Patent Publication Number: US-2023149985-A1

Title: Drain auger

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The following application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/278,881, filed on Nov. 12, 2021, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present subject matter relates to a drain auger and, more specifically, to a handheld drain auger. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The field of drain augers varies widely from hand-held drain augers used by a homeowner to unclog toilets, sinks, bathtubs, and other household drains, and those commercially available drain augers often used by plumbers. Some household drain augers require a separate drill that is coupled to the drum of the drain auger to advance and retract the cable. Other drain augers capable of addressing more difficult clogs require a separate power source and have an electrical cord to receive power from a wall outlet, which can cause electrical hazards in areas where water is present. These and other drain augers often have an exposed cable that is handled by the operator as the cable is fed from the drum into the drain and rewound in the drum, resulting in unsanitary conditions for the user. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a drain auger including a drum, a pole attachment, an actuator, a motor, and a mode selector. The drum includes an accessory attachment and a cable extendable and retractable relative to the drum. The pole attachment is couplable to the drum. The actuator is operatively coupled to the cable. The motor is operably coupled to the actuator and to the cable. The mode selector is coupled to the drum and includes an auto-feed mode to selectively and automatically extend and retract the cable relative to the drum in response to actuation of the actuator. 
     In other embodiments, the mode selector includes a spin mode to selectively and automatically spin the cable, and may be a separate mode from the auto-feed mode. 
     The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a drain auger including a drum, a housing, and a mode selector. The drum includes a cable that is extendable and retractable relative to the drum. The housing is coupled to the drum and supports an actuator operatively coupled to the cable. The housing further supports a motor unit and a battery. The mode selector is coupled to the drum and includes one or both of an auto-feed mode and a spin mode. The auto-feed mode is configured to selectively and automatically extend and retract the cable relative to the drum in response to actuation of the actuator. The spin mode is configured to selectively and automatically spin the cable in response to actuation of the actuator. 
     In some embodiments, a foot pedal is coupled to the drum and operably coupled to the cable to extend and retract the cable, or to spin the cable based on a setting of the mode selector. 
     The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a drain auger including a drum, a housing, and a mode selector. The drum includes an accessory attachment configured to support a replaceable first tip. The drum also includes a cable that is extendable and retractable relative to the drum. The cable includes a replaceable second tip. The housing is coupled to the drum and supports an actuator that is operatively coupled to the cable. The mode selector is coupled to the drum and includes one or both of an auto-feed mode and a spin mode. The auto-feed mode is configured to selectively and automatically extend and retract the cable relative to the drum in response to actuation of the actuator. The spin mode is configured to selectively and automatically spin the cable in response to actuation of the actuator. The mode selector is disposed on or adjacent the accessory attachment. 
     Other aspects of the present subject matter will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1   a    is a side view illustrating a motor unit and drum of an exemplary drain auger. 
         FIG.  1   b    is a perspective view of a motor unit according to  FIG.  1     a.    
         FIG.  1   c    is side view illustrating an exemplary drain auger. 
         FIG.  1   d    is a perspective view of a drain auger according to  FIG.  1     c,  illustrating the drain auger in use. 
         FIG.  2   a    is a side view illustrating a housing of another exemplary drain auger embodying the invention. 
         FIG.  2   b    is a side view illustrating an exemplary drain auger according to  FIG.  2   a   , including the pole attachment. 
         FIG.  2   c    is a perspective view illustrating the exemplary drain auger according to  FIG.  2   b   , as shown in use. 
         FIG.  3   a    is a side view illustrating a housing of another exemplary drain auger, including additional accessories. 
         FIG.  3   b    is a perspective view of a bucket of an exemplary drain auger according to  FIG.  3   a   , the bucket being used with a plumbing system. 
         FIG.  3   c    is a side view illustrating the exemplary drain auger according to  FIG.  3   a   , including a pole attachment. 
         FIG.  3   d    is a perspective view illustrating a cable brush of the exemplary drain auger according to  FIG.  3     a.    
         FIG.  3   e    is a perspective view illustrating the exemplary drain auger according to  FIG.  3   a   , as shown in use. 
         FIG.  4   a    is a perspective view illustrating another exemplary drain auger according to the present invention, with additional accessories. 
         FIG.  4   b    is a perspective view illustrating a cable brush according to the exemplary drain auger of  FIG.  4     a.    
