Patent Publication Number: US-6907622-B2

Title: Flushing device for toilets

Description:
This appln is a con of Ser. No. 09/933,054 Aug. 20, 2001 abandoned which claims benefit of provisional appln. Ser. No. 60/233,721 Sep. 19, 2000. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to the field of devices for unblocking toilet conduits, and more particularly to a novel device insertable into the downstream portion of a toilet conduit which includes means for sealing the conduit and for flushing the conduit clear of any blockage material that may clog or prevent the flow of fluid through the conduit. 
   2. Brief Description of the Prior Art 
   In the past, it has been the conventional practice to alleviate blockage in toilets and/or drain lines by using a toilet plunger of the type comprising a flexible plunger element at one end of an elongated, rigid handle which is inserted into the conduit or drain line and pumped mainly to clear the blockage. Also, such resilient deformable plungers have been attached to tubular handles which are then connected via a shutoff value and check valve to a pressurized source of water. Upon setting the valves, the pressurized water is conducted through the tubular handle and is introduced to the conduit or drain line for applying increased pressure to any blockage or obstruction in the drain line. Such a conventional device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,237. 
   Difficulties and problems have been encountered with conventional toilet plungers and unblockage devices which stem largely from the fact that the deformable plunger element is used in combination with or without the pressurized water to effect unblockage of the drain line and the plunger does not form an effective seal in the conduit whereby backflow is prevented. Also, since an inadequate seal is present, loss of pressure is experienced which makes the job of unblocking the conduit more difficult. Additionally, such systems require valving which in itself may clog and require maintenance. 
   Therefore, a long-standing need has existed to provide a novel means for unblocking conduits and removing obstructions in the conduit which not only provides adequate pressure as a positive force but includes means for sealing the conduit ahead of the blockage so that full pressure is applied thereto. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the above problems and difficulties are avoided by the present invention which provides a novel flushing device for toilets which not only applies increased pressure to the blockage area but provides a seal in the conduit to prevent backflow and insures full pressure being applied to the blockage. The device includes a resilient deformable, expandable or inflatable sealing element which is secured at the end of a tubular member or handle and is intended to be inserted into the opening of a toilet conduit leading to the drain line. The tubular member or handle is provided with a coupling at its end opposite to the end carrying the sealing element to which a hose and on/off closure is connected in order to supply pressurized water through the tubular member or handle for discharge through an open orifice. The sealing element is carried on a linear portion of the tubular member or handle adjacent to the discharge orifice and is adapted to be expanded either by introduction of the pressured water or by applied air pressure into a sealing condition with the conduit entrance leading into the drain line. The exterior surface of the sealing element is provided with spaced-apart ridges and grooves that are deformable in order to provide a positive sealing relationship with the entrance of the conduit so as to completely seal the entrance. 
   A manual or hand pump is carried on the tubular member or handle and includes a hand-operated piston carried in a cylinder for conducting pressurized air through a pipe to the interior cavity of the inflatable element. By introducing pressurized air to the inflatable element, the central portion of the sealing element is expanded into sealing relationship with the entrance of the conduit. 
   Another version includes eliminating the handpump in favor of a valve means for selectively supplying pressurized water to either the inflatable or expandable sealing element or to the drain line. The valve means is installed on the tubular member and a tube or pipe is coupled between the valve means and the interior of the expandable sealing element or bladder so the element may employ the same pressure source as the drain unclogging conduit. 
   Therefore, it is among the primary objects of the present invention to provide an improved toilet flushing device which is connectable to a supply of pressurized fluid for applying increased pressure to obstruction in drain lines or the like and which includes sealing means for preventing backflow and for providing increased pressure to blockage or obstructions in the drain line. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a toilet unblocking device which is connectable to a supply of pressurized fluid for simultaneously increasing pressure to remove blockage or obstruction in the drain line as well as to seal in a positive manner, the entrance leading into the drain line ahead of the blockage, so as to increase pressure for blockage and obstacle removal. 
   Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel flushing device for toilet drain or conduit lines which includes an expandable sealing element at one end of the tubular member through which pressurized water is conducted for discharge into the expandable element or into the drain line after the element has been inflated into a sealing relationship. 
   Still a further object of the invention resides in providing a combined sealing and increased pressure device for flushing obstacles and blockages from drain lines or the like. 
   Yet another object resides in providing a universal pipe opener which employs utilizing high pressure air or water as a fluid to expand a sealing element and/or to open and clear blockage within a toilet drainage pipe or conduit. 
   A further object including a pipe or conduit sealing element or head which expands by application of pressurized air or water to firmly seal the pipe or conduit at a given location so as to apply increased pressure to an obstruction downstream. 
   Another object resides in providing an irregular contour to a pipe or conduit sealing element or head which firmly grips and seals with the wall of the blocked conduit that prevents backflow and provides increased application of pressure to the blockage or obstruction. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood with reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of the novel flushing device incorporating the present invention and illustrated as being installed in a typical toilet drain line or conduit; 
       FIG. 2  is a greatly enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the sealing element carried on the end of a tubular member or handle as employed in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary sectional view of the sealing element illustrated in its inflated condition so as to provide a seal with the entrance of the toilet drain or conduit; 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of another version of the present invention utilizing a common pressure source for expanding the sealing element and for supplying pressure to the downstream blockage; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional view of the expandable sealing element, as shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a fragmentary sectional view of the sealing element in its expanded condition; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged side elevational view of the valve mechanism employed in the flushing device shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a view similar to the view of  FIG. 7  showing the valve mechanism in an alternate position; and 
       FIG. 9  is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the valve mechanism as taken in the direction of arrows  9 — 9  of FIG.  8 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIG. 1 , the novel flushing device for toilets is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  10  and is illustrated in position to seal the entrance to a drainage pipe or conduit  11  formed in a basin  12  of a toilet  13 . The basin  12  includes an orifice  14  which is defined by a sidewall of the drainage pipe or conduit  11  and a projection  15  which is integrally formed with the bowl  12 . 
   The device  10  includes an elongated tubular handle  16  having an outwardly projecting portion  17  on which an expandable and inflatable means or element  18  is secured. The opposite end of tubular handle  16  terminates in a coupling  20  to which a flexible hose  21  is attached. The opposite end of hose  21  is connected to a suitable pressurized fluid such as water or air so that the pressurized fluid is introduced through the tubular handle  16  for discharge into the drainage pipe or conduit  11 . Furthermore, the tubular handle  16  supports an elongated pipe  22  which is coupled at one end to a manual hand pump  23  that provides air under pressure to the interior of element  18  so that it can be expanded into sealing relationship to close the entrance to conduit  11 . The hand pump  23  includes a hand-operated piston assembly  24  which is housed by a cylinder  25 . A cushion sleeve  26  covers a portion of the tubular handle  16  which increases the gripping condition so that the device can be easily handled by the user. The sleeve  26  prevents slipping when grasped by the hand of the user. 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 2 , it can be seen that the expandable and inflatable element  18  is of a cylindrical configuration when not inflated and that the opposite ends of the element include thickened end portions  30  and  31  respectively. Connecting the end portions is a pliable and expandable member or wall of reduced thickness, as indicated by numeral  32 , which is integrally formed with the thicker end portions  30  and  31 . The member or wall  32  includes an external surface which is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart grooves and pliable ridges or ribs, such as laterally sloping ridge or rib  33  and middle or central rib or ridge  34 . The interior of element  18  is an enclosed cavity, represented by numeral  35 , which is inflated by pressurized air dispensed through tube or pipe  22 . As the pressure builds within the cavity  35 , the member  32  will expand into sealed relationship with the opening to conduit  11  by bearing against surfaces  14  and  15 . Such a sealing relationship is illustrated in broken lines when the member  32  has been expanded. It can also be seen in  FIG. 2  that the tubular handle  16  terminates into the linear portion  17  which includes an open discharge orifice  36  for introducing a pressurized fluid such as air or water into the drainage pipe or conduit  11 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , it can be seen that the member  32  is expanded so that the ridges represented by lateral ridges  33  and center ridge  34  bear against opposing conduit surfaces leading into conduit or pipe  11 . 
