GB2077584A - Drain trap - Google Patents

Abstract

A waste matter trap for sink or bath drains comprises a main body portion 3, of such dimensions as to fit within, and substantially fill, a bath or sink drain 11, whilst not interfering with the correct positioning of a plug 5. The main body 3 is provided with apertures allowing the passage of liquid, whilst restricting the passage of waste matter. There is also provided an upwardly projecting member 7 for use in removing the trap from the drain. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drain trap The present invention relates to a waste matter trap for sink or bath drains.

At present, both baths and sinks are usually provided with a form of coarse grating over the drainage hole. This prevents large pieces of waste matter from entering the waste pipe and possibly blocking the drain, but smaller particles, which, in accumulation, may cause blockage problems, are allowed through into the waste pipe. Furthermore, waste matter tends to collect around the grating and is inconvenient and unpleasant to remove.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a removable filter grating which is more effective in stopping the ingress of material into a waste pipe than currently known and used in sink or bath plug gratings, and which may be simply removed to clear accumulated waste matter.

According to the present invention there is provided a waste matter trap for sink or bath drains which comprises a main body portion dimensioned to fit within and substantially completely fill the sink drain, the main body having apertures allowing passage of liquid while restricting passage of waste matter, and means for lifting the trap from the drain.

Preferably, the drain trap will be positioned beneath the plug, immediately above the existing fitted plug grating, so that when the plug is removed from the plug-hole, water will flow through the drain trap and plug grating into the waste pipe leaving waste matter collected on the surface of the plug trap.

Preferably, the main body portion of drain trap will be disc-like and of such a diameter as to cover the perforated portion ofthe plug grating when laid thereon and flat in elevation so as not to interfere with the correct fitting of the plug in the plug hole.

There will generally be sufficient clearance between the existing grating and the base of the plug, when in place, to accommodate the trap of the invention without necessitating any modification of the plug or grating.

The apertures in the main body are preferably substantially smaller than those in the existing plug grating. The apertures may be formed by means of holes, of any shape, or by a mesh, or by any other suitable means. Ideally the ratio of toal area of apertures to area of main body portion is as high as possible so as not to restrict unduly the waterflow to drain.

Preferably the plug may be provided with locating means for removably fixing the trap in place. These locating means may comprise a downwardly projecting spigot in a central portion of the trap, capable of being an interference fit with the central hole of the plug grating, thus removably attaching the trap to the grating.

The lifting means of the drain trap may comprise an upward central vertical projection, of such dimensions as not to interfere with correct fitting of the plug in the plug hole, but as to allow a manual grip to be taken of the projection in order that the plug trap may be lifted from the bath or sink when not required, or for cleaning or disposal.

Conveniently the lifting means will be provided with a central axial hole, so as to allow air to pass from above the plug trap to below it in order that when the plug is removed from the plug hole there is no air-lock formed that might dislodge the drain trap from its correct position.

The plug trap may be symmetrical about the horizontal axis so that the plug trap can be placed in position with either surface uppermost without effecting the performance of the plug trap.

In a modification of the drain trap of the invention a second trap portion may be provided, designed to fit within the existing plug grating. The second trap portion comprises a number of basket like sections each of which are designed to fit into the holes in the plug grating and depend below the general level of the plug grating. Preferably the basket like sections are perforated with perforations in general smaller than the apertures within the main body portion of the drain trap. In a preferred form, the portion with the basket like sections has a central upwardly directed member, adapted to locate the main body portion and to secure it by locking into a detent in the main body portion of the drain plug.In this embodiment, since the perforations in the lower portion are smaller than the apertures in the main body portion there will be a gradual filling up of small material in the lower portion which will therefore periodically cause a slowing of the flow of water down the drain which will indicate to the user that it is time to empty and clean the trap.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view showing the drain trap of the invention in position in the plug hole; Figure 2 is a plan of the trap; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of another embodiment of the trap of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the drain trap 1 comprises a circular plate forming a main body portion 3 pierced by a plurality of circular holes or apertures 5, with over the central hole, a short length of narrow tubing 7 projecting upwards to be used to lift the drain trap when inserting or removing it from the bath or sink. A hole 9 in the tube allows equal air pressures to be reached on both the upper and lower sides of the drain trap to prevent displacement of the drain trap, on the removal of the plug 10, by vacuum or air lock effects. The drain trap 1 is located in position in a plug hole 11 on a conventional plug grating 13. When the plug 10 is removed from the plug-hole, water flows through the drain trap 1 into the water pipe (not shown) leaving behind only solid matter unable to pass through the holes in the metal plate 3.

