Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
HAIR ENTRAPMENT FILTER SYSTEM
FIELD
[0001] Aspects of this disclosure relate to hair straining devices.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Clogged drains or traps associated with bathtubs, sinks and
shower stalls
are a common household problem, and they can be unsightly, inconvenient, and
may
result in unpleasant odors. The primary cause for most clogs of traps and
drains is the
accumulation of loose human hair or pet hair strands shed from hair washing
and
shampooing, combing, or bathing. The blockages may be removed using a variety
of
chemical means such drain cleaners, including liquids, gels, powders, and
mechanical
means such as plungers, hand augers or drain snakes.
SUMMARY
[0003] In one example, there is provided a hair entrapment device
for retaining
loose hair entering a drainage well of a drain, the device comprising:
an annular sleeve body having an upper open end and a lower open end
respectively defining a top opening and a bottom opening, and a sidewall
extending
between the upper open end and the lower open end;
a central hub;
spokes extending between the central hub and portions of an inner surface of
the sidewall, and defining spoke openings between the central hub, the spokes
and
the inner surface of the sidewall;
a plurality of tines extending from the spokes towards the top opening; and
wherein fluid flows via the top opening, the spoke openings and the bottom
opening
into the drain and the loose hair is retained by the plurality of tines.
[0004] In another example, there is provided a hair entrapment
device comprising:
a central hub having a top end and a bottom end;
a plurality of spokes extending from the central hub and defming openings
between the spokes, each of the plurality of spokes comprises opposed
sidewalls, a
top wall and a bottom wall;
a plurality of tines extending from the top wall; and
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Date recue/Date received 2023-04-25
wherein fluid flows via the openings and loose hair is retained by the
plurality of
tines.
[0005] In another example, there is provided a kit comprising:
a hair entrapment device comprising an annular sleeve body having an upper
open end and a lower open end respectively defining a top opening and a bottom
opening; and a sidewall extending between the upper open end and the lower
open
end;
a central hub; spokes extending between the central hub and portions of an
inner
surface of the sidewall, and defining spoke openings between the central hub,
the
spokes and the inner surface; a plurality of tines extending from the spokes
towards
the top opening; and
a tool comprising a tool body with complementary fingers are snugly
received by the spoke openings and engage the inner surface.
[0006] In another example, there is provided a method of trapping
loose hair
entering a drainage well of a drain, the method comprising:
introducing a hair entrapment device into the drainage well; the hair
entrapment device comprising an annular sleeve body having an upper open end
and
a lower open end respectively defining a top opening and a bottom opening; and
a
sidewall extending between the upper open end and the lower open end; a
central
hub; spokes extending between the central hub and portions of an inner surface
of
the sidewall, and defining spoke openings between the central hub, the spokes
and
the inner surface; a plurality of tines extending from the spokes towards the
top
opening;
applying a force on the hair entrapment device to cause an outer surface of
the sidewall to engage a drain wall of the drain; and
whereby fluid flows via the openings into the drain and loose hair is retained
by the plurality of tines.
[0007] Advantageously, the hair entrapment device reduces or
eliminates the use
of drain-cleaning chemicals that may be harmful to the environment and/or
toxic to
breathe or harmful when in contact with the skin or eyes. In addition, the
device is
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
easy to use, re-usable, environmentally friendly and relatively inexpensive
compared
to other tools or chemical means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Figure la shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device, in one
embodiment;
[0009] Figure lb shows a perspective view of a drain;
[0010] Figure lc shows a partial perspective view of the hair
entrapment device;
[0011] Figure id shows a side elevational view of the hair entrapment
device;
[0012] Figure le shows a bottom view of the hair entrapment device;
[0013] Figure If shows a top view of the hair entrapment device;
[0014] Figure lg shows a sectional view of the hair entrapment device
taken
along line A-A in Figure ld;
[0015] Figure lh shows stacked hair entrapment devices;
[0016] Figure 2a shows a bottom perspective view of a tool for use
with the hair
entrapment device;
[0017] Figure 2b shows a front elevational view of the tool;
[0018] Figure 2c shows a bottom perspective view of the tool;
[0019] Figure 2d shows a top view of the tool;
[0020] Figure 2e shows a side view of the tool;
[0021] Figure 3a shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device, in
another embodiment;
