Patent Publication Number: US-2010115689-A1

Title: Removable and replaceable drain debris collector

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to plumbing features and, more specifically, to removable and replaceable drain filters for sinks and tubs. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     There is no doubt a recurring problem with the collection of debris in drains of sinks and tubs. In the average household, the debris consists of hair, gunk and occasionally small jewelry. While many use chemical solutions that work fairly successfully, there are the less squeamish who do not mind the task of physically removing whatever debris accumulates around the drain plug. The configuration of conventional drain plugs have numerous surfaces to collect debris when it falls into the sink drain. Thus, without a separate “collection” component, the person cleaning the drain is left with detaching and removing debris often glued to the drain plug. Not surprisingly, it is messy and sometimes time-consuming. 
     In the past, there have been suggestions to provide some type of collection or filter component to the drain plug system, such as a basket or spike collar. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,959,831 to Hendricks shows a spiked collar that acts as to collect debris as it falls through the drain. The collar is placed about the lower stem of the plug and is not accessible to the user when the drain plug is in place. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,082 to Ridgeway shows a basket that can be secured to the lower stem of the drain plug. Like the Hendricks device, the Ridgeway device is not accessible to the user when the drain plug is in place. Yet another device is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,972,078 to Maki, which shows an annular coil placed underneath the stopper (cap) of the drain plug to filter out debris before it enters the drain. 
     All of these proposed devices are limited in their usefulness. Both the Hendricks and F Ridgeway concepts require the user to withdraw the entire drain plug from the drain in order to remove the collected debris from the collection mechanism, whether it be the spiked collar or basket. With most drain plugs, withdrawal from the drain is not an easy process because the bottom of the drain plug stem is often connected to an actuator rod that permits the user to raise and lower the drain plug from a knob above the sink. The user must reach below the sink to disconnect the rod from the stem, and then return to above the sink to remove the F drain plug. So the basket and collar concepts of the prior art are not very practical. The Maki device is also not easily removed without withdrawing the drain plug from the drain. Moreover, it would not be very aesthetically pleasing if left in place for very long because the accumulated debris would be visible and would have to be removed continuously by the user. Thus, an improved drain plug debris collection system is needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provided comprises embodiments for improving upon prior attempts at practical solutions for preventing drain clogs and for recapturing inadvertently dropped jewelry and similar small items from drains. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a drain plug system in which the top of the drain plug, or stopper is easily detached from the drain plug itself with, for example, a threaded male-female connector. The system further comprises a discrete and easily accessible generally tubular debris collector having a plurality of radial projections, where the collector may be placed about the upper stem of the drain plug. The radial projections may be arranged in one of numerous possible arrangements, and each of the projections may extend in one of multiple different lengths, with a maximum determined by the drain pipe size. By combining an easily detachable stopper cap from the drain plug with an accessible and replaceable collection collar, the user is presented with a system that is far more practical than the prior art devices. With the present system, the user may easily access the debris collector and either clean it or replace it with a fresh one, discarding the used one. Eliminating the need to clean the debris collector is particularly appealing to users. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of one embodiment of a drain plug of the present inventive system. 
         FIGS. 2A and 2B  show schematic views of the replaceable debris collector with radial projections. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of the debris collector of  FIGS. 2A-2B  placed around the stem of the drain plug of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 4A-C  show variations of the collar embodiment of  FIGS. 2A-2B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the present invention comprises an improved drain plug debris collection system  10  comprising a drain plug  12  having a drain plug stem  14  extending along a length of the drain plug  12 . The drain stem, in this particular case, is defined by a multi-lateral cross-section; for example, a four-walled body, although other cross-sections are contemplated. The stem could be defined with a different cross section if so desired, and can be made of any material. In one embodiment, the stem  14  comprises a plastic material for ease and economics of manufacture. 
     Positioned along the axial length of the stem  14  is a four-walled shoulder  16  that has a diametric width preferably close to the width of the drain in which the drain plug  12  is intended to be used. At the top end of the stem  14  is preferably a threaded connector  18  (shown in phantom) for receiving a corresponding threaded connection of a plug seal  20  that acts as a stopper when the drain plug is directed downwardly within a basin drain. At the base of the stem  14  is an extension  22  with an opening  26  therein to accept a actuator rod (not shown) therethrough. As with conventional drain plugs, the extension  22  permits locking control of the drain plug  10  from an actuator (not shown) normally provided with many styles of basins (sinks, tubs, etc.). The plug seal  20  is easily detachable from the stem  14  so that access to the drain may be provided without having to remove the plug from the basin drain. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the drain plug debris collection system  10  further comprises a debris collector  30  itself comprising, in one embodiment, a generally cylindrical tubular body  32  that is sized to fit easily over the stem  14  of the drain plug  12 . It should be noted that the debris collector body  32  may comprise other tubular cross-sectional shapes such as rectilinear and other axial shapes such as tapered. The tubular arrangement permits placement of the debris collector over the stem of the drain plug. The collector maybe constructed of a single piece of a plurality of pieces joined together for placement around the stem  14 . 
     Positioned along the length of the debris collector body  32  are a plurality of rows of radial projections. In one embodiment, the top rows of projections  36  are relatively short so that the debris dropping from the basin into the drain has room to collect out of sight. The bottom rows of projections  38  are longer and extend radially outwardly to just short of the drain wall (when installed) so as to catch any debris falling down the drain. In this particular embodiment, there are eight radial projections in each of the rows  36 ,  38 . The layout of the radial projections along the length and periphery of the debris collector body  32 , however, may vary depending upon the intended application (i.e., light duty, heavy duty, residential, industrial, etc.), as shown in  FIGS. 4A-C . Moreover, while the projections of the embodiment described herein are shown as being rectilinear in cross-section, other cross-sectional shapes are contemplated as well, including tapered cylinders. 
     The combined assembly of drain plug  12  and debris collector body  30  are shown in  FIG. 3 , with the debris collector body  32  shown placed around the drain plug stem  14  and resting upon the drain plug shoulder  16 . One can appreciate from this arrangement that by removing the plug seal  20 , the user can simply pull the debris collector  30  out of the drain to either clean it or replace it. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , a debris collector  40  comprising a generally cylindrical body  42  with a plurality of rows of radial projections. As with the embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , there are an upper set of rows  46  of relatively short projections, and a lower set of rows  48  of longer projections. With this embodiment, however, some of the longer projection rows are not axially aligned. This has the benefit of ensuring capture of falling debris without the need to have a large number of projections in each row. Where a large number of projections are placed in each row, for example twenty projections), axial misalignment may not be necessary. Regardless, there are a variety of arrangements possible with the present inventive system. Referring to  FIG. 4C , another embodiment of debris collector  50  can be provided comprising a generally cylindrical body  52  with a relatively small number of rows  56  of short projections, and a relatively large number of rows  58  of projections. If desired, all of the projections on the debris collector may be long, or very few may be long. Again, the number and size of projections, and the arrangement on the debris collector depends upon its intended use. 
     Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed in the context of certain preferred embodiments and examples, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the present invention extend beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is contemplated that various aspects and features of the invention described can be practiced separately, combined together, or substituted for one another, and that a variety of combination and-subcombinations of the features and aspects can be made and still fall within the scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present invention herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims.