IL264438B2 - Handheld drain cleaning device - Google Patents

Description

HANDHELD DRAIN CLEANING DEVICE BACKGROUND Technical Field The present invention is directed to handheld drain clearing and cleaning devices, more particularly to piston-type handheld drain clearing and cleaning devices.

Description of Related Art Drain opening devices are well known in the art. Those which apply force, other than that which is generated from the suction cup, include piston-type drain cleaning devices. The known piston type suction plungers for clearing clogged drains and pipes are complex in structure and expensive.

Other devices used for clearing clogged drains rely on the use of compressed gas or air to provide the required pressure to clear the clogged drains.

However, there remains a need in the art to be able to both compress and decompress the air/water above the clog in a quick, repetitious series of cycles. Prior solutions have not provided for the release of internally built-up pressure, and, hence, do not offer true functional suction action. The present invention is designed to render both a compression and decompression action, in a succession, the resulting alternative between positive and negative pressure in the drain causing a disruption to the structure of the clog, assuring its speedy removal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A handheld drain cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cup shaped member connected to a frustoconical fitting on one side and at opposite side to a hollow cylindrical body. The hollow cylindrical body contains a movable piston, which is further attached to a spring-loaded handle. The cup shaped member contains at least one unidirectional valve designed to allow a unidirectional flow of fluid or air from surroundings into a first hollow chamber of the cup. The cup shaped member further contains an additional unidirectional valve designed to allow a unidirectional flow from the first hollow chamber towards an opening of the frustoconical fitting.

The handheld drain cleaning device of present invention may further comprise an elongated nozzle connected to the frustoconical fitting and adapted for entering the openings of a drain strainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example, embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures of drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handheld drain cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a handheld drain cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handheld drain cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a handheld drain cleaning device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a handheld drain cleaning device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a handheld drain cleaning device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a unidirectional spring-based valve of a handheld drain cleaning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be obvious to one skilled in the art that the invention may be used without these specific details. In other instances well-known methods, procedures, components, and elements are not described here in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the invention. It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the devices and methods of the present invention, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.

A first embodiment of a handheld drain cleaning device of present invention is depicted in FIG.1 and FIG.2. A handheld drain cleaning device 10 comprises a cup shaped member attached by a ring 122 to one end of a hollow cylindrical body 12, and a sealing cap 1attached to an opposite end of the hollow cylindrical body 12. The drain cleaning device further includes a piston 113, adapted to move inside the hollow cylindrical body 12, and a spring-loaded handle 11 attached to the piston 113. The spring-loaded handle 11 comprises a rod 112 that extends from the piston 113 and through the sealing cap 121 to a hand handle 1located at another end of the rod 112. The spring-loaded handle 11 further comprises a spring 111 positioned between the sealing cap 121 and the hand handle 110.

The cup shaped member 13 includes a first hollow chamber 120 connected at one end to the hollow cylindrical body 120 and at another end, through a hole 138, to a second hollow chamber 130. The hole 138 and a ball 139 serve as a unidirectional ball-valve that allows fluid or air to flow from the first hollow chamber 120 to the second hollow chamber 130 (through the hole 138 at the top of a conical partition 137). The first hollow chamber 120 also contains at least one unidirectional valve 136 that allows entrance of fluid or air from outside and into the first hollow chamber 120 (through a side-hole 135).

The cup shaped member 13 further contains a mesh 140 located between the second hollow chamber 130 and a frustoconical fitting 132. The mesh 140 prevents the ball 139 from entering into the frustoconical fitting 132.

The drain cleaning device 10 is operated by pressing the frustoconical fitting 132 and an annular sealing member 133 (which may be or may be not permanently attached to the frustoconical fitting 132) towards a drain opening and repetitively pushing the spring-loaded handle 11, thus drawing water/air from the surroundings and into the first hollow chamber 1(through valve/s 136), and expelling it from an opening 134 of the frustoconical fitting 132 and into a drain pipe.

Preferably, the frustoconical fitting 132 and a sealing member 133 are made in whole or in part of flexible or elastic material, such as rubber.

A second embodiment of a handheld drain cleaning device of present invention is illustrated in FIG.3 and FIG.4. A handheld drain cleaning device 20 comprises a cup shaped member attached by a ring 222 to one end of a hollow cylindrical body 22, and a sealing cap 2attached to the opposite end of the hollow cylindrical body 22. The drain cleaning device further comprises a piston 213, adapted to move inside the hollow cylindrical body 22, and a spring-loaded handle 21 attached to the piston 213. The spring-loaded handle 21 comprises a rod 212 that extends from the piston 213 and through the sealing cap 221, a hand handle 2located at another end of the rod 212 and a spring 211 positioned between the sealing cap 2and the hand handle 210.

The cup shaped member 23 includes a first hollow chamber 220 connected at one end to the hollow cylindrical body 220 and at another end, through a hole 238, to a second hollow chamber 230. The hole 238 and a ball 239 serve as a unidirectional ball-valve that allows fluid or air flow from the first hollow chamber 220 to the second hollow chamber 230 (through a hole 238 at the top of a conical partition 237). The first hollow chamber 220 also contains at least one unidirectional valve 236 that allows entrance of fluid or air from outside and into the first hollow chamber 220 (through a side-hole 235).

