Pipe Cleanout System

This invention relates generally to a pipe clean-out device and more particularly to a method of using a pipe clean-out device.

Pipes, particularly household drain pipes get easily clogged. A cup or flange plunger is commonly used to remove pipe blockages in kitchens and bathrooms by physically plunging and loosening a clog. A manual drain snake may also be used to unclog a clogged drain or toilet by physically pushing through a clog. Further issues arise in drain pipes that are clogged in a location that is difficult to reach with a drain snake. In these situations, high pressure water, through a process called hydro jetting, may be utilized to clear the clog. This is a costly repair and does not always yield the results desired.

Accordingly, there is a need for an easy to use and simplified device for unclogging drains without the extensive manual and/or physical labor.

The present invention relates to a pipe clean-out device and method of using a pipe clean-out device. The pipe clean-out device creates a seal on a drain. The pipe clean-out device may be attached to a wet or wet/dry vacuum in order to remove a clog from the drain pipe. The pipe clean-out device may also be attached to an air compressor in order to dislodge a clog in the drain pipe.

An embodiment includes a pipe clean-out device comprising: an elongate tubular member having an outer cylindrical wall surface and an inner cylindrical wall surface; a frustoconical stopper member having an inner cylindrical wall portion, wherein the inner cylindrical wall portion is secured to an end portion about the outer cylindrical wall surface of the elongate tubular member; and an outer frustoconical wall portion provided on the frustoconical stopper member, wherein the outer frustoconical wall portion is provided with a primary outer frustoconical wall portion and a secondary outer frustoconical wall portion.

The end portion may be a first end portion and a tubular adapter member may be received within a second end portion of the elongate tubular member. The tubular adapter member may be provided with a first cylindrical end portion and a second cylindrical end portion. An angled step portion may be provided between the first cylindrical end portion and the second cylindrical end portion. An outer annular flange portion may be provided about the second cylindrical end portion. The frustoconical stopper member may be a first frustoconical stopper member and a second frustoconical stopper member may be provided on a tubular adapter assembly. The second frustoconical stopper member may be received within a second end portion of the elongate tubular member. The elongate tubular member may be a first elongate tubular member and the tubular adapter assembly may be provided with a second elongate tubular member. A spherical cover member having inner and outer spherical surfaces may be provided on the second elongate tubular member. A tubular wall portion may be extended from the outer spherical surface of the spherical cover member and may receive the second elongate tubular member therein.

Another embodiment includes a method of using a pipe clean-out device comprising: placing a pipe clean-out device in a drain hole of a drain pipe, wherein the pipe clean-out device comprises an elongate tubular member having an outer cylindrical wall surface and an inner cylindrical wall surface; a frustoconical stopper member having an inner cylindrical wall portion, wherein the inner cylindrical wall portion is secured to a first end portion about the outer cylindrical wall surface of the elongate tubular member; and an outer frustoconical wall portion provided on the frustoconical stopper member, wherein the outer frustoconical wall portion is provided with a primary outer frustoconical wall portion and a secondary outer frustoconical wall portion; attaching a tubular adapter member to the pipe clean-out device, wherein the tubular adapter member is received within a second end portion of the elongate tubular member; attaching a wet or wet/dry vacuum to the tubular adapter member; and drawing a vacuum through the pipe clean-out device and tubular adapter member to remove a clog in the drain pipe.

The tubular adapter member may be provided with a first cylindrical end portion and a second cylindrical end portion. An angled step portion may be provided between the first cylindrical end portion and the second cylindrical end portion. An outer annular flange portion may be provided about the second cylindrical end portion.

A further embodiment includes a method of using a pipe clean-out device comprising: placing a pipe clean-out device in a drain hole of a drain pipe, wherein the pipe clean-out device comprises an elongate tubular member having an outer cylindrical wall surface and an inner cylindrical wall surface; a frustoconical stopper member having an inner cylindrical wall portion, wherein the inner cylindrical wall portion is secured to a first end portion about the outer cylindrical wall surface of the elongate tubular member; and an outer frustoconical wall portion provided on the frustoconical stopper member, wherein the outer frustoconical wall portion is provided with a primary outer frustoconical wall portion and a secondary outer frustoconical wall portion; attaching a tubular adapter assembly to the pipe clean-out device, wherein the tubular adapter assembly is received within a second end portion of the elongate tubular member; attaching an air compressor apparatus to the tubular adapter assembly; compressing air within the air compressor apparatus; and allowing the compressed air to travel through the pipe clean-out device and tubular adapter member to dislodge a clog in the drain pipe.

