| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 015104310 | Sewer | 22 |
| 20090165226 | Method and Apparatus for Pulling Hose - A hose puller that includes puller wheels that are motorized and configured to grip, among other things, a high pressure water hose. The hose puller further includes an idler wheel that is positioned to oppose the puller wheels. The idler wheel is spring loaded to help ensure that the hose maintains frictional relation with the puller wheels. Alternatively, the hose puller may have puller wheels shaped to grip a high pressure water hose. The hose puller also includes a camera that is configured to show images that enable the operator to control the hose puller from a remote location. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20130291322 | Multi-function Cleaning Device - A multifunction cleaning device for fluid conduits employed to communicate wastewater for treatment, such a sewers and drains. The multi-use tool includes a debris and hose grabber and may also be employed as an interchangeable and/or reversible scraper element for sidewall scraping of grease. The tool aids in debris removal and high pressure hose realignment and positioning. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20160002907 | CURB VENT STACK PLUNGER - A curb vent stack plunger for clearing sewer drains includes an elongated pole. A first substantially circularly shaped rubberized disc is located adjacent the bottom end of the pole and lies in a first plane perpendicular to the axis of the pole. A second substantially circularly shaped rubberized disc is secured to the pole at a distance spaced upwardly from the bottom end. The second disc lies in a second plane perpendicular to the pole axis but parallel to the first disc. A soft rubberlike semi-spherically shaped bumper is secured to the remote bottom end of the pole. | 01-07-2016 |
| 015104330 | Snake | 19 |
| 20080276392 | DRAIN CLEANER - A drain cleaner is disclosed for use with a drain assembly having a drain pipe, a flange coupled to the drain pipe and defining a drain inlet, and a pop-up assembly having an actuating arm disposed in the drain pipe. The drain cleaner includes a stopper head having a seal sized to engage the drain inlet and an inlet passage extending from an inlet port formed in a top surface of the stopper head to an outlet port formed in a bottom surface of the stopper head. A stopper guide has a proximal end coupled to the stopper head bottom surface and a distal end, the stopper guide distal end including a tail piece adapted to operatively engage the actuating arm of the pop-up assembly. A drain cleaning composition is supported below the stopper head bottom surface. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20090211044 | Motorized Drain Cleaning Machine - A drain-cleaning machine comprises a cable, a motor assembly, and a speed control assembly. The cable comprises a longitudinal axis. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the cable about the longitudinal axis of the cable. The motor assembly comprises a motor and a motor control device. The motor is configured to operate at an operating speed that may vary within a range of operating speeds. The motor is configured to produce a substantially constant torque while operating at varying operating speeds across the entire range of operating speeds. The motor is configured to be powered by DC power. The motor control device is configured to receive AC power from an AC power source, convert the AC power into DC power, and communicate the DC power to the motor. The speed control assembly is configured to vary the operating speed of the motor within the range of operating speeds. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090300863 | SELF-CONTAINED SIGNAL CARRIER FOR PLUMBING AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - A device is provided for remotely locating an obstruction in a plumbing system. The spring assembly may include (i) a connector having a sewer cable connection portion at a proximal end and a retaining collar portion at a distal end; (ii) a spring having a proximal end, a medial portion and a distal end, the proximal end of the spring connected to the distal end of the connector; (iii) an end cap connected to a distal end of the spring. A signal transmitter may be removably housed within the spring. A cable may be connected to the connector at the proximal end of the connector to push or drive the spring assembly through a pipe system. A receiver may be used to detect wireless signals from the signal transmitter, thereby determine a location of an obstruction in the pipe system. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100017981 | DRAIN CLEANING TOOLS WITH WEAR INDICATORS - A drain cleaning tool includes a wear indicator for providing a visual indication to a user of the tool of an amount of wear in the tool. Various forms of the wear indicator and tool include a flexible plumbers cable with one or more wear detector prominences extending between turns of the cable, a tool carried on the end of the cable and couplings on the opposite ends of the cable. The flexible plumbers cable includes an elongate hollow outer body member defining a longitudinal axis and a resilient intermediate body carried within the outer body. The resilient intermediate body carried within the outer body has along its periphery at least one wear detector prominence extending radially outwardly between at least one selected turn of the helically coiled outer body. The at least one wear detector has at least one color change in the radial direction to provide a visual indication visual indication to a user of the tool of an amount of wear in the tool. Further, a tool on an end of a flexible plumbers cable includes a wear detector. A flexible plumbers cable section includes an elongate cable portion, first and second coupling portions on opposite ends of the cable section, and a wear indicator on the coupling portions. