USRE38291EExpiredUtility

Plunger device and method of making and using the same thereof

47
Assignee: KENNEDY CRAIG APriority: Jun 19, 1996Filed: Jul 27, 2001Granted: Oct 28, 2003
Est. expiryJun 19, 2016(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
F04B 9/14F04B 53/123E03D 9/00E03C 1/308
47
PatentIndex Score
3
Cited by
14
References
17
Claims

Abstract

NewA plunger having a cylindrical hollow body 20 or 20 B , a handle 30, 30 A, or 30 B , an outlet hose 40 , an outlet tip 42 , and a valve or flap 50, 60, or 70 structure that is able to controls the air flow within the hollow 25 portion of the cylindrical body 20 or 20 B is shown. The valve or flap 50, 60, or 70 structure is moved into a closed position so that air is forced out of the front of the plunger and towards a clogged or stopped area 82 or 92 and is moved into an open position so that air enters the back of the plunger and passes proceeds past the valve or flap 50, 60, or 70 structure, so that water and/or clogging material is not drawn or sucked into the interior of the plunger. FThe hose attached to the cylindrical body is flexible and is smaller in diameter than the drain throat of a plumbing fixture allowing the hose to be placed into a clogged area. A first embodiment plunger 10 discloses shows a flexible valve flap 50 that compresses against the inner wall of the cylindrical body 20 when in a closed position and flexes outwardly and away from piston plate 38 when in an open position. S A second embodiment plunger discloses shows a circular valve plate 60 that slidingly fits within inner portion of piston plate 38 wherein such that the valve plate 60 is coupled to and controlled by handle control mechanism 64 . H The handle control mechanism 64 controls and places the valve plate 60 in either a closed position or an open position. T A third embodiment plunger discloses shows a handle 30 B having piston plate 38 with that rotatingly engaging es a first set of tab portions 37 and a flexible valve flaps 70 with perforated by-pass holes 74 and slidingly engaging that engage a second set of tab portions 72 .

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A new plunger device for clearing clogs or stops in a drain or pipe comprising: 
       a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end,  
       a handle that is inserted into the hollow body wherein the handle has a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body,  
       a piston plate attached to the air action end of the handle wherein the piston plate has air flow holes,  
       a flexible valve flap attached to the piston plate wherein a perimeter edge of the flap flexes to a contacting sealing closed position with inner walls of the interior of the hollow body and the piston plate to cover and seal the airflow holes when the handle and the piston plate are being directed towards the outlet end of the hollow body to force and outwardly direct airflow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and wherein the perimeter edge of the flap flexes away from the piston plate to a flexing open position relative to the inner walls providing at least one air passage therearound when the handle and the piston plate are being directed towards the back airflow end of the hollow body to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end, and  
       an outlet component attached to the outlet end of the hollow body through which air flow is outwardly directed.  
     
     
       2. The new plunger device according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
       a handle control mechanism coupled to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism.  
     
     
       3. The new plunger device according to  claim 2  wherein the valve mechanism further comprises: 
       a piston plate having air-flow holes wherein the piston plate is attached to the air-action end of the handle, and  
       a valve plate coupled to and controlled by the handle control mechanism wherein the valve plate is slidingly fitted within an inner portion of the piston plate and wherein the handle control mechanism controls the valve plate in a closed position against the piston plate covering and sealing the air-flow holes of the piston plate and further controls the valve plate in an open position away from the piston plate opening the air-flow holes of the piston plate.  
     
     
       4. The new plunger device according to  claim 1  wherein the outlet component further comprises: 
       a narrowing component attached to the outlet end of the hollow body for narrowing the air flow to the outlet end,  
       an outlet hose attached to a narrower side of the narrowing component, and  
       an outlet tip attached to the outlet hose for outwardly directing the air flow to the outlet end.  
     
     
       5. The new plunger device according to  claim 1  wherein the hollow body further comprises: 
       a back plate attached to the back air-flow end of the hollow body and wherein the back plate has vent holes through which the air flow is directed when the handle and the valve mechanism are being directed towards the back air-flow end of the hollow body.  
     
     
       6. A method of using a new plunger device for clearing a clog or stop in a drain or pipe comprising the steps of: 
       providing a new plunger that comprises a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end, a handle having a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body, a piston plate attached to the air action end of the handle wherein the piston plate has airflow holes, a flexible valve flap attached to the piston plate wherein a perimeter edge of the flap flexes to a contacting sealing closed position with inner walls of the interior of the hollow body and the piston plate to cover and seal the airflow holes when the handle and the piston plate are being directed towards the outlet end of the hollow body to force and outwardly direct airflow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and wherein the perimeter edge of the flap flexes away from the piston plate to a flexing open position relative to the inner walls providing at least one air passage therearound when the handle and the piston plate are being directed towards the back airflow end of the hollow body to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end, and an outlet component attached to the outlet end of the hollow body through which the air flow is outwardly directed,  
       inserting the outlet component near the clog or stop,  
       moving the handle towards the outlet end to outwardly direct air flow through the outlet component, and  
       moving the handle towards the back air-flow end to outwardly direct air flow to the back air-flow end to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end.  
     
