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US 5,384,918 AGranted
Plunger device
AssigneeLisa M. Leighton
InventorsLisa M. Leighton, Brian D. Stearns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plunger device for forcing waste through a drain line of a plumbing fixture. The plunger device generally comprises an elongate tubular member having a top end and a bottom end. Fluidly connected to the top end is a handle member which is adapted to be fluidly coupled to a water supply source. Fluidly connected to the bottom end is a plunger member which is sized and configured to be positionable over and form a fluid-tight seal about a drain opening of the fixture in a manner when water is directed from the supply source, through the plunger device, and into the drain line.
Claims10
A plunger device for forcing waste through a drain line of a plumbing fixture, comprising:
- an elongate, tubular member having top and bottom ends;
- a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the top end of said tubular member and adapted to have a water supply source fluidly coupled thereto;
- a pair of elongate, tubular handle members attached to said valve assembly in a manner wherein said handle members extend perpendicularly relative said tubular member in opposed relation;
- and
- a plunger member connected to the bottom end of said tubular member and defining an interior cavity which is in fluid communication with said tubular member, said plunger member further including a fluid outlet port and being sized and configured to cover and form a fluid-tight seal about a drain opening of said fixture in a manner wherein water is directed from said supply source, through said plunger device, and into said drain line via said outlet port;
- said valve assembly comprising:
- a housing defining an interior chamber;
- a check valve disposed intermediate said interior chamber and said tubular member, said check valve being adapted to prevent the back-flow of water from said tubular member into said interior chamber;
- a water inlet valve disposed intermediate said interior chamber and said water supply source, said inlet valve being adapted to channel water from said supply source to said interior chamber when actuated to an open position;
- an actuation button disposed within said housing and cooperatively engaged to said water inlet valve in a manner wherein pressing said button is operable to actuate the inlet valve to the open position;
- and
- at least one air inlet valve disposed within said housing intermediate said interior chamber and a respective one of said handle members, said air inlet valve being operable to create a vacuum break and close said water inlet valve by placing said interior chamber in fluid communication with ambient air via said handle member when the fluid pressure in said interior chamber is less than atmospheric pressure;
- said valve assembly being selectively actuatable between open and closed positions, and operable to channel water from said supply source into said tubular member when in the open position.
10 more elements
A plunger device for forcing waste through a drain line of a plumbing fixture, comprising:
- an elongate, tubular member having top and bottom ends;
- a valve assembly fluidly coupled to the top end of said tubular member and adapted to have water supply source fluidly coupled thereto;
- a pair of elongate tubular handle members attached to said valve assembly;
- and
- a plunger member connected to the bottom end of said tubular member and defining an interior cavity which is in fluid communication with said tubular member, said plunger member further including a fluid outlet port and being sized and configured to cover and form a fluid-tight seal about a drain opening of said fixture in a manner wherein water is directed from said supply source, through said plunger device, and into said drain line via said outlet port;
- said valve assembly comprising:
- a housing defining an interior chamber;
- a check valve disposed intermediate said interior chamber and said tubular member, said check valve being adapted to prevent the back-flow of water from said tubular member into said interior chamber;
- a water inlet valve disposed intermediate said interior chamber and said water supply source, said water inlet valve being adapted to channel water from said supply source to said interior chamber when actuated to an open position;
- and
- at least one air inlet valve disposed within said housing intermediate said interior chamber and a respective one of said handle members, said air inlet valve being operable to create a vacuum break and close said water inlet valve by placing said interior chamber in fluid communication with ambient air via said handle member when the fluid pressure in said interior chamber is less than atmospheric pressure;
- said valve assembly being selectively actuatable between open and closed positions, and operable to channel water from said supply source into said tubular member when in the open position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.