SPLASH SHIELD FOR PLUNGER

Abstract

A splash shield for a plunger. The shield is capable of receiving a plunger. The shield has an open configuration and a closed configuration. The shield is also capable of receiving a cover which forces adjusts the shield from the open configuration to the closed configuration. The device may include a secondary shield disposed on the shield.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a splash shield for use with a plunger, and more particularly, a plunger used for clearing clogs in a drain pipe of a toilet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is not uncommon for drain pipes from toilets to become clogged. A plunger is typically used in order to clear the clog in the drain pipe. While various types of plungers exist, they each have the same basic components, namely a flexible head with an open bottom end and a handle.

In order to use the plunger, the head of the plunger is positioned so that the open bottom end covers the pipe opening at the bottom of a toilet bowl. Typically, this position results in the head being under water, at least partially. Once the head is positioned, the handle of the plunger is gripped by the user and moved up and down. The movement of the handle is transferred to the head of the plunger. The head of the plunger, thus, moves up and down, which creates a movement of the water in the drainage pipe which can clear the obstruction causing the clog.

The movement of the handle also typically results in the splashing of water within the toilet bowl, and often out of the toilet bowl. This is a result of the movement necessary to create the appropriate force to clear the obstruction which can be violent. Since the water within the toilet bowl can be filled with bacteria and other undesirable material, it is desirable to minimize, or eliminate, the ability of water to splash out of the toilet bowl.

Accordingly, it is desirable to keep the water/waste material within the toilet bowl before, during and after use of the plunger. The prior art includes several different devices aimed at addressing this problem.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,813,785 to Baker discloses a device that includes a cover that surrounds the head of a plunger. The cover opens in a clamshell-like manner and is placed on a toilet seat to block water from splashing. However, since the cover is also the shield, a large cover may be needed to facilitate adequately covering larger toilet bowls. Such a large cover may make the device cumbersome and inefficient at working with a variety of differently sized toilet bowls.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,368 to Webb discloses another type of device which includes an expandable shield that engages an inner surface of a toilet bowl to block water from splashing out. The expandable shield is attached to the handle of the plunger. Accordingly, any movement of the plunger handle will result in movement of the shield. This may lead to an inability to keep the water from splashing out of the toilet bowl.

Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,456 to Taylor discloses a device that stores a plunger, the top of which is used as a shield when the plunger is used. This rigid shield is secured to the handle. In order to position the plunger in the basin of the device, after use, one must move the wet (and dripping) device out of the toilet bowl. Additionally, any movement of the plunger handle will result in movement of the shield.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 7,797,768 to St. John discloses a device which is a drape-like shield that is mounted over the toilet bowl/seat. While such drapes allow for independent movement of the plunger handle when the drape-like shield is over the toilet bowl, the drape requires time to set up and requires clean-up and disposal of same after use. Moreover, the drape collects water that splashes out, rather than preventing water from escaping the toilet bowl.

While these devices are presumably effective for their intended purposes, the present invention is directed to shield that is easily deployed, minimizes water splash, minimizes a user's interaction with same, and which has a relatively small size, yet an ability to fit a variety of differently sized toilets.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a device to be used with a plunger, the device having a flexible shield. The flexible shield is capable of expanding from a closed position to an open position within a toilet bowl and may be biased towards the open position. The flexible shield may include a relatively planar center portion with an aperture capable of receiving a handle of a plunger and a plurality of blades extending away from the center portion. The blades may be bendable, allowing the shield to be flexible and transition from an open configuration, wherein both the center portion and blades are relatively planar, to a closed configuration, wherein the blades are bent relative to the center portion.

The use of the flexible shield will allow, inter alia, the device to have a small foot print when not in use. Moreover, it is also believed that the flexible shield will allow the device to accommodate differently sized toilets. Furthermore, by using a flexible shield that is biased towards the open position, a user need not adjust the shield by hand. This results in less contact with the device and more particularly less contact with portions of the device that have been in contact with the water/water materials in the toilet bowl.

In an embodiment the splash shield also includes a support passing through the center portion of the flexible shield, with a portion above the flexible shield and a portion below the flexible shield. The support will provide the flexible shield with some structural integrity. Additionally, the support can also help maintain the position of the shield within the toilet bowl and is believed to act to bias the flexible shield away from the back of the toilet bowl allowing the flexible shield to obtain a more planar (i.e., flatter) configuration.

In an embodiment, the flexible shield comprises at least two members, each member including a center portion with an aperture and a plurality of blades extending away from the center portion. In an embodiment, each member of the at least two members also includes a plurality of gaps, with each gap being disposed between adjacent blades. It is believed that this two member configuration provides a flexible shield that is rigid in the open position, but easily bends and changes to a closed position.

