Modular guide hose system for sanitary tools

Abstract

A drain cleaning system comprising: a drain cleaning device (10) including a rotatable drum (40), a flexible drain cleaning cable (14) and means (80) for selectively advancing or retracting the cable (14) relative to the drum (40); a first two-ended flexible guide hose (110a), one end of which is coupled to the device (10) and positioned to receive the cable (14) upon forward movement out of the drum (40); a second two-ended flexible guide tube (110b), one end of which is selectively and detachably coupled to the other end of the first guide tube (110a) by frictional engagement between contacting contact areas; wherein the frictional engagement between contacting contact areas is provided by a male coupling element (112b) on one of the first and second guide tubes (110a, 110b) and a corresponding female coupling element (114a) on the other of the first and second guide tubes (110a, 110b).

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62 / 310014 filed March 18, 2016. AREA

[0002] The present subject matter relates to a modular or detachable guide hose system for plumbing tools, such as a drain cleaning tool. The present subject matter also relates to plumbing tools, and particularly to drain cleaning tools utilizing the modular guide hose system. BACKGROUND

[0003] Plumbing tools that feature a flexible drain cleaning cable or "snake" typically use a guide tube that surrounds the drain cleaning cable and usually runs the length of the cable. Guide tubes surround the drain cleaning cable and prevent water and / or debris from the drain or plumbing system from coming into contact with the user, which could otherwise occur when retracting the cable into the tool. Guide tubes also protect the drain cleaning cable from accidental contact with objects or the environment. Guide tubes also provide protection for the user from the drain cleaning cable, which can move rapidly or potentially kink, or which can become twisted in large sections during use.

[0004] Although generally useful and advantageous, guide tubes limit the flexibility of a plumbing tool and / or its application. As is understandable, almost every job site is unique and imposes different requirements on the user, such as the length of the cable and therefore the required guide tube. Therefore, a new strategy and system is needed that significantly improves the flexibility and application of plumbing tools using guide tubes.

[0005] Document US 6,655,228 B1 discloses a bidirectional power supply for use with handheld drills or stationary, frame-mounted power sources. The device comprises a housing, two pairs of wheel bearings rotatably mounted on the housing, a cap rotatably mounted on the housing, and a preload bearing rotatably mounted on the cap.

[0006] The invention is defined in the independent claims. In the following, the parts of the description and the drawings relating to aspects not covered by the claims are not presented as aspects of the invention, but rather as background knowledge or examples useful for understanding the invention.

[0007] The difficulties and disadvantages associated with previous approaches are addressed in the present article as follows.

[0008] In one aspect, the present subject matter provides a drain cleaning system comprising a drain cleaning device with a rotatable drum, a flexible drain cleaning cable, and provisions for selectively advancing or retracting the cable relative to the drum. The drain cleaning system further includes a first flexible guide hose coupled to the device and positioned to receive the cable upon forward movement from the drum. The drain cleaning system also includes a second flexible guide hose selectively coupled to the first guide hose.

[0009] In another aspect, the present subject matter provides a drain cleaning system comprising a drain cleaning device with a powered rotatable drum and a flexible drain cleaning cable. The drain cleaning system further includes a flexible guide hose coupled to the device and positioned to receive the cable upon forward movement from the drum. The drain cleaning system also includes provisions for selectively advancing or retracting the cable relative to the drum, the provisions being selectively coupleable to a distal end of the hose.

[0010] A drain cleaning system may also be provided that includes a drain cleaning device with a driven drum and a flexible drain cleaning cable. The drain cleaning system may further include a first flexible guide hose for receiving the cable, which is connected to the device. The drain cleaning system also includes a second flexible guide hose that is selectively connectable to the first guide hose.

[0011] As will be apparent, the subject matter described herein may be embodied in other and different embodiments, and its numerous details may be modified in various respects, all without departing from the subject matter claimed. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a drain cleaning tool having a modular guide tube system according to the present subject matter. Fig. 2 is a side view of the drain cleaning tool and modular guide hose system used in Fig. 1 is shown. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the drain cleaning tool of Fig. 1 with another configuration of a modular guide tube system according to the present subject matter. Fig. 4 is a side view of the drain cleaning tool and modular guide hose system used in Fig. 3 is shown. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the drain cleaning tool of Fig. 1 with another configuration of a modular guide tube system according to the present subject matter. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the drain cleaning tool of Fig. 1 with yet another configuration of a modular guide tube system according to the present subject matter. Fig. 7 to 10 illustrate details of one embodiment of a modular guide tube system according to the present subject matter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0012] The present subject matter provides a modular guide hose system for plumbing tools. In many embodiments, the modular guide hose system includes provisions for selectively advancing or retracting a drain cleaning cable. Such provisions are typically in the form of an advance mechanism or advance control device, or an "auto-advance," that can be selectively coupled at any point along a collection of modular guide hoses connected together to form a continuous length of guide hose. The system is particularly suitable for use with rotary or drum drain cleaners.

