Abstract:
The disclosure relates to a drain filter assembly that attempts to prevent drain blockages from forming by collecting particles such as food, hair and lint prior to entering the drain. In one embodiment, the filter assembly for filtering fluid passing into a drain comprises a housing and a filter. The housing has an upper portion, a lower portion adjacent the drain, and a perimeter surrounding the drain. The perimeter includes a plurality of openings having a height extending from the lower portion. The filter is adjacent the drain. The filter is contained within the perimeter of the housing.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a drain filter assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a drain filter assembly comprising a housing and a removable filter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Particles such as food, hair, and lint that are washed down a drain can collect and block the passage of fluids down the drain. There are chemical and mechanical mechanisms for removing blockages from drains. However, chemically dislodging a blockage requires handling strong chemicals. Mechanically dislodging a blockage is messy. Preventing the blockage from forming prevents the need to have to later dislodge the blockage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The disclosure relates to a drain filter assembly preventing drain blockages from forming by collecting particles such as food, hair, and lint. In one embodiment, the filter assembly for filtering fluid passing into a drain comprises a housing and a filter. The housing has an upper portion, a lower portion adjacent the drain, and a perimeter surrounding the drain. The perimeter includes a plurality of openings having a height extending from the lower portion. The filter is adjacent the drain. The filter is contained within the perimeter of the housing. In one embodiment, the filter assembly further comprises a base removably secured to the lower portion of the housing. The base includes a support surface for supporting the filter. 
         [0004]    In another embodiment, the filter assembly for filtering fluid passing into a drain comprises a housing and a filter. The housing has an upper portion, a lower portion adjacent the drain, and a perimeter with a plurality of openings having a height extending from the lower portion. The filter is enclosed within the housing and is adjacent the perimeter of the housing. The filter has a thickness that is less than the height of the openings. 
         [0005]    In another embodiment, the filter assembly for filtering fluid passing into a drain comprises a housing, a base, and a filter. The housing has an upper portion, a lower portion adjacent the drain, and a perimeter with a plurality of openings. The base is removably secured to the lower portion of the housing. The base includes a support surface with an outwardly extending flange and an inner ring surface. The filter is positioned over the support surface of the base and is adjacent the outwardly extending flange and the inner ring surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a drain filter assembly; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view the assembled drain filter assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the assembled drain filter assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembled drain filter assembly; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a drain filter assembly; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the assembled base and filter of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an alternative filter. 
       
    
    
       [0013]    While the above-identified drawings and figures set forth embodiments of the invention, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. In all cases, this disclosure presents the invention by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art, which fall within the scope and spirit of this invention. The figures may not be drawn to scale. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is an exploded view of a first embodiment of a drain filter assembly  100 .  FIG. 2  is a perspective view the assembled drain filter assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of the assembled drain filter assembly  100  of  FIG. 1 , shown placed over a drain. 
         [0015]    The drain filter assembly  100  includes a housing  120  and a filter  170 . The housing  120  includes an upper portion  130  and a lower portion  140 . In this embodiment, the upper portion  130  includes an optional opening  133  and handle  134 . The lower portion  140  includes a perimeter. In this embodiment, the perimeter of the lower portion  140  rests on a surface that is adjacent the drain ( FIG. 3 , described in more detail below). Adjacent the perimeter of the lower portion  140  of the housing are a plurality of legs  142  separating openings  144 . The opening  144  extend from the perimeter to have a height  145  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0016]    The housing  120  may comprise a variety of shapes and sizes, although the housing shown is generally circular and therefore has a perimeter, other shapes such as square, oval, triangular are contemplated with the footprint of each of these shapes forming a perimeter. The upper portion  130  shown is generally a dome, however other shapes such as a cone, box, and pyramid are possible. The housing  120  may be constructed from a variety of materials varying in rigidity and durability to achieve a housing  120  that is either reusable or disposable. Suitable materials are a variety of known plastics, metals, paper, or nonwovens. In one embodiment, the material of the housing is not porous. 
         [0017]    The filter  170  is positioned within the housing  120 . The filter  170  in this embodiment is positioned entirely within the housing  120  extending adjacent the perimeter of the housing  120 . The filter  170  includes a catching surface  174 . The catching surface  174  is a first surface of contact to catch dirt, debris, particles, hair, and lint. Opposite the catching surface  174  is the resting surface  176 . The resting surface  176  is positioned over, near, or adjacent to at least a portion of a drain opening ( FIG. 3 ). The filter  170  may include an additional grabbing mechanism to assist in catching and retaining particles such as dirt, food, hair and lint. A grabbing mechanism may be an adhesive, lofty fiber extensions projecting from the filter, hook-like extensions to capture and entangle particles such as hair and lint. 
