Drain clog remover

Abstract

A drain clog remover includes a container adapted to hold a drain cleaning composition and a shaft defining a delivery passage fluidly communicating with the container. In certain embodiments, the shaft includes projections for mechanically engaging and removing clog-forming material from the drain pipe. In other embodiments, the shaft is slidably coupled to the container for moving between a retracted position for storage and an extended position for use.

1 . A drain clog remover for removing a clog from a drain pipe, the apparatus comprising:
 a container having an outlet and defining a reservoir adapted to receive a drain cleaning composition;   an elongate shaft coupled to the container and having a proximal end and a distal tip, the shaft having an exterior surface sized for insertion into the drain pipe;   a delivery passage extending through the shaft and having an inlet formed at the shaft proximal end in fluid communication with the container outlet; and   projections extending outwardly from the shaft exterior surface configured to grip fibrous material.   
     
     
         2 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the projections comprise barbs. 
     
     
         3 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the container is formed of a material sufficiently flexible to compress under manual pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the container includes an outlet valve for controlling flow of the drain cleaning composition through the container outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The drain clog remover of  claim 4 , in which the shaft further comprises an activation device to facilitate actuation of the outlet valve. 
     
     
         6 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the shaft is sufficiently flexible to be bent into an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         7 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the container reservoir is further adapted to receive a propellant to facilitate discharge of the drain cleaning composition out of the container outlet. 
     
     
         8 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the container reservoir further comprises a mechanical actuator for dispensing the chemical composition from the container. 
     
     
         9 . The drain clog remover of  claim 8 , in which the mechanical actuator comprises a spring-loaded piston. 
     
     
         10 . The drain clog remover of  claim 1 , in which the delivery passage extends to the shaft distal tip. 
     
     
         11 . A drain clog removing kit for use with a drain pipe, the kit comprising:
 a container having an outlet and defining a reservoir adapted to receive a drain cleaning composition; and   an elongate shaft having a proximal end, a distal tip, an exterior surface sized for insertion into the drain pipe, and projections extending outwardly from the shaft exterior surface configured to grip fibrous material.   
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , in which a delivery passage extends through the shaft and has an inlet formed at the shaft proximal end in fluid communication with the container outlet. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 11 , in which the shaft proximal end is adapted for coupling to the container outlet. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , in which the shaft proximal end and container outlet comprise complementary threads. 
     
     
         15 . The kit  claim 11 , in which the container includes a valve for controlling flow of the drain cleaning composition through the container outlet. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 11 , in which the shaft is sufficiently flexible to be bent into an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         17 . A method of removing a clog from a drain pipe, comprising:
 applying a mechanical action by inserting an elongate shaft into the drain pipe until a distal tip of the shaft engages the clog, the shaft having a proximal end and a delivery passage with an inlet formed at the shaft proximal end; and   applying a chemical action by dispensing a drain cleaning composition from an outlet of a container and into the shaft inlet.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , in which the shaft further comprises projections extending outwardly from an exterior surface of the shaft and configured to grip fibrous material, and in which the application of mechanical action further comprises placing the projections into engagement with the clog. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , in which the container further comprises an outlet valve and a propellant is disposed inside the container, and in which the dispensing comprises actuating the outlet valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , in which the container further comprises a mechanical actuator for dispensing the chemical composition from the container, and in which the dispensing comprises actuating the mechanical actuator. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , in which the shaft delivery passage extends to the shaft distal tip, and in which the dispensing comprises dispensing the drain cleaning composition from the shaft distal tip. 
     
     
         22 . A drain clog remover for removing a clog from a drain pipe, the apparatus comprising:
 a container having an outlet and being adapted to receive a drain cleaning composition;   a plug coupled to the container outlet and defining an aperture;   an elongate shaft having an exterior surface sized to slidably engage the plug through the aperture and movable between a retracted position, in which a majority of the shaft is disposed inside the container, and an extended position, in which a majority of the shaft is disposed outside of the container, the shaft having a proximal end, and a distal tip, and wherein at least a portion of the shaft exterior surface is further sized for insertion into the drain pipe, and   a delivery passage in the shaft and extending from the shaft proximal end to the shaft distal tip, a proximal end of the fluid delivery shaft fluidly communicating with the container outlet.   
     
     
         23 . The drain clog remover of  claim 22 , in which the plug aperture is tapered to form a scraper edge sized to engage an exterior surface of the shaft. 
     
     
         24 . The drain clog remover of  claim 22 , in which the plug defines a receptacle sized to receive the shaft distal tip when the shaft is in the retracted position.