DISPOSABLE UNCLOGGING APPARATUS

Abstract

A disposable cleaning device for unclogging toilets and other bathroom appliances in a sanitary manner is generally comprised of an elongated core or handle joined to a pointed and/or barbed head. When a user has a clog, the user can retrieve a disposable cleaning device and, gripping the handle vertically above the toilet, insert the head into the toilet trapway passage and past the clogging material. The user can provide a gentle twisting motion, or push the sanitary device in and out in a reciprocating motion, or other suitable motion to break up and clear the clog. Once the clog is broken up, the sanitary device is simply released into the toilet bowl, where it will dissolve and/or disintegrate. After a short amount of time, the user simply flushes the toilet, removing both the clogged material and the sanitary device.

Claims

1. A disposable cleaning device comprised of: an elongated handle joined to a head portion, wherein the head portion is either pointed, barbed or rounded, and wherein the cleaning device is comprised of a material or materials that are water soluble and dissolvable enough to be flushed.

2. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is further comprised of: a water-degradable cardboard, a reinforced paper, or fiber-reinforced tissue paper, and a water-soluble binder capable of providing a temporarily stiff structure to the cleaning device.

3. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is long enough to extend from the bottom of a toilet bowl into the trapway passage of a toilet, and wherein the handle is of sufficient length to allow a user to use the cleaning device while avoiding contact with the toilet.

4. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the sanitary device is of sufficient length to provide sanitary unclogging and cleaning.

5. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the sanitary device is 12″-48″ long.

6. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the sanitary device, is 18″-36″ long.

7. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the handle in cross section is square, rectangular, triangular or circular.

8. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the width of the handle is between about 0.5″ and about 1.5″

9. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning device is comprised of: water-degradable cardboard, a reinforced paper, or fiber-reinforced tissue paper and a water-soluble binder capable of providing a temporarily stiff structure to the cleaning device.

10. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is comprised of at least one barb or protrusion.

11. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is comprised of between two and ten barbs or protrusions.

12. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion in cross section is square, rectangular, or circular.

13. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is between about 4″ and about 12″ long.

14. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is between about 6″ long.

15. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the head portion is further comprised of at least one barb or protrusion, and wherein the outer diameter of the at least one barb or protrusions is wider than the outer diameter of the handle.

16. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the handle and head portion are comprised of a dual-piece construction, and they are joined by a degradable adhesive, male and female threads, or a simple male-female insertion arrangement, at the respective ends of the handle and head.

17. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the handle is curved.

18. A disposable cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the handle is further comprised of at least one environmentally safe cleaning solvent, soluble disinfectant or both.

19. A method of using a cleaning device comprising the steps of: Providing a disposable cleaning device comprised of an elongated handle joined to a head portion, wherein the head portion is either pointed, barbed or rounded, and wherein the cleaning device is comprised of a material or materials that are water soluble and dissolvable enough to be flushed, and breaking up or clearing a clog in a toilet, bowl by either providing a twisting motion to the cleaning device, pushing the cleaning device in a reciprocating motion, or both.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of releasing the cleaning device into the toilet bowl.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE: DRAWINGS

[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing. The following descriptions are made referring to the figure, wherein like reference numbers refer to like features throughout this description.

[0021] An exemplary, but not exclusive, embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-3. A disposable cleaning device 10 for unclogging toilets and other bathroom appliances in a sanitary manner is provided, generally comprised of an elongated core or handle 20 joined to a pointed and/or barbed, or rounded, head 30. This embodiment comprises a barbed head. When a user has a clog, the user can retrieve a disposable cleaning device 10 and, gripping the handle 20 vertically above the toilet, insert the head 30 into the toilet trapway passage and past the clogging material. Sometimes, this action alone may be sufficient to break up a clog.

[0022] Otherwise, the user can provide a gentle twisting motion, or push the sanitary device in and out in a reciprocating motion, or other suitable motion to break up and clear the clog. As the head 30 has typically gripped some of the clogging material upon insertion, the head 30 and motion(s) with the sanitary device 10 will grip and separate some of the clogged material out of the trapway passage, allowing water in the toilet bowl to flow into the trapway passage, dislodging and breaking up the clogged material.

[0023] Once the clog is broken up, the sanitary device 10 is simply released into the toilet bowl, there it will dissolve and/or disintegrate. After a short amount of time, the user simply flushes the toilet, removing both the clogged material and the sanitary device 20.

[0024] The sanitary device 10 should be of a proper size to penetrate the trapway passage of a toilet to remove clogged material. Generally, the sanitary device 10 should be of a suitable size such that the handle 20 extends above the bowl of a toilet to allow the user to avoid contact with the toilet, and the head 30 is long enough to extend from the bottom of the toilet bowl into the trapway passage where the clogged material sits.

