Abstract:
An apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain. The invention further relates to the same apparatus that can be utilized for the maintenance of drains by capturing other foreign debris for removal from a drain. Other embodiments of the invention are also useful for preventing drains, such as shower drains, lavatories, and the like from being clogged with foreign matter; namely hair,

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 61/737,696, An Apparatus For Capturing and Removing Hair From A Drain, filed on Dec. 14, 2012. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is generally related to plumbing fixtures, particularly, an apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Perhaps one of the biggest problems that people face with maintaining residential buildings is that of preventing drains, such as showers drains, lavatories, and the like from being clogged with foreign matter, namely hair. Due to the tendency of hair gradually accumulating in drains and the fact that it is very slow to deteriorate, it is a primary cause of drains clogging up in plumbing systems. If the clogged area is close to an accessible opening then the clogged system can typically be fixed with the application of plumbing tools or plumbing supplies such as abrasive chemical solutions. If the clogged area occurs in a remote position in the plumbing system then the task of unplugging the drain can be very difficult, time consuming and costly to the owner of the building. 
         [0004]    As hair slowly builds up in a drain, it can cause other debris to be clogged in the plumbing system as well. In view of this problem, the present invention provides not only a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain but also an apparatus that can be utilized for facilitating the maintenance of drains by permitting other foreign debris to be captured and removed from a drain. 
         [0005]    The approaches used in the prior art do not present an optimal system or apparatus for trapping and removing hair from a drain pipe. Solutions that employ basket-like structures that are not positioned at a predetermined acute angle along a longitudinal shaft member may be circumvented if the basket-like structure becomes clogged with hair or other debris. When this problem occurs, hair and other debris can manage to slide along the side walls of a drain pipe causing hair to eventually become clogged in a remote area of the plumbing system. Furthermore, solutions that employ hair trapping elements that are not located in strategically positioned vertical columns along a longitudinal shaft member can cause the hair capturing device to be unsanitary and very difficult to clean. 
         [0006]    In light of the shortcomings in the prior art, a system and apparatus for capturing and removing hair is desired that employs a system that has hair trapping elements positioned at a predetermined acute angle in strategically placed vertical columns along a longitudinal shaft member for effectively capturing and removing hair from a drain before the hair enters into the drain pipe eventually clogging the plumbing system. The ideal system will be easy to remove from a drain pipe, can be disposable, or if not disposable, easy to clean based on the unique design of the apparatus. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain that has novel features for capturing and removing hair from a drain which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any prior art drain cleaning devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. Other inventions have been implemented to capture and remove hair from a drain, but they do not include hair capturing elements disposed at or near the sink drain and that are positioned at a predetermined acute angle like the current invention includes. Nor do these other inventions include hair capturing elements that have barrier-like knobs to stop hair from flowing along the sidewalls of a drain pipe. Moreover, these other inventions further do not include a system for removing hair from a hair capturing device that utilizes a v-shaped blade device that includes a handle. 
         [0008]    The present invention also provides a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
         [0009]    The present invention is a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
         [0010]    An even further feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for removing hair from a drain which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such apparatus for removing hair from a drain economically available to the buying public. 
         [0011]    Still yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain for facilitating the maintenance of drains by permitting convenient foreign debris removal and cleaning of a drain without the need of special tools. 
         [0012]    Still yet a further feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for removing hair from a drain that provides an economical convenient apparatus for capturing and removing hair and other debris from a drain without the need to reach otherwise difficult areas of a sewer system in a manner which permits disposal of the hair and debris into the trash and then reuse of the apparatus. 
         [0013]    Even still another feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain that may be positioned in a location easily accessible at a sink, shower or tub drain. 
         [0014]    Accordingly, for a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should he made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention showing the apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a side view of one embodiment of the invention showing the apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an opposing side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention showing the longitudinal shaft member secured to an integral guide that can be secured by a fastener. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention showing the longitudinal shaft member secured to a u-shaped integral guide that is not secured by a fastener. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a side view of another embodiment of the invention showing that the central longitudinal shaft member includes relatively thin like plates in which the apparatus is used for capturing and removing hair from a drain. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an opposing side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention showing that the longitudinal shaft member includes relatively thin like plates secured to an integral guide that can be secured by a fastener in which the apparatus is used for capturing and removing hair from a drain. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a front view of another embodiment of the invention showing that the longitudinal shaft member includes relatively thin like plates secured to a u-shaped integral guide that is not secured by a fastener in which the apparatus is used for capturing and removing hair from a drain. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention that can be used in a shower to capture and remove hair from a drain. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is a top view of one embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0027]      FIG. 13  is a front view of a v-shaped blade device consisting of a longitudinal-extended handle that is coupled to a syncline-shaped hook that extends from an arm used for removing hair from the hair capturing apparatus of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 14  provides a perspective view illustrating the use of the blade device of  FIG. 13  for removing hair from the hair capturing device of  FIG. 1  after it has been removed from a sink, shower or tub. 