     
       7. The method of using a new plunger device according to  claim 6  wherein the providing step further comprises the step of: 
       coupling a handle control mechanism to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism.  
     
     
       8. The method of using a new plunger device according to  claim 7 : 
       wherein the providing step further comprises the step of:  
       providing the valve mechanism with a piston plate having air-flow holes attached to the air-action end of the handle, and  
       coupling a valve plate to the handle control mechanism in which the valve plate is slidingly fitted within an inner portion of the piston plate, and  
       wherein the moving the handle towards the outlet end step further comprises the step of allowing the handle control mechanism to control the valve plate in a closed position against the piston plate by first releasing the handle control mechanism so that the air flow holes of the piston plate are covered and sealed, and  
       wherein the moving the handle towards the back air-flow end step further comprises the step of allowing the handle control mechanism to control the valve plate in an open position away from the piston plate by first applying pressure to the handle control mechanism so that the air flow holes of the piston plate are open.  
     
     
       9. A method of making a new plunger device for clearing clogs or stops in a drain or pipe comprising the steps of: 
       providing a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end,  
       inserting a handle into the hollow body wherein the handle has a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body,  
       attaching a piston plate to the air action end of the handle wherein the piston plate has airflow holes,  
       attaching a flexible valve flap to the piston plate wherein a perimeter edge of the flap flexes to a contacting sealing closed position with inner walls of the interior of the hollow body and the piston plate to cover and seal the airflow holes when the handle and the piston plate are being directed towards the outlet end of the hollow body to force and outwardly direct airflow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and wherein the perimeter edge of the flap flexes away from the piston plate to a flexing open position relative to the inner walls providing at least one air passage therearound when the handle and the piston plate are being directed towards the back airflow end of the hollow body to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end, and  
       attaching an outlet component to the outlet end of the hollow body through which air flow is outwardly directed.  
     
     
       10. The method of making a new plunger device according to  claim 9  further comprising the step of: 
       coupling a handle control mechanism to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism.  
     
     
       11. The method of making a new plunger device according to  claim 10  wherein the attaching a valve mechanism step further comprises the steps of: 
       attaching a piston plate having air-flow holes to the air-action end of the handle, and  
       coupling a valve plate to the handle control mechanism wherein the valve plate is slidingly fitted within an inner portion of the piston plate and wherein the handle control mechanism controls the valve plate in a closed position against the piston plate covering and sealing the air-flow holes of the piston plate and further controls the valve plate in an open position away from the piston plate opening the air-flow holes of the piston plate.  
     
     
       12. The method of making a new plunger device according to  claim 9  wherein the attaching an outlet component step further comprises the steps of: 
       attaching a narrowing component to the outlet end of the hollow body for narrowing the air flow to the outlet end,  
       attaching an outlet hose to a narrower side of the narrowing component, and  
       attaching an outlet tip to the outlet hose for outwardly directing air flow to the outlet end.  
     
     
       13. A new plunger device for clearing clogs or stops in a drain or pipe comprising: 
       a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end,  
       a handle that is inserted into the hollow body wherein the handle has a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body,  
       a valve mechanism attached to the air-action end that slides within the interior of the hollow body and generally moves with the air-action end of the handle between the outlet end and the back air-flow end and wherein the valve mechanism has a closed position for forcing and outwardly directing air flow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and has an open position for allowing and outwardly directing the air flow to the back air-flow end to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end,  
       an outlet component attached to the outlet end of the hollow body through which air flow is outwardly directed, and  
       a handle control mechanism coupled to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism wherein the handle control mechanism further comprises a coupling cable or rod that generally extends a length of the handle, a handle controller attached at one end of the coupling cable or rod near the holding end of the handle, and at least one attachment leg coupled to the valve mechanism and attached at another end of the coupling cable or rod near the air-action end of the handle and wherein the handle further comprises slots in which at least a portion of the handle controller slides and slots in which at least a portion of the at least one attachment leg slides.  
     
