Snap on strainer with side-slide cleaning

The present invention features a device having a strainer cover assembly having a strainer cover with tab openings, and a strainer housing having flexible tabs arranged thereon, the flexible tabs passing through the tab openings and fastening on the strainer cover with a snap action. The flexible tabs are deflected for removing the strainer cover. The strainer cover assembly includes a strainer with a screen for filtering a medium passing through the device. The snap action of the flexible tabs makes it easy to open, slide out and clean the screen on the strainer cover assembly. The strainer cover assembly and the screen may be formed as an integral unit, which helps in cleaning the screen. In operation, the user simply compresses the snap tabs and slides out the screen which is attached to the strainer cover assembly and rinses the contaminated screen while holding it by the strainer cover assembly. The integral unit being formed by plastic mold injection. The screen may be made of stainless steel material. The strainer cover assembly may be made of a clear plastic material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a strainer; and more particularly relates to a strainer for low flow pumping applications.

2. Brief Description of Related Art

Most strainers known in the art and found in the marketplace have very cumbersome and tedious methods like bayonet latch, threaded bowl, screws, etc. for fastening the strainer cover to the strainer housing.

Some of the shortcomings include that the known strainer devices are hard to open and close to clean the strainer, have to connect and disconnect the entire strainer assembly from the plumbing to clean, and require cleaning the strainer by touching/handling the contaminated metal screen.

There is a need in the industry for a better strainer device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broadest sense, the present invention features a device having a strainer assembly having a strainer cover with first coupling members; and a strainer housing having second coupling members, at least one of the second coupling members coupling with at least one of the first coupling members with a snap action for fastening the strainer cover and the strainer housing together.

The first coupling members may include tab openings and the second coupling members may include flexible tabs arranged on the strainer housing and passing through the tab openings. Alternatively, the second coupling members may include tab openings, and the first coupling members include flexible tabs arranged on the strainer cover and passing through the tab openings.

Moreover, embodiments are envisioned in which the first coupling members may include a tab opening and a hinge member and the second coupling members may include a flexible tab arranged on the strainer housing and passing through the tab opening and a corresponding hinge member for coupling to the hinge member. Alternatively, the second coupling members may include a tab opening and a hinge member and the first coupling members may include a flexible tab for passing through the tab opening and a corresponding hinge member for coupling to the hinge member.

In one particular embodiment, the strainer device features a strainer cover assembly having a strainer cover with two tab openings, and a strainer housing having two flexible tabs arranged thereon, the flexible tabs passing through the tab openings and fastening on the strainer cover to the strainer housing with a snap action. The flexible tabs are deflected for removing the strainer cover from the strainer housing.

The strainer cover assembly includes a strainer portion with a screen for filtering a medium passing through the strainer device. The snap action of the flexible tabs makes it easy to open, slide out and clean the screen on the strainer cover assembly.

The strainer cover assembly and the screen may be formed as an integral unit, which helps in cleaning the screen. In operation, the user simply compresses the snap tabs and slides out the screen which is attached to the strainer cover assembly and rinses the contaminated screen while holding it by the cover portion of the strainer cover assembly. The integral unit being formed by plastic mold injection as a co-molded unit. The screen may also be made of stainless steel material and coupled to the strainer portion. The strainer cover assembly may be made of a clear plastic material.

The strainer housing may also include a quick connect port having a groove for receiving a retaining clip to connect a hose or other suitable plumbing to the quick connect port, as well as a quick connect adapter having an O-ring to connect a hose or other suitable plumbing to the quick connect adapter.

One advantage of the strainer device according to the present invention is that the strainer cover assembly may be manufactured to include screens having different filtering properties.

In a preferred embodiment, the strainer device is a filtering device for use in beverage, industrial, recreational vehicle (RV), military and/or marine low flow pumping applications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention features a strainer device generally indicated as10inFIGS. 1-2having a strainer cover assembly12having a strainer cover14with tab openings16,18(see alsoFIGS. 3aand 3b), and a strainer housing20having flexible tabs22,24arranged thereon. In operation, the flexible tabs22,24pass through the tab openings16,18, deflect inwardly and fasten on the strainer cover assembly12to the strainer housing20with a snap action when the strainer cover assembly12is inserted into a housing opening21(see alsoFIG. 4). The flexible tabs22,24are deflected for removing the strainer cover assembly12.

