Patent Publication Number: US-11391027-B1

Title: Drain strainer

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a stopper assembly for a drain system of a fluid basin, and in particular, a stopper assembly with a strainer element. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     Conventional bathroom sinks typically include a stopper that serves to selectively seal or open a drain in a sink basin. The stopper is mounted to the top of a plunger seated in a drain pipe that extends below the sink basin. The stopper can be moved between open and closed positions by actuating a lever located near the sink faucet. The lever is typically mechanically linked to a horizontal rod that extends below the sink and transmits motion imparted on the lever to the plunger. The horizontal rod typically extends through a pivot seat in the drain pipe to achieve the desired lifting and lowering motion of the plunger. By actuating the lever, a user is able to raise and lower the stopper, and thereby select whether to open or close the sink drain. 
     The conventional drain and stopper mechanisms described above, however, can be problematic. For example, the horizontal rod tends to become misaligned relative to the plunger or the lever after a relatively short period of use, resulting in the stopper sagging or tilting in the open position or failing to close properly. In addition, hair and foreign objects that pass through the drain can clog up the sink, making it necessary to either disassemble the pipes located beneath the sink in order to unclog the drain, or to call a plumber. There is also a risk that valuable items, such as rings and contact lenses, can fall into the sink drain and potentially be lost. It is known to include a strainer beneath a stopper in a bathroom sink, tub or other fluid basin. However, conventional strainer assemblies for bathroom sinks, tubs or other fluid basins can be difficult to access for cleaning and replacement. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods that enable a strainer cartridge to be installed in a drain of a fluid basin and selectively replaced or cleaned as desired in a particularly efficient manner. Systems of the present disclosure include, for example, a removable strainer cartridge having a telescopic strainer assembly including an upper strainer portion and a lower strainer portion in telescopic engagement with each other. In some instances, the telescopic strainer assembly may be easily and conveniently be moved from a compressed position to seal the drain of the fluid basin and may be easily and conveniently moved from the compressed position to an expanded position to drain the fluid basin of fluid through the drain. The strainer cartridge may be removed from the drain to clean the telescopic strainer assembly when the telescopic strainer assembly is full of collected debris or is to be replaced by a new strainer assembly. In some, embodiments the strainer cartridge may be installed in a simple drop-in or clip-in manner through clip arrangements extending from a lower end of the lower strainer portion. Embodiments provide straining functionality in addition to drain stopper functionality. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a strainer cartridge, according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIG. 1A . 
         FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B . 
         FIG. 1D  is a bottom plan view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C . 
         FIG. 1E  is a rotated bottom plan view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1D . 
         FIG. 1F  is an exploded view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIG. 1A-1E . 
         FIG. 2A  is a side view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F  when the strainer cartridge is in an expanded (e.g., drain) position. 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F  when the strainer cartridge is in a compressed (e.g., plug) position. 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F  in a drain of a drain system of a fluid basin when the strainer cartridge is in the compressed position. 
         FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the strainer cartridge in the drain as shown in  FIG. 3A  taken along line  3 B- 3 B as shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F  in the drain of the drain system of the fluid basin when the strainer cartridge is in the expanded position. 
         FIG. 3D  is a cross-sectional view of the strainer cartridge in the drain as shown in  FIG. 3C  taken along line  3 C- 3 C as shown in  FIG. 3C . 
         FIG. 3E  is a bottom perspective view of the strainer cartridge in the drain as shown in  FIG. 3A  when the strainer cartridge is interlocked with a grate structure of the drain. 
         FIG. 3F  is a bottom perspective view of the strainer cartridge in the drain as shown in  FIG. 3A  when the strainer cartridge is rotated and unlocked from the grate structure of the drain. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of a lower strainer portion of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F . 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of an upper strainer portion of the strainer cartridge as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F  that is telescopically received by the lower strainer portion as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     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. 
     The present disclosure is directed to a strainer cartridge to be removably inserted into a drain of a fluid basin. The strainer cartridge may be conveniently moved from a compressed position to an expanded position and vice versa by a user either pulling upward or pushing downward on a stopper head of the strainer cartridge. This convenient movement and ease of actuation of the strainer cartridge allows a user to quickly and easily seal the drain by pushing the stopper head down to seal a drain opening of the drain with a gasket of the strainer cartridge. Alternatively, the strainer cartridge may be moved from the compressed position to the expanded position quickly and easily opening the drain opening by simply pulling upward on the stopper head in an upward direction. The strainer cartridge may include an upper strainer portion, a lower strainer portion, and a lateral strainer portion that strain fluid that passes through the upper, lower, and lateral strainer portions, respectively. This straining of the fluid by the strainer portions of the strainer cartridge reduces the likelihood of valuable objects such as rings, jewelry, a contact lenses, or some other type of object from becoming lost by passing through the drain opening into a drain pipe in fluid communication with the drain. 
