Toilet and Urinal Drain Unclogging Device and Method

Abstract

A toilet and urinal drain unclogging device and method enabled thereby includes a plunger assembly, a central cylinder assembly and a rotating flexible rod assembly. By manually pushing the plunger assembly into the central cylinder assembly, a rotating flexible rod emerges from the bottom of the central cylinder assembly. The rotating flexible rod enters the drain where it is caused to contact and break up or remove the clog within the toilet or urinal drain.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/240,493 filed Sep. 8, 2009.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The invention described in this Non-Provisional U.S. patent application was not the subject of federally sponsored research or development.

FIELD

The present invention pertains to a drain unclogging device and method; more particularly, the present invention pertains to a device and method for removing a clog from a plugged drain pipe or plumbing fixture which directs fluid from the bowl portion of a toilet or a urinal.

BACKGROUND

Clogged toilet drains represent one of the most irksome problems encountered by home owners. Because of the commonality of the problem of clogged toilet drains in homes, many homeowners keep a flexible toilet plunger or “plumber's helper” in their bathrooms or in a closet. While flexible toilet plungers may be satisfactory for some minor toilet drain blockages, a flexible toilet plunger is essentially useless for a stubborn toilet drain blockage.

Other homeowners use a small flexible toilet auger (usually a long spring) or a light weight flexible sewer cable, such as marketed under the trademark TURBO SNAKE™, when attempting to unclog a clogged drain line from a toilet. Such flexible toilet augers or sewer cables are not easy for most homeowners to use because of the need to manually turn the flexible toilet auger or sewer cable as the user both guides and pushes the lengthy flexible toilet auger or sewer cable into the clogged drain. A flexible toilet auger or sewer cable, if not used property, may damage a drain, a plumbing fixture or the finish on the ceramic portion of the toilet. In addition, the rotary motion of a flexible toilet auger or sewer cable in standing water in the bowl of a toilet causes the standing water to splash out of the bowl onto the floor surrounding the toilet.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for an easy to use device to remove clogs from the drains of residential toilet, which clogs cannot be easily removed with a flexible toilet plunger, small flexible toilet auger or a lightweight flexible sewer cable.

Further, in many commercial factory or office buildings, a full-time maintenance staff is retained to quickly remedy frequently recurring problems. One of the most frequent problems faced by commercial building maintenance personnel is a clogged toilet drain or a clogged urinal drain. Such clogged toilet or urinal drains frequently produce an overflow of water onto the floors of a lavatory. The overflow of water can damage floors and floor coverings. Standing water meant for transport to a sewer line may even seep down through the floors to the ceilings of lower floors. To deal with major drain clogs in toilets or urinals, it may take hours for a professional plumber to arrive at the commercial factory or office building to unclog the clogged toilet or urinal drain. In the meantime, water overflowing from the toilet or urinal bowls can cause damage to floors, ceiling panels or wall panels. Further, those tenants occupying space in the commercial factory or office building will become unhappy because of disruption or distraction of their workers reducing their ability to log productive time.

Thus, there remains a need in the art for an easy-to-use device which can be used in commercial factory or office buildings to quickly unclog clogged toilet drains or urinal drains.

SUMMARY

The easy-to-use toilet or urinal drain unclogging device and method of the present invention can be used in both residences and commercial factory or office buildings to quickly unclog clogged toilet drains or urinal drains.

The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device and method of the present invention includes three portions, all connected one to another. The first portion is a plunger assembly. The second portion is a central cylinder assembly. The third portion is a rotating flexible rod assembly.

When the user of the disclosed toilet and urinal drain unclogging device places the device into the opening of a toilet or urinal drain and pushes the plunger assembly into the central cylinder assembly, the bottom end of the rotating flexible rod assembly emerges from the central cylinder assembly and enters the clogged drain. When a clog breaker on the end of the rotating flexible cable assembly engages the clog within the drain, the rotating action of the flexible rod and clog breaker will break up and/or remove the clog. When the clog is broken up or removed the drain is able to run free again.