[0022] Figure 3b shows a front elevational view of the hair entrapment
device of
Figure 3a;
[0023] Figure 3c shows a top view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure 3a;
[0024] Figure 3d shows a bottom view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure
3a;
[0025] Figure 4 shows the hair entrapment device of Figure 3a with
accumulated
hair;
[0026] Figure 5 shows a top perspective view of a tool received by the
hair
entrapment device of Figure 3a;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
[0027] Figure 6a shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device and a
tool, in another embodiment;
[0028] Figure 6b shows an overhead view of the hair entrapment device
and the
tool of Figure 6a;
[0029] Figure 6c shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device, in
another embodiment;
[0030] Figure 6d shows a front elevational view of the hair entrapment
device of
Figure 6c;
[0031] Figure 7 shows an exploded view of the hair entrapment device,
tool and
a drain;
[0032] Figure 8a shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device, in
another embodiment;
[0033] Figure 8b shows a front elevational view of the hair entrapment
device of
Figure 8a;
[0034] Figure 8c shows a top view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure 8a;
[0035] Figure 8d shows a bottom view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure
8a;
[0036] Figure 9a shows a top perspective view of a tool, in another
embodiment;
[0037] Figure 9b shows a bottom view of the tool of Figure 9a;
[0038] Figure 9c shows a bottom perspective view of the tool of Figure
9a;
[0039] Figure 10a shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device, in
another embodiment;
[0040] Figure 10b shows a front elevational view of the hair
entrapment device of
Figure 10a;
[0041] Figure 10c shows a top view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure 10a;
[0042] Figure 10d shows a bottom view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure
10a;
[0043] Figure 1 la shows a top perspective view of a hair entrapment
device, in
another embodiment;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
[0044] Figure 1 lb shows a front elevational view of the hair
entrapment device
of Figure 1 la;
[0045] Figure 11c shows a top view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure 11a;
[0046] Figure lid shows a bottom view of the hair entrapment device of
Figure
11a; and
[0047] Figure 12 shows a top view of a hair entrapment device, in yet
another
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0048] Figure la shows hair entrapment device 10 comprising annular
sleeve
body 12 having upper open end 14 and lower open end 16 respectively defining a
top
opening 18 and bottom opening 20; and sidewall 22 extending between upper open
end 14 and lower open end 16, comprising inner sleeve wall surface 24 and
outer
sleeve wall surface 26. Located in the middle of top opening 18 and bottom
opening
20 of annular sleeve body 12 is central hub 30 maintained centrally within
annular
sleeve body 12 by a plurality of spokes 32 which extend from central hub wall
34 of
central hub 30 to inner sleeve wall surface 24 of the sidewall 22. Spokes 32
comprise
a plurality of tines 40 extending towards top opening 18, and spoke openings
42 are
defined between spokes 32, central hub wall 34 and inner sleeve wall surface
24. As
shown in Figure lb, hair entrapment device 10 may be inserted in drainage well
44 of
drain 46 associated with a bathtub, a shower stall, a sink, or any other type
of drain of
any size. After hair entrapment device 10 is installed in drainage well 44, a
water tap
associated with the bathtub, the shower stall or the sink is turned on during
a cleansing
event, such as bathing, a showering or hair washing event. Following, or
during, the
cleansing event, the water discharged from the bathtub, the shower stall or
the sink,
flows via top opening 18, spoke openings 42 and bottom opening 20 into drain
46 and
any loose hair being carried by the fluid is captured by the plurality of
tines 40.
[0049] As shown in Figure lc, each spoke 32 comprises upstanding wall
50 with
tines 40, which may be integrally-foimed. Each of tines 40 are separated from
other
tines 40 by spacing 51 dimensioned to accommodate strands of hair, such human
hair
or pet hair. The diameter of human hair is generally known to range between 17
m to
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
181iam. In addition, the surrounding wall surface of tines 40 may be rough to
enhance
the capture of the hair. Sidewall 22 comprises a plurality of crevices 52
formed
therethrough and extending for a predefined distance from the upper open end
14.
Crevices 52 allow annular sleeve body 12 to be flexible and facilitate the
installation
of hair entrapment device 10 in drainage well 44 of drain 46. Accordingly,
hair
entrapment device 10 may be installed in differently sized drains 46. Crevices
52 may
comprise different dimensions, which may impact the level of flexibility of
annular
sleeve body 12.
[0050] Looking at Figures ld-lg, central hub 30 comprises knob 60,
neck 62 and
belly 64. In one example, knob 60 and neck 62 are positioned above top opening
18.
