US2013055493A1PendingUtilityA1

Toilet Ramrod Apparatus and Method

48
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Aug 19, 2011Filed: Aug 14, 2012Published: Mar 7, 2013
Est. expiryAug 19, 2031(~5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Wendell E. Miller
E03D 9/00
48
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
0
Claims

Abstract

Toilet ramrods ( 10, 90, 100, 130, 150, 202, 280, or 300 ) comprise extruded plastic ( 10 ), steel strip ( 92 ), wires ( 102 and 104 ), and/or a coiled spring ( 206 ). Two toilet ramrods ( 130 and 150 ) include unidirectional stiffening. Toilet ramrod apparatus ( 70, 110, 200, 240, or 270 ) comprises a toilet ramrod ( 10, 90, 100, 130, 150, 202, 280, or 300 ), a sleeve ( 72 or 204 ), a ramming handle ( 112, 212, or 258 ), an impacting foot ( 114 or 210 ), a slide hammer ( 252 ), a power-impacting device ( 272 ), and/or a torque deactivator ( 334+336 ). The method includes threading an elongated member ( 10, 90, 100, 130, or 202 ) into a curved discharge passageway ( 16 ) and elastically ramming the elongated member ( 10, 90, 100, 130, or 202 ) against a blockage ( 30 ). Optionally the method includes distributing the toilet ramrod ( 10, 130, or 150 ) as promotional merchandise.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method which comprises:
 a) threading an elongated member into a curved discharge passageway of a toilet bowl proximal to a blockage; and   b) elastically ramming said elongated member against said blockage.   
     
     
         2 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said method further comprises
 placing a promotional message on said elongated member. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said threading step comprises elastically threading said elongated member through said curved discharge passageway. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said ramming step comprises elastically compressing said elongated member. 
     
     
         6 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said method further comprises unidirectionally stiffening a portion of said elongated member. 
     
     
         7 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said method further comprises disposing a stiffening sleeve over said elongated member. 
     
     
         8 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said ramming step comprises slide-hammering. 
     
     
         9 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said ramming step comprises power-impact ramming. 
     
     
         10 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said ramming step comprises electric hammering. 
     
     
         11 . The method claimed in  claim 1  in which said ramming step comprises:
 a) attaching a hammer drill to said elongated member; and 
 b) preventing said hammer drill from transmitting torque to said elongated member. 
 
     
     
         12 . A toilet ramrod which comprises:
 an elongated member which   comprises flexibility sufficient for threading through a curved discharge passageway of a toilet bowl; and   said elongated member further comprises stiffness sufficient for transmitting impacts from a ramming end to an impacting end.   
     
     
         13 . The toilet ramrod claimed in  claim 12  in which said toilet ramrod comprises an advertising message. 
     
     
         14 . The toilet ramrod claimed in  claim 12  in which said toilet ramrod comprises a metallic insert in a non-scratch sheath. 
     
     
         15 . The toilet ramrod claimed in  claim 12  in which said toilet ramrod comprises a coiled spring inside a non-scratch sheath. 
     
     
         16 . Toilet ramrod apparatus which comprises:
 a coiled spring;   a sheath enclosing said spring; and   ramming means operatively associated with said coiled spring.   
     
     
         17 . The toilet ramrod apparatus claimed in  claim 16  in which said apparatus comprises a selectively positionable sleeve on said sheath. 
     
     
         18 . The toilet ramrod apparatus claimed in  claim 16  in which said ramming means comprises a slide hammer. 
     
     
         19 . The toilet ramrod apparatus claimed in  claim 16  in which said ramming means comprises a power-impacting device. 
     
     
         20 . The toilet ramrod apparatus claimed in  claim 16  in which said ramming means comprises an electric hammer. 
     
     
         21 . The toilet ramrod apparatus claimed in  claim 16  in which:
 said ramming means comprises a hammer drill; and 
 said apparatus comprises a torque eliminator between said hammer drill and said coiled spring. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method claimed in  claim 6  in which said unidirectional stiffening step comprises making a cross sectional shape of said unidirectionally stiffened portion different from a cross sectional shape of another portion of said elongated member. 
     
     
         23 . A toilet ramrod which comprises:
 an elongated member;   a portion of said elongated member comprises flexibility sufficient for threading through a curved discharge passageway of a toilet stool; and   another portion of said elongated member comprises unidirectional stiffening.   
     
     
         24 . The toilet ramrod as claimed in  claim 23  in which said ramrod comprises a promotional message.

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