The cup shaped member 23 further contains a mesh 240 located between the second hollow chamber 230 and a frustoconical fitting 232. The mesh 240 prevents the ball 239 from entering into a the frustoconical fitting 232.

The drain cleaning device 20 also includes an elongated nozzle 241 with openings 242 at its end. The elongated nozzle 241 is attached to the frustoconical fitting 232 and designed to penetrate through openings of a drain strainer.

During a drain cleaning, the elongated nozzle 241 of drain cleaning device 20 is first inserted into the drain and then spring-loaded handle 21 is repeatedly pushed, to draw water/air into the first hollow chamber (through valve/s 236) and expel it from the openings 242 of the nozzle 241.

Preferably, the frustoconical fitting 232 and an elongated nozzle 241 are made of flexible or elastic material, such as rubber.

A third embodiment of a handheld drain cleaning device of present invention is depicted in FIG.5 and FIG.6. A handheld drain cleaning device 30 comprises a cup member 33 attached by a ring 322 to one end of a hollow cylindrical body 32, and a sealing cap 321 attached to the opposite end of the hollow cylindrical body 32. The drain cleaning device 30 further comprises a piston 313, adapted to move inside the hollow cylindrical body 32, and a spring-loaded handle attached to the piston 313. The spring-loaded handle 31 comprises a rod 312 that extends from the piston 313 and through the sealing cap 321, a hand handle 310 located at the other end of the rod 312 and a spring 311 positioned between the sealing cap 321 and the hand handle 310.

The cup shaped member 33 includes a first hollow chamber 320 connected at one end to the hollow cylindrical body 320 and at another end, through a hole 338, to a second hollow chamber 330. The hole 338 and a valve mechanism 34 serve as a unidirectional valve that allows fluid or air flow from the first hollow chamber 320 to the second hollow chamber 3(through an opening 338 at the top of a partition 337) and to the frustoconical fitting 332. The first hollow chamber 320 also contains at least one unidirectional valve 336 that allows entrance of fluid or air from outside and into the first hollow chamber 320 (through a side-hole 335).

Operating the drain cleaning device 30 is done by pressing the frustoconical fitting 332 and a sealing member 333 towards a drain opening ang repetitively pushing the spring-loaded handle 31, thus drawing water/air from surroundings into the first hollow chamber 320 (through valve/s 336) and expelling it from an opening 334 of the frustoconical fitting 332 and into the drain pipe.

Preferably, the frustoconical fitting 332 and a sealing member 333 are made of flexible or elastic material, such as rubber.

FIG.7 depicts the valve mechanism 34 in detail. The valve mechanism 34 is comprised of a spring-loaded piston that contains a piston rod 341, a sealing piston 345 (designed to seal the opening 338) attached to the piston rod 341 and a spring 342. The piston rod 341 is confined between three posts 340 and adapted to move vertically inside piston rod retainers 347, 349. The piston rod retainers 347, 349 are mechanically connected to the posts 340 by connectors 346, 348. The spring 342 is confined between bottom piston rod retainer 349 and a washer-like disk 343 that attached to the piston rod 341 by an e-clip or retaining ring 344.

Although an illustrative embodiment has been shown and described, a wide range of modification, change and substitution is contemplated in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the embodiment may be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims are construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the embodiment disclosed herein.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A handheld drain cleaning device comprising: a cup shaped member connected to a frustoconical fitting on one side and at opposite side to a hollow cylindrical body; said hollow cylindrical body contains a movable piston, said piston is further attached to a spring-loaded handle; and wherein said cup shaped member contains at least one unidirectional valve designed to allow a unidirectional flow of fluid or air from surroundings into a first hollow chamber of the cup when the spring-loaded handle moves upwards, and wherein said cup shaped member further contains an additional unidirectional valve designed to allow a unidirectional flow from the first hollow chamber towards an opening of the frustoconical fitting, when the spring-loaded handle is pushed downwards. 2. The handheld drain cleaning device of claim 1, wherein said frustoconical fitting further comprises an annular sealing member. 3. The handheld drain cleaning device of claim 2 further comprising an elongated nozzle connected to the frustoconical fitting. 4. The handheld drain cleaning device of claim 2 or 3, wherein said additional unidirectional valve is a ball-type valve.

. The handheld drain cleaning device of claim 2 or 3, wherein said additional unidirectional valve is a spring-based valve.

ABSTRACT A handheld drain cleaning device comprises a cup shaped member connected to a frustoconical fitting on one side and at opposite side to a hollow cylindrical body. The hollow cylindrical body contains a movable piston, which is further attached to a spring-loaded handle. The cup shaped member contains at least one unidirectional valve designed to allow a unidirectional flow of fluid or air from surroundings into a first hollow chamber of the cup. The cup shaped member further contains an additional unidirectional valve designed to allow a unidirectional flow from the first hollow chamber towards an opening of the frustoconical fitting. The drain cleaning device is operated by pressing the frustoconical fitting and a sealing member towards a drain opening and repetitively pushing the spring-loaded handle, thus drawing water/air from the surroundings and into the first hollow chamber (through valve/s), and expelling it from an opening of the frustoconical fitting and into a drain pipe. .