Splashless plunging device

• US 10,640,960 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diamond Flush LLC
• Original Assignee: Diamond Flush LLC
• Inventors: Connerton, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Skubinna, Christine J
• Application Number:
  US15/382,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20180171612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 425501, 425502-25511
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/30 Devices to facilitate removing of obstructions in waste-pipes or sinks for use in sewer pipes or both in waste and sewer pipes E03F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/308 by means of a pumping device
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/00 Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30

Abstract

A device for removing an obstruction from a pipe or toilet generally includes a handle portion and a flexible head portion having a plurality of grooves. The flexible head portion is configured for insertion into a pipe. The flexible head portion is configured by shape and/or size to allow water from the pipe or toilet to move over the flexible head portion between the flexible head portion and the pipe or drain wall while the plunger is manipulated in the pipe or toilet. Using the handle portion, the flexible head portion can be moved along the inner wall of the pipe to move a column of liquid to effect the removal of the obstruction. If the intervals between the grooves are in contact with the pipe wall, water may still pass between the flexible head portion and the pipe through the grooves. A storage case for the device is provided.

Claims

1. A device for removing an obstruction from a pipe comprising:

a flexible head portion having a first end and a second end and operatively arranged for insertion into said pipe, said flexible head portion configured to allow said liquid to pass between the outer surface of said flexible head portion and the wall of said pipe for moving a column of liquid within said pipe;

a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending along the length of said flexible head portion; and

a handle portion attached to said second end, where the second end of the flexible head portion has a substantially similar diameter as the diameter of the handle portion at the location where the second end and handle portion are attached to each other;

wherein said flexible head portion is shaped to taper toward said first end such that the flexible head portion has a substantially uniform thickness along a shaft of the flexible head portion until it tapers toward the first end, wherein a bottommost portion at the first end has a smaller diameter than the second end attached to the handle.

2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible head portion has a substantially rounded cross-sectional shape, wherein the diameter of said substantially rounded cross-sectional shape is smaller than the diameter of the cross-section of said pipe.

3. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said elongated grooves terminate prior to the first end.

4. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first end is flat.

5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first end is concave.

6. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of grooves extend from said first end to said second end.

7. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible head portion has a substantially multi-pointed cross-sectional shape.

8. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible head portion has a substantially clover-leaf cross-sectional shape.

9. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said handle portion is detachably securable to said flexible head portion.

10. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible head portion comprises a smooth outer surface.

11. The device as recited in claim 10 wherein said smooth outer surface is hydrophobic.

12. The device as recited in claim 11 wherein said smooth outer surface comprises a flexible non-stick coating.

13. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible head portion is capable of expansion and contraction.

14. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible head is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of rubber, foam, and soft plastic.

20. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein a body of said flexible head portion is hollow and the first end is covered to prevent water from entering the body.

21. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein an entire body of said flexible head portion from the second end attached to the handle to a first end opposite the second end is formed from a flexible material.

15. A device for removing an obstruction from a pipe comprising:

a flexible head portion having a first end operatively arranged for insertion into said pipe, said flexible head portion configured to allow said liquid to pass between the outer surface of said flexible head portion and the wall of said pipe for moving a column of liquid within said pipe;

a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending along the length of said flexible head portion; and

a handle portion configured for a user to grasp and attached to a second end of the flexible head portion, where the second end of the flexible head portion has a substantially similar diameter as the diameter of the handle portion at the location where the second end and the handle portion are attached to each other;

wherein an entire body of said flexible head portion from the second end attached to the handle to a first end opposite the second end is formed from a flexible material.

16. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein said elongated grooves terminate prior to the first end.

17. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein said flexible head portion is shaped to taper toward said first end such that the flexible head portion has a substantially uniform thickness along a shaft of the flexible head portion until it tapers toward the first end, wherein a bottommost portion at the first end has a smaller diameter than the second end attached to the handle.

18. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein said first end is concave.

19. The device as recited in claim 15 wherein the body of said flexible head portion is hollow and the first end is covered to prevent water from entering the body.

22. A device for removing an obstruction from a pipe comprising:

a flexible head portion having a first end and a second end and operatively arranged for insertion into said pipe, said flexible head portion configured to allow said liquid to pass between the outer surface of said flexible head portion and the wall of said pipe for moving a column of liquid within said pipe;

a plurality of longitudinal grooves extending along the length of said flexible head portion; and

a handle portion attached to said second end, where the second end of the flexible head portion has a substantially similar diameter as the diameter of the handle portion at the location where the second end and handle portion are attached to each other;

wherein said first end is concave.

23. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein an entire body of said flexible head portion from the second end attached to the handle to a first end opposite the second end is formed from a flexible material.

24. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein said elongated grooves terminate prior to the first end.

25. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein said flexible head portion is shaped to taper toward said first end such that the flexible head portion has a substantially uniform thickness along a shaft of the flexible head portion until it tapers toward the first end, wherein a bottommost portion at the first end has a smaller diameter than the second end attached to the handle.

26. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the body of said flexible head portion is hollow and the first end is covered to prevent water from entering the body.

27. The device as recited in claim 22 wherein the concave first end includes a concavity from a range of 1/16 inch to ¼

inch.