Abstract
A drain cleaner assembly for use in association with a wastewater drain including: a strainer body, wherein the strainer body includes at least one sidewall having an inner surface, an outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end, and wherein the upper end terminates in an annular flange; a drain closure, wherein the drain closure includes an upper end and a lower end, and wherein the lower end includes an annular channel for retaining a seal member; a drain shaft, wherein the drain shaft includes an upper and a lower end, and wherein the upper end is associated with the drain closure; at least one non-displaceable blade; and at least one displaceable blade associated with the drain shaft, wherein the displaceable blade is rotatably displaceable upon at least one of rotational and linear displacement of the drain closure.
Claims
1. A drain cleaner assembly for use in association with a wastewater drain, consisting of: a strainer body, wherein the strainer body includes a cylindrical sidewall having an inner surface, a threaded outer surface, an upper end, and a lower end, and wherein the upper end terminates in an annular flange, and further wherein a non-displaceable blade is positioned proximate the lower end of the strainer body; a drain closure, wherein the drain closure includes an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end includes a knob, and further wherein the lower end includes an annular channel having a seal member retained therein; a drain shaft, wherein the drain shaft includes an upper and a lower end, and wherein the upper end is secured to the drain closure; and a displaceable blade associated with the drain shaft, wherein the displaceable blade is rotatably displaceable upon at least one of rotational and linear displacement of the drain closure.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by the accompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understanding of the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive may be omitted. It will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.
(2) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
(3) FIG. 1 of the drawings is an exploded perspective view of a drain cleaner assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(4) FIG. 2 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a strainer body fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(5) FIG. 3 of the drawings is a top plan view of a strainer body fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(6) FIG. 4 of the drawings is a bottom plan view of a strainer body fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(7) FIG. 5 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a drain closure fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(8) FIG. 6 of the drawings is a bottom plan view of a drain closure fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(9) FIG. 7 of the drawings is a top perspective view of a first portion of a drain shaft fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(10) FIG. 8 of the drawings is a perspective view of a second portion of a drain shaft fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(11) FIG. 9 of the drawings is a side elevational view of a drain cleaner assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention;
(12) FIG. 10 of the drawings is a bottom perspective view of a drain cleaner assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing among other things, non-displaceable blades and displaceable blades in an angular overlapping configuration;
(13) FIG. 11 of the drawings is a top perspective view of a drain cleaner assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing among other things, non-displaceable blades and displaceable blades in an angular overlapping configuration;
(14) FIG. 12 of the drawings is a bottom perspective view of a drain cleaner assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing among other things, non-displaceable blades and displaceable blades in an angular non-overlapping configuration; and
(15) FIG. 13 of the drawings is a top perspective view of a drain cleaner assembly fabricated in accordance with the present invention, showing among other things, non-displaceable blades and displaceable blades in an angular non-overlapping configuration.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(16) While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
(17) It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with like reference characters.
(18) Referring now to the drawings, and to FIG. 1 in particular, an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of drain cleaner assembly 10 is shown that generally comprises strainer body 12, drain closure 14, drain shaft 16, and displaceable blade 18. It will be understood that drain cleaner assembly 10 is preferably used in association with a wastewater drain for a bathtub, shower, basin, and/or sink, and cuts drain debris (e.g., hair, paper products, sludge, solid particles, etcetera) down to a size such that the drain debris is disposable through the associated wastewater drain without the use of hazardous, toxic, and/or undesirable chemicals, and/or complex mechanical solutions. It will be further understood that FIGS. 1-13 provided herein are merely representations of drain cleaner assembly 10 and its sub-components. As such, some of the components may be distorted from their actual scale for pictorial clarity and/or image enhancement.
(19) Referring now to FIGS. 1-4 collectively, in one embodiment, strainer body 12 includes cylindrical sidewall 20 having an inner surface 22, outer surface 24, upper end 26, and lower end 28. Upper end 26 preferably terminates with annular flange 30. Seal member 31 (FIG. 1; e.g., gasket, O-ring, etcetera) is preferably positioned below annular flange 30 of strainer body 12. Outer surface 24 of strainer body 12 preferably includes threads 32. It will be understood that strainer body 12 is adapted for securement to a wastewater drainpipe. Strainer body 12 is preferably fabricated from, for example, woods, metals, natural resins, synthetic resins, plastics, composites, and mixtures thereof.