     The strainer cartridge of the present disclosure may further include clip arrangements that mechanically engage with a grate structure at a bottom of the drain such that the strainer cartridge may be easily inserted into and removed from the drain. For example, the strainer cartridge may be easily and conveniently inserted into the drain by inserting the clip arrangements through openings in the grate structure and then rotating the strainer cartridge in a clockwise direction interlocking the clip arrangements with the grate structure such that the strainer cartridge held in a stationary position within the drain by the clip arrangements. Alternatively, the strainer cartridge may be easily and conveniently removed from the drain by rotating the strainer cartridge in a counterclockwise direction disengaging the clip arrangements with the grate structure and pulling the clip arrangements through the openings in the grate structure to remove the strainer cartridge from the drain. This ease and convenience of insertion and removal of the strainer cartridge into and out of the drain provides ease and convenience of cleaning of the strainer cartridge or replacing the strainer assembly of the strainer cartridge with a new strainer assembly. 
       FIGS. 1A-1F  show a strainer or stopper cartridge  100  for a drain system of a fluid basin according to one example embodiment. The strainer cartridge  100  is configured to be installed in a drain of a drain system of a fluid basin (e.g., sink basin, tub basin, shower basin, or some other type of basin having a drain or drain system). As will be readily appreciated from the following discussion within the present disclosure, the strainer cartridge  100  is moveable between an expanded position (e.g., drain, draining, or unplugged position) and a compressed position (e.g., sealed or plugged position). In the expanded, unplugged or drain position, fluid (e.g., water or some other type of liquid) may drain out of the fluid basin via the drain system. For example, the drain system may include a drain pipe that extends below the fluid basin and that includes an upper portion having a flange that is received within a drain opening of the fluid basin. In the compressed, sealed, or plugged position, fluid is held and collected within the fluid basin via the strainer cartridge  100  blocking the fluid from draining out of the fluid basin via the drain system as the drain system is sealed off by the strainer cartridge  100 . 
     An upper strainer portion  102  and a lower strainer portion  104  are telescopically engaged with each other. The upper strainer portion  102  is telescopically engaged with the lower strainer portion  104  such that upper strainer portion  102  may readily be moved telescopically into and out of the lower strainer portion  104 . When the upper strainer portion  102  is telescopically moved into the lower strainer portion  104 , the strainer cartridge  100  is moved away from the expanded position and moved towards the compressed position. Alternatively, when the upper strainer portion  102  is telescopically moved outward from the lower strainer portion  104 , the strainer cartridge  100  is moved away from the compressed position and moved towards the expanded position. When the upper strainer portion  102  is moved into the lower strainer portion  104 , the upper strainer portion  102  is moved in a downward direction, and, alternatively, when the upper strainer portion  102  is moved outward from the lower strainer portion  104 , the upper strainer portion  102  is moved in an upward direction. 
     The upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, each have a cylindrical three-dimensional shape. The upper strainer portion  102  has an outer diameter (OD) and an inside diameter (ID). The lower strainer portion  104  has an outer diameter (OD) and an inside diameter (ID). The inside diameter (ID) of the lower strainer portion  104  is slightly larger or equal to the outer diameter of the upper strainer portion  102 . The inside diameter of the lower strainer portion  104  being slightly greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the upper strainer portion  102  provides for the upper strainer portion  102  to be telescopically moved into (e.g., inserted) the lower strainer portion  104  and telescopically moved outward from the lower strainer portion  104 . The outer diameter of the lower strainer portion  104  is greater than the outer diameter of the upper strainer portion  102 , although in other embodiments the relative sizing may be reversed. 
     The upper strainer portion  102  includes a plurality of first apertures  106  extending entirely through sidewalls of the upper strainer portion  102  to form a grate structure. The lower strainer portion  104  includes a plurality of second apertures  108  extending entirely through sidewalls of the lower strainer portion  104  to form a grate structure. The grate structures formed by the pluralities of the first and second apertures  106 ,  108 , respectively, strain fluid that passes through the upper and lower portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, through the pluralities of first and second apertures  106 ,  108 . The first and second apertures  106 ,  108  may be referred to as strainer openings, strainer apertures, strainer holes, or some other type of aperture that extends through the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104  to strain fluid. 
