POP-UP DRAIN FILTER TOOL

A tool for the removal and reinstallation of drain filters is provided. The tool has a crossbar having a first edge and an opposing second edge. From the first edge a stem perpendicularly extends. From the second edge two spaced apart prongs extend, the distal end of each prong having orthogonal projections for hooking to an underside of the drain filter during its removal. During reinstallation, the stem may pass through a portion of the drain filter so that when the stem is faced downwardly, the drain filter slides down the stem to its appropriate position in a drain assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to drain filters and, more particularly, to a novel tool for the removal and reinstallation of pop-up drain filters.

It's a dirty job to remove or replace the drain filters commonly used in sink and lavatory pop-up drain assemblies. Especially because the drain filter typically sits deep within a drain assembly and so is difficult to remove and reinstall with extant tools. And one cannot readily remove the drain filter from the drain assembly by using only their fingers due to its positioning within the typically small drain. Anyone having such a job would want to perform their task with a single tool that provides a reliable, easily grip so as to prevent the filter or tool from falling into an open drain, wherein that same tool facilitates the reinstallation of the drain filter.

As can be seen, there is a need for a novel tool for the removal and reinstallation of pop-up drain filters.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a novel tool for removing and reinstalling pop-up drain filters includes a crossbar having a first edge and an opposing second end; a stem perpendicularly extending from the first edge; two spaced apart prongs extending from the second edge away from the stem; and a distal end of each prong providing a transverse projection, wherein the two prongs are spaced apart approximately 17/32 inches, and wherein each prong has a girth of approximately 5/32 inches.

In another aspect of the present invention, a system for removing a pop-up drain filter includes a drain filter having a hollow hub and a plurality of spokes radially extending from the hollow hub; and a tool providing a crossbar having a first edge and an opposing second end; a stem perpendicularly extending from the first edge; two spaced apart prongs extending from the second edge away from the stem, wherein the two prongs are spaced apart and dimensioned to slide between a space defined by adjacent spokes of the plurality of spokes; and a distal end of each prong providing a transverse projection.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for removing and reinstalling a pop-up drain filter having a plurality of spokes by using the novel tool includes sliding the two spaced apart prongs through at least one space defined by adjacent spokes of the plurality of spokes; hooking the transverse projections to an underside of at least one spoke of the plurality of spokes; lifting said pop-up drain filter; sliding said pop-up drain filter down the stem; and inverting the stem so that the pop-up drain filter slides down the stem to a desired location.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a tool for the removal and reinstallation of drain filters. The tool has a crossbar having a first edge and an opposing second edge. From the first edge a stem perpendicularly extends. From the second edge two spaced apart prongs extend, the distal end of each prong having orthogonal projections for hooking to an underside of the drain filter during its removal. During reinstallation, the stem may pass through a portion of the drain filter so that when the stem is faced downwardly, the drain filter slides down the stem to its appropriate position in a drain assembly.

Referring toFIG. 1, the present invention may include a novel tool30for the removal and reinstallation of drain filters20. Typically, the drain filter20is round providing an annual hub2having a plurality of spaced apart spokes4radially extending to a peripheral rim6. The function of the hollow hub2may be to seat or slide the drain filter20onto a vertical spindle or screw that is part of the overall pop-up assembly (not shown). The spokes4are adapted to catch or filter hair or other unwanted material from clogging the drain. Because of its effectiveness at capturing such hair and material, the drain filter20needs to be periodically serviced by removing from the drain assembly and cleaning it. The drain filter20, unfortunately, typically sits deep within the drain assembly and so is difficult to remove and reinstall with extant tools.

Referring toFIG. 2, the novel tool30has a stem12perpendicularly joined to a crossbar14. On an opposing side of the crossbar14, two spaced apart prongs8extend away from the stem12. The distal end of each prong8provides a transversely joined projection10.

The prongs8are dimensioned to be able to be lowered into the drain assembly and pass through the spacing between adjacent spokes4. Therein, the novel tool30can be moved slightly to allow the transverse projections10to hook two of the spokes4from below. Once the projections10have hooked/engaged spokes4, the drain filter20may be lifted out of the drain assembly for services.

Once the drain filter20has been serviced, it must be reinstalled. The novel tool3facilitates this reinstallation process. The hollow of the annular hub2may be threaded by the stem12so that the drain filter20is urged against the crossbar14by way of gravity. Then the novel tool30may then be inverted so that the distal end16of the stem12faces downwardly so as to abut or be adjacent to the vertical spindle or screw of said drain assembly. Then the drain filter20may (be released if held against the crossbar14, say by a user's finger(s)) so as to slide down the stem12and onto said vertical spindle or screw—completing the reinstallation process.

The stem12may be dimensioned to be smaller than the void/hollow of the annular hub2but large enough to provide sufficient surface area to successfully press against the drain assembly spindle or screw. In certain embodiments, the distal end16of the stem12may be concaved or any other surface feature to successfully allow it to be positioned onto said vertical spindle or screw.

The crossbar14is dimensioned to be large/long enough to prevent the novel tool30from falling through an open drain.