         FIG.  4   c    is a section view illustrating the drum of the drain auger according to  FIG.  4   a   , illustrating cleaning of the drum and cable. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before any embodiments of the subject matter are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The subject matter is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. 
       FIGS.  1   a - 1   d    illustrate an exemplary drain auger  100  including a motor unit  104 , a drum  108 , and a pole attachment  112 . The illustrated drain auger  100  takes the form of a snake-type auger, although the drain auger  100  may take other forms without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. The motor unit  104  has a housing  116  that defines a handle or grip for the drain auger  100  extending from a first end  120  to a second or distal end  124  along a housing axis  126 . The housing  116  supports a motor  128  and a battery  132  (e.g., a 12v battery, a 4V battery, and/or the like) that is rechargeable (e.g., the battery  132  is integrated into the housing  116 ). The motor unit  104  is removably attached to the drum  108  (e.g., to recharge the battery  132  away from the drum  108 ), and the first end  120  is coupled to the drum  108 . A charge port  136  is located on or adjacent the second end  124  to electrically couple the battery  132  to an external power source while the motor unit  104  is connected to or disconnected from the drum  108 . As shown in  FIG.  1   b   , a cover  138  may be removably coupled to the charge port  136  (e.g., to inhibit ingress of debris or fluid). As best shown in  FIGS.  1   a  and  1   c   , the motor unit  104  has a throttle or actuator  140  that is disposed between the first end  120  and the second end  124 . It will be appreciated that the actuator  140  may be located anywhere on the motor unit  104 . 
     The drum  108  supports or has a cable  144  that is circumferentially wound therein and that can extend into and retract from the drum  108  relative to a plumbing system  148  (e.g., a toilet  10 , a drain, etc.). It will be appreciated that the plumbing system  148  may be any type of system that has piping and that may need cleaning or unclogging. The actuator  140  can be engaged by a user to control extension and retraction of the cable  144  relative to the plumbing system  148 . As shown in  FIG.  1     a,  the drum  108  includes an accessory attachment  150  that defines an accessory axis  151  and that supports a mode selector or feed control  152  to facilitate user selection of an auto-feed mode or a spin mode. As shown, the mode selector  152  is disposed on a cable outlet  156  of the drum  108  that is opposite a motor attachment  160  that operably couples the drum  108  to the motor unit  104 . With reference to  FIG.  1     a,  the illustrated mode selector  152  is rotatable between the auto-feed mode and the spin mode, although other actuation between modes are possible and considered herein. As shown in  FIGS.  1   a ,  1   c   , the accessory attachment  150  and the handle of the housing  116  are coaxially aligned (e.g., the housing axis  126  and the accessory axis  151  are in line with each other). 
     In the auto-feed mode, the cable  144  may extend into or retract from the plumbing system  148  based on engagement of the actuator  140 . For example, pushing forward on the actuator  140  (toward the first end  120 ) may extend the cable  144 , and pushing backward on the actuator  140  (toward the second end  124 ) may retract the cable  144 . In the spin mode (e.g., a cable lock mode in which the cable  144  cannot extend or retract), the cable  144  may rotate without extension or retraction based on engagement of the actuator  140 . For example, pushing forward on the actuator  140  (toward the first end  120 ) may rotate the cable  144  clockwise without extension or retraction, and pushing backward on the actuator  140  (toward the second end  124 ) may rotate the cable  144  counter-clockwise without extension or retraction. In an embodiment, the cable  144  may only spin in one rotational direction (e.g., clockwise but not counter-clockwise, or counter-clockwise but not clockwise). In some constructions, the cable  144  may rotate in combination with extension or retraction of the cable  144 . It will be appreciated that the actuator  140  may take other forms (e.g., a toggle switch, a lever, etc.). When the motor unit  104  is attached to the drum  108 , the motor  128  is operably coupled to the cable  144  to extend, retract, or spin the cable  144  based on user engagement of the actuator  140  and a selected mode of the drum  108 . 