Knob 60 may be grasped by a hand or a tool when installing in drain 46 or
extricating
from drain 46. In one example, belly 64 comprises hollow portion 66. Figure lh
shows
a plurality of hair entrapment devices 10 stacked on top of each other, in
which knob
60, neck 62 of one device 10 is received by hollow portion 66 of another hair
entrapment device 10. Accordingly, hollow portion 66 facilitates stacking of
hair
entrapment device 10 for packaging, transportation, or storage when not is
use.
[0051] In operation, a downward force is applied on hair entrapment
device 10 to
urge hair entrapment device 10 downwardly into drainage well 44 such that
outer
sleeve wall surface 26 of annular sleeve body 12 is in tight, sealing
engagement with
the drain wall 68 of drainage well 44. In one example, the force is applied to
knob 60
and/or spokes 32. Fluid flows via top opening 18, spoke openings 42 and bottom
opening 20 and loose hair is captured by the plurality of tines 40. Spokes 32
and spoke
openings 42 are dimensioned such that the flow of water around spokes 32 into
drainage well 44 is not substantially limited, and therefore flows at an
acceptable rate
that is substantially similar to the rate of flow without hair entrapment
device 10
installed within drainage well 44. Accordingly, there is no substantial
difference in
the flow rate with or without hair entrapment device 10 installed within
drainage well
44. In one example, hair entrapment device 10 is urged into drainage well 44
until
bottom portion of sidewall 22 and bottom portions of spokes 32 are adjacent
to, or
abut, cross members 69 of drain 46.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
[0052] In one implementation, sidewall 22 is substantially
frustoconical, and
tapering from upper open end 14 and lower open end 16. Frustoconical sidewall
22
aids in securement of hair entrapment device 10 within drainage well 44.
Accordingly,
hair entrapment device 10 is able to fit into a plurality of differently sized
drains 46.
For example, a portion of the tapered lower end of annular sleeve body 12 may
be
received within drainage well 44 while the upper portion of annular sleeve
body 12 is
free of drainage well 44.
[0053] As noted above, knob 60 may be grasped by a tool when
installing in
drainage well 44 or extricating hair entrapment device 10 from drainage well
44.
Figures 2a-2e show various views of exemplary tool 70 which comprises unitary
body
72 dimensioned to be received by hair entrapment device 10 via upper open end
14.
Unitary body 72 comprises top end 74 with top wall 75, and bottom end 76 with
bottom wall 78, and surrounding wall 80. Central aperture 81 extends between
top
wall 75 and bottom wall 78, and a plurality of fingers 82 formed from top wall
75 and
bottom wall 78, with fingers 82 separated from each other by cut-outs 84 which
extend
from surrounding wall 80 to aperture wall 85 defining central aperture 81. As
such,
the shape and dimensions of the plurality of fingers 82 is complementary to
the shape
and dimensions of spoke openings 42, while the shape and dimensions of cut-
outs 84
correspond to the shape and dimensions of spokes 32. Top wall 75 also includes
handle 88 for facilitating the handling of tool 70 when installing hair
entrapment
device 10 in drainage well 44 or extricating hair entrapment device 10 from
drainage
well 46.
[0054] The operation of hair entrapment device 10 and tool 70 will now
be
described. In one example, before a cleansing event, such as taking a shower
or
washing one's hair or other hair shedding event, hair entrapment device 10 is
installed
in drainage well 44 associated with drain 46. When installed, outer sleeve
wall surface
26 of hair entrapment device 10 is in tight, sealing engagement with the drain
wall 68
of drainage well 44 with the water. During, or after, the hair shedding event
loose hair
that would normally flow into drainage well 44 is captured by the plurality of
tines 40
of hair entrapment device 10. More specifically, a shed hair strand is carried
by the
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
flowing water towards drain 46, and as the hair strand advances into drainage
well 44
a portion of the hair strand enters one or more spacings 51 of tines 40
associated with
one or more of spokes 32. As the water continues to flow into drainage well 44
other
portions of the hair strand also enter one or more spacings 51 of tines 40
associated
with one or more of spokes 32. As the water continues to flow the process
repeats
itself and a sufficient portion of the hair strand is retained within spacings
51 of tines
40 such that the strand of hair is thereby prevented from going down drain 46,
and the
hair strand accumulates within hair entrapment device 10. Furthermore, any
swirling
action of the water as it enters drainage well 46 further enhances the capture
of the
hair stand by tines 40.
