With Means To Block Or Clear The Overflow Patents (Class 4/255.07)
  • Patent number: 8418275
    Abstract: The system for unclogging toilets is a pressurized air-based unclogging system for toilets, allowing clogs formed on either side of a bend in a toilet outflow pipe to be cleared simultaneously. The system includes a tube mounted on a toilet so that a pair of peripheral apertures and a central aperture formed through a lower end thereof communicate with an interior of the bend of the pipe. A plunger is slidably mounted within an interior of the tube, and has an expandable bladder mounted thereto. An air pump delivers pressurized air to the interior of the tube through a port formed through an upper end thereof so that the plunger is driven downward while simultaneously filling the expandable bladder, which projects through the central aperture. The expandable bladder creates a barrier within the bend and pressurized air flowing through the peripheral apertures is delivered to either side of the bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Mehmet Dondurur, Ahmet Z. Sahin
  • Patent number: 8359679
    Abstract: A toilet clog removal device comprised of a collapsible high volume bellows that fits between a toilet seat and the rim of a toilet bowel. When a bellows is compressed with the toilet seat a positive pressure is generated in the toilet bowl and the clogging materials are pushed down. The bellows will also flush most of the water from a toilet, leaving a small amount of water in the toilet bowl allowing a toilet cleaner to be less diluted and thus more effective in cleaning a toilet. After use the bellows may be collapsed by twisting and folding for convenient storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Inventor: Donald L Martin
  • Patent number: 7891027
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a drain vent is provided to direct the pressure exerted by a plunger to the face of a drain clog rather than escaping through the drain vent. The seal assembly of the invention comprises a tubular body having a first closed end and a second open end to define a substantially rigid a cup-like structure or cavity. A sealing member concentric with a longitudinal axis of the tubular body is attached to the second open end of the tubular body to form a seal against a surface containing the drain vent. A handle is attached to the closed end of the cup-like structure and extends away from the closed first end of the tubular body to provide a mechanism for the user to hold the sealing member against the surface containing the drain vent during the plunging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Robert Blu Mooney
  • Patent number: 6973685
    Abstract: An assembly for selectively blocking a drain to the passage of water. A drain emanating from a substantially circular opening in a basin, sink or tub is provided with a substantially cylindrical member releasably connected to the basin, sink or tub. The substantially cylindrical member is provided with a fluid inlet for receiving a pressurized fluid and an expandable bladder located within the substantially cylindrical member in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, wherein the bladder is sized and positioned such that when expanded, it blocks the drain to the passage of water. A mechanical pump is provided having a pump chamber and a stem emanating from it such that when the stem is moved, fluid pressure is applied to a hydraulic line connected to the fluid inlet for selectively expanding the bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Inventor: Scott Duncan
  • Patent number: 6662381
    Abstract: An automated toilet plunging apparatus for unclogging and unplugging a plugged toilet drain. The automated toilet plunging apparatus includes a toilet having a bowl and also having a drain disposed through a bottom of the bowl; and also includes a plunger housing assembly including a container being securely disposed in the bowl and having an open front side, and also including a door being hingedly attached to the container and being openly closed upon the open front side of the container; and further including a plunger member being removably disposed in the container for opening a plugged drain; and also including an assembly of actuating the plunger member; and also including a hose being attached to the plunger member and being adapted to be connected to a water supply for rinsing the bowl when the plunger member is positioned over the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventors: Elizabeth C. Powell, Latasha Powell