Patent application title: Utility Device Caddy
Inventors:
Sylvia Lynn Lewis (Mapleton, IL, US)
IPC8 Class: AA45C1126FI
USPC Class:
206349
Class name: Special receptacle or package for a tool (e.g., knife, shaver)
Publication date: 2011-04-14
Patent application number: 20110083982
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Patent application title: Utility Device Caddy
Inventors:
Sylvia Lynn Lewis
Agents:
Assignees:
Origin: ,
IPC8 Class: AA45C1126FI
USPC Class:
Publication date: 04/14/2011
Patent application number: 20110083982
Abstract:
The present invention relates generally to a utility device caddy,
particularly a caddy capable of holding a toilet plunger. In particular,
the present invention relates a toilet plunger caddy in which the toilet
plunger may be removed from and returned to the caddy through a hinged
door without having to touch the caddy. The utility device caddy may also
be configured to hold both a toilet plunger and a brush.Claims:
1. A utility device caddy capable of receiving a toilet plunger, the
utility device plunger caddy comprising: a base portion and an upper
portion, the upper portion including a body portion and a hinged door,
the hinged door is pivotally attached to the body portion by hinges,
which are attached to the body portion on a front portion and a rear
portion of the body portion, and which are also attached to the hinged
door, the body portion including a stopping device located on a side
portion of the body portion, the stopping device further comprising a
receiving area, the hinged door further comprising a base portion with an
outer side portion, wherein, the hinged door is capable of being moved
between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open
position, the hinged door is maintained in the open position by the outer
side portion of the hinged door contacting the stopping device in the
receiving area.
2. The utility device caddy of claim 1, wherein the hinged door is biased in the open position.
3. The utility device caddy of claim 1, wherein when the hinged door is in the open position, the hinged door is capable of being returned to the closed position solely by the toilet plunger being placed on the hinged door in the open position.
4. The utility device caddy of claim 1, wherein body portion includes vent holes and decorative art.
5. The utility device caddy of claim 1, wherein the body portion includes a semi-circular hole at a top portion of the body portion and the hinged door further includes a semi-circular hole located on an upper portion of the hinged door, the semi-circular hole on the top portion of the body portion and the semi-circular hole of the hinged door cooperating to form an aperture capable of allowing a toilet plunger handle of the toilet brush to pass through the aperture, when the hinged door is in the closed position.
6. The utility device caddy of claim 1, wherein the stopping device is configured as a hook portion located on a side portion of the body portion, wherein the hook portion further comprises an outer side portion with a lip extending in a downward direction from the outer side portion.
7. The utility device caddy of claim 1, the hinged door further comprising a handle and the base portion of the caddy including a rubber gasket.
8. The utility device caddy of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is configured as a cat.
9. The utility device caddy of claim 1 wherein the upper portion is configured as a monkey.
10. The utility device caddy of claim 1, further comprising a brush holder, the brush holder capable of receiving a brush.
11. The utility device caddy of claim 10, the brush holder including a base portion and an upper portion, the base portion of the brush holder being integral with the base portion of the caddy capable of receiving the toilet brush, the upper portion of the brush holder including a body portion and a hinged door, the hinged door of the brush holder including a front portion and a rear portion, the hinged door of the brush holder is pivotally attached to the body portion of the brush holder by hinges, which are attached to the body portion of the brush holder on a front portion and a rear portion of the body portion of the brush holder and which are also attached to the front portion and the rear portion of the hinged door of the brush holder.
12. The utility device caddy of claim 11, the body portion of the brush holder including a stopping device located on a side portion of the body portion of the brush holder, the stopping device further comprising a receiving area, the hinged door of the brush holder further comprising a base portion with an outer side portion, wherein, the hinged door of the brush holder is capable of being moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the hinged door of the brush holder is maintained in the open position by the outer side portion of the hinged door of the brush holder contacting the stopping device on the side portion of the body portion of the brush holder in the receiving area.
