# US 2022/0274142 A1 · Drain Cleaning Device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0274142 A1 - Document ID: US20220274142A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/740,918 - Filed: 2022-05-10 - Published: 2022-09-01 - Earliest claimed: 2019-05-07 - Assignees: Imagination Products Corporation - Inventors: Stephen S. Turner; Scott I. Turner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220274142A1 ## CPC - B08B 9/04: using cleaning devices introduced into and moved along the pipes - E03C 1/302: using devices moved through the pipes {(and simultaneously rotated by means of a cable or rods E03F9/005)} - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - 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 cleaning device for removing debris from a drain is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the drain cleaning device includes a handle section; a rod section connected to the handle section, the rod section optionally including one or more ribs, the one or more ribs configured to add structural rigidity to the rod section, and the one or more ribs further configured to facilitate the cleaning of grime from a side of a drain pipe; and an optional tip section connected to the rod section, the tip section including a plurality of projections disposed thereon, the plurality of projections configured to grab and collect debris from the drain pipe. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drain cleaning device for removing debris from a drain, the drain cleaning device comprising: a handle section adapted to facilitate the spinning of the drain cleaner by a user, the handle section having a first portion elongated to define a primary first portion axis, a second portion elongated to define a primary second portion axis, the primary second portion axis being approximately parallel to the primary first portion axis; and a rod section elongated to define to define a rod axis, the rod section having a first end operationally engaged with the handle section and a second end opposite the first end along the rod axis, the rod section being adapted to be rotated by the handle section, the rod section having radial protrusions thereon adapted to be engaged with grime in a drain pipe by being rotated; wherein the rod section further comprises one or more elongated ribs configured to add structural rigidity to the drain cleaning device, or one or more features of the rod section that extend away from the rod axis and are configured to add structural rigidity to the drain cleaning device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drain cleaning device of claim 1, further comprising a tip section operationally engaged with or integrally formed with the second end of the rod section and adapted to rotate therewith, the tip section having one or more hook elements or barbs protruding radially therefrom, the one or more hook elements or barbs adapted to be engaged with grime in a drain pipe by being rotated. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drain cleaning device of claim 2, wherein the one or more hook elements or barbs comprises a plurality of hook elements or barbs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drain cleaning device of claim 3, wherein the first portion is configured to accommodate a first hand of the user during the spinning of the drain cleaning device by the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The drain cleaning device of claim 4, wherein the second portion is configured to accommodate a second hand of the user during the spinning of the drain cleaning device by the user. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The drain cleaning device of claim 5, comprising a plurality of elongated ribs spaced apart from one another about a periphery of the rod section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The drain cleaning device of claim 6, wherein there are three or more elongated ribs. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The drain cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of hook elements or barbs are integrally formed in the tip section of the drain cleaning device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drain cleaning device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of hook elements or barbs includes a plurality of curved projections, a plurality of J-shaped projections, a plurality of T-shaped projections, or some combination thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The drain cleaning device of claim 1, wherein the drain cleaning device is configured to be discarded after being used to remove the debris from the drain pipe; or the drain cleaning device is configured to be trimmed and reused after being used to remove the debris from the drain pipe. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The drain cleaning device of claim 10, wherein the rod section further comprises a plurality of elongated ribs configured to add structural rigidity to the rod section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drain cleaning device of claim 11, further comprising a tip section operationally engaged with or integrally formed with the second end of the rod section and adapted to rotate therewith, the tip section having one or more hook elements or barbs protruding radially therefrom, the one or more hook elements or barbs adapted to be engaged with grime in a drain pipe by being rotated. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The drain cleaning device of claim 12, wherein the first portion is configured to accommodate a first hand of the user during the spinning of the drain cleaning device by the user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The drain cleaning device of claim 13, wherein the second portion is configured to accommodate a second hand of the user during the spinning of the drain cleaning device by the user. ### Claim 15 A drain cleaning device for removing debris from a drain pipe, the drain cleaning device comprising: a handle section having an elongated upper handle defining a first axis and an elongated lower handle defining a second axis parallel to the first axis of rotation, the upper handle being adapted to rotate about the second axis to spin the the drain cleaning device; an elongated rod section operationally engaged with the handle section, the elongated rod section having at least three ribs, the three ribs being disposed along substantially an entire length of the elongated rod section, being spaced apart from one another about a periphery of the elongated rod section, being configured to add structural rigidity to the elongated rod section, and being configured to facilitate the cleaning of grime from a side of a drain pipe; and a tip section connected to the elongated rod section, the tip section including a plurality of radial protrusions thereon adapted to be engaged with grime in a drain pipe by being rotated. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The drain cleaning device according to claim 15, wherein the radial protrusions include a plurality of hook elements or barbs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The drain cleaning device according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of hook elements or barbs are a plurality of injection-molded micro-hook elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The drain cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein at least some of the plurality of injection-molded micro-hook elements are in the form of curved projections, J-shaped projections, T-shaped projections, or some combination thereof. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The drain cleaning device according to claim 18, wherein each micro-hook element has a thickness between approximately 0.25 millimeters and approximately 0.50 millimeters, and has a height between approximately 1.5 millimeters and approximately 2.0 millimeters. ### Claim 20 A drain cleaning device for removing debris from a drain pipe, the drain cleaning device comprising: a handle section having an elongated upper handle defining a first axis and an elongated lower handle defining a second axis parallel to the first axis of rotation, the upper handle being adapted to rotate about the second axis to spin the the drain cleaning device; an elongated rod section operationally engaged with the handle section, the elongated rod section having at least three ribs, the three ribs being disposed along substantially an entire length of the elongated rod section, the three ribs following a curved path along the periphery of the elongated rod section, being configured to add structural rigidity to the elongated rod section, and being configured to facilitate the cleaning of grime from a side of a drain pipe; a tip section connected to the elongated rod section, the tip section including a plurality of radial protrusions thereon adapted to be engaged with grime in a drain pipe by being rotated; wherein the plurality of radial protrusions include a plurality of hook elements; wherein the plurality of hook elements includes a plurality of injection-molded micro-hook elements; wherein each micro-hook element has a thickness between approximately 0.25 millimeters and approximately 0.50 millimeters, and has a height between approximately 1.5 millimeters and approximately 2.0 millimeters; wherein at least some of the plurality of injection-molded micro-hook elements are in the form of curved projections, J-shaped projections, T-shaped projections, or some combination thereof.