Apparatus For Capturing And Removing Hair From A Drain
An apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain. The invention further relates to the same apparatus that can be utilized for the maintenance of drains by capturing other foreign debris for removal from a drain. Other embodiments of the invention are also useful for preventing drains, such as shower drains, lavatories, and the like from being clogged with foreign matter; namely hair,
This application claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 61/737,696, An Apparatus For Capturing and Removing Hair From A Drain, filed on Dec. 14, 2012.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is generally related to plumbing fixtures, particularly, an apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPerhaps one of the biggest problems that people face with maintaining residential buildings is that of preventing drains, such as showers drains, lavatories, and the like from being clogged with foreign matter, namely hair. Due to the tendency of hair gradually accumulating in drains and the fact that it is very slow to deteriorate, it is a primary cause of drains clogging up in plumbing systems. If the clogged area is close to an accessible opening then the clogged system can typically be fixed with the application of plumbing tools or plumbing supplies such as abrasive chemical solutions. If the clogged area occurs in a remote position in the plumbing system then the task of unplugging the drain can be very difficult, time consuming and costly to the owner of the building.
As hair slowly builds up in a drain, it can cause other debris to be clogged in the plumbing system as well. In view of this problem, the present invention provides not only a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain but also an apparatus that can be utilized for facilitating the maintenance of drains by permitting other foreign debris to be captured and removed from a drain.
The approaches used in the prior art do not present an optimal system or apparatus for trapping and removing hair from a drain pipe. Solutions that employ basket-like structures that are not positioned at a predetermined acute angle along a longitudinal shaft member may be circumvented if the basket-like structure becomes clogged with hair or other debris. When this problem occurs, hair and other debris can manage to slide along the side walls of a drain pipe causing hair to eventually become clogged in a remote area of the plumbing system. Furthermore, solutions that employ hair trapping elements that are not located in strategically positioned vertical columns along a longitudinal shaft member can cause the hair capturing device to be unsanitary and very difficult to clean.
In light of the shortcomings in the prior art, a system and apparatus for capturing and removing hair is desired that employs a system that has hair trapping elements positioned at a predetermined acute angle in strategically placed vertical columns along a longitudinal shaft member for effectively capturing and removing hair from a drain before the hair enters into the drain pipe eventually clogging the plumbing system. The ideal system will be easy to remove from a drain pipe, can be disposable, or if not disposable, easy to clean based on the unique design of the apparatus.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain that has novel features for capturing and removing hair from a drain which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any prior art drain cleaning devices, either alone or in any combination thereof. Other inventions have been implemented to capture and remove hair from a drain, but they do not include hair capturing elements disposed at or near the sink drain and that are positioned at a predetermined acute angle like the current invention includes. Nor do these other inventions include hair capturing elements that have barrier-like knobs to stop hair from flowing along the sidewalls of a drain pipe. Moreover, these other inventions further do not include a system for removing hair from a hair capturing device that utilizes a v-shaped blade device that includes a handle.
The present invention also provides a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
The present invention is a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for removing hair from a drain which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such apparatus for removing hair from a drain economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain for facilitating the maintenance of drains by permitting convenient foreign debris removal and cleaning of a drain without the need of special tools.
Still yet a further feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for removing hair from a drain that provides an economical convenient apparatus for capturing and removing hair and other debris from a drain without the need to reach otherwise difficult areas of a sewer system in a manner which permits disposal of the hair and debris into the trash and then reuse of the apparatus.
Even still another feature of the present invention is to provide a new apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain that may be positioned in a location easily accessible at a sink, shower or tub drain.
Accordingly, for a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should he made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
Attached to and extending from the central longitudinal shaft member 26 are a plurality of slender rod-like bristles 28 of hair catching members. The bristle rod-like members 28 are spaced apart from each other a distance so as to effectively impede and entrap hair contained in water passing between them. Each of the bristle members 28 are slender rod-like elements, whether round, square or otherwise in a cross-sectional configuration. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer ends of the bristle rod-like members 28 consist of barrier-like knobs 30 for effectively preventing captured hair from sliding up and then off said bristle rod-like members 28 as water containing hair passes along said bristle rod-like members 28. The outer ends of the bristle rod-like members 28 containing barrier-like knobs will further prevent hair and other debris from flowing freely along the sidewalls of a drain pipe as water containing hair passes through the drain pipe.
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With the arrangement of
With the arrangement of
The bristle rod-like members 28 are spaced apart from each other a distance so as to effectively impede and entrap hair contained in water passing between them. Each of the bristle members 28 are slender rod-like elements, whether round, square or otherwise in a cross-sectional configuration. The outer ends of the bristle rod-like members 28 consist of barrier-like knobs 30 for effectively preventing captured hair from sliding up and then off said bristle rod-like members 28 as water containing hair passes along the bristle members 28. The outer ends of the bristle rod-like members 28 containing barrier-like knobs further prevents hair from flowing freely along the sidewalls of a drain pipe as water containing hair passes through the drain pipe.