Following the clearing of the clog from the toilet or urinal drain, the plunger assembly may be withdrawn from the central cylinder assembly. This withdrawal of the plunger assembly from the central cylinder assembly draws the flexible rod portion of the rotating flexible rod assembly back into the central cylinder assembly.

A still better understanding of the present invention will reveal that within the central cylinder assembly is a spinner sub-assembly. In the preferred embodiment, the spinner sub-assembly is located on top of the rotating flexible rod assembly. The width of the spinner sub-assembly spans the internal diameter of the central cylinder assembly. Accordingly, the arms extending outwardly from the body of the spinner sub-assembly engage a set of helical grooves formed on the inner surface of the central cylinder assembly. The spinner sub-assembly is rotatably connected to the bottom of plunger assembly. Thus, the plunger assembly does not spin as the spinner sub-assembly passes through and is caused to rotate by the contact with the set of helical grooves within the central cylinder assembly.

The bottom of the spinner sub-assembly is non-rotatably connected to the rotating flexible rod assembly. When the spinner sub-assembly turns, so too does the flexible rod turn. Thus, as the ends of the arms extending from the body of the spinner sub-assembly pass through the set of helical grooves within the central cylinder assembly the flexible rod is caused to both rotate and to move axially out of the central cylinder assembly. The rotating and axially moving flexible rod moves into the toilet drain or urinal drain and breaks up and/or removes the clog.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

A still better understanding of the construction and operation of the toilet and urinal drain unclogging device of the present invention may be had by reference to the drawing figures wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention;

FIG. 2A is a side elevational view, in partial section, of the rigid tubular portion of the central cylinder assembly showing the set of helical grooves formed therein;

FIG. 2B is a phantom schematic showing the formation of a set of helical grooves formed through the rigid tubular portion of the central cylinder assembly;

FIG. 2C is a top plan view of the cap which fits on the upper end of the rigid tubular portion of the central cylinder assembly;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the spinner sub-assembly portion of the rotating flexible rod assembly in the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, in partial section, of the spinner sub-assembly engaging in the helical grooves within the rigid tubular portion of the central cylinder assembly;

FIG. 4A is an exploded view of an alternate construction of the spinner sub-assembly;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the bottom boot sub-assembly which fits on the lower end of the central cylinder assembly;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, in partial section, of one type of a connection between a clog breaker and the end of the flexible rod;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of the disclosed invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view, in partial section, of a second alternate embodiment of the disclosed invention;

FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a third alternate embodiment of the disclosed invention;

FIG. 10A is a side elevational view of a catch tee used in the fourth embodiment of the disclosed invention; and

FIG. 10B is a side elevational view of the fourth embodiment of the disclosed invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A still better understanding of the ease of use and the utility of the disclosed toilet and urinal drain unclogging device of the present invention may be had from an understanding of its basic construction. With this knowledge of the basic construction of the disclosed invention, the further utility provided by the arrangement of the elements in the various embodiments of the disclosed invention may be better understood.

As previously indicated the disclosed toilet and urinal drain unclogging device includes three assemblies. The three assemblies are connected one to another. Each assembly includes multiple parts. These three assemblies are the plunger assembly, the central cylinder assembly and the rotating flexible rod assembly. From the following brief description of how the disclosed invention is used to unclog a drain, the inter-relationship of the three assemblies, one to another, will become more apparent from a description of the method of unclogging a drain enabled by the disclosed invention.

It is anticipated that the user of the disclosed toilet drain and urinal drain unclogging device will begin the process of unclogging a drain by holding the exterior of the central cylinder assembly with one or both hands. The user will both guide and insert the exposed bottom end of the rotating flexible rod assembly, which exposed bottom end of the rotating flexible rod assembly extends from the lower end of the central cylinder assembly, into the drain opening at the bottom of the toilet or urinal bowl.

The rotating flexible rod assembly is further inserted into the toilet or urinal drain until the flexible boot on the bottom boot sub-assembly positioned on the bottom of the central cylinder assembly contacts the drain opening at the bottom of the toilet or urinal bowl.