     The plurality of first apertures  106  may include first ones having a first shape and size and second ones having a second shape and size different from the first ones of the plurality of first apertures  106 . The plurality of second apertures  108  may include first ones having a first shape and size and second ones having a second shape and size different from the first ones of the plurality of second apertures  106 . For example, some of the plurality of first apertures  106  may be larger than other ones of the plurality of first apertures  106 , and some of the plurality of second apertures  108  may be larger than other ones of the plurality of second apertures  108 . The different sized and shaped apertures of the pluralities of first and second apertures  106 ,  108  may reduce the likelihood of the strainer cartridge  100  becoming clogged resulting in a slower flow of fluid through the strainer cartridge  100  when fluid is flowing out of a fluid basin via a drain system (e.g., drain opening and drain pipe) and is being strained by the strainer cartridge  100  that is positioned within the drain system. 
     The lower strainer portion  104  further includes one or more elastically deformable cantilever arm  110  that mechanically cooperates with ribs of a ribbed portion  112  of the upper strainer portion  104 . The ribs of the ribbed portion  112  may be referred to as bosses, protrusions, detents, or some other type of portion that extends outward from the ribbed portion  112 . The ribbed portion  112  may be referred to as a ribbed surface or region, a boss portion, surface or region, a protrusion portion, surface, or region, or some other type of reference to a portion, surface, or region including a ribs, bosses, detents or protrusions that extend therefrom. Some of the plurality of second openings  108  extend through the one or more elastically deformable cantilever arm  110 . The cantilever arm  110  slidably interlocks with the ribs of the ribbed portion  112  such that the upper portion  102  may be telescopically moved into and out of the lower strainer portion  104  as discussed earlier within the present disclosure. The cantilever arm  110  may be biased inward towards an axis A L  of the strainer cartridge  100 . Further details of the mechanical cooperation and interaction of the elastically deformable cantilever arms  110  and the ribs of the ribbed portions  112  will be discussed in further detail with respect to  FIGS. 3A-3D  of the present disclosure. 
     The lower strainer portion  104  includes one or more clip arrangements  113  having an L-shape that extend from a bottom end of the lower strainer portion  104 . The one or more clip arrangements  113  may interlock with a grate structure of a drain of a drain system such that the strainer cartridge  100  is held in a stationary position relative to the grate structure and the drain. For example, when the strainer cartridge  100  is inserted into a drain, the one or more clip arrangements  113  may be inserted into openings in the grate structure of the drain, and then strainer cartridge  100  is rotated such that horizontal portions of the clip arrangements interlock with the grate structure. 
     A lateral strainer portion  114  includes a plurality of fingers  116  that extend laterally outward and away from the lower strainer portion  104  and are angled upward towards the upper strainer portion  102 . This upward angle of the plurality of fingers  116  of the lateral strainer portion  114  assist in catching objects (e.g., rings, jewelry, a contact for an individual&#39;s eye, etc.) as the angle fingers are angled upward in a direction opposite to a flow of fluid that may pass through the plurality of fingers  116 . The lateral strainer portion  114  may be formed of an elastically deformable polymer or a semi-flexible elastically deformable polymer. The lateral strainer portion  114  may be detachably coupled to the lower strainer portion  104 . The plurality of fingers  116  strains fluid that passes through the lateral strainer portion  114  that may not pass through the plurality of first apertures  106  of the upper strainer portion  102  or the plurality of second apertures  108  of the lower strainer portion  104 . The upper strainer portion  102 , the lower strainer portion  104 , and the lateral strainer portion  114  reduce the likelihood of a ring, a prescription contact lens, or other similar or like valuable item from becoming lost through the drain system through which fluid passes through when exiting a fluid basin (e.g., sink basin, tub basin, shower basin, or some other similar or like type of fluid basin). 
     The upper strainer portion  102 , the lower strainer portion  104 , and the lateral strainer portion  114  may be referred to as a telescopic strainer assembly in which the upper strainer portion  102  and the lower strainer portion  104  telescopically and mechanically engage with each other. 
     A stopper head  118  is mechanically coupled to the upper strainer portion  102 . The stopper head  118  may be detachably coupled to the upper strainer portion  102  such that the stopper head  118  may be detached from the upper strainer portion  102 . The mechanical coupling of the stopper head  118  to the upper strainer portion  102  will be discussed in further detail with respect to  FIG. 1F  of the present disclosure. 
     A gasket  120  is mechanically coupled to the stopper head  118 . The gasket  120  may be detachably coupled to the stopper head  118  such that the gasket  120  may be detached from the stopper head  118 . The mechanical coupling of the gasket  120  to the stopper head  118  will be discussed in further detail with respect to  FIG. 1F  of the present disclosure. 
