Plumbing tool

A plumbing tool for tightening the drain assembly of a shower. The tool includes a shaft having opposite proximal and distal ends and a tubular first bell reducer having open proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the shaft is inserted into the proximal end of the first bell reducer. A tubular second bell reducer is provided having open proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the first bell reducer is inserted into the proximal end of the second bell reducer. The distal end of the second bell reducer has therearound a plurality of spaced apart notches to define a plurality of spaced apart teeth around the distal end of the second bell reducer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to tools and more particularly pertains to a 
new plumbing tool for tightening the drain assembly of a shower. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of tools is known in the prior art. More specifically, tools 
heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of 
familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding 
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been 
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,103,698; U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,077; 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,003; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 382,788; U.S. Pat. No. 
3,302,672; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,555,583. 
After installing a shower, a plumber fills the shower with water to check 
for leaks. If a leak is found between the drain and the drain pipe, the 
caulking sealing ring at the union of the drain and the drain pipe must be 
tightened to stop the leak by tightening a brass ring which in turn 
tightens the caulking ring to seal the leak. This is very difficult (and 
time consuming) to do with traditional plumbing tools because the tool 
must extend past the grating of the drain without disassembling the shower 
or having to cut through the floor of the shower. 
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and 
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new plumbing 
tool. The inventive device includes a shaft having opposite proximal and 
distal ends and a tubular first bell reducer having open proximal and 
distal ends. The distal end of the shaft is inserted into the proximal end 
of the first bell reducer. A tubular second bell reducer is provided 
having open proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the first bell 
reducer is inserted into the proximal end of the second bell reducer. The 
distal end of the second bell reducer has therearound a plurality of 
spaced apart notches to define a plurality of spaced apart teeth around 
the distal end of the second bell reducer. 
In these respects, the plumbing tool according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of tightening the drain assembly of a shower. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of tools 
now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new 
plumbing tool construction wherein the same can be utilized for tightening 
the drain assembly of a shower. 
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described 
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new plumbing tool 
apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the tools 
mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new plumbing 
tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even 
implied by any of the prior art tools, either alone or in any combination 
thereof. 
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a shaft having 
opposite proximal and distal ends and a tubular first bell reducer having 
open proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the shaft is inserted 
into the proximal end of the first bell reducer. A tubular second bell 
reducer is provided having open proximal and distal ends. The distal end 
of the first bell reducer is inserted into the proximal end of the second 
bell reducer. The distal end of the second bell reducer has therearound a 
plurality of spaced apart notches to define a plurality of spaced apart 
teeth around the distal end of the second bell reducer. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional 
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which 
will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the 
scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar 
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a 
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of 
the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention 
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to 
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new 
plumbing tool apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the 
tools mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new 
plumbing tool which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or 
even implied by any of the prior art tools, either alone or in any 
combination thereof. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new plumbing 
tool which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new plumbing 
tool which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new 
plumbing tool which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with 
regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then 
susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making 
such plumbing tool economically available to the buying public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
plumbing tool which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior 
art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some 
of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new plumbing 
tool for tightening the drain assembly of a shower. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new plumbing 
tool which includes a shaft having opposite proximal and distal ends and a 
tubular first bell reducer having open proximal and distal ends. The 
distal end of the shaft is inserted into the proximal end of the first 
bell reducer. A tubular second bell reducer is provided having open 
proximal and distal ends. The distal end of the first bell reducer is 
inserted into the proximal end of the second bell reducer. The distal end 
of the second bell reducer has therearound a plurality of spaced apart 
notches to define a plurality of spaced apart teeth around the distal end 
of the second bell reducer. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
plumbing tool that allows a plumber to quickly and easily tighten the 
caulking ring around the union of the drain and drain pipe of a shower to 
stop any leaks from the union. 
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new 
plumbing tool that allows a plumber to tighten a drain of a shower without 
damaging the floor of the shower by cutting through the shower. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 
thereof, a new plumbing tool embodying the principles and concepts of the 
present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 
will be described. 