[0055]
Following the hair shedding event, the accumulated, tangled loose hair
may need to be removed from hair entrapment device 10 to permit re-use,
alternatively, a clean or new device 10 may be used instead. Preferably, hair
entrapment device 10 is extricated from drainage well 44 first. While this may
be
performed by inserting one's hand into drainage well 44 to grab hair
entrapment
device 10 by knob 60 and applying an upward force, a tool may be used, such as
tool
70. Accordingly, tool 70 may be introduced into the mouth of drainage well 44,
and
with central aperture 81 aligned with central hub 30, cut-outs 84 aligned with
spokes
32, and the plurality of fingers 82 aligned with spoke openings 42, a downward
force
is applied to handle 88. As the force is applied, knob 60 and neck 62 of
central hub
30 are forced through aperture 86, and spokes 32 are received by cut-outs 84,
and the
plurality of fingers 82 are received by spoke openings 42, and belly 64 abuts
aperture
wall 85 of the plurality of fingers 82. Tool 70 is caused to travel down along
inner
sleeve wall surface 24 of sidewall 22 until bottom wall 78 of the plurality of
fingers
82 is adjacent to lower open end 16, or at least until the top edge of tines
40 is adjacent
to the top section of cut-outs 84, while taking into account the captured hair
strands
which is trapped therebetween, thereby placing tool 70 in a deployed position.
From
the deployed position, the combination of hair entrapment device 10 and tool
70 may
be removed from drainage well 44 by pinching knob 60 and applying a lifting
force
to cause outer sleeve wall surface 26 of annular sleeve body 12 to slide
upwardly
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
along drain wall 68 until the combination of hair entrapment device 10 and
tool 70 are
out of drainage well 44, along with the trapped hair.
[0056] In one implementation, hair entrapment device 90 as shown in
Figures 3a-
3d comprises annular sleeve body 12, and sidewall 22 comprising inner sleeve
wall
surface 24 and outer sleeve wall surface 26. Hair entrapment device 90 is
similar to
hair entrapment device 10, however, sidewall 22 of hair entrapment device 90
comprises a plurality of upstanding posts 91 extending from upper open end 14.
Looking at Figure 4, there is shown hair entrapment device 90 that has been
removed
from drainage well 44 following a cleansing event in which hair 92 was shed.
Loose
hair 92 otherwise destined to flow down drain 46 associated with bathtub 93
and
potentially result in a blockage of drain 46 is seen to have been snagged by
tines 40
of hair entrapment device 90. Also, the plurality of upstanding posts 91 also
snag loose
hair 92, especially as water swirls down drain 46. The swirling effect caused
by the
water causes loose hair 92 to swirl too, and in doing so loose hair 92 wraps
around
posts 91 and/or tines 40, as shown in Figure 4. Hair entrapment device 90 may
be
removed from drainage well 46 and the accumulated tangled loose hair 92 is
removed
therefrom, thereby permitting re-use of hair entrapment device 90.
Alternatively, hair
entrapment device 90 with the accumulated hair may be disposed of.
[0057] Figure 5 shows tool 94 installed within hair entrapment device
90 for
facilitating installation of hair entrapment device 90 in drainage well 44 or
extrication
of hair entrapment device 10 from drainage well 44. Tool 94 is similar to tool
70, and
comprises unitary body 72 dimensioned to be received by hair entrapment device
90
via upper open end 14, with surrounding wall 80. A plurality of fingers 82 are
formed
from adjacent top wall 75 and bottom wall 78 and fingers 82 are separated from
each
other by primary cut-outs 84, with central aperture 81 extending between top
wall 75
and bottom wall 78. Accordingly, primary cut-outs 84 extend from surrounding
wall
80 to aperture wall 85 defining central aperture 81. As such, the shape and
dimension
of the plurality of fingers 82 is complementary to the shape and dimension of
spokes
32 and spoke openings 42. Top wall 75 also includes handle 88 for facilitating
installing in drain 46 or extricating hair entrapment device 10 from drainage
well 44.
9
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
Secondary cut-outs 95 extend from top wall 75 to bottom wall, and secondary
cut-
outs 95 are dimensioned to receive upstanding posts 91 when tool 94 is
installed
within hair entrapment device 90, as shown in Figure 5.
[0058] In one implementation, there is shown in Figures 6a and 6b hair
entrapment device 100, which is similar to hair entrapment device 10 and
comprises
like elements. Hair entrapment device 100 comprises annular sleeve body 112
having
upper open end 114 and lower open end 116 respectively defining top opening
118
and bottom opening 120. Sidewall 122 comprises inner wall surface 124 and
outer
wall surface 126, extends between upper open end 114 and lower open end 116.