     The pole attachment  112  is removably coupled to the accessory attachment  150  (e.g., via a threaded or snap-fit arrangement). In some embodiments, when the pole attachment  112  is coupled to the accessory attachment  150 , the mode selector  152  may be covered by the pole attachment  112  and the auto-feed mode or the spin mode may be selected prior to attachment of the pole attachment  112  to the accessory attachment  150 . In an embodiment, the pole attachment  112  may arranged in a manner (e.g., inside the cable outlet  156 ) that permits selection of the auto-feed mode and the spin mode without removal of the pole attachment  112  from the accessory attachment  150 . Different attachments may be removably coupled to a tip end  172  of the pole attachment  112  depending on the system  148  with which the drain auger  100  is used. For example, the attachment may include a first tip or a toilet tip  176  that is defined by a curved cylindrical connector for insertion into a toilet  10  of the plumbing system  148 . In another non-limiting example, the attachment may be a second tip or urinal tip  180  that is defined by straight cylindrical connector for insertion into a urinal of the plumbing system  148 . The toilet tip  176  and the urinal tip  180  may be interchangeably coupled to the pole attachment  112 . The attachments may be disposable or reusable, and may be formed of a resilient material such as rubber. In some embodiments, the attachment may have a diameter corresponding to the pipe diameter in which the attachment is used, or taper from the diameter of the pole attachment  112  to a smaller or larger diameter (e.g., suitable for use of the drain auger  100  with the plumbing system  148 ). 
       FIGS.  2   a - 2   c    illustrate another exemplary drain auger  200  including a motor portion or motor unit  204 , a drum  208  that supports or has a cable  210 , and a pole attachment  212 . The pole attachment  212  may be removably coupled to the drum  208 . The motor unit  204  includes a housing  216  that supports a motor  220 . As shown, the drum  208  and the housing  216  may be at least partially co-molded as shown in  FIG.  2   a   , or the drum  208  and the housing  216  may be coupled to each other by fasteners or other mechanisms. In some constructions, the drum  208  may be removably coupled to the housing  216 . 
     A handle  224  (e.g., a pistol grip) extends from the motor unit  204  and a battery pack (e.g., an 18v battery pack, a 40v battery pack, and/or the like) may be removably coupled to a distal end of the handle  224  to power the motor unit  204 . A throttle or actuator  228  (e.g., a trigger switch) and a direction selector  232  are coupled to the handle  224  adjacent the motor unit  204 . As illustrated, the actuator  228  is depressible by a user to operably engage the cable  210 . In some embodiments, the actuator  228  may operate the motor unit  204  at different speeds (e.g., based on the amount that the actuator  228  is pulled by a user). The direction selector  232  may take the form of a movable or slidable switch that is accessible from opposite sides of the handle  224 . For example, a user may press the direction selector  232  in one direction (e.g., illustrated as into the page in  FIG.  2   a   ) to select an extend state so that the cable  210  extends out of the drum  208  when the actuator  228  is engaged, and a user may press the direction selector  232  in the opposite direction (e.g., illustrated as out of the page in  FIG.  2   a   ) to select a retract state so that the cable  210  retracts into the drum  208 . In some embodiments, the direction selector  232  may be a pressable switch engaged by the user to retract the cable  210  when the actuator  228  is engaged, and release of the direction selector  232  extends the cable  210  outward when the actuator  228  is engaged. It will be appreciated that the actuator  228  and the direction selector  232  may take other forms. 
     The cable  210  is circumferentially wound inside the drum  208  and can extend into and retract from the drum  208  relative to a plumbing system  240  (e.g., a toilet  10 , a drain, etc.). The actuator  228 , the direction selector  232 , and the cable  210  are operably coupled to the motor unit  204  to control movement of the cable  210 . The actuator  228  and the direction selector  232  are engaged by a user to control extension and retraction of the cable  210  from the drum  208  as well as spin of the cable  210  based on the mode selected. 
     As shown in  FIG.  2   a   , the drum  208  includes an accessory attachment  244  to which the pole attachment  212  may be removably coupled (e.g., via a snap-fit arrangement). The accessory attachment  244  supports a mode selector or feed control  248  to facilitate user selection of an auto-feed mode or a spin mode (e.g., a cable lock mode in which the cable  210  cannot extend or retract). As shown, the mode selector  248  is disposed on a cable outlet  252  of the drum  208  that is opposite the motor unit  204 . In some embodiments, the mode selector  248  may be supported by the motor unit  204  or elsewhere on the drain auger  200 . In some embodiments, when the pole attachment  212  is coupled to the accessory attachment  244 , the mode selector  248  may be covered by the pole attachment  212  and the auto-feed mode or the spin mode may be selected prior to attachment of the pole attachment  212  to the accessory attachment  244 . In an embodiment, the pole attachment  212  may be arranged in a manner (e.g., inside the cable outlet  252 ) that permits selection of the auto-feed mode and the spin mode without removal of the pole attachment  212  from the accessory attachment  244 . 