In some embodiments wherein the flexible shield comprises at least two members and a first member of the at least two members may include at least two support arms wherein each support arm of the at least two support arms is disposed in a gap of the first member. The support arms may be beneficial in connecting the two members, as well as beneficial in providing structural integrity to the shield when in the open configuration, while still allowing the flexible shield to shift to a closed configuration.

In some embodiments of the present invention, each blade includes an outer edge and the outer edges are feathered. The feathering is believed to increase the flexibility of the flexible shield.

In an embodiment, a secondary shield disposed on top of the flexible shield. The secondary shield may be supported by at least one support arm extending above the flexible shield at an angle. The use of the secondary shield is believed to increase the ability to prevent water from splashing out of the toilet bowl.

In an embodiment the splash shield also includes a cover. The cover forces the flexible shield from the open position to the closed position when the cover is applied to the flexible shield and allows the flexible shield to shift from the closed position to the open position when the cover is removed from the flexible shield. By using a cover, a user need not touch the flexible shield or any part of the device that was near the water/waste material in the toilet bowl in order to shift the flexible shield from an open configuration to a closed configuration.

In various embodiments of the present invention, the handle of the plunger moves independently of the flexible shield—at least when the flexible shield is in the open position within the toilet bowl. Thus, the movement of the handle will not move the flexible shield and will not create opportunities for water/waste material to splash out of the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the present invention also includes a disk having an aperture capable of receiving the handle of the plunger. Furthermore, the disk has a perimeter greater than a size of the aperture in the flexible shield. The disk can be used to ensure that the flexible shield is kept separate from the head of the plunger.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a device for a plunger having a flexible shield having an aperture capable of receiving a handle of a plunger and which is capable of expanding from a closed position to an open position within a toilet bowl and is biased to the open position. The device also includes a cover for enclosing the flexible shield. The cover includes an aperture for receiving the handle of the plunger. Additionally, the cover forces the flexible shield from the open position to the closed position when the cover is applied to the flexible shield and allows the flexible shield to shift from the closed position to the open position when the cover is removed from the flexible shield. In an embodiment, the cover is removably disposed about the handle of the plunger. The cover may include a handle.

Again, the use of the cover allows for a user to shift the flexible shield between an open and closed configuration without touching the flexible shield, or any part of the device that was in the toilet bowl.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the device also includes a drip pan for receiving a bottom of the cover and a support arm for receiving the handle of the plunger. This allows the device to be stored in an upright position so that water drips off of the shield.

In still another embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a device for a plunger having a flexible shield comprised of at least two members. Each member preferably includes a center portion with an aperture capable of receiving a handle of a plunger, a plurality of blades extending away from the center portion and being capable of bending, and, a plurality of gaps, each gap being disposed between adjacent blades. The splash shield also includes a secondary shield disposed on top of the flexible shield, the secondary shield including an aperture of receiving the handle of the plunger.

In some embodiments, the secondary shield comprises two members moveably connected. Preferably, a spring is provided for biasing the two members away from one another. Such a secondary shield is believed to also be beneficial because it can mount on top of the rim of a toilet bowl, which will further support the flexible shield within the toilet bowl.

It is preferred that the secondary shield includes at least one fin extending away from the secondary shield and towards the flexible shield. The fin minimizes water splashing back and forth (generally perpendicular to the fin) in the toilet bowl.

It is to be understood that the aspects and objects of the present invention described above may be combinable and that other advantages and aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following description of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that the accompanying drawings depict only typical embodiments, and are, therefore, not to be considered to be limiting of the scope of the present disclosure, the embodiments will be described and explained with specificity and detail in reference to the accompanying drawings as provided below.

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side partially exploded view of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a member of a flexible shield used in a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 a top view of a second member of a flexible shield used in a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the members from FIGS. 3 and 4 being mated together to form a flexible shield used in a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an secondary shield used in association with a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a device according to one or more embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one or more embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

Reference throughout this description to features, advantages, objects, or other similar language does not imply that all of the features, advantages, or objects that may be realized with the present invention should be, or are, in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features, advantages, or objects is understood to mean that specific features, advantages, or objects described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, any discussion of the features, advantages, or objects throughout this specification may, but does not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, device 10 is used in conjunction with plunger 12 having head 14 and handle 16. Device 10 includes flexible shield 18 and, preferably, cover 20. Flexible shield 18 is capable of expanding from a closed position (see FIG. 1—shown in dashed lines within cover 20) to an open position (see FIG. 2) within a toilet bowl. Accordingly, it is preferred that flexible shield 18 is made from a material that has memory, which will bias flexible shield 18 to the open position, but will also allow flexible shield 18 to have some structural integrity while in the open configuration. One such preferred material is polycarbonate having a thickness between 0.015-0.030 inches, and more particularly a thickness of 0.20.

