Drain cleaner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975154-B1
Application number	US-201815862360-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2018
Priority date	Dec 9, 2015
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 2018

Abstract

A drain cleaner includes a handle assembly with a grip, a motor supported by the handle assembly, and a shroud coupled to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly. The shroud includes a closed end facing the handle assembly and an open end facing away from the handle assembly. The drain cleaner also 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 further includes a flexible cable stored within the drum assembly. The drum assembly encloses the flexible cable.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drain cleaner comprising:
a handle assembly including a grip;
a motor supported by the handle assembly;
a shroud coupled to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly, the shroud 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.

2. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , wherein the shroud is generally cup-shaped.

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

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

5. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising a nose assembly positioned forward of the open end of the shroud.

6. The drain cleaner of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator supported by the handle assembly, the actuator electrically coupled to the motor and operable to selectively energize the motor.

7. The drain cleaner of claim 6 , further comprising a stand positioned beneath the shroud.

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

9. A system comprising:
the drain cleaner of claim 1 ; and
a storage container including
a bucket that receives the drain cleaner, the bucket including a bottom and a sidewall extending upward from the bottom, the sidewall defining an inner perimeter, and
an insert positioned within the bucket, the insert including
a base disposed on the bottom of the bucket, the base including an outer perimeter that is sized and shaped to correspond to the inner perimeter of the sidewall of the bucket, and
a plurality of projections extending upwardly from the base, the plurality of projections engaging a portion of the drain cleaner to support the drain cleaner above the bottom of the bucket.

10. A drain cleaner comprising:
a handle assembly including a grip;
a shroud coupled to and extending from the handle assembly, the shroud including a closed end adjacent the handle assembly;
a drum assembly rotatably coupled to the handle assembly and positioned within the shroud, the drum assembly including an inner drum supporting a flexible cable, a drum support positioned around the inner drum, and a drum cover coupled to the drum support; and
a motor coupled to the drum support and operable to rotate the drum assembly relative to the handle assembly.

11. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the inner drum includes an open forward end.

12. The drain cleaner of claim 11 , wherein the drum cover extends over the open forward end.

13. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the closed end of the shroud is facing the handle assembly, and wherein the shroud further includes an open end facing away from the handle assembly.

14. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , further comprising a drive mechanism positioned at least partially within the handle assembly, wherein the drive mechanism couples the motor to the drum support.

15. The drain cleaner of claim 10 , wherein the drum cover encloses the flexible cable within the drum assembly.

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

17. The drain cleaner of claim 16 , wherein a portion of the drum cover extends into the nose assembly.

18. A drain cleaner comprising:
a handle assembly including a first grip;
a motor supported by the handle assembly;
a shroud coupled to and extending forwardly from the handle assembly, the shroud including a closed end adjacent 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 slidable nose assembly positioned forward of the shroud, the slidable nose assembly including a second grip; and
a flexible cable enclosed within the drum assembly, the flexible cable configured to be extended out of the drum assembly and into a drain.

19. The drain cleaner of claim 18 , wherein the slidable nose assembly includes a locking mechanism.

20. The drain cleaner of claim 19 , wherein the slidable nose assembly is slidable to a first position where the locking mechanism locks the flexible cable and a second position where the flexible cable is unlocked.

21. The drain cleaner of claim 18 , wherein the shroud includes an open end facing away from the handle assembly, the open end being rearward of the nose assembly.

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

• 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

• B65H2701/33

  Hollow or hose-like material · CPC title

• B65H75/364

  the stored material being coiled · 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

• B08B9/047 Primary

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