   The hand pump  25  along with tube  22  may be carried by the tubular handle in any convenient fashion. Clips, clamps or other retainers may be used to combine the pump and pipe to the handle. The inflatable element  18  may be attached to end portion  17  by adhesive between a mounting sleeve  39  integrally formed with the end portions  30  and  31  with the external surface of tube portion  17 . 
   Therefore, in view of the foregoing, it can be seen that should blockage occur downstream from the entrance of conduit  11 , the flushing device of the present invention may be employed to force the blockage or obstruction from the conduit. Initially, the coupling  20  is connected to either a high pressure through its source of water or air after the expandable element  18  has been properly seated and inflated into a sealing position at the entrance to the conduit. By introducing pressurized water or air through the tubular handle  16 , the pressurized fluid is discharged from orifice  36  into the conduit or pipe  11 . A positive seal is produced between the element  18  and the entrance to the conduit by means of the ribbed exterior which is not only expanded to close off the entrance but is expanded under pressure so that a positive force is in place against the opposing surfaces of the entrance to the conduit. The device is greatly simplified by employing a hand-operated piston and cylinder assemblage for introducing pressurized air to the cavity  35  of the expandable element  18 . Therefore, it can be seen that a universal pipe or conduit flushing device is provided which will open a blocked or obstructed conduit which employs utilizing pressurized water or air to open the blockage. It is particularly useful in connection with a toilet drainage pipe or conduit. 
   The device&#39;s expandable element is employed for positively sealing the entrance to the drain line or conduit so as to prevent any backflow of fluids or air through the drain line. Thus, increased pressure is applied to a blockage or obstruction on the outlet portion of a toilet or in a drain line by supplying pressurized water or air through the tubular handle. The sealing section of the expandable member can be functional through various means such as a regular hand pump, a built-in air gun or a hand or foot pedal device. All of these means are to apply fluid pressure such as air to the expandable element to assure complete sealing of the entrance to the drain line. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the general direction of arrow  40  which is illustrated in position to seal the entrance to a drainage pipe or conduit  11  formed in basin  12  of a toilet  13 . As previously described with respect to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the basin  12  includes an orifice  14  which is defined by a sidewall of the drainage pipe or conduit  11  and a projection  15  which is integrally formed with the bowl  12 . 
   The flushing device  40  includes a handle  41  attached to one end of an elongated tubular member  42  via a valve means  43  and a connector to  44 . The handle  41  includes a pistol-grip  45  and a palm-operated lever  46  that is operably connected to a closure valve within the handle  41  and includes a plunger  47  that opens and closes the valve in handle  41  as the lever  46  is pivoted when compressed against the grip  45 . The end of the handle  41  is connected via a hose  48  to a water supply  50 . It is to be understood that the water supply is pressurized and will provide pressurized water through the handle  41  and the tube  44  to the tubular member  42  when the lever  46  has been compressed and the valve within handle  41  opened by plunger  47 . 
   It can also be seen that the valve means  43  is connected to one end of a pipe  51  having its opposite end coupled to the sealing member  52 . Therefore, both the pipe  51  and the tubular member  42  are connected for discharge either into the expandable chamber  56  of the sealing member  52  or through the sealing member  52  for exhausting into the drainage conduit  11 . The operation and significance of the sealing member  52  is the same as previously described with respect to the sealing member  18 . It is also to be understood that the water supply  50  may take the form of a pressurized air supply from a pressure cylinder or the like. The intermediate conduit  44  serves to mount a gauge  59  which indicates the amount of pressure or volume of fluid being dispensed through the intermediate tube  44  preceding introduction to the valve  43 . 