Preferably flexible shield 18 includes center portion 22 and a plurality of blades 24 extending away from the center portion 22. Center portion 22 can be planar (or substantially planar), or in other words, substantially flat. Thus, in either the open position or the closed position, center portion 22 will have the same configuration.

Blades 24 are bendable and can move from a position in which they are relatively co-planar with center portion 22 (and flexible shield 18 is in the open position (FIG. 2)) to a bent configuration (and the flexible shield 18 is in the closed position (FIG. 1)). It is preferred that outer edges 26 of blades 24 are feathered. By “feathered” it is meant that the outer edges 26 of the blades 24 include incisions 28 that are relatively short in length such that incisions 28 do not reach center portion 22. The feathering of the outer edges can also be seen in FIGS. 6-8 discussed herein.

Center portion 22 also includes aperture 30 for receiving handle 16 of plunger 12. Aperture 30 is sized so that when flexible shield 18 is in an open position within a toilet bowl, plunger 12 and more particularly, handle 16, will move without moving flexible shield 18. In order to avoid flexible shield 18 from interacting with head 14 of plunger 12, device 10 may also include disk 32 (see FIG. 8) having a perimeter greater than the size of aperture 30. Disk 32 is positioned between flexible shield 18 and head 14 and sits atop head 14 to ensure that flexible shield 18 will not engage head 14 and more specifically such that aperture 30 will not receive head 14. For example, if aperture 30 has a 2 inch diameter, disk 32 will have a diameter larger than 2 inches. Disk 32 will also minimize water splashing upwards through aperture 30.

In order to shift flexible shield 18 from an open position to a closed position, cover 20 is preferably used. Cover 20 includes aperture 34 for receiving handle 16 of plunger 12 and open end bottom 36 with outer edge 38. As cover 20 is lowered down handle 16 of plunger 12, preferably by user gripping handle 40 on cover 20, center portion 22 of flexible shield 18 will fit within open bottom end 36, while blades 24 are pushed downward by outer edge 38 such that blades 24 are at an angle to center portion 22.

Once flexible shield 18 is completely within cover 20 (or substantially within cover 20), a user can carry storage rack 42 which includes drip pan 44 and support arm 46—over to and, if desired above toilet. Cover 20 fits into drip pan 44, which will collect any water left on flexible shield 18. Support arm 46 may receive handle 16 of plunger 12 to keep device 10 in simple and effective storage position until it is needed again.

When use of the device 10 is desired, handle 16 of plunger 12 can be lifted by user. This will lift up cover 20 and flexible shield 18, which may all be moved over toilet bowl. Device 10 is lowered into toilet bowl, and handle 40 of cover 20 may be grasped to remove cover 20 from plunger 12 and device 10. As cover 20 is removed, flexible shield 18 will transition from the closed position to the open position.

Once device 10 is no longer needed, cover 20 can be positioned on handle 16 of plunger 12, and moved downward, which will shift flexible shield 18 from open configuration to closed configuration. Device 10 can be returned to storage rack 42 until use is needed again.

In FIGS. 3-5, a preferred flexible shield 100 is shown which includes at least two members 102a, 102b. The members 102a, 102b may be held together with rivets 104, or any other similar connecting elements.

Each member 102a, 102b includes center portion 106a, 106b, within aperture 108a, 108b for plunger handle, and a plurality of blades 110a, 110b extending away therefrom. Additionally, each member 102a, 102b may include a plurality of gaps 112a, 112b, with each gap 112a, 112b being disposed between adjacent blades.

As shown in FIG. 5, when first member 102a and second member 102b are mated together, blades 110a of first member 102a line up with gaps 112b of second member 102b and gaps 112a of first member 102a line up with blades 110b of second member 102b. The resulting flexible shield 100 has alternating blades (110a, 110b, 110a, 110b, etc.) which partially overlap with each other. This overlapping is sufficient to mate members 102a, 102b. However, members 102a, 102b may also be held together with rivets 104, or any other similar connecting elements.

In order to support some of blades 110a, 110b a variety of structures may be used. For example, one or more support arms 114a, 114b may be disposed within gaps 112a, 112b of one member 102a, 102b and which fit through slot 116a, 116b in the other member 102a, 102b.

Additionally, support 118 may pass through center portion 106a, 106b and have portion above 120 flexible shield 100 and portion 122 below flexible shield 100. In the embodiments with flexible shield having at least two members, support may also include portion 124 between first member 102a and second member 102b. Support 118 can be, for example, a spring, which will still allow blades 110a, 110b to bend and switch from the open position to the closed position.

