# US 12,006,673 B2 · Inverted plunger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,673 B2 - Document ID: US12006673B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/836,729 - Filed: 2022-06-09 - Published: 2022-12-15 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-13 - Applicants: Michael Carroll - Inventors: Michael Carroll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006673B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/30: Devices to facilitate removing of obstructions in waste-pipes or sinks {(for use in sewer pipes or both in waste and sewer pipes E03F9/00)} - E03D 9/00: Sanitary or other accessories for lavatories (hand tools for cleaning the toilet bowl A47K11/10; seats or covers for closets A47K13/00; body supports, other than seats for closets A47K17/02; devices for preventing contamination of drinking-water pipes E03C1/10 ){; Devices for cleaning or disinfecting the toilet room or the toilet bowl; Devices for eliminating smells (cleaning, disinfecting or deodorising the seat A47K13/30)} - E03C 1/304: using fluid under pressure - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - E03D: WATER-CLOSETS OR URINALS WITH FLUSHING DEVICES; FLUSHING VALVES THEREFOR ## Abstract An inverted plunger for unclogging pipes or toilets is described. The proposed inverted plunger does not have any openings filled with air, at the stretchable elastic bottom part, unlike all plungers described in the prior art. The proposed inverted plunger is equipped with the internal piston, that allows the pressure application to the narrower part of the stretchable bottom, leading to direct pressure from the stretched material to the liquid inside the pipe, avoiding the air-to-liquid pressure utilized in regular plungers. Using the electric motor in the proposed inverted plunger leads to the increased efficiency and to the easy use by the operator. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inverted plunger, comprising: a hollow, rigid handle having a first end and a second end; an elastic body having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end of the elastic body is attached to the first end of said hollow, rigid handle, and the bottom end of the elastic body protrudes outwards in a direction opposite to the second end of said hollow, rigid handle; a grip attached to the second end of said hollow, rigid handle, wherein said grip is equipped with a means to manipulate the bottom end of the elastic body to move axially relative to the hollow, rigid handle, protruding the bottom end of the elastic body in the direction opposite to the grip and wherein said elastic body encloses said means to manipulate the bottom end of the elastic both. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The inverted plunger of claim 1, wherein said elastic body is made from material selected from the group consisting of: silicone; mold making rubber; natural rubber; elastomers; nitrile neoprene; and vinyl. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The inverted plunger of claim 1, wherein said elastic body has a spherical shape. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The inverted plunger of claim 1, wherein said elastic body has a semi-spherical shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The inverted plunger of claim 1, wherein said grip is attached to the second end of said hollow, rigid handle by means of springs and the grip is configured to move axially relative to the hollow, rigid handle, and wherein said means to manipulate the bottom end of the elastic body further comprise a rod inserted inside the hollow, rigid handle and attached on one end to said grip and on the other end to the top end of the elastic body, and the rod can be moved axially by the axial movement of the handle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The inverted plunger of claim 1, wherein said grip is molded to the second end of said hollow, rigid handle and, wherein said means to manipulate the bottom end of said elastic body further comprise: an energy store inserted in the hollow, rigid handle; an electrical motor fitted in the second end to the hollow, rigid handle and wired to the energy store, and having a moving piston on the end opposite to the grip, said piston being attached to the top end of said elastic body; a button located on said grip that connects to said energy store and initiates the flow of electric current from said energy store to said motor, resulting in said piston moving said bottom end of the elastic body protruding the bottom end of the elastic body in the direction opposite to the grip. ### Claim 7 A method of cleaning clogged pipes, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an inverted plunger, including: a hollow, rigid handle having a first end and a second end; an elastic body having a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end of the elastic body is attached to the first end of said hollow, rigid handle, and the bottom end of the elastic body protrudes outwards in a direction opposite to the second end of said hollow, rigid handle; a grip attached to the second end of said hollow, rigid handle, wherein said grip is equipped with a means to manipulate the bottom end of the elastic body to move axially relative to the hollow, rigid handle, protruding the bottom end of the elastic body in the direction opposite to the grip, and wherein said elastic body encloses said means to manipulate the bottom end of the elastic body; (b) placing the bottom end of the elastic body into an opening of a pipe filled with liquid and having a clog of debris obstructing a flow of liquid; (c) manipulating the grip causing the repetitive movement of said bottom end of the elastic body further causing the vibration of liquid in the opening of a pipe; (d) The movement of said bottom end of the elastic body resulting in breaking down the clog of debris inside the pipe, restoring the free flow of liquid. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A method of claim 7, wherein said method is used for unclogging toilets.