13. The toilet plunger caddy of claim 12, wherein the hinged door of the brush holder is biased in the open position.
14. A utility device caddy capable of receiving a toilet plunger, the utility device plunger caddy comprising: a base portion and an upper portion, the base portion including a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper portion including a body portion and a hinged door, the body portion including a front hinge and hinged door support portion and a rear hinge and hinged door support portion, the hinged door including a base portion and a base portion lower surface, a front hinge support section and a rear hinge support section, the hinged door is pivotally attached to the body portion by a front hinge and a rear hinge, the front hinge pivotally connecting the front hinge and hinged door support portion of the body portion to front hinge support section of the hinged door, the rear hinge pivotally connecting the rear hinge and hinged door support portion of the body portion to the rear hinge support section of the hinged door, a first vertical distance is a vertical distance between the base portion lower surface and the base portion upper surface, a second vertical distance is a vertical distance between the base portion lower surface and the hinged door base portion lower surface, wherein the first vertical distance is substantially equal to the second vertical distance.
15. The utility device caddy capable of receiving a toilet plunger of claim 14, the utility device plunger caddy further comprising the body portion including a stopping device located on a side portion of the body portion, the stopping device further comprising a receiving area, the hinged door base portion further comprising an outer side portion, wherein, the hinged door is capable of being moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the hinged door is maintained in the open position by the outer side portion of the hinged door contacting the stopping device in the receiving area.
16. The utility device caddy of claim 14, further comprising a brush holder, the brush holder capable of receiving a brush.
17. The utility device caddy of claim 16, the brush holder including a base portion and an upper portion, the base portion of the brush holder being integral with the base portion capable of receiving the toilet brush, the upper portion of the brush holder including a body portion and a hinged door, the hinged door of the brush holder including a front portion and a rear portion, the hinged door of the brush holder is pivotally attached to the body portion of the brush holder by hinges, which are attached to the body portion of the brush holder on a front portion and a rear portion of the body portion of the brush holder and which are also attached to the front portion and the rear portion of the hinged door of the brush holder.
18. The utility device caddy of claim 17, the body portion of the brush holder including a stopping device on a side portion of the body portion of the brush holder, the stopping device further comprising a receiving area, the hinged door of the brush holder further comprising a base portion with an outer side portion, wherein, the hinged door of the brush holder is capable of being moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the hinged door of the brush holder is maintained in the open position by the outer side portion of the hinged door of the brush holder contacting the stopping device on the side portion of the body portion of the brush holder in the receiving area.
19. The utility device caddy of claim 15, wherein the upper portion is configured as one of a cat and a monkey.
20. A utility device caddy capable of receiving a toilet plunger, the utility device plunger caddy comprising: a base portion and an upper portion, the base portion including a lower surface and an upper surface, the upper portion including a body portion and a hinged door, the body portion including a front hinge and hinged door support portion and a rear hinge and hinged door support portion, the hinged door including a base portion and a base portion lower surface, a front hinge support section and a rear hinge support section, the hinged door is pivotally attached to the body portion by a front hinge and a rear hinge, the front hinge pivotally connecting the front hinge and hinged door support portion of the body portion to front hinge support section of the hinged door, the rear hinge pivotally connecting the rear hinge and hinged door support portion of the body portion to the rear hinge support section of the hinged door, a first vertical distance is a vertical distance between the base portion lower surface and the base portion upper surface, a second vertical distance is a vertical distance between the base portion lower surface and the hinged door base portion lower surface, wherein the first vertical distance is substantially equal to the second vertical distance, the utility device plunger caddy further comprising the body portion including a stopping device located on a side portion of the body portion, the stopping device further comprising a receiving area, the hinged door base portion further comprising an outer side portion, wherein, the hinged door is capable of being moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the hinged door is maintained in the open position by the outer side portion of the hinged door contacting the stopping device in the receiving area, the utility device caddy further comprising a brush holder, the brush holder capable of receiving a brush, the brush holder including a base portion and an upper portion, the base portion of the brush holder being integral with the base portion capable of receiving the toilet brush, the upper portion of the brush holder including a body portion and a hinged door, the hinged door of the brush holder including a front portion and a rear portion, the hinged door of the brush holder is pivotally attached to the body portion of the brush holder by hinges, which are attached to the body portion of the brush holder on a front portion and a rear portion of the body portion of the brush holder and which are also attached to the front portion and the rear portion of the hinged door of the brush holder the body portion of the brush holder including a stopping device located on a side portion of the body portion of the brush holder, the stopping device further comprising a receiving area, the hinged door of the brush holder further comprising a base portion with an outer side portion, wherein, the hinged door of the brush holder is capable of being moved between an open position and a closed position, wherein, in the open position, the hinged door of the brush holder is maintained in the open position by the outer side portion of the hinged door of the brush holder contacting the stopping device on the side portion of the body portion of the brush holder in the receiving area, wherein body portion includes vent holes and decorative art, wherein the body portion capable of receiving the toilet plunger includes a semi-circular hole at a top portion of the body portion and the hinged door further includes a semi-circular hole located on an upper portion of the hinged door, the semi-circular hole on the body portion and the semi-circular hole of the hinged door cooperating to form an aperture capable of allowing a toilet plunger handle of the toilet brush to pass through the aperture, wherein the stopping device located on a side portion of the body portion capable of receiving a toilet plunger is configured as a hook portion located on a side portion of the body portion, wherein the hook portion further comprises an outer side portion with a lip extending in a downward direction from the outer side portion, the hinged door of the upper portion of the brush holder further comprising a handle and the base portion of the caddy further including a rubber gasket.
Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/250,038 filed Oct. 9, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a utility device caddy. One embodiment of the invention relates to the utility device caddy configured to receive a toilet plunger. The utility device caddy of the present invention may also be configured to receive brushes, scrubbers and other devices generally used in a bathroom.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Toilet plungers are traditionally used to unplug sink, utility or toilet drains. Most commonly used toilet plungers have a circular plunger base with a long handle attached to the base. During the use of the toilet plunger, the plunger may be exposed to unpleasant substances. Some of these substances may remain on the toilet plunger after use. If the toilet plunger is stored is stored directly on a bathroom or other surface, it may transfer these substances to the surface, thereby staining the surface. The substances may also be unsightly. The sight of a plunger in plain view may be aesthetically unappealing to many people. The toilet plunger, after use, may also have an unpleasant odor.
[0004] To attempt to resolve, or mitigate the above problems, toilet plunger caddies have been utilized. Most toilet plunger caddies have structure which completely encloses the base of the plunger, with the handle protruding from an upper surface of the plunger. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,601,700, 6,813,785 and 7,185759 are examples of such caddies. Hinged doors, or other hinged surfaces are often utilized on the structure which enclose the base of the plunger and allow the plunger to be removed for use and then to be placed back within the structure which encloses the plunger after use. A common design utilizing hinged doors is to utilize a single hinged door which pivots from a lower portion of the caddy structure. U.S. D233,196, D276,291, D315,269, 5,924,566, U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,700, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,926,137 and 6,813,785 are examples of such caddies. All of these caddies would appear to generally adequately perform their basic intended purpose, but still have drawbacks. U.S. D315,269 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,924,566 as noted, are examples of caddies which have single hinged doors which pivot form a lower portion of the caddy structure. However, there appears to be noting to prevent the hinged door from pivoting until a portion of the hinged door contacts the floor. This would require a user to bend-over after using the plunger and manually closing the hinged door when returning the plunger to the caddy after use. Bending over, and manually closing the hinged door requires additional effort, which may be difficult for people with physical limitations. Alternately, the caddy hinged door could be closed after removing the plunger. However, this would require a use to again open the caddy door when returning the plunger to the caddy after use. Also, some users may find the act of touching the caddy, which likely is exposed to exposed substances, unpleasant. These designs may also require a user to manually open the hinged door, as well. U.S. Pat. No. 7,185,759 teaches a toilet-plunger caddy with a door which is not hinged, but instead moves in an open and closed direction in a circumferential direction along the outer structure of the caddy. Unfortunately, this design would also require manual opening and closing of the caddy door. U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,700 appears to overcome the problem of having to manually open and close the hinged door by using a double hinged-door design. However, this design would be disadvantageous from the standpoint of complexity and cost of manufacture.
