Waste strainer

A strainer may include a basket portion and a handle or tower portion attached to the basket portion. The handle portion may project away from the basket portion and may be movable between a deployed position and a compressed position, for instance by applying a downward force on the handle portion. The top end of the handle portion may be above the flange of the basket portion, and the handle portion may include a plurality of openings to permit passage of liquid through the handle portion even if the basket portion is filled with waste. The handle portion may be formed of a plurality of sections, and the sections may fold over each other in an accordion configuration in the compressed position. The handle portion may also be resilient, such that the handle portion naturally returns to its deployed position after being moved into its compressed position.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to waste strainers and, more particularly, drains having waste strainers such as those utilized with various types of sinks.

BACKGROUND

Sinks have a variety of sizes and environmental uses ranging from personal kitchens to large or industrial operations such as restaurants or laboratories. Many sinks are outfitted with a strainer or other kind of filter provided at or proximate to the sink drain. These strainers permit passage of liquid from the sink basin to the sink drain while capturing solid material, such as waste, within the strainer. In its most basic application, a typical strainer would have slits or openings sufficiently sized to permit the passage of liquid while blocking passage of waste material too large to pass through the slits or openings. Some known strainers, particularly those commonly found in household kitchen sinks, include a basket positioned within a portion of the sink drain, and the basket has a plurality of openings as well as a solid knob or handle protruding from the basket. A user of the sink may pull the knob away from the drain thereby removing the basket and its collected waste. The top of the knob is typically below, or possibly flush with, the top end of the basket so as to permit objects such as pots or pans to be placed on top of the inserted strainer without contacting the knob. Should the basket accumulate excessive waste, the liquid may no longer be able to pass through strainer, which in turn may cause the sink basin to unintentionally fill with liquid.

Strainers are not limited to use with sinks, and strainers be found in a variety of drains such as shower flooring. For example, strainers are also useful for collection of hair, or pet hair, which frequently clog shower or bath drains after use. In the prior art, typical strainers do not contain a central tower having openings, or a tower that extends above the lip of the flange, to provide a strainer that resists clogging.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of every embodiment disclosed herein. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the various embodiments nor delineate the scope of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the disclosure. In accordance with the various embodiments disclosed herein, in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, a strainer may include a basket portion including a base surface provided at a base end, an outer basket wall projecting away from the base surface, a basket flange provided on the outer basket wall opposite the base end, and at least one basket opening to permit passage of liquid through the basket portion. The strainer may also include a handle portion attached to the basket portion and projecting away from the base end, the handle portion having a top end defined opposite the base end. The basket flange may be positioned between the top end and the base end in a deployed position.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a strainer may include a basket portion including a base surface having a ring shape with an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the base surface provided at a base end, an outer basket wall projecting away from the outer circumference of the base surface, with the outer basket wall including a wall slit to permit passage of liquid through the outer basket wall, an inner basket wall projecting away from the inner circumference of the base surface, the inner basket wall including a support channel, and a basket flange provided on the outer basket wall opposite the base end. The strainer may also include a handle portion including a dome at or proximate to the top end, a passage proximate to the dome, a plurality of sections attached to the dome, and a protrusion attached to at least one of the plurality of sections, the protrusion conformingly dimensioned with the support channel and positioned within the support channel.

In certain embodiments, the handle portion may be movable between a deployed position and a compressed position, and the plurality of sections may fold over each other in an accordion configuration in the compressed position. The basket flange may be positioned between the top end and the base end in the deployed position and the basket flange may be positioned either substantially flush with the top end or the top end may be positioned between the basket flange and the base end in the compressed position.

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects of the embodiments of the disclosure. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the disclosure may be employed and the various embodiments are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description and the appended drawings describe and illustrate some embodiments of the disclosure for the purpose of enabling one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and use these embodiments. As such, the detailed description and illustration of these embodiments are purely illustrative in nature and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any manner. It should also be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale and in certain instances details may have been omitted, which are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments, such as details of fabrication and assembly. In the accompanying drawings, like numerals represent like components.

