Ultra thin disposable drain strainer

Abstract

A disposable ultra-thin drain strainer is removably received within a drain opening of a sink, shower or bathtub having an adjacent drain rim substrate. The strainer has a strainer portion, a ring portion, and has a thickness no greater than 0.091 cm (0.036 inch) for disposability. In another embodiment the strainer includes a seal release mechanism. Top and bottom surfaces of the ring portion are adapted to sealingly engage the drain rim substrate. The disposable drain strainer is preferably composed of a biodegradable or environmentally friendly material. The ultra-thin strainer may be composed of a variety of materials, including fiber materials, polymeric materials, starch, sugarcane, or water-insoluble edible film. The strainer is composed of a material soluble in water, and preferably includes a water-insoluble edible film coating. Owing to its thin nature, the disposable drain strainer is appointed to be disposed after use, so that the user does not have to clean the strainer. It is cost efficient to produce and transport. Due to the strainer's environmentally friendly composition, the strainer can be readily discarded without harming the environment.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 284,568, filed Sep. 23, 2008, entitled “Disposable Sink Drain Strainer” which, in turn, is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 440,760, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,442,296, filed on May 25, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to an ultra thin environmentally friendly disposable sink, shower and bathtub drain strainers appointed to be used in conjunction with a drain opening of a plumbing fixture; and more particularly, to an ultra thin disposable sink, shower and bathtub drain strainer having a thickness no greater than 0.091 cm (0.036 inch) for convenient disposal of the strainer itself and the collected contents therein.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Strainer devices for sink, shower and bathtub drains are commo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The present invention provides a lightweight, ultra-thin disposable drain strainer removably received within a drain opening having an adjacent drain rim substrate. Preferably the strainer is composed of a biodegradable material and is preferably intended for single use. The strainer may include an environmentally friendly binding agent, such as that approved by SGS, in the composition of the strainer. The strainer has a strainer portion, a ring portion, and has a thickness no greater than 0.091 cm (0.036 inch) for disposability. In another embodiment the strainer includes a seal release mechanism. Top and bottom surfaces of the ring portion are adapted to sealingly engage the drain rim substrate. The disposable drain strainer is preferably composed of a biodegradable or environmentally friendly material. The ultra-thin strainer may be composed of a variety of materials, including fiber materials, polymeric materials, starch, sugarcane, or water-insoluble edible film. Wherein the strainer is composed of a material soluble in water, the strainer preferably includes a water-insoluble edible film coating. Owing to its thin nature, the disposable drain strainer is appointed to be disposed after use so that the user does not have to clean the strainer and is cost efficient to produce and transport. Due to the strainer's environmentally friendly composition the strainer can be readily discarded without harming the environment.

[0015]Due to the thinness of the strainer, the strainer can be manufactured, packaged and transported with minimum cost. At the same time, the thinness of the strainer provides cost benefit as to the disposable nature of the strainer; as the ultra-thin strainer is cheaper to manufacture, package and transport, the disposability of the strainer is feasible with minimum cost to the consumer for replacement. Preferably the strainer is sold in a package including a plurality of strainers therein—which may be sold as a stack of disposable ultra-thin strainers.

Problems solved by technology

These devices require frequent cleaning as debris accumulates causing fluid passage through the strainer to be slowed and, consequently, water back up and slowed drainage from the sink.

Cleaning of these devices is often an undesirable task, and can be difficult in removing entangled debris therefrom without intimate contact with the debris.

In addition, removal of a strainer from the sink can be cumbersome particularly when the strainer is moistened from water and heavy with debris.

Handling of the debris filled strainer in removal of the debris exposes the handler to harmful bacteria.

Despite cleaning or removal of the debris placement of the contaminated strainer back in the drain can be unsanitary, and in addition, many times small amounts of stubborn debris remain entangled in the apertures of the strainer.

Remaining debris entrapped in the strainer can result in sink drainage problems, compound bacterial growth, and eventually wash through the strainer and clog the joints of domestic water and sewer lines.

However, none of these drain strainers or filters provide a simple, economically conducive, sanitary strainer composed of a flexible material, which can be readily removed from the sink and disposed of, thereby providing a more sanitary sink environment.

Additionally, none of the heretofore disclosed and utilized drain strainers provide an ultra thin strainer composed of environmentally friendly materials for biodegradation or for consumption by animals.

The integrated sink drain strainer devices have limitations because they cannot be simply placed over the exterior of the drain and readily cleaned or discarded when soiled.

Integration of strains within plumbing fixtures results in issues involving sink drain compatibility, installation and increased overall manufacturing costs.

Moreover, accessing the strainer or filter element for cleaning or replacement can become cumbersome and time consuming.

These devices have several limitations because they are not disposable, and are instead continuously re-used.

These devices do not provide a removal means, such as a tab or other release means, and as a result are inherently difficult to retrieve from the sink's drain.

The assemblies concern disposable filters and strainers but have limitations because of the lack of ability to provide for an ultra thin strainer appointed to be discarded upon single use.

What is more, none of the disposable strainers provide for a biodegradable or edible composition.

As a result, frequent disposal of the conventional disposable strainers is both economically steep as well as environmentally harmful.

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