Closet auger

A method of using a closet auger, the closet auger including an elongated casing member extending along an axis and having an upper end and a lower end, a cable drum rotatably coupled to the upper end of the elongated casing member, a drive coupling connected to the cable drum to rotate the cable drum about the axis, a flexible cable having a first length stored within the cable drum and a second length extending through the casing member and out from the lower end of the casing member, and a feed assembly movable along the casing member, the feed assembly including a handle and a plurality of gripping members carried by the handle and circumferentially spaced about the axis, each gripping member having a first end pivotally coupled to the handle and a second end biased radially outward from the handle, the method comprising:

• engaging the flexible cable with the plurality of gripping members of the feed assembly;
• moving the feed assembly along the elongated casing member while the plurality of gripping members engage the flexible cable;
• pushing the flexible cable into the cable drum as the feed assembly moves along the elongated casing member toward the upper end;
• and
• pulling the flexible cable out of the cable drum as the feed assembly moves along the elongated casing member toward the lower end.

A closet auger comprising:

• an elongated casing member extending along an axis and having an upper end and a lower end;
• a drum shroud coupled to the upper end of the elongated casing member;
• a cable drum enclosed in and rotatably supported by the drum shroud, the cable drum rotatable about the axis of the elongated casing member;
• a drive coupling connected to the cable drum to rotate the cable drum about the axis;
• a flexible cable having a first length stored within the cable drum and a second length extending through the casing member and out from the lower end of the casing member;
• and
• a feed assembly including a handle movable along the casing member and a gripping member carried by the handle, the gripping member operable to selectively engage the flexible cable to push the flexible cable into or pull the flexible cable out of the cable drum.