As shown in FIGS. 6-8, some embodiments of the present invention include secondary shield 200 disposed on top of flexible shield 202 to further prevent splashing. Secondary shield 200 may be secured to flexible shield 202 with rivets 204 or other connecting structures. It is preferred that secondary shield 200 is also flexible.

In a preferred embodiment, secondary shield 200 comprises two members 206a, 206b and also includes spring 208 for biasing members 206a, 206b away from each other. Such a configuration will allow secondary shield 200 to sit on top of a toilet bowl, with flexible shield 202 within the toilet bowl.

Secondary shield 200 may also include cap element 210 having aperture 212 for receiving handle of plunger. Cap element 210 acts to block any water that may splash upward through aperture (not shown) in flexible shield 202. Flexible shield 202 may include additional aperture 214 to accommodate additional tools, like a toilet brush, should use of same be desirable while device is deployed within a toilet bowl. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the flexible shield is used exclusively with a toilet brush and that aperture 212 receive handle of brush as opposed to handle of plunger. Furthermore, aperture 214 will also act as a vent hole to allow for changes in air pressure when plunger is being moved so as to minimize any movement of the flexible shield.

Secondary shield 200 may also include fin 216 which extends away from secondary shield 200 towards flexible shield 202. Fin 216 helps minimize splashing that is occurring across the toilet bowl (in a direction generally perpendicular to fin 216).

It is preferred that secondary shield 200 is supported on flexible shield 202 via one or more support arms 218.

Flexible shield 202 may also include incisions 220, which provide the flexible shield 202 with the feathering discussed above.

A device according to one or more of these embodiments is believed to provide a device that is easily deployed, minimizes water splash, minimizes a user's interaction with same, and which has a relatively small size, yet an ability to fit a variety of differently sized toilets. These and other benefits should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.

It is to be understood that additional embodiments of the present invention described herein may be contemplated by one of ordinary skill in the art and that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed. While specific embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the spirit of the invention, and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A splash shield for a plunger comprising: a flexible shield having a relatively planar center portion with an aperture capable of receiving a handle of a plunger and a plurality of blades extending away from the center portion, and,the flexible shield being capable of expanding from a closed position to an open position within a toilet bowl and being biased towards the open position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the splash shield further comprises: a support passing through the center portion of the flexible shield and including a portion above the flexible shield and a portion below the flexible shield.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the flexible shield comprises at least two members, each member having a center portion with an aperture and a plurality of blades extending away from the center portion.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein each member of the at least two members further includes a plurality of gaps, each gap disposed between adjacent blades.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein a first member of the at least two members also includes at least two support arms, and wherein each support arm of the at least two support arms is disposed in a gap of the first member.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the splash shield further comprises: a support which includes a portion above the first member, a portion below the second member and a portion between the first member and second member.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein each blade includes an outer edge and the outer edge is feathered.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a secondary shield disposed on top of the flexible shield.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the secondary shield is supported by at least one support arm extending above the flexible shield at an angle.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising a cover, wherein the cover forces the flexible shield from the open position to the closed position when the cover is applied to the flexible shield and allows the flexible shield to shift from the closed position to the open position when the cover is removed from the flexible shield.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the handle of the plunger moves independently of the flexible shield at least when the flexible shield is in the open position within the toilet bowl.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a disk having an aperture capable of receiving the handle of the plunger, the disk having a perimeter greater than a size of the aperture in the flexible shield.

13. A splash shield for a plunger comprising: a flexible shield having an aperture capable of receiving a handle of a plunger and capable of expanding from a closed position to an open position within a toilet bowl and being biased to the open position;a cover for enclosing the flexible shield, wherein the cover includes an aperture for receiving the handle of the plunger; and,wherein the cover forces the flexible shield from the open position to the closed position when the cover is applied to the flexible shield and allows the flexible shield to shift from the closed position to the open position when the cover is removed from the flexible shield.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the cover is removably disposed about the handle.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a drip pan for receiving a bottom of the cover and a support arm for receiving the handle of the plunger.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the cover includes a handle.

17. A splash shield for a plunger comprising: a flexible shield comprised of at least two members, each member including a center potion with an aperture capable of receiving a handle of a plunger;a plurality of blades extending away from the center portion and capable of bending; and,a plurality of gaps, each gap being disposed between adjacent blades;a secondary shield disposed on top of the flexible shield, the secondary shield including an aperture of receiving the handle of the plunger.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the secondary shield comprises two members moveably connected.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the secondary shield further comprises a spring for biasing the two members away from one another.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the secondary shield includes at least one fin extending towards the flexible shield.