With the flexible boot in contact with the drain opening, the user is now ready to exert manual force on the top of the plunger assembly. By holding the central cylinder assembly with one hand, the user pushes down on the handle located on the top of the plunger assembly with the other hand. This manual pushing force on the handle on top of the plunger assembly causes the rotating flexible rod assembly to both exit the central cylinder assembly and to turn within the drain pipe or plumbing fixture as it moves outwardly from within the central cylinder assembly. The turning of a clog breaker on the end of the rotating flexible rod assembly, which is now within the toilet or urinal drain, will break up or remove the clog which is preventing water from passing therethrough.

Returning to a description of the three assemblies, the first assembly is the plunger assembly. The function of the plunger assembly is to receive manual force by engagement with the user's hand. In its simplest form, the plunger assembly is an extended length rod with a handle located on the top end of the extended length rod. The bottom portion of the extended length rod of the plunger assembly extends into the central cylinder assembly and is rotatably connected to the top of the rotating flexible rod assembly.

The second assembly is the central cylinder assembly. A better understanding of the central cylinder assembly may be had by an understanding of the functions of its inner and outer surfaces. As previously indicated, the outer surface of the central cylinder assembly allows the user to hold and properly position the toilet drain and urinal drain unclogging device of the present invention with respect to the toilet or urinal drain opening. The inner surface of the central cylinder assembly includes two or more sets of helical grooves. The helical grooves function as a cam surface when engaged by a spinner sub-assembly positioned on the top of the rotating flexible rod assembly. Thus, the sets of helical grooves both cause the rotating flexible rod assembly to travel through the central cylinder assembly and to rotate while it moves outwardly from within the central cylinder assembly.

Attached to the bottom of the central cylinder assembly is the bottom boot sub-assembly. The bottom boot sub-assembly includes an elbow and a flexible boot. As explained above the flexible boot engages the opening in the toilet or urinal bowl which leads into the drain or plumbing fixture. If desired, the central cylinder assembly and the bottom boot sub-assembly may be formed as a single unit. In addition, the flexible boot assists in positioning the toilet and urinal drain unclogging device properly with respect to the drain opening.

The third assembly is the rotating flexible rod assembly. At the top of the rotating flexible rod assembly is the spinner sub-assembly. The spinner sub-assembly is non-rotatably connected to the flexible rod which enters the toilet or urinal drain. Thus, as the spinner sub-assembly turns so too does the flexible rod turn. At the opposite end of the flexible rod is the clog breaker. The clog breaker may have multiple shapes. Those of ordinary skill in the art may have a particular preference for the type of clog breaker used on the end of the flexible rod. Available shapes of suitable clog breakers include a bulbous spring, a ball, or a set of cutting blades.

With this understanding of the construction of the three assemblies, it is now possible to provide a further explanation of how the three assemblies work together, one with respect to another.

With the bottom end of the rotating flexible rod assembly inserted into the drain and the flexible boot of the bottom boot sub-assembly engaging the top of the drain opening, the user is now ready to unclog the drain by causing contact of the clog breaker with the clog within the drain and then the exertion of both linear and rotating force against the clog by the clog breaker. Support for the bottom end of the central cylinder assembly is provided by the interfitment of the substantially conical flexible boot within the opening to the drain. Support for the top end of the central cylinder assembly is provided by the hand of the user holding the top of the central cylinder assembly as it extends outwardly from the bowl of the toilet or urinal.

With the unclogging device now in position, the user exerts downward force on the plunger assembly. As the bottom of the plunger assembly is rotatably connected to the top of the spinner sub-assembly, which spinner sub-assembly is in turn supported by a set of helical grooves within the central cylinder assembly, the arms which extend outwardly from the body of the spinner sub-assembly, which act as a cam follower when in contact with the set of helical grooves which acts as a cam, impart a rotating motion to the body of the spinner sub-assembly. Further, as the set of helical grooves provides a path through the interior of the central cylinder assembly, the rotating spinner sub-assembly is also caused to pass through the interior of the central cylinder assembly by the manual force placed on the handle at the top end of the plunger assembly.

