Patent Publication Number: US-2020299943-A1

Title: Disposable Oil and Grease Trap

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/819,994, filed Mar. 18, 2019. The 62/819,994 application is currently pending. The 62/819,994 application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable to this application. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     Example embodiments in general relate to a disposable oil and grease trap for providing a convenient, disposable receptacle for used oils, fats, grease, etc. produced by cooking. 
     Related Art 
     Any discussion of the related art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such related art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field. 
     Cooking oils and greases, fats, etc. are harmful to plumbing systems, and should not be disposed of by simply pouring them down the drain. Accordingly, some products exist for the disposal or at least containment of grease and oil, such as empty or used aluminum cans, bottles, heat-resistant bags, or jars. In addition, some products are intended to store grease and fat for later use in cooking. 
     As mentioned, the potential harm to plumbing makes it undesirable to use the sink to dispose of cooking oil, fat, grease, etc. In addition, cans, bottles and jars take up room when empty, and are not always readily available. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example embodiment is directed to a disposable oil and grease trap. The disposable oil and grease trap includes a rim adapted to rest above a surface of a sink, the rim comprising a bottom, an upper surface, and a central opening. The trap may also include a trap element sized and shaped to extend into a sink drain below the surface of the sink, the trap element being secured to the bottom of the rim such that the rim suspends the trap element. 
     The example embodiment may also include an adhesive, which may be a partial or full adhesive layer on the upper surface of the rim, wherein the rim is foldable such that the adhesive on a first portion of the rim contacts the adhesive on a second portion of the rim to contain a substance, such as a waste material, within the trap element. 
     In some embodiments of the disposable oil and grease trap, the trap element is substantially basket shaped. In addition, the trap element may be impermeable, and may be made of parchment paper. 
     In still other embodiments of the disposable oil and grease trap, the rim is rigid. Further, the disposable trap may also comprise a non-adhesive layer positioned to cover the adhesive. In some embodiments, the rim comprises creases to facilitate folding the rim in half. The rim may also be ring shaped, or substantially ring shaped in some example embodiments. 
     Example embodiments of the oil and grease trap may be used in a method comprising the steps of inserting the disposable oil and grease trap in a sink drain such that the rim suspends the trap element in the drain and the central opening is substantially aligned with the sink drain opening. Next, the method may comprise pouring a waste material through the central opening into the trap element, then lifting the disposable oil and grease trap out of the sink drain. Once out of the sink drain, the method may comprise folding the rim so that the adhesive on the first portion of the rim contacts the adhesive on the second portion of the rim to contain the waste material within the trap element. 
     In another example embodiment, the disposable oil and grease trap includes a means for receiving and holding a waste material within a portion of a sink drain, and also includes a means for suspending the means for receiving within the sink drain, the means for suspending adapted to rest above a sink surface. This example embodiment may also include means for sealing the disposable oil and grease trap to create a disposable unit. 
     In an example embodiment, the means for receiving is substantially basket shaped. Further, the means for receiving may be impermeable, and may, for example, be made of parchment paper. 
     In still another example embodiment of the disposable oil and grease trap, the means for suspending comprises a rigid rim. Also, the means for sealing may comprise an adhesive on an upper surface of the rigid rim. Some example embodiments may further comprise a non-adhesive layer positioned to cover the adhesive. The rigid rim or the means for suspending may comprise creases to facilitate folding the rigid rim or the means for suspending in half. In embodiments wherein the means for suspending comprises a rigid rim, the rigid rim may be ring shaped. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the disposable oil and grease trap in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments of the disposable oil and grease trap that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the disposable oil and grease trap in detail, it is to be understood that the disposable oil and grease trap is not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disposable oil and grease trap 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 the description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Example embodiments will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference characters, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limitative of the example embodiments herein. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded, perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is another exploded, perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap being positioned in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap in position in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap being used in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a disposable oil and grease trap, taken at lines  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is another perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap being used in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is another perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap being used in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is another perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap being used in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is another perspective view of a disposable oil and grease trap being used in accordance with an example embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart illustrating the steps used with an exemplary embodiment of a disposable oil and grease trap. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     An example disposable oil and grease trap  10  generally comprises a rim  20  adapted to rest above a surface  52  of a sink  50 , the rim  20  comprising a bottom  22 , an upper surface  24 , and a central opening  26 . The trap  10  may also include a trap element  30  sized and shaped to extend into a sink drain  54  below the surface  52  of the sink  50 , the trap element  30  being secured to the bottom  22  of the rim  20  such that the rim  20  suspends the trap element  30  in the drain  54 . 
     The trap  10  may also include an adhesive  40  on the upper surface  24  of the rim  20 , and the rim  20  may be foldable such that the adhesive  40  on a first portion  27  of the rim contacts the adhesive  40  on a second portion  29  of the rim  20  to contain a substance, such as a waste material  60 , within the trap element  30 . In some embodiments, the trap element  30  is substantially basket shaped. In addition, the trap element  30  may be impermeable, and may be made of parchment paper, such that the waste material  60  is contained within the trap element  30  of the trap  10  by the impermeable material. 
     Further, the rim  20  of the disposable oil and grease trap  10  may be rigid. The disposable trap  10  may also include a non-adhesive layer  42  (i.e., a release layer  42 ) positioned to cover the adhesive  40 . For example, the release layer  42  may be weakly adhered to the adhesive  40  to protect it from sticking together or to other substances before the trap  10  is used, and layer  42  may be easily peeled away from the trap after the trap has been used, so that the adhesive  40  can be used to seal and contain waste material  60  within the trap element  30 . Additionally, in some embodiments, the rim  20  comprises creases  28  to facilitate folding the rim  20  in half. The rim  20  may also be ring shaped, or substantially ring shaped, in some example embodiments. 
     The disposable oil and grease trap  10  may include a means for receiving and holding a waste substance within a portion of a sink drain  54 , and also a means for suspending the means for receiving within the sink drain  54 , the means for suspending adapted to rest above a sink surface  52 . This example embodiment may also include means for sealing the disposable oil and grease trap  10  to create a disposable unit. 
     In an example embodiment, the means for receiving is substantially basket shaped. Further, the means for receiving may be impermeable, and may, for example, be made of parchment paper, although other materials and shapes are also possible. In still another example embodiment of the disposable oil and grease trap  10 , the means for suspending comprises a rigid rim  20 . Also, the means for sealing may comprise an adhesive  40  on an upper surface  24  of the rigid rim  20 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , the disposable trap  10  may have a substantially basket-shaped trap element  30 , which is sized and shaped to fit into a standard kitchen sink drain  54  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5 ). The trap element  30  may be, overall, basket shaped, but it may also have a flat or planar ring-shaped portion  32 , suitable for gluing, stapling, bonding, or otherwise attaching to the bottom  22  of the rim  20 . 
     The trap element  30  may be made of parchment paper or any other suitable impermeable or low-permeability material. In some embodiments, the trap element  30  may be shaped from a single piece of parchment paper, shaped as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 3 and 4  such that it has a basket-shaped portion  34  that will be suspended within the drain  54 . The trap element  30  may also comprise a flat or substantially planar portion  32 . 
     Parchment paper may be a good choice for the trap element  30  of the trap  10  since it is capable of withstanding fairly high temperatures, which allows it to be used to trap and contain hot fats, oils, greases and other waste materials from cooking. Parchment is also inexpensive and environmentally friendly, making it suitable for a disposable product. It can also be readily folded and shaped as desired. In addition, the parchment may be folded into layers to form flat portion  32 , such that a separate rim  20  (i.e., made from a separate material) is not needed. In such an embodiment, an adhesive  40  could be applied directly to the portion  32  of trap element  30  to make a substantially complete, disposable trap  10 . 
     It should be noted that while the trap  10  may have the appearance of a filter or strainer, it is not a filter or a strainer. Instead, it is an impermeable trap that prevents potentially harmful or undesirable substances from entering a drain and the plumbing system of a home or building. 
     As mentioned above, the trap element  30  may be made and formed so that its flat, ring-shaped portion  32  is rigid enough to suspend the trap element  30  in drain  54  by itself. In addition, the trap element  30 , and more particularly, the flat portion  32 , may be attached to a separate, substantially rigid rim  20 , which is strong enough to rest on the surface  52  of a kitchen sink  50 , and suspend trap element  30  within drain  54 , below the surface  52  of the sink  50 , as best shown in  FIGS. 6-9 . The rim  20  may be made of cardboard or other suitable, disposable materials. As shown for example in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the rim  20  may include tabs  23  to assist in handling the trap  10 , such as placing it in a drain  54  and lifting it out after use. Tabs  23  also serve to make folding and sealing the trap  10  easier, as explained below. 
     Because the disposable oil and grease trap  10  is designed to be folded in order to seal waste material  60  inside, the rim  20  may have manufactured creases  28  (or a living hinge, or other structure) to facilitate folding and a better seal. The rim  20  has an upper surface  24 , which may have a layer of adhesive  40  on it, for sealing the trap  10  after waste material  60  has been poured into it. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , if the rim  20  is ring shaped, the creases  28  may be on a line that passes through the center of the rim  20 , and tabs  23  may be centered or spaced 90° from the creases  28 , so that the tabs  23  are better suited for holding the rim  20  and folding the trap  10 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     The rim  20  may also have a central opening  26  above the basket-shaped portion  34  of the trap element  30 , through which grease, fats, oils, and other waste material  60  can be poured or inserted. 
     In use, and as best illustrated in  FIGS. 5-12  and by the steps shown in  FIG. 13 , the oil and grease trap  10  may first be inserted in a standard sink drain  54  or other drain  54 , or even above any suitable structure or device, such that the rim  20  suspends the trap element  30  in the drain  54  or above an open receptacle or other object (such as a can, for example), and the central opening  26  of the rim  20  is substantially aligned with the drain opening. Once inserted, the rim  20  rests on the surface  52  of the sink or drain  54 , as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 . Next, a user may pour waste material  60  through the central opening  26  into the trap element  30 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . When all the waste  60  has been poured or placed in the trap  10 , it is contained in the impermeable or low-permeability basket-shaped portion  34  of the trap  10 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Next, the non-adhesive release layer  42  is peeled away from the trap  10 , exposing the previously protected adhesive  40 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . Then, the trap  10  is lifted out of the drain  54  (such as by tabs  23 ) and folded in half, sealed, and disposed of as shown in  FIGS. 10-12 . The tabs  23  and creases  28  aid a user in raising and folding the trap  10 , as the creases  28  are placed in alignment through the center of the trap  10 , to allow it to be folded neatly in half. For example, a first portion  27  of the rim  20  is on one side of the creases  28 , while a second portion  29  is on the other side, and these two portions will meet and be adhered to each other when the trap  10  is folded, as best shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . 
     The tabs  23  are radially spaced 90° apart from the creases  28 . The tabs  23  make it easy to place and raise the trap  10  in the drain  54 , and to fold it to seal the contents of the trap  10  before disposal. 
     Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the disposable oil and grease trap, suitable methods and materials are described above. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. The disposable oil and grease trap may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.