The strainer cover assembly12includes a strainer portion26having a screen28for filtering a medium passing through the device, as best shown inFIGS. 3aand 3b. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the type or kind of medium being strained or filtered. The snap action of the flexible tabs22,24makes it easy to open, slide out and clean the screen28on the strainer cover assembly12.

The strainer cover assembly12and the screen28may be formed as an integral unit, which helps in cleaning the screen. In operation, a user simply compresses the snap tabs22,24inwardly as shown and slides out the screen28which is attached to the strainer cover assembly12and rinses the contaminated screen28while holding it by the strainer cover14. The integral unit being co-molded and formed by plastic mold injection as a one piece unit. In this embodiment, the screen portion28and a cover portion indicated as30are formed as one integral molded unit. The strainer cover assembly12may be made of a clear plastic material, as well as being made of an opaque material. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the type or kind of material either now known or later developed in the future being used to make the strainer cover assembly12.

The screen28may also be made of stainless steel material, although the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind of material. Embodiments are envisioned in which the screen is made of other types or kinds of materials either now known or later developed in the future. The scope of the invention is also not intended to be limited to the dimensions or filtering characteristics or properties of the screen28.

The strainer device10may also include an O-ring32arranged in an O-ring groove34that seals the strainer cover assembly12in the strainer housing20when assembled together.

Strainer Housing Ports

The strainer housing20has two ports, port fittings or openings40,42for passing effluent through the strainer housing20that needs to be filtered.

The strainer housing20may also include a quick connect port45having a groove46for receiving a retaining clip48to connect a hose or other suitable plumbing (not shown) to the quick connect port45. As shown, the quick connect port45connects to the plumbing on one end45aand plugs into the port44of the strainer housing20on the other end45b, and may be sealed by an O-ring (not shown) and held in place by the sliding retaining clip48. The quick connect port45may also include another groove47for receiving an O-ring (not shown) for sealing the end45bof the quick connect port45in the port44.

The retaining clip48has one larger sized openings48a, one smaller sized openings48band a friction retaining tab48cbetween the two openings48a,48b. In operation, the retaining clip48is seated in a groove54of the strainer housing20, and the larger sized opening48ais dimensioned for receiving one end45bof the quick connect port45. Once the one end45bof quick connect port45is inserted into the port44of the strainer housing20, the retainer clip48is slid downwardly as shown and coupled with a snap-seating to retain the quick connect port45into the port44so that the smaller sized opening48bis fitted into the groove46and the friction retaining tab48cis snapped over the outer circumferential surface46aof the groove46, securely holding the quick connect port45into the port44.

As shown, by way of example, the other port42of the strainer housing20has a quick connect adapter51built into the strainer housing20, which can snap to a pump or other suitable device (not shown). The quick connect adapter51may include an O-ring groove50for receiving an O-ring52to connect a hose or other suitable plumbing (not shown) to the quick connect adapter51. Embodiments are also envisioned in which the strainer housing20has two ports similar to port44for coupling two quick connect ports such as45on each side of the strainer housing20.

The Snap Action Coupling Members

The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind of coupling members either now known or later developed in the future for fastening the strainer cover and the strainer housing together with a snap action.

Embodiments are envisioned in which the strainer device has a strainer assembly having a strainer cover with first coupling members, and a strainer housing having second coupling members, wherein at least one of the second coupling members coupling with at least one of the first coupling members with a snap action for fastening the strainer cover and the strainer housing together. By way of example, the first coupling members may include tab openings, and the second coupling members may include flexible tabs arranged on the strainer housing and passing through the tab openings; alternatively, the second coupling members may include tab openings, and the first coupling members include flexible tabs arranged on the strainer cover and passing through the tab openings.

Moreover, embodiments are also envisioned in which the first coupling members may include a tab opening and a second member such as a hinge member, and the second coupling members may include a flexible tab arranged on the strainer housing and passing through the tab opening and a corresponding second member such as a hinge member for coupling to the hinge member. Alternatively, the second coupling members may include a tab opening and a hinge member and the first coupling members may include a flexible tab for passing through the tab opening and a corresponding hinge member for coupling to the hinge member.

Possible Applications

Possible applications of the device include it being used as a filtering device in beverage, industrial, recreational vehicle (RV), military and/or marine low flow pumping applications.

THE SCOPE OF THE INVENTION