Patent landscapes › Home & cleaning
Is a plunger patented?
Short answer: specific designs of a plunger have been patented many times, but "a plunger" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.
What our index shows
- 1,998 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “plunger” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
- Among the 249 best keyword matches we examined, 79 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
- Most frequent assignees in those matches: CHNTUO IND CO LTD (4), TASH GEORGE (3), Hammelmann GmbH (3), TASH FAMILY TRUST (2).
- Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): E03C (106), E03D (59), F04B (48), A47K (34).
Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.
14 real patent publications related to a plunger
- Valve-actuated suction apparatus with rotation-preventing plunger valve US-2026258902-A1 2026 · ZIMMERMAN ISRAEL HARRY
A valve-actuated suction apparatus includes an elastomeric seal member arranged to seal against a surface and having a vent port extending therethrough. A collar has a collar opening extending therethrough that is aligned and in f…
View on Google Patents - Toilet and drain plunger US-10329757-B1 2019 · WAITE JEFF
A working end of a plunger comprises of a neck for combining the working end to the handle, a bell combined to the neck and defining an interior cavity, and at least two reinforcement members extending on an outer surface of the b…
View on Google Patents - Plunger with inside Snake or Auger in Handle US-2018087250-A1 2018 · ROLLINS MICHAEL
The Plunger with inside Snake or Auger in Handle can be used to remove clogs from pipes by the plunger and then the user can apply the snake or auger inside of the plunger's handle (base handle) by the top handle into the drai…
View on Google Patents - Plunger cup with elongated rim US-8782822-B1 2014 · VANDENBERGH DIRK M
A plunger cup of a flexible material for sealing an opening of a drain has an elongated rim for sealing an opening of a drain. This plunger cup is particularly useful for releasing stoppages in a clogged drain having a noncircular…
View on Google Patents - A drain plunger WO-2006100656-A1 2006 · HOUSE MOSQUITO LTD
A drain plunger (1) comprises a handle (2), a suction cup (6), a valve (17) configured to open on an upward stroke such that the suction cup (6) applies less pressure in an upward stroke than in a downward stroke, said valve being…
View on Google Patents - Drain plunger handle US-7032252-B2 2006 · MERCADO ABEL
A drain plunger handle for use with a plunger head to remove obstructions in a plumbing system. The drain plunger handle comprises a handle body, a pair of handle members and a head connector for connecting to the plunger head. Th…
View on Google Patents - Toilet and sink drain plunger US-7013499-B2 2006 · TASH GEORGE
The present toilet and sink drain plunger seals either around or in a toilet or sink drain hole despite the hole's size, configuration and location. The plunger includes an elongated upstanding handle connected to the top of a…
View on Google Patents - Drain plunger with a see through plunger element US-2006288471-A1 2006 · KINKOPF EDWARD J
A toilet or drain plunger comprises an elongated handle connected to a plunger head. The plunger head comprises generally clear deformable rubberized material to facilitate a user to obtain visual indications through the plunger h…
View on Google Patents - Plunger for clearing a clogged drain US-6381763-B1 2002
A plunger for clearing a clogged drain. The plunger includes a cup, a user-gripping handle, and a water-shielding cap. The cup is resiliently collapsible and has an uppermost wall with air-escaping throughbores that allow air trap…
View on Google Patents - Dual-acting plunger US-6393626-B1 2002
A plunger device for unblocking a clogged drain or pipe, comprises a valve housing interposed between a handle and a suction cup; a valve seat having an opening for communicating the cup with the housing; a fluid outlet formed in …
View on Google Patents - Drain plunger US-6374427-B1 2002
The drain plunger preferably is of one-piece preferably plastic construction, with an upstanding, preferably vertical, rigid upper handle, the lower end of which is connected integrally to a depending multi-pleated, flexible, resi…
View on Google Patents - Single pleat drain plunger US-2001037522-A1 2001
A drain plunger including an elongate handle having a first end and a second end. A generally cylindrical chamber having a continuous side wall defining a void and having a first end coupled to the handle. A second end of the cham…
View on Google Patents - Household drain plunger US-6192525-B1 2001 · TASH FAMILY TRUST
This invention relates to an improved household drain plunger for use with household drains of various shapes and sizes. The head section of the plunger is a pleated bellows consisting of a conical upper section of increasing diam…
View on Google Patents - Helical drain plunger US-6145135-A 2000 · EQUITY EARNINGS CORP DBA DESIG
A drain plunger including an elongate handle having a first end and a second end. A generally cylindrical chamber having a continuous side wall defining a void and having a first end coupled to the handle. A second end of the cham…
View on Google Patents
What this means for your idea
Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a plunger been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Household products tend to differ in the mechanism (how something attaches, folds, dispenses or cleans) rather than the basic idea.
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Guides that help with this
First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.