           [0029]      FIG. 15  provides another perspective view illustrating the use of the blade device of  FIG. 13  for removing hair from the hair capturing device of  FIG. 6  after it has been removed from a sink, shower or tub drain. 
           [0030]      FIG. 16  provides a further perspective view illustrating the use of the blade device of  FIG. 13  for removing hair from the hair capturing device of  FIG. 10  after it has been removed from a shower drain. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]      FIGS. 1 through 3  illustrate an embodiment of the present invention for capturing and removing hair from a sink. The hair capturing device  10  includes trap elements  28  that are positioned at a predetermined acute angle as to prevent hair from becoming lodged into some remote and inaccessible location in a drain pipe. The hair capturing device  10  is also positioned within the drain pipe having a downwardly extending central longitudinal shaft member  26 . The upper end of the central longitudinal shaft member  26  is secured to a top member means  25  which is configured to engage a portion of a sink plate at the opening thereof so that water drains from the sink or the like and is then carried away in the building plumbing system. 
         [0032]    Attached to and extending from the central longitudinal shaft member  26  are a plurality of slender rod-like bristles  28  of hair catching members. The bristle rod-like members  28  are spaced apart from each other a distance so as to effectively impede and entrap hair contained in water passing between them. Each of the bristle members  28  are slender rod-like elements, whether round, square or otherwise in a cross-sectional configuration. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer ends of the bristle rod-like members  28  consist of barrier-like knobs  30  for effectively preventing captured hair from sliding up and then off said bristle rod-like members  28  as water containing hair passes along said bristle rod-like members  28 . The outer ends of the bristle rod-like members  28  containing barrier-like knobs will further prevent hair and other debris from flowing freely along the sidewalls of a drain pipe as water containing hair passes through the drain pipe. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the preferred embodiment of the bristle rod-like members  28  are positioned on the longitudinal shaft member  26  in vertical columns extending from said shaft member  26 . The bristle rod-like, members can also be positioned on the longitudinal shaft member in alternative configurations other than in vertical columns so long as the alternative configurations are effective for capturing hair from a drain. In all embodiments, hair will be captured by the angled bristle rod-like members  28  as water passes downwardly in a vertical path along the angled bristle members  28 . In the preferred embodiment, the bristle rod-like members  28  extend from the exterior of the longitudinal shaft member  26  at a predetermined acute angle relative to the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member  26 , but said bristle rod-like members do not always have to pass through or be angled toward the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member  26  so long as the alternative configurations are effective for capturing hair from a drain. The predetermined acute angle of said bristle rod-like members  28  causes the captured hair to slide or fall towards the longitudinal shaft member  26  preventing hair from being dislodged into the drain pipe. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows that the bottom end of the central longitudinal shaft member  26  is secured to an integral guide  27  that can be bolted down by a fastener. A stopper actuator rod engages the integral guide that allows a user to raise or lower the hair capturing device to either entrap water within the lavatory, or permit it to drain out.  FIG. 5  shows the preferred embodiment of the hair capturing device  10  where the bottom end of the longitudinal shaft member  26  is secured to a u-shaped integral guide  29  that does not have to be bolted down to a fastener. As in  FIG. 4 , a stopper actuator rod engages the integral guide  29  that also allows a user to raise or lower the hair capturing device to either entrap water within the lavatory, or permit it to drain out. In alternative embodiments, different integral guide designs can be used for raising or lowering the hair capturing device when the integral guide is engaged by a stopper actuator rod. 
         [0035]    With the arrangement of  FIGS. 1 through 5  hair capturing device  10  can be easily removed by pulling upwardly on the top member  25 . Hair capturing device  10  may then be cleaned by cutting the trapped hair from the bristle members  28  with a v-shaped blade device  20  which includes a handle  32 . If the hair capturing device is inexpensively made, (it can be formed of molded plastic) it can be conveniently discarded and replaced. This maintenance procedure if conducted routinely will serve to capture hair and other debris which might ultimately collect and clog a plumbing system in some remote and inaccessible area. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6 and 7  show another embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the longitudinal shaft member  26  of the hair capturing device  17  includes relatively thin blade-like plates  37  with a width that is less than the diameter of the drain pipe in which it is to be positioned. Within the thin plates  37  of the preferred embodiment are bristle rod-like members  28  extending from the exterior of the longitudinal shaft member  26  at a predetermined acute angle relative to the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member  26 , but said bristle rod-like members do not always have to pass through or be angled toward the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member  26  so long as the alternative configurations are effective for capturing hair from a drain. As in the other embodiments, hair is captured by the bristle rod-like members  28  as water passes downwardly in a vertical path along the angled bristle members  28 . The predetermined acute angle of said bristle members  28  causes the captured hair to slide or fall towards the longitudinal shaft member  26  preventing hair from being dislodged into the drain pipe. 