[0013] The present invention also provides a guide hose and / or a corresponding collection of guide hoses used to shield a cable from the outside environment while operating a drain cleaning device. With an automatic feed at the end of the guide hose, the device can be positioned at a desired distance from the inlet of the drain to be cleaned, giving the user greater flexibility.

[0014] When using a fixed-length guide hose, the user is limited to a setup that may not be the most efficient or ergonomic for the job. The environment often dictates where the fixture is positioned relative to the drain inlet. If the fixture is close to the drain, a long hose becomes cumbersome for the user, and the added friction between the cable and the guide hose creates more work for the user and on the fixture. The current article provides a sectional guide hose system that allows the user to customize the fixture for the application. A short hose can be used in cases where the drain and fixture are close together, and a longer hose can be used when the fixture and drain are farther apart.

[0015] The guide tube is attached to the front of the device and remains stationary while the cable rotates within it. A feed mechanism is attached to the end of the guide tube, allowing the operator to push or pull the cable into or out of the drum. This guide tube shields the rotating cable from the operator. The guide tube also helps keep the work area clean by containing any material brought back by the cable.

[0016] A modular guide tube allows the user to better adapt the guide tube to the application. In certain embodiments of the present subject matter, a short guide tube remains fixed to the advancement mechanism. The opposite end of the guide tube has a female connection connectable to the device housing. An additional guide tube is equipped with a female connection connectable to the housing at one end. The opposite end of the guide tube has the same male coupling as the housing to connect to the guide tube attached to the advancement mechanism. The present subject matter includes opposite configurations of male and female connections.

[0017] The length of the guide tube on the feed mechanism is designed to accommodate situations where the drain and fixture are in close proximity. Additional extension guide tubes allow for situations where the drain and fixture are further apart. Several additional guide tubes can be added to the system to optimize the fixture setup for any given situation.

[0018] Additional aspects or embodiments of the present subject matter allow the feed mechanism to be mounted directly to the housing without the guide hose. These embodiments also include the ability to mount a guide hose extension to the front of the feed mechanism to provide even more flexibility for the drain cleaning process. Adjustments can be made to allow the feed mechanism to be mounted in the middle of two guide hoses or at other intermediate locations.

[0019] A significant advantage of this device is that it allows flexibility for the user. By optimizing the hose configuration for the specific situation or application, both the device and the user benefit. When the minimum amount of guide hose is used, there is less friction between the guide hose and the cable. Lower friction reduces the effort the user must exert on the feed mechanism and reduces the stress on the cable and drive train.

[0020] There are additional advantages to the modular guide tube system. By reducing the length of the guide tube, the user can utilize the additional cable length that would otherwise be contained in a guide tube. The space required by the device can also be reduced by using the optimal length of guide tube.

[0021] Fig. 1-6 illustrate one embodiment of a drum-type drain cleaner 10 having a modular guide hose system 100 in accordance with the present subject matter. The cleaner 10 generally includes a housing 20, one or more base members 30 along a lower portion of the housing for contacting a floor or subsurface, a rotatably driven drum 40 disposed within an outer drum housing 50, and a drum cover 70. The housing 20 provides a support ledge 22 configured to engage an edge 71 of the drum cover 70 and, in certain embodiments, sealingly engage the edge 71 of the drum cover 70. As can be seen, a drain cleaning cable 14 is at least partially housed or supported by the drum 40 and the outer drum housing 50.Rotation of the drum 40 in conjunction with means for advancing or retracting the drain cleaning cable, such as a cable feed device, results in the cable 14 being released from the drum assembly 40, 50 or retracted into the drum assembly.

[0022] The housing 20 generally includes a motor (not shown), which is typically an electrically driven motor having a rotary output for providing driven rotation of the drum 40 and associated components. Also provided is a handle 24 formed with and / or integrally with the housing 20, which in many embodiments extends over a center of gravity of the cleaner 10 to facilitate carrying or lifting of the cleaner 10 by a user. The housing 20 may also include a tub 26 or other housing container with a drain or removable plug 28. The tub 26 is typically formed as a lowermost enclosed portion of the housing 20 disposed below the drum 40, which serves to collect moisture, water, and dirt.The drain 28 facilitates the removal of moisture, water and / or dirt from the tub 26 and in particular from an interior region of the tub 26.

[0023] The drain cleaner 10 typically additionally includes one or more controllers and / or actuators 34 for controlling or monitoring the operation of the cleaner. The drain cleaner 10 may optionally include a cord rewind device 38. In certain embodiments, the drain cleaner 10 may also include one or more provisions for providing feedback to a user, such as lights and / or gauges (not shown).

