Abstract:
A system is provided for cleaning out a drain line for an air conditioning unit. The system has an access member that can be installed and remain in the drain line. The access unit provides access to the drain line to allow a fluid to move in at least one direction to remove the debris and liquids from the drain line to prevent maintenance issues with the air conditioning unit. A connecting member is used with the access member to move the debris either down the drain line or out of the air conditioning unit.

Description:
This application is a divisional application of and claims priority to U.S. Pat. No. 8,479,760, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a system and access member for cleaning out a drain line associated with an air conditioner water pan drain. 
     Technical Background 
     Air conditioners, given the way they work, create condensation that is typically collected at the bottom of the unit in a water pan. The water pan is usually connected to a drain line that exits from the air conditioner (A/C) unit and runs to the outside of the house or building where the A/C unit is installed. Sometimes the length of the drain line can be substantial. As a result, the drain line can remain wet for months, particularly in hot and humid areas, where the A/C unit can run most of the year. As a result of the constant wetness and opening to the outdoors, the drain line can become clogged or impeded by the growth of algae, mold, or fungi, or the accumulation of other particles and debris, including insects, frogs, lizards and the like. If the water pan becomes full and can not drain to the accumulation of debris in the drain line, the A/C unit will cause the water to overflow causing water damage or, if equiped with an overflow protection device, will shut itself off, causing the building&#39;s inhabitants to become uncomfortable very quickly. Therefore, it is important to be able to clear the drain line and empty the water pan. 
     Gaining access to the drain line can be very difficult, time consuming and the access points may not allow for a proper cleaning. In fact, in some instances, the materials in the drain line may be blown into the A/C unit, thereby fouling the A/C unit and potentially causing other maintenance and cleanliness issues, if not damaging the A/C unit as well. 
     It would be beneficial to have an access point in the drain line that allows for removal of the debris from the line as well as the A/C unit and water pan. The access point should be easily accessible for the technician or building owner to be able to quickly and reliably remove the debris on an emergency basis or as a part of a scheduled maintenance program. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect, an air conditioner water pan drain line system to clean out a drain line includes an access member configured to be disposed within the air conditioner water pan drain line, the access member having a sealable opening therein, and at least one connecting member, the at least one connecting member configured to be sealingly inserted into the sealable opening of the access member and having a first opening at a top end and a second opening adjacent a bottom end, the top end connectable to a fluid moving device for moving a fluid through the connecting member in at least one direction. 
     In some embodiments, the system also includes an adapter to sealingly engage the first opening of the at least one connecting member, the adapter having a threaded top opening to engage a fluid delivering device. 
     In other embodiments, the access member is generally T-shaped, the access member has two arms and one leg, the two arms lying in a generally straight line and the leg being perpendicular to and between the two arms, one of the two arms and the leg configured to be connected to the drain line, the other of the two arms having the sealable opening to receiving the at least one connecting member. 
     In yet other embodiments, the at least one connecting member is configured to receive a vacuum hose in the first opening and the second opening is in a sidewall thereof, the second opening of the at least one connecting member configured to align with leg of the access member to suck material out of the drain line between the system and an air conditioning unit. 
     In yet another embodiment, an access member for a drain line includes a main body having a first chamber, a first opening, a second opening, and a third opening, the first chamber having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis passing through the first and second openings and being orthogonal to the third opening, a generally first cylindrical extension having a first end, a second end, and an opening extending therebetween, the second end opening into the first chamber at the second opening and being in fluid communication therewith, and a second generally cylindrical extension integral with the main body and having a opening extending therethrough and in fluid communication with the first chamber, wherein the first chamber has an upward facing surface extending around a periphery of the first chamber adjacent the second opening to provide a stop and seal for a connecting member. 
     In another embodiment, An air conditioner water pan drain line system to clean out a drain line includes an access member configured to be disposed within the air conditioner water pan drain line, the access member being generally T-shaped, the access member having two arms and one leg, the two arms lying in a generally straight line and the leg being perpendicular to and between the two arms, one of the two arms and the leg configured to be connected to the drain line, the other of the two arms having a sealable opening, at least one connecting member, the at least one connecting member configured to be sealingly inserted into the sealable opening of the access member and having a first opening at a top end and a second opening adjacent a bottom end. 
     Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein, including the detailed description which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a water pan drain line system to clean out a drain line according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of an access member according to the present invention installed in a drain line; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the access member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the access member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the access member of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a connecting member according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top view of another embodiment of a connecting member according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an adapter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an embodiment of an compressed gas adapter according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of alternative embodiment of a connecting member according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of alternative embodiment of a connecting member according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiment(s) of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an air conditioner water pan drain line system  100  to clean out a drain line is illustrated. The system  100  includes an access member  102  and connecting members  200 ,  202 , which can be inserted into the access member  102 . Connecting member  200  also may be used with an adapter  204  and also a compressed gas adapter  206 . The air conditioner water pan drain line system  100  is then used with a fluid moving device, which may be one of several different devices. The fluid moving device may be a vacuum  300 , which is used with connecting member  202 , or it may be a water hose  302  that is coupled to the adapter  204 . Alternatively, the fluid moving device may be a compressed air hose/source that is connected to the compressed gas adapter  206 , which in turn is connected to the adapter  204 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the air conditioner water pan drain line system  100  is connected to the drain line  310  of an air conditioner  312 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the access member  102  has two arms  104 , 106  and one leg  108 . The two arms  104 , 106  generally lie in a straight line along a longitudinal axis  110 . The leg  108  is generally perpendicular to and disposed between the two arms  104 , 106 . Arm  106  has an opening  112  and is configured to be connected to one portion  310   a  of the drain line  310 , the portion  310   a  extending from the access member  102  to an end of the drain line. The leg  108  has an opening  114  and is configured to be connected to a portion  310   b  of the drain line  310 , the portion  310   b  extending between the access member  102  and the air conditioner  312 . See  FIG. 2 . The arm  104  has a sealable opening  116  allowing access to and use of the air conditioner water pan drain line system  100 . The sealable opening  116  opens into a first chamber  118 , which as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , shares the longitudinal axis  110 . The first chamber  118  has an upward facing surface  120  extending around the periphery  122  thereof. As discussed in more detail below, the upward facing surface  120  provides a stop for, and a seal with, the connecting members  200 ,  202 . The inside surface  124  of the first chamber  118  is preferably threaded adjacent the opening  116 . The threaded portion  126  cooperates with a cap  128  to seal the access member  102  when the air conditioner water pan drain line system  100  is not in use. Alternatively, the inside surface  124  of the first chamber  118  may be smooth and a non-threaded cap may be used to seal the sealable opening  116  by a friction fit. 