   It is to be noted that the valve means  43  includes a plunger  53  which moves in a rectilinear direction through the body of the valve in accordance with the arrows adjacent to the valve means. The position of the plunger  53  determines whether the pressurized fluid supply, whether it be water or air, is introduced to either pipe  51  or tubular member  42 . In actual operation, the plunger  53  is placed in a position so that the pressurized water source is conducted through pipe  41  to the interior of the sealing means  52  so that its external surface will expand and not only engage with the surface of projection  15  and  14  but will form a clamping relationship as previously described. Such a sealing condition is shown in FIG.  6  and it an be seen that the plurality of ribs, such as rib  54 , deform to provide a tight sealing relationship with the projection  15 . The plurality of ribs are separated by grooves or spaces so that the ribs can readily deform when compressed due to the expansion of the wall  55 . 
   In  FIG. 5 , the sealing element  52  is illustrated in its deflated or normally not expandable position in solid lines whereas the expandable position is shown in broken lines. It can be seen in  FIG. 5  that the pressurized fluid introduced from pipe  51  goes to an interior toroidal chamber  56  which causes the walls  55  of the sealing member to expand as previously described. Upon achieving a proper seal, the valve plunger  53  is moved to an alternative position so that the pressurized fluid is then conducted from the tubular member  42  through a linear portion of the tube  57  exiting from an orifice  58  into the drain  11 . The opposite ends of the sealing member or element, represented by numerals  60  and  61 , are relatively rigid and non-expandable as compared to the connecting wall  55  and the ribs  54 . 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 7 , it can be seen that the valve means includes the plunger  53  which moves in a rectilinear direction within the body  43 . The plunger includes a central post  62  of reduced diameter in comparison with end portions  63  and  64  respectively. The end portions  63  and  64  each include a pair of O-Ring seals indicated by numeral  65  and  66  with respect to portion  64 . The reduction of diameter for post  62  provides a valve chamber which is circular or toroidal and indicated by numeral  67 . When the plunger  53  is in the position shown in  FIG. 7 , the bore or passageway of connector tube  44  is in communication with the valve chamber  67  which is also in communication with the bore of pipe  51 . Therefore, when the hand lever  46  is depressed, pressurized water from the hose  48  will be introduced to the pipe  51  and employed to expand the expandable element  52 . However, when the plunger is in the position shown in  FIG. 8 , the internal passageway or bore of tube  44  is in communication not only with the valve chamber  67  but the internal passageway of tube  42 . Therefore, the pressurized fluid, such as water, will be introduced to the drain conduit  11  from the exhaust or nozzle  58  in the expandable element. The meter  52  will indicate an amount or degree of pressure or volume of water being supplied on the front face of the dial  68 . 
   Referring now in detail to  FIG. 9 , it can be seen that the post  62  is in the center of the valve chamber  67  and that the chamber is circular in plan view and will permit passage of the pressurized fluid, such as water, as indicated by the arrows. Whether the plunger is raised or lowered will determine whether the pressurized flow will be introduced into the pipe  51  or the tube  42 . 
   In view of the foregoing it can be seen that the valve means having body  43  for slidably mounting plunger  53  will control the flow of pressurized fluid between the pipe  51  and tube  42 . Thus, the user may expand the expandable element  52  first, followed by moving the valve plunger in an opposite direction to close one port such as the port leading to pipe  51 , while the valve chamber is now open to pass the pressurized fluid through the expandable element for discharge into the drain  11 . The solid portions  63  and  64  serve as closures between the alternative positions of the plunger to restrict flow to either the pipe  51  or tube  42 . The valve means is manually operated by the user and may include indicia on the external surface of the body  43  in order to indicate position of the plunger to conduct the pressurized fluid to either pipe  51  or tube  42 . The user may actuate the handle  46  with respect to the grip  45  in order to supply the pressurized fluid to the interconnecting tube  44  or to close off the supply. The indicator  68  on the front of the gauge  59  will advise the user on pressure or volume of the pressurized fluid. 
   While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.