Single piece toilet scrubber/plunger device

Abstract

This single piece device (the “Splunger”) performs the function of a toilet plunger and a toilet scrubber. It can be used to clean a toilet and clear a plugged toilet. However, the unplugging mechanism is different from toilet plungers currently in use. The later uses air to push the plug out of the way. The Splunger primarily uses water pressure to clear the plug. The Splunger is of simple design and consists of a handle affixed to a specially shaped porous sponge or spongy material. The handle made of durable material that is either rigid or slightly flexible, and is slightly flanged at the sponge end to permit strong adhesion to the sponge and prevent rips. The end of the sponge nearest the water is slightly cupped to enable cupping of water so that a downward thrust of the device will increase water pressure and push the plug down the drain. Sponge is made of strong, durable and porous material to allow for scrubbing, quick drainage and low water retention. The sides of the sponge flare out from the water end of the sponge and are tapered with the outer edge wavy or toothed to permit better scrubbing of the sides of the toilet and up under the rim. The flared sides fold back when the Splunger is pushed down the toilet drain, permitting a tight fit without losing freedom of movement.

1 . A combination toilet scrubber and plunger in a single-pieced device, a “Splunger”, wherein comprising: a durable sponge or sponge-like material shaped to fit snugly into a standard toilet bowl or other sized toilet bowls, and said sponge to be shaped with straight sides that flare out and are tapered from the center out, and said sponge to be firmly affixed to an elongated handle to form a single-pieced device that can be used to both unplug and scrub clean a toilet bowl;  
   
   
       2 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said sponge is attached to the flared end of the handle, and is made of strong, durable and porous sponge-like material to allow for scrubbing, quick drainage and low water absorption/retention;  
   
   
       3 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 2 , wherein the sides of the sponge are flared and tapered to permit them to fold back when the Splunger is pushed down the toilet drain, permitting a tight fit, but freedom of movement;  
   
   
       4 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 3 , wherein the sides of said sponge are flared and tapered with the outer, narrow edge of sponge shaped in a wavy or toothed manner to permit better scrubbing of the sides of the toilet and up under the toilet rim;  
   
   
       5 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 4 , wherein the end of the sponge is slightly cupped to enable a cupping of water at the plunging end of the sponge to increase the use of water pressure upon the downward thrust of the Splunger;  
   
   
       6 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 1 , wherein said handle component is made of strong, durable material, either rigid or slightly flexible, and is long enough to permit use of the tool without being too close to the water;  
   
   
       7 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 6 , wherein the bottom end of the handle that is connected to the center of the inside of the sponge is enlarged in a bulbous manner to improve the strength and durability of the connection, and to improve the effectiveness of the plunger action in pushing water and the plug down and out of the toilet drain;  
   
   
       8 . The combination scrubber/plunger, the Splunger, as described in  claim 1 , wherein the sponge component may be constructed in such a manner as to be detachable from the afore-described handle component to permit the replacement of the sponge component while re-using the more durable handle component.