     The arm  106  also has an opening  130  into the first chamber  118  to allow the first chamber  118  and the connecting member  200  to be in fluid communication with the arm  106  and one portion  310   a  of the drain line  310 . Similarly, the leg  108  has an opening  132  into the first chamber  118  to allow the first chamber  118  and the connecting member  202  to be in fluid communication with the leg  108  and the other portion  310   b  of the drain line  310 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , connecting member  202  has a top end  210  and a bottom end  212 . The connecting member  202  has a first opening  214  at the top end  210  and a second opening  216  in the bottom end  212 . The second opening  216  opens through the side wall  218  of the connecting member  202  adjacent the bottom end  212 . The connecting member  202  also has a top portion  220  and a bottom portion  222 . A downward facing surface  224  separates the top portion  220  in the bottom portion  222 . The bottom portion  222  is configured to fit within the first chamber  118  and to preferably engage the inside surface  124  thereof. The bottom end  212  of the connecting member  202  is preferably sealed such that the bottom end  212  contacts the upward facing surface  120  to seal the opening  130  of the arm  106 . While not necessary, the downward facing surface  224  may also make contact with the top of the arm  104  to provide an even better seal. 
     When the connecting member  202  is inserted into the sealable opening  116  of the access member  102 , the second opening  216  is aligned with the opening  132  of the leg  108 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a vacuum  300  (or other suction device) is inserted into the first opening  214  of the connecting member  202 . With reference to  FIG. 2 , the vacuum  300  would be in fluid communication with the air conditioner  312  through the drain line  310   b . The vacuum  300  would then be able to suction any debris and/or fluid from the drain line  310  and from within the air-conditioner  312  adjacent to the drain line  310   b.    
     To clean out the other portion  310   a  of the drain line  310  (from the access member  102  to the end of the drain line  310 ), connecting member  200  is inserted into the sealable opening  116  of the access member  102 . Connecting member  200  is similar to connecting member  202 , but has its second opening at the bottom end of the connecting member rather than in a side wall. More specifically and as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the connecting member  200  has an opening  250  at the top end  252  and a bottom opening  254  at the bottom end  256 . When the connecting member  200  is inserted into the first chamber  118 , the bottom end  256  makes contact with the upward facing surface  120 . As a result, the opening  130  of arm  106  and the attached drain line  310  are in fluid communication with the connecting member  200 . Simultaneously, the opening  132  of arm  108  is blocked from being in fluid communication with connecting member  200 . 
     Adapter  204  is inserted into the opening  250  at the top end  252  of the connecting member  200 . The adapter  204  has an upper portion  270  and a lower portion  272 . The lower portion  272  fits with in the opening  250 , preferably by a friction fit. Alternatively, the interior portion of connecting member  200  adjacent the opening  250  at the top end  252  and the outer surface of the lower portion  272  of the adapter  204  may be threaded for a more secure connection. 
     The inner surface  276  of the upper portion  270  is preferably threaded adjacent the opening  278 . The threads  280  engage the threads of a water hose  302  or the threads of the compressed gas adapter  206 . Once connected to the adapter  204 , the water hose  302  can deliver water as a fluid to clean out the drain line  310  from the access member  102  to the end of the drain line  310 . With the opening  132  of leg  108  sealed off, the water will not enter the air conditioning unit and cause problems with water entering, including pushing debris into the A/C unit  312  or get components wet that should not be wet. 
     Connecting member  200  may also be used with the vacuum  300  to clean out the drain line  310 . For example, the vacuum  300  can be used to force air into the connecting member  200  and the drain line  310  to push the debris and water out. In some circumstances, it may also be advantageous to suction the debris out of the drain line  310  through the connecting member  200  as well. 
     Alternatively, the compressed gas adapter  206  can be threaded into the opening  278  of the adapter  204 . The compressed gas adapter  206  had a nipple  290  that can be attached to a source of compressed gas. The compressed gas can include nitrogen, compressed air, compressed carbon dioxide, or any other appropriate compressed gas. The compressed gas is the fluid that pushes debris and water out the drain line  310  from the access member  102  to the end of the drain line  310 . 
     Alternatively as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the connecting members  200 ′ and  202 ′ can be oriented at an angle of about 90° for those areas where the access to the drain line  210  can be limited. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.