U.S. patent application number 11/985741 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for sink drain insert with utensil scrubber.
Invention is credited to Carl M. Buehler, Carl Buehler, IV, Stephen Brian Gates.
Application Number | 20090126091 11/985741 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40640417 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090126091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buehler; Carl M. ; et
al. |
May 21, 2009 |
Sink drain insert with utensil scrubber
Abstract
A utensil scrubber apparatus for use with a sink drain comprises
an insert sized to tightly fit within a sink drain and having first
and second portions. The first portion provides circular peripheral
flange and a medial opening for allowing both liquids and solids to
pass down through the insert and into the sink drain. The second
portion is axially concentric with the first portion and extends
downwardly, providing a tapered circular outer surface for tightly
fitting within the sink drain. A plurality of resilient bristles
upwardly extend from the top surface of the first portion in a
position adjacent to the opening. The bristles are sized and
arranged in such a way as to allow for a relatively easy means of
dislodging food from a utensil. In the preferred embodiment, the
insert contains a scenting agent for masking potentially unpleasant
odors emanating from the sink drain.
Inventors: |
Buehler; Carl M.; (Palatine,
IL) ; Gates; Stephen Brian; (Cedar Hills, UT)
; Buehler, IV; Carl; (Palatine, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT LAW & VENTURE GROUP
2424 S.E. BRISTOL, SUITE 300
NEWPORT BEACH
CA
92660
US
|
Family ID: |
40640417 |
Appl. No.: |
11/985741 |
Filed: |
November 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A46B 2200/3033 20130101;
E03C 1/264 20130101; E03C 1/126 20130101; A46B 15/00 20130101; A47L
17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/295 |
International
Class: |
A47K 1/14 20060101
A47K001/14 |
Claims
1. A sink drain apparatus for use with a sink drain, the apparatus
comprising: a horizontally oriented, disk shaped upper portion
providing opposing top and bottom surfaces; a lower portion
integral with the upper portion and depending downwardly therefrom,
the lower portion providing a tapered outer surface for tightly
fitting within the sink drain; the upper portion extending radially
from the outer surface as a peripheral flange; the upper and lower
portions defining an opening extensive from the top surface of the
upper portion downwardly through the upper and lower portions for
conducting water flow through the apparatus; and a stand of
resilient bristles extending vertically upward from the top
surface, the stand positioned adjacent to the opening.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upper portion extends to
partially eclipse the opening.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bristles have a range of
lengths, the lengths diminishing uniformly across the stand.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one part thereof is
comprised of at least one of a resilient material, a scenting
agent, and a mixture of a resilient material with scenting
agent.
5. An apparatus comprising: a sink drain having a drain opening
surface and a drain inside surface, the inside surface extending
downwardly from the drain opening surface; and engaged with the
sink drain; a drain insert of a resilient material and having: a) a
horizontally oriented, disk shaped upper portion providing opposing
top and bottom surfaces; b) a lower portion integral with the upper
portion and depending downwardly therefrom, the lower portion
having a tapered outer surface tightly fitting within the drain
inside surface; the upper portion extending radially from the outer
surface as a peripheral flange in contact with the drain opening
surface; the upper and lower portions defining an opening extensive
from the top surface of the upper portion downwardly through the
upper and lower portions for conducting water flow through the
apparatus; and a stand of resilient bristles extending vertically
upward from the top surface, the thicket positioned adjacent to the
opening.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the upper portion extends to
partially eclipse the opening of the drain insert.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the bristles have a range of
lengths, the lengths diminishing uniformly across the stand.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein at least one part the drain
insert is comprised of at least one of a resilient material, a
scenting agent, and a mixture of the resilient material with the
scenting agent.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the drain insert is resiliently
wedged within the sink drain with the insert side wall
compressively engaged with the drain inside surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable.
THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT
[0003] Not applicable.
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT
DISC
[0004] Not applicable.
REFERENCE TO A "MICROFICHE APPENDIX"
[0005] Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0006] 1. Field of the Present Disclosure
[0007] This disclosure relates generally to sink drain stoppers,
screens and inserts, and more particularly to a sink drain insert
that provides a means for scrubbing utensils.
[0008] 2. Description of Related Art Including Information
Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
[0009] Limbert, U.S. D154,936, discloses an ornamental design for a
sink stopper.
[0010] Kraines et al., U.S. D195,162, discloses an ornamental
design for a sink stopper.