Because the rotating flexible rod assembly is non-rotatably connected to the spinner sub-assembly, the flexible rod rotates together with spinner sub-assembly. Because the flexible rod extends through the bottom boot sub-assembly on the bottom of the central cylinder assembly, the now rotating flexible rod passes through the bottom boot sub-assembly and into the drain until the clog breaker on the end of the flexible rod engages the clog. Additional force on the plunger assembly will cause additional force to be placed on the clog by the clog breaker to either break up the clog or cause the clog to pass through the drain.

With the clog now removed from the drain, the user is then able to withdraw the flexible rod from the drain by holding the central cylinder assembly with one hand and pulling the plunger assembly up and into the central cylinder assembly with the other hand. Pulling the plunger assembly out of the central cylinder assembly will cause the rotating flexible rod assembly to be withdrawn back into the central cylinder assembly while rotating in the opposite direction. This reverse movement and opposite rotation of the rotating flexible rod within the drain pipe or plumbing fixture will provide additional forces which act to break up and/or remove the clog. Thus, the toilet and urinal drain unclogging device is dual acting in that it works both going into the drain pipe or plumbing fixture and exiting the drain pipe or plumbing fixture. For stubborn clogs, it has been found that multiple strokes of the plunger assembly into and out of the central cylinder assembly may be needed while the flexible boot remains against the drain opening.

With this basic knowledge of the construction and operation of the disclosed invention it is now possible to better understand the drawings describing the preferred and alternate embodiments of the disclosed invention.

As may be seen from the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the toilet and urinal drain cleaning device 10 of the present invention may be designed to collapse into a easily stored device suitable for placement in a closet or possibly behind a bathroom door. FIG. 1 includes the three assemblies of the present invention as explained above.

Extending outwardly from the top of the central cylinder assembly 40 is the plunger assembly 20. The plunger 20 assembly is connected to the rotating flexible rod assembly 60 which resides, in part, within the central cylinder assembly 40. That portion of the rotating flexible rod assembly 60 which is not within the central cylinder assembly 40 is positioned alongside the central cylinder assembly 40 and retained by a clip 19. Such positioning allows most of the plunger assembly 20 to be within the central cylinder assembly 40 to minimize the length of the unclogging device 10 for ease of storage.

The flexible boot 52 portion of the bottom boot sub-assembly 50 on the lower end of the central cylinder assembly 40 forms that portion of the unclogging device 10 which engages the drain opening on the bottom of the toilet bowl or urinal bowl. For ease of handling, the entire central cylinder assembly 40 may be covered with a foam grip 42. Alternatively, the foam grip 42 may simply be a slidable foam band encircling the central cylinder assembly 40 and positioned at a location most suitable to the user.

As may be seen in FIG. 2A, the central cylinder assembly 40 includes a rigid tube 44 with a set of helical grooves 46 formed therein. The set of helical grooves including two paths 46A, 46B through the rigid tube may be formed on the inside surface of the rigid tube 44, as shown in FIG. 2B. A cap 47, sized for mounting on the top of rigid tube 44 appears in FIG. 2C. The cap 47 includes a hole 49 through which the extended length rod portion 22 of the plunger assembly 20 passes.

As will be seen by reference to FIG. 3 and to FIG. 4, the purpose of the two paths 46A, 46B formed by the set of helical grooves 46 formed within the rigid tube 44 and shown in FIG. 4 is to interact with each end of the two arms extending from the body of the spinner sub-assembly 70 on the top of the rotating flexible rod assembly 60.

The rotation imparted to the rotating flexible rod assembly 60 is caused by the engagement of one end 74 of the arms 72 extending from the body 76 of the spinner sub-assembly 70 with one path of helical grooves 46 formed within the rigid tube 44. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the spinner sub-assembly 70 illustrating its construction.