The frustoconical stopper member may be a first frustoconical stopper member, a second frustoconical stopper member may be provided on the tubular adapter assembly, and the second frustoconical stopper member may be received within the second end portion of the elongate tubular member. The elongate tubular member may be a first elongate tubular member, the tubular adapter assembly may be provided with a second elongate tubular member, and a spherical cover member having inner and outer spherical surfaces may be provided on the second elongate tubular member. A tubular wall portion may extend from the outer spherical surface of the spherical cover member and may receive the second elongate tubular member therein.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to a pipe clean-out device and a method of using a pipe clean-out device. The pipe clean-out device creates a seal on a drain of a drain pipe. The pipe clean-out device may be attached to a wet or wet/dry vacuum in order to remove a clog from the drain pipe. The pipe clean-out device may also be attached to an air compressor in order to dislodge a clog in the drain pipe. The wet or wet/dry vacuum relies on suction while the air compressor relies on pressure in order to clean out the drain pipe.

As shown in, a pipe clean-out deviceis provided with a first elongate tubular memberand a first frustoconical stopper membersecured thereto. The first frustoconical stopper memberis provided with a first inner cylindrical wall portionand a first outer frustoconical wall portion. The first outer frustoconical wall portionis provided with a primary outer frustoconical outer wall portionhaving a first inner end portion. A secondary outer frustoconical wall portionis provided on a first outer end portionof the first frustoconical stopper member. The first elongate tubular memberis provided with a first outer cylindrical wall surfaceand a first inner cylindrical wall surface. The first elongate tubular memberhas a first end portionand a second end portion.

In, a tubular adapter memberis provided with a first cylindrical end portionand a second cylindrical end portion. An angled step portionis provided between the first cylindrical end portionand the second cylindrical end portion. An outer annular flange portionis provided on the second cylindrical end portion.

In, a tubular adapter assemblyis provided with a second frustoconical stopper memberhaving a second inner cylindrical wall portionand a second outer frustoconical wall portion. The second frustoconical stopper memberis provided with a second inner end portionand a second outer end portion. The second frustoconical stopper memberreceives a second elongate tubular memberthrough the second inner end portion. The second elongate tubular memberis provided with a second outer cylindrical wall surfaceand a second inner cylindrical wall surface. The second elongate tubular memberis provided with a second outer cylindrical end portionand a second inner cylindrical end portion. A spherical cover memberis provided about the second elongate tubular memberadjacent the second frustoconical stopper member. The spherical cover memberis provided with an inner spherical surfaceand an outer spherical surface. A tubular wall portionis provided in a central portionof the spherical cover memberto receive the second elongate tubular membertherein. The spherical cover membermay be clear or otherwise transparent to allow viewing through the cover memberfor a user to see the second frustoconical sopper memberengage a the second end portionof the first elongate tubular member. The spherical cover memberalso provides a shield for instances where debris may be ejected through the first elongate tubular memberduring operation of the cleanout device.

Referring to, the tubular adapter memberis received within the second end portionof the first elongate tubular member. The tubular adapter memberreceives a tubular connectorwithin the second cylindrical end portion. A flexible hose memberis secured to the tubular connectorand a wet or wet/dry vacuum apparatus.

Once the pipe clean-out deviceis secured to the flexible hose member, the first frustoconical stopper memberhaving secondary outer frustoconical wall portionis placed in a drain holeof a sink. The wet or wet/dry vacuum apparatusis operated to draw a vacuum to remove a stoppage or clogresiding in a drain pipeextending below the drain hole.

