Drain cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9884353-B2
Application number	US-201715426762-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2015
Publication date	Feb 6, 2018
Grant date	Feb 6, 2018

Abstract

A drain cleaner includes a handle assembly having a grip, a motor positioned within the handle assembly, and an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the grip. The actuator is electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor. The drain cleaner also includes a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end adjacent the handle assembly. The drain cleaner further includes a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud. The drum assembly is operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud. The drain cleaner also includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The flexible cable is configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drain cleaner comprising:
a handle assembly including a grip;
a motor supported by the handle assembly;
an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the grip, the actuator electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor;
a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly, the shroud being generally cup-shaped and including a closed end facing the handle assembly and an open end facing away from the handle assembly;
a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud, the drum assembly operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud; and
a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, wherein the drum assembly encloses the flexible cable, the flexible cable configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain.

2. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the drum assembly is exposed at the open end of the shroud.

3. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising an outer shield fixed to the shroud at the open end, wherein the shroud and the outer shield completely enclose the drum.

4. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a drive mechanism supported by the handle assembly and coupled to the motor, wherein the drum assembly includes an inner drum supporting the flexible cable and a drum support positioned around the inner drum, and wherein the drum support is coupled to the drive mechanism to transmit rotation of the motor to the drum assembly.

5. The drain cleaner of claim 4 , wherein the inner drum includes an open forward end, and wherein the drum assembly further includes a drum cover coupled to the drum support and extending over the open forward end of the inner drum.

6. The drain cleaner of claim 5 , wherein the drum cover is coupled to the drum support with threaded fasteners.

7. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the handle assembly includes a stand positioned beneath a center of gravity of the drain cleaner.

8. The drain cleaner of claim 7 , wherein the stand includes a generally planar surface extending beneath the motor and the shroud.

9. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a light supported by the handle assembly between the shroud and the stand, wherein the light is electrically coupled to the actuator such that the actuator is operable to selectively power the light.

10. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the shroud includes a carrying handle extending from an upper surface of the shroud toward the handle assembly.

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

12. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a nose assembly positioned forward of the shroud, wherein a portion of the drum assembly extends into the nose assembly, and wherein the nose assembly provides a second grip.

13. The drain cleaner of claim 12 , wherein the nose assembly includes a lock mechanism and is slidable toward and away from the drum assembly to selectively lock and unlock the flexible cable.

14. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein a sidewall of the shroud extending forwardly from the closed end is solid.

15. A drain cleaner comprising:
a handle assembly including a first grip;
a motor supported by the handle assembly;
a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly, the shroud being generally cup-shaped and including a closed end facing the handle assembly and an open end facing away from the handle assembly;
a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud, the drum assembly operable to be rotated by the motor relative to the handle assembly and the shroud;
a nose assembly positioned forward of the shroud, wherein a portion of the drum assembly extends into the nose assembly, the nose assembly including a second grip; and
a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, wherein the drum assembly encloses the flexible cable, the flexible cable configured to be extended out of the drum assembly through the nose assembly and into a drain.

16. The drain cleaner of claim 15 , wherein a sidewall of the shroud extending forwardly from the closed end is solid.

17. The drain cleaner of claim 16 , wherein the shroud includes an open end facing away from the handle assembly.

18. The drain cleaner of claim 15 , wherein the handle assembly includes a battery receptacle configured to receive a power tool battery pack.

19. A drain cleaner comprising:
a handle assembly including a first grip and a battery receptacle configured to couple to a power tool battery pack;
a motor and a drive mechanism at least partially supported by the handle assembly;
an actuator supported by the handle assembly adjacent the first grip, the actuator electrically coupled to the motor and the battery receptacle and operable to selectively energize the motor;
a shroud fixed to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly, the shroud being generally cup-shaped and including a closed end facing the handle assembly and an open end facing away from the handle assembly;
a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud, the drum assembly operable to be rotated by the motor and the drive mechanism relative to the handle assembly and the shroud;
a nose assembly positioned forward of the shroud, wherein a portion of the drum assembly extends into the nose assembly, the nose assembly including a second grip; and
a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly, wherein the drum assembly encloses the flexible cable, the flexible cable configured to be extended out of the drum assembly through the nose assembly and into a drain.

Assignees

• Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp

Inventors

• Banholzer Hans T
• Mo Celene K
• Gainacopulos Nikos A
• Beierle Jacqueline J
• Corbat Jeffrey
• Kehoe Sean T
• Denissen Ryan James
• Miller Justin

Classifications

• B65H75/364

  the stored material being coiled · 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

• B08B9/047 Primary

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

• B08B9/045 Primary

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