Punger with splashguard

Abstract

A plunger includes a flexible bell, an elongated handle, and a shroud. The flexible bell has a hollow defining a volume and an open bottom end positionable in the bowl, facing a drain. The handle is coupled to the end of the bell opposite the open end. The bell can have at least two configurations: an expanded, relaxed configuration and a compressed configuration achieved by pushing the handle towards the bell. The shroud covers the bell, has its bottom sealed to the perimeter of the open bottom of the bell, and has an open top through which the handle may move. An interior profile of the shroud defined by the shroud's inner surface matches and maintains a substantially constant distance to the bell while in its relaxed configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plunger device configured to remove an obstruction from a drain through which fluid drains from a bowl, the plunger device comprising:
 a) a flexible bell having a hollow defining a volume and an open bottom end positionable in the bowl and facing the drain;   b) an elongated handle coupled to a top of the bell opposite the open bottom end;   c) the bell having at least two configurations, including:
 i) an expanded, relaxed configuration having a greater volume, and 
 ii) a compressed configuration in which the handle is pushed towards the bell, displacing the top of the bell towards the hollow defining a smaller compressed volume, less than the greater volume, configured to expel fluid from the hollow of the bell and into the drain; 
   d) the exterior of the bell having an outermost exterior surface defining an exterior profile in the expanded, relaxed configuration;   e) a shroud having a bottom sealed to the bell around a circumference thereof, and an open top through which the handle is movably disposed;   f) the shroud having an inner surface opposing the outermost exterior surface of the bell and defining an interior profile; and   g) the interior profile of the shroud matching the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration; and the interior profile of the shroud maintaining a substantially constant distance with respect to the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration from the bottom of the shroud to the top of the bell.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the handle has an air passage therein extending from an upper opening outside the shroud to a lower opening inside the shroud. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud has a cover portion covering the bell and defining an interior volume of the cover portion that is greater than a volume defined by an exterior surface of the bell or the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration by less than twenty percent. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud has an interior volume defined by the inner surface of the shroud; wherein the bell has an exterior volume defined by the outermost exterior surface of the bell or exterior profile of the bell; and wherein a difference between the interior volume of the shroud and the exterior volume of the bell is less than 20%. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior profile of the bell includes an arcuate portion, and wherein the interior profile of the shroud includes an arcuate portion. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bell includes a bellows portion and the exterior profile of the bell defined by the outermost exterior surface is frusto-conical; and wherein the interior profile of the shroud includes a portion that is frusto-conical. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior profile of the bell tapers from a greater diameter at the bottom of the bell to a lesser diameter at the top of the bell; and wherein the shroud tapers from a greater diameter at the bottom of the bell to a lesser diameter at the top of the bell. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior profile of the bell tapers from a greater diameter at the top of the bell to a lesser diameter at the bottom of the bell; and wherein the shroud tapers from a greater diameter at the top of the bell to a lesser diameter at the bottom of the bell. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the shroud contacts the outermost exterior surface of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration from the bottom of the shroud to the open top of the shroud. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior of the shroud has an outermost exterior surface defining an exterior profile; and wherein the exterior profile of the shroud matches the interior profile of the shroud. 
     
     
         11 . A plunger device configured to remove an obstruction from a drain through which fluid drains from a bowl, the plunger device comprising:
 a) a flexible bell with a bellows portion and having a hollow defining a volume and an open bottom end positionable in the bowl and facing the drain;   b) an elongated handle coupled to a top of the bell opposite the open bottom end;   c) the bell having at least two configurations, including:
 i) an expanded, relaxed configuration having a greater volume, and 
 ii) a compressed configuration in which the handle is pushed towards the bell, displacing the top of the bell towards the hollow defining a smaller compressed volume, less than the greater volume, configured to expel fluid from the hollow of the bell and into the drain; 
   d) the exterior of the bell having an outermost exterior surface defining an exterior profile with an arcuate portion in the expanded, relaxed configuration;   e) a shroud having a bottom sealed to the bell around a circumference thereof, and an open top through which the handle is movably disposed;   the shroud having an inner surface opposing the outermost exterior surface of the bell and defining an interior profile with an arcuate portion; and   g) the interior profile of shroud matching the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration; and the interior profile of the shroud maintaining a substantially constant distance with respect to the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration from the bottom of the shroud to the top of the bell.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the handle has an air passage therein extending from an upper opening outside the shroud to a lower opening inside the shroud. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the shroud has a cover portion covering the bell and defining an interior volume of the cover portion that is greater than a volume defined by an exterior surface of the bell or the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration by less than twenty percent. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the shroud has an interior volume defined by the inner surface of the shroud; wherein the bell defines an exterior volume defined by the outermost exterior surface of the bell or exterior profile of the bell; and wherein a difference between the interior volume of the shroud and the exterior volume of the bell is less than 20%. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the inner surface of the shroud contacts the outermost exterior surface of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration from the bottom of the shroud to the open top of the shroud. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein the exterior of the shroud has an outermost exterior surface defining an exterior profile; and wherein the exterior profile of the shroud matches the interior profile of the shroud. 
     
     
         17 . A plunger device configured to remove an obstruction from a drain through which fluid drains from a bowl, the plunger device comprising:
 a) a flexible bell having a hollow defining a volume and an open bottom end positionable in the bowl and facing the drain;   b) an elongated handle coupled to a top of the bell opposite the open bottom end;   c) the bell having at least two configurations, including:
 i) an expanded, relaxed configuration having a greater volume, and 
 ii) a compressed configuration in which the handle is pushed towards the bell, displacing the top of the bell towards the hollow defining a smaller compressed volume, less than the greater volume, configured to expel fluid from the hollow of the bell and into the drain; and 
   d) the exterior of the bell having an outermost exterior surface defining an exterior profile with a frusto-conical portion in the expanded, relaxed configuration;   e) a shroud having a bottom sealed to the bell around a circumference thereof, and an open top through which the handle is movably disposed;   f) the shroud having an inner surface opposing the outermost exterior surface of the bell and defining an interior profile with a frusto-conical portion; and   g) the interior profile of shroud matching the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration; and the interior profile of the shroud maintaining a substantially constant distance with respect to the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration from the bottom of the shroud to the top of the bell.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the handle has an air passage therein extending from an upper opening outside the shroud to a lower opening inside the shroud. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the shroud has a cover portion covering the bell and defining an interior volume of the cover portion that is greater than a volume defined by an exterior surface of the bell or the exterior profile of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration by less than twenty percent. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the shroud has an interior volume defined by the inner surface of the shroud; wherein the bell defines an exterior volume defined by the outermost exterior surface of the bell or exterior profile of the bell; and wherein a difference between the interior volume of the shroud and the exterior volume of the bell is less than 20%. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the inner surface of the shroud contacts the outermost exterior surface of the bell in the expanded, relaxed configuration from the bottom of the shroud to the open top of the shroud. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the exterior profile of the bell tapers from a greater diameter at the bottom of the bell to a lesser diameter at the top of the bell; and wherein the shroud tapers from a greater diameter at the bottom of the bell to a lesser diameter at the top of the bell. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the exterior profile of the bell tapers from a greater diameter at the top of the bell to a lesser diameter at the bottom of the bell; and wherein the shroud tapers from a greater diameter at the bottom of the bell to a lesser diameter at the top of the bell.