Located in the middle of top opening 118 and bottom opening 120 of annular
sleeve
body 112 is central hub 130 maintained centrally within annular sleeve body
112 by
a plurality of spokes 132 extending from central hub wall 134 of central hub
130 to
inner wall surface 124 of the sidewall 122. Spokes 132 comprise a plurality of
integrally fonned tines 140 extending towards top opening 118, and spoke
openings
142 are defined between spokes 122, central hub wall 134 and inner wall
surface 124.
Sidewall 122 comprises a plurality of upstanding posts 150 extending from
upper
open end 114. Sidewall 122 also comprises a plurality of crevices 152 formed
therethrough and extending for a predefined distance from the upper open end
114.
Crevices 152 allow annular sleeve body 112 to be flexible and facilitate the
installation of hair entrapment device 100 in drainage well 44 of drain 46.
[0059] Once installed within drainage well 44, tines 140 of hair
entrapment device
100 snag loose hair 92 carried by water during or after a hair shedding event,
that is,
loose hair 92 that would otherwise flow down drain 46 and potential result in
a
blockage of drain 46. The plurality of upstanding posts 150 also snag loose
hair 92,
especially as water swirls down drain 46. The swirling effect caused by the
water
causes loose hair 92 to swirl too, and in doing so loose hair 92 wraps around
posts 150
and/or tines 140. Following the hair shedding event, tangled loose hair 92 is
removed
from hair entrapment device 100.
[0060] As shown in Figures 6a and 6b, central hub 130 comprises knob
160, neck
162 and belly 164. Knob 160 may be grasped by a hand or tool 170 when
installing
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
hair entrapment device 100 in drain 46 or extricating from drain 46. Tool 170
is similar
to tool 70 and comprises like elements. Accordingly, tool 170 comprises
unitary body
172 dimensioned to be received by hair entrapment device 10 via upper open end
114.
Unitary body 172 comprises top end 174 with top wall 175, and bottom end 176
with
bottom wall 178, and surrounding wall 180. A plurality of fingers 182 are
formed
from adjacent top wall 175 and bottom wall 178 and fingers 182 separated from
each
other by primary cut-outs 184 extending from surrounding wall 180 to aperture
wall
185 defining central aperture 186. As such, the shape and dimension of the
plurality
of fingers 182 is complementary to the shape and dimension of spokes 140 and
spoke
openings 142. Similarly, primary cut-outs 184 are dimensioned to receive
spokes 132.
Top wall 175 also includes handle 188 for facilitating installing in drain 46
or
extricating hair entrapment device 10 from drain 46. Secondary cut-outs 190
extend
from top wall 175 to bottom wall, and secondary cut-outs 190 are dimensioned
to
receive upstanding posts 150 when tool 170 is installed within hair entrapment
device
100.
[0061] In one implementation, there is shown hair entrapment device
192, similar
to hair entrapment device 10 and having like elements, comprising spokes 194
with
tines 196, and upstanding posts 198, in Figures 6c and 6d.
[0062] Figure 7 shows an exploded view of hair entrapment device 100,
tool 170
and drain 46, and illustrates the alignment of the particular elements of hair
entrapment device 100, tool 170 and drain 46 for installation of hair
entrapment device
100 within drainage well 44 or removal of hair entrapment device 100 from
drainage
well 44.
[0063] In one implementation, there is shown hair entrapment device
200, similar
to hair entrapment device 10 and having like elements, comprising eight spokes
202
with tines 204, and upstanding posts 206, in Figures 8a-8d.
[0064] In one implementation, there is shown tool 210, similar to tool
70 and
having like elements, comprising eight fingers 212, eight primary cut-outs 214
for
receiving tines 204 of hair entrapment device 200 and eight secondary cut-outs
216
for receiving upstanding posts 206, in Figures 9a-9c.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
[0065] In one implementation, there is shown hair entrapment device
300, similar
to hair entrapment device 10 and having like elements, comprising eight spokes
302
with tines 304, in Figures 10a-10d.
[0066] In one implementation, there is shown hair entrapment device
400 similar
to hair entrapment device 10 and having like elements, in Figures ha-lid.
