Abstract:
A double-walled sink strainer that provides additional apertures or larger area for straining debris is described. The doubled-walled sink strainer also allows easy removal of debris, and prevents large debris from entering drain pipes. The double-walled sink strainer also contains a permanently affixed straining device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes priority to Provisional Patent Application 61/805,743, filed on Mar. 27, 2013, and is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    Metal kitchen drain lines are subject to accelerated deterioration and clogging because the drain lines are exposed to acids, oils, fats, food materials, and mineral deposits. Larger food materials can cause drain lines to become clogged, and mineral deposits and other reactive materials can cause drain lines to corrode. Although transitioning from metal pipes to plastic pipes or ABS pipes has resolved many issues related to corroding and collection of mineral deposits, like metal pipes, ABS pipes still clog due to the passage of food and other particles that move through drain lines. 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic illustration of a prior art kitchen sink, drain, and drainage line. Generally, kitchen sinks defines a hole  17  which accepts a sink drain attachment. The sink drain attachment comprises a strainer  10 , sometimes referred to as a basket strainer or drain body, which has a flange  11  that extends over the edge of the hole in the kitchen sink basin  2 . The strainer  10  includes a much reduced diameter threaded portion  12  for connection to a strainer nut  14  or other attachment means to the drainage piping  16 . The strainer  10  may include a removable basket or a garbage disposal adapter. 
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical double basin kitchen sink where the strainer  10  is attached to one at least one basin  2   a  and drainage piping  16 ; the other basin  2   b  has a garbage disposal  4  connected thereto. It will be appreciated that the components and drainage connection systems illustrated in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  are exemplary. 
         [0007]    Typically, the kitchen sink hole  17  is 3.5 inches in diameter. Referring to  FIGS. 1 , and  3 , since the strainer  10  merges into a much reduced diameter threaded portion  12 , the area of the strainer aperture  18  is much smaller than the area of the strainer  10 . 
         [0008]    Because of the relatively small surface area available for debris retention within the strainer  10  and the requirement for threaded portion  12  to terminate at a 90 degree angle with the strainer  10 , it is difficult to remove certain types of debris from the bottom of the strainer  10 . Some existing strainers  10  may allow larger debris to pass through to older, corroded, or clogged drain lines. This larger debris may exacerbate damage to existing drain lines or create damage. 
         [0009]    To overcome these problems removable strainers have been employed; such strainers or baskets are removably inserted into the top of the drain body  10 , and then removed and emptied as needed. However, these removable strainers also present drawbacks. 
         [0010]    Removable strainers do not provide a larger strainer aperture  18 . Additionally, the user of the kitchen sink will need to remember to insert the removable strainer before using the sink. Removable strainers are often stored on the side of a sink becoming an eyesore and can easily be misplaced. Moreover, many removable strainers are made from low quality material, such as plastic or rubber, or a very fine mesh material which may break down over time. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0011]    An object of this invention is to provide a double-walled strainer that provides additional apertures or a larger straining area for draining Another object is to provide a doubled wall strainer where debris is easily removable. Another object is to provide a double-walled strainer that prevents larger particles from entering drain pipes. Another object is to provide a double-walled strainer with a permanently affixed straining device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective, cut-away view of a prior art, kitchen sink, drain, and drainage line 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective, cut-away view of a prior art, double kitchen sink, drain, drainage line, and garbage disposal; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a top, perspective view of a prior art sink strainer; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive sink strainer; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a cut-a-way view of an embodiment of the inventive sink strainer; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view of an embodiment of the inventive sink strainer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    Pursuant to the patent laws of the United States, this detailed description, discusses various illustrative embodiments of a double-walled sink strainer  100 . These illustrative embodiments are provided, as required by law, in order to give persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art a full, clear, and concise description of the invention defined by the claims, and to enable such a person to appreciate and understand how to make and use, not only the described illustrative embodiments of the present double-walled strainer  100 , but various other embodiments that fall within the conceptual scope of present double-walled strainer  100 , despite those various other embodiments not being explicitly described herein. 
         [0020]    Neither this detailed description, nor the accompanying drawings, act to define or otherwise limit the inventive subject matter to which the inventors and/or the inventors&#39; assignee(s) claim exclusive rights; that is the exclusive role of the claims which follow. Accordingly, this description should not be read to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, nor imply any preference of the described embodiments over any other embodiment, unless such a limitation or preference is explicitly identified herein. For example, although the illustrative embodiments focus on a double-walled strainer  100  which is used within a kitchen sink, the inventive methods and systems defined by the claims are not so limited. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-6 , the double-walled sink strainer (“Strainer”)  100  is comprised of a flange  102 , a body portion  103 , and a threaded portion  104  for connection to a strainer nut  14 , or other attachment means, for attachment to the drainage piping  16 . Although the drawings herein depict a generally hemispherical-shaped body portion  103  to ease the cleaning process, the body portion can be any shape. 
         [0022]    The body portion  103  is comprised of an inner wall  103   a  and an outer wall  103   b;  this configuration is will be referred to herein double-walled. The body portion  103  is operably attached to the flange  102 , and extends downwardly and preferably in a generally hemispherical shape. Although the inner wall  103   a  may be composed of various materials, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the inner wall  103   a  is composed of a perforated or expanded mesh stainless steel material having a plurality of spaced apart apertures  110  extending therethrough. The apertures  110  sized to allow passage of liquid and relatively small particles, but sufficiently small so as to not permit larger materials and objects to pass. The outer wall  103   b  may also define perforation for further screening of liquid and debris. Preferably, the inner wall  103   a  and the outer wall  103   b  define a space  115  in-between. 
         [0023]    Although the inner wall  103   a  and the outer wall  103   b  may be attached to the flange  102  in any known configuration, in one preferred embodiment, each wall  103   a,    103   b  has a flange  112 ,  113  which is operably connected to the Strainer  100  flange  102 . More specifically, the flange  102  may have a far side  102   b  and a near side  102   a.  The inner wall  103   a  may be operably connected to a near wall flange  112 . The near wall flange  112  may be operably connected to the near side  102   a  of the flange  102 . The outer wall  103   b  may be operably connected to an outer wall flange  113 . The outer wall flange  113  may be operably connected to the near side  102   a  of the flange  102 .