Abstract:
A drain water filter assembly for filtering debris laden liquids. The filter assembly has an apertured filter holder constructed and arranged to be placed into a basin, tub or sink. A removable and disposable filter is provided for placement within and securement to the filter holder structure. The filter holder has an elevated bottom portion which permits debris to be filtered and the filtered drain water to be dispensed through the apertures in the elevated portions of the filter holder bottom.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/354,867, having the filing date of Feb. 6, 2002. 
     
    
     
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to a filter assembly. Particularly, this invention relates to a removable filter assembly for filtering drain water. More particularly, this invention relates to a filter assembly which is constructed and arranged for placement in a service basin, tub, sink or the like, and to filter dirt and debris in the used liquid from a mop bucket, for example, as the liquid contents are emptied for disposal.  
           [0003]    Drains are often subjected to water laden with dirt and debris. For example, it is common for the contents of a mop bucket to be dumped down the drain for disposal after the mopping and cleaning operation has been completed. Unfortunately, the dirt and debris collected during mopping are likewise dumped down the drain, thereby often eventually causing clogged drain lines. Clogged drains are both inconvenient and costly to the building or business owner. For example, a restaurant may need to severely alter its operations when drains are clogged. Further, costly drain line cleaning services are required and which may add to the disruption of the normal business operation of the enterprise.  
           [0004]    Although a need exists in the marketplace for safely and effectively disposing of debris laden liquids such as used mop bucket contents, none insofar as is known has been proposed or developed. The drain water filter assembly provides an effective, economical and versatile assembly to filter debris from waste water.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention provides an apertured open container constructed and arranged to hold a removable filter and which removes dirt and debris from waste water, such as used liquid mop bucket contents when dumped down a drain.  
           [0006]    The invention utilizes a rigid open container, i.e., constructed of molded plastic, which is designed to fit into a service basin, for example. The outer walls of the container may be designed to fit into specified basin structures to thereby secure the container of the invention therein. Importantly, the container has a bottom which is elevated at the center and slopes downwardly to the exterior walls of the container. The elevated, sloping bottom surfaces have apertures arranged therethrough.  
           [0007]    A removable filter structure is provided for securement to and within the container. For example, the filter may be of a rectangular liner configuration with an elastic periphery for securement to the outside top periphery of the container. The filter is preferably comprised of a disposable paper filter. The filter conforms over the elevated bottom surfaces of the container. Thus, as the mop bucket contents are dumped into the container, dirt and debris gather in the valleys of the container while fluid filtered by the filter in the container transfers through the apertures in the container bottom walls and through the drain of the service basin, sink, tub or the like.  
           [0008]    The filter holder structure having the elevated apertured bottom may also be constructed and arranged to have side walls designed for placement in specified service basin structures. For example, a filter holder structure may be designed for use in several basin or tub designs.  
           [0009]    These and other benefits of this invention will become clear from the following description by reference to the drawings. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the filter assembly of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the filter assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the filter assembly being positioned for use to filter a drain;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively, show a service basin and a tub for which the filter assembly of the assembly may be utilized;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the filter assembly of the invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a top view of the filter assembly; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the filter assembly taken along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 7. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the filter assembly  10  of the invention is shown having a filter holder structure  11  and a flexible filter element  12 . The filter holder or liner body structure  11  is preferably molded of a rigid or semi-rigid unitary structure, i.e., molded of a plastic composition. The filter member or element  12  is preferably a disposable paper filter having a peripheral fastener  20 , i.e., an elastic member. Alternatively, the filter element  12  may be a reusable woven mesh structure having a mesh count suitable to filter dirt and debris.  
         [0018]    The filter holder  11  is further shown to be a generally rectangular structure having side walls  13 , a top peripheral edge  14  and an elevated bottom  15 . Importantly, the bottom structure  15 , arranged like a pyramid for example, is comprised of angled bottom portions  16 , each having an arrangement of slotted apertures  17 . The elevated bottom portions  16 , defined by center ridges  22 , angle downward to form a bottom peripheral valley  21 .  
         [0019]    The drain filter assembly of the invention may be used in conjunction with a variety of drain structures. For example, mop service basins constructed of aggregate or molded plastic composites having strainers and drains are known for use to drain mop buckets. The basins may be 24 inch×24 inch×10 inches, for example. The sidewalls of the basins may have flat or curved configurations. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the service basin  25  may receive filter assembly  10  as indicated by the arrow, whereby the filter holder  11  is inserted within the side walls  26  of the basin  25 . The lower wall  24 , which provides a smaller bottom area, in comparison to upper wall  23 , may be designed to fit into specified basins whereby shoulder  18  may rest on a lower element of the basin.  
         [0020]    Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the filter assembly  10  may also be positioned within the walls of tub or sink  30 , which may be floor or wall mounted or free standing. Further, the filter assembly  10  may be used in a variety of such tub or basin designs and may also be free standing.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIGS.  3 - 5 , the filter assembly  10  is shown constructed and arranged for positioning within a service basin  25  or a sink or tub structure  30  having walls  31 . The service basin  25  is shown to have side walls  26 , a bottom  27  with a drain  28  and a top edge  29 . For example, the filter holder  11  may be placed within the walls  26  of basin  25  or the shoulder  18  of the filter holder body  11  may rest on the upper top edge  29  of the walls  26  of the basin  25 .  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 6 shows the bottom structure of the filter holder  11 . Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 3, particularly, the rows of slotted apertures  17  in the angled bottom portions  16  are shown. The apertures  17  are shown spaced in parallel rows in bottom portions  16  between the center ridges  22 . Slots or apertures are also shown arranged in bottom peripheral valley  21 . Further, support legs  19  are shown arranged about the bottom periphery of the holder structure  11 .  
         [0023]    [0023]FIGS. 7 and 8 further show the filter holder  11 . For example, a holder structure having sides approximately 21 inches long along the top, a height of approximately 8.125 inches and a bottom width of approximately 18.10 inches has been found suitable for use in service basins, however, other dimensions and shapes may be utilized to securely fit the filter assembly  10  in a basin, tub, sink or the like. Further, the incline of the elevated bottom portions  16  may be approximately 122.6 degrees as shown by angle “X” and so that the angled bottom portions may have an incline of approximately 30° with respect to the bottom of the holder structure  11 . The apex  32  of the elevated bottom portion  15  may be centered and approximately four inches from the bottom of the filter holder wall  13 . Alternatively, the downwardly sloped bottom portions may be contiguous and in the form of a dome-like structure or other elevated bottom portion configuration, as opposed to a pyramidal form, as discussed and shown herein.  
         [0024]    The filter member  12  is preferably constructed of a disposable filter paper, however, it may be constructed of a synthetic or woven fiber composition, i.e., nylon or the like. The filter member  12  preferably filters out debris the size of sand and larger particles. The filter  12  may have a size of 21×21 inches and be 6 inches deep, for example, and constructed to be used in cooperation with the filter holder  11  discussed above. Although the four sided, generally pyramidal bottom structure is shown, other elevated and perforated bottom designs may be used within the purview of the invention. The filter holder  11  may be rectangular, round or have any other configuration and the filter member  12  is sized to fit the interior of the filter holder  11 .  
         [0025]    One important aspect of the invention is the elevated bottom portions which are perforated or apertured preferably up to the apex so that dirt and debris will settle downwardly into the valleys of the container and, thus, allowing filtered water to pass through the elevated apertures.  
         [0026]    As many changes are possible to the embodiments of this invention utilizing the teachings thereof, the descriptions above and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative and not in the limited sense.