Patent Abstract:
An apparatus includes: a commercial kitchen sink having a drain; a trough below the sink for transporting effluent positioned such that there is an air gap between it and the drain; and a plurality of selectively positionable markers on the trough for indicating positions for strainers to collect solids in effluent discharging form the drain. A method of removing solids from an effluent flow from a kitchen sink having a drain hole is also disclosed.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   (1) Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to commercial kitchen systems and, more particularly, to an apparatus for draining at least one sink. The apparatus includes a commercial kitchen sink having a drain; a trough below the sink for transporting effluent, the trough positioned such that there is an air gap between it and drain; a plurality of selectively positionable markers on the trough; and removable solids strainers configured to be positioned at a marker to locate the strainer below a drain. 
   (2) Description of the Prior Art 
   In order to maintain sanitary conditions, plumbing and health code regulations require device drains to be individually drained with a flow passing through a minimum air space to preclude potential cross-contamination caused by fluids migrating upstream due to a downstream blockage. Traditional air-gap connection methods have commonly used a pipe-and-cup arrangement. Effluent flows through a drain, passes through a mandated air-gap into a cup, and then passes through a pipe to a remote location. This conventional set-up requires an adequate vertical distance to be available. However, in many modern commercial kitchens, devices discharge low to the floor and preclude such a pipe-and-cup design, particularly if other equipment needs to be installed under the sink downstream of the drain. 
   A particular item of equipment that may need to be installed downstream of the drain is the Big Dipper® grease separator sold by Thermaco, Inc. of Asheboro, N.C. Grease separators remove oil and grease from kitchen sink effluent so that the remaining effluent is easier to process and clogging of pipes is reduced, in compliance with many sewage district codes. The oil/grease separators have tanks with quiescent zones to permit the oil and grease to float on top of the water and be susceptible to removal. 
   When using these and other grease separators, it may be desirable to remove solids from the effluent flow prior to flow into the separator. One method of removing solids includes placing a strainer in the effluent flow below the sink drain. However, to effectively remove solids from the flow, the strainer must be placed such that the effluent stream including the solids passes through the strainer. Therefore, an inexpensive device for eliminating activities such as determining where the strainer should be placed along a trough and monitoring the strainer to determine whether it is indeed aligned with effluent flow from an outlet of a sink drain may increase the operating efficiency of such kitchens. There remains, therefore, a need in the art for an apparatus for draining at least one kitchen sink that provides a trough below the sink for transporting effluent, the trough positioned such that there is an air gap between it and the drain; and a plurality of selectively positionable markers on the trough to guide strainer placement. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention fulfills one or more of these needs by providing an apparatus for draining at least one sink having a downwardly disposed drain ending in a lower end. The apparatus includes a trough upwardly open to effluent flow discharging from the downwardly disposed drain. The trough extends beneath the sink and has a discharge end and an upstream end. Means are provided for positioning the trough to induce the effluent flow to the discharge end of the trough and to allow an air gap between the trough and the lower end of the drain. Selectively positionable markers mark a location of a sink drain above the apparatus to guide the positioning of a removable strainer. This enables the positioning of the strainer at the marker and consequent alignment of the strainer with the effluent flow from the drain to collect solids discharging from the drain into the apparatus. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, the apparatus includes a removable strainer for positioning in the trough at one of the markers. The apparatus may include a grease separator downstream of the trough. A sink is usually positioned having a downwardly disposed drain ending in a lower end. The strainer may include a handle. An indicator is preferably included to indicate a portion of the trough between two of the markers for positioning the strainer, to enable alignment of the strainer with the flow from the drain. The trough may be substantially U-shaped and include a series or apertures on a top flange for selectively positioning the markers. The trough has a depth, and the strainer preferably has a lesser depth to enable effluent to flow from upstream of the strainer, under the strainer, to downstream of the strainer. Each of the markers may include a pair of ears for guiding the positioning of the strainer, and a pair of lip portions, each having an aperture for coupling the marker to the trough. 
   In another aspect, the invention provides a method of installing an apparatus for removing solids from an effluent flow from a kitchen sink. The method includes fabricating a trough for placement below a drain hole of a kitchen sink, and positioning the trough below the drain hole. Further the method includes positioning the trough below the drain hole of the kitchen sink, selectively positioning drain hole markers along the trough; and inserting a strainer into the trough at one of the markers. 