     In the auto-feed mode, the cable  210  may extend into or retract from the plumbing system  240  based on engagement of the actuator  228  and the position or state of the direction selector  232 . For example, the direction selector  232  may be placed in the extend state or the retract state (as desired by the user) and depressing the actuator  228  extends or retracts the cable  210  relative to the drum based on the state selected for the direction selector. In the spin mode, selected via the mode selector  248 , the cable  210  may rotate without extension or retraction based on depression of the actuator  228 . For example, placing the mode selector  248  in the spin mode may disengage the direction selector  232  from the cable  210  such that on actuation of the actuator  228 , the cable  210  only rotates or spins in one direction without extension or retraction of the cable  210  relative to the drum  208 . In another example, the cable  210  may spin or rotate in the clockwise direction or the counter-clockwise direction in response to actuation of the actuator  228  based on the state selected for the direction selector  232  when the mode selector  248  is in the spin mode. In yet another non-limiting example, the cable  210  may rotate in combination with extension or retraction of the cable  210 . 
     With reference to  FIGS.  2   b  and  2   c   , different attachments may be removably coupled to a tip end  272  of the pole attachment  212  depending on the plumbing system  240  with which the drain auger  200  is used. The attachment may include a toilet tip  276  (e.g., similar to or the same as the toilet tip  176 ) that is defined by a curved cylindrical connector for insertion into the toilet  10  of the plumbing system  240 . In another non-limiting example, the attachment may be a urinal tip (e.g., similar to or the same as urinal tip  180 ) that is defined by a straight cylindrical connector for insertion into the urinal of a plumbing system  240 . The toilet tip  276  and the urinal tip may be interchangeably coupled to the pole attachment  212 . The attachment may be disposable or reusable, and may be formed of a resilient material such as rubber. The attachment may take other forms (e.g., tapered, curved, angled, etc.) depending on the system  240  with which it is used. 
       FIGS.  3   a - 3   e    illustrate another exemplary drain auger  300  including a motor unit  304 , a drum  308 , and a pole attachment  312 . The pole attachment  312  may be removably coupled to the drum  308  (e.g., via a snap-fit arrangement). A housing  316  supports the motor unit  304 , which has a motor  322 , and includes a handle  324 . The handle  324  extends from the drum  308  above the motor unit  304  (as viewed in  FIG.  3   a   ) and joins with the motor unit  304  at a battery attachment  328 . The battery attachment  328  supports a battery pack (e.g., an 18v rechargeable battery pack) that may be removably coupled to the drain auger  300  to power the motor unit  304 . The drum  308  and the housing  316  may be at least partially co-molded. In some embodiments, the drum  308  may be removably coupled to the housing  316  (e.g., via fasteners or other mechanisms. The drum  308  supports or has a cable  332  (e.g., a cable having a length of about thirty feet) that is circumferentially wound therein and can extend into and retract relative to a plumbing system  336  (e.g., a drainage pipe for a sink, or another plumbing system). In some embodiments, a spigot may be formed in the drum  308  to fluidly communicate with an interior of the drum  308  to introduce a fluid into the drum  308  (e.g., to clean the interior of the drum  308  and the cable  332 ). In some embodiments, the drum  308  may have a drain and fluidly communicates the interior of the drum  308  to drain debris and fluid therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3   a  and  3   b   , a bucket or container  340  is removably coupled to one or both of the motor unit  304  and the drum  308  (e.g., via press fit, snap fit, fasteners, and/or the like). The bucket  340  defines a cavity  344  into which water or other material from the plumbing system  336  can be drained during use of the auger  300 . In this way, a plumbing procedure may be rendered more efficient as having a built-in bucket or container  340  may obviate the need for a user to carry around an additional, larger and/or bulkier bucket or container. 
