Patent Description:
The present invention relates to drain cleaners.

Typically, drain cleaners include a drum that stores a drain cleaning cable. When the drum is rotated (e.g., via a motor or manually by a handle), friction between an inner surface of the drum and the cable causes the cable to spin to facilitate clearing debris from a drain. The cable can be pulled out of the drum and directed into a drain either manually (e.g., a user grabs the cable and pulls) or with a secondary device (e.g., a cable feed mechanism that selectively engages the cable to drive the cable out). <CIT>) relates to a manually-operated drain pipe cleaner, particularly screw conveyor, which has a drum and cable which is partially held in the drum, where a section of elongated, flexible cable is extended from drum with cable axis. According to a machine translation of the abstract of this document the manually-operated drain pipe cleaner has a manually operated, rotatable drum and an elongate, flexible cable which is partially held in the drum, where a section of the elongated, flexible cable is extended from the drum with a cable axis. A handle is adapted to rotatably support the drum, where the handle has a cylinder section and a handle section. A feed control unit is rotatably connected with the handle. A locking mechanism stands in operative connection with the feed control unit. <CIT>) relates to a sewer augering apparatus. According to the abstract of this document the sewer augering apparatus has a power feed and manual lock apparatus with actuation thereof by an axially slideable actuator.

The invention provides a drain cleaner including a drum assembly configured to store a cable and an actuator assembly movable relative to the drum assembly between a neutral position, where the cable is free to spin and translate out of the drum assembly, an autofeed position, where the cable is allowed to spin and is automatically driven out of the drum assembly, and an autofeed locked on position, where the actuator assembly is maintained in the autofeed position without continuous input from a user. The actuator assembly includes a handle supported by the drum assembly and an autofeed locking mechanism. The autofeed locking mechanism includes a drive lock and a lock release. The drive lock engages the handle to maintain the actuator assembly in the autofeed locked on position. The handle includes an abutment on an interior surface. The drive lock includes a wing that engages the abutment to maintain the actuator assembly in the autofeed locked on position. The wing is biased radially outward to engage the abutment.

In an example, not forming part of the claimed invention, there is provided a drain cleaner configured to support a cable and feed the cable into a drain. The drain cleaner includes an actuator assembly movable between a neutral position, where the cable is free to spin and translate, an autofeed position, where the cable is allowed to spin and is automatically driven out of or into the drain cleaner, and a locked position, where the cable is able to spin, but not allowed to travel out of or into the drain cleaner. The actuator assembly includes a handle, an autofeed locking mechanism, and a cable locking mechanism. The autofeed locking mechanism includes a drive lock and a lock release. The drive lock engages the handle to maintain the actuator assembly in the autofeed position.

In another example, not forming part of the claimed invention, there is provided a drain cleaner including a drum assembly configured to store a cable. The drum assembly includes a nose with a first portion and a second portion. The drain cleaner also includes an actuator assembly movable relative to the drum. The actuator assembly includes a handle supported by the nose of the drum assembly. The handle includes an inlet, an outlet opposite the inlet, a passage extending between the inlet and the outlet, and an abutment on an inside surface of the passage. The actuator assembly also includes an autofeed locking mechanism positioned within the handle. The autofeed locking mechanism includes a drive lock positioned on the second portion of the nose and a lock release positioned on the second portion of the nose. The actuator assembly is moveable between a neutral position, where the cable is free to spin and translate out of the drum assembly, an autofeed position, where the cable is allowed to spin and is automatically driven out of or into the drum assembly, and a locked position, where the cable is able to spin, but not allowed to travel out of or into the drain cleaner. The drive lock engages the abutment of the handle to maintain the actuator assembly in the autofeed position.

The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways which fall under the scope of protection as defined by the appended claims.

<FIG> illustrates part of a drain cleaner <NUM>. The drain cleaner <NUM> is configured to extend a drain cleaning cable, or spring or snake, (not shown) into a drain or other conduit to clear debris within the drain or conduit. The drain cleaner <NUM> may be a relatively compact, hand-held auger style drain cleaner or may be a relatively large sewer cleaning machine. The illustrated drain cleaner <NUM> includes a drum assembly <NUM> and an actuator assembly <NUM>. The drum assembly <NUM> and the actuator assembly <NUM> may be supported by a handle assembly that allows a user to grasp and carry the drain cleaner. Alternatively, the drum assembly <NUM> and the actuator assembly <NUM> may be supported by a frame that allows a user to move the drain cleaner <NUM> along the ground (e.g., via wheels, tracks, etc.). The drain cleaner <NUM> may also include a motor and a drive mechanism coupled to the drum assembly <NUM> to rotate the drum assembly <NUM>. The motor may be energized by a power source, such as a DC power tool battery pack or an AC power source.

Now referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the drum assembly <NUM> includes a drum or housing <NUM> and an adapter <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is configured to store the flexible cable that extends out of the drain cleaner <NUM>. Rotation of the drum assembly <NUM> creates friction between an inner surface of the housing <NUM> and the cable, causing the cable to spin which facilitates clearing debris from a drain. In another embodiment, one end of the cable is fixed to the drum <NUM> and rotation of the drum <NUM> causes the cable to spin (i.e., rather than relying on friction). The housing <NUM> includes a front housing portion <NUM>, a rear housing portion <NUM>, and an interior <NUM> (<FIG>) therebetween. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear housing portion <NUM> is removable from the front housing portion <NUM> to gain access to the interior <NUM>. For example, the rear housing portion <NUM> may detach from the front housing portion <NUM> to install or replace the flexible cable stored within. In other embodiments, the housing <NUM> may be formed as a single integral piece. The front housing portion <NUM> includes a nose <NUM> that defines an interior passageway <NUM> (<FIG>) through which the cable extends. The nose <NUM> includes a first portion <NUM> and a second portion <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> of the nose <NUM> has a larger diameter than the second portion <NUM> and includes openings <NUM> that communicate with the interior passageway <NUM>.

The illustrated adapter <NUM> is coupled to the rear housing portion <NUM> and extends into the interior <NUM>. The adapter <NUM> is configured for co-rotation with the drum assembly <NUM>. The adapter <NUM> includes a coupling <NUM> that is configured to receive a tool that rotates the drum assembly <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling <NUM> is a ¼" hex quick connect. In other embodiments, the coupling <NUM> may be other sizes or other types of couplings. The coupling <NUM> may connect to a handle for manual rotation of the drum assembly <NUM>. Alternatively, the coupling may connect to a powered drive mechanism (e.g., a mechanism driven by a motor and a power source) for automatic rotation of the drum assembly <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the actuator assembly <NUM> is movably coupled to the drum assembly <NUM>. Specifically, the actuator assembly <NUM> is translatable on the nose <NUM> of the front housing portion <NUM>. The actuator assembly <NUM> includes a handle <NUM>, a cable locking mechanism <NUM>, and an autofeed locking mechanism <NUM>. Now moving to <FIG>, the handle <NUM> includes a grip <NUM> that a user may grasp to hold the drain cleaner <NUM>, a rear end <NUM> adjacent the drum assembly <NUM>, a front end <NUM> opposite the rear end <NUM>, an inlet <NUM> formed at the rear end <NUM>, and an outlet <NUM> formed at the front end <NUM>. A passage <NUM> is defined in the handle <NUM> and extends from the inlet <NUM> to the outlet <NUM>. The cable locking mechanism <NUM> and the autofeed locking mechanism <NUM> (<FIG>) are supported within the passage <NUM> of the handle <NUM>. The passage <NUM> is defined by an interior surface <NUM> with locking ramps <NUM>. Although only one locking ramp <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>, the handle <NUM> includes an additional locking ramp <NUM> on an opposite side of the interior surface <NUM>. Each locking ramp <NUM> defines a slot <NUM> and an abutment <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the cable locking mechanism <NUM> includes an actuator sleeve <NUM> and cable clamps <NUM>. The actuator sleeve <NUM> is positioned in the passage <NUM> of the handle <NUM> adjacent the rear end <NUM> for translation with the handle <NUM> relative to the drum assembly <NUM>. In particular, the actuator sleeve <NUM> is translatable on the first portion <NUM> of the nose <NUM>. The cable clamps <NUM> are secured to the first portion <NUM> of the front housing portion <NUM> at one end and partially extend over the openings <NUM> (<FIG>) at another end. The cable clamps <NUM> are resilient and are biased away from the openings <NUM>. The cable clamps <NUM> selectively engage the flexible cable to inhibit the flexible cable from translating further out of the drain cleaner <NUM>. In other words, the cable is able to spin, but not allowed to travel out of or into the drain cleaner <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the cable clamps <NUM> are spring clips. In other embodiments, the cable clamps <NUM> may be other types of clamps and/or may be other types of resilient members.

The autofeed locking mechanism <NUM> includes a drive lock ratchet mechanism <NUM> and a collet <NUM>. The drive lock ratchet mechanism <NUM> includes a drive lock <NUM>, a lock release <NUM> (<FIG>), and a drive ramp <NUM>. The drive ramp <NUM> defines a frustoconically-shaped opening <NUM> (<FIG>). Both the drive lock <NUM> and the lock release <NUM> are positioned over the second portion <NUM> of the nose <NUM> and are movable relative to the housing <NUM> of the drum assembly <NUM>. The drive ramp <NUM> is biased towards the front end <NUM> of the handle <NUM> and away from the drive lock <NUM> by resilient members (e.g., compression springs <NUM>). The drive lock <NUM> includes wings <NUM> that are positioned on diametrically opposite sides from each other. The wings <NUM> are biased radially outward by resilient members (e.g., compression springs <NUM> (<FIG>)). The lock release <NUM> includes disengagement tabs <NUM> that selectively engage the wings <NUM> of the drive lock <NUM>. The disengagement tabs <NUM> are a similar size as the slots <NUM> in the locking ramps <NUM> so as to be able to pass through the slots <NUM> when the lock release <NUM> translates.

With reference to <FIG>, the collet <NUM> is double frustoconically shaped. In other words, the collet <NUM> includes a first end <NUM> that is frustoconically-shaped and a second end <NUM> opposite the first end <NUM> that is also frustoconically-shaped. The first end <NUM> of the collet <NUM> corresponds to the frustoconically-shaped opening <NUM> of the drive ramp <NUM>, and the second end <NUM> of the collet <NUM> is positioned within the outlet <NUM> of the handle <NUM>. The illustrated collet <NUM> includes a plurality of pieces with a similar shape that are all connected to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the collet <NUM> is made of three pieces. In other embodiments, the collet <NUM> may be made of more or fewer pieces. The pieces of the collet <NUM> together define an aperture <NUM> through which the flexible cable extends. The aperture <NUM> is defined by inner surfaces <NUM> of each collect piece. Each piece of the collet <NUM> also supports a roller or bearing that selectively engages the cable. The pieces of the collet <NUM> are compressible to reduce the space within the aperture <NUM>. When the collet <NUM> is compressed, the rollers engage the flexible cable to drive the flexible cable out of or into the outlet <NUM> of the handle <NUM>.

In operation of the drain cleaner <NUM>, a user attaches a drive tool (e.g., a handle or a powered drive mechanism) to the adapter <NUM> of the drum assembly <NUM>. The drive tool rotates the drum assembly <NUM> to create friction between the interior <NUM> of the housing <NUM> and the cable. The friction causes the flexible cable to spin, which facilitates clearing debris from within a drain or conduit. While the drum assembly <NUM> is rotated, the actuator assembly <NUM> remains stationary. The cable extends from the interior <NUM> of the housing <NUM> through the interior passageway <NUM> of the front housing portion <NUM> through the passage <NUM> of the handle <NUM> and out the outlet <NUM>. The cable may then be directed into a drain or other conduit.

The illustrated actuator assembly <NUM>, cable locking mechanism <NUM>, and autofeed locking mechanism <NUM> are selectively movable relative to the drum assembly <NUM> to control the output of the flexible cable. Specifically, the actuator assembly <NUM> is movable between a first position (<FIG>), a second position (<FIG>), and a third position (<FIG>). The first position is a neutral position, where the cable is free to spin and translate out of the drain cleaner <NUM>. The second position is a locked position, where the cable is allowed to spin, but not to translate into or out of the drum assembly <NUM>. The third position is an autofeed position, where the cable is allowed to spin and is automatically driven (e.g., translated) out of the drum assembly <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the neutral position, the cable clamps <NUM> are biased out of the openings <NUM> in the first portion <NUM> of the front housing portion <NUM>. The collet <NUM> is partially positioned within the frustoconically-shaped opening <NUM> of the drive ramp <NUM> so that the inner surface <NUM> does not engage the cable. In the neutral position, the cable is free to spin by rotation of the drum assembly <NUM>. In addition, a user may manually pull the cable out of the drain cleaner <NUM> and into a drain or conduit. The user may also manually push the cable back into the drum assembly <NUM>. In other words, the cable is also free to translate out of or into the drain cleaner <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in the locked position, a user slides the handle <NUM> away from the drum assembly <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment, the handle <NUM> slides linearly (i.e., non-rotatably) away from the drum assembly <NUM> to move the actuator assembly <NUM> to the locked position. In other embodiments, the handle <NUM> may be rotated to move the actuator assembly to the locked position. Movement of the handle <NUM> away from the drum assembly <NUM> slides the actuator sleeve <NUM> over the cable clamps <NUM> (<FIG>), causing the cable clamps <NUM> to move radially inwardly and engage the cable. In this position, the cable is clamped and, thereby, inhibited from translating out of the drain cleaner <NUM>. The cable, however, is able to continue to spin about its longitudinal axis to break of debris within a drain.

As shown in <FIG>, in the autofeed position, a user slides the handle <NUM> towards the drum assembly <NUM>. As the handle <NUM> moves toward the drum assembly <NUM>, the drive ramp <NUM> is forced towards the drive lock <NUM>, which compresses the springs <NUM>. Additionally, the collet <NUM> approaches the drive ramp <NUM>, forcing the first end <NUM> of the collet <NUM> into the frustoconically-shaped opening <NUM> to compress the collet <NUM>. As the collet <NUM> is compressed, the rollers of the collet <NUM> engage the flexible cable, which drives the flexible cable out of or into the outlet <NUM>.

While in the autofeed position, a user can slide the handle <NUM> further towards the drum assembly <NUM>. As the handle <NUM> moves closer to the drum assembly <NUM>, the wings <NUM> of the drive lock <NUM> pass over the abutment <NUM> of the locking ramps <NUM>. Once this occurs, when the user releases the handle <NUM>, the wings <NUM> engage the abutment <NUM> of the locking ramps <NUM>, inhibiting the handle <NUM> from sliding away from the drum assembly <NUM> (<FIG>). As such, the handle is movable to a fourth position, which may also be referred to as an autofeed locked on position. In this position, when the user disengages the handle <NUM>, the cable continues to spin and translate out of or into the drain cleaner <NUM>.

In order to release the handle <NUM> from the autofeed locked on position, the user manually forces (e.g., slides) the handle <NUM> away from the drum assembly <NUM>. This movement draws the drive lock <NUM> towards the lock release <NUM>. The disengagement tabs <NUM> on the lock release <NUM> engage the wings <NUM> of the drive lock <NUM>, forcing the wings <NUM> radially inwards against the bias of the compression springs <NUM> to clear the locking ramps <NUM> on the interior surface <NUM> of the handle <NUM>. Once the wings <NUM> clear the locking ramps <NUM>, the handle <NUM> is allowed to move relative to the drive lock <NUM>. The compression springs <NUM> bias (e.g., push) the drive ramp <NUM> away from the drive lock <NUM>. As the handle <NUM> is moved further away from the drum assembly <NUM>, the collet <NUM> is released from the drive ramp <NUM>, which disengages the rollers of the pieces of the collet <NUM> from the cable to stop driving the cable out of or into the drain cleaner <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, the autofeed locking mechanism <NUM> is used with a p-trap auger style machine. In other embodiments, the autofeed locking mechanism <NUM> may be used with other types of drain cleaners such as hand held drain cleaners, sewer cleaners, or the like.

Providing the drain cleaner <NUM> with the autofeed locking mechanism <NUM> allows a user to selectively control the output of a cable. In addition, the autofeed locked on position allows a user to disengage the handle <NUM> while still automatically driving the cable into or out of a drain.

Claim 1:
A drain cleaner (<NUM>) comprising:
a drum assembly (<NUM>) configured to store a cable; and
an actuator assembly (<NUM>) movable relative to the drum assembly between a neutral position, where the cable is free to spin and translate out of the drum assembly, an autofeed position, where the cable is allowed to spin and is automatically driven out of the drum assembly, and an autofeed locked on position, where the actuator assembly is maintained in the autofeed position without continuous input from a user, the actuator assembly including a handle (<NUM>) supported by the drum assembly and an autofeed locking mechanism (<NUM>), the autofeed locking mechanism includes a drive lock (<NUM>) and a lock release (<NUM>), the drive lock engages the handle to maintain the actuator assembly in the autofeed locked on position;
characterized in that
the handle includes an abutment (<NUM>) on an interior surface (<NUM>), and
wherein the drive lock includes a wing (<NUM>) that engages the abutment to maintain the actuator assembly in the autofeed locked on position; and
in that the wing is biased radially outward to engage the abutment.