Patent Publication Number: US-10309085-B1

Title: Hair and detritus catching device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Drains often get slowed down or clogged by hair, debris, and other detritus with normal use after a period of time. Long strands of hair can particularly be responsible for the slowdown of normal drain flow causing blockages. Many products have attempted to address the problem and are on the market. Previous attempts try to strain out all the debris and detritus, but they slow down the flow of water dramatically or they don&#39;t work as well as claimed. Existing products could also be unsightly because the straining mechanism is visible during normal usage and the user can see all the debris and detritus collected and captured. With respect to bathroom sink drains, there is also a problem of removing the drain stopper easily. Most drain stoppers include beneath sink attachments that require users to remove it from underneath the sink which is not conducive for cleaning. While those devices which can be removed from the top often leave the drain closing and opening mechanics useless. 
     A need exists for a product that can prevent the slowdown and clogging of drains, allowing for drain stopper operability, and providing ease of access for clearing the collected and captured debris and detritus. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A hair and detritus catching device that can be used in any type of drain pipe comprising multiple offset layers of upward facing prongs surrounding a central rod. For example, a sink drain detritus catching device can require three offset layers of eight prongs. First layer can be aligned to 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°. Second layer can be aligned to 22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, 157.5°, 202.5°, 247.5°, 292.5°, 337.5°. The third layer can be aligned the same way as the first layer. That increases the likelihood of detritus being captured in different layers. It can be attached to a stopper or other connection mechanisms suitable for the type of drain in order to allow for normal opening and closing operation of the drain, in addition to matching the existing look of the drain. For a bathroom sink drain, there is also a E-shaped attachment positioned at the bottom that is attached offset to the central rod and extends parallel to the horizontal rod that extends below the sink. The user can lower the device with the “E” parallel the horizontal rod until one of the two openings in the “E”, depending on the desired height of the stopper, catches the horizontal rod by rotating the device by 90°. Additional levels can be added to the E-shape attachment if needed to accommodate different drain lengths. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective, top-down angled view of an embodiment of the present invention with a stopper. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective, partial cross-sectional view of a sink basin including an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective, left side view of an embodiment of the present invention with a stopper. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective, right side view of an embodiment of the present invention with a stopper. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective, front view of an embodiment of the present invention with a stopper. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective, back view of an embodiment of the present invention with a stopper. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective, top view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective, bottom view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective, bottom-top front angled view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention with an optional wheel shaped layer instead of prongs. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention with a different upper connection mechanism. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In the following description, certain specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosed embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specific details. In other instances, well-known features or structures associated with fluid basins, drain systems, drain stoppers and strainers may not be shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions of the embodiments. 
     Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification and claims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, such as, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open, inclusive sense, that is as “including, but not limited to.” 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the present embodiment of a hair and detritus catching device  100 . It comprises a central rod  107 , a top male connection  105  to a drain stopper  111 , multiple offset layers of prongs  101 - 103  that fit inside a drain pipe, and a bottom off-center “E” connection  104 . The top connection  105  shows a male screw threaded rod that can be connected to a suitable drain stopper  111  with a female screw receptor  112  with the visible part matching the look of the sink basin. The prongs  106  can be arranged as shown. In layer  101 , the prongs  106  are aligned to 0°, 45°, 90°, 135°, 180°, 225°, 270°, 315°. In second layer  102 , the prongs  106  are aligned to 22.5°, 67.5°, 112.5°, 157.5°, 202.5°, 247.5°, 292.5°, 337.5°. The third layer  103  prongs are aligned the same way as the first layer  101 . The prongs in an arrangement like so can increase the likelihood of detritus being captured in different layers. The bottom off-center “E” connection  104  is an example of how this device can be installed to work with an existing sink basin mechanism as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates how the present embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1  can work with an existing drain stopper system  200 . The drain stopper system  200  includes a sink basin  201 , a faucet  203 , a lift rod  204 , a clevis  205 , a horizontal pivot rod  206 , and a pivot ball  207 . The lift rod  204  controls the clevis  205  which in turn controls the horizontal pivot rod  206 . The horizontal pivot rod  206  moves upward or downward and thereby raising or lowering the drain stopper  111  attached to the hair and detritus catching device  100  to selectively fill or drain the sink basin. 
     The embodiment&#39;s bottom off-center “E” connection  104  is positioned perpendicular to the horizontal pivot rod  206  with the bottom of the opening in the “E” catching the horizontal pivot rod. This allows the embodiment to operate the normal opening and closing mechanism of the drain in addition to catching detritus like hair and other debris that might go through the drain. The user can easily install the embodiment from the top of the sink by lowering the device with the “E” parallel to the horizontal rod until one of the two openings in the “E”, depending on the desired height of the stopper, catches the horizontal rod by rotating the device by 90°. This prevents the user from having to go underneath the sink to detach the drain assembly in order to clean the sink pipe regularly. The bottom off-center “E” connection  104  may have additional levels to accommodate different drain lengths. 
     The embodiment can be positioned in any drain pipes not limited to what&#39;s shown and can be easily removed for cleaning or replacement. It can be made of plastic, metal or a suitable material generally known in the art. It is out of sight for normal usage and it allows water to flow through easily while preventing hair and detritus from clogging up the drain pipe. It can be attached to a suitable stopper or other connection mechanisms for the type of drain in order to allow for normal opening and closing operation of the drain. 
       FIGS. 3-9  illustrate the embodiment from different viewing angles. 
       FIG. 10  shows a second embodiment where the third layer of prongs  103  is replaced with an optional wheel shaped layer  301  consisting of several spokes surrounded  304  with a deep circular side  302  to capture additional debris while the openings  303  allow water to flow through. 
       FIG. 11  shows a third embodiment that could be used in a shower drain where the stopper is replaced with a bar type upper attachment mechanism  401 . This allows the embodiment to attach to the drain pipe underneath the drain plate that is commonly used in this type of shower arrangement. 
     In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.