As is best seen in FIG. 4, rotation of the spinner sub-assembly 70 is caused by the engagement of helical guide bearings 78 positioned on each end 74 of the arms 72 extending outwardly from the body 76 of the spinner sub-assembly 70 within a path within the set of helical grooves 46 formed within the rigid tube 44. In the preferred embodiment, a guide bearing 78 is mounted on each end 74 of a single bearing shaft 75 which extends through a hole 77 formed the body 76 which body 76 is shown in FIG. 3 as a hex coupling. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that multiple bearing shafts may be used if the needed number of helical groove paths are formed within the rigid tube. Non-rotatably mounted to the bottom of the body 76 with a lock nut 80 is the flexible rod 62 portion of the rotating flexible rod assembly 60. Thus, as the body portion 76 of the spinner sub-assembly 70 turns so too will the flexible rod 62 turn.

The top of the body 76 of the spinner sub-assembly 70 is rotatably attached to the bottom 24 of the extended length rod portion 22 of the plunger assembly 20 as shown in FIG. 4. A bearing 82 is used to assure that he plunger shaft 22 will not rotate as the spinner sub-assembly 70 is caused to turn by engagement with the set of helical grooves 46 within the rigid tube 44. The bearing 82 is rotatably affixed to the internally threaded housing 76 by the use of a threaded fastener 84 and a lock nut 86. The threaded fastener 84 includes a hole 85 if a single bearing shaft 75 is used. The lock nut 86 keeps the threaded fastener 84 in place without restricting the rotation of the bearing 82. The bottom of the extended length rod forms a socket 24 which fits over and frictionally engages bearing 82.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that when axial force is placed on the handle 26 on top of the plunger assembly 20, the spinner sub-assembly 70 will be made to turn as the bearings 78 on the end of the bearing shaft 75 engage the set of helical grooves 46 within the rigid tube 44. Because the two paths of helical grooves 46A, 46B both provide an internal path through the rigid tube 44, the spinner sub-assembly 70 will also move linearly through the rigid tube 44 as it rotates.

While the present invention is explained according to the spinner sub-assembly shown in FIG. 4, other configurations of spinner sub-assemblies may be used. For example, shown in FIG. 4A is an alternate embodiment of the spinner sub-assembly 70A. In this embodiment, a twisted square hollow shaft 71A passes through a stationary ring cam 73A. Internal projections 75A within the stationary ring cam 73A impart a turning motion to the twisted square hollow shaft 71A by contact with the paths 77A formed between the ridges which surround the twisted square hollow shaft 71A.

The linear movement of the spinner sub-assembly 70 shown in FIG. 4 or FIGS. 4A and 4B through the rigid tube 44 causes the rotating flexible rod assembly 60 to move out of the central cylinder assembly 40 through the bottom boot sub-assembly 50 shown in FIG. 1. The bottom boot sub-assembly 50 shown in FIG. 5 is mounted to the bottom of the rigid tube 44. The bottom boot sub-assembly 50 may be angled at approximately 45° as shown in FIG. 5 or at approximately 90° as shown in FIG. 1. The upper portion of the bottom boot assembly 50 is an elbow 54 sized for interfitment on the bottom of the rigid tube 44. Over the lower portion of the bottom boot sub-assembly 50 is the substantially conical flexible boot 52 which is inserted into the drain opening at the bottom of the toilet or urinal bowl. As indicated above, the bottom boot sub-assembly 50 may be formed as part of the central cylinder assembly 40.

As explained above, various types of clog breakers may be mounted on the bottom of the flexible rod portion 62 of he rotating flexible rod assembly 60. As shown in FIG. 6, a plastic 65 covered spherical swivel drop head 64 may be used as a clog breaker. The mounting of the plastic 65 covered spherical swivel drop head 64 to the flexible rod 62 is accomplished by the use of a connector 66. The connector 66 includes a receiver socket 67 at its upper portion for threadable engagement with the bottom of the flexible rod 62. Alternatively, the connector 66 may be crimped or pinned onto the end of the flexible rod 62. In the bottom of the connector 66 is an opening 68 for the insertion of a socket retainer 69. The socket retainer 69 is connected to the plastic 65 covered spherical drop head 64. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the clog breaker may be round, oval, spear-shaped or some other shape which will facilitate the removal of blockages from the drain pipes or plumbing fixtures of toilet and urinals. If desired the clog breaker may include cutting blades or ridges formed therearound.

