Toilet plunger

Abstract

A plunger of the present invention is a generally hollow structure having a number of integrally-formed sections disposed between the top and the bottom. The plunger has a conical upper portion having an increasing diameter moving downwardly from the top of the plunger toward a central portion. There is a pleated bellows section at the central portion of the plunger. Extending downwardly from the central portion is a lower conical portion having a decreasing diameter moving from the central portion toward the bottom. The top includes an opening for a handle and the bottom comprises an opening to the interior cavity of the plunger. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the plunger is formed of a resilient rubber-like material that is capable of being deformed and then returning to an un-deformed shape, the material having memory. The plunger can be used in standard or specially-configured toilet bowl outlets.

The details of the invention having been disclosed in accordance with the foregoing, I claim: 
     
         1 . A toilet plunger comprising:
 a first section, the first section comprising an attachment point for a handle;   a second section extending downwardly from the first section;   a third section extending downwardly from the second section;   a fourth section extending downwardly from the third section;   a fifth section extending downwardly from the fourth section; and   a bottom opening formed in the fifth section, the bottom opening providing an aperture to the interior cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The toilet plunger of  claim 1  wherein the first section comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. 
     
     
         3 . The toilet plunger of  claim 2  wherein the second section comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. 
     
     
         4 . The toilet plunger of  claim 3  wherein the third section comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. 
     
     
         5 . The toilet plunger of  claim 4  wherein the fourth section comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. 
     
     
         6 . The toilet plunger of  claim 5  wherein the fifth section comprises an outer surface and an inner surface. 
     
     
         7 . The toilet plunger of  claim 1  wherein the sections are formed of a resilient rubber-like material having memory. 
     
     
         8 . The toilet plunger of  claim 6  wherein the inner surfaces of the first, second third, fourth and fifth sections are continuous. 
     
     
         9 . The toilet plunger of  claim 6  wherein the outer surfaces of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth sections are continuous. 
     
     
         10 . The toilet plunger of  claim 6  wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth sections are integrally formed as a unitary structure. 
     
     
         11 . The toilet plunger of  claim 1  wherein the second section is comprises a substantially conical shape having an increasing diameter moving downwardly from the first section. 
     
     
         12 . The toilet plunger of  claim 11  wherein the third section comprises a pleated bellows construction having a first bellows section having a diameter, a second bellows section having a diameter that is wider than the diameter of the first bellows section, a third bellows section having a diameter that is substantially the same as that of the first bellows section and a fourth bellows section having a diameter that is substantially the same as that of the second bellows section. 
     
     
         13 . The toilet plunger of  claim 12  wherein the fourth section of the plunger comprises a substantially conical shape having a decreasing diameter moving downwardly towards the fifth section. 
     
     
         14 . The toilet plunger of  claim 12  wherein the fifth section of the plunger comprises a substantially conical shape having a decreasing diameter moving downwardly away from the fourth section. 
     
     
         15 . The toilet plunger of  claim 13  wherein the fourth section of the plunger comprises a perimeter that is sized to seal with the throat to the outlet of a standard toilet bowl configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The toilet plunger of  claim 14  wherein the fifth section of the plunger comprises a perimeter that is sized to seal with the throat to the outlet of a complex toilet bowl configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The toilet plunger of  claim 15  wherein the pleated bellows structures of the plunger are flexible to allow for variable positioning of the plunger in the outlet throat of the standard toilet bowl configuration. 
     
     
         18 . the toilet plunger of  claim 16  wherein the pleated bellows structures of the plunger are flexible to allow for variable positioning of the plunger in the outlet throat of the standard toilet bowl configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A toilet plunger for use with a toilet bowl having a throat, the plunger comprising:
 a handle,   a first section, the first section comprising an attachment point for the handle, an inner surface and an outer surface;   a second section extending downwardly from the first section and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   a third section extending downwardly from the second section and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   a fourth section extending downwardly from the third section and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   a fifth section extending downwardly from the fourth section and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface;   the inner surface of the sections being continuous and forming a generally bulbous structure and interior cavity; and   a bottom opening formed in the fifth section, the bottom opening providing an aperture to the interior cavity;   wherein the plunger is formed of a resilient rubber-like material; and   wherein the plunger can create a suction force within the toilet bowl throat.   
     
     
         20 . The toilet plunger of  claim 19  wherein the third section comprises a pleated bellows structure that can be compressed or expanded to one side of the plunger such that the angle of the handle can be changed while maintaining a suction force within the throat of the toilet bowl.