Patent Publication Number: US-2017356175-A1

Title: Drain unclogging system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to plumbing devices, and more particularly to a drain unclogging system that unclogs a drain using two cutoff valves, a high pressure hose and nozzle, and a T connector. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A drain is a pipe or conduit into which liquid flows and moves away from the source. They are commonly used in plumbing applications such as sinks and toilets, and as a way to remove unwanted water from areas it may accumulate in, such as basements and decks. Drains are very much a part of everyday life that perform a valuable function that usually goes unnoticed—until they get jammed, stuck or clogged. When this occurs, problems can stack up quickly and must be addressed. 
     Fortunately, there are many remedies for clogged drains. They range from simply jamming a coat hanger down them, to chemical solutions, to homemade remedies, and sophisticated augers and electric drain cleaners. The method of using a simple stick-like device to unclog a drain is easy and affordable, but seldom works since it usually just pushes the clogging material further down, and is unable to move around the bend of the drain. Chemical drain cleaners, like Drano, can be effective in removal of hair and grease accumulations close to the drain openings, but may not work on deeper and tougher clogs if they are too far from the source. Other considerations need to be addressed such as the safety issues of storing and using such hazardous materials. They could cause medical reactions by accidently inhaling them, or even more serious problems if they mix with previously used other chemicals in the drain. 
     The hand-held drain auger, or “snake,” is commonly used to unclog drains. This is a metallic cable that winds through the pipe as the operator turns a crank. It can be effective in unclogging hard to reach obstructions, but they do have a physical limit of length, and may not be able to go around the bend in the drain. They can also be difficult to operate until sufficient practice on them has been achieved. The crude steel cable in them may also damage the pipes. There are more sophisticated augers that use electricity to power them, and have a tremendous physical range in comparison to the hand-held models. These machines are able to negotiate and unclog the bends in the drain, but are most typically used by plumbers due to their high cost and need for careful operator handling. 
     Home remedy drain cleaners typically involve combining hot water, baking soda, and vinegar in various combinations and methods, and waiting overnight to see the results. These have the advantage of using inexpensive, readily available, and relatively safe products to clean the drain. However, these may not be as effective as the previously mentioned methods, and may take too long to see the results. 
     Other methods include using a cartridge of compressed air to burst the clog immediately from the drain. However, these can be unsafe to use as they are under high pressure and must be handled very carefully. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a convenient, economical, and easy-to-use drain unclogging system that can be easily installed to an existing drain system and turned on and off whenever it is needed. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a drain unclogging system to be installed to an existing drain system is described. The drain unclogging system can be easily turned on and off as needed and does not interfere with the normal operation of the drain system. 
     The drain unclogging system can include a drain pipe valve installed on the drain pipe, which can be opened to facilitate normal operation of the drain system or closed to stop water from back flowing to the sink during unclogging operation, a T connector connected to a water supply valve for splitting the water supply into two water supplies—one supplies water to the sink and the other one supplies water to the drain unclogging system, a high pressure hose, a high pressure valve for connecting the water supply to one end of the high pressure hose, and a high pressure nozzle for connecting the other end of the high pressure hose to the drain pipe at a location near the U arch section of the drain pipe. Optionally, a pump can be installed on the high pressure hose to further increase the pressure of the water. 
     In accordance with another embodiment, a drain unclogging method using the drain unclogging system of the present invention is described. The drain unclogging method includes the steps of turning off the drain pipe valve to close the drain pipe so as to prevent water from back flowing to the sink, turning on the high pressure valve to supply water to the high pressure hose, unclogging and cleaning out any built up in the U arch section of the drain pipe utilizing the high pressure water produced by the high pressure nozzle, upon completion of the unclogging and cleaning step, turning off the high pressure valve and turning on the drain pipe valve to resume normal operation of the drain system. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The drawings, in which like numerals represent similar parts, illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary existing drain system; 
         FIG. 2  is schematic diagram illustrating a drain unclogging system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, installed on the existing drain system shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is schematic diagram illustrating the drain unclogging system of  FIG. 2  with a pump installed on the high pressure hose to additionally increase the water pressure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of certain embodiments of the subject matter set forth herein, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word “a” or “an” should be understood as not excluding plural of said elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. 
     To the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, the term “or” as used in either the detailed description or the claims is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase “X employs A or B” is satisfied by any of the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B. 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the subject matter disclosed herein may be practiced. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter disclosed herein. It is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined or that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical variations may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. In the description that follows, like numerals or reference designators will be used to refer to like parts or elements throughout. In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property. 
     Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary existing drain system  10  is illustrated. As shown, the drain system  10  includes a sink  12  to hold water  13 , a drain pipe  14  connected to a bottom of the sink  12  to drain the water  13  away from the sink  12 , a cold water supply pipe  17  for connecting to the cold water source through a cold water valve  16  to supply cold water to the sink  12 , a hot water supply pipe  19  for connecting to the hot water source through a hot water valve  18  to supply hot water to the sink  12 . The main drain pipe  14  has a U arch section  15  where clogging is most likely to occur. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a drain unclogging system  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As shown, the drain unclogging system  100  can include a drain pipe valve  110  installed on the drain pipe  14 , which can be opened to facilitate normal operation of the drain system  10  or closed to stop water from back flowing to the sink  12  during unclogging operation, a T connector  120  connected to the cold water valve  16  for splitting the cold water supply into two water supplies—one supplies the cold water to the sink  12  through the cold water supply pipe  17  and the other one supplies the cold water to the drain unclogging system  100 , a high pressure hose  130  which can be either rigid or flexible, a high pressure valve  140  for connecting the cold water supply to one end of the high pressure hose  130 , and a high pressure nozzle  150  for connecting the other end of the high pressure hose  130  to the drain pipe  14  at a location near the U arch section  15  of the drain pipe  14 . As shown in  FIG. 2  the valve  140  at two positions when open and when closed. 
     The T connector  120  has one inlet  122  connected to the water supply valve  16  and two outlets  124  and  126 . One outlet  124  is connected to the water supply pipe  17  for supplying water to the sink  12  and the other outlet  126  is connected to the high pressure valve  140 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the T connector  120  is shown as being installed between the cold water valve  16  and the cold water supply pipe  17 . Alternatively, the T connector  120  can also be installed between the hot water valve  18  and the hot water supply pipe  19  to supply hot water to the drain unclogging system  100 . 
     The drain pipe valve  110  can be turned off so as to close the drain pipe  14  in order to prevent water from back flowing to the sink  12  during the unclogging operation. Upon completion of the unclogging operation, the drain pipe valve  110  can be turned back on so that the drain pipe  14  is open for normal operation of the drain system  10 . 
     The high pressure valve  140  controls the water supply to the drain unclogging system  100 . By turning the high pressure valve  140  on, the water is supplied through the high pressure hose  130  and the high pressure nozzle  150  to the U arch section  15  of the drain pipe  14 . Upon completion of the unclogging operation, the high pressure valve  140  can be turned off so that the drain system  10  can resume its normal operation. 
     The high pressure nozzle  150  can increase the pressure of the water supplied through the high pressure valve  140  and the high pressure hose  130  so that any built up formed in the U arch section  15  of the drain pipe  14  can be completely removed and cleaned out. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3 , the drain unclogging system  100  of  FIG. 1  with an additional pump  135  is illustrated. As shown, the pump  135  can be installed on the high pressure hose  130  at the location between the high pressure valve  140  and the high pressure nozzle  150 . The pump  135  can further increase the water pressure when the water source and the high pressure nozzle  150  do not provide sufficient pressure. The pump  135  can be turned on or off based on need. Specifically, the pump is operable to be turned on to add pressure to the water or tuned off when water pressure is sufficient. 
     In operation, when starting the drain unclogging operation, first the drain pipe valve  110  will be turned off so as to close the drain pipe  14  in order to prevent water from back flowing to the sink  12  during the drain unclogging operation, and then the high pressure valve  140  will be turned on to supply water to the drain unclogging system  100 . The water is supplied through the high pressure valve  140  and the high pressure hose  130  to the high pressure nozzle  150  where the pressure of the water will be increased and then further supplied to the U arch section  15  of the drain pipe  14  to unclog and clean out any built up in the U arch section  15  of the drain pipe  14 . Optionally, a pump installed on the high pressure hose can be turned on upon determining that the water pressure is insufficient. Upon completion of the unclogging and cleaning step, the high pressure valve  140  can be turned off to stop the water supply to the drain unclogging system  100 , the pump  135  if turned on can be turned off, and the drain pipe valve  110  can be turned on to open the drain pipe  14  so as to resume normal operation of the drain system. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments (and/or aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. While the dimensions, types of materials and coatings described herein are intended to define the parameters of the invention, they are by no means limiting and are exemplary embodiments. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the following claims are not written in means—plus-function format and are not intended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless and until such claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed by a statement of function void of further structure. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the various embodiments of the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various embodiments of the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the various embodiments of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if the examples have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if the examples include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.