         [0018]    The filter  170  shown in this embodiment has a substantially uniform thickness throughout. The thickness  178  of the filter  170  at the perimeter  172  of the filter  170  is less than the height  145  of the opening  144  of the housing creating a fluid passage gap  148  ( FIG. 3 ). This allows the fluid from the basin to easily pass though the fluid passage gap  148  to carry the particles across the filter  170  and not simply entangle at the perimeter  172  of the filter  170 . The particles are captured within the filter  170  and are prevented from going down the opening into the drain. In addition, the housing  120  helps conceal from view the particles, dirt, food, hair, and lint trapped within the filter. 
         [0019]    The optional opening  133  in the upper portion of the housing  120  also allows for fluid carrying particles to pass through. Again, the particles would be captured within the filter  170  and would be prevented from going down the opening into the drain. 
         [0020]    The drain filter assembly  100  may include a securing mechanism for securing the drain filter assembly  100  to the basin adjacent the drain. Suitable securing mechanisms include adhesives, mechanical fasteners, suction fasteners. The securing mechanism may be placed on the housing  120  or in this embodiment, may be place on the resting surface  176  of the filter  170 . 
         [0021]    The filter  170  can be constructed from a variety of material, which allows for liquid to pass through and separate out suspended particles, such as dirt, food, hair, or lint. The filter may be constructed from woven or knitted fabric, nonwoven material, paper, porous film, foam, or sponge. The nonwoven material of polymeric fibers. The fibers may be made from one or more of a variety of thermoplastic polymers that are known to form fibers. Suitable thermoplastic polymers can be selected from polyolefins (such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes, and polybutylenes), polyamides (such as nylon 6, nylon 6/6, and nylon 10), polyesters (such as polyethylene terephthalate), copolymers containing acrylic monomers, and blends and copolymers thereof. Semi-synthetic fibers (such as acetate fibers), natural fibers (such as cotton), regenerated fibers (such as rayon), and other non-thermoplastic fibers can also be blended with the thermoplastic fibers. One example of a nonwoven material is a scrub pad sold under the tradename “Scotchbrite” by 3M Company, St. Paul, Minn. The nonwoven material may be constructed to be relatively stiff or relatively drapable. Also, the nonwoven material may be relatively open and porous, or relatively dense and not as porous. The nonwoven filter  170  can be prepared by any suitable melt forming or mechanical forming operation. For example, the nonwoven may be carded, spunbonded, spunlaced, melt blown, air laid, creped, or made by other processes as are known in the art. The nonwoven can be consolidated by any known technique such as for example hydroentanglement, thermal bonding (e.g. calendar or through air) chemical bonding, needlepunching/needletacking, use of binder fibers, etc. The fibers typically have a denier from about 1 to about 50. The basis weight of the nonwoven may be from about 10 to about 500 grams per square meter in one embodiment, from 50 to about 350 grams per square meter in another embodiment, or less than 100 grams per square meter in another embodiment. 
         [0022]    A filter connection mechanism  143  may be included to secure the filter  170  to the housing  120 . In this embodiment, the filter connection mechanism  143  includes hook projections with interact and entangle with the lofty nonwoven web of the filter  170  to retain the filter  170  relative to the housing  120 . Other filter connection mechanisms  143  are suitable, such as but not limited to, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, support surfaces (such as a base as will be discussed with respect to  FIGS. 4-6 ). 
         [0023]    The drain filter housing  120  optionally includes a handle  134  for aiding in picking up the housing  120  and attached filter  170 . The handle  134  could be permanently projecting up from the housing  120 , as shown if  FIG. 1 , or may hingedly fall down and be capable of being lifted up. The handle  134  is not required. Other types of mechanisms intended to aid the user in lifting the housing  120  from the basin surface are contemplated such as indentations or projections on the housing  120  surface. For example, a hood-like projection may extend from the openings  144  that a users fingers may be placed under to lift the drain filter assembly  100 . 
         [0024]    To use the drain filter assembly  100 , the filter  170  is connected to the housing  120 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the hooks of the filter connection mechanism  143  interact with and retain the catching surface  174  of the filter  170 . Then, the housing  120  is positioned over the opening of the drain with the resting surface  176  of the filter  170  covering the entire opening of the drain ( FIG. 3 ). When a fluid, such as water is exposed to the basin and allowed to drain, the fluid passes through the fluid passage gap  148  and in some instances also the opening  133  of the housing  120  to go down the drain. Any particles such as dirt, food, hair, or lint are captured within the filter  170  and prevented from entering the drain and passing through the drain. 
