Drain cleaning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11512460-B2
Application number	US-202016811030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2020
Priority date	Apr 5, 2016
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A drain cleaning device includes a power unit and a drum assembly coupled to the power unit for rotation by the power unit. The drum assembly includes a base, a cable received in the base that is configured to be fed from the base and rotated to clean a drain, and a cover releasably coupleable to the base. The drum assembly includes a plurality of taper locks releasably coupling an outer peripheral portion of the cover and an outer peripheral portion of the base. Each of the taper locks is moveable between a locked position in which the cover is retained on the base and an unlocked position in which the cover is removable from the base. Each of the taper locks being biased toward the locked position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drain cleaning device comprising:
a power unit including a housing containing a motor;
a drum assembly coupled to the power unit for rotation by the motor, the drum assembly configured to receive a drum containing a cable;
a feed handle assembly coupled to the drum assembly and configured to receive the cable; and
a cable lock coupled to the feed handle assembly and having an engagement portion that includes at least a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, the engagement portion being movable among at least a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein (a) in the first position, the first stepped portion is configured to cause the cable lock to lock a first cable having a first diameter against being fed through the feed handle assembly, (b) in the second position, the second stepped portion is configured to cause the cable lock to lock a second cable having a second diameter against being fed through the feed handle assembly, the second diameter larger than the first diameter, and (c) in the third position, the cable lock is configured to allow the first cable and the second cable to be fed through the feed handle assembly.

2. The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein, in the second position, the cable lock is configured to allow the first cable to be fed through the feed handle assembly.

3. The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein the cable lock includes a sleeve positioned between an inner circumferential portion of the handle assembly and an outer circumferential portion of a guide portion of the drum.

4. The drain cleaning device of claim 3 , wherein the engagement portion is defined on an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve.

5. The drain cleaning device of claim 4 , wherein the cable lock further comprises a locking clamp coupled to the outer circumferential portion of the guide portion of the drum and configured to selectively engage with the engagement portion of the sleeve.

6. The drain cleaning device of claim 5 , wherein the locking clamp includes an inclined portion configured to selectively engage the engagement portion of the sleeve and a leg portion configured to extend into a hollow interior portion of the guide portion in response to engagement of the inclined portion with the engagement portion of the sleeve so as to selectively contact at least one of the first cable and the second cable in the guide portion.

7. The drain cleaning device of claim 6 , wherein the leg portion is configured to be fixed in place in engagement with at least one of the first cable and the second cable when the inclined portion of the locking clamp is engaged with one of the stepped portions.

8. The drain cleaning device of claim 7 , wherein the engagement portion includes a plurality of ramped portions alternately arranged with the stepped portions.

9. The drain cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein each of the stepped portions corresponds to the diameter of the cable to be received in the guide portion.

10. The drain cleaning device of claim 8 , wherein the leg portion is configured to extend into the guide portion as the inclined portion of the locking clamp moves along one of the ramped portions.

11. The drain cleaning device of claim 1 , wherein in the third position, the cable lock is configured to lock a third cable having a third diameter against being fed through the feed handle assembly, the third diameter larger than the second diameter.

12. The drain cleaning device of claim 11 , wherein the engagement portion is also movable to a fourth position in which the cable lock is configured to allow the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable to be fed through the feed handle assembly.

13. A drain cleaning device, comprising:
a power unit;
a drum assembly coupled to the power unit, the drum assembly including a drum containing a cable, the drum configured to be rotatably driven by the power unit;
a feed handle assembly coupled to the drum assembly and configured to receive the cable for feeding through the feed handle assembly; and
a cable locking mechanism including a locking clamp configured to selectively engage the cable, and an engagement portion including at least a first stepped portion and a second stepped portion, the engagement portion moveable among a plurality of positions including a first position in which the first stepped portion is configured to cause the locking clamp to lock a first cable having a first diameter against axial movement through the feed handle assembly, a second position in which the second stepped portion is configured to cause the locking clamp to lock a second cable having a second larger diameter against axial movement through the feed handle assembly while allowing axial movement of the first cable through the feed handle assembly, and a third position in which the locking clamp is configured to allow axial movement of the first cable and the second cable through the feed handle assembly.

14. The drain cleaning device of claim 13 , wherein the cable locking mechanism further comprises a sleeve coupled to the feed handle assembly, the stepped portions defined on an inner circumferential surface of the sleeve, each stepped portion having a different diameter corresponding to one of the plurality of positions, the sleeve being axially moveable among the plurality of positions.

15. The drain cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein the the first stepped portion has a first diameter that causes the locking clamp to engage the first cable when the sleeve is in the first position, the second stepped portion has a second diameter larger than the first diameter that causes the locking clamp to engage the second cable when the sleeve is in the second position, and the engagement portion further includes a third stepped portion having a third diameter larger than the second diameter such that the locking clamp does not engage the first cable or the second cable when the sleeve is in the third position.

16. The drain cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein the sleeve further comprises a plurality of ramped portions defined on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve and alternating with the stepped portions.

17. The drain cleaning device of claim 14 , wherein the locking clamp comprises a spring arm having an inclined portion extending radially outward from an axis of the cable and configured to be selectively engaged by the stepped portions, and a leg portion coupled to the inclined portion and extending radially inward into a hollow interior portion of the guide portion in response to engagement of the inclined portion by one of the stepped portions of the sleeve so as to selectively contact a cable in the guide portion.

18. The drain cleaning device of claim 13 , wherein, in the third position, the locking clamp is configured to lock a third cable having a third diameter against axial movement through the feed handle assembly, the third diameter larger than the second diameter.

19. The drain cleaning device of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of positions among which the engagement portion is moveable further includes a fourth position in which the locking clamp is configured to allow to allow axial movement of the first cable, the second cable, and the third cable through the feed handle assembly.

20. A method of using a drain cleaning device comprising:
providing a drain cleaning device having a power unit, a drum assembly configured to receive a cable, and a feed handle assembly coupled to the drum assemb

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Puzio Daniel
• Rudolph Scott M
• Cowart Jeffrey M
• Biser Joseph C

Classifications

• B08B9/045

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

• E03F9/005 Primary

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

• B08B9/0436

  provided with mechanical cleaning tools, e.g. scrapers, with or without additional fluid jets (B08B9/045, B08B9/047 take precedence) · CPC title