DRAIN HOLE WASTE TRAP AND PLUG ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The invention relates to a waster trap assembly of the type which can be used in a drain hole of, for example, a sink or bath. The assembly includes sealing means such that the assembly can be moved axially between a sealing position and an open, drainage position. In the drainage position, debris is collected in a waste collecting means of the assembly rather than passing into the drain hole. The waste collecting means is provided to be manipulated between a waste collecting configuration in which the same is typically held when in the drain hole and a waste discarding configuration to which the same can be moved when it is desired to discard collected waste from the assembly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to UK application number 0709452.7 filed May 17, 2007. This application also claims priority to UK application number 0803738.4 filed Feb. 29, 2008, which applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention to which this application relates is to an improvement to a device which is herein referred to as a waste trap, which is for use with a drain hole of, for example, a sink or basin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Waste trap assemblies are typically used for two purposes, a first purpose, when the same is in a first position, to close and seal a drain hole in a sink, bath or the like and a second purpose when in a second position, to collect debris which may be present in the liquid in the sink or bath and prevent that debris from passing into the drain, as the liquid drains from the sink or bath through the drain hole.

It should be appreciated that although the invention is herein described with regard to use in a kitchen sink drain hole, the use of the waste trap of the invention need not be limited to this type of drain hole and therefore the description should be interpreted accordingly.

In kitchen sinks, the same are typically filled with liquid and used to wash utensils which have been used for cooking and/or eating. Typically, there will be food and other debris on the utensils at the time of washing and, during the washing action, the debris is removed from the utensils and either floats or sinks in the liquid. When the time comes to drain the liquid from the sink, the water leaves the same through a drain hole and the drain hole can quickly become clogged by the debris which is encouraged to move to the drain hole in the liquid flow. If the debris enters the drain itself, the drain can become blocked. This has been recognized as a significant problem and has led to the use of a device known as a waste trap.

The waste trap conventionally comprises a body formed of metal or a metal alloy which is typically of a similar dimension to the drain hole and which has a trap, typically formed as a basket, with perforations therein which allow liquid to pass there through, but at least the larger significant items of debris, to be retained in the basket. The trap is then, from time to time, removed from the drain hole by the user, typically once the liquid has drained from the sink. The collected debris can then be carried in the trap to a location where the debris can be discarded safely, such as a waste bin.

The waste trap also typically includes a sealing member, typically on the underside of the basket, which is formed of a resilient substance such as, for example, rubber or rubber equivalent, and this sealing member is provided so as to provide a substantially watertight seal of the drain and therefore act as a plug when the trap is in the first position. To allow this to occur, the trap typically includes a member along the central axis thereof, and which member acts as a guide for the movement of the trap between the first and second axial positions. In the first axial position, the trap is inserted further into the drain hole such that the sealing member engages the drain hole and causes a seal to be achieved therefore allowing liquid to be collected in the sink.

In the second position, the waste trap is moved axially away from the drain hole, but still located therewith. This allows liquid to drain from the sink, through a gap around the periphery of the trap and through the apertures in the trap basket, and into the drain hole. The gaps are of a size so as to prevent the larger items of debris passing into the drain hole and therefore this debris is retained in the trap basket.

Waste traps of this design are well known, and do work effectively. They can be unsightly but, due to their useful function, have largely remained in the same form for a long period of time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved waste trap, which at least maintains the functional performance but preferably improves the same, and which also has an improved appearance when in use.

In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a waste trap assembly for use in conjunction with a drain hole in a sink, bath or similar item, said assembly having a waste collecting means and wherein said waste collecting means can be manipulated by a user between a debris collection configuration and a debris discarding configuration.

Typically the waste collecting means or “basket” as it can often be called is provided in a debris collecting configuration while the waste trap is located in the drain hole in either first or second positions and can be moved to the debris discarding configuration when the assembly is removed from the drain hole such as at a location at which the debris held in the basket is to be discarded.

In one embodiment, the user manipulation involves moving at least part of the side walls of the waste collecting means to allow debris to fall out of the waste collecting means and also increase a gap between the periphery of the waste collecting means and the underside of a cover axially mounted above the waste collecting means so as to more easily facilitate the removal of the debris.

