Drain clearing device

Abstract

The disclosed drain clearing devices have a housing that has a gas reservoir and a pressurization mechanism, such as hand pump and/or gas cartridge that compresses and/or maintains compressed gas in a gas reservoir. A nozzle and a pressure release actuator also attached to the housing. The pressure release actuator, when activated, causes compressed gas to be released from the gas reservoir through the nozzle and into a drain to clear an obstruction.

1 . A drain clearing device, comprising:
 a housing that includes:
 a gas reservoir; and, 
 a pressurization mechanism structured to compress gas into the gas reservoir, the compressed gas having a pressure; 
   a nozzle attached to the housing and configured to create a seal with a drain; and,   a pressure release actuator structured to release at least a portion of the compressed gas through the nozzle.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressurization mechanism is a hand pump configured to compress gas in the gas reservoir. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2 , wherein the hand pump compresses gas into the gas reservoir on either a downward stroke, an upward stroke or both. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure gauge structured to indicate the stored pressure of the gas in the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an extension element disposed between the nozzle and the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The extension element of  claim 5 , wherein the extension element includes at least one of a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The extension element of  claim 5 , wherein the extension element is releasably connected to the housing. 
     
     
         8 . The extension element of  claim 5 , wherein the nozzle is releasably connected to the extension element. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is releasably connected to the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is selected from a plurality nozzles, the selected nozzle structured to interface with the drain. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is at least one of atmospheric air, CO 2  and NO 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The device in  claim 1 , wherein the pressurization mechanism is a hand pump or a compressed gas container. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the gas reservoir is a self-contained removable pre-pressurized gas cartridge. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure is between 80 and 130 psi. 
     
     
         15 . A method for clearing a drain, comprising:
 selecting a nozzle based on the drain;   compressing gas into a gas reservoir, the nozzle attached to and in fluid communication with the gas reservoir;   placing the nozzle in an opening of the drain to form a seal between the nozzle and the drain opening; and,   releasing at least a portion of the compressed gas through the nozzle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein releasing at least a portion of the compressed gas causes at least a portion of the gas stored in the gas reservoir to be released through the nozzle and into the drain. 
     
     
         17 . A drain clearing device, comprising:
 a housing that includes:
 a gas reservoir; 
 a pressure gauge; and, 
   a hand pump structured to compress gas into the gas reservoir,   a nozzle releasably connected to the housing and configured to interface with and form a seal with a drain opening; and,   a pressure release actuator structured to release at least a portion of the stored gas through the nozzle.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , further comprising an extension element disposed between the nozzle and housing. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the gas is at least one of atmospheric air, CO 2  and NO 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the pressure is between 80 and 130 psi.