The trap 1 may be fabricated from any suitable material, for example plastics material. A more rob ust trap may be made from, for example, a metal such as brass. However by using a cheaper material, e.g. reinforced paper, the trap may be made dispos able. If the trap is made from plastics material it is preferred to fabricate it by injection moulding.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention in which the drain trap 1 is of slightly modified form, with the projecting length of tubing 7 being replaced bya moulded section 17 having an annular recess 19. A second, lower member is provided having a number of depending basket like sections 21 which fit through the apertures in the plug grating 13 and depend into the drain outlet. The lower portion has a central upwardly projecting member 23 with; an annular recess 25 which corresponds to the recess 19 in the main body portion 3 enabling the two portions to be snap-fitted together. Thus, the two portions together form a graduated filter system for waste matter, larger particles being retained on the main body portion 3 and smaller particles passing through and being retained by the basket portion 21.The two portions, being snap-fitted together, may be removed as a whole for inspection or cleaning, or may be removed separately.

It will be appreciated of course that the drain trap 1 may be used on its own if desired, as may be the lower portion having the basket sections 21. Ideally howeverthetwo portions are used as a unit.

As for the trap 1, the lower portion may be fabricated from any suitable material, and is preferably made from injection moulded plastics material, although it may be made disposable as before.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, which is the preferred form of the device of the invention, it is generally advantageous to provide means by which thetrap 1 can be spaced from the plug grating 13 which improves the water flow through the assembly. The means comprise, for example, a raised rim about the edge of the main body portion 3 of the drain trap, spaced projections, or the like.

Referring to the embodiment of Figure 3, it will be appreciated that, although this may be useful in certain circumstances, it is necessary for it to be designed so as specifically to fit a particular plug grating configuration, whereas the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 have more "universal" Application and is therefore the generally preferred form of the invention.

Claims (16)

1. Awaste mattertrap for drains of sinks, baths, or the like, said trap comprising a main body portion dimensioned to fit within a plug hole of the drain, and so as, in use, to overlie the plug hole grating, whilst not hindering the positioning of the plug in the plug hole, the main body having apertures allowing passage of liquid while restricting passage of waste matter, and means for lifting the trap from the drain.

2. Awaste mattertrap according to claim 1 wherein the main body portion of the trap is a substantially flat disc, and of such a diameter as to over lie the perforated portion of the plug grating when laid thereon.

3. A waste matter trap according to any of the preceding claims wherein the apertures in the main body portion of the trap are substantially circular, and arranged with their centres lying on a series of concentric circles about the centre of the main body- portion, the diameter of the apertures increasing with the radial distance from the centre of the main body portion to the centre of the apertures.

4. Awaste mattertrap according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the main body portion comprises a mesh or grill.

5. A waste matter trap according to any ofthe preceding claims wherein the trap is provided with locating means for removably fixing the trap in place.

6. A waste mattertrap according to claim 5 wherein the locating means comprise a downwardly projecting spigot in a central portion ofthe trap, capable of being an interference fit with the central hole of the plug grating so as removably to attach the trap to the grating.

7. A waste mattertrap according to any of the preceding claims whereinthe means for lifting the trap comprise an upward central vertical projection.

8. A waste mattertrap according to claim 7 wherein the projection is of such dimensions as not to interfere with the fitting of the plug in the plughole, but such as to allow a manual grip to be taken of the projection, so as to be able to remove the trap from the bath or sink.

9. A waste matter trap according to claim 7 or claim 8 wherein said projection is provided with an axial hole so as to allow air to pass from above the trap to below it.

10. A waste matter trap according to any of the preceding claims wherein the trap is symmetrical about its horizontal axis.

11. A waste matter trap according to claim 1, the trap further including a second trap portion, adapted to fit within a plug grating.

12. A waste matter trap according to claim 11 wherein the second trap portion comprises a plurality of perforated basket-iike portions, each of which fits in a hole in the plug grating, and depends below the general level ofthe plug grating.

13. A waste matter trap according to claim 12 wherein the perforations in the second trap portion are generally smaller than the apertures in the main body portion of the trap.

14. A waste matter trap according to claim 11, claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the second trap portion is provided with an upwardly directed member adapted to locate the main body portion.

15. A waste matter trap according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described.

16. Awaste matter trap for sink or bath drains substantially as herein described and with reference to Figures, 1 and 2, or Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.