         [0037]      FIG. 8  shows that the bottom end of the central longitudinal shaft member  26  is secured to an integral guide  27  that is secured to a fastener. Alternatively,  FIG. 9  shows that the bottom end of the central longitudinal shaft member  26  can be secured to a u-shaped integral guide  29  that does not have to be bolted down by a fastener. As in the other embodiments, a stopper actuator rod engages the integral guide that allows a user to raise or lower the hair capturing device to either entrap water within the lavatory, or permit it to drain out. In alternative embodiments, integral guides of various designs can be used for raising or lowering the hair capturing device when the integral guide is engaged by a stopper actuator rod. 
         [0038]    With the arrangement of  FIGS. 6 through 9  hair capturing device  17  can be easily cleaned by pulling upwardly on the top member  25 . Hair capturing device  17  may then be cleaned by cutting the trapped hair from the bristle members  28  with a v-shaped blade device  20 . If the hair capturing device is inexpensively made, (it can be formed of molded plastic) it can be conveniently discarded and replaced. This maintenance procedure if conducted routinely will serve to capture hair and other debris which might ultimately collect and clog a plumbing system in some remote and inaccessible area. 
         [0039]      FIG. 10  shows the preferred embodiment of the hair capturing device  19  that can be used in a shower to capture and remove hair from a drain. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the preferred embodiment of the invention includes bristle rod-like members  28  extending from the exterior of the longitudinal shaft member  26  at a predetermined acute angle relative to the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member  26 , but said bristle rod-like members do not always have to pass through or be angled toward the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member  26  so long as the alternative configurations are effective for capturing hair from a drain. The predetermined acute angle of said bristle rod-like members  28  causes the captured hair to slide or fall towards the longitudinal shaft member  26  preventing hair from being dislodged into the drain pipe. The upper end of the central longitudinal shaft member  26  is secured to a top end such as a drain plate  31  by means of a screw that fastens the drain plate to the upper end of the central longitudinal shaft member which is configured to engage a portion of a floor plate at the opening of a shower so that water drains from the shower or the like (such as a bathtub) and is carried away in the building plumbing system. The hair capturing device  19  is also positioned within the drain pipe having a downwardly extending central longitudinal shaft member  26 . 
         [0040]    The bristle rod-like members  28  are spaced apart from each other a distance so as to effectively impede and entrap hair contained in water passing between them. Each of the bristle members  28  are slender rod-like elements, whether round, square or otherwise in a cross-sectional configuration. The outer ends of the bristle rod-like members  28  consist of barrier-like knobs  30  for effectively preventing captured hair from sliding up and then off said bristle rod-like members  28  as water containing hair passes along the bristle members  28 . The outer ends of the bristle rod-like members  28  containing barrier-like knobs further prevents hair from flowing freely along the sidewalls of a drain pipe as water containing hair passes through the drain pipe. 
         [0041]    With the arrangements of  FIG. 10 through 12  hair capturing device  19  can be easily removed by pulling upwardly on the drain plate  31 . Hair capturing device  19  may then be cleaned by cutting the trapped hair from the bristle members  28  with a v-shaped blade device  20 . If the hair capturing device is inexpensively made, (it can be formed of molded plastic) it can be conveniently discarded and replaced. This maintenance procedure if conducted routinely will serve to capture hair and other debris which might ultimately collect and clog a plumbing system in some remote and inaccessible area. 
         [0042]      FIGS. 14 through 16  and the following discussion provide a brief, general description of a suitable hair capturing device and a v-shaped blade device  20  in which a system can be implemented for effectively removing hair and debris from the hair capturing device.  FIG. 13  shows that the v-shaped blade device  20  will consist of a longitudinal-extended handle  32  that is coupled to a syncline-shaped hook  33  that extends from an arm  34 . Within the syncline-shaped hook  33  is a v-shaped opening  35  that will include a blade  36  extending from the inner tip to the bottom portion thereof. 
         [0043]      FIGS. 14 through 16  also provide a perspective view showing that the hair capturing device can be easily cleaned after it has been removed from the drain pipe by positioning the outer tip of the v-shaped blade device  20  at the top of the longitudinal shaft member  26 . After the v-shaped blade device  20  has been positioned, the preferred method for removing hair from the hair capturing device is to slowly slide the v-blade device  20  in a downward motion between the vertical columns of the hair catchers having slender rod-like bristles. After hair and debris has been removed from one of the vertical columns of the hair capturing device, the hair and debris can then be easily discarded into the trash and then the user of the v-blade device  20  can continue cleaning each remaining vertical column of the hair capturing device. Once all hair and debris has been removed from the hair capturing device, it can be easily placed back into the drain pipe for capturing and removing hair again from the drain pipe system. 
         [0044]    The various embodiments of the invention are exemplary of the fact that other arrangements may be employed in practicing the invention which has been set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or illustrated drawings set forth herein for descriptive purposes, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including a fill range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.