In one embodiment of the disclosure, a strainer may include a basket portion including a base surface provided at a base end, an outer basket wall projecting away from the base surface, a basket flange provided on the outer basket wall opposite the base end, and at least one basket opening to permit passage of liquid through the basket portion. The strainer may also include a handle portion attached to the basket portion and projecting away from the base end, the handle portion having a top end defined opposite the base end. The handle portion may be movable between a deployed position and a compressed position, where the basket flange may be positioned between the top end and the base end in the deployed position and the basket flange may be positioned either substantially flush with the top end or the top end may be positioned between the basket flange and the base end in the compressed position.

In further embodiments, the handle portion may further include a dome provided proximate to the top end and a passage proximate to the dome. The handle portion may be substantially hollow and the tower portion may include at least one handle opening to permit passage of liquid through the handle portion. The at least one passage may be positioned between the top end and the basket flange in the deployed position. The handle portion may further include a dome provided proximate to the top end and a passage proximate to the dome, the passage may be sized to accept entry of a portion of a user's finger, and the at least one passage may be provided on the dome. The handle portion may further include a plurality of sections, and the plurality of sections may fold over each other in an accordion configuration in the compressed position. The handle portion may be substantially hollow and the handle portion may include at least one handle opening provided on at least one of the sections to permit passage of liquid through the handle portion. The base surface may be ring shaped having an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the outer basket wall projecting from the outer circumference, and the basket portion may be further comprising an inner basket wall projecting from the inner circumference, the inner basket wall including a support channel. The tower portion may further include a projection having dimensions conforming to the support channel, the projection provided within the support channel. The support channel and the projection may have an inverted “T” shape such that the lateral part of the “T” is proximate the base end and the longitudinal part of the “T” projects towards the top end. The basket portion may be a harder material than the handle portion. The handle portion may be silicone or rubber. The application of a force on the tower portion towards the base end may move the tower portion into the compressed position. The cessation of the force on the tower portion may result in the tower portion resiliently returning to the deployed position.

In another embodiment of the disclosure, a strainer may include a basket portion including a base surface having a ring shape with an inner circumference and an outer circumference, the base surface provided at a base end, an outer basket wall projecting away from the outer circumference of the base surface, with the outer basket wall including a wall slit to permit passage of liquid through the outer basket wall, an inner basket wall projecting away from the inner circumference of the base surface, the inner basket wall including a support channel, and a basket flange provided on the outer basket wall opposite the base end. The strainer may also include a handle portion including a dome at or proximate to the top end, a passage proximate to the dome, a plurality of sections attached to the dome, and a protrusion attached to at least one of the plurality of sections, the protrusion conformingly dimensioned with the support channel and positioned within the support channel.

In certain embodiments, the handle portion may be movable between a deployed position and a compressed position, and the plurality of sections may fold over each other in an accordion configuration in the compressed position. The basket flange may be positioned between the top end and the base end in the deployed position and the basket flange may be positioned either substantially flush with the top end or the top end may be positioned between the basket flange and the base end in the compressed position.

In further embodiments, the support channel and the projection may have an inverted “T” shape such that the lateral part of the “T” is proximate the base end and the longitudinal part of the “T” projects towards the top end. The handle portion may be silicone or rubber, and the basket portion may be harder material than the handle portion. The application of a force on the tower portion towards the base end may move the tower portion into the compressed position, and the cessation of the force on the tower portion may result in the tower portion resiliently returning to the deployed position.

With reference to the Figures,FIG. 1depicts a top side perspective view on an embodiment of a waste strainer10. Waste strainer10may include a basket or base portion100and a handle or tower portion200projecting away from a base end102of basket portion100. Handle portion200may be constructed from a static, plastic, or elastic material, for example, plastics, polymers, metals, woods, silicones, rubbers, or combinations thereof.

Basket portion100may include a base surface104with a plurality of base apertures106in order to permit the passage of liquid through base surface104. An outer basket wall108may project away from the circumferential ends of base surface104. At the end of outer basket wall108opposite base end102may be a basket lip or flange110projecting radially away from basket wall108. As utilized in a drain (not illustrated), basket100may be positioned within at least a portion of a drain such that at least a portion of outer basket wall108may be proximate to an inner drain wall while lip110sits on or otherwise contacts surface proximate to the drain opening such as a sink basin or shower floor.

In other embodiments, the outer edge of the basket lip110may be disposed of against the inner wall of a drain. Thus the basket lip110can compress against said inner wall of the drain to hold the waste strainer10in place in the particular drain.