Sidewall
22 of hair entrapment device 400 comprises flange 402 extending from outer
sleeve
wall surface 26. For example, flange 402 may extend from outer sleeve wall
surface
26 adjacent to upper open end 14. Flange 402 may facilitate installation of
hair
entrapment device 400 in differently-sized drainage wells 44.
[0067] In one implementation, there is shown hair entrapment device
500
comprising central hub 502, a plurality of spokes 504 extending from central
hub 502,
in Figure 12. Each of the plurality of spokes 504 comprises opposed side walls
506,
508, top wall 510 with a plurality of tines 512, bottom wall 514 and distal
wall 516.
Hair entrapment device 500 is installed in drainage well 44 as described above
such
that distal wall 516 abuts inner surface wall of drainage well 44.
Accordingly, in use,
water flows between openings defined spokes 504 and drain wall 68 of drainage
well
44, and loose hair is held between the plurality of tines 512.
[0068] In one implementation, unitary body 72 of tool 70 is
substantially
frustoconical, and tapering from top end 74 and bottom end 76; and unitary
body 172
of tool 170 is substantially frustoconical, tapering from top end 174 and
bottom end
176.
[0069] In one implementation, hair entrapment devices 10, 90, 100,
192, 200, 210,
300, 400, 500 are made of any suitable material.
[0070] In one implementation, hair entrapment devices 10, 90, 100,
192, 200, 210,
300, 400, 500 are made of a flexible, suitable resilient plastic or
elastomeric material.
Exemplary materials comprise any of a stiff synthetic rubber material, a
polyolefin, a
polyvinylchloride, a polyamine resin, or the like.
[0071] In one implementation, hair entrapment devices 10, 90, 100,
192, 200, 300,
400 and tools 70, 170, 210 are bio-degradable. In one example, hair entrapment
devices 10, 90, 100, 192, 200, 210, 300, 400, 500 are made of polylactic acid
(PLA).
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
[0072] In one implementation, hair entrapment devices 10, 90, 100,
192, 200, 210,
300, 400, 500 are made of any of a metal and a metal chrome.
[0073] In one implementation, a combination of hair entrapment device
10, 90,
100, 192, 200, 300, 400, 500 and tool 70, 170, 210 acts a drainage well
stopper or
plug.
[0074] In one implementation, tines 40a-g may comprise varying
dimensions,
with tines 40a closest to central hub wall 34 being substantially longer than
tines 40g
adjacent to inner sleeve wall surface 24.
[0075] In one implementation, tines 40a-g comprise identical
dimensions.
[0076] In one implementation, tines 40a-g comprise varying dimensions.
In one
example, tines 40a-g comprise different lengths, different widths, different
breadths.
[0077] In one implementation, tines 40a-g may be positioned in any
configuration. For example, tines 40a-g may comprise alternating heights, or
tines 40a
closest to central hub wall 34 and tines 40g adjacent to inner sleeve wall
surface 24
may be substantially longer than tines 40b-f, or versa.
[0078] In one implementation, tines 40 are formed on a separate body
that is
removably attached to spokes 32. Accordingly, once hair has accumulated on
tines
40, the body may be removed from spokes 32 and the body with the accumulated
hair
is disposed of. Accordingly, the removably attached tines 40 may be a
disposable
accessory, should the user choose not to remove the accumulated hair for re-
use of
tines 40.
[0079] The benefits and advantages described above may relate to one
embodiment or may relate to several embodiments. The embodiments are not
limited
to those that solve any or all of the stated problems or those that have any
or all of the
stated benefits and advantages. The operations of the methods described herein
may
be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate.
Additionally, individual blocks may be added or deleted from any of the
methods
without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described
herein.
Aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of
any
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Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
of the other examples described to form further examples without losing the
effect
sought.
[0080] Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been
described
above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages,
solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit,
advantage, or
solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as
critical,
required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. As used
herein, the
terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof, are intended
to cover
a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus
that
comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may
include
other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method,
article, or
apparatus. Further, no element described herein is required for the practice
of the
invention unless expressly described as "essential" or "critical."
[0081] The preceding detailed description of exemplary embodiments of
the
invention makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show the
exemplary
embodiment by way of illustration. While these exemplary embodiments are
described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention,
it should be understood that other embodiments may be realized and that
logical and
mechanical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of
the
invention. For example, the steps recited in any of the method or process
claims may
be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented. Thus, the
preceding detailed description is presented for purposes of illustration only
and not of
limitation, and the scope of the invention is defined by the preceding
description, and
with respect to the attached claims.
14
Date Recue/Date Received 2021-04-23
