Drain cleaning tools

Drain cleaning tools are described. The tools typically include a hollow drum for housing a drain cleaning cable, an elongated cable guide, a locking nut engageable with the cable guide for selectively engaging the cable, and a rotatable handle on the cable guide. A particular configuration is used at an open end of the cable guide to facilitate engagement, i.e., selective locking and unlocking, of the cable. One or more flexible members are provided in the cable guide for rotatably retaining the handle about the cable guide.

FIELD

The present subject matter relates to drain cleaning tools. In particular, the present subject matter relates to low cost drain cleaning tools having a simplified assembly.

BACKGROUND

A wide variety of drain cleaning tools are known in the art. One type of tool is a drum-type drain cleaning tool which uses a rotatable drum in which a drain cleaning cable or “snake” is stored. Upon rotation of the drum, the cable is dispensed from, or retracted into, the drum. Such tools are known in manually driven forms or in powered versions.

Manually driven drum-type drain cleaning tools include a relatively large number of components which increase complexity and assembly costs. In addition, many of the components are metal and thus lead to a potential for scratching or otherwise damaging furnishings such as bathroom fixtures during use of the drain cleaning tool. Although many drain cleaning tools are satisfactory in various respects, a need remains for an improved tool which addresses the noted concerns.

SUMMARY

The difficulties and drawbacks associated with previous approaches are addressed in the present subject matter as follows.

In one aspect, the present subject matter provides a drain cleaning tool comprising a drum defining an interior hollow chamber for housing a drain cleaning cable. The drum defines a forward face and an oppositely directed rearward face. The drum includes a forwardly projecting hollow elongated cable guide. The cable guide defines a distal end opposite the rearward face and includes at least one flexible retaining member disposed between the distal end and the forward face of the drum. The drain cleaning tool also comprises a handle having an axially extending interior passageway sized to receive the cable guide. The handle is disposed about the elongated cable guide and is rotatable with respect to the drum. The handle defines an annular race within the interior passageway and the at least one flexible retaining member contacts the race, thereby rotatably retaining the handle about the cable guide of the drum.

In another aspect, the present subject matter provides a drain cleaning tool comprising a front drum defining a front face, a rearwardly extending cylindrical wall and a forwardly projecting hollow elongated cable guide. The cable guide defines a distal end opposite the cylindrical wall and includes at least one flexible retaining member disposed between the distal end and the front face of the drum. The distal end of the elongated cable guide includes (i) a plurality of axially extending flexible tabs integrally formed with the elongated cable guide and (ii) an outer threaded region. The tool also comprises a rear drum sized and shaped to engage a rearward face of the cylindrical wall of the front drum, and thereby form a chamber for housing a drain cleaning cable. The tool also comprises a nut defining (i) a rear face, (ii) a forwardly extending inner tapered face, and (iii) an inner threaded region configured to threadedly engage the outer threaded region of the cable guide.

In yet another aspect, the present subject matter provides a drain cleaning tool consisting essentially of a front drum including a front face, a rearwardly extending cylindrical wall, and a forwardly projecting hollow elongated cable guide. The cable guide includes (i) a distal end opposite the cylindrical wall, (ii) an arcuate wall extending between the distal end and the front face of the front drum, (iii) at least one flexible retaining member formed within the arcuate wall of the cable guide, (iv) a plurality of axially extending flexible tabs integrally formed with the cable guide and disposed at the distal end of the cable guide, and (v) an outer threaded region disposed between the plurality of axially extending flexible tabs and the at least one flexible retaining member. The tool also consists essentially of a rear drum including a rear face and a cylindrical wall. The rear drum is engaged with a rearward face of the cylindrical wall of the front drum, thereby forming a chamber for housing a drain cleaning cable. The tool also consists essentially of fastening provisions for securing engagement of the rear drum with the front drum. The tool also consists essentially of a knob engaged along the rear face of the rear drum. The tool also consists essentially of a handle having an axially extending interior passageway defining an annular race and rotatably disposed about the elongated cable guide of the front drum. The handle is disposed between the threaded region of the elongated cable guide and the front face of the front drum. The at least one flexible retaining member contacts the race and thereby rotatably retains the handle disposed about the cable guide. The tool also consists essentially of a flexible drain cleaning cable at least partially housed in the chamber formed from the front drum and the rear drum. The tool further consists essentially of a nut defining (i) a rear face, (ii) a forwardly extending inner tapered face; and (iii) an inner threaded region configured to threadedly engage the outer threaded region of the cable guide. The nut is threadedly engaged with the threaded region of the cable guide. At least a portion of the drain cleaning cable extends through the elongated cable guide and the nut, and upon rotation of the nut relative to the cable guide, the nut is linearly displaced against the plurality of axially extending tabs of the cable guide thereby resulting in deflection of the tabs against the drain cleaning cable to thereby secure the cable at a desired axial position relative to the cable guide.