Basket wall108may also include a plurality of draining slits or passages112in order to permit the passage of liquid through outer basket wall108. In the illustrated embodiment, base apertures106have a substantially circular shape while wall slits112have a substantially falcate shape, and base apertures106and wall slits112are evenly distributed across their respective surfaces, however other shapes and orientations having ornamental or functional advantages known to persons of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated within the disclosure. Base apertures106and wall slits112may be collectively referred to herein as basket openings.

In some embodiments base surface104is substantially circular with handle portion100attached to and projecting away from base surface104. In other embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, base surface is substantially ring-shaped with outer basket wall108projecting away from an outer perimeter of base surface104and an inner basket wall114projecting away from an inner perimeter of base surface104. Outer basket wall108and inner basket wall114may be substantially parallel, with less than about 30 degrees of variation in the angles of the wall with respect to base surface104. Although not shown in the illustrated embodiment, inner basket wall may include one or more wall slits112. Inner basket wall114may also include one or more support channels116, which in the illustrated embodiment are each substantially “T” shaped. Support channels116may be utilized to secure handle portion200with basket portion100as further described herein.

In certain embodiments, handle portion200may be forcibly moved between an erect or deployed position, as shown inFIG. 1, and a compressed or stored position, as shown inFIG. 2. A top end202of handle portion is defined opposite bottom end102, and at top end202of handle portion200may be a dome or peak204. A passage206may be provided below dome204, with the passage sufficiently sized to grasp the dome204and remove said dome204from the drain. In certain embodiments, the passage206may be appropriately sized such that a portion of a user's finger or fingers can be inserted into the passage206thereby permitting a user to pull the dome204, and consequentially the entire strainer10, upwards in a direction away from base end102. Passage206may include a plurality of openings, and in the illustrated embodiment passage206includes four (4) openings with arcuate shaped upper ends. Furthermore, passage206, by sitting above the rim110, allows for continual draining even when the wall slits112and base apertures106are clogged.

Connected to dome204may be a plurality of levels or sections208, which may collapse or fold over each other in the compressed position via accordion or nested fashion.FIG. 11in particular shows this folded nature of sections208in the compressed position. In the illustrated embodiment, three (3) sections208a,208b,208care illustrated. In the deployed position, sections208may form a tower with the lowest section208cclosest to the base end102having the greatest circumference with the adjacent section208bhave a smaller circumference and the highest section208aclosest to the top end202having the smallest circumference. This gradual change in circumferences between sections208may assist the sections to folder over in nested like fashion to allow the done202to compress below the rim110. Further embodiments contemplate sections208retracting into the compressed position in a manner other than an accordion or nested fashion, for instance by telescoping over each other or twisting in a threaded-like movement, in order to collapse onto each other.

Dome204may be attached to sections208either directly or through an intermediary element210. Sections208may be attached to basket portion100by one or more protrusions212, each conformingly dimensioned to engage with a support channel116. In the illustrated embodiment, both protrusions212and support channel116are substantially shaped as an inverted “T”, which permits an increase in force distribution emanating from a user pulling on dome204and applying to basket portion100via protrusions212and channels116. Protrusions212may be forcibly push fitted into channels116, or strainer may be manufactured or molded so such that protrusions212are pre-fitted into channels116. This allows the strainer to be manufactured separately, from two or more materials, typically one for the tower and one for the base portion. Alternatively, the strainer may be manufactured from a single material, or two or more materials in a single mold.

Handle portion200may be substantially hollow and a plurality of handle openings214may be provided along sections208or dome204, or both as shown in the illustrated embodiment, thereby permitting liquid drainage through the interior of handle portion200. At least a portion of the handle openings214may be placed at a position between basket lip110and top end202, such as on upper sections208a,208bas well as on dome204. By positioning handle openings214proximate to top end202, liquid drainage may occur even if base apertures104and wall slits112are blocked with debris or waste. As with base apertures106and wall slits112, a variety of shapes known to persons of ordinary skill in the art are contemplated within the disclosure for handle openings214as well as passage206.

