Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Obstruction remover – Connected to a source of external fluid under pressure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-02-13
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Obstruction remover
Connected to a source of external fluid under pressure
C004S255080, C251S324000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185755
ABSTRACT:
This application relates to apparatus for flushing drain pipes of wash basins, sinks, showers, baths and the like which have a readily accessible open end.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
It is well known that drain pipes of wash basins, sinks, showers, baths and the like, such as floor drains, may become partially or completely blocked from time to time by material which has entered the drain pipe of a sink, bath or the like. Many different kinds of apparatus have been proposed for unblocking such drain pipes, particularly those having an accessible open end. For example, there is a well known plunger which has a rubber-like bell member which is placed over the open end of the blocked drain pipe, the bell member having a handle which enables the bell member to be moved up and down to apply pressure to blocked liquid in the pipe. However, it is frequently not possible to unblock a pipe with such a plunger because it does not enable a sufficient pressure to be applied. Another kind of apparatus for unblocking pipes is inserted into the blocked pipe and held therein by hydraulic pressure, with liquid under pressure being supplied from a convenient source, such as an adjacent faucet, through the apparatus to the blocking material. A problem with such apparatus is that it is usually not suitable for use by the average person but requires operation by a professional.
Such drains pipes, although not blocked, may also retain bacteria or other undesirable matter which it would be desirable to flush away.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide drain flushing apparatus which is readily operated by an average person to clear a blocked drain pipe and/or to flush undesirable matter therefrom.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention, apparatus for flushing a drain pipe with an accessible open end includes a valve assembly with a hollow body connectable to a source of liquid under pressure for the supply of liquid under pressure to the interior of the hollow body, the hollow body having an open end positionable in communication with an open end of a drain pipe. A valve member is mounted for sliding movement in the valve body between a closed position in which the valve member prevents flow of liquid under pressure from a source thereof through the hollow body to the open end thereof, and an open position in which the valve member permits flow of liquid from the source thereof through the hollow body to the open end thereof, the valve member having an actuating portion projecting from an opposite end of the hollow body, and spring means biasing the valve member towards the closed position.
The actuating portion of the valve member is manually engageable to move the valve member by manual pressure to the open position against the action of the spring, when the open end of the hollow body has been positioned over the open end of a drain pipe and the hollow body has been connected to a source of fluid under pressure, whereby the valve assembly is held against the open end of the drain pipe by said manual pressure and liquid under pressure from the source thereof flows through the hollow body into the drain pipe to flush undesirable matter therefrom and/or to dislodge blocking material in the pipe.
The valve assembly may also include an annular adaptor mountable on the open end of the hollow valve body, the adaptor having a larger diameter tubular end portion engageable with the exterior of the open end of the hollow valve body, and a smaller diameter opposite end portion engageable with the open end of the hollow valve body.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1314261 (1919-08-01), Griesche
patent: 2036614 (1936-07-01), Tharp
patent: 2490422 (1949-12-01), Denison
patent: 4144598 (1979-03-01), Li
patent: 4320539 (1982-03-01), Li
patent: 5064168 (1991-11-01), Raines et al.
patent: 5228646 (1993-07-01), Raines
patent: 5524296 (1996-06-01), Leighton
Parson Glenn J.
Shepherd Charles G.
Shepherd Marjorie E.
Delbridge Robert F.
Prunner Kathleen J.
Recla Henry J.
Shepherd Marjorie E.
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