Patent Publication Number: US-2005132481-A1

Title: Drain clearing apparatus and seals

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/615,006 filed on Jul. 8, 2003, entitled “Drain Clearing Apparatus and Seals.” The aforementioned patent application is hereby expressly incorporated by reference. The subject matter of the instant application is also related to the subject matter of copending application Ser. No. 10/465,739 filed on Jun. 19, 2003, entitled “Piston Type Drain Clearing Apparatus” and having the same inventor as the instant application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to drain clearing devices and to seals used with drain clearing devices.  
      The common toilet plunger is well known for its use in clearing toilet drain outlets and comprises a wooden handle that terminates in a resilient, flexible rubber cup. The user depresses on the handle, deforming the rubber cup and thus creating pressure pulses that are transmitted to the obstruction; this may be repeatedly tried in the effort to unseat the obstruction.  
      Several problems are often encountered when attempting to use the common toilet plunger. In particular, sufficient force is often not delivered to the obstruction because of the inability to maintain an adequate seal. Even if an adequate seal of the plunger cup over the outlet is achieved, substantial physical effort may be required to successfully clear the obstruction. In addition, splashing of the toilet bowl contents can happen if the seal is not maintained while plunging.  
      A snake device, commonly consisting of long coiled wire, may be used. But it can require even more physical effort on the part of the user, is difficult to employ, and is messy.  
      For clogs in waste lines, a strong chemical agent is often used in an attempt to clear the clog. The disadvantages of this method are that the chemical agent is very caustic and must be handled with great care as well as the fact that the agent must be repeatedly purchased as it is consumed.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the invention to provide a bellows type drain clearing apparatus for clearing clogs from, for example, toilets, sinks and lavatories.  
      It is another object of the invention to provide a bellows type drain clearing apparatus that utilizes a mechanical advantage to increase the force applied to a clog in a pipe.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a seal between the drain clearing apparatus and the clogged drain pipe that minimizes splashing and maximizes the sealing effect.  
      It is yet another object of the invention to provide an inexpensive, easy to use, and lightweight clean-out tool that can be comfortably used by persons who lack sufficient physical strength to successfully use the common and well-known toilet plunger.  
      It is still another object of the invention to provide a force cup type drain clearing apparatus for clearing clogs from, for example, toilets, sinks and lavatories.  
      The invention will be better understood, and further objects, features, and advantages thereof will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In the drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, like or corresponding parts are denoted by like or corresponding reference numerals.  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a bellows type drain clearing apparatus.  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  engaged with a toilet outlet opening and with the toilet shown in cross-section.  
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged sectional view of the seal shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a seal.  
       FIGS. 5A, 5B  and  5 C are cross-sectional side views of seals.  
       FIGS. 6A, 6B  and  6 C are cross-sectional side views of seals.  
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are cross-sectional views of seals and  FIG. 7C  is a bottom view of the seals of  FIGS. 7A and 7B .  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a seal.  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a force cup type drain clearing apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a drain clearing apparatus  10  according to the invention. Apparatus  10  includes a hollow, collapsible, generally cylindrical bellows portion  12 . Bellows portion  12  has an upper end  14  and a lower end  16 . A handle  18  is attached to the upper end  14  of the bellows portion  12 . A seal  20  is attached to the lower end  16  of the bellows portion  12 . A variety of methods may be used to attach seal  20  to the lower end  16  of bellows portion  12 . By way of example, seal  20  may be formed integrally with bellows portion  12 ; seal  20  may threadingly engage the lower end  16  of bellows portion  12 ; seal  20  may snap fit over lower end  16 ; or seal  20  may be slipped over the lower end  16  of bellows portion  12  and attached thereto by, for example, adhesive and/or clamps.  
      The handle  18  and bellows portion  12  may be made of, for example, plastic or another sturdy waterproof material. The seal  20  may be made of, for example, rubber, plastic or some other waterproof material. As shown in  FIG. 1 , seal  20  includes three flanges  24 ,  26 ,  28  of decreasing diameter. Seal  20  includes outlet opening  32 .  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  engaged with a toilet outlet opening  36  and with the toilet  34  shown in cross-section. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , which shows the apparatus  10  positioned for use, a cross-section of a toilet  34  is shown with the apparatus  10  engaged with the toilet drain outlet  36 . Seal  20  is slid into toilet drain outlet  36  until one or more of the flanges  24 ,  26 ,  28  forms an effective seal with toilet drain opening  36 . The user grips handle  18  with one or both hands and pushes downward to ensure an effective seal and compress bellows portion  12 . This action causes the fluid in bellows portion  12  to be compressed and expelled out of opening  32  into toilet drain outlet  36 . The pressure generated on the fluid in the bellows portion  12  is ultimately transmitted to, and dislodges, the clog  40  in pipe  42 .  
