DRAIN PROTECTIVE DEVICE

Abstract

A device for protecting a drain of a sink is provided. The device is generally flat having a center portion having a handle. A plurality of small openings are located throughout the device for allowing the flow of liquid and air from the top of the device to the bottom of the device but preventing objects, such as straws, olives, lemons, napkins or other objects from passing through the device. The device is suitable for protecting drains of sinks, including, but not limited to mop sinks, commercial sinks, laundry sinks and any tubs or tanks. In an embodiment, the device is made of plastic or rubber and is recyclable. The device is especially suitable for preventing clogging of a drain in a restaurant.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The following application is based on and claims the priority benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/482,814 filed Apr. 7, 2017 currently co-pending; the entire contents of which is incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A device for protecting a drain of a sink is provided. The device is generally flat having a center portion having a handle. A plurality of small openings are located throughout the device for allowing the flow of liquid and air from the top of the device to the bottom of the device but preventing objects, such as straws, olives, lemons, napkins or other objects from passing through the device. The device is suitable for protecting drains of sinks, including, but not limited to mop sinks, commercial sinks, laundry sinks and any tubs or tanks. In an embodiment, the device is made of plastic or rubber and is recyclable. The device is especially suitable for preventing clogging of a drain in a restaurant.

Screens for drains have been made in the past. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,469 to Cohen discloses a floor sink drain screen lock having expandable means for sealingly engaging the walls of a floor sink drain, yet being readily collapsible for quick and easy removal when desired.

Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,498 to Cuschera discloses an adapter for installing a replacement drain valve in an existing drain comprises a cylindrical valve adapter insertable in the drain. The interior of the adapter is threaded, and the exterior is tapered upwardly. A similarly tapered split ring is disposed between the adapter and the drain. An externally threaded driving member is received in the adapter, and includes an outwardly extending flange which impinges on the upper end of the split ring. The drive member wedges the split ring between the drain and the adapter, securing the latter in the drain. The adapter includes a spider in the lower end thereof which receives and secures the replacement valve.

Still further, U.S. Pat. No. 9,139,996 to Cohen discloses a locking floor sink drain screen for an enlarged drain is provided. The locking floor sink drain positively precludes passage of large objects, while permitting free passage of fluid and which can quickly and easily be removed for cleaning. Vertical separators provide spaces through which water can flow from the enlarged drain opening into a standard drain pipe. In some embodiments, a special, tamperproof locking key may be used to prevent unauthorized disassembly of the installed floor drain screen.

However, these drain protective devices fail to provide a drain protective device which is easy to use, quick and inexpensive. Further, these devices fail to provide a drain protective device which is easy to remove for cleaning and/or replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A device for protecting a drain of a sink is provided. The device is generally flat having a center portion having a handle. A plurality of small openings are located throughout the device for allowing the flow of liquid and air from the top of the device to the bottom of the device but preventing objects, such as straws, olives, lemons, napkins or other objects from passing through the device. The device is suitable for protecting drains of sinks, including, but not limited to mop sinks, commercial sinks, laundry sinks and any tubs or tanks. In an embodiment, the device is made of plastic or rubber and is recyclable. The device is especially suitable for preventing clogging of a drain in a restaurant.

An advantage of the present device is that the present device is easily secured to a drain to protect the drain from straws, olives, lemons, napkins and other objects.

Another advantage of the present device is that the present device easily can hold debris and prevent debris from entering a drain.

Still another advantage of the present device is that the present device may be made of plastic and or rubber and may be recyclable.

Yet another advantage of the present device is that the present device may have a handle which allows a user to grasp the device when the device is placed over a drain. Still another advantage of the present device is that the present device may have a plurality of air gaps created between a webbing material of the device which secures solid blocking units of the device.

Yet another advantage of the present device is that the present device, in one embodiment, may have a central blocking mechanism which is placed directly over the drain of the sink and wherein the liquid must pass through the webbing openings of the device in order to gain access to the drain.

And another advantage of the present device is that the present device is easily removable from the sink for cleaning and or replacing.

In still another embodiment, the present device is bendable so as to be able to fit sinks of various sizes and shapes.

For a more complete understanding of the above listed features and advantages of the present drain protection device reference should be made to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments. Further, additional features and advantages of the invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the device in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the device in an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the device installed within a larger sink.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the device installed within a smaller sink.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device for protecting a drain of a sink is provided. The device is generally flat having a center portion having a handle. A plurality of small openings are located throughout the device for allowing the flow of liquid and air from the top of the device to the bottom of the device but preventing objects, such as straws, olives, lemons, napkins or other objects from passing through the device. The device is suitable for protecting drains of sinks, including, but not limited to mop sinks, commercial sinks, laundry sinks and any tubs or tanks. In an embodiment, the device is made of plastic or rubber and is recyclable. The device is especially suitable for preventing clogging of a drain in a restaurant.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, in an embodiment, a drain protective device 1 is provided. The device 1 may have a base having a top 2, a bottom 3, a front 4, a back 5, a first side 6 and a second side 7. In an embodiment, the base is generally flat. Further, in an embodiment, the base is made from an anti-microbial material so as to reduce the spread of dangerous bacteria which might be present in, for example, the sink 200 of a restaurant. In an embodiment, the device 1 may be generally made from a plastic or rubber and may be recyclable.

