# US 2014/0190516 A1 · Drain pipe cleaning deivce and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190516 A1 - Document ID: US20140190516A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/694,800 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Inventors: Marvin Petry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190516A1 ## CPC - E03C 1/302: using devices moved through the pipes {(and simultaneously rotated by means of a cable or rods E03F9/005)} - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS ## Abstract A drain cleaner for cleaning entangled obstructions such as a clog from a drain pipe such as a sink, tub or shower. A rod extending into the drain pipe is formed of a material which is either metal or plastic but stiff enough that it will not buckle but flexible enough to bend around curves. Arms connected to the distal end of the rod normally flex outwardly such that when the arms are inserted into the pipe they are resiliently flexed against the inside wall of the pipe, the arms being circumferentially spaced apart from each other to create spaces between them and each arm can each flex resiliently independent of the other arms. The device may push some of the clog through to be washed out of the pipe. Obstruction material which is not moved downstream will then be grasped by the arms as the arms move outwardly against the inside wall of the pipe. The rod is then pulled back rearwardly toward the drain opening and the arms catch the obstruction material which did not get flushed downstream, and pull the obstruction material rearwardly to and out of the drain opening. A method for cleaning a drain pipe using the device of the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A system for cleaning a drain pipe comprising: a drain pipe to be cleaned to remove solid material caught in the drain pipe and a device moveable through the drain pipe to clean such solid material out of the drain pipe, the drain pipe including an inside wall and an inlet end where liquid enters the drain pipe, wherein the drain pipe extends from said inlet end to a downstream location to convey the liquid in a downstream direction away from the inlet end, the device being insertable into the drain pipe at said inlet end, the device having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the device having a rod which is stiff enough to be pushed through the drain pipe but sufficiently flexible to go around bends in the drain pipe as the rod moves through the drain pipe, a plurality of arms attached to the rod at connections and extending from said connections toward the proximal end of the device, the arms being circumferentially spaced apart from each other to create spaces between them, each arm being resiliently biased away from the rod, independently of the other arms, toward the inside wall of the drain pipe, the arms also being resiliently moveable toward the rod by solid material inside of the drain pipe which the arms engage as the device moves in the downstream direction, and the ends of the arms closest to the proximal end of the device are free ends which have a shape which substantially avoids getting caught in snags at or near the inside wall of the drain pipe, when the device moves in the direction toward the inlet end. ### Claim 22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The system according to claim 21, wherein the free ends of the arms are formed as balls. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The system according to claim 21, wherein the device comprises two arms. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The system according to claim 21, wherein the device comprises four arms. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The system according to claim 21, wherein the device is made of plastic. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system according to claim 26, wherein the arms and rod are molded as one piece. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The system according to claim 21, wherein the device is made of metal. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The system according to claim 28, wherein the arms are soldered to the rod. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The system according to claim 28, wherein the arms are glued to the rod. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The system according to claim 21, the distance between the arms being large enough to avoid getting caught in protrusions or obstructions on the inside wall of the drain pipe. ### Claim 32 The method of cleaning a drain pipe by removing solid material caught in the drain pipe, which drain pipe has an inlet end at an inlet into the drain pipe and a downstream location located downstream from the inlet end, and an inside wall, the method comprising: pushing a device into the drain pipe from the inlet end of the drain pipe, which device has a rod which is stiff enough to be pushed through the drain pipe but which is sufficiently flexible to go around bends in the drain pipe, and a plurality of arms attached to the rod at connections and extending from said connections toward the inlet end, the arms being resiliently biased toward the inside wall of the drain pipe and the arms being spaced apart from each other to create spaces between them and wherein each arm can flex resiliently independently of the other arms, pushing the device into and through the solid material in the drain pipe, and once the arms have moved through the solid material, and with the arms flexed resiliently against the inside wall of the drain pipe, pulling the device in the direction toward the inlet end such that the arms engage and pull the solid material. ### Claim 33 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, including a step of pushing the arms completely through the solid material to create an opening in solid material downstream. ### Claim 34 (canceled) ### Claim 35 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, including rotating the device during the pushing and/or the pulling steps. ### Claim 36 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, including rotating the device during the pulling step to manipulate the arms around any protrusions or obstructions on the inside wall of the drain pipe. ### Claim 37 (depends on 32) The method according to claim 32, wherein the step of pulling the device is performed such that the ends of the arms farthest from said connections avoid getting caught in any protrusions or obstructions on the inside wall of the drain pipe. ### Claim 38 A system for cleaning a drain pipe comprising: a drain pipe to be cleaned to remove solid material caught in the drain pipe and a device moveable through the drain pipe to clean such solid material out of the drain pipe, the drain pipe including an inside wall and an inlet end where liquid enters the drain pipe, wherein the drain pipe extends from said inlet end to a downstream location to convey the liquid in a downstream direction away from the inlet end, the device being insertable into the drain pipe at said inlet end, the device having a proximal end and an opposite distal end, the device having a rod which is stiff enough to be pushed through the drain pipe but sufficiently flexible to go around bends in the drain pipe as the rod moves through the drain pipe, and a plurality of arms attached to the rod at connections and extending from said connections toward the proximal end of the device, the arms being circumferentially spaced apart from each other to create spaces between them, each arm being resiliently biased away from the rod, independently of the other arms, toward the inside wall of the drain pipe, the arms also being resiliently moveable toward the rod by solid material inside of the drain pipe which the arms engage as the device moves in the downstream direction. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The system according to claim 38, wherein the device comprises two arms. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The system according to claim 38, wherein the device comprises four arms.