With the arrangements of
The various embodiments of the invention are exemplary of the fact that other arrangements may be employed in practicing the invention which has been set forth herein for purposes of exemplification. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments or illustrated drawings set forth herein for descriptive purposes, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including a fill range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
Claims
1. An apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain, comprising:
- a downwardly central longitudinal shaft member having an upper end connected to a top member which is secured in place in the drain by a sink plate located at the drain opening of the sink;
- a plurality of hair catchers having slender rod-like bristles, each slender rod-like bristle having a first end emanating from the central longitudinal shaft member, a second outer end engaging with or in close proximity to the internal circumference of a drain pipe, and positioned at a predetermined acute angle relative to the downwardly vertical flow of water in the drain for capturing hair from the drain pipe.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bristles extend from the exterior of the longitudinal shaft member at a predetermined acute angle relative to the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member, but said bristles do not always have to pass through or have to be angled toward the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member so long as the alternative configurations are effective for capturing hair from a drain.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outer ends of the hair catchers include barrier-like knobs for preventing hair from sliding off the hair catching members, and for effectively preventing hair from sliding along the sidewall of the drain pipe.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bristles are round, square or otherwise in a cross-sectional configuration.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bristles are positioned on the longitudinal shaft member in vertical columns.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom end of the central longitudinal shaft member is secured to an internal guide.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the internal guide is secured by a fastener to a stopper actuator rod.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the internal guide is u-shaped and secured to a stopper actuator rod that is not secured to a fastener.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal shaft member includes relatively thin blade-like plates.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein bristle rod-like members are positioned within said plates at a predetermined acute angle.
11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slender rod-like bristles extending from the central longitudinal shaft member are positioned at a predetermined acute angle used for capturing debris in the drain pipe.
12. A system for removing debris from a drain, said system including a downwardly central longitudinal shaft member having an upper end connected to a top member which is secured in place in the drain by a sink plate located at the drain opening of the sink;
- a plurality of hair catchers having slender rod-like bristles, each slender rod-like bristle having a first end emanating from the central longitudinal shaft member, a second outer end engaging with or in close proximity to the internal circumference of a drain pipe, and positioned at a predetermined acute angle relative to the downwardly vertical flow of water in the drain for capturing hair from the drain pipe and that utilizes a tool comprising:
- a v-shaped blade device having a longitudinal-extended handle that is coupled to a syncline-shaped hook that extends from an arm, within the v-shaped hook is an opening that includes a blade extending from the inner tip to the bottom portion of the v-shaped opening;
- the outer tip of the v-shaped blade is positioned at the top of the longitudinal shaft member and then the v-shaped blade is slowly pulled downward between the vertical columns of the bristle rod-like members for removing hair from the apparatus; and
- the removed hair is discarded into a trash receptor; and the hair capturing device is repositioned back into the drain pipe for capturing and removing hair from the drain again.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the v-shaped blade device is used for removing debris from said apparatus.
14. The system of claim 13, Wherein the outer tip of the v-shaped blade is positioned at the top of the longitudinal shaft member and the v-shaped blade is slowly pulled downward between the vertical columns of the bristle rod-like members for removing debris from said apparatus.
15. An apparatus for capturing and removing hair from a drain, comprising:
- a downwardly central longitudinal shaft member having an upper end connected to a drain plate which is secured in place in the drain by a floor plate located at the drain opening of the shower;
- a plurality of hair catchers having slender rod-like bristles, each slender rod-like bristle having a first end emanating from the central longitudinal shaft member, a second outer end engaging with or in close proximity to the internal circumference of a drain pipe, and positioned at a predetermined acute angle relative to the downwardly vertical flow of water in the drain for capturing hair from the drain pipe.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bristles extend from the exterior of the longitudinal shaft member at a predetermined acute angle relative to the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member, but said bristles do not always have to pass through or have to be angled toward the central radius point of the longitudinal shaft member so long as the alternative configurations are effective for capturing hair from a drain.
17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the outer ends of the hair catchers include barrier-like knobs for preventing hair from sliding off the hair catching members, and for effectively preventing hair from sliding along the sidewall of the drain pipe.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bristles are round, square or otherwise in a cross-sectional configuration.
19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bristles are positioned on the longitudinal shaft member in vertical columns.
20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bristles extending from the central longitudinal shaft member are positioned at a predetermined acute angle used for capturing debris in the drain pipe.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 11, 2013
Publication Date: Jun 19, 2014
Inventor: Rosario Zito (Carmel, CA)
Application Number: 14/103,663