[0011] Jackson et al., U.S. D427,774, discloses an ornamental
design for a disposal stopper-strainer-brush.
[0012] Eastman, U.S. D469,167, discloses an ornamental design for a
stopper.
[0013] Repper et al., U.S. Pat. No. 1,053,875, discloses a combined
stopper and brush comprising a handle with a reduced lower end, a
shoulder formed on said handle, bristles held upon said handle, a
conical ferrule secured on the handle and provided with a laterally
extending rim upon its lower end, a protector collar or band
positioned on the outer side of said ferrule and held in position
against the shoulder formed on the handle by means of the laterally
extending rim.
[0014] Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 1,659,839, discloses a drain plug
having a large rubber plug that is provided with a series of beads
or slots that are cut around the outer walls thereof in the form of
saw-teeth, and which is adapted to fit the drain pipes of bathtubs,
kitchen sinks, laundry trays, or other forms of drains where large
drain plugs are needed.
[0015] Farmer, U.S. Pat. No. 2,087,341, discloses a deodorant
device for drains comprising a perforated body having an apertured
portion with an elevated recess therein, a base flange projecting
from the body, a plurality of depending lugs extending below said
flange adapted to fit in a drain, and a deodorant cake arranged in
said elevated recess and apertured in substantial alignment with
the aperture in the elevated recess portion.
[0016] Wood, U.S. Pat. No. 2,801,021, discloses a closure device
for a circular substantially cylindrically walled opening
comprising a cup-like resilient integral casing loosely receivable
in the opening and having a side all, a continuous bottom at one
end and an inwardly directed integral flange at its other end; a
freely rotatable and depressible elongated plunger within the
casing; at least two apertured substantially circular discs within
the casing and surrounding the side of the plunger, said discs
being restrained from axial movement in one direction by the
inwardly directed flange and in the other direction by said
continuous bottom; a multi-sectored circular disc slideably
restrained between the first mentioned discs and having its outer
edge adjacent the inner periphery of the casing side wall; the
axial thickness of said disc being a minor proportion of the height
of said casing and being less than the thickness of said bottom,
said plunger having an outwardly diverging taper extending from
near the inner end of the plunger for part way along the plunger;
the sectored disc being formed with an aperture smaller than the
apertures in the first mentioned discs so that the inner edge of
the sectored disc contacts the side of the taper.
[0017] Ingram, U.S. Pat. No. 4,381,569, discloses an adjustable
drain plug for use in sinks and lavatories especially to replace a
previous drain plug which is either lost or broken. The drain plug
comprises an elongated, flexible plastic or rubber stopper which
removably fits into the hole in the drain and has a flanged top
covered by a rigid top cover of metal or plastic. An elongated
drain member is preferably constructed in a sleeve formation in two
sections and receiving a threaded stud attached to the head and
also adjustably threaded into the top of the member with a lock nut
thereon. The two sections are adjustable being connected by a
threaded stud and there is an adjustable foot on the bottom of the
member either in the form of a flat disc or a hook. Alternatively,
the stopper may be formed in four tapered sections which may be
screwed down and over the top of the member.
[0018] Vidal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,418,432, discloses a new article of
flexible and springy, though rigid enough, water impervious
material provided with spikes, bristles, open web of crinkled
filaments, or rough indented openings to be installed around any
conventional stopper for preventing hair, hairpins, or any other
object carried away with the water flow during the taking of
showers or washings or the like, from entering and clogging the
drainpipes of bathtubs, lavatories and the like, through an
entangling action carried out by said spikes, bristles, web, or
rough indented openings, and said article having a body which is
shaped to be adapted to surround the lifted conventional pop-up
stoppers or the like, of the drain control systems of bathtubs,
lavatories and the like, and which may take any of several
preferred cross section forms, such as for example, a hollow core
elongated semi-cylindrical form which is integral with a flat
imperforate lower portion or base, providing several preferred
undersurfaces or a hollow core cylindrical form, or a vertical
strip-like form, or a cup-like form, or a stepped strip-like form,
and said forms being constituted by a net-like structure with a
plurality of openings, which in the three last mentioned
cross-section forms, is integral with imperforate zones and with an
outwardly directed surrounding flexible flat base having a central
hole defined therein and the base providing several preferred
under-surfaces.