In one embodiment, the manipulation involves moving the side walls to move the same “over center”. In this embodiment, the waste collecting means is formed of a resilient material such that force is applied to the side walls to move the same from either configuration to an intermediate location whereupon continued application of force causes the resilience of the material to move the waste collecting means automatically to either of the collection or discarding configurations. Typically the shape of the waste collecting means, in conjunction with the resilience of the material, encourages the waste collecting means to remain in either of the collection or discarding configurations without application of force or other support being required.

The ability for user manipulation of the waste collecting means between collection and discarding positions, means that the debris can be more easily discarded from the waste collecting means. This is particularly important when the waste trap assembly includes a cover mounted above the waste collecting means, as although the spacing between the cover and the waste collecting means is sufficient to allow debris to pass into the waste collecting means, it may not be sufficient so as to allow a user to insert their fingers or other utensils into the waste collecting means to remove the debris there from. However, this problem is solved by the current invention by providing the waste collecting means to be manipulable between the debris collecting and debris discarding configurations so as to provide a greater size of gap between the cover and the waste collecting means when it is necessary to gain access to the same to remove debris there from.

In a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of use of a waste trap assembly with respect to a drain hole, said method comprising the steps of moving the assembly to a lowered position in the drain hole to substantially seal the same and allow liquid to collect in a sink or bath or similar item for use; and, when the use is complete, moving the waste trap assembly to a raised position in the drain hole to allow liquid to pass through the drain hole and waste debris to be collected in a waste collecting means of the assembly in a debris collecting configuration and wherein the assembly is removed from the drain hole and the waste collecting means manipulated by a user from the debris collection configuration to a debris discarding configuration to allow debris to be discarded from the waste trap assembly.

In one embodiment, the waste collecting means is formed from a material which can be deformed by the user to move the same between the debris collection and debris discarding configurations. Typically, the material is sufficiently resilient so as to remain in either of the debris collecting or debris discarding positions until user force is applied thereto.

In one embodiment, the waste collecting means incorporates a sealing means formed as part thereof, said sealing means provided to allow the drain hole to be substantially sealed when the waste trap is in the first position.

In one aspect of the invention, the waste collecting means which is provided as part of the assembly, is provided with a rib portion extending around the periphery of the same.

In one embodiment, the rib portion is of an increased thickness compared to the wall thickness of the remainder of the waste collecting means.

In one embodiment, the rib portion is formed at the free edge of the collecting means.

It is found that in use, the rib portion acts to allow a more controlled movement of the waste collecting means between the waste collecting configuration and the waste discarding configuration. This more controlled movement ensures that the movement is predictable and therefore prevents the risk of splashing or scattering of collected waste from the collecting means as the movement is being performed by the user.

In one embodiment the assembly incorporates sealing means which, when the assembly is in a closed position, act to seal the drain hole to substantially prevent the passage of water there through, said sealing means being formed integrally with at least one other component of the assembly.

In one embodiment, the sealing means is formed integrally with the waste collecting means.

By providing the sealing means integrally with the waste collection means of the assembly, so it is found that the manufacture of the assembly is simplified and costs are reduced.

Typically the assembly includes a cover member mounted coaxially with the waste collecting means and axially spaced there from. Typically the cover means is located such that when the assembly is in the lowered position in the drain hole the top surface of the cover member lies substantially flush with the surface of the sink or bath in which the drain hole is provided.

In a yet further aspect of the invention, there is provided a waste trap assembly for a drain hole of a sink or bath or similar item, said waste trap including a waste collecting means for the collection of debris therein as liquid drains through the waste trap into the drain hole and wherein a cover member is provided, said cover member axially spaced from said waste collecting means.

In one embodiment, the cover member is spaced from the waste collecting means to a sufficient extent such that as liquid drains through the drain hole, debris can pass through the space between the cover and waste collecting means and be collected by the waste collecting means thereby preventing the same from passing into the drain hole and also preventing the debris from clogging the area around the drain hole.

In one embodiment the upper surface of the cover member is shaped so as to encourage liquid and debris to move along the surface to the periphery of the cover and then into the waste collecting means.

In one embodiment, the waste trap is axially movable with regard to the drain hole between a first, sealing position in which liquid is substantially prevented from entering the drain hole and a second position in which liquid can pass around and through apertures provided in the trap waste collecting means, to enter the drain hole.