(20) As is best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, strainer body 12 includes one or more fixed or non-displaceable blades 34. Non-displaceable blades 34 may be positioned proximate lower end 28 of strainer body 12 (FIG. 4) and/or may be positioned proximate upper end 26 of strainer body 12. As is best shown in FIG. 4, non-displaceable blades 34 are preferably positioned within inner surface 22 of strainer body 12. Non-displaceable blades 34 preferably comprise and/or consist of four cross-pattern blades, which optionally include central threaded aperture 36. As will be discussed in greater detail below central threaded aperture 36 releasably secures drain shaft 16 and serves as a displacement stop therefore. One or more of non-displaceable blades 34 may include beveled and/or serrated edges.
(21) Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, in one embodiment, drain closure 14 includes upper end 38 and lower end 40. Upper end 38 preferably includes knob 42, and lower end 40 preferably includes annular channel 44 for retaining seal member 46 (FIG. 1; e.g., gasket, O-ring, etcetera). Lower end 40 of drain closure 14 also includes threaded aperture 41 for releasable securement to drain shaft 16.
(22) Referring now to FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, in one embodiment, drain shaft 16 includes inner piston 48 and outer sleeve 50. It will be understood that inner piston 48 and outer sleeve 50 are mechanically slidable relative to one another. Inner piston 48 preferably includes upper end 52 having threads 54 for releasable securement with female threaded aperture 41 of lower end 40 of drain closure 14. Inner piston 48 also includes ball joint 56 proximate the midpoint. Lower end 58 of drain shaft 16 includes annular channel 60. It will be understood that a retaining ring may be positioned within annular channel 60 to preclude drain shaft 16 from sliding upward past lower end 28 of strainer body 12. For purposes of the present disclosure, upper end 52 of inner piston 48 is secured to lower end 40 of drain closure 14 and lower end 62 of outer sleeve 50 is secured to lower end 28 of strainer body 12. It will be understood that drain shaft 16 is displaceable between at least two positions, namely: a contracted position and an extended position, that correspond to open and closed drain closure positions, respectively. It will be understood that while drain shaft 16 has been disclosed, for illustrative purpose only, as comprising a displaceable, two-piece shaft, one piece shafts such as worm shafts, screw shafts, etcetera are likewise contemplated for use in accordance with the present inventionso long as linear and/or rotational displacement of the same facilitates rotational displacement of associated cutting blades.
(23) Referring now to FIGS. 1-13 collectively, in one embodiment, drain cleaner assembly 10 includes one or more displaceable blades 18. Displaceable blades 18 may be positioned proximate lower end 28 of strainer body 12 and/or may be positioned proximate upper end 26 of strainer body 12. As is best shown in FIGS. 10-13, displaceable blades 18 are preferably positioned within inner surface 22 of strainer body 12. Displaceable blades 18 preferably comprise and/or consist of four cross-pattern blades, which preferably include a central aperture for securement to drain shaft 16. One or more of displaceable blades 18 may include beveled and/or serrated edges.
(24) In one embodiment of the present invention, displaceable blades 18 are positioned above and contact non-displaceable blades 34 (FIG. 10-13). In another embodiment of the present invention, displaceable blades 18 are positioned below and contact non-displaceable blades 34 (not shown).
(25) In accordance with the present invention, displaceable blades 18 rotate upon linear displacement (e.g., upward and/or downward motion) of drain closure 14, and, in turn, drain shaft 16. In further accordance with the present invention, displaceable blades 18 rotate upon rotational displacement (e.g., twisting clockwise and/or counter clockwise) of drain closure 14, and, in turn, drain shaft 16.
(26) In operation, and after installation using conventional techniques, drain cleaner assembly 10 cuts drain debris (e.g., hair, paper products, etcetera) via displaceable blades 18 or via cooperation of displaceable blades 18 with non-displaceable blades 34. In particular, as drain closure 14 and, in turn, drain shaft 16 is manipulated up, down, clockwise, and/or counterclockwise displaceable blades 18 and non-displaceable blades 34 cooperate to cut drain debris with a scissor-type motion. Once cut, the drain debris is allowed to pass through the wastewater drainpipe thus avoiding the need to extract, for example, copious quantities of hair and the like from the drain. Notably, the drain is cleaned in the complete absence of hazardous, toxic, and/or undesirable chemicals.
(27) The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the invention, and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.
