Hair straining system

A straining device has an upper wall, a central tube and a lower wall and is positioned in a drain pipe so as to prevent hair from clogging the drain pipe while providing an aesthetically appealing appearance and allowing for easy cleaning.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates to a hair straining system. In particular, the present application relates to a straining device, preferably for use in a shower stall, sink or bathtub to prevent hair from entering and clogging a drain pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Drain pipes, particularly those that service shower stalls or bathtubs are often clogged by an accumulation of hair that is shed by users during the bathing process. The hair flows down the drain with the bathing water and accumulates in the drain pipe to form a clog that prevents proper drainage. Existing straining devices to catch this hair are typically provided above the drain pipe opening in the floor of the shower stall or bathtub in view of the user. Such devices are unsightly in that the accumulated hair is visible to the user at all times. These devices also have limited effectiveness and are difficult to clean.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a hair straining system that avoids these and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present application to provide a straining device that may be inserted into a drain pipe in a shower stall, sink or bathtub or other similar structure to prevent hair from clogging the drain pipe and to keep the accumulated hair out of view of the user.

It is another object of the present application to provide a hair straining system with the straining device and the drain pipe.

A hair straining system in accordance with an embodiment of the present application comprises a straining device, the straining device comprising a central tube, an upper wall and a lower wall, the central tube comprising a tube body, a top opening, a bottom opening, a plurality of side openings and a hollow core, the top opening and the bottom opening each axially traversing through the tube body, the top opening and the bottom opening being oppositely located to each other, the plurality of side openings laterally traversing through the tube body, the plurality of side openings being located in between the top opening and the bottom opening, the hollow core being surrounded by the tube body, the hollow core being in communication with the top opening, the bottom opening and the plurality of side openings, the upper wall comprising an upper body, the upper body being connected with the tube body, the upper body being adjacently positioned to the top opening, the lower wall comprising a lower body, a lower opening, a plurality of lower holes, a ridge and at least one protrusion, the lower body being connected with the tube body, the lower body being adjacently positioned to the bottom opening, the tube body being located in between the upper body and the lower body, the lower opening axially traversing through the lower body, the lower opening being in communication with the bottom opening, the plurality of lower holes axially traversing through the lower body, the plurality of lower holes being not in communication with the bottom opening, the plurality of lower holes being peripherally distributed around the tube body, the ridge being perimetrically formed on the lower body, the ridge being tapered towards the upper body, a radial diameter of the lower body being larger than a radial diameter of the tube body, the lower body and the ridge each being made of a resilient material, the at least one protrusion being connected with the lower body, the lower body being located in between the tube body and the at least one protrusion, and the at least one protrusion axially extending away from the lower body.

Other features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A perspective view of a straining device10of a hair straining system is illustrated inFIGS. 1-15. The straining device10preferably comprises a central tube16, an upper wall12mounted on a top end of the central tube16and a lower wall20provided on a bottom end of the central tube16. The central tube16is illustrated as having a cylindrical shape. However, the central tube16is not limited to a cylindrical shape. A lower body22of the lower wall20with at least one protrusion22a, preferably extends from and outward from the bottom end of the central tube16. The at least one protrusion22ais connected with the lower body22, the lower body22is located in between a tube body17of the central tube16and the at least one protrusion22a, and the at least one protrusion22aaxially extends away from the lower body22. The central tube16comprises a hollow core19through which water may pass, whether cylindrical in shape or any other desired shape. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of side openings18are formed in and laterally traverse through the tube body17of the central tube16to allow water to pass therethrough and into the hollow core19. The hollow core19is surrounded by the tube body17and is in communication with the plurality of side openings18. While the plurality of side openings18are preferred, the central tube16may need only one single side opening18. The upper wall12preferably comprises a plurality of upper openings14that extend through and axially traverse through an upper body13of the upper wall12to allow water to pass into the hollow core19as well. In this embodiment, the central tube16comprises a top opening171axially traversing through the tube body17, such that the plurality of upper openings14are in communication with the hollow core19via the top opening171. While the plurality of upper openings14are shown, a single upper opening14may be used. Alternatively, the plurality of upper openings14may be eliminated altogether, and thus the upper body13could completely seal the top opening171, as shown inFIGS. 13 and 15. The upper openings14, the top opening171and the side openings18allow water to pass into the hollow core19of the central tube16, however, are sized and positioned to impede the passage of hair into the hollow core19.

