Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Title: IMPROVED TUBE-CLEANING APPARATUS
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Field of the Invention
This invention is related generally to tube-cleaning
apparatus and, more particularly, to handles for use in
insertion and retraction of long flat strips used in drain
cleaning operations and the like.
Background of the Invention
A wide variety of equipment has been developed for
tube-cleaning operations, and particularly for drain
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cleaning. Various sewer rods, snakes, drills and the like
are well known in the art.
One type of tube-cleaning apparatus has a flat strip
which is progressively insertable and retractible with
respect to a drain tube and a grip handle slidable along
such strip and engageable therewith. The grip handle is
moved to different positions along the strip as the
insertion or retraction progresses. Many different devices
of this kind have been developed. Some of such devices are
referred to as sewer rods.
Drain cleaning using sewer rods or other apparatus of
the type last described is never a pleasant task. The flat
strip is hard to handle because of its springiness and
because of frequent difficulty of insertion into a drain.
And, when the strip is withdrawn it is covered with filthy
waste material which gets on the hands of the operator and
elsewhere due to the wet condition of such waste and~or the
2~ springiness of the strip. The grip handles of such
tube-cleaning apparatus often become covered with waste
material, making continued operation a rather disgusting
task.
Another problem with prior tube-cleaning apparatus of
a5 this type is that the grip handles are often difficult to
manipulate. Such devices are typically made of two half
handles which are pivotably interconnected to form the grip
handles, and the difficulty in manipulation is due in part
to the nature of the pivotable interconnections. In some
3~ cases, yokes encircle portions of such half handles, and
such half handles are not readily aligned. Furthermore,
such constructions typically have several pieces which make
assembly difficult.
There is a need for improvements in tube-cleaning
apparatus of the type described.
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Obiects of the Invention
It is an object of this invention to provide an
improved tube-cleaning apparatus overcoming some of the
problems and shortcomings of the prior art.
Another object of this inven~ion is to provide an
improved tube-cleaning apparatus of the type having a flat
progressively insertable and retractible strip and a grip
handle slidable therealong and engageable therewith.
1~ Another object of this invention is to provide an
improved tube-cleaning apparatus minimizing problems
associated with waste and other dirt which accumulate on
the strips of such apparatus during drain-cleaning
operations and the like.
Another object is to provide improved tube-cleaning
apparatus of the type described which is simple and
inexpensive to manufacture.
Another object of this invention is to provide an
improved tube-cleaning apparatus of the type described
which is easy to operate.
These and other important objects will be apparent
from the descriptions of this invention which follow.
Summarv of the Invention
This invention is a tube-cleaning apparatus which
overcomes the problems and shortcomings mentioned above.
The invention is an improvement in tube-cleaning apparatus
of the type which has a flat longitudinally-bendable
3~ progressively insertable and retractible strip and a grip
handle slidable along and engageable with the strip.
The grip handle of the invention is formed by a pair
of opposed half handles located on opposite surfaces of the
strip and pivotably interconnected with each other for
relative pivoting about an axis which is transverse to the
strip. The half handles have opposed hand portions which
are rearward of the pivot axis. They also have means for
gripping contact with the strip, such gripping occurring
when the hand portions are squeezed together.
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The half handles have front portions forward of the
pivot axis which terminate in opposed wiper edges engaged
with the strip. Such edges serve to clean waste material
and other drain dirt from the strip during the movements of
the grip handle along the strip during insertion and
retraction from a drain or the like.
The opposed wiper edges are preferably biased against
the strip for good cleaning action on the strip. Most
preferably, the biasing is such that, with the strip
removed from between the wiper edges, the wiper edges are
closer to one another at all relative pivot positions of
the half handles than the thickness of the strip. Thus,
whether or not the grip handle is firmly engaging the
strip, the wiper edges have a good cleaning engagement with
the surfaces of the strip. It is not necessary to spread
the hand portions to achieve a good cleaning action.
