US3391026A - Method for unstopping a clogged pipe - Google Patents

Description

July 2, 1968 M. LEISER METHOD FOR UNSTOPPING A CLOGGED PIPE Filed Sept. 26, 1966 U Hired States .Patent 3,391,026 f FOR UNSTOPPING A CLOGGED PIPE Martin Leiser, 723 ,Columbia S., v i.

Los Angeles, Calif. 90017 Filed Sept. 26, 1966,' Ser. No. 581,900 3 Claims. (Cl.134'-24) n.

METHOD ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSUREv A` method for unstopping a cloggedpipe byinserting in the open end of said pipewhich is substantially filled with Water, a porous, resilient material, which is .adapted to engage the inner peripheral surface of the pipe, and moving the porous, resilientmat-erial'back and forth within the pipe in short rapid strokes so as to create a pressure front within the pipe and relieve lthe stoppage. A device for unstopping a clogged'pipe which comprises a porous, resilient head vhaving top -and bottom surfaces and an intercommunicating pore structure such that the porous resilient head becomes engorged with water on "ice the sink.` Although the porous resilient head isshown in FIG. 1 as being square, the head. can be of any. ,con venient shape s'o long at it is slightly larger than the drain pipe into. which it is; to be inserted.

Turning to FIG.' 2, fthe draincleaner lofmy invention is "shown inserted within a drain pipe '6 connected tol the bottom of av 'sink 12 or similar plumbing fixture. As shown, the pipe may be full v-Of .Water to a water level as indicated at 8, or thesnk 12 or smilar plumbing fixture may be full of water due to the stoppage within drain pipe 6.

' The lower end of the `handle 4 forms a pair of gripping prongs 14 which are biased to `an inward position by the configuration of the handle. The'gripping prongsv are eni bedded -within the resilient head 2 at a point intermediate its extremities toV grip it securely. ,This presents a soft surface 16 at the ,bottom portion of the head 2 when incontact therewith, and a handle having an inner end and an outer end, the outer end being bentin the form of an open hook, the inner end comprising a pair of lgripping prongs having relatively blunt ends, which gripping prongs are inwardly biased and extend into the poroushead at a point intermediate its topand bottom surfaces.

This invention relates to a novel method for unstopping a clogged pipe. Further, this invention pertains to a drain cleaning device.

The common household sink is a frequent source of frustration to the average housewife. It can easily become stopped up and it is generally an awk-ward and timeconsuming operation to relieve the stoppage. The inevitable plunger or pipe snake required to do the job will generally require a mans services. Until then, the sink remains clogged and, if inadvertently used, may result in a flooded bathroom or kitchen.

An object of the invention is to provide a method for unstopping a clogged pipe which does not involve the use of bulky equipment and can be readily practiced by the housewife.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple yet effective, drain cleaning device which is of a generally small size and is therefore capable of use by the house-v wife.

Additional objects will become apparent from the description and claims which follow taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing a preferred embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. l is an exploded perspective view of the drain cleaner;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the drain cleaner inserted in a drain pipe partially filled with water and showing the head of the drain cleaner in partial section; and

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the drain cleaner head and drain pipe taken along the lines 3--3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawing, there is shown the component parts of the drain cleaner in exploded view. The drain cleaner comprises a porous resilient head 2 in which the pores are intercommunicating. Connected to the porous resilient head is a handle 4 which can be of any suitable shape. Preferably, however, the upper portion of handle 4 forms a hook or similar configuration as indicated at 5 in FIG. 2. This provides a convenient means for hanging my drain cleaning device, when not in use, as for example, by placing the hook 5 over the edge of a sink or by hanging it from the valve handle beneath serted within a'drain pipe. Frequently drain pipes contain across member located inthe pipe a relatively short distance, such as 6 inches, or so, from the opening of the drain. Such a cross member is not shown inthe drawings. By having a soft bottom surface, as at 16, my drain cleanin g device does not strike a cross member with any considerableforce but rather the surface 16 cushions the contact between my drain cleaning devicey and a cross member. l

In use, my drain cleaner is employed in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2. It is inserted within a drain pipe and is moved rapidly back and forth by means ofthe handle 4. By virtue of its size and resilient consistency, the Ahead 2 asserts pressure on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 6 and forms a seal therewith. Movement of the head 2 in a rapid reciprocating fashion using a relatively short stroke, such as, for example, l and 1/2 to 2 inches, creates a pumping action with in the pipe as indicated by reference numeral 10 which refers to the series of pressure waves created within the fluid contained in the pipe.