     The stopper head  118  and the gasket  120  may have circular profiles when viewed in a top plan view and have diameters that are greater than outer diameters of the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively. For example, the stopper head  118  and the gasket  120  may have diameters slightly larger than a diameter of a drain opening such that the gasket  120  abuts a flange of a drain of a drain system sealing the drain opening of the drain such that fluid may not readily pass through the drain to exit a fluid basin when the strainer cartridge  100  is in the compressed position. The details of the gasket  120  sealing the drain opening of the drain of the drain system will be discussed in further detail with respect to  FIGS. 3A-3D  of the present disclosure. 
     The upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , the lateral strainer portion  114 , the stopper head  118 , and the gasket  120  may be concentric along an axis A L . For example, the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , the lateral strainer portion  114 , the stopper head  118 , and the gasket  120  may all have centers that are aligned with and along the axis A L , which may be referred to as a central axis, a center axis, or some other type of axis that extends through these respective centers. The fingers  116  of the lateral strainer portion  114  extend away from and outward from the axis A L . 
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of the strainer cartridge  100  as shown in  FIG. 1A . As may more readily be seen in  FIG. 1B , in this embodiment, the lower strainer portion  104  of the strainer cartridge  100  includes two elastically deformable cantilever arms  110  on opposite sides of the strainer cartridge  100 . In this embodiment, the upper strainer portion  102  of the strainer cartridge  100  includes two ribbed portions  112 . The ribbed portion  112  at the left-hand side of the upper strainer portion  102  mechanically cooperates and engages with the cantilever arm  110  at the left-hand side of the lower strainer portion  104 . The ribbed portion  112  at the right-hand side of the upper strainer portion  102  mechanically cooperates and engages with the cantilever arm  110  at the right-hand side of the lower strainer portion  104 . 
     The ribs of the ribbed portion  112  protrude outward from an outer sidewall surface of the upper strainer portion  102 . The ribbed portion  112  extend from a lower end of the upper strainer portion  102  to an upper end of the upper strainer portion  102  opposite to the lower end of the upper strainer portion  102 . 
       FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the strainer cartridge of an opposite side of the strainer cartridge  100  than the strainer cartridge  100  as shown in  FIG. 1A . The cantilever arm  110  and the ribbed portion  112  at the right-hand side of the strainer cartridge  100  as shown in  FIG. 1B  may more readily seen in  FIG. 1C . As may readily be seen, ones of the plurality of second openings  108  extend through the elastically deformable cantilever arm  110  at the right-hand side of the strainer cartridge  100  similar to the ones of the plurality of second openings  108  that extend through the elastically deformable cantilever arm  110  at the left-hand side of the strainer cartridge  100 . 
       FIG. 1D  is a bottom plan view of the strainer cartridge  100 . As may readily be seen, the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104  are hollow such that fluid may readily pass through the pluralities of first and second openings  106 ,  108 , respectively, of the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, when draining a fluid basin. Since the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, are hollow, the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, define a void  138  extending entirely through the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively. The void  138  extends from the stopper head  118  to a lower or bottom end of the lower strainer portion  104 . 
     The lower strainer portion  104  includes a plurality of anti-rotation structures  122  that protrude outward from an inner sidewall surface of the lower strainer portion  104  towards an outer sidewall surface of the upper strainer portion  102 . First ones of the anti-rotation structures  122  are at a first side of the lower strainer portion  104  and second ones of the anti-rotation structures  122  are at a second side of the lower strainer portion  104  opposite to the first side. The anti-rotation structures  122  are aligned with the cantilever arms  110  such that the anti-rotation structure may protrude inward from the cantilever arms  110  towards the axis A L . In other words, the anti-rotation structures  122  are at and protrude from inner surfaces along the cantilever arms  110  and the lower strainer portion  104 . The anti-rotation structures  122  face inward and extend inward towards the axis A L . 