Referring to, the tubular adapter assemblyhaving the second frustoconical stopper memberis received within the second end portionof the first elongate tubular memberof the pipe clean-out device. The tubular adapter assemblyreceives a tubular extensionof an air compressor nozzlewithin the second outer cylindrical end portionof the second elongate tubular member.

Once the tubular adapter assemblyis secured to the first elongate tubular memberof the pipe clean-out device, the first frustoconical stopper memberhaving secondary outer frustoconical wall portionis placed within drain hole. The air compressor nozzleis connected to an air compressor apparatusvia a compressor hose. The air compressor nozzleis provided with an on/off switch handleto control compressed air through the air compressor nozzle. The on/off switch handleof the air compressor nozzleis operated to allow compressed air to flow through the tubular adapter assemblyand through the first elongate tubular memberto unclog or dislodge any stoppage or clogwithin the drain pipebelow drain holeof the sink.

In one embodiment,is a block diagram of steps of a methodof using a pipe clean-out device. Methodcomprises placing a pipe clean-out device in a drain hole of a drain pipe, wherein the pipe clean-out device comprises an elongate tubular member having an outer cylindrical wall surface and an inner cylindrical wall surface; a frustoconical stopper member having an inner cylindrical wall portion, wherein the inner cylindrical wall portion is secured to a first end portion about the outer cylindrical wall surface of the elongate tubular member; and an outer frustoconical wall portion provided on the frustoconical stopper member, wherein the outer frustoconical wall portion is provided with a primary outer frustoconical wall portion and a secondary outer frustoconical wall portion (Step); attaching a tubular adapter member to the pipe clean-out device, wherein the tubular adapter member is received within a second end portion of the elongate tubular member (Step); attaching a wet or wet/dry vacuum to the tubular adapter member (Step); and drawing a vacuum through the pipe clean-out device and tubular adapter member to remove a clog in the drain pipe (Step). Some sinks and tubs include an overflow drain. When using the pipe clean-out device on sinks and subs with an overflow drain, the methodmay include plugging the overflow drain prior to Step. This ensures that the vacuum is completely directed to the pipe with the clog.

The tubular adapter member may be provided with a first cylindrical end portion and a second cylindrical end portion. An angled step portion may be provided between the first cylindrical end portion and the second cylindrical end portion. An outer annular flange portion may be provided about the second cylindrical end portion.

In one embodiment,is a block diagram of steps of a methodof using a pipe clean-out device. Methodcomprises placing a pipe clean-out device in a drain hole of a drain pipe, wherein the pipe clean-out device comprises an elongate tubular member having an outer cylindrical wall surface and an inner cylindrical wall surface; a frustoconical stopper member having an inner cylindrical wall portion, wherein the inner cylindrical wall portion is secured to a first end portion about the outer cylindrical wall surface of the elongate tubular member; and an outer frustoconical wall portion provided on the frustoconical stopper member, wherein the outer frustoconical wall portion is provided with a primary outer frustoconical wall portion and a secondary outer frustoconical wall portion (Step); attaching a tubular adapter assembly to the pipe clean-out device, wherein the tubular adapter assembly is received within a second end portion of the elongate tubular member (Step); attaching an air compressor apparatus to the tubular adapter assembly (Step); compressing air within the air compressor apparatus (Step); and allowing the compressed air to travel through the pipe clean-out device and the tubular adapter assembly to dislodge a clog in the drain pipe (Step). Some sinks and tubs include an overflow drain. When using the pipe clean-out device on sinks and subs with an overflow drain, the methodmay include plugging the overflow drain at some point prior to Step. This ensures that the compressed air is completely directed to the pipe with the clog.

The frustoconical stopper member may be a first frustoconical stopper member, a second frustoconical stopper member may be provided on the tubular adapter assembly, and the second frustoconical stopper member may be received within the second end portion of the elongate tubular member. The elongate tubular member may be a first elongate tubular member, the tubular adapter assembly may be provided with a second elongate tubular member, and a spherical cover member having inner and outer spherical surfaces may be provided on the second elongate tubular member. A tubular wall portion may extend from the outer spherical surface of the spherical cover member and may receive the second elongate tubular member therein.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit and scope of the forthcoming claims.