In a first alternate embodiment 110 of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the foam sleeve or band 44 shown in FIG. 1 is not used for gripping the central cylinder assembly 120. In its place is a handle 141 affixed to an adjustable friction ring 143. The adjustable friction ring 143 is mounted around the exterior of the rigid tube 144. Loosening of the adjustable friction ring 143 will allow its placement on either side of the device 110 to accommodate either a left handed or a right handed user. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that handle portion of the plunger assembly may be formed in a variety of different shapes.

In a second alternate embodiment 210 of the invention shown in FIG. 8, the rigid tube 244 does not include a set of internal helical grooves 246 along the entire length of its inside surface. Rather, the top end 247 and the bottom end 249 of the rigid tube 244 include straight grooves 251, 253 through which the bearings 278 on the ends of the arms of the spinner sub-assembly 270 may travel substantially linearly on their way through the rigid tube 244. In this embodiment the spinner sub-assembly 270 will first pass through the top end 247 of the rigid 244 tube without turning, then the spinner sub-assembly 270 will turn as it passes through the set of helical grooves 246 within the rigid tube 244, then again pass substantially linearly through the rigid tube 244 without turning after exiting the portion of the rigid tube 244 with the set of helical grooves 246 formed therein.

In the third alternate embodiment 310 shown in FIG. 9, the plunger assembly 320 at the top of the central cylinder assembly includes two nested cylinders 331, 333 for telescopic interfitment within the central cylinder assembly. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the inner cylinder portion 331 of the plunger assembly 320 is withdrawn from the outer cylinder portion 333 of the plunger assembly 320. A spring-loaded snap button 335 will allow the inner cylinder 331 and the outer cylinder 333 to engage with one another. After the clog has been cleared, the snap button 335 may be pushed and the inner cylinder 331 is moved within the outer cylinder 333 to reduce the length of the plunger assembly 320.

In the fourth embodiment 410 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, an extra long flexible rod 462 may be used. The extra length of flexible rod 462 is stored within a hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 shown in FIG. 10B and passes through the spinner sub-assembly 470. The hollow rod portion 423 may have a circular cross-section or a polygonal cross-section; for example, a square, hexagonal or octagonal cross-section may be used.

Connection of the flexible rod 462 with the hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 is accomplished by the use of a catch tee sub-assembly 411 as shown in FIG. 10A. The catch tee sub-assembly 411 is non-rotatably connected to the top of the flexible cable 462 by either crimping or by the use of a roll pin 412. Over the end of the flexible rod 462 is a cylinder 413 which positions two spring-loaded catch pins 414, 415.

The two spring loaded catch pins 414, 415 shown in FIG. 10A engage either an upper pair of holes 416 or a lower pair of holes 417 formed in the hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 as shown in FIG. 10B. Thus, when an additional length of flexible rod 462 may be needed for contacting a clog deep within a drain line, the spring loaded catch pins 414, 415 are pushed inwardly within the top pair of holes 416. The catch tee sub-assembly 411 is moved downwardly through the hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 to the bottom pair of holes 417 by upwardly pulling on the hollow rod portion 423. This causes the extra length of flexible rod 462 stored within the hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 to be available for insertion into the drain. The hollow rod portion 423 also acts as a storage for the flexible rod when using a shorter length of flexible rod.

The entire hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 in the fourth embodiment 410 is non-rotatably mounted to the top of the spinner sub-assembly 470. Thus, as the spinner sub-assembly 470 turns by following the set of helical grooves within the rigid tube as shown in FIG. 2A, so does the hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 turn together with the flexible rod 462.

At the top of the hollow rod portion 423 of the plunger assembly 420 a tee handle 418 is rotatably mounted thereto. Thus, as the plunger assembly 420 is moved downwardly and rotates together with the flexible rod 462 into the central cylinder assembly, the hollow rod portion 423 will rotate as the rotating flexible rod 462 moves into the drain pipe of plumbing fixture. However, the tee handle 418 will not turn within the user's hand.

Operation

A still further understanding of the present invention may be had by a further review of its operation.