Typically the axial movement, and the extent of the same, is provided such that when the trap is in the first position, the external face of the cover lies substantially flush with the face of the sink adjacent the drain hole. Thus, the waste collecting means is hidden from view when the trap is in the first position, thereby improving the appearance of the waste trap and the sink.

Typically the waste trap includes a sealing means, said sealing means acting when the waste trap is in the first position to seal the drain hole and therefore prevent liquid from leaving the sink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a sink with a waste trap in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, in a first, closed position.

FIG. 2 illustrates a sink with the waste trap of FIG. 1, in a second, open condition.

FIG. 3 illustrates of the waste trap in accordance with one embodiment of the invention in a debris collecting configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates waste trap of FIG. 3 in a debris discarding configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exploded view of the components of the waste trap in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates the waste trap in section on line A-A in the closed position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 illustrates the waste trap in section on line B-B in the open position of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates the waste trap in section in line C-C in a debris collecting configuration of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 illustrates the waste trap in section in line D-D in a debris collecting configuration of FIG. 4;

FIGS. 10a-b show a cross sectional elevation of an assembly in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention in position in a drain hole in open and closed positions respectively.

FIGS. 11a-c illustrate the waste collecting means and sealing means of the assembly of FIGS. 10a and b.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring firstly to FIGS. 1 and 6, there is illustrated part of a kitchen sink 2 assembly which includes a drain hole 4 and in which there is positioned a waste trap assembly 6 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The waste trap is shown in a first, closed position, in which the top surface 8 of a cover 10 of the waste trap lies substantially flush with or slightly below the surface 12 of the base of the sink. Thus, in this position, the waste trap is effectively sealing the drain hole 4 in a sealed, closed, position so that liquid can be poured into the sink 15 and collected and retained in the sink for washing use.

In order to move the waste trap from a closed position shown in FIG. 1, to an open position shown in FIG. 2 and 7, then, in one embodiment, the user is required to press down onto the top surface 8 of the cover 10 as indicated by arrow 16. This serves to release a mechanism 22 incorporated as part of the waste trap which in turn causes the waste trap to be released to move upwardly as indicated by arrow 20, typically under the influence of a spring. The movement of the waste trap upwardly, causes the cover 10 to move to a raised position spaced from the surface 12 of the base of the sink. In this position a waste collecting means in the form of a basket 18 lies with its peripheral edge substantially flush with or lower than with the base 12 of the sink. This allows liquid to flow as indicated by arrows 24 in FIG. 7 through the gap 26 and through apertures 28 provided in the basket and into the drain hole. Any debris which is carried by the liquid is collected in the basket 18 for subsequent removal as it is too large to pass through apertures 28.

FIG. 5 illustrates the waste trap components in more detail in accordance with one embodiment of the invention and it will be seen that the waste trap incorporates a central axis member 30. On that member, at spaced intervals, are provided the cover 6 and then spaced downwardly there from, the waste collecting means or basket 18 with the apertures 28 therein. Below that, there is formed a seal 32 and part of the mechanism 22 which allows the movement of the waste trap between the open and closed positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mechanism is the subject of separate patent protection and therefore is not described in detail here. However, in this example the simple pressing action on the cover is sufficient to move the waste trap between the first and second positions. However other movement mechanisms could be used without affecting the advantages of this invention.

