Patent Application
20250101725
Disclosed are anti-clog features for faucet assemblies and drain assemblies, for example retrofit anti-clog features.
Household faucets, for example kitchen or bath faucets, may suffer decreased water flow due to an inlet waterway or faucet itself becoming clogged with debris. This “upstream” problem may be caused for example by mineral deposits, calcification, etc., and may appear as if there is low water pressure, when in fact it is the result of a clog.
Faucet assemblies may also suffer from “downstream”, or “below-deck” clogs, resulting in a slow draining or non-draining sink. Typically, one would disconnect a below-deck P-trap to clean it to solve the problem-generally an unpleasant task. Debris causing downstream clogs may include hair, soap, and the like.
Desired are anti-clog assemblies for faucets and sinks, for example retrofit anti-clog assemblies which may be installed by an end-user, or a “do-it-yourselfer” (DIY). Desired are anti-clog assemblies that are easy to clean.
Accordingly, disclosed is an anti-clog assembly for a sink drain, comprising an inlet; an outlet; a filter part; and a body, wherein the filter part is configured to be inserted into the body to place the anti-clog assembly in an operable position, the filter part is configured to be at least partially withdrawn from the body to place the anti-clog assembly in a maintenance position, and the anti-clog assembly is configured to be positioned in-line in a drain assembly, downstream of a sink and upstream of a trap.
Also disclosed is an anti-clog assembly for a faucet, comprising an inlet; an outlet; a filter part; and a body, wherein the filter part is configured to be coupled to the body to place the anti-clog assembly in an operable position, the filter part is configured to be decoupled from the body to place the anti-clog assembly in a maintenance position, and the anti-clog assembly is configured to be positioned in-line in a source water line upstream of the faucet.
The disclosure described herein is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, features illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some features may be exaggerated relative to other features for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference labels have been repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.
Following are reference numbers for features of the figures.
In an embodiment, disclosed is an anti-clog assembly for a sink drain, comprising an inlet; an outlet; a filter part; and a body, wherein the filter part is configured to be inserted into the body to place the anti-clog assembly in an operable position, the filter part is configured to be at least partially withdrawn from the body to place the anti-clog assembly in a maintenance position, and the anti-clog assembly is configured to be positioned in-line in a drain assembly, downstream of a sink and upstream of a trap.
An inlet, outlet, body, and filter are in flow communication when an anti-clog assembly is in a closed, operable position. In an operable position, a sink is configured to drain and drain water is configured to be filtered to prevent downstream clogs. In an open, maintenance position, a filter of a filter part is configured to be cleaned of debris. A filter part may be re-inserted into an anti-clog assembly body and the same filter may be re-used. In some embodiments, a used filter may be removed from a filter part and replaced. In yet other embodiments, an entire filter part may be replaced.
In some embodiments, a filter part may be completely removed from an assembly body. A filter part may simply be twisted and/or pulled out of an assembly body. A filter part may form a seal with a body interior with one or more O-rings. A filter part may for instance have a snap-fit coupling or a threaded coupling with an assembly body. In other embodiments, as illustrated in the examples, a filter part may be inserted and withdrawn from an assembly body by rotating a lever in a first direction and a second direction. A filter part may comprise one or more features, such as one or more extending arms, configured to move relative to an assembly body when inserted and withdrawn. An assembly body may comprise one or more slots or openings configured to accept one or more extending arms.
In some embodiments, individual parts of an anti-clog assembly may comprise a metal, for instance zinc, brass, or stainless steel. In other embodiments, parts of an anti-clog assembly may comprise a thermoplastic. Thermoplastics may include a polypropylene, a polyethylene, a polyester, a polyamide, a polystyrene, mixtures thereof, or copolymers thereof. Thermoplastics may include engineering thermoplastics. Engineering thermoplastics include for example polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene, polysulfones (PSU), polyethersulfones (PESU), cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate (ASA), polyphenylene oxides (PPO), polyphenylene sulfides (PPS), polyphenylenesulfones (PPSU), polyether ether ketones (PEEK), polyethylenimine (PEI), polyphthalamides (PPA), polyacetals, copolymers thereof, and blends thereof. Polyamides include nylon and polyphthalamide (PPA). Polyacetals include polyoxymethylene (POM). In some embodiments, a thermoplastic polymer may comprise a glass-filled thermoplastic. Parts comprising a thermoplastic may be prepared via a molding process, for example injection molding.
In some embodiments, a filter may comprise a mesh filter, for instance a mesh basket. In other embodiments, a filter may comprise a filter screen. A filter may comprise one or more than one filter components. Filters may comprise a metal or a thermoplastic as outlined above, for instance stainless steel or an engineering thermoplastic.
A filter part may comprise a general piston-like shape, and an assembly body may comprise a general cylinder-like shape, with the filter part configured to move within the assembly body not unlike a piston—as illustrated in the figures.
An anti-clog assembly may be coupled to a drain pipe and/or a trap (e.g. a P-trap) by conventional means, for instance press-fit or push-fit connections, soldering, adhesive binding, and the like.
In another embodiment, disclosed is an anti-clog assembly for a faucet, comprising an inlet; an outlet; a filter part; and a body, wherein the filter part is configured to be coupled to the body to place the anti-clog assembly in an operable position, the filter part is configured to be decoupled from the body to place the anti-clog assembly in a maintenance position, and the anti-clog assembly is configured to be positioned in-line in a source water line upstream of the faucet.
