Patent Application
20240026670
This invention relates to a plumbing apparatus; more particularly, a blockage clearing device having advantages over a conventional plunger.
Conventional plungers and known variations are commonly used to clear a blockage in a toilet. The conventional plungers generally comprise a rubber cup which is placed at a lower toilet aperture to provide both suction and pressure to a waste siphon. During such agitation, fecal contaminated fluid can travel back through the toilet's siphon jet and into the toilet bowl. This can create foul odors and spillage. Additionally, because the siphon jet is not sealed from the siphon waste, conventional plungers are limited to how much pressure and suction can be applied. Other toilet blockage removal devices that use an external water source (such as hose or faucet) are known, however water can travel back through the siphon jet and into the toilet bowl, thereby overflowing the toilet. Conventional plungers and other blockage removal devices can clear minor blockages but have difficulty clearing tougher ones.
There is a need for an improved blockage clearing device which can solve the above deficiencies.
The disclosure concerns blockage clearing device. The blockage clearing device comprises a reservoir tube with a hollow interior configured to hold an amount of fluid. A piston plunger is disposed within the hollow interior of the reservoir tube. An injector nozzle is coupled to an end of the reservoir tube, the injector nozzle having an injector opening configured to receive and release fluid. A gasket seal surrounds the injector nozzle wherein the injector opening is accessible from an exterior of the gasket seal.
Other features, combinations, and embodiments will be appreciated by one having the ordinary level of skill in the art of blockage clearing devices and accessories upon a thorough review of the following details and descriptions, particularly when reviewed in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:
For purposes of explanation and not limitation, details and descriptions of certain preferred embodiments are hereinafter provided such that one having ordinary skill in the art may be enabled to make and use the invention. These details and descriptions are representative only of certain preferred embodiments, however, a myriad of other embodiments which will not be expressly described will be readily understood by one having skill in the art upon a thorough review of the instant disclosure. Accordingly, any reviewer of the instant disclosure should interpret the scope of the invention only by the claims, as such scope is not intended to be limited by the embodiments described and illustrated herein.
For purposes herein, the term “siphon junction” means a space in the toilet below the lower bowl aperture and between the siphon jet and siphon waste. Fluid from the siphon jet travels through the siphon junction before entering the siphon waste.
Unless explicitly defined herein, terms are to be construed in accordance with the plain and ordinary meaning as would be appreciated by one having skill in the art.
In one embodiment, a blockage clearing device is disclosed. The blockage clearing device comprises a reservoir tube having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end opposite the tube proximal end, and a hollow interior extending from the tube proximal end to the tube distal end, a reservoir cap having a cap bottom side coupled to the tube proximal end, the reservoir cap further comprising a plunger aperture extending through the reservoir cap, a piston plunger having a piston proximal end and a piston distal end opposite the piston proximal end, the piston proximal end extending through the reservoir cap, wherein the piston plunger further extends within the hollow interior of the reservoir tube, a piston plunger seal coupled to the piston plunger at the piston distal end, the piston plunger seal comprising a piston seal periphery configured to abut an inner wall of the reservoir tube, a reservoir coupling coupled to the reservoir tube at the tube distal end, the reservoir coupling comprising an anti-drip seal, an injector nozzle coupled to the reservoir coupling, the injector nozzle having a top side a bottom side, and an outer side surface extending from the top side to the bottom side, the injector nozzle further comprising an injector opening configured to receive and release a fluid, and a gasket seal coupled to and surrounding the injector nozzle, wherein the injector opening is accessible from an exterior of the gasket seal.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, wherein the top portion is coupled to the reservoir coupling and the bottom portion comprises a gasket direction indicator aligned with the injector opening.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the top portion being larger than the bottom portion wherein the gasket seal is characterized as having a conical shape.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a gasket width and a gasket depth configured to fit within a siphon junction of a toilet.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a resiliently deformable gasket material configured to seal a waste siphon from a siphon jet.
