Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Having work engaging and force exerting portion inserted...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-17
2001-09-04
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Having work engaging and force exerting portion inserted...
C411S055000, C411S065000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282999
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is a tool useful for removing and installing plumbing parts and plumbing fixtures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various types of different plumbing tools have long been available for use in installing and removing various plumbing fixtures, such as bathtub and sink drains. One such device has been sold by Pasco Specialty and Manufacturing, Inc., located in Lynnwood, Calif., as the SMART DUMBELL drain and closet spud installation and removal tool. This tool is about six inches long and is formed of an aluminum bar having enlargements at both ends. Fingers project longitudinally from these enlargements and fit into openings between radial spokes in a tub or sink drain. With the bar positioned upright and with the fingers of the tool projecting in between the radial spokes of the drain, the hexagonal shank of the bar is twisted with a pipe wrench to install or removed the drain. This tool is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,754 and has performed quite admirably throughout the years. However, is limited for use with only certain models tub drains and closet spuds.
Another conventional plumbing drain installation and removal tool is sold by Elftmann Brothers, located in Phoenix, Ariz., as the Ultimate Bathtub Drain Extracter and Installer. This tool operates on the principle of an expandable wedge in which a plurality of leaves or shoes are forced radially outwardly over the outwardly flared end of an elongated core by advancing an internally threaded nut having internal left-hand threads defined thereon along a corresponding cylindrical portion of the core having external left-hand threads defined thereon. The shoes are held in contact with the core by a resilient rubber O-ring that encircles the shoes and seats in grooves in the outer surfaces of the shoes. Advancement of the a nut against a washer located beneath the nut causes the shoes to be forced radially outwardly so that they frictionally engage the cylindrical wall of the drain. Rotation of the core with a wrench in one direction causes the drain to become unthreaded from the drain pipe to which it is attached. Rotation of the core with a wrench in the other direction advances the drain into engagement in the drain pipe since the universal standard in the industry is for the threaded engagement of plumbing parts by means of right-hand threads.
One significant disadvantage of the Ultimate Bathtub Drain Extracter and Installer Tool is that it is relatively easy for the O-ring to break, thus allowing the shoes to become detached from the other parts of the tool. Moreover, the shoes are rather small and can easily fall down the drain when this occurs. Not only is the tool thereafter inoperable, but the drain line is quite likely to become clogged as well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention involves an improved tool that is useful not only for the installation and removal of tub and sink drains, but which is also useful for disconnecting other plumbing parts from each other and engaging them with each other. Different sizes and embodiments of the tool of the invention may be utilized to extract virtually any removable plumbing part that is engaged coaxially within an exterior cylindrical portion of a surrounding stationary plumbing part. For example, the tool of the invention can be utilized to remove a threaded pipe end broken off within an internally threaded elbow. It may also be utilized to remove or install an outer plumbing part disposed about another stationary plumbing part to which it is secured. For example, the tool of the invention can be used to remove a coupling from a plumbing drain line.
The plumbing tool of the invention has distinct advantages over conventional wedging type removal tools. Specifically, the tool of the invention employs a plurality of wedge elements which cannot accidentally become separated from the core and barrel components of the tool when the tool is in use.
In one broad aspect the present invention may be considered to be a plumbing tool comprising an elongated solid core element, a hollow, annular barrel element, and a plurality of wedge elements. The core element has a stud end, an intermediate cylindrical section bearing external right-hand threads, and an outwardly flared opposite end that increases in diameter with distance from the intermediate threaded cylindrical section. The barrel element is shorter than the core member and has an interior surface, one end of which has internal right-hand threads defined thereon. The other end of the barrel element has a radially inwardly directed lip defined thereon. The barrel element also has an annular, radially inwardly facing groove defined in its inner surface between the internal threads and the lip.
Each of the wedge elements has a proximal end with a radially outwardly projecting tang or hook formed thereon and a distal end having an arcuate, concave radially inwardly facing surface. The wedge elements are disposed about the core element in angular displacement from each other with all of their tangs engaged in the groove and captured between the barrel element and the core element by the annular lip. The wedge elements are thereby restrained from longitudinal movement relative to the barrel element, whereby the distal ends of the wedge elements are coupled to the lip for limited radial rotational movement relative thereto.
Preferably, the distal ends of the wedge elements have convex, outwardly facing arcuate surfaces, and each of the wedge elements has an arcuate cross-sectional configuration. Each of the wedge elements preferably has an arcuate groove defined at its proximal end in its outwardly facing surface to receive the lip therein.
Preferably also the radial thickness of the distal ends of the wedge elements decreases with increasing distance from their proximal ends and from the stud end of the core element. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a total of three wedge elements are employed and the flared end of the core element has a frustoconical shape.
In another aspect, the invention may be considered to be a plumbing tool comprising a solid core member, a hollow barrel member, and a plurality of elongated wedge members. The core member is formed with a part-engaging end section, a cylindrical intermediate section with external right-hand threads defined thereon, and a stud section having a maximum cross-sectional dimension no greater than the diameter of the cylindrical section. The diameter of the part-engaging section increases from the intermediate section with distance from the stud section. The barrel member is shorter than the core member and has a core-engaging end with a radial inner surface having internal right-hand threads defined thereon.
The core-engaging section is threadably engaged with the threaded section of the core. The barrel member also has an opposite wedge-engaging end with a radial inner surface having a radially inwardly projecting annular lip at its extremity and a channel formed in the radial inner surface of the wedge-engaging end. The channel is located between the lip and the core-engaging end of the barrel member. A plurality of elongated wedge members are disposed in angular displacement from each other about the core member. Each of the wedge members has a hooked proximal end that extends radially outwardly and is captured in the channel by the lip between the core member and the barrel member.
Preferably the distal end of each wedge member has an arcuate, concave, radially inwardly facing surface and is tapered in thickness so that the thickness of the distal end of each wedge member decreases with distance from the proximal end. Preferably also, the barrel member has an exterior surface with gripping tool-engaging flats defined thereon to receive a gripping tool, such as a wrench.
The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1180758 (1916-04-01), Brekke et al.
patent: 2497633 (1950-02-01), Shapiro e
Gillen Lawrence P.
Hite Michael J.
Pasco Specialty & Mfg. Co., Inc.
Smith James G.
Thomas Charles H.
Thomas David B.
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