      In a preferred embodiment, the inside diameter p of the bellows portion  12  is less than the inside diameter of the pipe  42  at the clog  40  thereby providing a distinct mechanical advantage in removing the clog  40 . To gain this mechanical advantage, the inside diameter p of the bellows portion  12  is preferably less than 2.125 inches and more preferably less than 1.875 inches. The bellows portion  12 , handle  18  and seal  20  may be constructed in different sizes to accommodate a longer or shorter drain clearing apparatus. Further, the size of the opening  32  in seal  20  may be varied to accommodate different diameter drain openings such as sink drains, bathtub drains, floor drains and the like. However, to retain the important mechanical advantage, the inside diameter p of the bellows portion  12  must be less than the inside diameter of the pipe  42  at the clog  40 .  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section of seal  20  attached to lower end  16  of bellows portion  12 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , seal  20  is preferably formed integrally with bellows portion  12 . Seal  20  comprises a hollow cylinder  22 , which may be rigid or flexible. The external surface of the cylinder  22  includes at least one flange  24  disposed thereon. Seal  20  may have additional flanges  26  and  28  disposed thereon. Seal  20  may also have more than three flanges. When more than one flange is used, the diameters d of the flanges preferably decrease in a direction away from the bellows portion  12  of the apparatus. For example, in  FIG. 3 , the diameter of flange  28  is less than the diameter of flange  26  and the diameter of flange  26  is less than the diameter of flange  24 .  
      Each flange  24 ,  26 ,  28  preferably angles up and away from the hollow cylinder  22 . The angle alpha of each flange with the longitudinal centerline of the seal is preferably in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. By way of example and not limitation, the diameter of flange  24  may be about 3.26 inches, the diameter of flange  26  may be about 2.96 inches and the diameter of flange  28  may be about 2.7 inches. The thickness of each flange may be, for example, about 0.16 inches. While flanges  24 ,  26 ,  28  may be rigid or flexible, it is preferred that the flanges are flexible, to better interact with the opening to be sealed. In  FIG. 3 , seal  20  is shown attached to lower end  16  of bellows portion  12 , however, seal  20  may be used with other types of drain clearing apparatus, such as piston type drain cleaners.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-section of a seal  53  attached to the lower end  38  of a drain clearing apparatus, such as a bellows or piston type apparatus. Seal  53  includes a shoulder portion  60  that engages the lower end  38  of the drain clearing apparatus. Shoulder portion  60  may be attached to end  38  by a variety of methods. For example, shoulder portion  60  and end  38  may be threaded; shoulder portion  60  may snap fit over lower end  38 ; or shoulder portion  60  may be slipped over lower end  38  and attached thereto by, for example, adhesive and/or clamps. It should be noted that seal  20  shown in  FIG. 3  may also include a shoulder portion  60  and be attached to the lower end  12  by the methods described above.  
      Seal  53  comprises a hollow truncated cone  52 , which may be rigid or flexible. The external surface of the truncated cone  52  includes at least one flexible flange  54  disposed thereon. Seal  53  may have additional flexible flanges  56  and  58  disposed thereon. Seal  53  may also have more than three flexible flanges. When more than one flange is used, the diameters f of the flanges preferably decrease in a direction away from the lower end  38  of the drain clearing apparatus. For example, in  FIG. 4 , the diameter of flange  58  is less than the diameter of flange  56  and the diameter of flange  56  is less than the diameter of flange  54 . Each flange  54 ,  56 ,  58  preferably angles up and away from the truncated cone  52 . The angle beta of each flange with the longitudinal centerline of the seal  53  is preferably in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. By way of example and not limitation, the diameter of flange  54  may be about 3.26 inches, the diameter of flange  56  may be about 2.96 inches and the diameter of flange  58  may be about 2.7 inches.  
       FIG. 5A  is a cross-section of a seal  62  attached to the lower end  38  of a drain clearing apparatus, such as a bellows or piston type apparatus. Seal  62  comprises a hollow cylinder  44 , which may be rigid or flexible. The external surface of the cylinder  44  includes at least one flexible flange  46  disposed thereon.  FIG. 5B  is a cross-section of a seal  48  having a hollow cylinder  44  and two flexible flanges  46 ,  50 .  FIG. 5C  is a cross-section of a seal  62  having a hollow cylinder  44  and three flexible flanges, 46, 50, 54. Seals with more than three flexible flanges are also within the scope of the invention.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 5B and 5C , when more than one flange is used, the diameters of the flanges preferably decrease in a direction away from the lower end  38 . For example, in  FIG. 5B , the diameter of flange  50  is less than the diameter of flange  46 . Similarly, in  FIG. 5C , the diameter of flange  54  is less than the diameter of flange  50  which is less than the diameter of flange  46 . Each flange  46 ,  50 ,  54  includes an underside  47 ,  51 ,  55  that preferably angles up and away from the hollow cylinder  44  of the seals. The angle theta of the undersides  47 ,  51 ,  55  of flanges  46 ,  50 ,  54  with the longitudinal centerline of each seal is preferably in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.  
