Drain cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10239100-B2
Application number	US-201815953643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2018
Priority date	Dec 9, 2015
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A drain cleaner includes a shroud with a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end, a drum assembly positioned within the shroud and rotatable relative to the shroud, a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, and a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud. The handle assembly includes a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor. The actuator is enclosed between the grip and the shroud.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drain cleaner comprising:
a shroud including a closed end and an open end opposite the closed end;
a drum assembly positioned within the shroud, the drum assembly being rotatable relative to the shroud;
a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly; and
a handle assembly coupled to and extending rearwardly from the shroud, the handle assembly including a motor, a grip, and an actuator to selectively energize the motor, the actuator being positioned in an area defined between the grip and the shroud;
wherein the drum assembly encloses the flexible cable.

2. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism positioned within the handle assembly.

3. The drain cleaner of claim 2 , wherein the drive mechanism transfers rotation from the motor to the drum assembly.

4. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly includes a battery receptacle configured to receive a battery pack.

5. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the closed end of the shroud faces the handle assembly and the open end of the shroud faces away from the handle assembly.

6. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a base positioned beneath the shroud.

7. The drain cleaner of claim 6 , further comprising a light supported by the base, wherein the light is electrically coupled to the actuator such that the actuator is operable to selectively power the light.

8. The drain cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the area in which the actuator is positioned is further defined by the base.

9. The drain cleaner of claim 6 , wherein the base is a stand.

10. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the drum assembly includes an inner drum and a drum cover extending over an open forward end of the inner drum.

11. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the flexible cable is stored within a cavity defined by the inner drum and the drum cover.

12. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the drum assembly further includes a drum support that supports the inner drum.

13. The drain cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the inner drum, the drum cover, and the drum support rotate together.

14. The drain cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the inner drum is captured between the drum support and the drum cover.

15. The drain cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the drum cover is coupled to the drum support with fasteners.

16. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , further comprising a nose assembly forward of the drum assembly.

17. The drain cleaner of claim 16 , wherein the drum cover includes an extended portion that extends away from the drum assembly and into the nose assembly.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Banholzer Hans T
• Gainacopulos Nikos A
• Beierle Jacqueline J
• Kehoe Sean T
• Denissen Ryan James
• Miller Justin

Classifications

• B08B9/045 Primary

  the cleaning devices being rotated while moved {, e.g. flexible rotating shaft or "snake"}(B08B9/047 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2701/33

  Hollow or hose-like material · CPC title

• E03F9/005

  Apparatus for simultaneously pushing and rotating a cleaning device carried by the leading end of a cable or an assembly of rods · CPC title

• B65H75/364

  the stored material being coiled · CPC title

• B08B9/047 Primary

  the cleaning devices having {internal} motors {, e.g. turbines} for powering cleaning tools · CPC title