Abstract:
A plumbing sink trap having a rotatable actuating knob for rotating a sweeper bar through 360°. The sweeper bar forms a part of the U-shaped path for waste water. Rotation of the sweeper bar removes obstructions in the U-shaped path.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a plumbing sink trap. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Modern plumbing, while introducing extreme convenience, has introduced specialized problems. For example, over time, in a P-trap plumbing fitting, usually associated with a sink outlet, clogging may occur. 
     Traditionally, to solve this problem, a plumber needs to be called who removes two compression nuts located at opposite ends of the P-trap. A tailpiece is pushed down and the trap turned 90° to gain access to the U-shaped bend in the trap in which the clog resides. 
     The removal of the trap may cause spillage of waste water and other damage inherent in repair of a P-trap resulting in a need for possible replacement. In addition, the cost associated with the use of a plumber and loss of time for the homeowner may be prohibitive. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is designed to clear itself of stoppages or blockages in a trap pipe by turning an external knob. The knob is connected to an internal sweeper mechanism. The sweeper mechanism is permanently attached to the external knob by the use of a stem of a shaft. The shaft has a male spline on both ends. One end of the spline is received in a female splined opening of the external handle and the other end is received in a female seat of the sweeper mechanism. 
     The sweeper mechanism when not in use locks in an upright position. When the sweeper is in the upright position, its sidewalls form part of the U-shaped path of a regular sink P-trap. 
     To accomplish this, the present invention is designed in a circular configuration. The trap housing is a full 360 degree design with flat side walls. 
     The overall size of the housing is determined by the type of plumbing fixture to which the trap of the present invention is attached. The trap can be made in a variety of sizes, such as one and one quarter inch (1¼″), one and one half inch (1½″) and two inch (2″). The trap is designed to maintain a true water seal of three and one half inches (3½″) minimum. 
     The inlet and the outlet of the trap are of nominal pipe size. The inlet has a male thread and a female swedged opening to allow for a slip nut connection or solvent weld joint. The outlet has a male thread to allow for a slip nut connection to the crown weir. The trap is to be constructed of injection molded PVC (poly-vinyl-chloride). 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a P-trap having a rotatable sweeper interposed between two vertically extending sidewalls such that the sweeper may be rotated 360 degrees to remove debris lodged in a U-shaped portion of the P-trap. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a plumbing sink trap having a vertically oriented sweeper bar forming part of a U-shaped path for passage of waste water and which upon blockage of the U-shaped path, is rotatable through 360 degrees for advancing the object blocking the U-shaped path. 
     It is still another object of the present invention to provide a plumbing sink trap having a vertically extending sidewall through which extends a spline connected to a sweeper bar within the sink trap and connected to a rotatable knob for rotation of the it sweeper bar through 360 degrees from outside of the trap so as to clear blockage of the sink trap. 
     These and other objects of the invention, as well as many of the intended advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent when reference is made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the plumbing sink trap of the present invention illustrating a sweeper bar located in a vertical orientation within the sink trap and being rotatable through 360 degrees upon rotation of an actuating knob. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear exploded view of the plumbing sink trap of the present invention illustrating the mounting of the sweeper bar between a fixed sidewall of the sink trap body and a removable sidewall with the shaft upon which the sweeper bar is fixed extending through the removable sidewall for connection with a rotatable actuating knob for rotation of the sweeper bar through 360 degrees. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In describing a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. 
     With reference to the drawings, in general and to FIG. 1 in particular, a plumbing sink P-trap embodying the teachings of the subject invention is generally designated as  10 . The trap includes inlet end  12  and outlet end  14 . The trap is made of poly-vinyl-chloride. Inlet end  12  and outlet end  14  each include a compression nut  16 ,  18 , respectively. 
     Inlet end  12  may be connected to a tailpiece (not shown) whereas end  18  is connected to a waste pipe weir  20 . Alternatively, solvent weld joints or threaded connections may be used since internal access to the sink trap will no longer be necessary by the present invention. 
     With reference to FIG. 2, the trap body  22  includes a fixed side wall  24  integral with inlet end  12  and outlet end  14 . Projecting inwardly from side wall  24  is a female guide seat  26 . 
     Sweeper bar  28  is a solid member having a width equal to the width “d” of the trap body  22 . The sweeper bar includes two parallel sidewalls  30 ,  32  interconnecting two opposite curved ends  34 ,  36 . The curvature of end  36  is the same curvature as the path of the sweeper bar  29  through the trap body  22 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     The sweeper bar is permanently secured on shaft  40  by a splined connection  42 . End  44  of shaft  40  is received in guide seat  26 , allowing complete freedom of rotation of the sweeper bar. 
     In a central portion of the shaft  40  is located a washer  46  and a bias spring  48  for compression by sidewall  38  when the sink trap is assembled. The washer  46  and spring  48  will be forced into recess  50  by trap side wall  38  with the spring  48  projecting slightly out of the recess  50  for bias engagement with an internal surface of trap side wall  38 . 
     The opposite end  52  of shaft  40  is splined. Threaded insert  54  passes through opening  56  of the trap wall  38  and around end  52  of shaft  40 . An annular packing member  58  also passes around the shaft  40  so that the shaft  40  may have its splined end  52  received and secured in packing bonnet  60  at end  62 . An opposite end  64  of the packing bonnet  60  receives a screw  66  passing through rotatable actuating knob  68 . A cap cover  70  covers the screw  66 . 
     Actuating knob  68  is secured to packing bonnet  60  having a projection  72 , projecting in a direction of needle indicator  74  extending from the actuating knob  68 . The projection  72  fits into a detent  76  of threaded insert  54 . The alignment of the needle indicator  74  representative of the alignment of the projection  72 , detent  76  and sweeper bar  28  provides an external indication of the orientation of the sweeper bar inside of the trap body as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     Accordingly, upon rotation of the sweeper bar in the direction of arrow  78  by rotation of actuating knob  68 , in a direction from inlet end  12  to outlet end  14 , will force any obstructions located in the U-shaped path between the inlet end  12  and outlet end  14  towards the outlet end  14  and the weir  20 . During rotation of the sweeper bar, the needle indicator  74  will provide an indication of the location of the sweeper bar through the U-shaped path between the inlet end  12  and outlet end  14 . The eventual interengagement of projection  72  moving with the actuating knob  68  and detent  76  will provide a locking of the sweeper bar in a vertical orientation, out of the way of the U-shaped path of travel of waste water through the trap. Therefore, the same U-shaped path as is provided by a P-trap without the present invention is established by the configuration and orientation of the sweeper bar of the present invention. 
     The foregoing description should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. 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.