[0019] Vidal, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,976, discloses a web-type stock
material having upwardly projecting filamentary elements and a
defined periphery, comprising, in combination, a flexible base
member for overlying a floor surface in immediately surrounding
relation to a liquid egress opening in the surface, the base member
having a central hole for register with the egress opening; and a
three-dimensional mat carried by the base member and comprising
filamentary elements distributed throughout a volume extending
horizontally at least over the entire area of the hole and
vertically upwardly above the base member to a locality spaced
above the base member for engaging and arresting liquid-carried
debris such as hair outside and above the egress opening while
permitting flow of liquid downwardly into the egress opening. Some
at least of the filamentary elements extend transversely across the
hole and intersect with each other at a multiplicity of points
distributed substantially uniformly over the entire area of the
hole so as to subdivide the hole into a multiplicity of
individually small openings for downward liquid flow into the
egress opening, the transversely extending filamentary elements and
the base member cooperatively constituting a web having a periphery
defined by the base member; and the filamentary elements include a
multiplicity of flexible elements projecting upwardly throughout
the entire vertical extent of the aforesaid volume and distributed
substantially uniformly at least over the entire area of the hole
in closely adjacent relation to each other.
[0020] Jackson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,362, discloses a combined sink
strainer and scrub brush unit with or without a sink stopper disc
which seats into a garbage disposal inlet depending from a sink
bottom. A horizontal strainer base has a series of drain apertures
therein and a series of spaced brush elements either molded with
the base or attached to the base and depending from the base. A
handle is attached to the base for manual removal of the unit from
the disposal inlet and for hand-manipulating the unit to
scrape/scrub foodstuff and other debris from dish plates, cooking
pots, and sink surfaces into the sink and disposal inlet. A rubber
stopper disc is mounted on top of base for rotational and sliding
movement thereon. Radial drain holes in the disc are alignable with
the base drain apertures in a drain "open" position and are offset
therefrom in a drain "closed" sealing position.
[0021] Strech, U.S. Pat. No. 5,636,390, discloses a combination
sink stopper, surface scrubbing, garbage scooping, garbage stuffing
device having a generally horizontally oriented disk-shaped body
providing a down-facing surface flange for stopping a drain of a
garbage disposal device. A curved scooper extends vertically
downwardly from the body, the scooper providing a curved edge
designed to contact a sink surface and scoop garbage from the
surface into the scooper. When the garbage is collected in the
scooper, the scooper is positionable vertically within the drain of
the disposal so as to cleanly push the garbage into the disposal
comminuting chamber.
[0022] Bart, U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,440, discloses a garbage disposal
drain stopper comprising a stopper body having a top and a bottom.
The garbage disposal drain stopper includes a sealing surface
carried by the stopper body. The sealing surface is configured to
engage a garbage disposal drain and to provide a substantially
water tight seal with the garbage disposal drain. A first grip is
carried on the stopper body top. A second grip is carried on the
stopper body bottom. The first and second grips and the stopper
body are configured to be substantially symmetrical in
configuration such that the garbage disposal drain stopper is
removable from a drain with substantially equal effort whether the
first or the second grip is utilized. At least one of the grips
includes a chamber from which a consumable may be dispensed.
[0023] Colpitts et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,032,253, discloses a sink
basket and plug assembly comprising a basket portion and a plug
portion. The basket portion includes a well having at least one
fluid passageway extending therethrough. The plug portion is at
least partially receivable within the well and has an open and a
closed position. When closed the plug restricts the passage of
fluids through the fluid passageway. When open the plug permits the
flow of fluid through said fluid passageway. At least one of the
basket portion and the plug portion includes an indexing member and
the other includes an indexing receiver. The indexing member is
releasably receivable within the indexing receiver and retains the
plug in its open position. Movement of the plug from its open to
its closed position requires the application of a lifting force to
the plug to dislodge the indexing member from the indexing
receiver.
[0024] Wolf, US publication 2007/0000037, discloses a sink drain
air freshener container that is generally used with a sink cover or
a sink strainer/stopper. The air freshener container contains a
plastic-based air freshener that emits the fragrance for at least
20 days after being unwrapped and placed in use in a sink. The air
freshener container has perforations to enable the container to be
drained. The strainer/stopper is preferably made of disposable
plastic and the container is preferably part of the top portion of
the strainer/stopper stem that is used in conjunction with the
strainer/stopper perforated basket.
[0025] Morton et al., GB 743001, discloses a sink plug comprising a
hole-engaging annulus of resilient waterproof material held between
two clamping plates, a controlling disc disposed between the two
plates to retain the annulus in position with respect to the plates
and adjustable means for applying pressure to the plates whereby
the annulus may be compressed to vary its diameter so that the plug
can be adjusted to suit the hole it is desired to close.
