Apparatus and method for transporting and storing a plumbing tool

Abstract

A plumbing tool transporting and storing device and method for entirely concealing a plumbing tool such as a toilet brush or plumbing plunger, and transporting that tool without risk of dripping effluent or displaying the device's contents, and for storing the tool efficiently and conveniently. The device is used by placing the tool into the device through a specially designed opening, then picking the device up by its handle, and carrying it to its destination, avoiding unwanted attention as the concealed tool is transported through common areas. The device may then be hung on a surface such as a wall or rack, by a bracket system or by the handle.

1 . A plumbing tool transporting and storing apparatus comprising:
 an integral housing, the housing configured to house a plumbing tool, the tool comprising a base and a shaft, with both the base and the shaft being housed by the housing;   an opening disposed in the housing, the opening configured to admit the tool;   a handle disposed on the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a receptacle disposed in the bottom of the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the receptacle is formed by a vertical wall of the housing, non-permeably connected to a horizontal floor of the housing. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the opening is narrow to prevent the shaft from inadvertently leaving the housing. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the opening size and shape approximate the silhouette of the tool. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a wing disposed on the housing and extending into the opening in the plane of the opening. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a foot on the bottom of the housing. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising a bracket operatively connected to the housing. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a horizontal floor and top, and four vertical walls which rise in a rectilinear fashion perpendicularly from the floor, and wherein an upper portion of one of the walls slants inwardly in a rectilinear fashion, creating a tapered effect. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the floor is approximately in the shape of a square, and the receptacle is formed by four vertical housing walls non-permeably connected to the floor at the four edges of the floor respectively, and non-permeably connected to each other at the resulting four corners of the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the size and shape of the opening approximates the size and shape of the upper ¾ of the rear wall of the housing where the opening is disposed. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the handle is a U-shaped handle integral to the housing. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the wing is shaped approximately like a half-spade, derived from a spade shape split longitudinally, and disposed with the split edge connected to the housing on a vertical edge of the opening, the narrow end pointing downward. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the wing is disposed on a vertical edge of the opening, and located with the center of mass of the wing higher than the longitudinal center of the opening. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the wing is nonmoving. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein ridges at the top of the opening of the housing correspond to bracket surfaces and a bracket base plate, the bracket surfaces and the base plate interlocking with the housing ridges. 
   
   
       17 . A method of concealing, transporting, and storing a plumbing tool, the method comprising:
 providing a plumbing tool;   providing a housing configured to house the tool;   placing the tool into the housing;   picking up the housing and the tool;   transporting the housing and the tool;   hanging the housing and the tool on a surface.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the housing is hung on a bracket, which in turn is mounted to a surface. 
   
   
       19 . A plumbing tool transporting and storing apparatus comprising:
 an upper portion and a base permanently connected;   the base comprising a receptacle;   the upper portion comprising a housing   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the upper and lower portions are integral.