FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to plumbing fixture accessories, in particular to drain traps. More specifically, the present invention is an environment-friendly drain trap which contains an integrated debris filter that prevents hair, debris, and other unwanted items from entering the plumbing system. The integrated debris filter eliminates the use of any chemicals that are used for cleaning purposes, resulting in an environment-friendly apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most people have dealt with a clogged drain with reference to a sink, a toilet, or any other plumbing fixture that discharges water. Hair is the most common culprit when it comes to clogged drains, but a variety of other things can clog a drain such as food, small objects, etc. Typically, people attempt to unclog the pipe by sticking a brush or a similar device down the drain to pull out any unwanted substances. In many cases, a brush may not fit down the drain because it is too small or the cap blocking the opening may not be removable. Furthermore, devices that are designed to fit down most drains are limited to pulling out only hair. Objects such as jewelry, small toys, etc. cannot be pulled out using these traditional devices and methods. An alternative option is to pour chemicals down the drain that will unclog the drain. The problem with said chemicals, also known as liquid drain openers, is that they are extremely toxic. For example, any chemicals that may poured the toilet will stay there for some time due to the fact that toilet bowl is filled with water and is slow to drain without flushing. The chemicals settle onto the porcelain and heat up while sitting in the ceramic bowl. This may cause the porcelain to crack or the concoction may even cause an explosion. In some instances, the chemicals build up in a clogged area and resultantly corrode the drain. With repeated use, these chemicals may eat their way through a pipe and cause leaks or a collapse of the entire plumbing system. Along with the potential of damaging the plumbing system and also the environment, the active ingredients in these chemicals can cause serious, life-threatening symptoms to humans when exposed even for a short amount of time. For example, eyes and skin can be severely burned when the chemicals come into contact with them. Mixing cleaning chemicals together presents a whole new problem in itself.
Combining various cleaners can create deadly gasses which may be deadly. An individual must worry about a multitude of side effects when using chemicals to unclog a drain.
The present invention solves the aforementioned problems. The present invention eliminates the need to use of harmful chemicals to unclog a drain, eliminating all dangers and problems that are associated with chemical cleaners. Anything that falls into the drain, such as hair, jewelry, small objects, etc. is blocked by a drain brush placed inside the modified P-trap at all times. Simultaneously, water is able to flow through the drain without impeding the speed in any way. By providing an access opening in the modified P-trap, the present invention allows the individual to easily access the drain brush. This allows for easy maintenance and cleaning of the drain. If the individual notices that the drain is clogged, they can simply access the internal space of the drain by removing a threaded cap to pull out the drain brush, which will have caught any and all objects that are clogging the drain. Once the drain brush is cleaned, the user simply inserts the drain brush back into the modified P trap, effectively unclogging the drain.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a front view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional cut view taken about the line A-A in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a sectional cut view taken about the line A-A in FIG. 4 without the filter brush and the sealing cap.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is an alternative design for a drain trap. More specifically, the present invention is a drain trap that contains an integrated chemical-free debris filter. The integrated chemical-free debris filter catches and traps any unwanted objects flowing through the drain trap without significantly impeding the flow rate. Additionally, the present invention allows an individual to quickly and easily unclog the piping of the drain trap by providing easy access to the integrated chemical-free debris filter.
Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the present invention comprises a plumbing trap 1, a brush-receiving pipe 9, a filter brush 12, and a sealing cap 19. The plumbing trap 1 is a piece of piping that is attached to or integrated into a plumbing fixture that prevents sewer gases from entering into the space containing the plumbing fixture. More specifically, the plumbing trap 1 comprises an inlet 2, an outlet 3, and an intermediate pipe 4. The inlet 2 connects the present invention to the plumbing fixture and receives water being drained from the plumbing fixture. The outlet 3 connects the present invention to an external plumbing system and expels water from the present invention to the external plumbing system. The intermediate pipe 4 connects the inlet 2 to the outlet 3 and prevents sewer gasses from flowing from the outlet 3 to the inlet 2 by retaining a small amount of water within. Resultantly, the inlet 2 is in fluid communication with the outlet 3 through the intermediate pipe 4. The intermediate pipe 4 is a tubular structure that is configured into a bent shape. Common configurations include, but are not limited to, U-shape, S-shape, and J-shape. The bent shape of the intermediate pipe 4 creates a localized low point that in turn traps and continuously retains a small amount of water received from the plumbing fixture. The trapped water creates a physical barrier in between the sewer piping the interior space where the plumbing fixture is located.