[0024] As will be understood, the drum 40 is rotatably driven by the motor and is typically configured in the shape of a spool or cylinder. However, the present subject matter contemplates the use of other drum configurations, such as an open frame carriage, polygonal configurations, and the like.

[0025] The drain cleaner 10 also includes the noted outer drum housing 50. The outer drum housing 50 defines a front face 52, a rearwardly extending circumferential wall 56, and in many embodiments, an arcuate wall 54 extending between the front face 52 and the circumferential wall 56. In many embodiments, the outer drum housing 50 defines one or more openings 58 that allow visual inspection of the drum 40 and / or a drain cleaning cable 14. The outer drum housing 50 illustrated in the noted figures is an example of an open drum housing. In certain embodiments of the outer drum housing 50, the housing defines at least two openings 58, at least three openings, at least four openings, at least five openings, and certain embodiments, six or more openings.The present subject matter includes the use of one or more viewing windows instead of or in addition to the mentioned openings.

[0026] The drain cleaner 10 also includes a drum cover 70. The drum cover 70 may optionally include at least one open area, such as an opening, to thereby allow visual inspection of the outer drum shell 50 through the drum cover 70. However, in many embodiments, the drum cover 70 is free of any open areas and instead includes a transparent or visually clear area(s) to allow viewing of the outer drum shell 50 through the drum cover 70. As can be appreciated, if one or more openings were present in both the drum cover and the outer drum shell, water and / or debris would not be retained within the machine. The drum cover 70 includes a front face 72, a rearwardly extending circumferential wall 76, and one or more wall areas extending between the front face 72 and the circumferential wall 76.In certain embodiments, the one or more wall portions include a first conical wall 74a extending generally from and disposed immediately along the front face 72, a second conical wall 74b extending generally from and disposed immediately along the circumferential wall 76, and a connecting annular wall portion 75 extending between the first conical wall 74a and the second conical wall 74b. It should be understood that the present subject matter is in no way limited to drum covers such as the cover 70 having the particular configuration described. Rather, the present subject matter contemplates a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and configurations of the drum cover 70.

[0027] The drain cleaner 10 also includes a cable connector 90 through which the drain cleaning cable 14 is accessed. Typically, the connector 90 is concentrically arranged and aligned with a rotational axis of the drum 40.

[0028] The drum cover 70 is removably attached to the housing 20 or other components of the drain cleaner 10 by one or more cover attachment devices such as 84 shown in the referenced figures.

[0029] The modular guide tube system 100 generally includes at least one flexible tube section 110 and a cable feeder 80. One or more tube sections 110 typically extend between the cable connector 90 and the cable feeder 80. Each tube section 110 defines a proximal end 112 and an opposite distal end 114, in which the proximal end is located closer to the drain cleaner 10 than the distal end. Thus, with reference to the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 comprises a tube section 110 having a proximal end 112 connected to the cable connector 90 and an opposite distal end 114 connected to the cable feed device 80. In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the hose section 110 is relatively short and shorter than that shown in Fig. 5 illustrated hose section 110. With reference to the Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, for example, the guide tube system 100 includes a first tube section 110a having a proximal end 112a connected to the cable connector 90, and an opposite distal end 114a connected to a proximal end 112b of a second tube section 110b. The second tube section 110b defines an opposite distal end 114b connected to the cable delivery device 80. In the guide tube system 100 shown in FIG. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, the second hose section 110b is relatively short in length and shorter than the second, in Fig. 6 shown hose section 110b.

[0030] The tubing sections such as 110, 110a, and 110b are flexible and thus not rigid or otherwise designed to generally maintain their shape. Instead, the flexible tubing sections are pliable and can easily assume a variety of different shapes without breaking or cracking their wall(s). The tubing sections, although flexible, are configured to maintain a circular cross-sectional shape and not excessively deform, especially during use.

[0031] The present subject matter also encompasses configurations of the guide hose system 100 in which the cable delivery device 80 is disposed between hose sections, such as the first hose section 110a and the second hose section 110b. The present subject matter also encompasses configurations of the guide hose system 100 in which the cable delivery device 80 is disposed immediately adjacent to the drain cleaner 10 and between the drain cleaner 10 and one or more hose sections. And the present subject matter encompasses guide hose systems 100 that include more than two guide hose sections, i.e., three, four, five, or more. In such systems, the cable delivery device 80 may be disposed between any two adjacent hose sections, immediately adjacent to the drain cleaner 10, or at the distal end of the most distal hose section.