The device 1 may have a length 10 defined by the distance from the front 4 to the back 5 of the device 1 and the device 1 may have a width 20 defined by the distance from the first side 6 to the second side 7 of the device 1. In an embodiment, the base of the device 1 may have a webbing material 75 which may act as a skeleton throughout the device 1 and may secure numerous solid blocking units 80. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate only a portion of the device 1 being covered by the solid blocking units 80, although in practice the solid blocking units 80 are located throughout the entire device 1. In one embodiment, the bottom 3 of the apparatus 1 is magnetic, but not the top 2. Thus, the apparatus 1 may be secured to a sink 200 (as described below) due to the bottom 3 being magnetic, but because the top 2 is not magnetic any metal object, such as a spoon, placed within the sink 200 will not be inconveniently attracted to or stuck to the apparatus 1.

In an embodiment, the bottom 3 of the device 1 may have a clearance distance 25 above a bottom surface 200 (FIG. 3) of a sink 50. In particular, the edges of the device 1 may have a slightly elevated ridge 30 which may elevate the device 1 slightly above the bottom surface 200 of the sink 50 in one embodiment so as to provide better flow of air and liquids 150 through the device 1. In an embodiment, the slightly elevated ridge 30 may be magnetic so as to be attracted to the sink 200 and, therefore, allow the apparatus 1 to remain secured to the sink 200 and largely resistant to unintentional movement. Still further, in an embodiment, the slightly elevated ridges 30 may be completely removable (via a rail) from the main base of the apparatus 1 so that the bottom 3 of the apparatus 1 lies completely flat with respect to the bottom of the sink 200.

In an embodiment, the device 1 is especially suitable for use with a sink 50 having a drain 95. In particular, it is common for commercial drains, such as those used in restaurants, to often clog as a result of straws, lemons, olives, napkins and other objects 100 getting caught in the drain 95 of the sink 50. This often requires the expense of a plumber to be called to fix the clogging. The present device 1 prevents such clogging. In particular, the numerous solid blocking units 80 may prevent the objects 100 from gaining access to the drain 95 of the sink 50 and therein clogging the drain 95.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, in an embodiment, as a result of the device 1 being made of rubber and/or plastic and having openings 55 (created by the webbing 75 and located between the solid blocking units 80), the device 1 is especially suitable for fitting sinks 50 of various sizes and shapes. In particular, if the device 1 is to be implemented in a small sink 50 (FIG. 4), the front 4, the back 5, the first side 6 and/or the second side 7 may slightly bend upward along interior walls 120 of the sink 50 so that the main body of the device 1 substantially covers the entire bottom surface 200 of the sink 50. Although not illustrated, the solid blocking units 80 may be physically connected to the webbing 75, while the opening (which allows the passage of the liquid 150) may be located between the actual webbing 75 and the solid blocking units 80.

In an alternative method of use to bending the edges of the device 1 upward to fit a specific sink 50, the webbing 75 of the device 1 may be thin and made of rubber or plastic, so that the webbing 75 may be easily cut, for example with scissors, so as to trim the overall device 1 to more easily fit the sink 50 of unusual shape or size.

In one embodiment, the device 1 may have a handle 400. The handle 400 is preferable located on the top 2 of the device 1 in the general central area of the device 1 so that a user may easily grasp and lift or otherwise move the device 1 for cleaning and/or replacing. In one embodiment, the handle 400 may be located above a central blocking unit 500 wherein the central blocking unit 500 is placed directly over the drain 95 and therein better prevents the objects 100 from gaining access to the drain 95. In an embodiment, the handle 400 has a first end and a second end connected to the top 2 of the device 1 wherein the handle 400 may rotate from a first position substantially parallel to the top 2 of the apparatus 1 to a second position generally perpendicular to the top 2 of the apparatus 1. In the perpendicular position the handle 400 is easier to grab.

Although embodiments of the invention are shown and described therein, it should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages.

Claims

1) A drain protective device comprising:

a base having a first side, a second side, a front, a back, a top, a bottom; and

a webbing material containing a plurality of solid blocking devices attached to the webbing material wherein the webbing material has a plurality of openings for allowing the passage of liquid and air from the top of the drain protective device to the bottom of the drain protective device while preventing the passage of large solid material through the drain protective device.

2) The drain protective device of claim 1 wherein the webbing material is flexible.

3) The drain protective device of claim 1 further comprising:

a handle secured to the top of the base wherein the handle rotates from a first position to a second position.

4) The drain protective device of claim 1 wherein the base is generally flat.

5) The drain protective device of claim 1 further comprising:

a elevated first ridge secured to the first side of the base and a second elevated ridge secured to the second side of the base.

6) The drain protective device of claim 5 wherein the first elevated ridge and the second elevated ridge elevate the bottom of the base above a sink.

7) The drain protective device of claim 5 wherein the first elevated ridge and the second elevated ridge are magnetic.

8) The drain protective device of claim 5 wherein the first elevated ridge and the second elevated ridge are completely removable from the base.

9) The drain protective device of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the base is magnetic and wherein the top of the base is not magnetic.

10) The drain protective device of claim 1 wherein the base is made of a material having antimicrobial properties.