The brush-receiving pipe 9 houses a portion of the filter brush 12 and provides a means for easily accessing the filter brush 12 for maintenance purposes. Referring to FIG. 3, the brush-receiving pipe 9 laterally traverses into the intermediate pipe 4 and is preferably sized to compliment the intermediate pipe 4. The filter brush 12 traps and retains debris flowing through the plumbing trap 1, thus preventing the debris from entering and possibly clogging up the external plumbing system. Referring to FIG. 2, the filter brush 12 comprises a flexible rod 13 and a plurality of bristles 16. The plurality of bristles 16 acts as the filtering element and physically block unwanted objects and substances from passing through the intermediate pipe 4. The plurality of bristles 16 is distributed along a first portion 14 of the flexible rod 13. Additionally, the plurality of bristles 16 is radially connected around the flexible rod 13 in order to ensure there are no large gaps that debris may pass through. It is preferred that a length of each of the plurality of bristles 16 is greater than a radius of the intermediate pipe 4 to ensure that each of the plurality of bristles 16 is long enough to touch the inner surface of the intermediate pipe 4. Each of the plurality of bristles 16 is preferably a very thin, elongated cylindrical component made out of strong, yet flexible material such as spring steel. Each of the plurality of bristles 16 may be tapered forwards or backwards. Additionally, each of the plurality of bristles 16 may contain additional bristles that are angled outwards to create a denser filter.
Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 5, the filter brush 12 is removably positioned within the brush-receiving pipe 9 and the intermediate pipe 4 during the operation of the present invention. More specifically, the first portion 14 of the flexible rod 13 is positioned within the intermediate pipe 4. A second portion 15 of the flexible rod 13 is positioned within the brush-receiving pipe 9 and sealed in by the sealing cap 19, wherein the second portion 15 is positioned opposite the first portion 14 across the flexible rod 13. In particular, the sealing cap 19 is adjacently attached to the brush-receiving pipe 9, opposite the intermediate pipe 4. The sealing cap 19 closes off an access aperture 10 of the brush-receiving pipe 9 in order to prevent water from spilling out and the filter brush 12 from being dislodged from the intermediate pipe 4. The access aperture 10 is positioned opposite the intermediate pipe 4 along the brush-receiving pipe 9 and provides access to the internal space of plumbing trap 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filter brush 12 is secured within brush-receiving pipe 9 through an interference fit configuration. The interference fit configuration comprises a first engagement element and a second engagement element and prevents the filter brush 12 from being pushed into the intermediate pipe 4 and possibly into the external plumbing system by the water running through the plumbing trap 1. The first engagement element is an annular lip 20.
