 is then pulled upwards. This expands the plunger head 104 and applies a suction force on to the obstruction in the drain. The suction force in the drain enhances the pressure seal between the seal 106 and the drain opening, thereby preventing the plunger from lifting away from the drain. In addition, the automatic air release features allow some air to re-enter the plunger head via the foregoing path in the reverse direction.
The downward and upward motions of the handle 102 are repeated creating reciprocating pressure and suction forces that dislodge the obstruction from within the drain. The dislodged obstruction then is typically is drawn down the drain pipe when the plunger is removed, thus clearing of the drain.
The automatic air release features have a further advantage of ensuring that the plunger head is mostly filled with wastewater during each compression stroke and that there is little or no air upstream from the obstruction in the drain during each expansion stroke. The fact that the air initially residing inside the hollow plunger head is released as described above and replaced with wastewater has the advantage of placing a much stronger pressure force on the obstruction that would air (or a mixture of mostly air with some water) during a compression stroke owing to the greater weight and greater incompressibility of the water. The same is true when the plunger head is expanded during an unclogging operation as the water's higher incompressibility will cause a stronger suction force to be exerted on the obstruction than would with air (or a mixture of mostly air with some water).
It is noted that the speed at which the plunger head is initially compressed during an unclogging operation should ideally be such that the undrained water in the plumbing fixture is not agitated to a degree that some of it spills out. This compression speed will at least partially depend on the amount of air displaced from the interior of the hollow plunger head over time via the previously-described air-escape path. The amount of air displaced per exit point over time during the initial compression stroke is generally dependent on the narrowest cross-sectional part of each of the air-release paths. It is also noted that generally, the more air displaced over time during the initial compression stroke of an unclogging operation, the faster the compression stroke can be accomplished, thereby potentially making the unclogging operation easier for the operator of the plunger. However, during the expansion stroke of the unclogging operation, some air can be drawn into the hollow interior of the plunger body through each of air-release path. As long as the amount of water/air drawn in through the air-release path(s) does not significantly affect the amount of water drawn in to the hollow interior of the plunger body from the drain of the sink or toilet being unclogged to the point that the suction force exerted on the drain obstruction is unacceptably diminished.
It is also noted that some of the water drawn inside of the hollow plunger body might follow the previously described air-release path and exit via the gap between the plunger head's shoulder and the proximal end of the handle during depression of the plunger body. However, this water will be directed sideways into the plumbing fixture (as opposed to upward and possibly out), and of no significance as long as the amount of water directed out through the air-release path(s) does not significantly affect the amount of water pushed into the clogged drain from the hollow interior of the plunger body to the point that the pressure force exerted on the drain obstruction is unacceptably diminished.
While the AAR plunger described so far employs a ring-shaped stop at the distal end of the male threaded stub of the plunger body to abut the interior ledge located at the inboard end of the handle threads, a shoulder tab feature can be employed in conjunction with or in lieu of the ring-shaped stop. In one implementation, the shoulder tab feature takes the form of one or more projections originating from the shoulder of the plunger head and directed generally perpendicular to the shoulder. Each projection has a length that when it abuts the proximal end of a fully installed plunger handle creates the desired gap between the proximal end of the handle and the shoulder of the plunger head. Air can escape out of the gap as described previously.
Referring now to
Referring now to
It is also noted that although the foregoing subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
What has been described above includes example implementations. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
The aforementioned implementations have been described with respect to interaction between several components. It will be appreciated that such implementations and components can include those components or specified sub-components, some of the specified components or sub-components, and/or additional components, and according to various permutations and combinations of the foregoing. Sub-components can also be implemented as components coupled to other components rather than included within parent components (e.g., hierarchical components).
