Cable couplings for drain cleaning tools

Abstract

Cable coupling assemblies are described which can be readily engaged and separated from one another. The couplings are particularly useful for use in torque transmitting cables such as those used in drain cleaning applications.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain cleaning cable coupling assembly comprising:
 a male coupling including a pair of engagement prongs, the engagement prongs spaced apart from one another and defining a docking region therebetween;   a female coupling having a circumferential wall defining a pair of receiving regions sized and shaped to fittingly engage the pair of engagement prongs of the male coupling, the female coupling also defining an outer end face, the circumferential wall defining a generally hollow interior chamber accessible via the end face and the pair of receiving regions;   a plunger movably disposed within the interior chamber of the female coupling, the plunger linearly displaceable between a retracted position and an extended position;   wherein the plunger includes a laterally extending ridge, the coupling assembly further comprising:   a collar disposed in the interior chamber of the female coupling, wherein upon displacement of the plunger to the extended position, the ridge contacts the collar and the plunger is thereby retained within the interior chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The coupling assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plunger is disposed within the collar and contacts the collar at both the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         3 . The coupling assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plunger defines a plunger passage extending across at least a portion of a thickness of the plunger, and the female coupling defines an aperture extending through the circumferential wall and providing access to the interior chamber, the plunger passage accessible through the aperture upon the plunger being positioned to at least one of the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         4 . The coupling assembly of  claim 3  wherein the plunger passage is accessible through the aperture at both retracted and extended positions of the plunger. 
     
     
         5 . The coupling assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a sleeve at least partially disposed in the plunger passage, wherein the sleeve can be accessed via the aperture defined in the circumferential wall of the female coupling. 
     
     
         6 . The coupling assembly of  claim 3  further comprising a tool including a longitudinal member sized and shaped for at least partial insertion into the plunger passage. 
     
     
         7 . The coupling assembly of  claim 4  wherein the plunger passage has an elongated shape. 
     
     
         8 . The coupling assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a pin at least partially disposed in the plunger passage. 
     
     
         9 . A torque transmitting cable coupling assembly comprising:
 a male coupling including (i) a disc shaped head defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the head, and (iii) a pair of axially extending engagement prongs extending from the outer face of the head, the pair of engagement prongs spaced apart from each other to thereby define a docking region;   a female coupling including (i) a cylindrical body having an outer circumferential surface and defining an outer face and an oppositely directed inner face, the body further defining an interior chamber accessible from the outer face of the body, and (ii) a centrally disposed and axially extending cable receiving section extending from the inner face of the body, the body further defining a pair of receiving regions in the body, each receiving region extending between the outer circumferential surface and the interior chamber and each receiving region sized and shaped to fittingly engage a corresponding engagement prong of the male coupling;   a plunger movably disposed in the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling, the plunger axially positionable within the interior chamber between (i) a retracted position in which the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling are unobstructed and (ii) an extended position in which at least a portion of the plunger obstructs the pair of receiving regions defined in the body of the female coupling assembly.   
     
     
         10 . The cable coupling assembly of  claim 9  wherein the plunger includes at least one member extending laterally outward from an outer surface of the plunger, and the body of the female coupling includes a projection that extends into the interior chamber defined in the body of the female coupling, the projection located within the interior chamber such that the projection of the body and the member of the plunger contact each other upon positioning the plunger to the extended position. 
     
     
         11 . The cable coupling assembly of  claim 10  wherein the projection is a cylindrical collar engaged within the interior chamber defined within the body of the female coupling, the collar disposed proximate the outer face of the body of the female coupling, the plunger at least partially slidably disposed within the collar. 
     
     
         12 . The coupling assembly of  claim 9  wherein the plunger defines a plunger passage extending across at least a portion of a thickness of the plunger, and the female coupling defines an aperture extending through the circumferential wall and providing access to the interior chamber, the plunger passage accessible through the aperture upon the plunger being positioned to at least one of the retracted position and the extended position. 
     
     
         13 . The coupling assembly of  claim 12  wherein the plunger passage is accessible through the aperture at both retracted and extended positions of the plunger. 
     
     
         14 . The coupling assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a sleeve at least partially disposed in the plunger passage, wherein the sleeve can be accessed via the aperture defined in the circumferential wall of the female coupling. 
     
     
         15 . The coupling assembly of  claim 12  further comprising a tool including a longitudinal member sized and shaped for at least partial insertion into the plunger passage. 
     
     
         16 . The coupling assembly of  claim 13  wherein the plunger passage has an elongated shape. 
     
     
         17 . The coupling assembly of  claim 16  further comprising a pin at least partially disposed in the plunger passage.