The annular lip 20 is concentrically positioned within the brush-receiving pipe 9. Additionally, the annular lip 20 is laterally connected to the brush-receiving pipe 9, adjacent to the sealing cap 19. Complimentary to the annular lip 20, the filter brush 12 further comprises a retaining disk 17 which acts as the second engagement element. The retaining disk 17 is laterally connected around the second portion 15 of the flexible rod 13. Additionally, the retaining disk 17 is positioned in between the annular lip 20 and the sealing cap 19. When the filter brush 12 is positioned within the brush-receiving pipe 9 and the intermediate pipe 4, the retaining disk 17 presses against the annular lip 20 and limits the mobility of the filter brush 12. Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the filter brush 12 further comprises a handle ring 18. The handle ring 18 acts as a gripping element for the filter brush 12, providing an individual with an easy means for handling and managing the filter brush 12. The handle ring 18 is adjacently connected to the second portion 15 of the flexible rod 13, opposite the plurality of bristles 16. When the filter brush 12 is positioned within the brush-receiving pipe 9 and the intermediate pipe 4, the handle ring 18 is positioned within the brush-receiving pipe 9, adjacent to the sealing cap 19. In order to remove filter brush 12, an individual simply removes the sealing cap 19 and pulls on the handle ring 18 as the handle ring 18 is positioned directly next to the sealing cap 19. An additional function of the retaining disk 17 is to act as a physical barrier within the brush-receiving pipe 9 in order to prevent water from traveling up the brush-receiving pipe 9 to the sealing cap 19 and wetting the handle ring 18. This ensures that when the sealing cap 19 is removed, the handle ring 18 is dry and relatively clean. In one embodiment of the present invention, the retaining disk 17 and the handle ring 18 are manufactured as a single component and attached to the flexible rod 13 for increased durability.
Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention may also comprise a slip joint washer 21, in case water does bypass the retaining disk 17. The slip joint washer 21 is preferably a tapered washer that is composed of silicone material. The slip joint washer 21 is concentrically positioned with the brush-receiving pipe 9 and is adjacently connected to the sealing cap 19. More specifically, the slip joint washer 21 is connected to an inner surface of the sealing cap 19. When the sealing cap 19 is attached to the brush-receiving pipe 9, the slip joint washer 21 is pressed into the access aperture 10 by the sealing cap 19 in order to create a water tight seal. Alternative devices and mechanisms may be utilized for the water seal in alternative embodiments of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate pipe 4 is a J-shaped pipe. When the present invention is attached to the external plumbing system and the plumbing fixture, the resulting configuration is that of a traditional P-trap. The J-shaped pipe comprises a straight portion 5 and a curved portion 6. In the preferred embodiment, the brush-receiving pipe 9 is adjacently connected to an intersection 7 between the straight portion 5 and the curved portion 6. More specifically, a main axis 11 of the brush-receiving pipe 9 is coincidentally aligned with a sagittal plane 8 of the plumbing trap 1. The sagittal plane 8 is a plane which traverses through the inlet 2, the J-shaped pipe, and the outlet 3, thus cutting the plumbing trap 1 into two identical halves. Furthermore, the brush-receiving pipe 9 is positioned opposite the outlet 3, across the J-shaped pipe. This positions the brush-receiving pipe 9 to an easily accessible location, directly under the plumbing fixture opposite an adjacent wall and the external plumbing system.
Furthermore, because the J-shaped pipe always contains a small amount of water, it is important to elevate the access aperture 10 of the brush-receiving pipe 9. This is achieved by orienting the brush-receiving pipe 9 and the straight portion 5 at an acute angle 22, 45 degrees to be more specific. Additionally, the access aperture 10 is raised above the outlet 3. More specifically, the height of the access aperture 10 and the outlet 3 is in reference to a tangent line 23 of the curved portion 6, i.e. the lowermost portion of the J-shaped pipe as seen in FIG. 6. The tangent line 23 is perpendicularly oriented to the straight portion 5. Referring to FIG. 6, a first vertical distance 24 between the tangent line 23 and the access aperture 10 is greater than a second vertical distance 25 between the tangent line 23 and the outlet 3. This configuration, most often times, positions the access aperture 10 above the outlet 3 and as a result above the overflow height of the standing water inside the J-shaped pipe. As a result, when the individual removes the sealing cap 19 and the filter brush 12 there is little chance that water flows out of the brush-receiving pipe 9. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first vertical distance 24 is set to be significantly greater, for example three times greater, than the second vertical distance 25 to ensure there is no chance that the water within the J-shaped pipe reaches the access aperture 10. This is achieved by elongated the brush-receiving pipe 9 until the aforementioned constrictions are met.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Patent Application
20160305103
