Drain cleaning apparatus
First Claim
1. A drain cleaning apparatus, comprising:
- a handle having opposing ends and a gripping portion, wherein one of the ends comprises a handle connector; and
a clog-catching member having a body that has a length, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end has a proximal-end connector that is detachably connected to the handle connector, wherein the distal end has a distal-end connector that has the same structure as the handle connector, and wherein a plurality of wings, barbs or hooks project radially from the body with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body,wherein the handle, the clog-catching member, and the plurality of wings, barbs or hooks have a combination of strength, stiffness, flexibility and length to enable a user to push the clog-catching member through a drain opening in a sink and into a drain pipe.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A drain cleaning apparatus, includes a handle and a clog-catching member detachably connected the handle. Airplane-like wings project radially from the clog-catching member. The wings provide an angled projection that catches and holds a clump of debris in a drain pipe for unclogging the drain. Clog-catching members or smooth extension members can be connected end to end for different lengths. Different end tools can be removably connected to a clog-catching member or to a smooth extension member to provide multifunctionality. A drain cleaning harpoon that is an integral unit or one that can be assembled and disassembled is also provided. The harpoon can be fitted on one end with a plurality of J hooks, fish hooks, arrowheads or retractable barbs for catching and holding a mass of debris in a drain pipe.
51 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A drain cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a handle having opposing ends and a gripping portion, wherein one of the ends comprises a handle connector; and a clog-catching member having a body that has a length, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end has a proximal-end connector that is detachably connected to the handle connector, wherein the distal end has a distal-end connector that has the same structure as the handle connector, and wherein a plurality of wings, barbs or hooks project radially from the body with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the handle, the clog-catching member, and the plurality of wings, barbs or hooks have a combination of strength, stiffness, flexibility and length to enable a user to push the clog-catching member through a drain opening in a sink and into a drain pipe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A kit, comprising:
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a disassembled drain-cleaning apparatus, comprising; a handle having a connector A; at least one clog-snagging member, wherein the member comprises a body that has a length and opposing ends with a connector B on one end and a connector C on the other end, wherein the connector B can be removably connected to the connector A, wherein the body has a first plurality of wing-like projections spaced apart along the length of the body and a second plurality of wing-like projections spaced apart along the length of the body, wherein the first and second plurality of wing-like projections are separated from one another by about 180 degrees plus or minus about 15 degrees; and at least one tool having a size and shape suitable for insertion into a drain pipe from a sink, bathtub or a toilet for unclogging the drain pipe or cleaning the inside of the drain pipe or retrieving an object from inside the drain pipe, wherein the tool has a connector D, wherein the connector D can be removably connected to the connector C, and wherein an assembled drain-cleaning apparatus can be made by connecting the connector B to the connector A and connecting the connector D to the connector C. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A drain cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a handle having a handle connector; an extension member having a proximal end that has an extension-handle connector and a distal end that has a distal-end connector, wherein the extension-handle connector is detachably connected to the handle connector; an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; and a plurality of J-shaped or fish-hook-shaped hooks fixed to, embedded in or formed integral with the body near the distal end of the body, wherein the elongate body has the size, strength, stiffness, flexibility and length to enable a user to push the elongate body and the hooks through a drain opening in a sink and into a drain pipe, and wherein the elongate body has a body-extension connector on its proximal end that is detachably connected to the distal-end connector on the extension member. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A drain cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a handle having a gripping portion for a person to hold for manual operation, wherein the handle has a first quick-connect connector; an extension member having a body that has a length and opposing ends, a second quick-connect connector on one end and a third quick-connector on the other end, wherein the extension member is a smooth rod that does not have wings, barbs or hooks for catching hair or cleaning debris, and wherein the extension member has guide fins for centering the extension member in a drain pipe; and a tool for unclogging a drain pipe or for retrieving an item out of a drain pipe or for cleaning the inside of a drain pipe or for shining a light into a space, wherein the tool has a fourth quick-connect connector, wherein the second quick-connect connector can be connected to and disconnected from the first quick-connect connector, wherein the fourth quick-connect connector can be connected to and disconnected from the third quick-connect connector, wherein the first and third quick-connect connectors have the same structure, and wherein the second and fourth quick-connect connectors have the same structure. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A kit comprising a disassembled drain-cleaning apparatus, the kit comprising:
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a handle having a connector A and a gripping portion for a person to hold for manual operation; a first clog-catching member, wherein the first clog-catching member comprises a body that has a length and opposing ends with a connector B on one end and a connector C on the other end, and wherein the connector B can be removably connected to the connector A; and a second clog-catching member having a size and shape suitable for insertion into a drain pipe from a sink, bathtub or a toilet for unclogging the drain pipe wherein the second clog-catching member has a connector D on one end and a connector E on the other end, wherein the connector D can be removably connected to the connector C, wherein an assembled drain-cleaning apparatus can be made by connecting the connector B to the connector A and connecting the connector D to the connector C, and wherein the first and second clog-catching members each have a plurality of wings, barbs or hooks, wherein the connectors A, C and E have the same structure, and wherein the connectors B and D have the same structure. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A drain cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a handle having opposing ends and a gripping portion, wherein one of the ends comprises a handle connector; a clog-catching member having a body that has a length, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end has a proximal-end connector that is detachably connected to the handle connector, and wherein a plurality of wings project radially from the body with respect to the longitudinal axis of the body, wherein the distal end of the clog-catching member has a tool connector; and a tool having a mechanical device and a member connector that is detachably connected to the tool connector, wherein the handle, the clog-catching member, and the plurality of wings have a combination of strength, stiffness, flexibility and length to enable a user to push the clog-catching member through a drain opening in a sink and into a drain pipe. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. A drain cleaning apparatus, comprising:
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a handle; an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end; a plurality of J-shaped or fish-hook-shaped hooks fixed to, embedded in or formed integral with the body near the distal end of the body, wherein the elongate body has the size, strength, stiffness, flexibility and length to enable a user to push the elongate body and the hooks through a drain opening in a sink and into a drain pipe; and an extension member between the elongate body and the handle, wherein the extension member is removably connected to the handle, and wherein the elongate body is removably connected to the extension member so that the handle, the extension member and the elongate body can be assembled to form the drain cleaning apparatus and can be subsequently disassembled.
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Specification