Trapway sealing blockage clearing device

Abstract

A device used for clearing and removing blockages in drains, specifically toilets, is presented. This device incorporates elements designed to create a complete seal around the entrance to a toilet's trapway in order to maximize the amount of vacuum and pressure that can be applied to removing a blockage and restoring the fixture to its original useable state.

1 . An apparatus for clearing a blockage from a drain having a trapway, the apparatus comprising:
 a head portion having a gasket for sealing the apparatus to the trapway and a nozzle for drawing water and/or air into and out of the apparatus;   a body portion having an enclosed container for storing water and/or air and a sealed chamber defined by the enclosed container, the nozzle, and a moveable plate; and   a plunger arm within the enclosed container for moving the plate along a longitudinal axis of the body portion.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said head and said gasket forms an air or water tight seal around an opening of the trapway. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the seal is formed within an inner surface of the trapway. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the head is frustoconical and the nozzle is disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the body portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a check valve configured to permit air in a head space of the sealed chamber to exit the chamber when the chamber is under positive pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the check valve is a double ball check valve disposed on the plate. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a handle connected to the plunger arm, to assist a user in moving the plate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a support member disposed on the body portion, to assist the user in forming a seal between the head portion and the trapway. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a release valve on the body portion at an end opposite the head, the release valve being configured to permit excess air or water to exit the container. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket is made of a resilient material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the gasket returns to its original shape after use. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle protrudes into the trapway by a minimum of 25 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle has an opening that is at least 25 mm in diameter. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum volume of the sealed chamber is greater than the volume of the trapway. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the maximum volume of the sealed chamber is at least 1.5 liters. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the trapway is the trapway of a toilet. 
     
     
         17 . A method of clearing a blocked trapway, the method comprising:
 a) forming an air-tight seal around an inside surface of the trapway;   b) suctioning water out of the trapway and into a sealed chamber;   c) forcing water into the trapway, from the sealed chamber; and   d) repeating steps b) to c) as required to dislodge a blockage from the trapway.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising, prior to step c), exhausting gasses from a head space in the sealed chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the trapway is the trapway of a toilet.