The upper wall12is preferably substantially disk shaped (seeFIGS. 6 and 12, for example) and is mounted on the top end of the central tube16. The upper wall12may be formed integrally with the central tube16(seeFIG. 7, for example), or may be attached thereto, if desired. The lower wall20is preferably substantially ring shaped with a lower opening23, as shown inFIGS. 7-9 and 14, thereof aligned with the hollow core19of the central tube16. In this embodiment, the central tube16comprises a bottom opening172axially traversing through the tube body17, such that the lower opening23is in communication with the hollow core19via the bottom opening172. The top opening171and the bottom opening172are oppositely located to each other, the top opening171and the bottom opening172are aligned with each other, and the plurality of side openings18are located in between the top opening171and the bottom opening172.

The lower wall20preferably extends radially outward from the central tube16a predetermined distance and comprises a plurality of lower holes20aformed in and axially traversing through the lower body22and peripherally distributed around the tube body17. In an embodiment, the plurality of lower holes20aare not in communication with the bottom opening172. While it is preferred that the plurality of lower holes20aare provided, fewer or even a single lower hole20amay be used, if desired. The lower holes20apreferably allow the flow of water therethrough, but are sized and positioned to prevent hair from passing therethrough. A radial diameter of the lower body22of the lower wall20is preferably less or smaller than a radial diameter of the upper body13of the upper wall12and larger than a radial diameter of the tube body17of the central tube16.FIGS. 13 and 15illustrate exemplary dimensions of the radial diameters of the lower body22of the lower wall20and of the upper body13of the upper wall12and of the tube body17of the central cylinder16.

While the straining device10will most commonly be used in s shower stall or s bathtub, it is suitable for use in a drain pipe D such as that used in a sink or another similar structure.FIGS. 14-15illustrates the straining device10positioned in an exemplary embodiment of the drain pipe D. The drain pipe D in a shower stall or a bathtub generally has a standard diameter and the illustrated dimensions discussed above are appropriate for use in such standard drain pipe D such that the radial diameter of the lower body22of the lower wall20is substantially the same as an inner radial diameter of the drain pipe D and a ridge20bof the lower body22of the lower wall20contacts against an inner surface D1of the drain pipe D to form a seal and prevent water from flowing around the ridge20bof the lower body22of the lower wall20. Accordingly, water can only drain into the drain pipe D through the side openings18and the hollow core19of the central tube16or the lower holes20aof the lower wall20, all of which are sized and spaced to prevent hair from passing therethrough. In an embodiment, the lower opening23may be eliminated, and thus the lower body22could completely seal the bottom opening172, as shown inFIGS. 13 and 15. In the event that a water level exceeds a height of the upper body13of the upper wall12, the upper openings14are also sized and positioned to prevent the passage of hair therethrough, while allowing water to pass. In an embodiment, the side opening18may be 7/32 inch wide, the upper opening14may be ⅛ inch wide and the lower hole20amay be ⅛ inch wide. While these dimensions are preferred, they may vary provided that the upper openings14, the side openings18and the lower holes20aprevent hair from passing therethrough.

The drain pipe D in a sink tend to be somewhat narrower than those in a shower stall or a bathtub and the straining device10may be dimensioned for use in a sink as well. That is, the dimensions of the straining device10may be modified as desired to be used with and inserted into another different drain pipe.

As can be seen inFIG. 7, the central tube16may have substantially a straight tube body17. Alternatively, the central tube16may include a curved tube body17, or the tube body17is preferably made of a resilient material, as illustrated inFIG. 8. The lower wall20preferably comprises the ridge20bperimetrically formed on an outer edge of the lower body22and tapered towards the upper body13. This ridge20bpreferably provides the seal between the inner surface D1of the drain pipe D and the lower wall20when the straining device10is inserted into the drain pipe D, as illustrated inFIGS. 14-15, for example. The ridge20bprevents the flow of water around the lower wall20of the straining device10. This ridge20bis visible in more detail inFIGS. 9, 13 and 15, for example.

In use, the straining device10is inserted into the drain pipe D. The lower wall20is sized to be received in the drain pipe D with the ridge20bin contact with the inner surface D1to form a seal to prevent water from flowing around the lower wall20. This forces water to pass through the lower holes20ain the lower wall20, or the side openings18in the tube body17of the central tube16and then the bottom opening172in the tube body17of the central tube16and the lower opening23in the lower body22of the lower wall20. The size and spacing of these side openings18and the lower holes20aprevent hair in the water from passing therethrough, particularly long hair. The ridge20bis preferably made of a somewhat resilient material to allow some flexing, as can be seen inFIG. 15, for example, on insertion into the drain pipe D to provide a tight seal. The upper body13of the upper wall12preferably has the radial diameter that is larger than the inner radial diameter of an open end of the drain pipe D and the radial diameter of the lower body of the lower wall20, as can be seen inFIGS. 13-15, for example.

