Toilet plunger holder

Abstract

An apparatus for holding items like a toilet plunger or a toilet brush operates easily, and may be used by anyone who can lift a toilet plunger or brush. The apparatus includes two or more cover portions. The cover portions are movably coupled to a base portion. When a plunger or brush is not present, the cover portions are in a substantially open position due to the force of gravity. When a plunger or brush is placed within the cover portions, the weight of the plunger or brush on a bottom portion of the cover portions causes the cover portions to move to a substantially closed position around the handle, thereby substantially concealing the working portion of the plunger or brush from view while leaving the handle substantially exposed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for containing an item, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base; and    at least two cover portions movably coupled to the base, wherein the cover portions are in a substantially open position due to the force of gravity when the apparatus does not contain the item, and wherein the cover portions move to a substantially closed position due to the weight of the item on the cover portions to substantially cover the item.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the item comprises a toilet plunger.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the item comprises a toilet brush.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the at least two cover portions comprise two cover portions that move in clamshell fashion with respect to each other.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each of the cover portions is pivotally coupled to the base.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each cover portion includes a notch for receiving a handle of the item.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cover portions each comprise a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is substantially flat, the bottom portion being disposed at an angle with respect to horizontal when the cover portion is in the substantially open position, the bottom portion being disposed substantially horizontal when the cover portion is in the substantially closed position.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the bottom portion of each cover portion includes at least one bearing surface that the item contacts when the item is placed within an opening defined by the at least two cover portions in the substantially open position.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the weight of the item on the at least one bearing surface causes each cover portion to move to the substantially closed position.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein each cover portion includes at least one pivot pin and wherein the base includes a plurality of pivot pin guides that each receive one of the pivot pins.  
     
     
         11 . A device for holding an item such as a toilet plunger or toilet brush, the device comprising: 
 (A) a substantially cylindrical base portion comprising at least one pivot pin guide;    (B) two cover portions each comprising; 
 an upper portion; and  
 a lower portion comprising at least one pivot pin that engages the at least one pivot pin guide, wherein the location of the pivot pin on the lower portion causes each upper portion to be in a substantially open position under force of gravity when the device does not contain the item, thereby creating an opening between the two cover portions in the substantially open position, the lower portion including a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface is contacted by the item placed within the opening between the two cover portions, the weight of the item causing the two cover portions to pivot towards each other to a substantially closed position that substantially covers the item.  
   
     
     
         12 . A toilet plunger holder comprising: 
 (A) a substantially cylindrical base portion comprising four pivot pin guides;    (B) two cover portions each comprising; 
 an upper portion; and  
 a lower portion comprising two pivot pins that engage corresponding pivot pin guides, wherein the location of the pivot pin on the lower portion causes each upper portion to be in a substantially open position under force of gravity when the holder does not contain the toilet plunger, thereby creating an opening between the two cover portions in the substantially open position, the lower portion including a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface is contacted by a working portion of the toilet plunger placed within the opening between the two cover portions, the weight of the toilet plunger causing the two cover portions to pivot towards each other to a substantially closed position that substantially covers the working portion of the toilet plunger.