Flexible, constant-downward-pressure obstructed piping clearing system
View Patent ↗A system and a tool for clearing an obstructed pipe or drain is presented. The system comprises the tool and a housing. The tool comprises a plunger and a protective sleeve with a closed end. The plunger comprises a dowel shaped flexible portion and a dowel shaped rigid handle portion, the distal end of the rigid handle portion being fixedly attached to the proximate end of the flexible portion by a connection device. The protective sleeve is comprised of a water soluble material that is configured to conform to the shape of the dowel shaped flexible portion and at least a portion of the dowel shaped rigid handle portion when the flexible portion is inserted therein, the water soluble material being chemically formulated and mechanically formed to maintain watertight integrity when submerged in water. The housing is configured to store the plunger and the protective sleeve when not in use.
1. A pipe clearing system comprising:
a means for flexibly penetrating a drain;
a rigid means for manually controlling the means for flexibly penetrating the drain; and
a water resistant means for covering at least the means for flexibly penetrating the drain.
2. The pipe clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the water resistant means is a water soluble polymer.
3. The pipe clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the water resistant means is a sleeve comprised of poly vinyl alcohol configured to conform to the shape of the means for flexibly penetrating a drain.
4. The pipe clearing system of claim 1 , further comprising a means for storing the means for flexibly penetrating a drain.
5. The pipe clearing system of claim 4 , wherein the means for storing the means for flexibly penetrating a drain includes a weighted base portion.
6. The pipe clearing system of claim 1 , wherein the means for flexibly penetrating a drain is fixedly connected to the rigid means for manually controlling the means for flexibly penetrating the drain.
7. The pipe clearing system of claim 1 , further comprising a means for connecting the means for flexibly penetrating a drain to the rigid means for manually controlling the means for flexibly penetrating the drain.
8. A method for clearing an obstructed drain, comprising:
providing a drain clearing tool, wherein the drain clearing tool comprises a flexible distal portion, a rigid handle portion, and a water resistant sleeve;
inserting the flexible distal portion into the drain;
applying a downward force to the flexible distal portion pasta point of obstruction using the rigid handle portion; and
removing the drain clearing tool from the drain while leaving the water resistant sleeve in the drain.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising inserting the flexible distal portion into the water resistant sleeve.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the water-resistant sleeve is configured to envelope the flexible distal portion.
11. The method of claim 8 , further including repeating the step for applying a downward force to the flexible distal portion past the point of obstruction using the rigid handle portion.
12. A pipe clearing tool comprising:
a means for penetrating a drain; a means for manually controlling the means for penetrating the drain; and a ribbed means for connecting the means for flexibly penetrating the drain to the rigid means for manually controlling the means for penetrating the drain.
13. The pipe clearing tool of claim 12 , wherein the means for penetrating the drain is flexible.
14. The pipe clearing tool of claim 12 , wherein the means for manually controlling the means for penetrating the drain is rigid.
15. The pipe clearing tool of claim 12 , wherein the ribbed means removably connects the means for flexibly penetrating the drain to the rigid means for manually controlling the means for penetrating the drain.
16. The pipe clearing tool of claim 12 , further comprising a water resistant means for covering the means for penetrating a drain.
17. A pipe clearing system comprising:
a pipe clearing tool configured to penetrate a drain; a water resistant sleeve configured to loosely envelope the pipe clearing tool while penetrating the drain.
18. The pipe clearing system of claim 17 , wherein the water resistant sleeve is comprised of a water soluble material.
19. A toilet plunger system, comprising:
a plunger handle;
a flexible portion coupled to an end of the plunger handle;
a disposable toilet plunger sheath configured to cover and snuggly conform to the diameter of the flexible portion and at least a portion of the plunger handle, the sheath comprising a body with a sealed bottom portion and an open top portion, wherein the open top portion is wider than the sealed bottom portion.
20. A sheath for a toilet plunger, comprising
a middle body portion;
a sealed bottom portion encompassing a flexible portion of the toilet plunger; and
an open top portion, wherein the circumference of the open top portion is greater than the sealed bottom portion and snuggly envelopes at least a portion of a toilet plunger handle.