US2736906A

US2736906A - Drain opener

Info

Publication number: US2736906A
Application number: US435706A
Authority: US
Inventors: Walter G Ramseur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-06-10
Filing date: 1954-06-10
Publication date: 1956-03-06
Anticipated expiration: 1973-03-06

Description

March 6, 1956 w. G. RAMSEUR DRAIN OPENER Filed June 10, 1954 INVENTOR W 6. RAMSEl/R ATTORNEY United States Patent- 2,736,906 DRAIN OPENER Walter G. Rams-eur, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Application June 10, 1954, Serial No. 435,706

1 Claim. (Cl. 4-256) This invention relates to fluid distribution, and more particularly to the distribution and disposition of water around the home or other habitable buildings. The invention is particularly concerned with drainage from a kitchen sink or the like and to the opening of the drain in the event of stoppage.

Heretofore, when the drains of sinks or the like have become stopped numerous devices have been employed to unstop the same so that waste water could be discharged through the drain. However, these have not been fully satisfactory for various reasons including the complicated nature of the same, the dificulty of use, the unsatisfactory results, and for other reasons.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the above objections and to provide a simple and inexpensive drain opener which can be readily attached onto the end of a hose and applied to and held over a drain so that water may be allowed to How through the hose under pressure to unclog the drain.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drain opener of a minimum number of parts, which is readily applicable to and can be employed for opening drains of various sizes.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, an enlarged perspective view of the drain opener itself:

Fig. 3, a longitudinal section on the line 33 of Fig.

Fig. 4, a bottom plan view, and

Fig. 5, an enlarged side elevation of the coupling employed for fastening the structure to a water hose.

Briefly stated the invention comprises a suction cup or flexible sealing member and a swivel coupling for connecting the same to a water hose so that water may be allowed to flow under pressure for dislodging accumulation in the drain.

With continued reference to the drawing a basin or sink is adapted to be supplied with water through a faucet 11 by means of controls 12 and 13 for hot and cold water. A drain or discharge outlet, not shown, in the bottom of the sink or basin allows waste water to flow from the sink. The discharge of this waste water sometimes is prevented by accumulation in the drain which either completely stops or interrupts the flow of water therefrom, rendering it desirable to remove the same in order that fresh water may be allowed to flow into the sink and be discharged therefrom.

A drain opener is provided which includes a suction cup 14 having a relatively thin lower wall portion and a relatively thick upper wall portion with an enlarged sealing face 20 adapted to be pressed into contact with the bottom of the sink or lavatory about the drain opening. The enlarged sealing face 15 around the bottom of the skirt of the suction cup is held in contact with the ice sink by pressure applied manually to the suction cup and such cup is preferably sufficiently thin that it will yield sufficiently to conform to the surface to which it is applied but it is provided with ribs 16 spaced around the inner wall of the same to give the necessary rigidity to the structure, such ribs being exposed axially of the suction cup.

The upper portion of the suction cup is thickened and provided with an axial passage or bore for the flow of water therethrough. A coupling is provided for attaching the suction cup onto the end of the hose 18 which may be attached to a faucet on the outside of the house such hose brought into the house through a window 19.

The coupling by means of which the suction cup is attached to the water hose comprises a nipple 20 having an external diameter of a size to be tightly received within the bore 17 of the suction cup, such bore having a diameter substantially one fourth its length and with such nipple of a length substantially corresponding to that of the bore 17 in order to provide a support for the upper heavy or thickened portion of the suction cup and to insure a good connection therewith. The outer end of the nipple 2% is provided with an external flange 21 which engages and seals over the internal flange 22 of a coupling member 23 of suflicient rigidity for its external threads 24 to tightly grip a coupling (not shown) on the end of a water hose 18 through which water under pressure may be supplied for moving cloggage in the drain. If desired a sealing gasket 25 may be employed to prevent leakage between the nipple 2t and the coupling 23 or between the flanges 22 and 21.

A ferrule or clamping member may be employed for binding the upper end of the suction cup to the nipple 21 Such clamping member comprises a relatively short sleeve section 26 and reversely bent clamping fingers 27 the extremities of which extend inwardly towards the axis of the tube 20 and clamp the upper portion of the suction cup against said tube. The coupling member 23 may have knurled gripping

portions

28 and 29 so it may be gripped while coupling the same to a water hose.

It will be readily understood that the present invention consists mainly of a suction cup, a nipple which fits within the same, and a coupling member rotatably mounted on said nipple so that the device may be readily attached to a Water hose. The nipple may have internal and external surfaces to comply with requirements usually as disclosed the surfaces being smooth. The length of the nipple and the bore in which it is located are such as to provide a tight joint but that to insure the tension of the nipple in the bore of the suction cup an auxiliary fastening element may be provided.

The use of the device will be apparent being connected to the end of a water hose it may be placed over a drain and while the skirt of the suction cup is held in firm contact with the surface of the drain the water may be permitted to fiow through the water hose under pressure for unclogging the drain.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A drain opener comprising a suction cup having a relatively thin lower wall portion and a relatively thick upper wall portion having an axial bore extending through the thick portion of the wall, said thin wall portion having axially disposed reinforcing ribs spaced around the same, a reinforcing nipple of an external size fitting tightly within said bore and reinforcing the upper portion of said cup and having its lower end terminating short of the lower end of the bore, said nipple having an external flange located exteriorly of said bore, a coupling memher having an internal flange seated behind said external flange of the nipple whereby the coupling member and nipple are relatively rotatable, and a reinforcing clamping member for securing said suction cup with the nipple in assembled relation, said reinforcing member comprising a ferrule having an inwardly bent sleeve portion in firm and frictional contact with said nipple and inner surface of the bore and having outwardly extending and inwardly turned clamping fingers compressing the upper portion of the suction cup against said nipple.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Stuber et a1 June 30, 1914 Norton Sept. 18, 1928 Scholtes July 11, 1933 Allen July 6, 1937 Schubring Apr. 2, 1940 Walus June 4, 1940 Rettinger Dec. 26, 1950