The intercommunicating porous structure of the head 2 allows liquid to permeate throughout the porous head when the head is contacted with the liquid; In its engorged state, i.e., filled with water, the head 2 presses very firmly against the inner peripheral surface of the drain pipe 6. This is shown in transverse section in FIG. 3. However, by virtue of its intercommunicating pore structure, the head 2 can actually move through the liquid standing in the pipe, as shown in FIG. 2. As the liquid moves through the porous head 2, it, of course, encounters considerable resistance due to the friction offered by the ne pores Within the head. However, this passage of liquid, small though it is, is believed to assist the seal between the inner peripheral surface of the drain pipe `6 and the porous head 2, which in turn enhances the pumping action caused by the rapid reciprocatory movement of the head within the drain pipe.

As described, my invention provides a novel pipe cleaning device and a novel method employing yits use in unstopping clogged drain pipes. Although exemplified by reference to a specific embodiment, it should be' under stood that this embodiment is used only for purposes of illustration and should not be construed as limiting my invention. In operation, I have found that l0 or so rapid reciprocating strokes of my cleaning device is suflicient to force the clogging material from the sink trap, thus alleviating the stoppage `and allowing free ow of liquid. The average pore diameter of thel intercommunicating pores within the porous resilient head of my device may be varied within the scope of the invention. By way of illustration, I have found an average pore diameter of 1/16 to 3/32 inch to be satisfactory. The resiliency of the material comprising the porous head 2 can likewise be rarita@ Within hefscp Qfry,igventionrselong as the head alordssufficient resiliency to bear tightly against the inner peripheral surface'of the drain pipe. Various natural land synthetic materials may fbe employed in 'forming the porous resilient head of my cleaning device. For example, the head may be composed of polyurethane foam.

My device and method areboth characterized by their simplicity and effectiveness. Due to its simplicity, my device can be readily manufactured in a large volume at a low unit cost.'l 7 Y y Although I have demonstrated my invention with regard to alleviating stoppages 'in drain pipes, the

phenomenal pumping action aorded by the resilient head lof my cleaning device with its intercommunicating pore structure, may 'have other applications. rTo illustrate, this pumping action could be employed in a piston type pump in which the piston would be formed of a porous resilientr material having an' intercommunicating pore Structure. On movement of such a pistn within a cylinder, the piston would act to pump liquidl against a pressure head.'

p' Having fully( defined my invention by reference to the foregoing Specification land drawing, I desire tovbe limited only by the lawful scope of the appended claims. `I claim:

` '1. Method for unstopping a clogged pipe, Said method comprising inserting in the open end of said pipe which is substantially filled with water a porous resilient material which is adapted to engage the inner peripheral surface of saidpipe, said material having an intercommunicating porous structure such that said material becomes engorged with Water on insertion into said pipe, whereby the seal between said material and the inner peripheral, surface of,said,

ipeis..0ptimized.due tomthe volume of water contained within said material, and moving Said porous, resilient material bac-k and forth within said pipe in short rapid Strokes So as to create a pressure front within said pipe and thereby unstop it. l

2; 4Tliemethod of claiml wherein 'a handle'isv connected to said porous resilient material, said handle extending into and engaging'saidresilient material at a point intermediate 'its length such that the inner end of said material is soft and resilient, said handle being used to move said porousresilient-material back and forth within Saidpipe While presenting said soft resilient inner end to cross members' within said pipe. u f 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the pores'within said porous resilient materialhave an average pore diameter ranging` from about 1A@ to-about 1%2 of an inch;

References Cited y UNITED STATES PATENTS v327,071

MORRIS o. woLK, Pinna@ Examiner.

' J. ZTARGA, Assz'stmttlExamner.

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