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the plumbing tool 10 generally 
comprises a shaft 11 having opposite proximal and distal ends 12,13 and a 
tubular first bell reducer 20 having open proximal and distal ends 21,22. 
The distal end 13 of the shaft 11 is inserted into the proximal end 21 of 
the first bell reducer 20. A tubular second bell reducer 30 is provided 
having open proximal and distal ends 31,32. The distal end 22 of the first 
bell reducer 20 is inserted into the proximal end 31 of the second bell 
reducer 30. The distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30 has 
therearound a plurality of spaced apart notches 38 to define a plurality 
of spaced apart teeth 39 around the distal end 32 of the second bell 
reducer 30. 
After installing a shower, a plumber fills the shower with water to check 
for leaks. If a leak is found between the drain and the drain pipe, the 
caulking sealing ring at the union of the drain and the drain pipe must be 
tightened to stop the leak by tightening a brass ring which in turn 
tightens the caulking ring to seal the leak. The plumbing tool 10 is 
designed for quickly and easily tightening the caulking ring of the drain 
assembly of a shower to stop water leaks from the drain assembly. 
Specifically, the shaft 11 of the plumbing tool is tubular and has opposite 
proximal and distal ends 12,13. The shaft 11 is generally cylindrical and 
has a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal ends 
12,13 of the shaft 11, a diameter, and a length defined between the 
proximal and distal ends 12,13 of the shaft 11. The proximal end 12 of the 
shaft 11 has a tubular mounting portion 14 which is generally cylindrical 
and has an axis extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 
of the shaft 11. An elongate handle rod 15 is extended through the 
mounting portion 14 of the shaft 11. The handle rod 15 is generally 
cylindrical and has a pair of opposite ends, a diameter, and a length 
defined between the ends of the handle rod 15. Each of the ends of the 
handle rod 15 preferably has an end cap 16,17 thereon. Optionally as 
illustrated in FIG. 4, the proximal end 12 of the shaft 11 may be adapted 
for attachment to a ratchet handle 18 instead of the handle rod and 
mounting portion configuration. 
The tubular first bell reducer 20 has open proximal and distal ends 21,22, 
proximal and distal portions 23,24, and a longitudinal axis extending 
between the proximal and distal ends 21,22 of the of first bell reducer 20 
through the proximal and distal portions 23,24 of the first bell reducer 
20. The proximal and distal ends 21,22 of the first bell reducer 20 are 
each generally circular and have a diameter. The diameter of the proximal 
end 21 of the first bell reducer 20 is less than the diameter of the 
distal end 22 of the first bell reducer 20. The proximal and distal 
portions 23,24 of the first bell reducer 20 each have'a length defined 
along the longitudinal axis of the first bell reducer 20. The distal 
portion 24 of the first bell reducer 20 has a straight side wall region 25 
and an arcuate side wall region 26. The straight side wall region 25 of 
the distal portion 24 of the first bell reducer 20 is positioned adjacent 
the distal end 22 of the first bell reducer 20. The arcuate side wall 
region 26 of the distal portion 24 of first bell reducer 20 is positioned 
adjacent the proximal portion 23 of the first bell reducer 20. The distal 
end 13 of the shaft 11 is inserted into the proximal end 21 of the first 
bell reducer 20 to couple against rotation the shaft 11 to the first bell 
reducer 20 such that the longitudinal axes of the shaft 11 and first bell 
reducer 20 are generally coaxial. 
