Drain clearing apparatus

Abstract

A drain cleaning device that uses compressed air to clear obstructions in the drain pipes of water basins, toilets and the like. The drain cleaning device consists mainly of a force cup, a handle, flexible pipes for conveying compressed air, and quick connect couplings.

1 . A drain clearing apparatus comprising:
 a drain engaging element adapted to be mounted to an opening of a drain;   a hollow shaft, attached at one end to the drain engaging element;   an air hose attached to the hollow shaft at an opposite end from the drain engaging element for conveying compressed air from a compressed air source into the drain engaging element.   
     
     
         2 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the drain engaging element has a drain engaging opening adapted to make an airtight connection with the opening of the drain. 
     
     
         3 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain engaging element is attached to the hollow shaft by a threaded coupling. 
     
     
         4 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the drain engaging element is a force cup. 
     
     
         5 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the hollow shaft is rigid and able to transmit axially directed force. 
     
     
         6 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the hollow shaft is rigid and able to contain high pressure air within itself. 
     
     
         7 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 1  wherein an air hose connector couples one end to the air hose to the hollow shaft and the air hose is connected to a compressed air source. 
     
     
         8 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the compressed air source is an air compressor. 
     
     
         9 . The drain clearing apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the air hose connector is a quick connect connector. 
     
     
         10 . A method for clearing blockage from a drain, comprising the steps of:
 mounting a drain engaging element attached to a hollow shaft to a drain;   attaching the hollow shaft to a source of compressed; and   directing a flow of compressed air through the hollow shaft to the drain engaging element.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 connecting the hollow shaft to the source of compressed air by a flexible air hose. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 placing the drain engaging element in airtight contact with the drain. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  including the further step of using a force cup as the drain engaging element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  including the further step of selecting the hollow shaft to be sufficiently rigid to transmit axially directed force. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  including the further step of making the hollow shaft sufficiently rigid to contain high pressure air within itself. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  including the further step of connecting a source of compressed air to the flexible air hose. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  including the further step of providing compressed air to the flexible air hose by turning on the source of compressed air. 
     
     
         18 . The method  claim 17  including the further step of using a portable air compressor as the source of compressed air. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 10  including the further step of connecting the hollow shaft to the flexible air hose with a quick connect connector. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10  including the step of sealing the drain engaging element upon the blocked drain and directing the compressed air to push the blockage from the drain.