Abstract:
A hair capture device and method that can catch and hold hair before it is released down a drain. The device has a plurality of protuberances extending from an outer surface of a shaped body portion to capture and retain hair strands. A suction cup on a base of the hair capture device allows the user to removably attach the device in a convenient place in the shower or at the sink.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/151,804, filed Apr. 23, 2015 the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to devices to prevent clogging of drain pipes, and more particularly to devices to prevent hair from clogging a drain. 
         [0003]    When people wash, condition, or color their hair, such as while showering, strands of hair break or are released from their scalp and get tangled up in their hands. Currently, that released hair gets washed off the user&#39;s hands and is carried down the drain by the running water. The hair may accumulate over time, thereby clogging the drain and otherwise making a mess. 
         [0004]    While other inventions attempt to catch the hair as it enters the drain, some strands may still pass through. For those that are captured by the device, the user must still bend over and clean the captured hairs. 
         [0005]    As can be seen, there is a need for an apparatus that keeps hair from even getting to the drain in the first instance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In one aspect of the present invention, a hair capture device, is disclosed which includes, a shaped body portion having a plurality of spaced apart protuberances disposed about an outer surface of the shaped body portion; and a base portion having a suction cup disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion. The protuberances are formed of a flexible resilient material. The flexible resilient material may be a polyurethane or a neoprene. The shaped body portion is formed in the shape of one of a plant, an animal, a cartoon character, and an athletic item. The shaped body portion and the base portion may be formed as a unitary member. Alternatively, the shaped body portion and the base portion are formed as discrete elements. The shaped body portion and the base portion may be releasably coupled to one another. 
         [0007]    Other aspects of the invention include a method of preventing clogging of a drain. The method includes the steps of providing a hair capture device having a shaped body portion with a plurality of spaced apart protuberances disposed about an outer surface of the shaped body portion; and a base portion having a suction cup disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion. In some aspects of the invention, the method also includes the step of transferring a hair to the hair capture device. The step of transferring may include placing a hair on the hair capture device. Alternatively, the step of transferring may include wiping a hair across one or more of the plurality of spaced apart protuberances. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a section detail view of the invention along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the invention shown with operator in an exemplary initial configuration. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the invention shown with operator in an exemplary initial configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0014]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a hair capture device and method that allows for the collection .a body having a plurality of flexible protuberances extending outwardly from a surface of the body. The flexible protuberances are configured to engage with hairs held on a user&#39;s hand to allow for the collection of the hairs before they can enter the drain. 
         [0015]    As best seen in reference to  FIG. 1 , a hair capture device  10  has a shaped body portion  18  and a base portion. In the embodiment shown, the shaped body portion  18  is in the form of a pine tree or a conifer. The shaped body portion  18  may be formed in a variety of shapes, such as animals, cartoon characters, athletic items, and the like. The capture device  10  may be formed from a flexible resilient material, such a polyurethane. Preferably the selected resilient material will provide a frictional component to the device surfaces so as to grip the strands of hair, more preferably when the hair and capture device  10  are in a wetted condition. 
         [0016]    The base portion has a suction cup  14  defined on a bottom end thereof. 
         [0017]    The suction cup  14  is adapted to secure the hair capture device  10  in a semi-fixed position to a compatible surface  16  within a bath or shower, a sink area, or wherever the device  10  may be utilized to capture hair. By way of non-limiting example, the compatible surface  16  may include a tile surface, a fiberglass or similar enclosure, a window, a mirror, a counter top, enamel metal, ceramics, and the like. Preferably, the suction cup  14  will have a diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the drain pipe in the area in which the hair capture device  10  may be utilized. The hair capture device  10  may be formed as a unitary member or the upper portion  18  and the base portion and suction cup  14  may be formed as discrete joinable elements. 
         [0018]    An outer surface of the shaped body portion  18  is provided with a plurality of fingerlike protuberances  12 . The protuberances  12  are disposed in a spaced apart relation and may be arranged in rows or columns that may alternate in their alignment with a displaced row or column interposed between an aligned row or column. The disposition of the protuberances  12  may also be varied over the surface of the shaped body portion  18  depending upon the particular form of the shaped body portion  18 , which may not allow for a uniform disposition of the protuberances  12  due to surface contours of the body portion  18 . 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, the protuberances  12  may have a diameter or thickness that is less than the length of the protuberance  12 . Similarly, the protuberances  12  will have a preferred cylindrical shape. The diameter of the protuberances  12  may be between about ¼ and ½ inch in diameter. More preferably about ⅜ inches. 
         [0020]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , in use, the user would secure the hair capture device  10  onto a flat compatible surface  16  in the shower, bathtub, or sink by the suction cupped bottom portion  14 . As hairs  20  may be accumulated on the user&#39;s hand  18  that may come out of the person&#39;s scalp while washing, conditioning, or coloring the hair  20  can be picked off the person&#39;s hand  18  and placed on the hair capture device  10  where the hair  20  is captured by one or more protuberances  12 . Alternatively, the user can run their hand  18  over the hair capture device  10  protuberances  12  so that the hair  20  is captured by the protuberances  12  and avoid being carried into the drain. 
         [0021]    The user can leave the hair capture device  10  tree in the shower for the next time or remove it and put it away in a cabinet or closet. When the hair  20  captured on the device  10  is dry or whenever a the user feels like cleaning off the hair capture device  10 , the hair  20  can be removed from engagement with the protuberances  12  and disposed of in the trash. 
         [0022]    Alternatively, the hair capture device  10  could be inverted and placed over or into an open drain to catch hair  20  that tries to get down the drain. The suction cup bottom  14  will prevent the hair tree from going down the drain. 
         [0023]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.