Patent Application
20180266094
The present invention generally relates to a strainer for a drain. More specifically, the invention relates to a strainer and a floor sink incorporating the strainer.
Floor sinks are drains mounted in the floor of commercial kitchens and other businesses. The floor sink is typically sunk into the concrete floor and connected to a waste drain system. A grate covers the opening into the floor sink, and, often, a strainer covers the exit opening in the bottom of the floor sink's catch basin. The strainer may have a variety of shapes, including flat, raised rectangular or domed. During a high influx of water into the drain, the strainer may be laterally moved and/or lifted by the in-rush of water. As a result, the exit opening to the drainage system may not be covered by the strainer and debris or other material may flow into the opening. Some prior art designs, such as the strainer described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,628,657, keep the strainer in place by mechanically attaching, such as by bolting, the strainer to the floor sink. However, such a design requires a tool for both installation and servicing.
In view of the above, it is seen that there is a need for a floor sink and strainer that filter debris from water passing through the floor sink even during periods of high water influx into the floor sink, but which do not require a tool for installation and/or servicing.
In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerated drawbacks and other limitations of the related art, the present invention provides, in one aspect, a floor sink and strainer assembly where the strainer is prevented from rising up and is constrained from lateral movement so as to stay in place and maintain its straining function during periods of high water influx.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a strainer for a floor sink, the floor sink having a bottom wall of a defined shape and size, the strainer comprising: a body having a central region and a perimeter defined about the central region, the central region including a plurality of apertures extending through the body; a generally planar flange extending outwardly from the body, the flange having a shape and size corresponding to the bottom wall of the floor sink and adapted to be supported on the bottom wall.
In another aspect, a plurality of apertures are provided in the form of a plurality of elongated slots.
In a further aspect of the invention, the plurality of apertures includes a plurality of round holes.
In an additional aspect of the invention, the flange includes a plurality of apertures extending through the flange.
In still another aspect, the plurality of apertures through the flange includes a plurality of round holes.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, the plurality of apertures through the flange have a combined area of less than fifty percent of the area of the flange.
In an additional aspect, the flange has an outer radial edge defining a rectangular shape.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the body protrudes out of a plane generally defined by the flange and forms a protruding body.
In still a further aspect, the body is dome-shaped.
In an additional aspect, the body is hemispheric in shape.
In further aspect of the invention, the body is hemispheric in shape and the flange defines a rectangular perimeter.
In another aspect, the invention provides for a floor sink and strainer assembly comprising: a receptacle including a basin for collecting water, the basin including a plurality of sidewalls and being open at one end of the side walls and generally closed at an opposing end of the sidewalls by a bottom wall, the bottom wall defining a bottom wall perimeter at a juncture with the sidewalls, the bottom wall further defining an outlet opening therein; a strainer received in the basin, the strainer including a body and a generally planar flange, the body having a central region and a body perimeter defined about the central region, the central region including a plurality of apertures extending through the body, the flange extending outwardly from the body perimeter, the flange being supported by the bottom wall and having a flange perimeter corresponding in shape and size to the bottom wall perimeter, the body being positioned in the flange so as to be located by the flange over the outlet opening; and whereby lateral movement of the strainer is constrained by the sidewalls such that the body remains located over the outlet opening during an influx of water in the floor sink and strainer assembly.
In further aspect of the invention, the floor sink and strainer assembly further includes a grate received on the open end of the basin.
In an additional aspect, the body of the strainer protrudes in a direction away from the bottom wall thereby defining a raised body relative to the flange.
In still another aspect of the invention, the body is hemispherical in shape.
In yet a further aspect, the body perimeter is round and the flange perimeter is rectangular.
In an additional aspect of the invention, proceeding about the flange perimeter, the flange has a varying width defined between the body perimeter and the flange perimeter.
In yet another aspect, the plurality of openings in the body of the strainer include elongated slots.
In still a further aspect of the invention, a plurality of apertures extend through the flange.