[0026] Press Plugs Pty., GB 753796, discloses a closure device for
openings comprising an open ended resilient integral casing having
a continuous bottom and side wall, the outer periphery of the
casing being of such size as to end within the opening to be
closed; and pressure applying means comprising a substantially
medially apertured sectored disc disposed within the casing with
its outer edge adjacent the inner periphery of said side wall;
means confined wholly within said casing for limiting axial
displacement of said disc and an axially slidable plunger having an
inwardly converging taper, located within the aperture of the
sectored disc so that depression of the plunger causes radial
expansion of the sectored disc and distension of the casing side
wall into frictional engagement with the opening.
[0027] The related art described above discloses sink stoppers that
provide a scrubbing means. However, the prior art fails to disclose
a sink drain insert that provides a utensil scrubbing means while
simultaneously allowing for water to freely flow through the
insert, to the drain. The present disclosure distinguishes over the
prior art providing heretofore unknown advantages as described in
the following summary.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0028] This disclosure teaches certain benefits in construction and
use which give rise to the objectives described below.
[0029] As the prior art demonstrates, it is common practice to use
a disc-shaped stopper or sink drain. In addition, it is also known
to combine a sink stopper and a scrubbing means that can be used to
clean objects such as utensils. However, these combination devices
have the scrubbing means mounted on the underside of the sink
stopper. In order to use such scrubbing means, one must remove the
sink stopper from the drain, grasp the stopper in a hand, and
manually scrub the utensil to clean it.
[0030] The present apparatus provides an improved approach by
providing a sink drain insert that is removably secured within a
sink drain while exposing a means for cleaning utensils without
removing the apparatus from the drain. The insert provides a
peripheral flange and a tapered circumferential outer surface which
allows the insert to be secured within the sink drain. A first
portion of the insert defines a medial opening, which allows
liquids and solids to pass through the insert into the sink
drainpipe. A plurality of resilient bristles upwardly extend from
the top surface of the first portion and are in a position adjacent
to the opening. The bristles are sized and arranged in such a way
as to allow for relatively easy and fast dislodging of food from a
utensil and especially from between the tines of a fork.
Preferably, the insert also contains a scenting agent for masking
potentially unpleasant sink drain odors.
[0031] A primary objective inherent in the above described
apparatus and method of use is to provide advantages not taught by
the prior art.
[0032] Another objective is to provide a sink drain insert that
assists in the dislodging of food from utensils.
[0033] A further objective is to provide such an insert that does
not obstruct the flow of water from the sink into the sink
drain.
[0034] An still further objective is to provide such an insert that
provides a pleasant fragrance to mask any unpleasant odors from the
sink drain.
[0035] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by
way of example, the principles of the presently described apparatus
and method of its use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0036] Illustrated in the accompanying drawing(s) is at least one
of the best mode embodiments of the present invention In such
drawing(s):
[0037] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the presently described
apparatus;
[0038] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof; and
[0039] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 in FIG. 1,
as mounted in a sink.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0040] The above described drawing figures illustrate the described
apparatus in at least one of its preferred embodiment, which is
further defined in detail in the following description. Those
having ordinary skill in the art may be able to make alterations
and modifications to what is described herein without departing
from its spirit and scope. Therefore, it must be understood that
what is illustrated is set forth only for the purposes of example
and that it should not be taken as a limitation in the scope of the
present apparatus and method of use.
[0041] Described now in detail is a utensil scrubber apparatus for
use in a sink drain 20. As shown in the figures, the apparatus is a
generally disc-shaped insert 2 sized to tightly fit within a sink
drain 20. In the preferred embodiment, the insert 2 is molded as a
unitary part using a relatively resilient material, such as rubber
or silicone; although other materials may be substituted. The
insert 2 preferably includes a scenting agent 5 for masking
unpleasant sink drain odors. The scenting agent may be
homogeneously mixed with the resilient material prior to molding
the finished part, or it may be applied as an outer coating. Other
methods of applying the scenting agent 5 may be used as are known
to those of skill in the art.