In some embodiments, the injector nozzle may further comprise one or more flanges disposed on the outer side surface of the injector nozzle. The one or more flanges may comprise flange apertures extending through the one or more flanges. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more flanges is coupled to the outer side surface of the injector nozzle and further coupled to an opening channel.
In some embodiments, the injector opening may extend outwardly from the outer side surface by an opening channel. The opening channel may be disposed at the bottom side of the injector nozzle.
In some embodiments, the injector nozzle may further comprise an upper diameter disposed at the top side, and a lower diameter disposed at the bottom side, wherein the upper diameter is greater than the lower diameter.
In some embodiments, the anti-drip seal may be disposed inside the injector nozzle.
In some embodiments, the anti-drip seal may further comprise a plurality of flaps. The anti-drip seal may further comprise a seal upper surface, a seal bottom surface opposite the seal upper surface, and a center portion, wherein each of the plurality of flaps comprise an upward arch.
In some embodiments, the reservoir cap may comprise a reservoir vent coupled to a cap side surface of the reservoir cap. The reservoir vent may comprise a vent opening disposed at the cap bottom side. In some embodiments, the reservoir vent and the piston plunger comprise a parallel formation.
In some embodiments, the reservoir cap may further comprise a cap direction indicator.
In some embodiments, the blockage clearing device may further comprise a device stand configured to surround the gasket seal.
In another embodiment, a blockage clearing device is disclosed a blockage clearing device is disclosed. The blockage clearing device comprises a reservoir tube having a tube proximal end and a tube distal end opposite the tube proximal end, and a hollow interior extending from the tube proximal end to the tube distal end, a piston plunger having a piston proximal end and a piston distal end opposite the piston proximal end wherein the piston plunger extends within the hollow interior of the reservoir tube, an injector nozzle coupled to the reservoir tube, the injector nozzle having a top side, a bottom side, and an outer side surface extending from the top side to the bottom side, the injector nozzle further comprising an injector opening configured to receive and release a fluid, and a gasket seal coupled to and surrounding the injector nozzle, wherein the injector opening is accessible from an exterior of the gasket seal.
In some embodiments, the blockage clearing device may further comprise a reservoir cap having a cap bottom side coupled to the tube proximal end, the reservoir cap further comprising a plunger aperture extending through the reservoir cap wherein the piston plunger extends through the plunger aperture.
In some embodiments, the blockage clearing device may further comprise a reservoir coupling coupled to the reservoir tube at the tube distal end, the reservoir coupling comprising an anti-drip seal.
In some embodiments, the blockage clearing device may further comprise a piston plunger seal coupled to the piston plunger at the piston distal end, the piston plunger seal comprising a piston seal periphery configured to abut an inner wall of the reservoir tube.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, wherein the top portion is coupled to the reservoir coupling and the bottom portion comprises a gasket direction indicator aligned with the injector opening.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a top portion and a bottom portion opposite the top portion, the top portion being larger than the bottom portion wherein the gasket seal is characterized as having a conical shape.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a gasket width and a gasket depth configured to fit within a siphon junction of a toilet.
In some embodiments, the gasket seal may further comprise a resiliently deformable gasket material configured to seal a waste siphon from a siphon jet.
In some embodiments, the injector nozzle may further comprise one or more flanges disposed on the outer side surface of the injector nozzle. The one or more flanges may comprise flange apertures extending through the one or more flanges. In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more flanges is coupled to the outer side surface of the injector nozzle and further coupled to an opening channel.
In some embodiments, the injector opening may extend outwardly from the outer side surface by an opening channel. The opening channel may be disposed at the bottom side of the injector nozzle.
In some embodiments, the injector nozzle may further comprise an upper diameter disposed at the top side, and a lower diameter disposed at the bottom side, wherein the upper diameter is greater than the lower diameter.
In some embodiments, the anti-drip seal may be disposed inside the injector nozzle.
