Double-Walled Kitchen Basket Strainer With Permanent Straining Device

Abstract

A double-walled sink strainer that provides additional apertures or larger area for straining debris is described. The doubled-walled sink strainer also allows easy removal of debris, and prevents large debris from entering drain pipes. The double-walled sink strainer also contains a permanently affixed straining device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application takes priority to Provisional Patent Application 61/805,743, filed on Mar. 27, 2013, and is incorporated herein in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Metal kitchen drain lines are subject to accelerated deterioration and clogging because the drain lines are exposed to acids, oils, fats, food materials, and mineral deposits. Larger food materials can cause drain lines to become clogged, and mineral deposits and other reactive materials can cause drain lines to corrode. Although transitioning from metal pipes to plastic pipes or ABS pipes has resolved many issues related to corroding and collection of mineral deposits, like metal pipes, ABS pipes still clog due to the passage of food and other particles that move through drain lines.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a prior art kitchen sink, drain, and drainage line. Generally, kitchen sinks defines a hole 17 which accepts a sink drain attachment. The sink drain attachment comprises a strainer 10, sometimes referred to as a basket strainer or drain body, which has a flange 11 that extends over the edge of the hole in the kitchen sink basin 2. The strainer 10 includes a much reduced diameter threaded portion 12 for connection to a strainer nut 14 or other attachment means to the drainage piping 16. The strainer 10 may include a removable basket or a garbage disposal adapter.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a typical double basin kitchen sink where the strainer 10 is attached to one at least one basin 2a and drainage piping 16; the other basin 2b has a garbage disposal 4 connected thereto. It will be appreciated that the components and drainage connection systems illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are exemplary.

Typically, the kitchen sink hole 17 is 3.5 inches in diameter. Referring to FIGS. 1, and 3, since the strainer 10 merges into a much reduced diameter threaded portion 12, the area of the strainer aperture 18 is much smaller than the area of the strainer 10.

Because of the relatively small surface area available for debris retention within the strainer 10 and the requirement for threaded portion 12 to terminate at a 90 degree angle with the strainer 10, it is difficult to remove certain types of debris from the bottom of the strainer 10. Some existing strainers 10 may allow larger debris to pass through to older, corroded, or clogged drain lines. This larger debris may exacerbate damage to existing drain lines or create damage.

To overcome these problems removable strainers have been employed; such strainers or baskets are removably inserted into the top of the drain body 10, and then removed and emptied as needed. However, these removable strainers also present drawbacks.

Removable strainers do not provide a larger strainer aperture 18. Additionally, the user of the kitchen sink will need to remember to insert the removable strainer before using the sink. Removable strainers are often stored on the side of a sink becoming an eyesore and can easily be misplaced. Moreover, many removable strainers are made from low quality material, such as plastic or rubber, or a very fine mesh material which may break down over time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

An object of this invention is to provide a double-walled strainer that provides additional apertures or a larger straining area for draining Another object is to provide a doubled wall strainer where debris is easily removable. Another object is to provide a double-walled strainer that prevents larger particles from entering drain pipes. Another object is to provide a double-walled strainer with a permanently affixed straining device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective, cut-away view of a prior art, kitchen sink, drain, and drainage line

FIG. 2 is a perspective, cut-away view of a prior art, double kitchen sink, drain, drainage line, and garbage disposal;

FIG. 3 is a top, perspective view of a prior art sink strainer;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the inventive sink strainer;

FIG. 5 is a cut-a-way view of an embodiment of the inventive sink strainer;

FIG. 6 is a side view of an embodiment of the inventive sink strainer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Pursuant to the patent laws of the United States, this detailed description, discusses various illustrative embodiments of a double-walled sink strainer 100. These illustrative embodiments are provided, as required by law, in order to give persons having ordinary skill in the relevant art a full, clear, and concise description of the invention defined by the claims, and to enable such a person to appreciate and understand how to make and use, not only the described illustrative embodiments of the present double-walled strainer 100, but various other embodiments that fall within the conceptual scope of present double-walled strainer 100, despite those various other embodiments not being explicitly described herein.

Neither this detailed description, nor the accompanying drawings, act to define or otherwise limit the inventive subject matter to which the inventors and/or the inventors' assignee(s) claim exclusive rights; that is the exclusive role of the claims which follow. Accordingly, this description should not be read to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter, nor imply any preference of the described embodiments over any other embodiment, unless such a limitation or preference is explicitly identified herein. For example, although the illustrative embodiments focus on a double-walled strainer 100 which is used within a kitchen sink, the inventive methods and systems defined by the claims are not so limited.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the double-walled sink strainer (“Strainer”) 100 is comprised of a flange 102, a body portion 103, and a threaded portion 104 for connection to a strainer nut 14, or other attachment means, for attachment to the drainage piping 16. Although the drawings herein depict a generally hemispherical-shaped body portion 103 to ease the cleaning process, the body portion can be any shape.

The body portion 103 is comprised of an inner wall 103a and an outer wall 103b; this configuration is will be referred to herein double-walled. The body portion 103 is operably attached to the flange 102, and extends downwardly and preferably in a generally hemispherical shape. Although the inner wall 103a may be composed of various materials, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the inner wall 103a is composed of a perforated or expanded mesh stainless steel material having a plurality of spaced apart apertures 110 extending therethrough. The apertures 110 sized to allow passage of liquid and relatively small particles, but sufficiently small so as to not permit larger materials and objects to pass. The outer wall 103b may also define perforation for further screening of liquid and debris. Preferably, the inner wall 103a and the outer wall 103b define a space 115 in-between.

Although the inner wall 103a and the outer wall 103b may be attached to the flange 102 in any known configuration, in one preferred embodiment, each wall 103a, 103b has a flange 112, 113 which is operably connected to the Strainer 100 flange 102. More specifically, the flange 102 may have a far side 102b and a near side 102a. The inner wall 103a may be operably connected to a near wall flange 112. The near wall flange 112 may be operably connected to the near side 102a of the flange 102. The outer wall 103b may be operably connected to an outer wall flange 113. The outer wall flange 113 may be operably connected to the near side 102a of the flange 102.

Claims

1. A sink strainer comprising:

a flange;

a body operably attached to the flange; where the body comprises at least an inner wall and an outer wall.

2. The sink strainer of claim 1 where the inner wall and outer wall define a space there in-betweens.

3. The sink strainer of claim 2 where:

the flange has a near side and a far side;

the inner wall in operably attached to an inner wall flange where, the inner wall flange is operably attached to the near side of the flange;

the outer wall is operably attached to an outer wall flange where, the outer wall flange is operably attached to the near side of the flange.

4. The sink strainer of claim 3 is operably attached to a threaded portion for connection to a drain pipe.

5. The sink strainer of claim 4 contains a permanent straining device.