| US 7,506,395 B2 | ||
| Pipe cleaning tool | ||
| Odis Mason Eldridge, Foster, Ky. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Odie Mfg., Wilder, Ky. (US) | ||
| Filed on Oct. 22, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/971,226. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2006/0085930 A1, Apr. 27, 2006 | ||
| Int. Cl. B08B 9/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 15—104.05 [15/104.03; 15/104.16] | 1 Claim |

| 1. A cleaning tool comprising:
a substantially straight and elongated housing having opposed first and second ends, the housing being formed as a one-piece
body and having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough from the first to the second end thereof, each of the first and
second ends of the housing including external threads provided directly on an outer surface thereof, the housing further including
a blow-out port formed therein between the ends thereof, the blowout port being in fluid communication with the cylindrical
bore, the bore including a smaller diameter portion extending from the first end to a region between the first end and the
blow-out port as well as a larger diameter portion extending from the smaller diameter portion to the second end of the housing,
the region at which the two bore portions meet defining an annular stepped down surface;
an elongated rod slidably positioned in said cylindrical bore of said housing and including opposite ends, said rod having
a handle at one of the ends and a cleaning end at the other end, the portion of the rod between the handle and the cleaning
end having a smaller cross-section than both the handle and the cleaning end thereof, the meeting of the smaller portion of
the rod and the cleaning end thereof defining a shoulder;
a cap provided with internal threads for engaging the external threads on the first end of the housing, the cap further including
an opening such that when the cap is secured to the first end of the housing the rod may pass therethrough;
the cap and the stepped down surface of the bore cooperate with the handle and the shoulder at the cleaning end of the rod
to define a means for retaining said rod in said housing;
an O-ring between the cap and the first end of the housing for sealing off the bore and preventing fluid from exiting out
through the cap; and
whereby the threads on the second end of the housing are adapted to engage internal threads in either a check valve or a test
cock such that the cleaning end of the rod is free to slide into and out of the check valve or test cock to remove blockages
therefrom, the blow-out port comprising at least in part a means for providing visual confirmation of blockage removal.
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