In some embodiments, the anti-drip seal may further comprise a plurality of flaps. The anti-drip seal may further comprise a seal upper surface, a seal bottom surface opposite the seal upper surface, and a center portion, wherein each of the plurality of flaps comprise an upward arch.
In some embodiments, the reservoir cap may comprise a reservoir vent coupled to a cap side surface of the reservoir cap. The reservoir vent may comprise a vent opening disposed at the cap bottom side. In some embodiments, the reservoir vent and the piston plunger comprise a parallel formation.
In some embodiments, the reservoir cap may further comprise a cap direction indicator.
In some embodiments, the blockage clearing device may further comprise a device stand configured to surround the gasket seal.
The gasket seal comprises a resiliently deformable gasket material configured to fit within a siphon junction of a toilet while sealing the siphon waste from the toilet bowl and the siphon jet. An example of such a material may comprise a rubber having a shore hardness of 5 to 10 on the A scale. Other materials may also be used.
Generally, many parts of the blockage clearing device is made of thermoplastics including the reservoir tube, piston plunger, piston plunger handle, and injector nozzle. Otherwise, they can be fabricated in accordance with the level and knowledge of one having skill in the art.
Each of the components of the blockage clearing device and related system described herein may be manufactured and/or assembled in accordance with the conventional knowledge and level of a person having skill in the art. Coupling of components described herein can by accomplished by fasteners, adhesives, threaded fitment, friction fitment, or any other means as can be appreciated by one having skill in the art.
While various details, features, combinations are described in the illustrated embodiments, one having skill in the art will appreciate a myriad of possible alternative combinations and arrangements of the features disclosed herein. As such, the descriptions are intended to be enabling only, and non-limiting. Instead, the spirit and scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.
The blockage clearing device (100) further comprises an injector nozzle (170) coupled to the tube distal end (142). In some embodiments, a reservoir coupling (160) is used as an intermediate between the injector nozzle and the reservoir tube (140). In other embodiments, the injector nozzle is coupled directly to the reservoir tube. The reservoir coupling comprises an anti-drip seal (161) held by a seal retainer (167), the anti-drip seal being disposed within the injector nozzle. The injector nozzle is encapsulated on by a gasket seal (180). The blockage clearing device is disposed within a device stand (190) where the reservoir coupling rests on a stand top side (193) of the device stand.
As shown, the injector channel (177) comprises an angle with the injector nozzle (170) that can be characterized as being parallel with both the top side (171) and bottom side (172). The outer side surface (173) from which the opening channel extends outwardly from forms a channel angle with the opening channel. As shown, due to the injector nozzle comprising a conical shape, the channel angle is less than ninety degrees. Generally, the channel angle is less than ninety degrees to allow the injector opening (176) be properly positioned with a siphon waste. Preferably, the channel angle is greater than twenty degrees and less than ninety degrees. If the channel angle were greater than ninety or less than twenty degrees, the injector opening will likely not be aligned with the siphon waste.
The gasket seal (180) comprises a resiliently deformable gasket material (181) sufficient for fitting within the siphon junction while sealing the siphon waste from the siphon jet and toilet bowl. The resiliently deformable gasket material should be resilient enough to resist back pressure coming from the injector nozzle (170) while be deformable enough to fit snugly at the siphon junction between the lower bowl aperture, the siphon jet, and the siphon waste. Various gasket material can be used as can be appreciated by one having skill in the art. In one embodiment, the resiliently deformable gasket material comprises a rubber having a hardness of 5 to 10 shore on the A scale. Other materials and levels of hardness may be utilized as can be appreciated by one having skill in the art.
Place the gasket seal into the toilet bowl's waste water or an independent water source (such as bowl or sink). Using the piston plunger handle, draw fluid into the device's reservoir tube. Gripping the reservoir tube, press the gasket seal firmly into the siphon junction, effectively sealing off the siphon waste from the toilet bowl and the siphon jet. With the gasket seal firmly in place, push down on the piston plunger handle. Fluid ejected through the injector nozzle and injector opening will cut through the organic blockage and allow the toilet to drain.