[0042] As shown in the figures, the insert 2 has a circular upper
portion 2A providing opposing top 10A and bottom 10B opposing
surfaces. A lower portion 2B is axially concentric with the upper
portion 2A and depends downwardly therefrom. The upper portion 2A
defines a medial opening 4 and a peripheral flange 6. The lower
portion 2B provides a tapered outer surface 8 which is sized and
configured for tightly fitting within the sink drain 20. The
peripheral flange 6 extends radially beyond the outer surface 8 and
overlaps the sink drain 20 so as to prevent the apparatus from
entering downwardly into the sink drain 20. In the preferred
embodiment, the upper portion 2A extends into the opening 4,
providing a scrubber lip 12, which enables a utensil to be scraped
and any food particles will fall into the drain 20.
[0043] A plurality of flexible and resilient bristles 14 are
integral with, and extend vertically upward from the scrubber lip
12 in a position adjacent to the opening 4 as best seen in FIG. 1.
This plurality of bristles 14 are referred to herein as a "stand"
15, defined as a plurality of resilient and flexible, nominally
linear, rod-shaped elements that are positioned in a close,
side-by-side grouping and are all directed in parallel. Preferably,
each of the bristles 14 is of such diameter as to be able to fit
between the tines of a fork or in small openings or crevasse in a
utensil. In the preferred embodiment, the resilient nature of the
bristles 14 also enables them to flex and conform to the contours
of utensils and to act as small springs to urge food layers and
particles out of, and off of utensils by spring rebound action.
When a utensil is rubbed against the stand 15 of bristles, plural
spring action causes a scouring action on the utensil resulting in
a superior cleaning action. Because the stand 15 is positioned
adjacent to the opening 4, water flowing out of the sink tends to
flow through the stand 15 and flush away any debris caught in the
stand 15. Within the stand 15, the bristles 14 are arranged as
shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, from the tallest bristles 14 adjacent to
the opening 4, diminishing in a uniform manner to the shortest
bristles 14 located furthest away from the opening 4. It has been
found that this arrangement of the bristles 14 in the stand 15
provides a most convenient cleaning effect as it provides for the
top edges of each of the bristles 14 to rub against the utensil for
a more effective cleaning and scouring action.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bristles 14 have a range of
lengths, and are arranged on the top surface 10A with bristles 14
of greater length nearest to the opening 4. In addition, the
bristles 14 are spaced far enough apart to allow portions of
utensils to pass in between. Thus, the preferred bristle 14
arrangement allows a user to apply a utensil against the bristles
14 at a comfortable angle, move the utensil across the bristles 14
in a scrubbing motion, and easily dislodge any food from the
utensil without having to physically touch the food or the bristles
14. It should be noted that arrangements of the bristles 14 may be
different from that shown in the figures in order to meet various
needs arising from different utensils.
[0045] When in use, the insert 2 is positioned within the sink
drain 20, as shown in FIG. 3. The bottom surface 10B rests on an
opening surface 22 of the sink peripheral to the sink drain 20. In
addition, the outer surface 8 is frictionally wedged with an inside
surface 24 of the sink drain 20. This engagement creates a
resilient wedging relationship between the insert 2 and the sink
drain 20 so as to prevent the insert 2 from re-positioning itself
within the sink drain 20 as a utensil is being cleaned. Opening 4
allows liquids, as well as solids dislodged from utensils, to pass
through the insert 2 and into the sink drain 20, thus preventing
any buildup of water and/or food particles in the sink.
[0046] The enablements described in detail above are considered
novel over the prior art of record and are considered critical to
the operation of at least one aspect of the apparatus and its
method of use and to the achievement of the above described
objectives. The words used in this specification to describe the
instant embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of
their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special
definition in this specification: structure, material or acts
beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus if an
element can be understood in the context of this specification as
including more than one meaning, then its use must be understood as
being generic to all possible meanings supported by the
specification and by the word or words describing the element.
[0047] The definitions of the words or drawing elements described
herein are meant to include not only the combination of elements
which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure,
material or acts for performing substantially the same function in
substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result.
In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent
substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the
elements described and its various embodiments or that a single
element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim.
[0048] Changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a
person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised,
are expressly contemplated as being equivalents within the scope
intended and its various embodiments. Therefore, obvious
substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the
art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.
This disclosure is thus meant to be understood to include what is
specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually
equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what
incorporates the essential ideas.
[0049] The scope of this description is to be interpreted only in
conjunction with the appended claims and it is made clear, here,
that each named inventor believes that the claimed subject matter
is what is intended to be patented.
SEQUENCE LISTING
[0050] Not applicable.
* * * * *