         [0025]    When the filter  170  becomes embedded with particles, the housing  120  and attached filter  170  are removed from the surface of the basin. The filter  170  is discarded. In some embodiments, the entire assembly  100  is intended to be disposable, and the entire drain filter assembly  100  is discarded. 
         [0026]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of an assembled drain filter assembly  200 . The drain filter assembly includes a housing  220 , a base  260 , and a filter  270 . The housing  220  includes an upper portion  230  and a lower portion  240 . In this embodiment, the upper portion  230  includes optional opening  233  and handle  234 . The lower portion  240  includes a perimeter. In this embodiment, the perimeter of the lower portion  240  rests on a surface that is adjacent the drain (not shown). Adjacent the perimeter of the lower portion  240  of the housing are a plurality of legs  242  separating openings  244 . As compared with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the legs  242  are longer and relatively flexible. Similar to the description of  FIGS. 1-3 , the openings  244  extend from the perimeter to have a height that is greater than the thickness of the filter  270  to create a fluid passage gap  248 . As discussed above, the housing  220  may comprise a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. The legs  242  are relatively flexible to allow for insertion into a drain. 
         [0027]    The filter  270  is positioned on a filter support surface of the base  260 . Although, it cannot be seen in  FIG. 4 , the filter support surface includes at least one aperture and likely a plurality of apertures to allow fluid to pass through. The filter  270  includes a catching surface  274 . The catching surface  274  is a first surface of contact to catch dirt, debris, particles, hair, and lint. Opposite the catching surface  274  is the resting surface (not shown). The resting surface is positioned over the base  260 . As discussed above, the filter  270  may include an additional grabbing mechanism. 
         [0028]    The filter  270  may be a separate structure from the housing  220  and base  260  or the filter may be integrally formed. For an embodiment, such as that shown if  FIG. 4 , a filter material may be coated directly onto the base  270  through a process such as an extrusion printing process. Then the filter may be subsequently thermally embossed to create a drain filter assembly  200  where the filter is integral with the assembly. In such an embodiment, the entire filter assembly would be suitable to be disposable. 
         [0029]    Because the base  260  is positioned within the canal of the drain, the drain filter assembly is securely retained within the drain. Therefore, a separate securing mechanism is not necessary and is optional. 
         [0030]    As discussed above, a filter connection mechanism may be included to secure the filter  270  to the filter support surface  262  of the base  260  to prevent the filter  270  from becoming dislodged and lost within the canal of the drain. As discussed above, the drain filter housing  220  optionally includes a handle  234  or other type of device for aiding in picking up the housing  220  and attached filter  270 . 
         [0031]    To use the drain filter assembly  200 , the filter  270  is placed over the filter support surface  262  of the base  260 . Then, the housing  220  is positioned over the opening of the drain while the base  260  and filter  270  are inserted into the opening of the canal of the drain. When a fluid, such as water, is exposed to the basin and allowed to drain, the fluid passes through the fluid passage gap  248  and in some instances also the opening  233  of the housing  220  to go down the drain and pass through the filter  270 . The openings in the base  260  allow the fluid to continue down the drain. Any particles such as dirt, food, hair, or lint are captured within the filter  270  and prevented from passing completely through the drain. In addition, the housing  220  help conceal from view the particles, dirt, food, hair, and lint trapped within the filter. 
         [0032]    When the filter  270  becomes embedded with particles, the housing  220  is lifted and the base  260  and filter  270  are removed from the canal of the drain. The filter  270  is discarded. In some embodiments, the entire assembly  200  is intended to be disposable and is discarded. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of a third embodiment of a drain filter assembly  300 . The drain filter assembly  300  includes a housing  320 , a base  360 , and a filter  370 .  FIG. 6  is a side view of the assembled base  360  and filter  370  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    The housing  320  includes an upper portion  330  and a lower portion  340 . In this embodiment, the upper portion  330  includes an optional opening  333  and handle  334 . The lower portion  340  includes a perimeter. In this embodiment, the perimeter of the lower portion  340  rests on a surface that is adjacent the drain (not shown). Adjacent the perimeter of the lower portion  340  of the housing  320  are a plurality of legs  342  separating openings  344 . As discussed above for  FIGS. 1-3 , the openings  344  extend from the perimeter to have a height. As discussed above, the housing  320  may comprise a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. 
         [0035]    The base  360  includes a filter support surface  362 . In this embodiment, the filter support surface  362  includes an outwardly extending flange surface  366  and an inner ring surface  368 . The filter support surface  362  includes a plurality of apertures  364  for allowing fluid passage. In one embodiment, the filter support surface  362  is a mesh-like material including a plurality of apertures  364 . 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, protrusions  347  extend from the legs  342  and interact with lock openings  363  to lock the housing  320  to the base  360 . Other locking mechanisms are suitable such as, but not limited to, adhesive, mechanical fasteners, suction, and hook projections. 
