Plunger device with a plumbing auger attachment

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a plunger device for clearing a clog from drain. The plunger device includes a handle, a plunger cup, and an auger attachment. The handle has a shaft removably connected to the plunger cup at the top of the cup, and the auger attachment is also releasably connected to the plunger cup at the bottom of the cup. The auger attachment extends beyond the rim and cup body of the plunger cup so that the auger attachment is mechanically inserted into the drain. The auger attachment is formed of a stronger material than the plunger cup. The push and pull of the handle creates the air pressure and vacuum action of the plunger cup to clear the clog. Also, the action creates the boring and retraction action of the auger attachment against the clog in the drain.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A plunger device comprising:
 a handle means comprised of shaft, said shaft having a threaded end and a gripping end opposite said threaded end;   a plunger cup means releasably attached to said handle means at said threaded end, said plunger cup means being comprised of a rim and cup body, said rim and said cup body being made integral and being formed of a first material; and   an auger attachment means releasably connected to said plunger cup means, said auger attachment means being mounted on a bottom side of said plunger cup means, said handle means being mounted on a top side of said plunger cup means, said auger attachment means extending through said cup body and beyond said rim of said plunger cup means.   
     
     
         2 . The plunger device according to  claim 1 , said plunger cup means further comprising a first engagement means on said top side of said plunger cup means, said first engagement means being removably connected to said handle means, and said first engagement means being made integral with said cup body and said rim and being formed of said first material 
     
     
         3 . The plunger device according to  claim 2 , said handle means being snap-fit into said plunger cup means by said threaded end attaching to said first engagement means. 
     
     
         4 . The plunger device according to  claim 2 , said handle means being in threaded engagement with said plunger cup means by said threaded end being screw-fit into said first engagement means. 
     
     
         5 . The plunger device according to  claim 1 , said plunger cup means further comprising a second engagement means on said bottom side of said plunger cup means, said second engagement means being removably connected to said auger attachment means, said second engagement means being within said cup body, said second engagement means being made integral with said cup body and said rim and being formed of said first material, and said second engagement means being generally cylindrical and having a cavity for engaging said auger attachment means. 
     
     
         6 . The plunger device according to  claim 5 , said auger attachment means being snap-fit into said plunger cup means by attaching to said second engagement means. 
     
     
         7 . The plunger device according to  claim 5 , said auger attachment means being in threaded engagement with said plunger cup means by being screw-fit into said second engagement means. 
     
     
         8 . The plunger device according to  claim 1 , said auger attachment means being comprised of a second material, said first material being more flexible than said second material. 
     
     
         9 . The plunger device according to  claim 8 , said auger attachment means having an attachment end and a boring end, said attachment end engaging said plunger cup means, said boring end being extended through said cup body and beyond said rim. 
     
     
         10 . The plunger device according to  claim 1 , said auger attachment means being comprised of a connector piece and an insertion means, said connector piece removably engaging said plunger cup means. 
     
     
         11 . The plunger device according to  claim 10 , said connector piece being at said attachment end, said insertion means being at said boring end, and said connector piece being removably connected to said second engagement means. 
     
     
         12 . The plunger device according to  claim 11 , said connector piece being screw-fit into said second engagement means. 
     
     
         13 . The plunger device according to  claim 11 , said connector piece being a male connector, said second engagement means being a female connector. 
     
     
         14 . The plunger device according to  claim 11 , said insertion means having an extension element and an auger tip, said extension element having a length so as to extend through said cup body and beyond said rim, said extension element being flexible. 
     
     
         15 . A method of clearing a clog in a drain, comprising the steps of:
 positioning a plunger device against said drain, said plunger device comprising a handle comprised of shaft, said shaft having a threaded end and a gripping end opposite said threaded end; a plunger cup releasably attached to said handle at said threaded end, said plunger cup being comprised of a rim and cup body, said rim and said cup body being made integral and being formed of a first material; and an auger attachment releasably connected to said plunger cup, said auger attachment means being mounted on a bottom side of said plunger cup, said handle being mounted on a top side of said plunger cup, said auger attachment extending through said cup body and beyond said rim of said plunger cup;   inserting said auger attachment into said drain into an original position within said drain, said auger attachment being comprised of a second material, said second material being less flexible than said first material;   covering an opening of said drain with said cup body so as to form a seal around said drain;   pushing said handle so as to deform said cup body from an original shape and to push air in said cup body into said drain, said auger attachment being inserted further into said drain beyond said original position;   pulling said handle away from said drain so as to return said cup body to said original shape and to vacuum fluid into said cup body from said drain, said auger attachment being retracted to said original position;   repeating the steps of pushing and pulling said handle until said clog is cleared from said drain; and   releasing said plunger device from said drain.   
     
     
         16 . The method of clearing a clog, according to  claim 15 , said plunger cup means further comprising a first engager on said top side of said plunger cup, said first engager being made integral with said cup body and said rim and being formed of said first material, the method further comprising the step of:
 removably connecting said first engager to said handle.   
     
     
         17 . The method of clearing a clog, according to  claim 15 , said plunger cup further comprising a second engager on said bottom side of said plunger cup, the method further comprising the step of:
 removably connecting said second engager to said auger attachment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of clearing a clog, according to  claim 15 , said auger attachment being comprised of a second material, said first material being more flexible than said second material, said step of pushing said handle further comprising:
 deforming said plunger cup without deforming said auger attachment.   
     
     
         19 . The method of clearing a clog, according to  claim 15 , said auger attachment having an attachment end and a boring end, said attachment end engaging said plunger cup, the method further comprising:
 extending said boring end through said cup body and beyond said rim and into said drain to said original position so as to physically contact blockage in said drain.   
     
     
         20 . The method of clearing a clog, according to  claim 15 , said connector piece being at said attachment end, said inserter being at said boring end, said inserter having an extension element and an auger tip, the method further comprising:
 extending said inserter into said drain to said original position so as to physically contact blockage in said drain.