For instance, an anti-clog assembly for a faucet may be installed in-line in one or both of a cold source water line and a hot source water line, for example upstream of a faucet and downstream of an angle stop valve. For example an anti-clog assembly may be installed in-line in a PEX (cross-lined polyethylene) line with threaded compression fittings. Other conventional coupling means may also be suitable, for example soldering, adhesive binding, and the like.
In some embodiments, when an anti-clog assembly is placed in a maintenance position in order to clean or replace a filter or a filter part, the assembly is designed such that a faucet is not in flow communication with a source water line, so that the faucet is disabled and a leak will not occur during maintenance. As illustrated in the figures, this may be accomplished by employing rotation of a filter part in a first direction in order to remove (decouple) it, wherein rotation of a filter part results in rotation of a rotatable disc to close off water flow to the filter part. Upon rotation of the filter part in a second direction to again couple it to an assembly body, the rotatable disc is rotated to an open position to again place the filter in flow communication with an assembly inlet and outlet.
In some embodiments, a filter part comprising a mesh filter and/or a filter screen may be coupled to an interior of a filter cover. Accordingly, coupling and decoupling of a filter cover may be configured to provide for coupling and decoupling of a filter part from an assembly body. In some embodiments, a filter cover may comprise a slot or other feature configured to reversibly couple to a filter part. During maintenance, a filter may be cleaned and re-inserted into a filter cover. In other embodiments, a filter and/or a filter part may be replaced during maintenance. In some embodiments, a filter cover may be transparent so as to be able to visually inspect the status of the filter. A filter cover may comprise a transparent thermoplastic.
In some embodiments, an assembly body may comprise an adapter, for example a rotatable (rotary) adapter. A filter cover may be coupled to a rotary adapter, and a rotary adapter may be coupled to a rotatable disc, to provide for opening and closing of a water pathway to a filter as described above. A filter cover may be coupled to and sealed with a rotary adapter via one or more O-rings. A rotary adapter may be configured to be in flow communication with an assembly inlet and outlet when in an installed, operable position. A rotary adapter may be configured to not be in flow communication with an assembly inlet and outlet when in a maintenance position. A faucet may therefore not be able to receive source water when a filter is in a maintenance position. An adapter may comprise a baffle to define an inlet unfiltered water flow path and an outlet filtered water flow path.
In some embodiments, a stationary fixation ring may be positioned towards an outer end of an adapter. A fixation ring may hold a rotary adapter in place. A fixation ring may comprise one or more tabs configured to mate with one or more tabs of a filter cover. For example, as shown in the figures, a filter cover may be removed by a partial turn relative to a fixation ring, for instance a quarter turn, and reinstalled with a same partial turn.
Assemblies and filters of this embodiment may comprise metals and/or thermoplastics as outlined above.
Anti-clog assemblies of the disclosure may be suitable to be retro-fitted into existing drain and/or faucet assemblies.
The term “flow communication” or “fluid communication” means for example configured for liquid or gas flow there through and may be synonymous with “fluidly coupled”. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” indicate a direction of gas or fluid flow, that is, gas or fluid will flow from upstream to downstream.
The terms “coupled” or “connected” may mean that an element is “attached to” or “associated with” another element. Coupled or connected may mean directly coupled or coupled through one or more other elements. Coupled or connected may also mean permanently coupled or removably coupled. An element may be coupled to an element through two or more other elements in a sequential manner or a non-sequential manner. The term “via” in reference to “via an element” may mean “through” or “by” an element. Coupled or connected or “associated with” may also mean elements not directly or indirectly attached, but that they “go together” in that one may function together with the other.
The term “towards” in reference to a of point of attachment, may mean at exactly that location or point or, alternatively, may mean closer to that point than to another distinct point, for example “towards a center” means closer to a center than to an edge.
The term “like” means similar and not necessarily exactly like. For instance “ring-like” means generally shaped like a ring, but not necessarily perfectly circular.
The articles “a” and “an” herein refer to one or to more than one (e.g. at least one) of the grammatical object. Any ranges cited herein are inclusive. The term “about” used throughout is used to describe and account for small fluctuations. For instance, “about” may mean the numeric value may be modified by ±0.05%, ±0.1%, ±0.2%, ±0.3%, ±0.4%, ±0.5%, ±1%, ±2%, ±3%, ±4%, ±5%, ±6%, ±7%, ±8%, ±9%, or ±10%. All numeric values are modified by the term “about” whether or not explicitly indicated. Numeric values modified by the term “about” include the specific identified value. For example “about 5.0” includes 5.0.
The term “substantially” is similar to “about” in that the defined term may vary from for example by ±0.05%, ±0.1%, ±0.2%, ±0.3%, ±0.4%, ±0.5%, ±1%, ±2%, ±3%, ±4%, ±5%, ±6%, ±7%, ±8%, ±9%, or ±10% of the definition; for example the term “substantially perpendicular” may mean the 90° perpendicular angle may mean “about 90°”. The term “generally” may be equivalent to “substantially”.
Features described in connection with one embodiment of the disclosure may be used in conjunction with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated.
Embodiments of the disclosure include any and all parts and/or portions of the embodiments, claims, description and figures. Embodiments of the disclosure also include any and all combinations and/or sub-combinations of embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63540922 | Sep 2023 | US |