As will be realized, the subject matter described herein is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the claimed subject matter. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present subject matter provides drain cleaning tools which are formed from a remarkably few number of components thereby reducing cost, complexity, and assembly demands. The drain cleaning tools also utilize a relatively high proportion of non-metallic components, thereby further reducing costs and avoiding the potential for scratching or otherwise damaging furnishings during use of the tool. In certain embodiments, the tools utilize a unique locking assembly for securing the drain cleaning cable in a desired position. And, in certain embodiments, the tools use a particular retaining assembly for rotatably securing a handle to the tool. Additional features and aspects are described herein.

FIGS. 1 and 2are exploded assembly views of two popular manually driven, drum-type drain cleaning tools known in the prior art.FIG. 1illustrates a drain cleaning tool10commercially available from Ridge Tool Co. under the designation RIDGID Model K-25.FIG. 2illustrates another tool20also commercially available from Ridge Tool Co. under the designation RIDGID Model K-26. Excluding the drain cleaning cable, the K-25 is assembled from ten (10) different components and the K-26 is assembled from a total of twelve (12) major components. Many of these components are metal such as the chucks2and22shown in the referenced figures which consist of 3 to 10 additional components in the subassemblies.

FIGS. 3-12illustrate an embodiment of a drain cleaning tool100in accordance with the present subject matter. Generally, the drain cleaning tool100comprises a drum110,140defining an interior hollow chamber148for housing a drain cleaning cable170. The drum defines a forward or front face114and an oppositely directed rearward face144. The drum includes a forwardly projecting hollow elongated cable guide120. In many embodiments, the cable guide120is integrally formed with the drum110and more particularly with the front face114of the drum. The cable guide120defines a distal end122opposite the rearward face144of the drum and includes at least one flexible retaining member126disposed between the distal end122and the forward face114of the drum.

The tool100also comprises a handle160having an axially extending interior passageway162sized to receive the cable guide120. The handle160is disposed about the elongated cable guide120and is rotatable with respect to the drum110,140and the cable guide120. The handle160defines an annular race164within the interior passageway162and the at least one flexible retaining member126contacts the race164, thereby rotatably retaining the handle160about the cable guide120of the drum axis. It will be appreciated that a variety of handle shapes and configurations can be used in the present subject matter drain cleaning tools. For example, a handle having a pistol grip member can be used for the handle160, in which the pistol grip handle includes the aspects of handle160in addition to an outwardly extending pistol grip member. An optional pistol grip161is shown inFIG. 5. A nonlimiting example of a pistol grip member is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,076 as item40.

In certain embodiments, the retaining member126is formed within an arcuate wall124of the elongated cable guide120and includes a radially extending, outwardly projecting finger132defining an inclined forwardly directed face134and a rearwardly directed bearing face136that contacts the annular race164of the handle160.

In particular embodiments, the cable guide120includes two flexible retaining members126, each member126formed within the arcuate wall124of the elongated cable guide120and disposed 180° apart from each other. However, it will be understood that the present subject matter includes the use of a fewer number or greater number of retaining member(s)126. For versions utilizing two or more retaining members126, the members are typically located equidistant from one another and are disposed about the outer periphery or circumference of the cable guide120.

In particular embodiments of the tool100, the distal end122of the elongated cable guide120includes (i) a plurality of axially extending flexible tabs128integrally formed with the elongated cable guide120and (ii) an outer threaded region130.

The tool100also comprises a nut180defining (i) a rear face182, (ii) a forwardly extending inner tapered face184, and (iii) an inner threaded region186configured to threadedly engage the outer threaded region130of the cable guide120. The nut180is threadedly engaged with the threaded region130of the cable guide120. In certain versions, the nut180is free of metal. Typically, the nut180includes one or more polymeric material(s).

The tool100also comprises a knob154engaged along a rearward face144of the drum100,140.

The tool100additionally comprises a flexible drain cleaning cable170at least partially housed in the hollow chamber148of the drum110,140.

In a particular embodiment, the tool100consists essentially of a front drum110including a front face114, a rearwardly extending cylindrical wall112, and a forwardly projecting hollow elongated cable guide120. The cable guide includes (i) a distal end122opposite the cylindrical wall112, (ii) an arcuate wall124extending between the distal end122and the front face114of the front drum110, (iii) at least one flexible retaining member126formed within the arcuate wall124of the cable guide120, (iv) a plurality of axially extending flexible tabs128integrally formed with the cable guide120and disposed at the distal end122, and (v) an outer threaded region130disposed between the plurality of axially extending flexible tabs128and the at least one flexible retaining member126.

The tool100also consists essentially of a rear drum140including a rear face144and a cylindrical wall142. The rear drum140is engaged with a rearward face of the cylindrical wall112of the front drum110, thereby forming a chamber148for housing a drain cleaning cable.

The tool100also consists essentially of a plurality of fasteners150for securing engagement of the rear drum140with the front drum110. It will be understood that a variety of provisions can be used instead of, or in combination with, the fastener(s)150for securing engagement of the rear drum140with the front drum110. For example, one or more flexible snaps could be provided on either or both drum portions which engage receiving portions on the other drum portion to secure the portions together. Similar fastening provisions can be used to retain the handle or knob with the drum or drum portions.

The tool100also consists essentially of a knob154engaged along the rear face144of the rear drum140.

The tool100also consists essentially of a handle160having an axially extending interior passageway162defining an annular race164and rotatably disposed about the elongated cable guide120of the front drum110. The handle160is disposed between the threaded region130of the elongated cable guide120and the front wall114of the front drum110. The at least one flexible retaining member126contacts the race164and thereby rotatably retains the handle160disposed about the cable guide120. As previously noted, other handle shapes and configurations can be used for the handle160including for example a pistol grip handle.

The tool100also consists essentially of a flexible drain cleaning cable170at least partially housed in the chamber148formed from the front drum110and the rear drum140.

The tool100also consists essentially of a nut180defining (i) a rear face182, (ii) a forwardly extending inner tapered face184, and (iii) an inner threaded region186configured to threadedly engage the outer threaded region130of the cable guide120. The nut180is threadedly engaged with the threaded region130of the cable guide120. Typically, and during use of the tool100, at least a portion of the drain cleaning cable170extends through the elongated cable guide120and the nut180, and upon rotation of the nut180relative to the cable guide120, the nut180is linearly displaced against the plurality of axially extending tabs128of the cable guide120thereby resulting in deflection of the tabs128against the drain cleaning cable170to thereby secure the cable170at a desired axial position relative to the cable guide120.

In certain embodiments, upon linear displacement of the nut180against the plurality of axially extending tabs128, the inner tapered face184of the nut180contacts the plurality of axially extending flexible tabs128of the cable guide120.

An array of drain cleaning cables or snakes as known in the art, can potentially be used in association with the present subject matter. For example, drain cleaning cables as described in any of the following patent documents assigned to the present Assignee could be used: U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,080,599; 6,615,436; 4,218,802; 6,412,136; 6,009,588; 6,243,905; 7,367,077; and 8,413,347.

The present subject matter includes drain cleaning tools like those described herein, but without the handle160. In these versions of the tool, an operator would lightly grasp the outer surface of the cable guide member120and allow that member to rotate in the operator's hand while dispensing cable or retracting cable.

The present subject matter also includes drain cleaning tools like those described herein, but without a rotatable knob154. Instead, a projection, an outwardly extending member, and/or a recess could be formed into or along the drum such as the rear drum140which an operator would grip during rotation of the drum. It will be understood that the present subject matter includes a range of alternate versions and varying embodiments. For example, the present subject matter includes drain cleaning tools without the previously noted handle160and without the previously noted knob154. In such a version, an operator would lightly grasp the outer surface of the cable guide member and allow that member to rotate in the operator's hand while the operator also rotated the drum by engaging an integrally formed member associated with the drum, thereby causing cable to be dispensed or rotated.

Many of the components of the tool100are formed from polymeric materials which are durable and provide strength and rigidity as well as resistance to rusting. The components can be molded using known techniques such as injection molding.

Although the present subject matter drain cleaning tools have been described in terms of manually-driven tools, it will be appreciated that the present subject matter includes tools which utilize powered rotatable drums. Such tools could include or utilize a motor and drive provisions, for example, a belt between the drum and motor, to provide powered rotation of the drum.

All patents, applications, standards, and articles noted herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The present subject matter includes all operable combinations of features and aspects described herein. Thus, for example if one feature is described in association with an embodiment and another feature is described in association with another embodiment, it will be understood that the present subject matter includes embodiments having a combination of these features.

As described hereinabove, the present subject matter solves many problems associated with previous strategies, systems and/or devices. However, it will be appreciated that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of components, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the present subject matter, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the claimed subject matter, as expressed in the appended claims.