Patent Publication Number: US-6338168-B1

Title: Weight core drain covering system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to sink stoppers and more particularly pertains to a new drain covering system for preventing water from going down the drain. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of sink stoppers is known in the prior art. More specifically, sink stoppers heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,592,701; 5,832,544; 4,919,457; 3,800,339; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 261,418; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,788,485. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new drain covering system. The inventive device includes a basin that has a drain and a drain covering member that includes an outer covering and a weighted core. The drain covering member is positionable over the drain such that the outer perimeter of the drain covering member contacts a portion of the basin around the drain. The drain covering member is adapted for preventing a liquid from passing through the drain. 
     In these respects, the drain covering system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of preventing water from going down the drain. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of sink stoppers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new drain covering system construction wherein the same can be utilized for preventing water from going down the drain. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new drain covering system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the sink stoppers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new drain covering system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art weighted sink stoppers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a basin that has a drain and a drain covering member that includes an outer covering and a weighted core. The drain covering member is positionable over the drain such that the outer perimeter of the drain covering member contacts a portion of the basin around the drain. The drain covering member is designed for preventing a liquid from passing through the drain. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new drain covering system apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the sink stoppers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new drain covering system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art sink stoppers, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new drain covering system which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new drain covering system which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new drain covering system 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 drain covering system economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new drain covering system which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new drain covering system for preventing water from going down the drain. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new drain covering system which includes a basin that has a drain and a drain covering member that includes an outer covering and a weighted core. The drain covering member is positionable over the drain such that the outer perimeter of the drain covering member contacts a portion of the basin around the drain. The drain covering member is adapted for preventing a liquid from passing through the drain. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new drain covering system that prevents food from going down the drain. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new drain covering system that prevents utensils from entering the drain 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new drain covering system according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a cross section view of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new drain covering system embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the drain covering system  10  generally comprises of a basin  11  that has a drain  12 . 
     Also included is a drain covering member  21  that has an outer covering  14  and a weighted core  15 . 
     The drain covering member  21  is positionable over the drain  12  such that an outer perimeter of the drain covering member  21  contacts a portion of the basin  11  around the drain  12 . The drain covering member  21  is for preventing a liquid from passing through the drain  12 . 
     The cover member  13  has an outer edge portion  16  extending outwardly from an outer perimeter edge of the core  15 . 
     The cover member  13  has a planar bottom surface  17  and a planar central upper surface  18 . The central upper surface  18  is positioned substantially parallel to the bottom surface  17 . 
     The outer edge portion  16  of the cover member  13  tapering from an outer edge  19  of the central upper surface  18  to an outer edge  20  of the bottom surface  17 . The outer edge portion  16  has a generally triangular cross-section taken parallel to a central axis of the cover member  13 . 
     A cross-section of the cover member  13  taken perpendicular to the central axis of the cover member  13  has a shape chosen from the group of shapes consisting of circular and rectangular. 
     The outer covering  14  is constructed from rubber for forming a seal around the drain  12  when the cover member  13  is positioned over the drain  12  such that the outer perimeter of the drain covering member  21  contacts the portion of the basin  11  around the drain  12 . 
     In an embodiment, the basin  11  has a bottom  22  and a perimeter wall  23  extending upwardly from a perimeter edge of the bottom  22 . The cover member  13  has an outer perimeter edge . The outer perimeter edge generally conforming to the outer perimeter edge of the bottom  22  such that the cover member  13  fully covers an upper surface of the bottom  22 . 
     In use, place the covering member over the sink drain, so that the bottom planar surface of the weighted core is on the upper surface of the sink drain. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.