In a preferred embodiment, the straining device10is inserted into the drain pipe D such that the upper wall12and an upper portion of the tube body17of the central tube16are visible above the drain pipe D, but the lower wall20and a lower portion of the tube body17of the central tube16are inside the drain pipe D and not visible. This positioning is illustrated inFIGS. 14-15, for example. As water flows to the drain pipe D, it flows through the side openings18and the lower holes20ain the central cylinder16, respectively, and into the drain pipe D. As noted above, the size of and spacing between the side openings18, and the lower holes20aprevent hair in the water from passing therethrough such that the hair accumulates on the lower wall20and around the central tube16, out of sight of a user. The shape of the central tube16and the ring shape of the lower wall20encourage the hair to wrap around the central tube16such that it can easily be removed when necessary. The straining device10is preferably made of a somewhat resilient material such as silicon or other rubber like material, however, is not limited to any specific material. In this embodiment, the tube body17, the upper body13, the lower body22, the ridge20band the at least one protrusion22aeach may be made of a resilient material. Alternatively, the straining device10may be made of a non-resilient material, such as a metal material. In this embodiment, the tube body17, the upper body13, the lower body22, the ridge20band the at least one protrusion22aeach may be made of a non-resilient material. In another embodiment, at least one of the tube body17, the upper body13, the lower body22, the ridge20band the at least one protrusion22ais made of a resilient material while at least one of the tube body17, the upper body13, the lower body22, the ridge20band the at least one protrusion22ais made of a non-resilient material. The material of the straining device10may be colored to provide for a pleasing appearance, as desired. The straining device10may be inserted deeper into the drain pipe D than illustrated inFIGS. 14-15, if desired, and may be inserted deep enough that the upper wall12covers the open end of the drain pipe D entirely. Further, the straining device10may be inserted less deep into the drain pipe D provided that at least the lower wall20is positioned inside the drain pipe D and out of view.

The straining device10of the present application provides for excellent straining performance while ensuring that unsightly accumulations of hair remain out of sight of the user. In addition, since hair tends to wrap around the central tube16as it accumulates, removal of this hair from the straining device10is relatively quick and easy after the straining device10is removed from the drain pipe D. Thus, the straining device10of the hair straining system of the present application provides excellent straining functionality while providing an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance and easy cleaning.

The purpose of the at least one protrusion22ais to improve water flow because the drain pipe D has a crossbar D2where the straining device10sits on, as shown inFIG. 16. The straining device10would still work without the at least one protrusion22a, just not as well because there are the plurality of lower holes20aon the lower body22that get blocked by the crossbar D2that the straining device10is sitting on. The at least one protrusion22aensures the lower body22is not touching the crossbar D2by generating a space in between the lower body22and the crossbar D2so as to minimize blockage of water and air.

In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion22aare a plurality of protrusions22a, as shown inFIGS. 2-3 and 16. In an aspect, the plurality of protrusions22aare distributed on the lower body22, as shown inFIG. 3. In an aspect, the plurality of protrusions22aare peripherally distributed around the lower opening23, and a corresponding protrusion22aamong the plurality of protrusions22ais located in between the lower opening23and a corresponding lower hole20aamong the plurality of lower holes20a, as shown inFIG. 2. The plurality of protrusions22afurther have even fewer touch points with the crossbar D2.

In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion22ais a single protrusion22a, as shown inFIGS. 17-21. In an aspect, the single protrusion22ais distributed on the lower body22, as shown inFIG. 17. In an aspect, the single protrusion22ais peripherally distributed around the lower opening23, as shown inFIG. 18. In an aspect, the single protrusion is located across the lower opening23, as shown inFIG. 19. In an aspect, the single protrusion is of ring-shaped, as shown inFIG. 20. In an aspect, the single protrusion is of C-shaped, as shown inFIG. 21. In an aspect, the single protrusion is of rectangle-shaped, as shown inFIGS. 17-19. The benefit of the plurality of protrusions22aover single protrusion22ais not all that noticeable in testing. Minimal at best.

In an embodiment, the hair straining system comprises both of the straining device10and the drain pipe D.

Although the present application has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.