     
       14. A new plunger device for clearing clogs or stops in a drain or pipe comprising: 
       a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end,  
       a handle that is inserted into the hollow body wherein the handle has a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body,  
       a valve mechanism attached to the air-action end that slides within the interior of the hollow body and generally moves with the air-action end of the handle between the outlet end and the back air-flow end and wherein the valve mechanism has a closed position for forcing and outwardly directing air flow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and has an open position for allowing and outwardly directing the air flow to the back air-flow end to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end wherein the valve mechanism further comprises a piston plate having aligning air-flow holes wherein the piston plate is attached to the air-action end of the handle and a valve plate having air-flow holes wherein the valve plate is coupled to and controlled by the handle and wherein the piston plate rotates relative to the valve plate when the handle is rotated so that the aligning air flow holes of the piston plate are offset with the air flow holes of the valve plate when the valve mechanism is in the closed position and the aligning air flow holes of the piston plate are aligned with the air flow holes of the valve plate when the valve mechanism is in the open position,  
       an outlet component attached to the outlet end of the hollow body through which air flow is outwardly directed, and  
       a handle control mechanism coupled to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism.  
     
     
       15. The new plunger device according to  claim 14 : 
       wherein the hollow body further comprises:  
       an inner piston plate groove for engaging and allowing at least partial rotational movement of the piston plate within the hollow body, and  
       at least two inner valve plate grooves for engaging and allowing sliding movement of the valve plate within the hollow body, and  
       wherein the piston plate further comprises a rotatingly engaging tab portion that correspondingly engages and rotates within the inner plate groove, and  
       wherein the valve plate further comprises at least two slidingly engaging tab portions that correspondingly engage and slide within the at least two inner valve plate grooves.  
     
     
       16. A method of using a new plunger device for clearing a clog or stop in a drain or pipe comprising the steps of: 
       providing a new plunger that comprises a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end, a handle having a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body, a valve mechanism attached to the air-action end of the handle that slides within the interior of the hollow body and generally moves with the air-action end of the handle between the outlet end and the back air-flow end and wherein the valve mechanism has a closed position for forcing and outwardly directing air flow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and has an open position for allowing and outwardly directing the air flow to the back air-flow end to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end, an outlet component attached to the outlet end of the hollow body through which the air flow is outwardly directed, a handle control mechanism coupled to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism,  
       inserting the outlet component near the clog or stop,  
       moving the handle towards the outlet end to outwardly direct air flow through the outlet component, and  
       moving the handle towards the back air-flow end to outwardly direct air flow to the back air-flow end to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end,  
       wherein the providing step further comprises the step of:  
       providing the valve mechanism with a piston plate having aligning air-flow holes attached to the air-action end of the handle, and  
       coupling a valve plate having air-flow holes to the handle, and  
       wherein the moving the handle towards the outlet end step further comprises the steps of:  
       rotating the piston plate relative to the valve plate by rotating the handle, and  
       offsetting the air flow holes of the piston plate and the valve plate so that the piston plate and the valve plate are in the closed position, and  
       wherein the moving the handle towards the back air-flow end step further comprises the steps of  
       rotating the piston plate relative to the valve plate by rotating the handle, and  
       aligning the air flow holes of the piston plate and the valve plate so that the piston-plate and the valve plate are in the open position.  
     
     
       17. A method of making a new plunger device for clearing clogs or stops in a drain or pipe comprising the steps of: 
       providing a hollow body having an outlet end and a back air-flow end,  
       inserting a handle into the hollow body wherein the handle has a holding end for allowing a user to grip and an air-action end which slidingly moves in an interior of the hollow body between the outlet end and the back air-flow end of the hollow body,  
       attaching a valve mechanism to the air-action end which slides within the interior of the hollow body that generally moves with the air-action end of the handle between the outlet end and the back air-flow end and wherein the valve mechanism has a closed position for forcing and outwardly directing air flow to the outlet end to clear the clogs or stops and has an open position for allowing and outwardly directing the air flow to the back air-flow end to prevent clogging materials or fluids from being drawn at the outlet end, wherein the attaching a valve mechanism step further comprises attaching a piston plate having aligning air-flow holes to the air-action end of the handle and coupling a valve plate having air-flow holes to the handle and wherein the piston plate rotates relative to the valve plate when the handle is rotated so that the aligning air flow holes of the piston plate are offset with the air flow holes of the valve plate when the valve mechanism is in the closed position and the aligning air flow holes of the piston plate are aligned with the air flow holes of the valve plate when the valve mechanism is in the open position,  
       attaching an outlet component to the outlet end of the hollow body through which air flow is outwardly directed, and  
       coupling a handle control mechanism to the handle and the valve mechanism for allowing a user to control the closed position and the open position of the valve mechanism.

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