GB2552428A

GB2552428A - Pipeline hair cleaner

Info

Publication number: GB2552428A
Application number: GB1712688.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Xu Weitian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-04-21
Filing date: 2015-04-21
Publication date: 2018-01-24
Anticipated expiration: 2035-04-21
Also published as: WO2016168988A1; CN106661877A; GB201712688D0; GB2552428B; DE112015005882T5

Abstract

Disclosed is a pipeline hair cleaner, integrally formed and comprising a pull handle end (10), a long rod section (20), a convex hook section (30) and a hooked spine end (40) arranged sequentially. The pull handle end (10) is provided with a pull hole (11) and an indicating hole (12). The long rod section (20) is a round rod. One side of a rod body (31) of the convex hook section (30) is provided with a plurality of convex hooks (32). By primarily using the convex hooks (32) at one side of the convex hook section (30) and hooked spines (41) on the hooked spine end (40) to hook and pull out hair (A) or blockages, in cooperation with a curved portion (71) of the hooked spine end (40) moving smoothly within the pipeline, the blockages within the pipeline can be effectively cleaned out. The cost is low and the operation is simple.

Description

(56) Documents Cited:

CN 202730893 U CN 202416489 U US 5836032 A US2013000680

CN 202655304 U CN 201644455 U (87) International Publication Data:

WO2016/168988 Zh 27.10.2016 (58) Field of Search:

INT CL B08B, E03C

Other: CNPAT, EPODOC, WPI, CNKI, XU (71) Applicant(s):

Weitian Xu

5F., No 3, Lane 690, Section 4, Henan Road,

Nantun District, Taichung City, Taiwan, 408, Taiwan (72) Inventor(s):

Weitian Xu (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Alpha & Omega

Chine Croft, East Hill, OTTERY ST. MARY, Devon, EX11 1PJ, United Kingdom (54) Title ofthe Invention: Pipeline hair cleaner Abstract Title: Pipeline hair cleaner (57) Disclosed is a pipeline hair cleaner, integrally formed and comprising a pull handle end (10), a long rod section (20), a convex hook section (30) and a hooked spine end (40) arranged sequentially. The pull handle end (10) is provided with a pull hole (11) and an indicating hole (12). The long rod section (20) is a round rod. One side of a rod body (31) ofthe convex hook section (30) is provided with a plurality of convex hooks (32). By primarily using the convex hooks (32) at one side of the convex hook section (30) and hooked spines (41) on the hooked spine end (40) to hook and pull out hair (A) or blockages, in cooperation with a curved portion (71) ofthe hooked spine end (40) moving smoothly within the pipeline, the blockages within the pipeline can be effectively cleaned out. The cost is low and the operation is simple.

FIG.1 /5

FIG.2

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FIG.3

3/5

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FIG.4

4/5

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FIG.5

5/5

FIG.6

PIPELINE HAIR CLEANER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drain cleaning tool and, more particularly, to 5 a pipeline hair cleaner that can remove hairs or obstruction garbage from a clogged pipe.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are various tools for removing the hairs or garbage accumulated in a drain pipe of a sink, a bathtub or shower room. For example, Taiwan Utility Model

Patent M246067, Taiwan Utility Model Patent M391425, US Patent 6775873, and US Patent 5836032 disclose tools each having a handle and an elongated bar provided with a plurality of barbs for cleaning a pipe that is clogged with hairs.

Taiwan Utility Model Patent M246067 discloses a pipe tool including a handle and a flexible glass-fiber line extending from a front end of the handle. A steel cable is attached to the front end of the flexible glass-fiber line. The handle is provided with a hook ring at its rear end. The steel cable facilitates the flexible glass-fiber line to advance along a curved pipe. A connection head is provided at the front end of the steel cable for being detachably connected with a brush or a pull head which is suitable for an application for cleaning a pipe or routing an electrical cable through the pipe. A turning bar is provided for cooperation with the handle to have a brush rotated in a pipe for brushing the inner surface of the pipe, so that the pipe can be cleared.

Taiwan Utility Model Patent M391425 discloses a pipe cleaner, which includes a handle, a flat bar section extending from the handle, and a twisted bar section extending from the flat bar section, wherein the twisted bar section is provided with a plurality of barbs at its two sides and a sharp tip at a head end thereof. The pipe cleaner can be operated to go deep into a blocked pipe, and the barbs can hook obstructions out of the pipe, so that the pipe is cleared.

US Patent 6775873 and US Patent 5836032 disclose hair-removing devices, each of which includes a handle, a flexible elongated bar extending from the handle, and a plurality of barbs which are arranged alternately along two sides of the elongated bar for removing the hairs accumulated in a pipe.