[0005] For the above reasons, there is a need for a toilet plunger caddy which does not have to be manually opened and closed, in which the toilet plunger may be removed and replaced without having to touch the caddy, is of a simple design and is inexpensive to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention is directed toward an improved utility device caddy capable of receiving a toilet plunger with an external structure capable of enclosing a toilet plunger and a hinged door to allow the toilet plunger to be inserted and removed from an interior portion of the external structure. An embodiment of the present invention may include a hook, or protruding portion from a side surface of the external structure. The protruding portion is capable of preventing the hinged door from opening beyond a point at which the toilet plunger may be easily inserted and removed from the caddy. This lessens the possibility of the caddy falling over and facilitates replacement of the plunger back in the caddy.
[0007] An embodiment of the present invention may include the hinged door being formed from a vertical portion and a horizontal portion. The vertical portion allows the toilet plunger to be removed and returned to the caddy. The horizontal portion of the hinged door may be located at a lower end of the vertical portion proximal a hinge which supports the hinged door. The toilet plunger rests on the horizontal portion. The horizontal and vertical portions of the hinged door, the hinge and the protruding portion of the external structure together allow the toilet plunger caddy to be inserted and removed from the toilet plunger caddy without manual movement of the hinged door.
[0008] An embodiment of the present invention may include the external structure including first and second portions. The first portion of the external structure encloses the toilet plunger. The second portion of the external structure encloses a cleaning brush.
[0009] An embodiment of the present invention may include the external structure being configured as animal shapes. These animal shapes may include shapes such as a kitten or monkey.
[0010] An embodiment of the present invention may include the external structure being decorated with decorative art. This decorative art may include art such as a sea shell, or a flower which may be matched to any decor.
[0011] An embodiment of the present invention may include these and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings.
DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 shows an external view of an embodiment of a utility device caddy viewed from a first side and with a hinged door in a closed position.
[0013] FIG. 2 shows a section view of an embodiment of the utility device caddy viewed from a first side with a plunger shown within the caddy and with the hinged door in a closed position.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows a section view of an embodiment of the utility device caddy with the hinged door of the caddy in an open position.
[0015] FIG. 4A shows a perspective detail view of a portion of FIGS. 2 and 3 of an interior portion of the caddy.
[0016] FIG. 4B shows a detail view of a portion of FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4C shows a detail view of a portion of FIG. 3.
[0018] FIG. 5 shows an external view of another embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy including a brush holder and a hinged door of the brush holder and a hinged door of a plunger holder in a closed position.
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a section view of another embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy including the brush holder and the hinged door the brush holder and the hinged door of the plunger holder in an open position.
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a detail view of a portion of FIG. 6, with the hinged door of the brush holder in an open position.
[0021] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy configured as an animal shape such as a cat.
[0022] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the utility device caddy with the caddy configured as an animal shape such as a monkey.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] As illustrated on FIGS. 1 through 4C, an embodiment of the present invention is directed toward the utility device caddy 10 configured as a toilet plunger caddy 10. The utility device caddy 10, or toilet plunger caddy 10 encloses a toilet plunger 15 with a plunger handle 17. The toilet plunger caddy 10 includes a base portion 20 and an upper portion 30. The base portion 20 includes a lower surface 21 and an upper surface 22. The toilet plunger caddy 10 may be made of plastic, but other materials are within the scope of the invention. The toilet plunger caddy 10 may be of any color. The upper portion 30 may include decorative art 31, such as butterflies, kittens, sea shells or flowers. The upper portion 30 further including a front portion 33 and a rear portion 34. The base portion 20 includes a rubber gasket 23 and a front hinge and hinged door support portion 25, located on the front portion 33 of the upper portion and a rear hinge and hinged door support portion 26 located on the rear portion 34 of the upper portion 30, as illustrated on FIGS. 1-3. The upper portion 30 includes a body portion 32 and a hinged door 60.
[0024] The hinged door 60 includes a base portion lower surface 61, a front hinge support portion 62 and a rear hinge support portion 64. As illustrated on FIG. 4A, a front hinge support portion 62 of the hinged door 60 is pivotally attached to the front hinge and hinged door support portion 25 by a front hinge 36. The front hinge support portion 62 is further composed of a front hinge support portion outer support tab 62A and a front hinge support portion inner support tab 62B. As further illustrated on FIG. 4A, a rear hinge support portion 64 of the hinged door 60 is pivotally attached to the rear hinged door support portion 26 by a rear hinge 37. The rear hinge support portion 64 is further composed of a rear hinge support portion outer support tab 64A and a rear hinge support portion inner support tab 64B.