     The upper strainer portion  102  includes one or more anti-rotation surfaces  124  on opposite sides of the upper strainer portion  102 . The anti-rotation surfaces  124  may be referred to as outer surface regions, outer surfaces, or some other type of reference to a surface that abuts and engages with ones of the anti-rotation structures  122 . The anti-rotation surfaces  124  are relatively flat surfaces as compared to other curved surfaces of the cylindrical upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively. The anti-rotation surfaces  124  of the upper strainer portion  102  abut and mechanically engage with the anti-rotation structures  122  of the lower strainer portion  104 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1D , two anti-rotation structures  122  of the lower strainer portion  104  at the left-hand side of  FIG. 1D  abut the anti-rotation surface  124  of the upper strainer portion  102  at the left-hand side of  FIG. 1D . As shown in  FIG. 1D , two anti-rotation structures  122  of the lower strainer portion  104  at the right-hand side of  FIG. 1D  abut the anti-rotation surface  124  of the upper strainer portion  102  at the right-hand side of  FIG. 1D . The following discussion will focus on the two anti-rotation structures  122  and the anti-rotation surface  124  at the left-hand side of  FIG. 1D . However, it will be appreciated that the following discussion readily applies to the anti-rotation structures  122  and the anti-rotation surface  124  at the right-hand side of  FIG. 1D . The two anti-rotation structures  122  and the anti-rotation surface  124  at the left-hand side of  FIG. 1D  may more readily be seen in  FIG. 1E , which is a bottom plan rotated view of the strainer cartridge  100 . 
     The two anti-rotation structures  122  are spaced apart such that the ribs of the ribbed portion  122  at the left-hand side of upper strainer portion  102  may pass between the two anti-rotation structures  122  when the upper strainer portion  102  is telescopically moved into and out of the lower strainer portion  104 . If a torque (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise) is applied to the upper strainer portion  102 , the upper strainer portion does not rotate relative to the lower strainer portion such that the ribs of the ribbed portions  112  remain aligned with the cantilever arm  110  and remain in mechanical cooperation and engagement with the cantilever arm  110 . For example, if a torque (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise) is applied to the upper strainer portion  102 , the anti-rotation surface  124  abuts against at least one of the two anti-rotation structures  122  and at least one of the ribs protruding from the ribbed portion  112  abuts against at least a sidewall surface of at least one of the two anti-rotation structures  122 . This mechanical abutting of these various portions and surfaces of the upper strainer portion  102  and the lower strainer portion  104  opposes the rotation of the upper strainer portion  102  relative to the lower strainer portion  104  such that the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, remain appropriately positioned and aligned relative to each other. This appropriate alignment being maintained results in the ribbed portion  112  remaining aligned with and in mechanical cooperation and engagement with the cantilever arm  110 . In other words, the anti-rotation structures  122 , the anti-rotation surfaces  120 , and the ribs of the ribbed portions  112  reduce the likelihood of misalignment between the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, such that the telescopic mechanical engagement and cooperation between the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, is maintained even when the strainer cartridge  100  is exposed to a torque (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise). 
       FIG. 1F  is an exploded view of the strainer cartridge  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1E . As may more readily be seen in  FIG. 1F , the strainer cartridge  100  includes the upper, lower, and lateral strainer portions  102 ,  104 ,  114 , the stopper head  118 , and the gasket  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1F , the upper strainer portion  102  includes one or more elastically deformable tabs or tab portions  126  that extend outward from the upper end of the upper strainer portion  102 . One or more protrusions  128  extend outward from corresponding ones of the tabs  126  in a direction transverse to a direction from which the tabs  126  extend from the upper end of the upper strainer portion  102 . The protrusions  126  are inserted into one or more holes  130  extending through a sidewall surface of the stopper head  118 . The protrusions  126  and the holes  130  mechanically and detachably couple the upper strainer portion  102  to the stopper head  118  by bending the elastically deformable tabs  126  inward towards the axis A L  and pushing the tabs  126  into the stopper head  118  until the protrusions  128  are aligned with corresponding ones of the holes  130 . Once the protrusions  128  are aligned with corresponding ones of the holes  130 , the tabs  128  snap outward away from the axis A L  snapping and inserting the protrusions  126  (e.g., snap fit) into corresponding ones of the holes  130  in the stopper head  118 . The upper strainer portion  102  may be detached or decoupled from the stopper head by pushing the protrusions  128  inward through the holes  130  deforming the tabs  126  inward toward the axis A L  and pulling on the upper strainer portion  102  decoupling the upper strainer portion  102  from the stopper head  130 . The tabs or tab portions  126  may be biased outward and away from the axis A L  of the strainer cartridge  100 . 
     The upper strainer portion  102  may be removed from the lower strainer portion  104 . For example, the upper strainer portion  102  may be removed by pulling upward enough on the upper strainer portion  102  until the upper strainer portion is removed from the lower strainer portion  104 . The upper strainer portion  102  may be removed from the lower strainer portion  104  to clean or rinse the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively. 