The tubular second bell reducer 30 has open proximal and distal ends 31,32, 
proximal and distal portions 33,34, and a longitudinal axis extending 
between the proximal and distal ends 31,32 of the of second bell reducer 
30 through the proximal and distal portions 33,34 of the second bell 
reducer 30. The proximal and distal ends 31,32 of the second bell reducer 
30 each are generally circular and have a diameter. The diameter of the 
proximal end 31 of the second bell reducer 30 is less than the diameter of 
the distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30. The proximal and distal 
portions 33,34 of the second bell reducer 30 each have a length defined 
along the longitudinal axis of the second bell reducer 30. The distal 
portion 34 of the second bell reducer 30 has a straight side wall region 
35 and an arcuate side wall region 36. The straight side wall region 35 of 
the distal portion 34 of the second bell reducer 30 is positioned adjacent 
the distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30. The arcuate side wall 
region 36 of the distal portion 34 of second bell reducer 30 is positioned 
adjacent the proximal portion 33 of the second bell reducer 30. The distal 
end 22 of the first bell reducer 20 is inserted into the proximal end 31 
of the second bell reducer 30 to couple against rotation the first bell 
reducer 20 to the second bell reducer 30 such that the longitudinal axes 
of the first bell reducer 20 and the second bell reducer 30 are generally 
coaxial. 
In use, the distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30 is designed for 
inserting into a drain of a shower to engage the caulking ring. The second 
bell reducer 30 has an annular half coupling 37 extending around the 
straight side wall region 35 of the distal portion 34 of the second bell 
reducer 30 adjacent the distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30. The 
half coupling 37 is coupled against rotating to the second bell reducer 
30. In use, the half coupling 37 is designed for providing the proper 
thickness to the distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30 and for 
increased strength and durability to the distal end 32 of the second bell 
reducer 30. 
The distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30 has therearound a plurality 
of spaced apart notches 38 through the straight side wall region 35 of the 
distal portion 34 of the second bell reducer 30 and the half coupling 37 
to define a plurality of spaced apart teeth 39 around the distal end 32 of 
the second bell reducer 30. The teeth 39 are preferably spaced apart at 
generally equal intervals around the distal end 32 of the second bell 
reducer 30. In use, the teeth 39 are designed for engaging the brass ring 
of a caulking ring at the union of the drain and drain pipe to tighten the 
caulking ring to seal the union. The notches 38 each preferably have a 
generally rectangular configuration such that each of the teeth 39 has a 
generally rectangular configuration. Each of the notches 38 has a depth 
defined in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second 
bell reducer 30, and a width defined between the adjacent teeth 39. Each 
of the teeth 39 has a length defined in a direction parallel to the 
longitudinal axis of the second bell reducer 30, and a width defined 
between the adjacent notches 38. 
The plurality of notches 38 also includes a pair of diametric notches 40,41 
on the distal end 32 of the second bell reducer 30. Each of the notches 
40,41 of the pair of diametric notches has a depth greater than the depth 
of the remainder of the notches 38 of the plurality of notches 38. 
Preferably, the depths of the pair of diametric notches 40,41 are 
generally equal to one another while the depths of the remainder of the 
notches 38 of the plurality of notches 38 are generally equal to one 
another. In use, the diametric pair of notches 40,41 are designed for 
receiving the grate of the drain of the shower therein when the distal end 
32 of the second bell reducer 30 is inserted into the drain. 
In an ideal illustrative embodiment, designed in particular for fitting 
drains of showers manufactured by Oatey Casper under the name "Hot Mop", 
the diameter of the shaft 11 is about 1 inch and the length of the shaft 
11 is about 2 inches. The diameter of the handle rod 15 is about 3/4 inch 
and the length of the handle rod 15 is about 11 inches. In this ideal 
illustrative embodiment, the diameter of the proximal end 21 of the first 
bell reducer 20 is about 1 inch and the diameter of the distal end 22 of 
the first bell reducer 20 is about 2 inches. The length of the proximal 
portion 23 of the first bell reducer 20 is ideally about 1 inch and the 
length of the distal portion 24 of the first bell reducer 20 is about 2 
inches. The diameter of the proximal end 31 of the second bell reducer 30 
is about 2 inches while the diameter of the distal end 34 of the second 
bell reducer is ideally about 21/2 inches. Also in this ideal embodiment, 
the length of the second bell reducer 30 is defined between the proximal 
and distal ends of the second bell reducer 30 of about 11/2 inches. The 
half coupling 37 has ideally a diameter of about 21/2 inches. Ideally, the 
width of each notch 38 is about 5/8 inch and the length of each tooth is 
about 3/8 inch. 
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the 
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. 
Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and 
operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.