   In yet another aspect the invention provides a method of removing solids from an effluent flow from a kitchen sink including discharging effluent flow containing solids from a drain hole of a sink. The method further includes collecting the solids from the effluent flow in a strainer positioned along a trough at a marker, removing the strainer from the trough, disposing of solids in the strainer; and replacing the strainer in the trough at the marker. 
   These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an apparatus for draining at least one sink and two sinks having downwardly disposed drains ending in a lower end. 
       FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a trough of an apparatus for draining at least one sink. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The illustrations and description are for the purpose of describing an embodiment of the invention and do not limit the invention to any particular embodiment. Those of ordinary skill will recognize that the invention defined by the claims is capable of various and numerous embodiments. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus  10  for draining at least one sink  70  that has a downwardly disposed drain  74  ending in a lower end  77 . The apparatus  10  includes a trough  20  upwardly open to effluent flow discharging from the downwardly disposed drain  74 . The trough  20  extends beneath the sink  70  and has a discharge end  24  and an upstream end  22 .  FIG. 1  shows the trough  20  extending under two sinks  70  with strainers  50  and positioning markers  40  provided in duplicate. The trough  20  can be fabricated of sheet metal, preferably stainless steel, of a variety of lengths, as needed for any given number of sinks, by duplication of the strainers  50  and markers  40 . 
   The trough  20  includes a means  30  for positioning the trough  20  to induce the effluent flow to the discharge end  24  of the trough  20  and to provide an air gap  34  between the trough  20  and the lower end  77  of the drain  74 . In one embodiment of the invention, the means  30  for positioning the trough  20  includes one or more standards  38  resting on a floor  31  or other surface below the trough  20  extending between the floor  31  surface and the trough  20  for supporting the trough  20 . Fittings  35  on the bottom of the trough have holes with threads, and at least upper portions of the standards are threaded to permit height adjustments. Similar threaded adjustments can also be provided for the connection of the bottom of the standards to feet  33 . The means for positioning the trough may be a support bracket made of a conventional hanger strap material. Other floor or wall-mounted straps can be the means for positioning or a component of the means for positioning the trough. Various combinations of nuts, bolts, screws, rods, straps, brackets, clamps, hangers, blocks, supports, feet, and other similar structures can be used to position the trough. In addition, a surface, such as the floor of a kitchen may provide the means. The apparatus may include a grease separator  60  downstream of the trough  20 . 
     FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of the trough  20  including a selectively positionable marker  40  to mark a location of a sink drain above the apparatus for guiding the positioning of a removable strainer  50 , thereby enabling the positioning of the strainer  50  at the marker  40  and consequent alignment of the strainer  50  with the effluent flow from the drain  74  to collect solids discharging from the drain. The strainer  50  may include a handle  54  for carrying the strainer  50  to a solid waste collection container (not shown) for disposal of solids from the strainer  50 . The trough  20  may be substantially U-shaped with flanges  47  at its top. The upper flanges have holes  24  along the length of the flange  47 . The series of holes  24  is provided in the flanges of the stock of the trough material so as the trough  20  is installed under the sink drain, the holes  24  that are under the sink drain can be selected for mounting the markers  40  to the trough  20 . The trough  20  has a depth  21  and the strainer  50  has a depth  51  less than the depth  21  of the trough  20  to enable effluent to flow from upstream of the strainer, under the strainer, to downstream of the strainer. 
   The apparatus  10  may comprise written instructions  80 , which may be located on a face  29  of a marker  40  and indicate a portion of the trough  20  where the strainer  50  should be placed to enable alignment of the strainer  50  with the flow from the drain  74 . In an embodiment of the invention, each of the markers  40  includes a pair of lip portions  27  having at least one aperture  28  for coupling the marker to a hole  24  in the flange  47  of the trough. Each of the markers  40  has a pair of upwardly extending ears  44  spaced apart slightly more than the length of the strainer  50  so as to together define a position for the strainer  50 , and to prevent longitudinal sliding of the strainer  50 . 
   In operation of an embodiment of the invention, a method of removing solids from an effluent flow from a kitchen sink having a drain hole includes positioning a trough below the drain hole of the kitchen sink. The drain hole markers may be positioned along the trough to indicate the location of the drain hole. A strainer can be inserted into the trough at one of the markers. Thus, after an effluent flow containing solids is discharged for the sink through the drain hole, the strainer, and the trough, the strainer collects the solids from the effluent flow. The strainer can be removed from its position below the drain hole and its contents transferred to a solid waste collection container. The strainer can be replaced in the trough at the marker indicating the position of the drain hole, so that the process can continue. 
   Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. Not every such modification and improvement is described herein, but is properly within the scope of the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4