Plungers and devices for storing plumbing tools

• US 20060213791A1
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Smart Products And Inventions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Smart Products And Inventions, Inc.
• Inventors: Holden, H. Lee
• Granted Patent: US 7,465,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/349
• CPC Class Codes: A47K 17/00 Other equipment , e.g. separate apparatus for deodorising, disinfecting or cleaning devices without flushing for toilet bowls, seats or covers; Holders for toilet brushesportable urinating aids A61F5/4556; devices for receiving spittle A61J19/00 ; disinfecting apparatus for medical, surgical or hygienic purposes A61L; cleaning devices with flushing for toilet bowls, seats or covers E03D9/00; for emptying or cleaning chamber-pots, bed pans, bed urinals or the like E03D11/025
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2/10 Ultraviolet radiation
• 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 plunger that operates by a piston to drive a purging flow at relatively high pressure is disclosed. The plunger includes features so that the exterior of the plunger remains in a dry and sanitary condition. An optional storage unit is also disclosed where the storage unit includes at least one UV element. Where the UV element decreases the amount of pathogens on the plumbing tool.

Claims

1. A storage unit for sanitizing a plumbing tool, the unit comprising:

a base adapted to sealingly hold the plumbing tool; and

at least one UV light source within the base.

2. The storage unit of claim 1, where the UV light source generates a wavelength of 253.7 nm.

3. The storage unit of claim 1, where the UV light source generates a plurality of wavelength from 100 nm to 400 nm in a single cycle.

4. The storage unit of claim 1, where the UV light source comprises UV-A or UV-C light.

5. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a photocatalyst.

6. The storage unit of claim 5, where the photocatalyst is placed in or on the base.

7. The storage unit of claim 5, where the photocatalyst is located on the plumbing tool.

8. The storage unit of claim 5, where the photocatalyst is located within a material comprising the plumbing tool.

9. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a plurality of UV light sources.

10. The storage unit of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a bottom surface and a plurality of side panels.

11. The storage unit of claim 10, wherein the base comprises at least one UV light source and each of the side panels comprises at least one UV light source.

12. The storage unit of claim 1, where the UV light source provides light for a sufficient intensity and time to kill pathogens.

13. The storage unit of claim 1, where the UV light source is coupled to a timer that controls a cycle of the UV light source.

14. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a mirrored interior surface adapted to reflect UV light about the plumbing tool.

16. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a switch electrically coupled to the UV light source.

17. The storage unit of claim 16, where the switch is triggered by the weight of the plumbing tool.

18. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a collar, where the collar is removably placed on the plumbing tool.

19. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a power supply electrically connectable to the UV light source.

20. The storage unit of claim 19, where the power supply comprises a AC power supply.

21. The storage unit of claim 19, where the power supply comprises a DC power supply.

22. The storage unit of claim 19, where the p DC power supply is located in or on the base.

23. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a fluid trap located at a bottom of the base.

24. The storage unit of claim 23, where the UV light source is also in optical communication with the fluid trap.

25. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising a moveable gate, where when in an open position the moveable gate allows insertion of the plumbing tool into the base, and when in a closed position, the moveable gate prevents a substantial amount of UV light from exiting the base.

26. The storage unit of claim 1, further comprising the plumbing tool removably placed within the base.

27. The storage unit of claim 26, where the plumbing tool comprises a tool selected from a group consisting of a plunger, a toilet brush, a toilet brush handle, and a plunger handle.

28. The storage unit of claim 26, where the plumbing tool further comprises a lid portion attached thereto, where the base top comprises an opening such that when the plumbing tool is placed within the base, the lid closes the base to prevent a substantial amount of UV light from exiting the base.

29. The storage unit of claim 26, where the plumbing tool comprises a plunger having an internal reservoir, where a surface of the reservoir comprises a reflective coating.

30. The storage unit of claim 26, where the plumbing tool comprises a plunger having an internal reservoir, where the internal reservoir comprises at least one secondary UV light source.

31. The storage unit of claim 26, where the plumbing tool comprises:

a plunger body comprising an upper body portion and a lower body portion, where the upper body portion includes a handle and a gripping section;

a reservoir located within the plunger body and terminating at an opening in the lower body portion, where the opening is adapted to direct fluid into the drain;

a piston slidably moveable in the reservoir, such that movement of the piston displaces fluid from a first reservoir portion to a second reservoir portion, where the second reservoir portion comprises at least one port in the lower body portion allowing liquid in the second reservoir portion to exit the plunger body at a location away from the upper body portion; and

a compliant member located adjacent to the opening, where the compliant member is sufficiently compliant to form a seal between the lower body portion and the drain allowing fluid to be drawn into the first reservoir portion via the opening.

15. The storage unit of claim 15, where further comprising an insert located within the base, where the insert comprises the mirrored interior surface.

32-74. -74. (canceled)