     Returning to  FIG.  3   a   , the handle  324  supports a throttle or actuator  348  (e.g., a trigger switch) and a direction selector  352 . In some embodiments, the actuator  348  and direction selector  352  may be supported elsewhere on the housing  316 . As illustrated, the actuator  348  is depressible by a user to operably engage the cable  332 . In some embodiments, the actuator  348  may operate the motor unit  304  at different speeds (e.g., based on the amount that the actuator  348  is pulled by a user). The direction selector  352  may take the form of a movable or slidable switch that is accessible from opposite sides of the handle  324 . For example, a user may press the direction selector  352  in one direction (e.g., illustrated as into the page in  FIG.  3   a   ) to select an extend state so that the cable  332  extends out of the drum  308  when the actuator  348  is engaged, and a user may press the direction selector  352  in the opposite direction (e.g., illustrated as out of the page in  FIG.  3   a   ) to select a retract state so that the cable  332  retracts into the drum  308 . In some embodiments, the direction selector  352  may be a pressable switch engaged by the user to retract the cable  332  when the actuator  348  is engaged, and release of the direction selector  352  extends the cable  332  outward when the actuator  348  is engaged. It will be appreciated that the actuator  348  may take other forms (e.g., a toggle switch, a lever, etc.), and that the direction selector  352  may take other forms (e.g., a button, a toggle switch, etc.). 
     The drum  308  includes an accessory attachment  356  to which the pole attachment  312  may be coupled. The accessory attachment  356  supports a mode selector or feed control  360  to facilitate user selection of an auto-feed mode or a spin mode (e.g., a cable lock mode in which the cable  332  cannot extend or retract). As shown, the mode selector  360  is disposed on a cable outlet  364  of the drum  308 . In some embodiments, the mode selector  360  may be supported by the motor unit  304  or elsewhere on the drain auger  300 . In some embodiments, when the pole attachment  312  is coupled to the accessory attachment  356 , the mode selector  360  may be covered by the pole attachment  312  and the auto-feed mode or the spin mode may be selected prior to attachment of the pole attachment  312  to the accessory attachment  356 . In an embodiment, the pole attachment  312  may be arranged in a manner (e.g., inside the cable outlet  364 ) that permits selection of the auto-feed mode and the spin mode without removal of the pole attachment  312  from the accessory attachment  356 . 
     In the auto-feed mode, the cable  332  may extend into or retract relative to the drum  308  and the plumbing system  336  based on engagement of the actuator  348  and the position or state of the direction selector  352 . For example, the direction selector  352  may be placed in the extend state or the retract state (as desired by the user) and depressing the actuator  348  extends or retracts the cable  332  relative to the drum based on the state selected for the direction selector. In the spin mode, selected via the mode selector  360 , the cable  332  may rotate without extension or retraction based on depression of the actuator  348 . For example, placing the mode selector  360  in the spin mode may disengage the direction selector  352  from the cable  332  such that on actuation of the actuator  348 , the cable  332  only rotates or spins in one direction without extension or retraction of the cable  332  relative to the drum  308 . In another example, the cable  332  may spin or rotate in the clockwise direction or the counter-clockwise direction in response to actuation of the actuator  348  based on the state selected for the direction selector  352  when the mode selector  360  is in the spin mode. In yet another non-limiting example, the cable  332  may rotate in combination with extension or retraction of the cable  332 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  3   a   , the auger  300  includes removable and replaceable cable tips for selection of a tip that is suitable for the task. For example, the cable  332  may include a cable tip  368  that is replaceable with other cable tips, such as a disposable coconut husk tip  370  or an angled wire tip  374 . Other types of tips may be coupled to the cable  332  and are considered herein. All such tips may be removable and interchangeable with other tips. 
     With reference to  FIG.  3   d   , the auger  300  may include a cleaning brush  378  that has a plurality of bristles  382 . The cleaning brush  378  may be removably coupled to the cable outlet  364  and may be arranged concentric with the cable  332 . The cleaning brush  378  may be locked onto the cable outlet  364  so that bristles  382  of the cleaning brush  378  engage the cable  332  to remove debris as the cable  332  is retracted into the drum  308 . In this way, a plumbing procedure may be rendered more sanitary as the user may not have to touch such debris as it is retracted from a plumbing system. In some embodiments, the cleaning brush  378  is integrated with the cable outlet  364 . In some embodiments, the cleaning brush  378  may be an accessory that is attachable to the cable  332  or the cable outlet  364  after a plumbing procedure. 
     The pole attachment  312  (e.g., a pole attachment with a diameter of approximately two inches) is removably coupled to the cable outlet  364 . Different attachments may be removably coupled to the pole attachment  312  at a tip end  386 . The attachments may be disposable or reusable (e.g., formed of a resilient material such as rubber). The attachment may be a toilet tip  390  that defines a curved cylindrical connector for insertion into a toilet  10  of the plumbing system  336 . The attachment instead may be a urinal tip (e.g., similar to or the same as urinal tip  180 ) that defines a straight cylindrical connector for insertion into a urinal of a plumbing system  336 . The toilet tip  390  and urinal tip may be interchangeably coupled to the pole attachment  312 . The attachment may take other geometric forms configured to correspond to the plumbing system  336 . 