[0025] As best illustrated on FIG. 4B, a first vertical distance 63 is defined as a vertical distance of the base portion 20 upper surface 22 above the base portion 20 lower surface 21. A second vertical distance 64 is defined as a vertical distance of the hinged door 60 base portion lower surface 61 is above the base portion 20 lower surface 21. As best illustrated on FIG. 4B, the first vertical distance 63 is substantially the same as the second vertical distance 64.
[0026] The body portion 32 further includes vent holes 46, a semi-circular hole 48 at a top portion 50 of the body portion 32 and a stopping device 52 with a protruding, or hook portion 53 located on a side portion 54 of the body portion 32. The hook portion 53 of the stopping device 52 forms a receiving area 58, as best illustrated on FIG. 4C. The hinged door 60 further includes a base portion 66 with an outer side portion 67 which will form a lip 68, when viewed in cross-section on FIGS. 2, 3 and 4C. Together, the base portion 66, the outer side portion 67 and the lip 68 when considered about an entire circumference in which they extend, form a recess 71 in which the toilet plunger 15 is seated. The hinged door 60 additionally includes a semi-circular hole 69 located on an upper portion 70 of the hinged door 60 and a handle 72.
[0027] As illustrated on FIGS. 1 and 2, when the hinged door 60 is in a closed position 80, the semi-circular hole 48 on the body portion 32 and the semi-circular hole 69 on the hinged door 60 are aligned. This allows the plunger handle 17 of the toilet plunger 15 to protrude above the toilet plunger caddy 10 through an aperture 73 formed by the semi-circular hole 48 on the body portion 32 and semi-circular hole 69 located on the hinged door 60, when the toilet plunger 15 is installed in the toilet plunger caddy 10.
[0028] As illustrated on FIG. 3, the handle 72 of the hinged door 60 is capable of being pulled, which allows the hinged door 60 to be placed in an open position 90. However, as further explained below, the handle 72 does not have to be pulled in order to place the hinged door 60 in the open position 90. With the hinged door 60 in the open position 90, the toilet plunger 15 is allowed to be removed from the toilet plunger caddy 10. As illustrated on FIGS. 3 and 4C, in order to prevent the hinged door 60 from opening until it hits a floor, the lip 68 of the outer side portion 67 of the base portion 66 of the hinged door 60 contacts the receiving area 58 of the stopping device 52. This allows the hinged door 60 from being opened too far, which makes it more difficult to close the hinged door 60.
[0029] When the hinged door 60 is in the open position 90, and it is desired to remove the toilet plunger 15 from the toilet plunger caddy 10, the toilet plunger 15 is capable of being manually removed from the toilet plunger caddy 10. However, due to the position of the hinged door 60, the hinged door 60 will stay in the open position 90, due to the acceleration of gravity on the mass of the hinged door 60. To further assure the hinged door 60 stays in the open position 90, when the toilet plunger 15 is removed, and to facilitate the opening of the hinged door 60, a torsional spring 95 may be used to bias the hinged door 60 in the open position 90.
[0030] When the hinged door is in the open position 90, and it is desired to return the toilet plunger 15 to the toilet plunger caddy 10 after use, the toilet plunger 15 is simply placed on the base portion 66 of the hinged door 60. The weight of the toilet plunger 60 will then overcome the weight of the hinged door 60 and the bias of the torsional spring 95, to allow the hinged door 60 of the toilet plunger caddy 10 to close without actually touching the toilet plunger caddy 10.
[0031] As illustrated on FIGS. 5-7, another embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The toilet plunger caddy 110 of this embodiment encloses a toilet plunger 115 with a plunger handle 117. The toilet plunger caddy 110 includes a base portion 120 and an upper portion 130. The upper portion 130 includes a body portion 132 and a hinged door 160. The hinged door 160 includes a front portion 162 and a rear portion 164. The hinged door 160 is pivotally attached to the body portion 132 by hinges 136, which are attached to the body portion 132 on a front portion 142 and a rear portion 144 of the body portion 132 and the front portion 162 and the rear portion 164 of the hinged door 160 in the same manner as was described for the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4C. The body portion 132 includes vent holes 146, a semi-circular hole 148 at a top portion 150 of the body portion 132 and a stopping device 152 with a hook portion 153 located on a side portion 154 of the body portion 132. The hinged door 160 further includes a base portion 166 with an outer side portion 167 with a lip 168, in the same manner as was described and illustrated in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4C. The hinged door 160 further includes a semi-circular hole 169 located on an upper portion 170 of the hinged door 160 and a handle 172. The movement of the hinged door between open and closed positions is the same as described for the embodiment illustrated on FIGS. 1 to 4C.
