Hand-operable piston plunger

Abstract

The hand-actuated piston plunger includes a vessel member, a drain adapter, a plunger piston, and a piston actuator. Such a plunger may also include any of an actuator or vessel handle or a bellows arrangement within the vessel member. The vessel member has first and second vessel ends and a vessel interior. The adapter is associated with the first vessel end and includes an adapter opening which facilitates fluid flow relative to the vessel interior. The piston is slidably movable within the vessel interior, relative to the adapter. The actuator has first and second ends with the first end operably associated with the piston. The second end of the actuator extends outside of the vessel interior. This actuator can then be used to move the piston within the vessel interior in such a manner so as to selectably either draw fluid into that interior or to expel it therefrom.

1 . A hand-actuated piston plunger, comprising: 
 a vessel member having a first vessel end and second vessel end, said vessel member further including a hollow vessel interior;    a drain adapter associated with the first vessel end, said drain adapter including an adaptor opening which facilitates selective flow of fluid relative to said vessel interior, said drain adapter being shaped to facilitate insertion thereof into a plumbing drain;    a plunger piston slidably mounted within said vessel interior, said plunger piston being movable relative to the drain adaptor; and    a piston actuator having a first actuator end and a second actuator end, said first actuator end being operably associated with the plunger piston, said second actuator end extending outside of said vessel interior, said piston actuator being configured for facilitating selectable movement of said plunger piston within said vessel.    
   
   
       2 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 1 , wherein said vessel interior, through a combined operation of said plunger piston and said piston actuator, is configured for selectively receiving clog fluid therewithin from a clogged plumbing vessel.  
   
   
       3 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 2 , wherein said vessel interior is sized so as to be large enough to hold an amount of the clog fluid suitable for effectuating plunging of a clog within the clogged plumbing vessel.  
   
   
       4 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 2 , wherein said plunger piston and said piston actuator are together configured so as to be selectably movable in each one of a fluid intake direction and a fluid expulsion direction, a movement in a fluid intake direction facilitating an intake of the clog fluid into said vessel interior, a movement in the fluid expulsion direction promoting an expulsion of the clog fluid therefrom.  
   
   
       5 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 2 , wherein said plunger piston, said vessel interior, and said first vessel end together define a variable fluid volume within said vessel member, said variable fluid volume being dependent upon a positioning of said plunger piston.  
   
   
       6 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 1 , further comprising a bellows member positioned within said vessel interior and interconnecting said first vessel end and said plunger piston.  
   
   
       7 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 6 , wherein said plunger piston, said bellows member, and said first vessel end together define a sealed, variable fluid volume in said vessel member, said variable fluid volume being dependent upon a positioning of said plunger piston.  
   
   
       8 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: 
 an actuator handle operably connected to said piston actuator proximate said second actuator end; and    a vessel handle being operably connected to said vessel member.    
   
   
       9 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of: 
 a first limit stop associated with said first vessel end, said first limit stop being configured for preventing movement of said plunger piston out of said vessel member through said first vessel end; and    a second limit stop associated with said second vessel end, said second limit stop being configured for preventing movement of said plunger piston out of said vessel member through said second vessel end.    
   
   
       10 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 1 , wherein said drain adapter is one of conically shaped, frusto-conically shaped, and bell shaped.  
   
   
       11 . The hand-actuated piston plunger of  claim 1 , wherein said plunger is configured so as to promote at least one of quick and selective disassembly of portions thereof.