TOILET TOOL

• US 20050160523A1
• Filed: 10/17/2002
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Bixby
• Original Assignee: Richard Bixby
• Inventors: Bixby, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 4/255.10
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 11/10 Hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl , seat or cover, e.g. toilet brushes cleaning devices without flushing A47K17/00; mechanical devices for cleaning toilet bowls E03D
• 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 tool is constructed and adapted for dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and similar other drains. An elongate longitudinal shaft extends from a handle end to a curved blade end. The curved blade end is broadened, expanded and flattened from the shaft. The blade gradually curves and narrows from the broadened, expanded and flattened portion to a pointed tip end. Sharpened edges surround the perimeter of the curved blade end. In use, the worker grasps the tool by the handle end and inserts the curved blade end into the debris obstruction. Twisting, chopping and churning actions are exerted with the tool to agitate the debris obstruction to a flushable state.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A method of dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and the like with a tool comprising:

an elongate longitudinal shaft extending from a handle end to a curved blade end; and

the curved blade end broadened from the shaft in an expanded and flattened portion, the blade gradually curved and narrowed from the flattened portion to a pointed tip end, with sharpened edges around a perimeter of the curved blade end, the method comprising;

(a) grasping the tool by the handle end;

(b) inserting the curved blade end into the debris obstruction; and

(c) agitating the debris obstruction to a flushable state.

10. A toilet bowl cleaning apparatus, comprising:

(a) a toilet bowl adapted to hold a quantity of water;

(b) a debris dislodging tool, having

(i) an elongate longitudinal shaft extending from a handle end to a curved blade end, the curved blade end insertable in and removable out of the toilet bowl;

(ii) the curved blade end broadened from the shaft in an expanded and flattened portion, the blade gradually curved and narrowed from the flattened portion to a pointed tip end, with sharpened edges around a perimeter of the curved blade end;

(iii) the elongate longitudinal shaft of a length that when the handle is at least above a toilet bowl water line, the curved blade end extends at least below the toilet bowl water line; and

(c) wherein, when the curved blade end is inserted below the toilet bowl waterline and the handle is moved in a twisting, chopping, or churning motion or a combination of such motions, the curved blade end agitates the lodged debris in the toilet bowl into a flushable state.

11-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method of dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and the like with a tool comprising:

(a) an elongate longitudinal shaft extending from a handle end to a curved blade end; and

(b) the curved blade end broadened from the shaft in an expanded and flattened portion, the blade gradually curved and narrowed from the flattened portion to a pointed tip end, with sharpened edges around a perimeter of the curved blade end, the method comprising;

(a) grasping the tool by the handle end and (b) inserting the curved blade end deeply enough into the toilet bowl to create a swirling, circular vortex motion in the wastewater to loosen a debris obstruction in the out of view portion of the drain and allow the water in the bowl to flush free.

18-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A tool for dislodging debris obstructions in a toilet bowl and the like, the tool comprising:

an elongate longitudinal shaft extending from a handle end to a curved blade end, wherein at least the curved blade end extends into a drain throat of the toilet bowl;

the curved blade end broadened from the shaft in an expanded and flattened portion, the blade gradually curved and narrowed from the flattened portion to a pointed tip end, with sharpened edges around a perimeter of the curved blade end; and

having an overall length at least equal to the distance from the inner rim of a toilet bowl to a drain throat at the bottom of the toilet bowl trap.