[0032] As further illustrated on FIGS. 5-7, the toilet plunger caddy 110 further includes a brush holder 210. The toilet plunger caddy 110 of this embodiment encloses a brush 215 with a brush handle 217. The brush holder 210 includes a base portion 220 and an upper portion 230. The base portion of the brush holder 210 is integral with the base portion 120 of the toilet plunger caddy 110. The upper portion 230 includes a body portion 232 and a hinged door 260. The hinged door 260 includes a front portion 262 and a rear portion 264. The hinged door 260 is pivotally attached to the body portion 232 by hinges 236, which are attached to the body portion 232 on a front portion 242 and a rear portion 244 of the body portion 232 and the front portion 262 and the rear portion 264 of the hinged door 260 in the same manner as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4C. The body portion 232 includes vent holes 246, a semi-circular hole 248 at a top portion 250 of the body portion 232 and a stopping device 252 with a hook portion 253 located on a side portion 254 of the body portion 232, as best illustrated on FIGS. 6 and 7. The hook portion 253 of the stopping device 252 forms a receiving area 258. As best illustrated on FIGS. 6 and 7, the hinged door 260 further includes a base portion 266 with an outer side portion 267 with a lip 268, a semi-circular hole 269 located on an upper portion 270 of the hinged door 260 and a handle 272.
[0033] As illustrated on FIGS. 5 and 6, when the hinged door 260 is in a closed position 280, the semi-circular hole 248 on the body portion 232 and the semi-circular hole 268 on the hinged door 260 are aligned. This allows the brush handle 217 of the brush 215 to protrude above the brush holder 210 through an aperture 271 formed by the semi-circular hole 248 on the body portion 232 and semi-circular hole 268 located on the hinged door 260, when the brush 215 is installed in the brush holder 210.
[0034] As illustrated on FIG. 6, the handle 272 of the hinged door 260 is capable of being pulled, which allows the brush holder 210 to be placed in an open position 290. In this open position 290, the brush 215 is allowed to be removed from the brush holder 210. As illustrated on FIG. 7, in order to prevent the hinged door 260 from opening until it hits a floor, the lip 268 of the outer side portion 267 of the base portion 266 of the hinged door 260 contacts the receiving area 258 of the stopping device 252. This allows the hinged door 260 from being opened too far, which makes it more difficult to close the hinged door 260.
[0035] When the hinged door 260 is in the open position 290, and it is desired to remove the brush 215 from the brush holder 210, the brush 215 is capable of being removed from the brush holder 210 without interference from the brush holder 210. However, due to the position of the hinged door 260, the hinged door 260 will stay in the open position 290, due to the acceleration of gravity on the mass of the hinged door 260. To further assure the hinged door 260 stays in the open position 290, when the brush 215 is removed, a torsional spring 295 may be used to bias the hinged door 260 in the open position 290.
[0036] When the hinged door is in the open position 290, and it is desired to return the brush 215 to the brush holder 210 after use, the brush 215 is simply placed on the base portion 266 of the hinged door 260. The weight of the brush 215 will then overcome the weight of the hinged door 260 and the bias of the torsional spring 295, to allow the hinged door 260 of the brush holder 210 to close without actually touching the brush holder 210.
[0037] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the toilet plunger caddy 10 has a conventional configuration. However, other embodiments of the invention allow for other configurations of the toilet brush caddy 10. FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention of the upper portion 30 of toilet brush caddy 10 configured as an animal 310, such as a cat. FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the invention of the upper portion 30 of the toilet brush caddy 10 configured as another type of animal 320, such as a monkey. Other animal configurations of the upper portion 30 of the toilet brush caddy 10, such as a puppy, or a bird may form an embodiment of the invention.
[0038] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with references to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred version contained herein.
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