The provision of the cover, in addition to the waste collecting means basket, means that the waste trap assembly itself is more attractive in use as it provides, in the closed position, a substantially flush base surface and the drain hole and waste collecting means basket are therefore hidden from view. The waste trap assembly 6 is located in a housing 34 which is mounted in the drain hole of the sink assembly. However it should be appreciated that the waste collecting means basket 18 can be used to advantage without the cover being provided and therefore the assembly could be provided in accordance with one embodiment of the invention without the cover.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 8 a problem which is created by the provision of the cover 10 is that the gap 38 between the underside 36 of the cover and the peripheral lip of the basket 18 is such that it is difficult for a user to gain access to any debris which may be collected in the basket in order to be able to remove the same. Thus, if the basket was of a conventional type made of sheet metal which is formed as a fixed, rigid shape, then, in many instances, the waste trap basket 18 would not be usable as debris cannot be recovered there from. However, this problem has been appreciated and dealt with in the following manner in the current invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, the basket 18 is provided in a debris collection configuration in which the side walls 40 of the basket, depend upwardly leading to a peripheral lip 42. This therefore means that the basket is in a form in which debris which enters the same in a direction of arrows 24, can be collected in the basket and the liquid, which carries the debris to the drain hole and to the basket, continues its flow downwardly as indicated by arrows 24 in FIG. 7 through the apertures 28 in the basket to the drain hole. It is also possible, although not shown, that the surface of the cover can be domed or otherwise shaped so as to encourage the liquid and any debris thereon to move to the peripheral edge of the cover and then move as indicated by arrows 24 downwardly towards the basket 18.

With the basket 18 still in the collecting configuration the waste trap assembly can be removed from the drain hole as indicated by arrow 41 in FIG. 8 and then used to carry any debris in the basket until it is desired to discard the same.

In order to remove the debris for discarding the same, the basket can be manipulated by the user to a configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 9. The movement can be achieved as the basket is formed of a substantially resilient, flexible material such as nitrile rubber. Preferably, the hardness of the rubber is in the region of 50-70 shore hardness and provides sufficient rigidity of the basket so as to retain it in the required configuration but the same is still sufficiently flexible so as to be manipulable by the user between configurations.

The movement can be achieved by the user gripping the peripheral lip 42 and then moving the same as indicated by arrows 46 in FIG. 8. In movement, once the lip 42 reaches a particular location, for example illustrated by broken lines 48 in FIG. 9, the resilience of the material causes the basket to continue the movement automatically to the debris discarding configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 9.

Similarly, when moving the basket from the debris discarding configuration to the debris collecting configuration, the movement can be achieved in the opposite direction by the user gripping the peripheral lip 42. Thus it will be appreciated that when the basket is in the debris discarding configuration, the debris is no longer held in the basket when the waste trap is held upright and so the debris can fall into, for example, a bin.

Thus, in use, in the sink, the waste trap can be moved between first and second closed and open positions accordingly. Preferably, the waste trap sealing member 32, which can be provided as an integral part of the basket, seals against the drain hole to effectively prevent liquid leaving the sink through the drain hole when the waste trap is in the first closed position. In order to drain the liquid from the sink, the waste trap can be moved to the second position shown in FIG. 2 and water can then drain through the drain hole via apertures provided in the basket. The drain hole is exposed as the waste trap has been moved upwardly to raise the cover from the surface of the sink and bring the waste trap assembly 6 to the entry into the drain hole and remove the sealing member 32 from the drain hole.

Once the sink has been drained, the user may then wish to discard any debris which is held in the basket of the waste trap. To do this, they release and remove the waste trap from the drain hole and sink completely, and carry the same, with the basket still in the configuration shown in FIGS. 3 and 8. At the point of removal of the debris the user can grip the peripheral edges of the basket and move the same downwardly to the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 9 wherein debris can fall out of the basket 18. Thus, the debris can be accessed relatively easily and the user need not try and place utensils or their fingers between the gap of the peripheral of the basket and the underside of the cover when it is in the normal configuration shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the FIGS. 10a-b, there is shown a drain hole 102 in a sink 104 which allows the passage of water from the sink to the drainage means.

Also shown in position in the drain hole, is a waste trap assembly 106. The waste trap assembly, in this embodiment, comprises a top cover 108 mounted on a longitudinal shaft 110 around which is also disposed, at a spaced location from the cover, a waste collecting means 112 and, formed as part of thereof, sealing means 116 shown in more detail in FIGS. 11a-c.

The sealing means 116 are provided to locate on the drain hole, when the assembly is in the closed position of FIG. 10b, in order to seal the drain hole and maintain the liquid in the sink. The assembly is axially movable, either by manual movement or by an actuating means, so as to allow the assembly to be moved upwardly, to an open position as shown in FIG. 10a, and downwardly to a closed lowered position as shown in FIG. 10b. As shown in FIG. 11a-c, the free end or edge 118 of the waste collecting means 112 is formed with a rib 120 of an increased wall thickness as compared to the wall thickness of the remainder of the waste collecting means. It is found that the provision of the at least one rib improves the movement of the waste collecting means between the collecting position shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b and a waste discarding position shown in broken lines in FIG. 10a, and between which positions the collecting means can be moved by manual manipulation typically by gripping the edges of the same.

