Toilet plunger

Abstract

A plunger having a plunger body with a handle flange portion for connection to an associated handle, a domed portion extending from the handle flange portion, a frustoconical portion extending from the domed portion, and a first bulbous portion extending from the frustoconical portion, wherein the domed portion is configured to collapse at least partially into the frustoconical portion during use.

1 . A plunger having a body with an interior chamber and an opening in the body for accessing the interior chamber, the opening in the body extending in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the body, the body having a first wall section extending circumferentially about the central axis, and a second wall section extending circumferentially about the central axis from the first wall section, the first wall section being relatively less rigid in compression along the central axis than the second wall section such that the first wall section collapses into the second wall section under compression. 
     
     
         2 . The plunger of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall section is thicker than the second wall section. 
     
     
         3 . The plunger of  claim 2 , wherein the second wall section is frustoconical and tapers in diameter in a direction away from the first wall section. 
     
     
         4 . The plunger of  claim 3 , further comprising a third wall section extending circumferentially about the central axis from the second wall section, the third wall section being relatively less rigid in compression along the central axis than the second wall section. 
     
     
         5 . The plunger of  claim 1 , wherein the first wall section is a domed portion of the plunger and the second wall section is a frustoconical portion of the plunger. 
     
     
         6 . The plunger of  claim 5 , wherein the domed portion has at least one rib on an inner surface thereof within the internal chamber, the at least one rib configured to maintain a minimum amount of space between the domed portion and the frustoconical portion when the domed portion is collapsed into the frustoconical portion. 
     
     
         7 . The plunger of  claim 1 , wherein a smallest diameter of the first wall portion is greater than a largest diameter of the second wall portion. 
     
     
         8 . The plunger of  claim 7 , wherein the second wall section is a first bulbous portion. 
     
     
         9 . The plunger of  claim 8 , further comprising a third wall section extending circumferentially about the central axis from the second wall section. 
     
     
         10 . The plunger of  claim 9 , wherein the third wall section is a second bulbous portion. 
     
     
         11 . The plunger of  claim 10 , wherein a smallest diameter of the first bulbous portion is greater than a largest diameter of the second bulbous portion. 
     
     
         12 . A method of unclogging a drain comprising:
 positioning a plunger in the drain, the plunger having a body with an interior chamber and an opening in the body for accessing the interior chamber, the opening in the body extending in a plane perpendicular to a central axis of the body, the body having a first wall section extending circumferentially about the central axis, and a second wall section extending circumferentially about the central axis from the first wall section, the first wall section being relatively less rigid in compression along the central axis than the second wall section such that the first wall section collapses into the second wall section under compression; and   applying a force along the central axis of the body sufficient to collapse the first wall section into the second wall section.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising removing the force and allowing the first wall section to return to a natural state. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising alternating intervals of applying the force and removing the force. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the applying the force includes collapsing the first wall section until an interior surface of the first wall section abuts an interior surface of the second wall section. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , first wall section is a domed portion of the plunger and the second wall section is a frustoconical portion of the plunger. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the domed portion has at least one rib on an inner surface thereof within the internal chamber, the at least one rib configured to maintain a minimum amount of space between the domed portion and the frustoconical portion when the domed portion is collapsed into the frustoconical portion.