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100031460 | DRAIN CLEANING APPARATUS WITH ELECTRONIC CABLE COUNTER - A drain cleaning machine with an electronic cable counter is disclosed which is of the character comprising a frame supporting a rotatable drum which is driven by a motor through an endless belt. The drum contains a flexible drain cleaning snake which is rotatable with the drum and axially displaceable into an out from the drum, and the frame supports a cable feeding device through which the cable extends and by which the cable is displaced into and out of the drum. An electronic cable counter is configured to count an amount of cable payed out from and retracted into the drum and includes first and second sensor portions mounted on the rotatable drum and a cable follower member, respectively to sense relative rotational movement therebetween. A process determines an amount and direction of relative movement therebetween and generates a signal representative of an amount of cable payed or retracted into the drum. A fixed receiver unit is mounted to the frame and includes a human readable display portion and a receiver portion configured to receive the signal generated from the processor portion. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100050350 | VARIABLE BELT TENSIONER FOR DRAIN CLEANING DEVICES - An assembly for adjusting belt tension in a drain cleaning device is disclosed. The assembly includes an idler pulley assembly in which a pivotable idler pulley is urged against a belt by a tensioned spring. The tensile force exerted by the spring can be adjusted or otherwise changed by a rotatable spool engaged to the other end of the spring. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100125959 | GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION OF ENCLOSED INSPECTION AREA - An apparatus for generating a visual representation may include an elongated flexible member adapted to be removably inserted into an enclosure; a dispensing mechanism operable to selectively dispense and retract the elongated flexible member; a counter configured to determine an amount of the elongated flexible member dispensed by the dispensing mechanism; a controller configured to receive the amount of the elongated flexible member dispensed from the counter and determine a rate at which the elongated flexible member is dispensed; and a display in data communication with the controller. The controller causes the rate at which the flexible member is dispensed to be displayed in relation to a visual representation of the enclosure on the display. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100132143 | PLUMBING SNAKE AND ENGAGEMENT HEAD THEREFOR - The present invention provides a high powered magnetic tipped toilet auger with several hooking barbs located on the back side of the magnetic tip to remove obstructions from plugged toilets especially if the obstruction is a ferrous metal material or consists of a hookable or snagable material. The magnetic tip can be quickly and easily be attached to an existing toilet auger. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100218325 | Sewer Cleaning Machine - Disclosed herein is an improved rotary drain cleaning machine having an improved support structure that prevents walking of the machine when in use. The machine is supported upon two rear mounted wheels and a forward pedestal. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20110191969 | DRUM AUGER - An apparatus for cleaning drains has a cable having a length and a first width and an extension disposed upon the first width of the cable to create a second width of the cable. A guide allows the length of the cable to pass therethrough but the second width whereby the cable will stop passing through the guide in a given direction if the second width contacts the guide. | 08-11-2011 |
| 20110289706 | Auger with Tentacles - A plumbing auger attachment tool which provides means for solid object retrieval from the interior of a toilet waste pipe or other drain pipes. The attachment has a series of rubber tentacles affixed to the end of the spiral wiring of a plumbing snake auger. The lengths of string act to entangle solid debris otherwise blocking the flow of water through the pipe. A magnetic casing also assists to attract ferrous material blockages in the pipe. This improvement on a standard plumbing snake permits solid item retrieval, such as pens and toys, which a wire coil auger is not capable. The strings are sent down the length of pipe at the base of a toilet by a rotating action, which rotates and extends the wire coil auger and the improved attachment. Once entangled with a debris source, that debris can be removed from the pipe to clear the obstruction. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20120005849 | Hand-Operated Drain Snake With Auger - A hand-operated drain snake is provided. The snake includes a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis, an auger disposed on an exterior surface of the first shaft, a second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, and a transverse member. A proximal end of the first shaft is disposed on one side of the transverse member and a proximal end of the second shaft is disposed on an opposite side of the transverse member such that the first axis is substantially parallel to the second axis, and the first axis is offset from the second axis by an offset distance. | 01-12-2012 |