     In some embodiments, the holes  130  may be replaced by indentations extending into an inner sidewall surface of the stopper head  118 . However, unlike the holes  130  as shown in  FIG. 1F , the indentations do not extend entirely through the stopper head  118  and instead terminate before extending entirely through the stopper head  118 . When the holes  130  are replaced by indentations, the tabs or tab portions  126  may be elastically deformed to remove the upper strainer portion from the stopper head by pushing on the tab or tab portions  126  instead of pushing on the protrusion  128 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1F , the stopper head  118  further includes a first circumferential channel  132  that receives the gasket  120  such that the gasket  120  is detachably coupled to the stopper head  118 . For example, when the gasket is formed of an elastically deformable polymer, the gasket  120  may be removed from the stopper head  118  by pulling on the gasket  120  such that enough force is applied to elastically deform the gasket  120  such that the gasket  120  may be removed from the first circumferential channel  132 . In some embodiments, the gasket  120  may be made of an elastically deformable polymer or a semi-flexible elastically deformable polymer. The first circumferential channel  132  overlaps the holes  130 . The gasket  120  is circumferentially around the stopper head  118 . 
     The lower strainer portion  104  includes a second circumferential channel  134  that receives the lateral strainer portion  114  such that the lateral strainer portion  114  is mechanically coupled to the lower strainer portion  104 . In some embodiments, the lateral strainer portion  114  may be made of an elastically deformable polymer or a semi-flexile elastically deformable polymer. In some embodiments, the lateral strainer portion  114  may be integral the lower strainer portion  104 . For example, both the lateral strainer portion  114  and the lower strainer portion  104  may be made of a relatively rigid polymer material (e.g., plastic) such that both are formed at the same time and as a single unitary and integral piece of the relatively rigid polymer material by utilizing an injection molding process. The lateral strainer portion  114  is circumferentially around the lower strainer portion  104 . 
     The anti-rotation surfaces  124  are at the lower end of the upper strainer portion  102  and are at bottom ends of corresponding ones of the ribbed portions  112 . As discussed earlier, the anti-rotation surfaces  124  abut corresponding ones of the anti-rotation structures  122  to avoid rotation of the upper strainer portion  102  relative to the lower strainer portion  104 . The positioning of the anti-rotation surfaces  124  may more readily be seen in  FIG. 4B . 
       FIG. 2A  is a side view of the strainer cartridge  100 . As shown in  FIG. 2A , the strainer cartridge  100  is in the expanded position (e.g., drain position, draining position, etc.) in which the upper strainer portion  102  is fully extended outward from the lower strainer portion  104 . 
       FIG. 2B  is a side view of the strainer cartridge  100  when the strainer cartridge  100  is in the compressed position (e.g., plug position, plugged position, etc.) in which the upper strainer portion  102  is fully compressed such that the upper strainer portion  102  is fully or mostly inset within the lower strainer portion  104 . For example, when the upper strainer portion  102  is inset within the lower strainer portion  104 , fluid may be blocked off from exiting a fluid basin through a drain opening of a drain of a drain system in fluid communication with the fluid basin as the drain opening is sealed off by the gasket  120  of the strainer cartridge  100 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows a drain system  200  including the strainer cartridge  100  and a drain body  202 . The strainer cartridge  100  is in the drain body  202 . A flange  204  extends laterally outward from the drain body  202  and the flange  204  includes a peripheral region or surface  206  around a drain opening  208 , which may more readily be seen in  FIG. 3C , of the drain body  202 . As shown in  FIG. 3A , the strainer cartridge  100  is within a recess  210 , which may more readily be seen in  FIG. 3C , of the drain body  202  and the strainer cartridge  100  is in the compressed position in which the gasket  120  abuts the peripheral surface  206  of the flange sealing off the drain opening  206  such the fluid may not exit a fluid basin through the drain opening  206  and the recess  210  of the drain body  202 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional view of the drain system  200  taken along dotted line  3 B- 3 B as shown in  FIG. 3A . As may readily be seen in  FIG. 3B , the gasket  120  abuts the peripheral surface  208  sealing off the drain opening  208  as discussed earlier with respect to  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the cantilever arms  110  include lip portions  136  that are sized, shaped, and structured to be received between adjacent ones of the ribs of the ribbed portion  112  such that the cantilever arms  110  may temporarily hold the upper strainer portion  102  stationary relative to the lower strainer portion  104 . For example, the lip portions  136  are received by a valley between two adjacent ribs along the ribbed portion  112 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3B , in this embodiment, ends of the fingers  116  of the lateral strainer portion  114  extend outward and away from the lower strainer portion  104  to a sidewall surface  212  of the drain body  202 . The sidewall surface  212  of the drain body  202  delimits the recess  210  in the drain body  202 . The ends of the fingers  116  of the lateral strainer portion  114  terminate proximate to the sidewall surface  212  of the drain body  202 . The ends of the fingers  116  may abut the sidewall surface  212  such that the lateral strainer portion  114  acts as a spacer positioning the strainer cartridge  100  within a central region of the recess  210  and such that the lateral strainer portion  114 . For example, as the axis A L  extends through the centers of the upper, lower, and lateral strainer portions  102 ,  104 ,  114 , the stopper head  118 , and the gasket  120 , the axis A L  may extend through the center and along a central axis of the drain body  202  as well. The strainer cartridge  100  may be concentric with the drain body  202 , which is cylindrical similar to the strainer cartridge  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the ends of the fingers  116  may terminate within the recess  210  of the drain body  202  before extending to and reaching the sidewall surface  212  of the drain body  202 . In other words, in some embodiments, the ends of the fingers  116  do not abut the sidewall surface  212  delimiting the recess  210  of the drain body  202 . In other words, the lateral strainer portion only acts as a strainer and does not act as a spacer when the ends of the fingers terminate within the recess before extending to and reaching the sidewall surface  212  of the drain body  202 . 