The half handles are preferably integrally-formed
2~ structures. Such integrally-formed structures are designed
to achieve the desired biasing and cleaning action and to
do so well without compromising the known gripping
functions of such device. The manufacturing of grip
handles having such integrally-formed half handles is made
easy.
In highly preferred embodiments, the front portions
of the half handles are tapered toward their edges. And,
the half handles are made of a material which, given such
tapering, allows the wiper edges to be resiliently
3~ deformable. This improves the firmness and closeness of
engagement of the wiper edges with the surfaces of the
strip.
The pivot interconnection of the half handles is
preferably by means of snap-engagable male and female hinge
members which define the pivot axis. If the half handles
are each integrally-molded pieces, the male and female
hinge members may be snapped together shortly after
molding.
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The aforementioned means for gripping contact with
the strip are preferably opposed strip-grip portions which
project toward each other on each of the half handle. Such
strip-grip portions are preferably just rearward of the
pivot axis. This provides a good grip on the strip and
does not interfere with operation of the wiper edges.
Brief Descripti n of the Drawings
lv FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an improved
tube-cleaning apparatus in accordance with this invention.
FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of FIGURE 1.
FIGURE 3 is a top sectional view taken along section
3-3 as illustrated in FIGURE 2.
FIGURE 4 is side sectional view illustrating the
device in gripping condition, and having the front portion
magnified for greater detail.
FIGURE 5 is a similar side sectional view showing the
device with the grip released.
Detailed Descriptions of Preferred Embodiments
The drawings illustrate a tube-cleaning apparatus 10
which has a strip 12 and a grip handle 14 used for moving
strip 12. Strip 12 and grip handle 14 are the principal
parts of the invention. Grip handle 14 is illustrated in
detail in the figures. Tube-cleaning apparatus 10 has
other portions which are not shown since they are not part
of the invention.
3~ Strip 12 is a flat metal band made of spring steel.
Strip 12 is on the order of 1.2 mm thick and 12 mm wide,
and has opposed flat surfaces 14. Strip 12 is typically
several meters in length and may be coiled for storage and
uncoiled during use. In use, strip 12 is progressively
inserted into and later retracted from a drain or other
tube requiring inside-surface cleaning.
Such insertion and retraction are carried out by
means of grip handle 14, which is used to engage strip 12
to push or pull it during the insertion and retraction
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actions. After engagement for such pulling or pushing,
grip handle 14 is moved along strip 12 to a new position
along strip 14 where the strip is again engaged for
5 additional pulling or pushing. Such actions are carried
out in a manner generally known in the prior art.
Grip handle 14 is formed by a pair of opposed half
handles 18 and 20. Half handles 18 and 20, except for
pivot interconnection portions (hereafter described), are
mirror images of one another. Half handles 18 and 20 have
opposed inside surfaces 22 which are adjacent to the
opposed surfaces 16 of strip 12. Half handles 18 and 20
also have outside surfaces 24.
Half handles 18 and 20 are pivotably interconnected
by means of the engagement of a pair of male hinge members,
26 which extend laterally from the remaining portion of
half handle 18, with a pair of female hinge members 28,
which are on half handles 20. Female hinge members 28 are
2U lateral tabs which have holes 30 positioned to receive male
hinge members 26. Male and female hinge members 26 and 28
define a pivot axis 32 about which half handles 18 and 20
pivot with respect to each ol:her. Pivot axis 32 is
transverse to strip 12, extending thereacross at a 90
25 degree angle to the length of strip 12.
As already noted, each of the half handles 18 and 20
has portions which are mirror images to like portions on
the other half handle. Each half handle includes a hand
portion 34 which is rearward of pivot axis 32. When hand
3U portions 34 are squeezed together, grip handle 14 engages
strip 12 for movement thereof. Such strip engagement is by
means of opposed strip-grip portions 36 which project
inwardly toward each other on inside surfaces 22 of half
handles 18 and 20. Strip-grip portions 36 are themselves
35 rearward of pivot axis 32, but are relatively close to
pivot axis 32 such that a substantial mechanical advantage
is achieved when hand portions 34 are squeezed together.