| 20130133147 | HAND-OPERATED DRAIN SNAKE WITH AUGER - A hand-operated drain snake is provided. The snake includes a first shaft having a first longitudinal axis, an auger disposed on an exterior surface of the first shaft, a second shaft having a second longitudinal axis, and a transverse member. A proximal end of the first shaft is disposed on one side of the transverse member and a proximal end of the second shaft is disposed on an opposite side of the transverse member such that the first axis is substantially parallel to the second axis, and the first axis is offset from the second axis by an offset distance. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130160227 | FEED CONTROL LOCK FOR HAND OPERATED DRAIN CLEANER - A hand operated drain cleaner includes a manually operated rotatable drum and an elongated flexible cable at least partially held in the drum. A portion of the cable extending from the drum has a cable axis, and rotation of the drum rotates the cable portion about the cable axis. A handle is adapted to rotatably support the drum. The handle includes a barrel portion and a handle portion. A feed control device includes a housing having a feed passage axially therethrough for receiving the cable and a trigger for moving the feed control device between a non-actuating position and an actuating position. In the actuating position, a feed control device is pivoted relative to the handle such that the driving mechanism engages the cable thereby inducing axial movement of the cable via rotation of the drum. A locking mechanism is opera operably associated with the feed control device. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20140115802 | Motorized Drain Snake - A motorized drain snake includes a flexible member and a coupling. The flexible member has a first end provided with a hollow threaded portion and a second end provided with a tip portion. The coupling has a first end provided with a threaded connecting portion screwed into the threaded portion of the flexible member and a second end provided with a plurality of engaging slots for being connected with a powered tool. When in use, the powered tool is started to rotate the flexible member so that the tip portion of the flexible member is turned and extended deeply into a U-shaped channel of a toilet so as to pick and clear the clog, blockage or stoppage in the U-shaped channel. | 05-01-2014 |
| 20140173840 | MOTORIZED DRAIN CLEANING MACHINE - A drain-cleaning machine comprises a cable, a motor assembly, and a speed control assembly. The cable comprises a longitudinal axis. The motor assembly is configured to rotate the cable about the longitudinal axis of the cable. The motor assembly comprises a motor and a motor control device. The motor is configured to operate at an operating speed that may vary within a range of operating speeds. The motor is configured to produce a substantially constant torque while operating at varying operating speeds across the entire range of operating speeds. The motor is configured to be powered by DC power. The motor control device is configured to receive AC power from an AC power source, convert the AC power into DC power, and communicate the DC power to the motor. The speed control assembly is configured to vary the operating speed of the motor within the range of operating speeds. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140215737 | Motorized Drain Snake - A motorized drain snake includes a shank and a coiled member connected with the shank. The shank has a first end provided with a bushing which has an interior provided with a shaft hole for mounting the coiled member. The bushing of the shank is made of soft iron material. The bushing of the shank has an end face provided with a plurality of ramps. The coiled member is hollow, bendable and flexible. The coiled member is made of a metallic wire that is wound successively. The coiled member has a first end securely mounted in the shaft hole of the bushing of the shank and a second end provided with a drilling portion. | 08-07-2014 |
| 20150113748 | QUICK RELEASE MECHANISMS FOR PLUMBING TOOLS - Quick release mechanisms for auger type cleanout tools are described. The mechanisms enable engagement and disengagement of a handle to an auger without the use of separate retainers or fasteners. Also described are auger type tools and related methods of use utilizing the quick release mechanisms. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20160175899 | FEED CONTROL DEVICE FOR PLUMBING TOOLS | 06-23-2016 |