Users of the present invention will first experience that the fluids within the bowl portion of a toilet or urinal are either exiting the bowl slowly or not at all. Such fluid flow is an indication that there is a partial or complete blockage within the drain pipe or plumbing fixture running from the bowl portion of toilet or urinal. Such partial or complete blockages may be caused by the flushing of paper towel or a solid object from the toilet or urinal bowl into the drain pipe or plumbing fixture. The paper towel or solid object may then become lodged in the drain line from the bowl of the toilet or urinal thereby restricting or blocking the free flow of fluid. When this occurs the blockage must be removed by the application of physical force along the axis of the drain. In many situations the partial or complete blockage occurs in the internal gas S-shaped gas trap portion of the toilet or urinal drain, found at the bottom of most toilets and urinals, which internal S-shaped gas trap is located just below the drain opening from the bowl portion of the toilet or urinal.

Operation of the device of the present invention begins by withdrawing the plunger assembly out of the central cylinder assembly of the unclogging device. This withdrawal of the plunger assembly from the central cylinder assembly of the unclogging device pulls the rotating flexible rod assembly back through the unclogging device and readies the lower portion of the unclogging device for placement in the drain opening at the bottom of the toilet or urinal bowl.

The bottom end of the flexible rod is placed into the drain until the flexible boot contacts the drain opening. Downward force is then placed on the plunger assembly. Contact of the flexible boot with the drain opening supports the unclogging device. The downward force on the plunger assembly causes the spinner sub-assembly to move through the set of helical grooves within the rigid tube. As explained above, the set of helical grooves within the rigid tube cause the spinner sub-assembly to rotate. This rotation is imparted to the flexible rod and to the clog breaker mounted on its end. The clog breaker engages the blockage or clog within the drain pipe or plumbing fixture. The user will feel this engagement of the blockage or clog with the clog breaker as additional force being needed on the plunger assembly to maintain its rate of travel through the central cylinder assembly. Typically, the blockage will be cleared with the first engagement of the clog breaker with the blockage within the drain pipe or plumbing fixture. However, for stubborn blockages, it may be necessary to first withdraw the plunger assembly then re-insert the plunger assembly into the cylinder assembly two or more times to remove the clog or blockage.

When the clog or blockage has been removed from the toilet or urinal drain pipe or plumbing fixture, most users will clean off the flexible rod and then collapse the plunger assembly into the central cylinder assembly. For ease of cleaning the flexible rod may be coated with plastic. As shown in FIG. 1, the flexible rod may be placed alongside the central cylinder assembly and held there with a retaining clip or stored within the hollow rod as shown in the fourth embodiment. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the flexible rod may be solid, may be a hollow cable, or may be an inner core cable.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that while the present invention has been explained according to its preferred and alternate embodiments, yet other modifications and embodiments of the invention may still be made using the construction and operation of the invention disclosed above. Such other modifications and embodiments shall be included within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A toilet or urinal drain unclogging device comprising:

a central cylinder assembly having a bottom and a top;

a plunger assembly constructed and arranged for passage through said top of said cylinder assembly;

a rotating flexible rod assembly constructed and arranged for exiting through said bottom of said central cylinder assembly;

whereby rotation is imparted to said rotating flexible rod assembly by the interaction of a cam follower portion on said rotating flexible rod assembly and a cam surface within said central cylinder assembly.

2. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 1 wherein said central cylinder assembly includes a rigid tube having helical grooves formed therein.

3. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 1 wherein said central cylinder assembly includes a bottom boot subassembly connected to said central cylinder assembly.

4. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 3 wherein said bottom boot subassembly includes a substantially conical flexible boot for engagement with the opening to the toilet or urinal drain.

5. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 1 further including a foam grip surrounding said central cylinder assembly.

6. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 1 further including a handle attached to said central cylinder assembly.

7. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 2 wherein said rotating flexible rod assembly further includes a spinner sub-assembly, said spinner sub-assembly including a body portion and a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said body portion.

8. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 7 wherein the ends of said plurality of arms are fitted with bearings for engagement with said helical grooves formed within said central cylinder portion.

9. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 1 wherein said rotation is imported to said rotating flexible rod assembly by a twisted rod passing through a stationary cam ring.

10. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 7 where said rotating flexible rod assembly includes a flexible rod non-rotatably mounted to said spinner sub-assembly.

11. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 7 wherein said plunger assembly includes a handle and an extended length rod portion, said extended length rod being rotatably connected to said spinner sub-assembly.

12. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 2 wherein said helical grooves engage straight grooves also formed within said central cylinder assembly.

13. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 11 wherein said extended length rod portion of said plunger assembly includes a section for storage of a portion of a flexible rod therein.

14. The toilet or urinal drain unclogging device as defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger assembly includes telescoping cylinders nested one within the other.

15. A manual system for pushing and rotating a flexible shaft into the drain of a toilet or urinal for the purpose of exerting linear and rotating force against a blockage in said drain of a toilet or urinal, said manual system comprising:

a spinner sub-assembly including: a central body portion; a plurality of arms extending outwardly from said central body portion, said ends of said arms being constructed and arranged for engagement with internal helical grooves formed within a cylinder;

a boot assembly constructed and arranged for engaging the drain of a toilet or urinal affixed to the bottom end of said cylinder;

a plunger assembly for placing force on said spinner sub-assembly to cause said spinner sub-assembly to move through said cylinder and to rotate the flexible shaft while moving through said cylinder.

16. A method for moving a rotating flexible rod into the drain of a toilet or urinal for the purpose of removing a blockage in the drain of said toilet or urinal, said method comprising the steps of:

non-rotatably mounting the flexible rod to a spinner sub-assembly;

positioning said spinner sub-assembly within a set of internal helical grooves so that linear movement of said spinner assembly through said internal helical grooves will cause said spinner sub-assembly to rotate;

using a non-rotating plunger assembly mounted to said spinner sub-assembly to manually move said spinner sub-assembly through said internal threads;

causing the rotating flexible rod to pass through a boot sub-assembly, said boot sub-assembly being engageable with the drain of the toilet or urinal.

17. A device for removing clogs from a toilet or urinal bowl drain, said device comprising:

an internally threaded tube, said internally threaded hollow tube having a central axis, a top portion and a bottom portion;

a conical hollow drain opening engagement section;

a clog breaker affixed to a flexible rod;

a plunger constructed and arranged for passage through said internally threaded tube;

said top portion of said internally threaded hollow tube including a cap for guiding the travel of said plunger;

said bottom portion of said internally threaded hollow tube being affixed to said conical hollow drain opening engagement section;

a spinner for engaging said internal threads within said tube, said spinner having a top portion and a bottom portion;

said top portion of said spinner being rotatably connected to said plunger;

said bottom portion of said spinner being affixed to said flexible rod;

whereby when said plunger causes said spinner to pass through said internally threaded hollow tube, said drain cleaner swivel drop head will rotate as said flexible rod passes through said hollow drain opening engagement section.

18. A device for removing clogs in toilet or urinal drains, said device comprising:

a cylinder having an exterior surface, an internal surface including helical grooves, a top and a bottom;

a stabilizing handle positionable on said exterior portion of said top of said cylinder;

an angled bottom boot assembly affixed to said bottom of said cylinder;

a collapsible or telescoping handle/rod assembly constructed and arranged to pass through said cylinder, said collapsible or telescoping handle/rod assembly including: a rod having a top end and a bottom end; a handle affixed to said top end of said rod; a rotating spinner body affixed to said bottom end of said rod and extending to said grooved or rifled interior surface of said cylinder; a flexible rod attached to said spinner body; a swivel drop head attached to said flexible rod on the opposite end from said attachment to said spinner body;

whereby by exerting force on said handle, said rotating spinner body will be caused to rotate by engagement with said grooves or rifling on the interior of said cylinder thereby causing said flexible rod and said swivel drop head to rotate as said rotating spinner body passes through said cylinder and said flexible rod passes through said angled bottom boot assembly on said bottom end of said cylinder.