         [0037]    The filter  370  in this embodiment is a ring-like shape with a perimeter  372  and an inner ring  373 . The filter  370  includes a catching surface  374 . The catching surface  374  is a first surface of contact to catch dirt, debris, particles, hair, and lint. Opposite the catching surface  374  is the resting surface. The resting surface is positioned over the filter support surface  362  of the base  360 . The filter  370  conforms over both the outwardly extending flange  366  and the inner ring surface  368 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . As discussed above with respect to  FIG. 4 , the filter  370  may be integrally formed with the base  360 . 
         [0038]    The openings  333 ,  344  in the housing allow fluid to enter the drain. However, because the filter  370  is positioned adjacent the opening of the drain, the fluid passes through the filter  370  prior to entering the drain. The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5-6  is particularly suitable for drains that have an actuating stopper where the liquid flows around the perimeter of the stopper. Particles such as dirt, food, hair, and lint are retained within the filter  370  and prevented from going down the opening into the drain. As discussed above, the filter  370  may include an additional grabbing mechanism. 
         [0039]    The filter  370  shown in this embodiment has a substantially uniform thickness throughout. The thickness  378  of the filter  370  at the perimeter  372  of the filter  370  is less than the height of the opening  344  of the housing creating a fluid passage gap (as discussed with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 ). This allows the fluid from the basin to easily pass though the fluid passage gap to carry the particles across the filter  370  and not simply entangle at the perimeter  372  of the filter  370 . The particles are captured within the filter  370  and are prevented from going down the opening into the drain. In addition, the housing  320  helps conceal from view the particles, dirt, food, hair, and lint trapped within the filter. 
         [0040]    The optional opening  333  in the upper portion of the housing  320  also allows for fluid carrying particles to pass through. In an embodiment where the drain opening includes an moveable stopper in the center, the fluid is still carried around the filter  370  at the inner ring surface  368 . In such an instance, the inner ring surface  368  ideally lies adjacent the stopper perimeter so that fluid cannot do down the drain without passing through the filter  370 . 
         [0041]    For, embodiments without a center stopper, a separate cover may be included that could be placed over opening  333  so that fluid only can enter through openings  344  and then must pass filter  370  before going down the drain. Instead of a cover, embodiment without a center stopper may include a housing  120  with a solid cover and not opening  333  at all. 
         [0042]    As discussed above, the drain filter assembly  300  may include a securing mechanism for securing the drain filter assembly  300  to the basin adjacent the drain. Suitable securing mechanisms include adhesives, mechanical fasteners, suction fasteners. In this embodiment, the securing mechanism may be placed on the outwardly extending flange  366  of the base  360 . As discussed above, a filter connection mechanism may be included to secure the filter  370  to the housing  320 . The drain filter housing  320  optionally includes a handle  334  for aiding in picking up the housing  320  and attached filter  370 . 
         [0043]    To use the drain filter assembly  300 , the filter  370  is placed over the base  360  and the housing  320  is connected to the base  360 . Then, the housing  320  is positioned over the opening of the drain with the outwardly extending flange  366  of the base  360  adjacent the perimeter of the opening of the drain. When a fluid, such as water, is exposed to the basin and allowed to drain, the fluid passes through the fluid passage gap and in some instances also the opening  333  of the housing  320  to go down the drain. Any particles such as dirt, food, hair, or lint are captured within the filter  370  and prevented from entering the drain and passing through the drain. When the filter  370  becomes embedded with particles, the housing  320  is removed from the surface of the basin. The filter  370  is discarded. In some embodiments, the entire assembly  300  is intended to be disposable, and the entire drain filter assembly  300  is discarded. 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  is a side view of an alternative filter  470 . The filter  470  shown in this embodiment could be for use with an embodiment of the drain filter assembly  100  shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , or for use with an embodiment of the drain filter assembly  300  shown in  FIG. 5-6 . In short, the filter  470  could be solid or have an inner ring. The filter  470  includes a catching surface  474  that is inclined. The catching surface  474  still includes a thickness at the perimeter that would be less than the height of an opening in the housing so that fluid can pass through a fluid passage gap carrying the particles, food, hair and lint across the catching surface  474  of the filter. The resting surface  476  can either rest directly on the surface of the basin ( FIG. 3 ) or could rest on a filter support surface of a base ( FIG. 4-5 ). 
         [0045]    Although specific embodiment have been shown and described herein, it is understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the many possible specific arrangements that can be devised in application of the principles of the invention. Numerous and varied other arrangements can be devised in accordance with these principles by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described in this application, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.