     When the upper strainer portion  102  is inset within the lower strainer portion  104  as shown in  FIG. 3B , bottom ends or bottom end surfaces of the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, may abut a lower surface  214  of the drain body  202  that delimits the recess  210 . Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 3D  when the upper strainer portion  102  is extended outward from the lower strainer portion  104 , the bottom end of the lower strainer portion  104  may abut the lower surface  214  of the drain body  202  and the bottom end of the upper strainer portion  102  may be spaced apart from the lower surface  214  of the drain body  202 . 
       FIG. 3C  is a perspective view of the drain system  200  in which the strainer cartridge  100  is in the expanded position (e.g., drain position, draining position, etc.) such that fluid may successively pass into and through the drain opening  208  and into and through the recess  210 . After passing through the drain opening  208  and through the recess  210  the fluid may continue to pass along a drain pipe (not shown) in fluid communication with the drain body  202 . For example, the drain pipe may be a sewage pipe or some other type of pipe through which fluid passes through to exit a fluid basin in fluid communication with the drain body  202 . 
     As may readily be seen in  FIGS. 3A-3D  the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, define and delimit the void  138 , which is cylindrical, that extends through and between the upper and lower strainer portion  102 ,  104 , respectively. The void  138  is in fluid communication with the pluralities of first and second openings  106 ,  108 , respectively, of the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, such that fluid may flow through the pluralities of first and second openings  106 ,  108  into the void  138  to strain the fluid passing through the strainer cartridge. The void  138  may be smaller when the upper strainer portion  102  is inset within the lower strainer portion  104  as shown in  FIG. 3B  as compared to when the upper strainer portion  102  is in the expanded position and extending from the lower strainer portion  104  as shown in  FIG. 3D . 
     The strainer cartridge  100  may be conveniently moved between the compressed position (e.g., plug position, plugged position, etc.) in which the drain opening  208  is sealed off by the gasket  120  and the expanded position (e.g., drain position, draining position, etc.) in which the drain opening  208  is unimpeded such that fluid may readily pass through the strainer cartridge  100  and the drain opening  208 . For example, a user may simply, easily, and conveniently pull upward on the stopper head  118  to mechanically move the upper strainer portion  102  from the compressed position to the expanded position, and, oppositely, the user may simply, easily, and conveniently push downward on the stopper head  118  to mechanically move the upper strainer portion  102  from the expanded position to the compressed position. 
     When the user pulls on the stopper head  118  moving the upper strainer portion  102  from the compressed position to the expanded position, the cantilever arms  110  successively deflect away from the axis A L  and snap back towards the axis A L  as the lip portions  136  slide and move along angled surfaces, apexes, and valleys of the ribs of the ribbed portions  112 . Once the user has moved the upper strainer portion  102  to a selected position, the user ceases pulling on the stopper head  118  and the lip portions  136  are positioned within valleys between adjacent ones of the ribs of the ribbed portions  112  such that the upper strainer portion  102  is held in the expanded position. As the upper strainer portion  102  is moved towards the expanded position, the user may hear a clicking sound or feel tactile feedback based on the mechanical interaction between the lip portions  136  of the cantilever arms  110  and the ribs of the ribbed portions  112 . 