       FIG. 6A  is a cross-section of a seal  76  attached to the lower end  38  of a drain clearing apparatus, such as a bellows or piston type apparatus. Seal  76  comprises a hollow truncated cone  78 , which may be rigid or flexible. Cone  78  has an external surface with at least one flexible flange  80  disposed thereon. The larger diameter end of the cone  78  is attached to lower end  38  by, for example, fasteners such as screws, grommets or clamps and/or an adhesive.  FIG. 6B  is a cross section of a seal  86  having a hollow truncated cone  78  and two flexible flanges  80 ,  82 .  FIG. 6C  is a cross-section of a seal  88  having a hollow truncated cone  78  and three flexible flanges, 80, 82, 84. Seals with more than three flexible flanges are also within the scope of the invention.  
      As shown in  FIGS. 6B and 6C , when more than one flange is used, the diameters of the flanges preferably decrease in a direction away from lower end  38  of the apparatus. For example, in  FIG. 6B , the diameter of flange  82  is less than the diameter of flange  80 . Similarly, in  FIG. 6C , the diameter of flange  84  is less than the diameter of flange  82  which is less than the diameter of flange  80 . Each flange  80 ,  82 ,  84  includes an underside  81 ,  83 ,  85  that preferably angles up and away from the hollow truncated cone  78  of the seals. The angle theta of the undersides  81 ,  83 ,  85  of flanges  80 ,  82 ,  84  with the longitudinal centerline of each seal is preferably in the range of about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.  
      Referring now to the flanged seals shown in  FIGS. 3, 4 ,  5 A-C and  6 A-C, as the flanges are inserted into the drain outlet, the flanges are compressed inward. Because of the angle of the flanges, the flanges grip the inner walls of the drain outlet to form a biased seal. The biased seal requires more force to remove the flanges than was required to insert the flanges into the drain opening. Thus, this novel sealing mechanism is able to resist significant backpressure during use and allows the user to use much less downward force on the device to maintain an effective seal.  
       FIG. 7A  is a cross-sectional view of a seal  90  attached to the lower end  38  of a drain clearing apparatus, such as a bellows or piston type apparatus, by, for example, adhesive bonding. Seal  90  is substantially donut or ring shaped. Seal  90  comprises, for example, a solid elastomeric material  92 . Seal  90  provides a large contact area between the seal  90  and the surface around a drain opening. The large contact area provides more stability to the drain clearing apparatus during use and thus increases the likelihood of maintaining an effective seal.  
       FIG. 7B  is a cross-sectional view of a seal  94  attached to the lower end  38  of a drain clearing apparatus, such as a bellows or piston type apparatus. Seal  94  is substantially donut or ring shaped, hollow and comprises an elastomeric material filled with a fluid  96 . The fluid-filled seal  94  may contain air, water or any other fluid under low pressure which allows the seal  94  to conform to surface imperfections surrounding waste-line drains and to the user&#39;s non-uniform application of force during use. The seal  94  exerts uniform pressure over its contact area due to the fluid  96  being of homogeneous pressure, thereby providing an effective seal for the device over a waste-line opening.  FIG. 7C  is a bottom view of the seals  90 ,  94  of  FIGS. 7A and 7B  showing the donut or ring shape. Seals  90  and  94  are preferably used for waste lines such as sinks and lavatories, but may also be used with toilets.  
       FIG. 8  is a side view of a seal  180  attached to the lower end  38  of a drain clearing apparatus, such as a bellows or piston type apparatus. Seal  180  comprises a hollow, truncated conical portion  182 , a hollow cylindrical portion  184  joined to the conical portion  182  and a substantially donut shaped portion  186  disposed at a junction of the conical and cylindrical portions. The larger diameter end  188  of the conical portion  182  is attached to the lower end  38  of the apparatus. In one preferred embodiment, the substantially donut shaped portion  186  comprises a compressible, solid elastomeric material. In another preferred embodiment, the substantially donut shaped portion  186  is hollow and comprises an elastomeric material filled with a fluid, such as air. The hollow, truncated conical portion  182  and hollow cylindrical portion  184  are preferably integrally formed from plastic.  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of a force cup type drain clearing apparatus or plunger  100 . The plunger  100  includes a handle  102 , a force cup  104 , and a hollow, sealed, flexible, fluid-filled, tubular ring seal  94  (See  FIG. 7B ) attached to the bottom of the force cup  104 . The fluid-filled sealing ring  94  may contain air, water or any other fluid under low pressure which will allow the ring  94  to conform to surface imperfections surrounding waste-line drains and to the user&#39;s non-uniform application of force during use. When engaged over a waste-line drain opening, the sealing ring  94  will exert uniform pressure over its contact area due to the fluid inside the ring  94  being of homogeneous pressure. This provides an effective seal for the plunger  100  when the force cup  104  is deformed as downward force is exerted on the handle  102  during use.  
      The handle  102  of the plunger  100  will typically be fashioned from wood or another rigid material and may be attached to the force cup  104 , which is preferably rubber, via any viable mechanism. The sealing tubular ring  94  is part of or attached to the bottom of the force cup  104  and is preferably made of rubber.  
      While the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous changes, alterations and modifications to the described embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, and equivalents thereof.