The provision of the rib 120 allows a more controlled movement to be achieved between the configurations of collecting and discarding.

It is also shown how the sealing means 116 is provided as an integral part of the waste collecting means 112, typically being formed as a common part and of a common material, thereby simplifying the manufacture and reducing the number of components required for the assembly.

There is therefore provided a waste trap assembly which allows the waste collecting means to be effective in preventing debris from passing into the drain and which still allows the debris to be effectively removed there from, even when a cover is provided and at the same time providing an assembly which has improved appearance and effect.

Claims

1. A waste trap assembly for use in conjunction with a drain hole in a sink, bath or similar item, said assembly having a waste collecting means and wherein said waste collecting means can be manipulated by a user between a debris collecting configuration and a debris discarding configuration.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the waste collecting means is provided in a debris collecting configuration while the waste trap is located in the drain hole in either first or second positions and can be moved to the debris discarding configuration when the assembly is removed from the drain hole.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the user manipulation involves moving at least part of the side wall of the waste collecting means.

4. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the manipulation involves moving the side walls to move the same “over center”.

5. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the waste collecting means is formed of a resilient material such that force is applied to the side walls to move the same from either the waste collecting or discarding configuration to an intermediate location whereupon continued application of force causes the resilience of the material to move the waste collecting means automatically to the other of the collecting or discarding configurations.

6. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the shape of the waste collecting means, in conjunction with the resilience of the material, encourages the waste collecting means to remain in either of the collecting or discarding configurations without application of force or other support being required.

7. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the waste collecting means incorporates a sealing means formed to allow the drain hole to be substantially sealed when the waste trap is in a first position.

8. An assembly according to claim 7 wherein the sealing means is formed integrally with the waste collecting means.

9. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the waste collecting means is provided with a rib portion extending around the periphery of the same.

10. An assembly according to claim 9 wherein the rib portion is of an increased thickness compared to the wall thickness of the remainder of the waste collecting means.

11. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the rib portion is formed at the free edge of the collecting means.

12. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the assembly includes a cover member mounted coaxially with the waste collecting means and axially spaced there from.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein the cover means is located such that when the assembly is in a lowered position in the drain hole the top surface of the cover member lies substantially flush with the surface of the sink or bath in which the drain hole is provided.

14. A method of use of a waste trap assembly with respect to a drain hole, said method comprising the steps of moving the assembly to a lowered position in the drain hole to substantially seal the same and allow liquid to collect in a sink or bath or similar item for use; and, when the use is complete, moving the waste trap assembly to a raised position in the drain hole to allow liquid to pass through the drain hole and waste debris to be collected in a waste collecting means of the assembly in a debris collecting configuration and wherein the assembly is removed from the drain hole and the waste collecting means manipulated by a user from the debris collection configuration to a debris discarding configuration to allow debris to be discarded from the waste trap assembly.

15. A waste trap assembly for a drain hole of a sink or bath or similar item, said waste trap including a waste collecting means for the collection of debris therein as liquid drains through the waste trap into the drain hole and wherein a cover member is provided, said cover member axially spaced from said waste collecting means.

16. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein the cover is spaced from the waste collecting means to a sufficient extent such that as liquid drains through the drain hole, debris can pass through the space between the cover and waste collecting means and be collected by the waste collecting means.

17. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein the upper surface of the cover member is shaped so as to encourage liquid and debris to move along the surface to the periphery of the cover and then into the waste collecting means.

18. An assembly according to claim 15 wherein the assembly is axially movable with regard to the drain hole between a first, lowered sealing position in which liquid is substantially prevented from entering the drain hole and a second, raised position in which liquid can pass around and through apertures provided in the waste collecting means, to enter the drain hole.

19. An assembly according to claim 18 wherein the extent of the axial movement is such that when the assembly is in the first position, the external face of the cover lies substantially flush with the surface of the sink adjacent the drain hole and the waste collecting means is hidden from view.