       FIGS.  4   a - 4   c    illustrate another exemplary drain auger  400  including a motor unit  404  and a drum  408 . A housing  416  supports the motor unit  404 , which includes a motor  418 . The housing  416  includes a handle  420  that supports a first actuator  422  extends from the drum  408  above the motor unit  404  and joins the motor unit  404  at a distal end of the motor unit  404 . The first actuator  422  is the same as the actuator  348  described with regard to the auger  300  of  FIGS.  3   a   - 3   e.  In some embodiments, the drum  408  and the housing  416  are at least partially co-molded. In other embodiments, the drum  408  is removably coupled to the housing  416 . A rechargeable battery (e.g., an 18v battery pack) may be removably coupled to the housing  416  to power the motor unit  404 . The drum  408  supports or has a cable  424  (e.g., a reinforced metal core cable having a length of about fifty feet) that is circumferentially wound therein and can extend into, retract from, or spin within a plumbing system (e.g., a drainage pipe for a sink, toilet  10 , urinal, or other fluid system). The motor unit  404  is operably coupled to the cable  424  for extending the cable  424  into, retracting the cable  424  from, or spinning the cable  424  (e.g., within a plumbing system). 
     As shown in  FIGS.  4   a  and  4   c   , the drum  408  includes a spigot  432  on the drum  408  that fluidly communicates with an interior of the drum  408  to introduce water or other cleaning fluid into the drum  408  (e.g., for cleaning the drum  408  and/or the cable  424 ). In this way, a plumbing procedure may be rendered more sanitary, as the drum  408  and/or cable  424  may be flushed and/or cleaned after performing the plumbing procedure. The drum  408  may also include a port or drain that fluidly communicates with the interior of the drum  408  for draining liquid and/or debris from the drum  408  (e.g., the drain may be located diametrically opposite the spigot  432 ). It will be appreciated that the spigot  432  and drain are separate openings into the drum  408 , although the spigot  432  may be used to introduce and remove fluid and other material relative to the drum  408  in some embodiments. 
     Returning to  FIG.  4   a   , the drain auger  400  includes a second or remote actuator  440  that is electrically coupled (e.g., via a cord) to the motor unit  404  to control extension, retraction, and/or spinning of the cable  424 . As illustrated, the actuator  440  is a foot pedal that is depressible by a user to operably engage the cable  424 . In some embodiments, the actuator  440  may operate the motor unit  404  at different speeds (e.g., based on the amount that the actuator  440  is depressed by a user), and may be wirelessly connected to the motor unit  404 . 
     The drum  408  includes a cable outlet  444  with an accessory attachment  448  to which a pole attachment (similar to or the same as pole attachments  112 ,  212 ,  312 ) that may be removably coupled to the drum  408  (e.g., via snap-fit arrangement). The accessory attachment  448  supports a mode selector or feed control  452  (e.g., a rotatable selector) to facilitate user selection of an auto-feed mode or a spin mode (e.g., a cable lock mode in which the cable  424  cannot extend or retract) and direction of operation of the auto-feed mode or spin mode. As shown, the mode selector  452  is disposed on the cable outlet  444  of the drum  408 . In some embodiments, the mode selector  452  may be supported by the motor unit  404  or elsewhere on the drain auger  400 . In some embodiments, when the pole attachment is coupled to the accessory attachment  448 , the mode selector  452  may be covered by the pole attachment and the auto-feed mode or the spin mode may be selected prior to attachment of the pole attachment to the accessory attachment  448 . In an embodiment, the pole attachment may be arranged in a manner (e.g., inside the cable outlet  444 ) that permits selection of the auto-feed mode and the spin mode without removal of the pole attachment from the accessory attachment  448 . 
