Toilet clog clearance device

• US 9,630,221 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 04/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toby Brummer
• Original Assignee: Toby Brummer
• Inventors: Brummer, Toby
• Primary Examiner(s): DEERY, ERIN LEAH
• Application Number:
  US13/998,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20150143623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 425501, 425511, 425512, 1510431, 1510416, 15211, 1510415
• 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: B08B 9/02 Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes apparatus for cleaning metal pipes by chemical methods C23G3/04 ; removing obstructions in waste pipes or sinks E03C1/30; cleaning sewer pipes E03F9/00; cleaning boreholes or wells E21B37/00; cleaning furnace tubes, flues, chimneys F23J3/02; cleaning heat-transfer conduits, e.g. water tubes of boilers F28G
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/027 Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
• 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: 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

This toilet unclogging tool has a handle attached at the proximal end of, a shaft, either straight or bent, and a bullet shaped head portion, attached at the distal end of the shaft, which head is made of a semi-rigid material such as closed cell polyethylene foam. The head has a series of grooves, usually four of a V-shape, along the length thereof to permit fluid to pass there through when one attempts to push a blockage forward over the trap of a toilet. A rigid cap having a flat face is disposed into the forward end of the head to enhance the ability of the device to push a clog without deforming the head.

Claims

1. A device for unclogging a toilet comprising:

a head portion with a cylindrical rear section and a frustro-conical front section, said head portion connected to one end of a shaft portion,

a handle connected at an other end of the shaft portion,

said head portion further comprising a series of longitudinal grooves therein which permit rearward passage of fluid through said longitudinal grooves when a user pushes forwardly against a clog, so that the clog will pass through a toilet trap to thereby unclog the toilet,

the frustro-conical front section of the head portion additionally comprising a rigid cap having a disk first portion which is flat and circular and attached to a hollow second portion, the hollow second portion being received within the interior of the frustro-conical front section and cylindrical rear section of the head portion,

said cap hollow second portion having a lesser diameter than the disk first portion, and wherein the disk first portion entirely covers a circular, flat forward end of the frustro-conical front section, the rigid cap preventing deformation of the head portion.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said head portion is made of semi-rigid, polymeric foam.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the head portion is made of semi-rigid, closed cell, polyethylene foam and the shaft is straight.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the handle is tapered and has grippability enhancing means thereon and the series of longitudinal grooves in the head portion extend from the cylindrical rear section into the frustro-conical front section.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the device has a slot therein for hanging the device on a nail or hook.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the grippability enhancing means is a vinyl tape wrap.

7. The device of claim 4, wherein the grippability enhancing means is a rubber coating.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the head portion is made of semi-rigid closed cell, polyethylene foam and the shaft is bent along a length thereof to an angle greater than 90 degrees.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the handle has grippability enhancing means.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said handle is of a diameter greater than a diameter of the shaft.

11. A device for unclogging a toilet comprising:

a head portion with a cylindrical rear section and a frustro-conical front section,

a shaft portion having a first end connected at the rear section of said head portion,

a handle connected at a second end of the shaft portion,

said head portion having a series of longitudinal grooves therein which permit rearward passage of fluid through said longitudinal grooves when a user urges forwardly against a clog to thereby unclog the toilet,

wherein the head portion is made of semi-rigid, closed cell, polymeric foam,

and wherein the device has a rigid cap disposed on a flat, circular forward end of the frustro-conical front section of the head portion to prevent deformation of the head portion, said cap having a disk first portion which is flat and circular and attached to a hollow second portion, the hollow second portion being received within the interior of the frustro-conical front section and cylindrical rear section of the head portion,

and wherein the disk first portion entirely covers the forward end of the frustro-conical front section,

and further wherein the handle has a grippability enhancing means thereon.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the head portion, the shaft, and the handle are linearly aligned.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the foam is polyethylene, and the grippability enhancing means is a rubber coating, and the longitudinal grooves are V-shaped.

14. The device of claim 11, further the grippability enhancing means is a vinyl tape wrap.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the shaft is of a first diameter and the handle is of a diameter great than the diameter of the shaft.