In an additional aspect, the plurality of apertures through the flange account for an area of less than fifty percent of the area of the flange. Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent to persons skilled in the art after review of the following description with reference to the drawings and the claims that are appended to inform a part of this specification.
As used in the description that follows, directional terms such as “upper” and “lower” are used with reference to the orientation of the elements as presented in the figures. Accordingly, “upper” indicates a direction toward the top of the figure and “lower” indicates a direction toward the bottom of the figure. The terms “left” and “right” are similarly interpreted. The terms “inward” or “inner” and “outward” or “outer” indicate a direction that is generally toward or away from a central axis of the referred to part whether or not such an access is designated in the figures. An axial surface is therefore one that faces in the axial direction. In other words, an axial surface faces in a direction along the central axis. A radial surface therefore faces radially, generally away from or toward the central axis. It will be understood, however, that in actual implementation, the directional references used herein may not necessarily correspond with the installation and orientation of the corresponding components or device.
Referring now to the drawings, a floor sink assembly 10 embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated in
The receptacle 12 includes a basin 22 defined by a bottom wall or floor 24 and a plurality of upright sidewalls 26 that enclose or encircle the bottom wall 24. As shown in
Along the upper edge of the sidewalls 26, the receptacle 12 includes a radially outwardly projecting flange or lip 30, which further defines on its inner perimeter a recess 31 corresponding with the top of the sidewalls 26. The grate 16, mentioned previously, corresponds in size and shape to the recess 31 so its perimeter 33 fits in and rests upon the recess 31, covering the opening 35 into the receptacle 12.
The grate 16 is substantially planar and has an upper surface 37 that is preferably flush with the top surface of the perimeter flange 30. Provided in the upper surface 37 are a plurality of apertures 38 that extend completely through the grate 16. The apertures 38 may be round holes or slots and may be arranged in the upper surface 37 in a pattern, such as parallel rows, or randomly.
The bottom wall 24 extends between and closes off the lower ends of the sidewalls 26. Defined in the bottom wall 24 is an opening or outlet 39, which may or may not be centrally located. Connected to the bottom wall 24, generally about the outlet 39, is a pipe flange 28. The pipe flange 28 is defined by a round cylindrical flange side wall 29, extending perpendicularly away from the bottom wall 24. When the floor sink 10 is installed, the pipe flange 28 connects the floor sink 10 to the drain system (not shown) of the installation site.
The strainer 14 is adapted to fit within the basin 22. As seen in
The flange 20 extends radially and generally horizontally outward from the base 44 of the dome 18. Preferably, the flange 20 has a planar shape or shape that corresponds to the contour of the upper surface 46 of the bottom wall 24. The flange 20 is additionally of a size and shape such that its outer perimeter edge 48 is located adjacent to the outer extent of the bottom wall 24 and the lower end of the sidewalls 26. As used herein, the term adjacent is intended to mean that the outer perimeter edge 48 of the flange 20 extends to a point at least halfway between the outlet 39 and the sidewall 29, preferably at least ¾ths therebetween, more preferably at least 8/10ths therebetween and most preferably at least 9/10ths therebetween. Depending on the shape of the bottom wall 24 and sidewalls 26, the flange 20 may have a rectangular, circular or other shape. Provided in this manner, the flange 20 defines an upper face or surface that substantially covers the bottom wall 24. In the variant where the flange 20 is rectangular, the upper face 50 is seen to define different widths W1, W2 about the base 44 of the dome 18. The flange 20 may optionally include a plurality of apertures 36, such as round or other shaped holes, through it. Preferably, the surface area of the flange 20 occupied by the plurality of apertures is less than ½ of the total area of the flange 20.
Referring now specifically to
As seen in
As a person skilled in the art will really appreciate, the above description is meant as an illustration of at least one implementation of the principles of the present invention. This description is not intended to limit the scope or application of this invention since the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the spirit of this invention, as defined in the following claims.