     The size of the void  136  defined by the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, is increased by moving the upper strainer portion  102  from the compressed position to the expanded position. A speed of fluid flow through the drain opening  208 , the upper strainer portion  102 , and the lower strainer portion  104  may increase as the size of the void  136  increases. 
     When the user pushes on the stopper head  118  moving the upper strainer portion from the expanded position to the compressed position, the cantilever arms  110  successively deflect away from the axis A L  and snap back towards the axis A L  as the lip portions  136  slide and move along the angled surfaces, the apexes, and the valleys of the ribs of the ribbed portions  112 . Once the user has moved the upper strainer portion  102  to a selected position, the user ceases pushing on the stopper head  118 . Once the upper strainer portion  102  is in the compressed position, the gasket  120  is contacting the peripheral surface  206  of the flange  204  of the drain body  202  sealing off the drain opening  208  from fluid within a fluid basin. In other words, the gasket  120  and the stopper head  118  stop fluid within the fluid basin from exiting the fluid basin such that the fluid collects within the fluid basin. 
     The size of the void  136  defined by the upper and lower strainer portions  102 ,  104 , respectively, is decreased by moving the upper strainer portion  102  from the compressed position to the expanded position. A speed of fluid flow through the drain opening  208 , the upper strainer portion  102 , and the lower strainer portion  104  may decrease as the size of the void  136  decreases. In other words, the upper strainer portion  102  may be positioned in an intermediate position between the fully compressed position and the fully expanded position to limit the speed of the fluid flow through the drain. When the upper strainer portion  102  is in the intermediate position, the upper strainer portion  102  is held stationarily in the intermediate position by the mechanical cooperation and engagement of the cantilever arms  110  and the ribbed portions  112 . 
       FIG. 3E  is a bottom plan perspective view of the drain system  200  including the drain body  202  and the strainer cartridge  100 . The drain body  202  further includes a grate structure  216  that is mechanically engaged with the clip arrangements  113  of the lower strainer portion  104 . For example, the horizontal portions of the L-shaped clip arrangements  113  are below corresponding bars of the grate structure  216  such that upper surfaces of the horizontal portions may abut the lower surfaces of the corresponding bars, and the vertical portions of the L-shaped clip arrangements  113  are adjacent to and may abut side surfaces of the corresponding bars. The clip arrangements  113  interlock with the bars of the grate structure  216  such that when the user pulls upward on the stopper head  118  to mechanically move the upper strainer portion  102  from the compressed position towards the expanded position the clip arrangements  113  abut and interlock with the corresponding bars of the grate structure  216  such that the strainer cartridge  100  is not removed from the drain body  202 . Alternatively, when the user pushes downward on the stopper head  118  to mechanically move the upper strainer portion  102  from the expanded position towards the compressed position, the bottom end of the lower strainer portion  104  is pushed against the grate structure  216  such that the upper strainer portion  102  is moved into the lower strainer portion  104 . 
       FIG. 3F  is a bottom plan perspective view of the drain system including the drain body and the strainer cartridge  100 . However, unlike  FIG. 3E  in which the clip arrangements  113  interlock with the grate structure  216 , the strainer cartridge  100  has been rotated such that the clip arrangements are fully aligned with corresponding openings  218  extending through the grate structure  216 . When in this rotated position, the clip arrangements  113  do not interlock with the corresponding bars of the grate structure  216  such that when a user pulls on the stopper head  118 , the strainer cartridge  100  is removed from the drain body  202 . The strainer cartridge  100  may be conveniently removed from the drain body  202  such that the strainer cartridge  100  may be cleaned, may have parts replaced, or may be replaced entirely by a new trainer cartridge  100 . 
       FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the lower strainer portion  104  of the strainer cartridge  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F .  FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the upper strainer portion  102  of the strainer cartridge  100  as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1F  that is telescopically received by the lower strainer portion  104  as shown in  FIG. 4A . 
     In some embodiments, the outside diameter of the lower strainer portion  104  may be less than the inside diameter of the upper strainer portion  102  such that the lower strainer portion  104  is telescopically received within the upper strainer portion  102 . In other words, the upper strainer portion  102  may surround the lower strainer portion  104  when the strainer cartridge  100  is in the compressed position. In these embodiments, the cantilever arms  110  may be reversed such that the lip portions  136  are at an outer surface of the lower strainer portion  104  and the ribbed portions  112  are at an inner surface of the upper strainer portion  102  such that the cantilever arms  110  mechanically cooperate and engage with corresponding ones of the ribbed portion  112 . 
     Additional aspects and features of the strainer cartridges disclosed herein will be readily apparent from a detailed review of the figures. 
     Furthermore, aspects and features of the embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. 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.