The above disclosures have the following disadvantages:

1. The brush or the barbs of each of the above-mentioned hair cleaners fails to clean a blocked pipe. On the contrary, the hairs accumulated in the pipe may be pushed 10 further into the pipe.

2. When the elongated bar is inserted through a drain pipe of a kitchen sink, a washbasin or a bathtub, the hairs accumulated in the drain pipe are actually removed by the hook provided at the head end of the elongated bar. The asymmetric barbs of each of the pipeline hair cleaners fail to fulfill the task of removing hairs. On the contrary, the asymmetric barbs may scratch a user’s hands.

3. A pipe may be composed of multiple sections, which are commonly connected through adapters, so that the pipe may have different internal diameters and may be curved. Therefore, in use, each of the pipeline hair cleaners is usually stuck in the adapters due to the asymmetric barbs, and thus the operation is unsmooth. Even though the barbs can hook the accumulated hairs, the hairs are prone to fall off the barbs. As a result, the hairs still remain in the pipe.

4. When the hairs accumulated in a pipe are dried, they are difficult to be removed. Under this circumstance, chemicals, such as strong base or alkali, are commonly used. However, this way not only damages the pipe but also causes environmental pollution. Furthermore, the treatment of sewage and waste water is difficult.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To overcome the above disadvantages, the present invention provides a pipeline hair cleaner, which is low in cost and can be operated easily and can remove obstructions out of a clogged pipe effectively.

The pipeline hair cleaner provided in the present invention is integrally formed and is sequentially provided with a handle part, a long rod section, a prickly section, and a grappler part. The handle part defines a grip hole and an indication hole. The long rod section is round in cross section. The prickly section has a rod body provided with a plurality of prickles at one side thereof.

Preferably, the grappler part is shaped like a flat blade and provided with a plurality of grapplers located at the same side as the prickles. The grappler part is further provided with a curved portion at a head end thereof, so that the grappler part can be operated to smoothly move along a pipe.

Preferably, the grappler part is shaped like a flat arrow and provided with tapered sections at two sides of a head end thereof. One side of the grappler part is joined to the prickly section, while the other side of the grappler part is formed with an open space. The arrow-shaped head end of the grappler part can be driven to go deep into the hairs which got entangled in a pipe. The tapered sections of the grappler part allow the pipeline hair cleaner to smoothly move along the pipe.

Preferably, the grappler part is formed with a flattened hook which is joined to the prickly section at one side thereof, and the other side of the flattened hook is formed with an open space. The grappler part is provided with a slightly curved portion at a head end thereof. The flattened hook can be driven to go deep into the hairs which got entangled in a pipe. The curved portion of the grappler part allows the pipeline hair cleaner to smoothly move along the pipe.

Preferably, the grappler part has a curved portion extending from the prickly section towards the same side as the prickles and tapering into a sharp hook which extends upwardly from the curved portion. The sharp hook can be driven to go deep into the hairs which got entangled in a pipe. The curved portion allows the pipeline hair cleaner to smoothly move along the pipe.

Furthermore, the handle is provided with two concave portions respectively at two sides of a joint at which the handle part and the long rod section are united.

Furthermore, the curved portion can be replaced by a bevel side.

Furthermore, the pipeline hair cleaner is made of plastic so that it has a proper softness.

The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: a pipe blocked with hairs or obstructions is cleaned effectively because the hairs or obstructions can be hooked and pulled out of the pipe by the prickles provided at one side of the prickly section and the grapplers of the grappler part, with the curved portion of the grappler part smoothly moved along the pipe. The pipeline hair cleaner is low in cost and can be operated easily.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the structure of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic view of the grappler part of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the structure of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of the structure of a third embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the structure of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

10. handle part

11. grip hole

12. indication hole

13. concave portion

20. long rod section

30. prickly section

31. rod body

32. prickle

40. grappler part

41. grappler

42. curved portion

A. hair

50. grappler part

51. head end

52. tapered section

60. grappler part

61. flattened hook

62. curved portion

70. grappler part

71. curved portion

72. sharp hook

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will be further illustrated by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a pipeline hair cleaner according to a first 5 embodiment of the present invention is shown, which is integrally formed and generally includes a handle part 10, a long rod section 20, a prickly section 30, and a grappler part 40. The handle part 10 defines a grip hole 11 and an indication hole 12 and is provided with two concave portions 13 respectively at two side of a joint at which the handle part 10 and the long rod section 20 are united. The pipeline hair cleaner can be easily drawn or pushed when a user grips the grip hole 11 or the curved concaves 13 by fingers. The long rod section 20, which is a round rod of a predetermined length, extends from the handle part 10 down to the prickly section 30. The prickly section 30 has a rod body 31 provided with a plurality of prickles 32 for hooking the hairs accumulated in a pipe. The grappler part 40, which is shaped like a serrated blade, has a plurality of grapplers 41 located at the same side as the prickles 32 of the prickly section 30, and has a curved portion 42 at a head end thereof. Alternatively, the curved portion 42 can be replaced with a bevel side or a slightly curved portion, so that the grappler part can be driven to move along a pipe of different diameter. Furthermore, the indication hole 12 of the handle part 10, the prickles 32 of the prickly section 30, and the grapplers 41 of the grappler part 40 are located at the same side of the pipeline hair cleaner, so that a user can be readily aware of the orientation of the prickles 32 and the grapplers 41.

In use, as shown in FIG. 3, the pipeline hair cleaner can be inserted into a pipe desired to be cleaned out, wherein the grappler part 40 can be moved into an area where the hairs (A) are accumulated. Thereafter, the pipeline hair cleaner can be rotated or forced to move forth and back, so that the hairs (A), which got entangled in the pipe and causes the pipe to be blocked, can be hooked and pulled out by the grapplers 41 of the grappler part 40, and thus the pipe can be cleared effectively.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that: the grappler part 50 is shaped like a flat arrow and provided with tapered sections 52 at two sides of a head end 51 thereof. One side of the grappler part 50 is joined to the prickly section 30, and the other side of the grappler part 50 is formed with an open space. The arrow-shaped grappler part 50 can be driven to go deep into the hairs which got entangled in a pipe, and the tapered sections 52 allow the pipeline hair cleaner to easily move along the pipe.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that: the grappler part 60 is formed with a flattened hook 61, one side of which is joined to the prickly section 30 and the other side of which is formed with an open space. The grappler part 60 has a slightly curved portion 62 at a head end thereof. The flattened hook 61 of the grappler part 60 can be driven to go deep into the hairs which got entangled in a pipe. The curved portion 62 allows the pipeline hair cleaner to easily move along the pipe.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, which is different from the first embodiment in that: the grappler part 70 has a curved portion 71 extending from the prickly section 30 towards the same side as the prickles 32 and tapering into a sharp hook 72 which extends upwardly from the curved portion 71. The sharp hook 72 can be driven to go deep into the hairs which got entangled in a pipe. The curved portion 71 of the grappler part 70 allows the pipeline hair cleaner to easily move along a pipe.

While the invention has been described with reference to the preferred 25 embodiments above, it should be recognized that various modifications and changes, which will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A pipeline hair cleaner, which is integrally formed and characterized in that: the pipeline hair cleaner is sequentially provided with a handle part (10), a long rod section (20), a prickly section (30), and a grappler part (40, 50, 60, 70), wherein the handle part (10) defines a grip hole (11) and an indication hole (12); the long rod section (20) is round in cross section; the prickly section (30) has a rod body (31) provided with a plurality of prickles (32) at one side thereof.

2. The pipeline hair cleaner of claim 1, characterized in that the grappler part (40) is shaped like a flat blade and provided with a plurality of grapplers (41) located at the same side as the prickles (32) and further provided with a curved portion (42) at a head end thereof.

3. The pipeline hair cleaner of claim 1, characterized in that the grappler part (50) is shaped like a flat arrow and provided with tapered sections (52) at two sides of a head end (51) thereof, the grappler part (50) being joined to the prickly section (30) at one side thereof.

4. The pipeline hair cleaner of claim 1, characterized in that the grappler part (60) is formed with a flattened hook (61) which is joined to the prickly section (30) at one side thereof, the grappler part (60) being provided with a curved portion (62) at a head end thereof.

5. The pipeline hair cleaner of claim 1, characterized in that the grappler part (70) has a curved portion (71) extending from the prickly section (30) towards the same side as the prickles (32) and tapering into a sharp hook (72) which extends upwardly from the curved portion (71).

6. The pipeline hair cleaner of any of claims 2-5, characterized in that the handle part (10) is provided with two concave portions (13) respectively at two sides of a joint at which the handle part (10) and the long rod section (20) are united.

7. The pipeline hair cleaner of any of claims 2, 4 and 5, characterized in that the curved portion (42, 62, 71) is replaced by a bevel side.

8. The pipeline hair cleaner of any of claims 2-5, characterized in that the pipeline hair cleaner is made of plastic.