Handle portion200may be in a deployed position in its natural state of rest. Applying a downward force on dome204in a direction towards base end102may then result in handle portion forcibly transforming into the compressed position. In its compressed position, top end202of dome204may be moved to a position that is substantially flush with, or even below, basket lip110. In the illustrated embodiment, dome is substantially flush with basket lip110such that the majority of dome204is below basket lip110.

However, in one possible embodiment, the strainer10is manufactured wherein the handle portion200is manufactured wherein the dome cannot be compressed. Indeed, as the handle portion200extends above the basket lip110, the strainer10can continue to allow water to drain through the strainer, even when the entire basket is otherwise full of debris. Indeed, having this extended central portion ensures that the drain continues to function absent a complete and total blockage of both the basket and of the handle portion200. This feature is present whether or not the handle portion200is manufactured so as to prevent compression, or if the handle portion200compresses, as is depicted in, for example,FIG. 2.

Accordingly, in one possible environmental example of strainer10in operation, basket portion100of strainer10may be placed in a kitchen sink drain and a pot or pan be placed on strainer10thereby providing a downward force on dome204resulting in a transformation to the compressed position such as depicted inFIG. 2. In this example, the compressed position would sufficiently move dome204downward so as to permit the pot or pan to rest on strainer10without excessive interference from dome204, meaning the placed pot or pan would not significantly tilt, or have any tilt, while it rests on strainer10. The pot or pan may be removed, and the handle portion100may elastically return to its deployed position. In the deployed position, as the basket portion100accumulates waste, handle openings212may permit liquid drainage to continue even as wall slits112and base apertures106become blocked with waste. Moreover, a user may engage her finger, or at least a portion of her finger such as the tip of a finger, with passage206and upwardly pull dome204, thereby removing strainer10from the sink drain while the user's fingers avoid contact with the waste accumulated in basket portion100.

FIG. 3illustrates a bottom perspective view of the strainer ofFIG. 1in a deployed position. Accordingly, the hollow nature of the handle portion200is clearly seen from the underside to allow for water to drain through the handle portion200. At the same time, the base apertures106and slits112provide for water to drain through the openings in the basket.

FIG. 4illustrates a side view of the strainer ofFIG. 1in a deployed position. The front, rear, and opposing side view the same as this side view. Indeed, the dome204and the handle200are clearly depicted as extending above the basket lip110wherein the openings in the handle200allow for draining of water or other liquids, if and when the basket is otherwise clogged. Yet, at the same time, the done204also allows for easy removal of the strainer10without having to contact the debris within the basket.

In certain embodiments, the strainer10can then simply be disposed of, such that the strained materials and the strainer10are disposed of together. In other embodiments

FIGS. 5 and 6illustrate various views of the top and bottom of the strainer ofFIG. 1in a deployed position.

FIG. 7, likeFIG. 4above, illustrates a side view of the strainer ofFIG. 1in a deployed position. A detail in a cross-sectional view along plane “A-A” is provided byFIG. 8. Similarly, FIG. illustrates a side view of the strainer ofFIG. 1in a compressed position andFIG. 10illustrates a cross-section view along plane “B-B” of the strainer ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 11illustrates an exploded view of the area marked “D” of the strainer ofFIG. 10. This provides greater detail of one embodiment may fold the handle portion down. The top of the dome204is depicted as slightly above the basket lip110, however, in certain embodiments and upon application of a force to this dome204, the dome will compress below the edge of, or adjacent to the edge of the basket lip110. This enables a flat bottomed device to be placed upon the strainer10and to be able to sit flat on the bottom of the drain, without tilting significantly due to the dome204protruding above the edge of the basket lip110.

FIG. 12illustrates a further depiction of a side perspective cross-section view of the strainer ofFIG. 1in a compressed position.

The descriptions set forth above are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Various modifications of the embodiments, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the concepts described herein. Each patent, patent application and publication cited or described in this document are hereby incorporated herein by reference, in their entireties.

The foregoing description of possible implementations consistent with the present disclosure does not represent a comprehensive list of all such implementations or all variations of the implementations described. The description of some implementation should not be construed as an intent to exclude other implementations. For example, artisans will understand how to implement the embodiments in many other ways, using equivalents and alternatives that do not depart from the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, unless indicated to the contrary in the preceding description, none of the components described in the implementations are essential to the embodiments disclosed. It is thus intended that the embodiments be considered as illustrative, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

REFERENCE LIST