Patent Application
20190003168
The present invention relates to plungers and drain clearing devices for blocked or clogged drains, including toilets.
Existing drain clearing devices, such as plungers, rely on sealing above and around the well of the toilet using an inverted rubber cup. The force generated toward breaking up or removing the blockage or clog is only equivalent to how effectively the cup can seal when depressed or pulled back by the user. The effectiveness of a plunger's ability to seal and exert force is greatly compromised by the various shapes and styles of a toilet's pan or bowl, which can result in an incomplete seal.
Furthermore, modern water conservation toilets have adopted increasingly larger siphon jet systems to assist and enhance flushing performance. If a siphon jet is present, the siphon jet forms a direct link between the flush valve and the toilet bowl, such that a certain amount of force generated by plunging will be transferred to this channel rather than being applied to the trapway to clear the clog.
Existing plungers or drain clearing devices are unable to generate enough force to effectively clear difficult clogs within the toilet's trapway. A drain clearing device that could generate and direct a high amount of force on a clog, particularly in a water-saving toilet with a large siphon jet, would be of considerable value in the market.
The current invention provides a self-contained blockage clearing system that seals against the inside of the opening to the toilet's trapway. This fully utilizes all the generated force created and directs it towards the blockage rather than permitting said force to be partially dispersed between the trapway and the large siphon jet found in most water conservation toilets sold and installed within the last 10-15 years. Moreover, a seal against the inside of the trapway provides a more secure and air/water tight seal for the plunging process.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device that generates pressure/vacuum directly within a toilet's trapway to effectively clean and clear clogs or blockages that cause the unit to not function properly.
The invention comprises a telescopic handle and an enclosed container that can draw in and release water through a nozzle that is inserted directly into the trapway of a toilet. The ability to cycle water back and forth within the trapway generates and applies a great deal of force and vacuum on the clog, which will in turn break up or dislodge the blockage. In many cases, the vacuum action created by pulling water back into the invention's enclosed container is stronger than the minimal amount of force that lodged the clog within the trapway. The invention also features a flexible gasket like ring that forms an air-tight seal against the interior of the opening to any toilet trapway, regardless of size or shape.
In one broad aspect, the invention comprises an apparatus for clearing a blockage from a drain having a trapway. The apparatus includes: a head portion having a gasket for sealing against the trapway and a nozzle for drawing water and/or air into and out of the apparatus; a body portion having an enclosed container for storing water and/or air and a sealed chamber defined by the enclosed container, the nozzle, and a moveable plate; and a plunger arm within the enclosed container for moving the plate along a longitudinal axis of the body portion. The trapway may be of various types, including the trapway of a toilet, sink, or tub.
In some embodiments, the head and gasket form an air or water tight seal around an opening of the trapway, preferably an inner surface of the trapway. The gasket may be a resilient material, preferably one which returns to its original shape after use.
In some applications, the head may be frustoconical and/or the nozzle may be disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. In one embodiment, the nozzle protrudes into the trapway by a minimum of 25 mm and/or the nozzle has an opening that is at least 25 mm in diameter.
In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a check valve configured to permit air in a head space of the sealed chamber to exit the chamber when the chamber is under positive pressure. The check valve may be of various types, including a double ball check valve disposed on the plate comprising a pair of opposing ball check valves.
In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a handle connected to the plunger arm, to assist a user in moving the plate, and/or a support member disposed on the body portion, to assist the user in forming a seal between the head portion and the trapway. The apparatus may also include a release valve on the body portion at an end opposite the head, the release valve being configured to permit excess air or water to exit the container.
In some embodiments, the maximum volume of the sealed chamber is greater than the volume of the trapway. In one embodiment, the maximum volume of the sealed chamber is at least 1.5 liters.
In another broad aspect, the invention provides a method of clearing a blocked trapway. The method includes the steps of: a) forming an air-tight seal around an inside surface of opening of the trapway; b) suctioning water out of the trapway and into a sealed chamber; c) forcing water into the trapway, from the sealed chamber; and d) repeating steps b) to c) as required to dislodge a blockage from the trapway. The trapway may be of various types, including the trapway of a toilet, sink, or tub. In some embodiments, the method includes an additional step, prior to c), of exhausting gasses from a head space in the sealed chamber.
The novel features of this invention are set forth within the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The head gasket (11) is made of a resilient material that has memory and returns to its original size and shape after pressure is applied to form the seal in the trapway (4). Examples of such resilient materials include latex foam, rubber, silicone, or the like. Preferably, the head gasket (11) has an outer diameter that is slightly larger than the well of the trapway, to increase the sealing force between the gasket (11) and the inside surface of the opening of the trapway (4).
The nozzle (14) of the plunger protrudes into the trapway (4), preferably by a minimum distance of 25 mm. The nozzle (14) may also be angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the sealed container (15), preferably at an angle of between 60 and 90 degrees, to better direct the forces generated by the device (200).
Filling the enclosed container (15) also applies vacuum to the blockage (16). A cap (7) may be provided at the top of the device to ensure the plate (8) and plunger arm (6) cannot be pulled out of the enclosed container (15). A release valve (12) may also be included in the cap (7) to allow any air or water that may get past the plate (8) during the push and pull cycle to be directed away from the user. Preferably, the capacity of the enclosed container (15) is oversized (e.g. greater than 1.5 liters) to ensure it can hold more contents than any given toilets' trapway (4).
If pulling back to create vacuum does not remove the blockage the user can then push on the handle (5) to force the held water out of the enclosed container (15) through the nozzle (14). Preferably, the nozzle (14) has a diameter of at least 25 mm to generate pressure on the blockage in an attempt to push it out of the trapway (4).
If necessary, the user can cycle back and forth between pulling water into and forcing it out of the enclosed container (15). This action will break-up and disperse a difficult blockage (16). In many cases, the force of pulling back on handle (5) is sufficient release the clog, particularly if the force that caused the blockage (16) is smaller than the amount of vacuum applied through the use of the device.
In the embodiment shown in
Although described in the context of toilets, it would be understood by the person of skill in the art that the invention may also be used to clear sinks, tubs, and other plumbing fixtures that have an accessible trapway. The parts and components described above may be scaled down as necessary to suit such applications.
The embodiments in the present disclosure are intended to be examples only. Those of skill in the art may effect alterations, modifications and variations to the particular embodiments without departing from the intended scope of the present application.
In particular, features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be selected to create alternate embodiments comprised of a subcombination of features which may not be explicitly described above. In addition, features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be selected and combined to create alternate embodiments comprised of a combination of features which may not be explicitly described above. Features suitable for such combinations and subcombinations would be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art upon review of the present application as a whole. The subject matter described herein and in the recited claims intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.
This application is a non-provisional of and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/525,844 for a “TRAPWAY SEALING BLOCKAGE CLEARING DEVICE,” filed on Jun. 28, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62525844 | Jun 2017 | US |