[0032] Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 illustrate a detailed selective connection between, for example, a first tubing section 110a and a second tubing section 110b, according to the present subject matter. In this embodiment, the distal end 114a of the first tubing section 110a includes an axial projection 116 defining an open end or opening 117. The proximal end 112b of the second tubing section 110b defines a receiving portion sized and shaped to snugly receive and connect the axial projection 116. Upon insertion of the projection 116 into the receiving portion, the first and second tubing sections 110a and 110b are releasably coupled together. Typically, the frictional engagement between the contact portions is sufficient to hold or retain the tubing sections together until a user separates the tubing sections.However, the present subject matter encompasses the use of other connecting or retention assemblies, such as mechanical assemblies, releasable latches and / or detents.

[0033] Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 illustrate another selective connection between, for example, a first hose section 110a and a second hose section 110b. The first hose section 110a defines a distal end 114a that defines a receiving portion 118 sized and shaped to snugly receive and connect with an axial projection 116 of the second hose section 110b. The ends 114a and 112b define openings 117a and 117b, respectively, which provide access to a hollow interior portion defined along the length of each hose section. As will be understood, the drain cleaning cable 14 is disposed within the hollow interior portion(s) defined in the hose section(s).

[0034] Although the present subject matter is described herein in connection with a motor-driven drum-type drain cleaner, it is understood that the present subject matter may be used in connection with manually powered plumbing tools using flexible drain cleaning cables and other types of motor-driven drain cleaners.

[0035] The tubing section(s) may also be configured such that the ends, such as a proximal end and / or a distal end, are adapted to be coupled to a cable delivery device 80. The coupling is selectively releasable until, for example, a user detaches one or more tubing sections from the cable delivery device 80.

[0036] Many more benefits will undoubtedly become apparent from the future application and development of this technology.

[0037] The present subject matter encompasses all operative combinations of features and aspects described herein. For example, if one feature is described in connection with one embodiment and another feature is described in connection with another embodiment, it is understood that the present subject matter encompasses embodiments having a combination of these features.

[0038] As described above, the present subject matter solves many problems associated with prior strategies, systems, and / or devices. However, it should be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of components described and illustrated herein to explain the nature of the present subject matter may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed subject matter as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

[1] A drain cleaning system comprising: a drain cleaning device (10) including a rotatable drum (40), a flexible drain cleaning cable (14) and means (80) for selectively advancing or retracting the cable (14) relative to the drum (40); a first two-ended flexible guide hose (110a), one end of which is coupled to the device (10) and positioned to receive the cable (14) upon forward movement out of the drum (40); a second two-ended flexible guide tube (110b), one end of which is selectively and detachably coupled to the other end of the first guide tube (110a) by frictional engagement between contacting contact areas; wherein the frictional engagement between contacting contact areas is provided by a male coupling element (112b) on one of the first and second guide tubes (110a, 110b) and a corresponding female coupling element (114a) on the other of the first and second guide tubes (110a, 110b). [2] The drain cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable drum (40) is electrically driven and wherein the drain cleaning device (10) has a cable connection (90) through which the drain cleaning cable (14) is accessible. [3] A drain cleaning system comprising: a drain cleaning device (10) having a rotatable drum (40) and a flexible drain cleaning cable (14) extendable from the drum (40); a modular guide hose system (100) comprising a plurality of flexible double-ended guide hose sections, one of the ends (112a) of a first (110a) of the plurality of flexible double-ended guide hose sections being connected to the drain cleaning device (10), the first (110a) of the plurality of flexible guide hose sections being positioned to receive the drain cleaning cable (14) advanced from the reel (40); wherein one of the ends (112b) of a second (110b) of the plurality of flexible double-ended guide tube sections is selectively and releasably coupled to the other end (114a) of the first (110a) of the flexible double-ended guide tube sections by frictional engagement of contact areas therebetween; wherein the frictional engagement of the contacting contact areas is provided by a male coupling element (112b) on one of the first and second guide tube sections (110b) of the plurality of flexible guide tube sections with two ends and a corresponding female coupling element (114a) on the other of the first and second guide tube sections (110a) of the plurality of flexible guide tube sections with two ends. [4] The drain cleaning system of claim 3, wherein the modular guide hose system (100) comprises three flexible double-ended guide hose sections. [5] The drain cleaning system according to claim 3, wherein the modular guide hose system (100) comprises four flexible double-ended guide hose sections. [6] The drain cleaning system of claim 3, wherein the modular guide hose system (100) comprises five flexible double-ended guide hose sections. [7] The drain cleaning system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the rotatable drum (40) is electrically driven and wherein the drain cleaning device (10) has a cable connection (90) through which the drain cleaning cable (14) is accessible. [8] The drain cleaning system of claim 7, wherein the modular guide hose system (100) comprises a cable feed device (80), wherein one or more of the plurality of flexible double-ended guide hose sections extend between the cable connector (90) and the cable feed device (80).

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