[0025] The sanitary device 10 is of a suitable length, given the toilet and bathroom conditions, to provide sanitary unclogging and cleaning. This can be 12″-48″ depending upon conditions, but it typically 18″ to 36.″ In any event, the sanitary device 10 should be long enough so that the user is not normally splashed with water from the toilet during unclogging or cleaning, yet not so long that the sanitary device 10 becomes awkward or cumbersome to use. In this embodiment, the overall length of the sanitary device 10 is 36.″ The width of the handle 20 can be any suitable width for fulfilling its purpose, based on factors such as handle length and materials of construction, and in cross section can be of any suitable shape, such as, e.g., square, rectangular, triangular or circular and in this embodiment is circular. Typically, the width of the handle is between about 0.5″ and about 1.5″ In this embodiment, the handle is circular with a radius of about 0.75″

[0026] The device may also feature a grip portion 50 (not shown) at the end of the handle 20 away from the head portion to assist a user in holding onto the handle.

[0027] Turning more specifically to FIG. 1, the tip of the head 30 of the sanitary device 10 is typically, as in this example, triangular and pointed to initially penetrate the head 30 through clogs and blockages and help break them up, though the tip of the head 30 can be any suitable shape for penetrating matter known in the art such as, e.g., triangular or spade shaped. The head 30, as in this embodiment, can have one or more protrusions, represented herein as 40, 40′, 40″, 40″′, 40″″, 40′″, for gripping matter as the head 30 passes through, to help break up the clog. In this embodiment, the protrusions 40, 40′, 40″, 40″′, 40″″, 40″″″ are comprised of a set of pointed barbs. The number of barbs or protrusions 40, 40′ , 40″, 40″′, 40″″, 40″″′ can be any suitable number, but is typically between two and ten barbs, more specifically between four and six barbs and in this embodiment, is comprised of six barbs. The barbs 40, 40′, 40″, 40″′, 40″″, 40″″′ in the head 30 in this embodiment typically work similarly to a barbed arrow, stingray stinger, or other device designed to grip surrounding material as it passes through.

[0028] Further, the head 30 can be comprised of other configurations known in the art for securing or gripping surrounding material as it passes through. Additionally, the head 30 and barbs 40, 40′, 40″, 40″′, 40″″, 40″″′ can be of any suitable chosen shape in cross section, such as, e.g., square, rectangular or, as in this embodiment, circular.

[0029] The head 30 can be any suitable length for penetrating and disrupting clogs, typically between about 4″ and about 12.′ In this embodiment, and more specifically, the head is about 6.′ The outer width or diameter of the protrusions 40. 40′, 40″, 40″′, 40″″, 40″″′ is typically wider than the handle 20. The outer diameter can be any suitable width that allows for penetration into the toilet drain area, is typically about 1″ to about 2″ and in this embodiment, the head has an outer radius of 1.′

[0030] The handle 20 and head 30 portions of the sanitary device can be either a single piece construction, as in this embodiment or two distinct pieces joined to each other. If there are two joined pieces, they can be attached to each other by any suitable means in the art, such as, e.g., a degradable adhesive, providing male and female threads or a simple male-female insertion arrangement at the respective ends of the handle 20 and head 30.

[0031] In another embodiment (not shown), the handle may be curved for improved access to various toilet configurations.

[0032] To be flushable and disposable, the sanitary device 10 is comprised of a material or materials known in the art capable of providing the temporary rigidity necessary for the sanitary device 10 to achieve its purpose, yet are water soluble and dissolvable enough to be flushed when used for easy disposal. The device 10 can be comprised of materials, such as thin, degradable cardboard, a reinforced paper, or, as in this embodiment fiber-reinforced tissue paper and a water-soluble binder that provides a temporarily stiff structure. The binder may be made of starch or another environmentally friendly substance with similar physical properties.

[0033] Further, The handle 20 can include environmentally safe cleaning solvents or soluble disinfectant materials that may include freshly scented deodorizers. Accordingly, when the sanitary device 10 is released into the toilet, it not only is disposed of, but can help clean, disinfect and even provide an improved scent to the toilet. The sanitary device 10 can release these active ingredients and dissolve at an appropriate rate to allow adequate unclogging and cleaning.

[0034] The sanitary device 10 may come pre-packaged, singly or with multiple other devices, to allow for neat and compact storage. This eliminates the associated problems of keeping and storing previous devices such as toilet plungers and brushes, such as contamination, odor and unsightliness.

[0035] By this invention, a disposable device is provided that unclogs and cleans bathroom appliances and can be safely disposed of afterward by simple flushing. The device not only reduces contamination risk from storage and cleaning, but is more convenient to both store and use.

[0036] It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, the expression of these individual embodiments is for illustrative purposes and should not be seen as a limitation upon the scope of the invention. It is to be further understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts described and shown.