Each of the half handles 18 and 20 also includes a
front portion 38 which is forward of pivot axis 32. ~ach
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of the front portions 38 terminates in a wiper edge 40
which is engaged with a surface 16 of strip 12 across the
width of such strip. Together, half handles 18 and 20
provide opposed wiper edges 40 on opposite surfaces 16 of
strip 12. As grip handle 14 moves in either direction
along strip 12, wiper edges 40 serve to clean waste
material which has adhered to strip 12 from the strip.
lu Half handles 18 and 20 are each integrally-formed
structures made by well-known plastic molding techniques.
Each front portion 38 is tapered to progressively smaller
dimensions at positions progressively closer to wiper edge
40. This tapering is such that, given the material chosen
for the molding of half handles 18 and 20, wiper edges 40
have a degree of resilient deformability. Such resilient
deformability provides a close squeegee-like engagement of
wiper edges 40 with surfaces 16 of strip 12.
The exact thickness dimensions most favorable for
2~ such squeegee like action are dependent on the material
selected for ~he integral molding of each half handle. A
preferred m~terial for half handles 18 and 20 is high
density polyethylene. Another acceptable material is
nylon. A wide variety of moldable plastics and other
materials may be used. Appropriate choices would be known
to those skilled in the art who are familiar with this
invention.
Opposed wiper edges 40 are biased against opposed
surfaces 16 of strip 12. Such biasing is due to the
3~ inherent resilient flexibility of the material used in
forming half handles 18 and 20. The precise configurations
of each wiper edge 40 and its positioning with respect to
the remainder of the half handles of which it is a part are
chosen such that, with strip 12 removed from grip member
14, wiper edges 40 are closer to one another than the
thickness of strip 12. Thus, assembly of half handles 18
and 20 with strip 12 causes a spreading of opposed wiper
edges 40, and this relationship of wiper edges 40 exists
for any relative pivot positions of half handles 18 and 20.
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Such biased engagement of wiper edges 40 with strip
12, therefore, exists even while hand portions 34 are
squeezed together for engagement of strip-grip portions 36
with strip 12. Release of the squeezing pressure on hand
portions 34 tends to slightly increase the biasing force of
wiper edges 40 on strip 12, and it is in this condition
that grip handle 14 is moved along strip 12 between the
insertion and retraction motions of strip 12 with respect
1~ to a drain or the like. Thus, wiper edges 40 provide good
cleaning action as grip handle 14 moves along strip 12.
FIGURES 4 and 5 illustrate the relative positions of
half handles ~8 and 20 and strip 12 during different stages
of operation. FIGURE 4 shows grip handle 14 with hand
portions 34 squeezed together and strip-grip portions 36
engaging strip 12. Note that even in this condition, wiper
edges 40 are biased toward engagement with surfaces 16 of
strip 12. FIGURE 5 shows grip handle 14 with hand portions
34 released, as is the case form movement of grip handle 14
along strip 12. It is this condition in which wiper edges
40 perform their strip cleaning function.
In construction of tube-cleaning apparatus 10, half
handles 18 and 20 may be joined together, after molding, by
snap connection of their respective male and female hinge
members 26 and 28. Such snap connection preferably is done
shortly after the parts are stripped from their molds.
Later, strip 12 is slid between half handles 18 and 29,
moving first between hand portions 34 and finally between
3~ wiper edges 40. During such movement, wiper edges 40 are
spread and such deformation produces the biasing force
previously mentioned.
A wide variety of materials may be used in forming
grip handle 14. While integral construction of each of the
half handles is preferred, other constructions are
possible. While the forward position of wiper edges 40 is
preferred, other positions are possible.
While the principles of this invention have been
described in connection with specific embodiments, it
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should be understood clearly that these descriptions are
made only by way of example and are not intended to limit
the scope of the invention.
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