     The mode selector  452  is rotatable by the user to select the mode and direction in which the drain auger  400  operates. In the illustrated example, the mode selector  452  is rotatable between first state that corresponds to a forward or extension direction of the auto-feed mode (e.g., extension of the cable  424  from the drum  408 ), a second state that corresponds to a reverse or retraction direction of the auto-feed mode (e.g., retraction of the cable  424  into the drum  408 ), a third state that corresponds to a counter-clockwise spin direction of the spin mode, and a fourth state that corresponds to a clockwise spin direction of the spin mode. Each of these states are indicated by indicators  456  located adjacent the mode selector  452  (e.g., adjacent the drum  408 ). In the auto-feed mode, the cable  424  extends into or retracts from the plumbing system based on rotatable selection of the forward direction or reverse direction by the mode selector  452  and actuation of the actuator  440 . For example, selection of the forward direction by the mode selector  452  extends the cable  424  into the plumbing system, and selection of the reverse direction by the mode selector  452  retracts the cable  424  from the plumbing system. In the spin mode, the cable  424  only rotates in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction without extension or retraction (e.g., a lock mode) based on selection of the clockwise or counterclockwise direction of the spin mode and engagement of the actuator  440 . For example, selection of the clockwise spin direction will spin the cable  424  in a clockwise direction and selection of the counterclockwise spin direction will spin the cable  424  in the counterclockwise direction. In an embodiment, the cable  424  may only spin in one rotational direction. In some constructions, the cable  424  may rotate in combination with extension or retraction of the cable  424 . 
     The drain auger  400  includes removable and replaceable cable tips for selection of a tip that is suitable for the task. For example, the cable  424  may include a cable tip  460  that is replaceable with other cable tips, such as a disposable coconut husk tip  464 , an angled wire tip  468 , a spiral tip  472 , or an endoscope  476  that provides video (e.g., via Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), etc.) to a phone or other viewing device. Other types of tips (e.g., a spigot drum cleanout, an integrated brush, an integrated cleaning brush, and/or the like) may be coupled to the cable  424  and are considered herein. All such tips may be removable and interchangeable with other tips, and some or all tips may be disposable (e.g., recyclable or designed for one-use). 
     With reference to  FIG.  4   b   , the auger  400  may include a cleaning brush  480  that has a plurality of bristles  482 . The cleaning brush  480  may be removably coupled to the cable outlet  444  and may be arranged concentric with the cable  424 . The cleaning brush  480  may be locked onto the cable outlet  444  so that bristles  482  of the cleaning brush  480  engage the cable  424  to remove debris as the cable  424  is retracted into the drum  408 . In some embodiments, the cleaning brush  480  is integrated with the cable outlet  444 . In some embodiments, the cleaning brush  480  may be an accessory that is attachable to the cable  424  or the cable outlet  444  after a plumbing procedure. In some embodiments, the cleaning brush  480  may be storable on the auger  400  (e.g., on the drum  408 ). 
     Different attachments may be removably coupled to the auger  400  or the pole attachment  112 ,  212 ,  312 . The attachments may be disposable or reusable (e.g., formed of a resilient material such as rubber). The attachment may be a toilet tip (e.g., toilet tip  390 ) that defines a curved cylindrical connector for insertion into a toilet of the plumbing system. The attachment instead may be a urinal tip (e.g., urinal tip  180 ) that defines a straight cylindrical connector for insertion into a urinal of a plumbing system. The toilet tip and urinal tip may be interchangeably coupled to the pole attachment. The attachment may take other geometric forms configured to correspond to the plumbing system. 
     With reference to  FIG.  4   a   , the drum  408  may support one or more light sources  500  (e.g., one or more LED lights) that is directed outward from the drum  408  to illuminate the surrounding workspace. In some embodiments, the light source  500  may be directed to another surrounding space for illuminating the work area, or the light source  500  may be aimable/movable. The light source  500  may be any source of illumination and may be supported on any part of the drain auger  400 . 
     Any of the above-disclosed exemplary drain augers may be operable with or without a pole attachment, and other attachments may be coupled to the pole attachment (e.g., a non-removable tip) or directly to the accessory attachment  448 . 
     Any of the above-disclosed exemplary drain augers  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  may include a light source supported by the drum or the housing that may be directed toward the cable outlet or surrounding workspace for providing illumination of the plumbing system. It will also be appreciated that the drain augers  100 ,  200 ,  300 ,  400  of the present disclosure may include different features and combinations of features disclosed in any of the different embodiments. 
     As can be understood from the figures illustrating the embodiments of the present disclosure, the attachment pole and other aspects of the disclosure provide the user the ability to work in a removed position, that is, at a distance, from a plumbing system. 
     While the disclosure has been presented with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments may be devised which do not depart from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims.