The present invention relates to drain cleaners and to storage containers for drain cleaners.
Drain cleaners are commonly sold in plastic cases, such as reclosable blow-molded cases that are shaped to match the drain cleaners. The cases are used to carry the drain cleaners from job to job when not in use. However, these cases can be expensive. In addition, these cases may not have been designed specific to a particular user and application. Also, the cases tend to have crevices that are difficult to clean, and the drain cleaners tend to leave behind residue that is messy and smells if not cleaned.
In addition, drain cleaners can be difficult to use in tight spaces. The drum of a drain cleaner rotates to direct the cable into a drain to clean the drain. When the drain cleaner is used in a tight space, the drum may contact various surfaces. The rotation of the drum can damage these surfaces. Furthermore, the rotation of the drum may be problematic for a user. The rotation of the drum can cause damage to a user's hand. In addition, it may be difficult for a user to grasp the drain cleaner with a second hand to support the drain cleaner because the rotation of the drum interferes.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a drain cleaner including a handle assembly including a grip, a motor positioned within the handle assembly, and an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the grip. The actuator is electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor. The drain cleaner also includes a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end adjacent the handle assembly. The drain cleaner further includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud. The drain cleaner also includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The flexible cable is configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a storage container for a drain cleaner. The storage container includes a bucket configured to receive the drain cleaner. The bucket includes a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom, where the sidewall defines an inner perimeter. The storage container further includes an insert positioned within the bucket. The insert includes a base disposed on the bottom of the bucket. The base includes an outer perimeter that is sized and shaped to correspond to the inner perimeter of the sidewall of the bucket. The insert further includes a plurality of projections extending upwardly from the base. The plurality of projections is spaced apart on the base and is configured to support the drain cleaner above the bottom of the bucket.
In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a system including a drain cleaner having a handle assembly with a grip, a motor positioned within the handle assembly, and an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the grip. The actuator is electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor. The drain cleaner also includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly. The drain cleaner further includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The flexible cable is configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain. The system further includes a storage container having a bucket that receives the drain cleaner. The bucket includes a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom, where the sidewall defines an inner perimeter. The storage container also includes an insert positioned within the bucket. The insert includes a base disposed on the bottom of the bucket. The base includes an outer perimeter that is sized and shaped to correspond to the inner perimeter of the sidewall of the bucket. The insert further includes a plurality of projections extending upwardly from the base. The plurality of projections engages a portion of the drain cleaner to support the drain cleaner above the bottom of the bucket.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention 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 invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.
The handle assembly 24 extends rearwardly from the shroud 28. The handle assembly 24 includes a grip 52 that is configured to be grasped by a user for carrying and operating the drain cleaner 20. The handle assembly 24 supports an actuator 56 (e.g., a trigger) adjacent the grip 52. The actuator 56 is actuatable (e.g., depressible) by a user to selectively energize the motor 44 and, thereby, operate the drain cleaner 20. The illustrated handle assembly 24 also includes a battery receptacle 60 for receiving and supporting a battery pack, such as a power tool battery pack. The battery receptacle 60 includes terminals that electrically connect the battery pack to the motor 44 and the actuator 56. In other embodiments, the handle assembly 24 may support a power cord to electrically connect the motor 44 to an AC power source.
As shown in
Referring back to
As shown in
The drum support 32C is coupled to the drive mechanism 48 such that rotation of the motor 44 is transmitted to the drum assembly 32 through the drive mechanism 48. Friction between the inner surface of the inner drum 32A and the cable 50 causes the cable 50 to rotate or spin with the drum assembly 32. As the drum assembly 32 rotates, the cable 50 also rotates, causing the cable 50 to be extended into the drain or retracted from the drain. The illustrated drive mechanism 48 includes a gear train having, for example, planetary gear arrangements and an output shaft that transmit rotation of the motor 44 to the drum support 32C. In the illustrated embodiment, the drum support 32C is threadably coupled to the output shaft of the drive mechanism 48. In other embodiments, the drum support 32C may be coupled to the drive mechanism 48 using other suitable means to transmit force (e.g., rotation) from the drive mechanism 48 to the drum assembly 32. Additionally, in some embodiments, other suitable drive mechanisms may also or alternatively be employed.
With continued reference to
The illustrated nose assembly 40 also provides a lock mechanism 98 for the drain cleaner 20. In particular, the nose assembly 40 is slidable toward and away from the drum assembly 32 to selectively lock and unlock the cable 50, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the lock mechanism 98 includes two spring clips 98A positioned within the nose assembly 40 on opposite sides of the extended portion 92 of the drum cover 32B. When the nose assembly 40 is slid toward the drum assembly 32, the spring clips 98A are pushed inwardly to engage the cable 50. In this position, the cable 50 is forced to rotate with the drum assembly 32 since the spring clips 98A move with the extended portion 92 of the drum cover 32B. When the nose assembly 40 is slid away from the drum assembly 32, the spring clips 98A are biased apart from each other and disengage the cable 50 so that the cable 50 can be fed out of or into the drum assembly 32. In some embodiments, the nose assembly 40 may be biased away from the drum assembly 32 (i.e., toward an unlocked position) by a spring or other biasing member. Although the illustrated nose assembly 40 slides axially between engaged and disengaged positions, in other embodiments, the nose assembly 40 may rotate between the engaged and disengaged positions.
As shown in
The insert 108 is positionable inside the bucket 104 to help support the drain cleaner 20 within the bucket 104. The insert 108 includes a base 120 and a plurality of projections 124 extending upward from the base 120. The base 120 is planar, with a generally flat top surface and bottom surface. The flat bottom surface of the base 120 enables the base 120 to sit flat on the inside of the bucket 104. The base 120 has an outer perimeter that corresponds to an inner perimeter of the wall 116 of the bucket 104. The illustrated insert 108 includes a circular base 120 and four projections 124 extending perpendicularly from the base 120. In the illustrated embodiment, the circular base 120 and the projections 124 are integrally formed as a single piece of plastic. In other embodiments, the insert 108 may include fewer or more projections 124, the base 120 and the projections 124 may be formed as separate pieces that are coupled together, and/or the insert 108 may be formed of other material(s). The circular base 120 generally corresponds to the shape and size of the bottom 112 of the bucket 104. The projections 124 are circumferentially spaced evenly around the circular base 120. The illustrated projections 124 are generally triangular in shape and taper in height from the center of the base 120 toward the outer perimeter of the base 120. The projections 124 are configured to engage the nose assembly 40 of the drain cleaner 20 to support the drain cleaner 20 above the bottom 112 of the bucket 104. A central gap 128 formed between the projections 124 at the center of the base 120 provides clearance for a cable of the drain cleaner 20 when the drain cleaner 20 is supported by the insert 108. In one embodiment, this configuration may tend to prevent or deter damaging or bending of a cable tip while allowing the tool to rest upside-down in a bucket to allow draining of liquid or debris from the tool after use.
In the illustrated embodiment, the insert 108 is free floating within the bucket 104. This arrangement allows the insert 108 to be easily removed from the bucket 104 for cleaning. In other embodiments, the insert 108 may be releasably secured to the bucket 104. In further embodiments, the insert 108 may be permanently secured to the bottom 112 of the bucket 104, or the projections 124 of the insert 108 may be integrally formed in the bottom 112 of the bucket 104. As noted above, the bucket 104 may be replaced with a different sized or shaped container, in which case the insert 108 may be correspondingly shaped and sized to fit within the container and support the drain cleaner 20 above the bottom of the container.
The handle assembly 224 includes a grip 252 that is configured to be grasped by a user for carrying and operating the drain cleaner 200. The handle assembly 224 supports an actuator 256 (e.g., a trigger) adjacent the grip 252. The actuator 256 is actuatable by a user to selectively energize the motor 244 and, thereby, operate the drain cleaner 200. The illustrated handle assembly 224 also includes a battery receptacle 260 for receiving and supporting a battery pack.
The handle assembly 224 further includes a stand 264. In the illustrated embodiment, the stand 264 is positioned generally beneath the shroud 228 and the motor 244. More particularly, the stand 264 is positioned beneath a center of gravity of the drain cleaner 200, which is principally defined by the motor 244, the drive mechanism 248, the cable, and the battery pack (if present) of the drain cleaner 200. The stand 264 includes a generally planar surface 268 that is configured to engage and rest on a support surface. The stand 264 supports the drain cleaner 200 in an upright position with the nose assembly 240 spaced apart from the support surface.
The shroud 228 is coupled to the handle assembly 224 generally above the stand 264.
The illustrated shroud 228 is generally cup-shaped and includes a closed end 276 adjacent or facing the handle assembly 224. The shroud 228 is fixed to the handle assembly 224 such that the shroud 228 is stationary (i.e., does not rotate or otherwise move) relative to the handle assembly 224 during operation of the drain cleaner 200. The shroud 228 is positioned around the drum 232 to help protect the drum 232. The shroud 228 allows the drain cleaner 200 to be used in relatively tight spaces without the drum contacting surrounding structures. The shroud 228 also protects a user from the spinning drum assembly 232.
The drum 232 is positioned substantially within the shroud 228. The drum 232 is rotatably driven by the motor 244, which in turn, rotates the cable. Specifically, the drum 232 rotates within and relative to the shroud 228. The motor 244 and the drive mechanism 248 are nested within a cavity 242 formed within the center of the drum 232. The cable is coiled around the outside of the cavity 242 while the motor 244 and drive mechanism 248 engage with the drum 232 from the inside of the cavity 242.
The illustrated drain cleaner 200 further includes an outer shield 280. The outer shield 280 is fixed to a shroud 228 of the drain cleaner 200 to completely enclose the drum 232. In some embodiments, a seal 246 is formed between the shroud 228 and the shield 280 to seal in water. The seal 246 can be formed by an elastomer, plastic, or any other known material capable of forming a water tight connection between the shroud 228 and the shield 280. The outer shield 280 also forms part of the nose assembly 240 of the illustrated drain cleaner 200. By completely enclosing the rotating drum 232, the outer shield 280 facilitates working in enclosed spaces and inhibits inadvertent contact between the drum 232 and any fixtures, cabinets, or other nearby surfaces.
The nose assembly 240 includes an elongated portion 292 that guides the cable into the drain. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated portion 292 of the nose assembly 240 is formed by the outer shield 280. Specifically, the outer shield 280 and the elongated portion 292 are formed as a continuous element. In other embodiments, the nose assembly 240 is a separate element from the outer shield 280.
With reference to
In the unclamped position, the cable lock mechanism 300 is slid forward along the outer shield 280 (i.e., away from a motor and drive mechanism 300 of the drain cleaner 200). In this position, the cam member 310 is not engaged with the spring clips 314. Accordingly, the spring clips 314 are in a neutral, unbiased position and are not engaged with the cable. Therefore, the cable is free to move. In the clamped position, the cable lock mechanism 300 is slid rearward along the outer shield 280 (i.e., toward the motor and drive mechanism 300 of the drain cleaner 200). Sliding the cable lock mechanism 300 in the rearward direction forces the cam members 310 to engage the spring clips 314, which biases the spring clips 314 radially inward. In this position, the spring clips 314 of the cable lock mechanism 300 are forced inward to engage the cable so the cable is clamped. In some embodiments, the cable lock mechanism 300 may be biased toward the unclamped position.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/292,913, filed Mar. 5, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,103,902, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/953,643, filed Apr. 16, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,239,100, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/862,360, filed Jan. 4, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,975,154, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/426,762, filed Feb. 7, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,884,353, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2016/065942, filed Dec. 9, 2016, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/264,916, filed Dec. 9, 2015, and to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/296,453, filed Feb. 17, 2016, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated by reference herein.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16292913 | Mar 2019 | US |
Child | 17382728 | US | |
Parent | 15953643 | Apr 2018 | US |
Child | 16292913 | US | |
Parent | 15862360 | Jan 2018 | US |
Child | 15953643 | US | |
Parent | 15426762 | Feb 2017 | US |
Child | 15862360 | US | |
Parent | PCT/US2016/065942 | Dec 2016 | US |
Child | 15426762 | US |