Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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This invention relates to drain strainer~ and more
particularly to that class having strainer supporting means
and including a rotatable or retractable handle affixed thereto.
The prior art abounds with strainers utilized to
protect drains and traps therebelow from being clogged with
debris entering the drain opening. United States Patent
19751,~77 issued March 25, 1930 to W. B. Nance teaches a
drain trap secured with a bolt within a drain opening such
that the uppermost surface of the trap lies substantially
in the plane of the floor of the sink. United States Patent
1,5~9,544 issued June 22, 1926 to S~ Natow et al discloses
a cylindrical strainer supported by an annular flange that
protrudes over the surface of the floor of the sink, having
four ca~rities within the strainer, substantial ly permitting
the strainer to surround and pass through openings created
by the conventional cross bar internal drain support members
commonly found in most sink installations. United States
Patent ~14,4~1 issued March 6, 1906 to A. Sa~rard shows a
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foraminated cup-like member having a flange extending
radially outwardly from the free edges thereofO The flange
is used to sit within a recess located adjacent the opening
of the drain. All of the aforementioned Patents suffer the
common deficiency of either not providing any drain strainer
handle at all, or if such a handle is available, it protrudes
above the surface of the floor surrounding the drain
openingO In all cases~ prior apparatus, utilizing handles,
have the handle fixedly secured within the strainer,:obstruct-
ing thereby, the r~tention capabilities of large sized debris~such as encountered in slaughter houses and the like.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide
a:strainer apparatus having a conveniently located flush
; type handle affixed thereto.
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Slop drains, commonly found in meat packing houses,
large restaurants, and other industrial installàtions, are
often required to be cleaned due to their clogging because
of the quantity and size of the waste materials handled
thereby. There is a need to equip such drains with wide mesh
reticulated strainers and substantially lie flush with the
floor in which the drain opening is located. Because of the
volume of debris handled by the drain, such strainers are
required to be frequently moved and emptied without utilizing
special tools therefor.
The instant invention discloses a variety of shaped
reticulated strainers adapted to be inserted into the drain
opening and supported by the drain bearing floor. A handle
is pivo~ably secured to the walls of the strainer so-that~ in
one mode, the handle utilized for removal of the strainer may
be rotated to a preferred storage position adjacent the side
walls of the strainer9 leaving the strainer opening unob-
structed. The handle may also be permitted to be pivotably
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secured to the strainer walls and9 through the use o~ slo~s,
be permitted to retract downwardly ~owards the lowermQ~t point
of the strainerD S~ch handles may be secured to the inside
or outside sur~aces of the strainer utilizing rivets therefor.
The handle, whilst residing below the uppermost marginai
edges of the strainer, is disposed below any point on the
floor accommodating the strainer. The handle may then be
pulled upwardly so as to be accessible above the surface of
the floor. In this elevated position, the non-rotatable
~ersion of the handle may be rotated and is cou~led to a
floor portion of the strainer so as to cause such floor por-
tlon to be rotated as well. When the floor portion is un-
coupled from the walls of the strainer, it may be pulled
upwardly with the accumulated debris thereon so as to elevate
such debris above the surface of the floor, effectively
cleaning out the strainer from large accumulated particles
of debris.
Thus according to the present invention, there is
provided a drain strainer comprising a waste accumulating con-
tainer, said container having a plurality of holes therethrough,said container having an opening, said opening in said container
defining a plane, said opening for the introduction of waste
material into said container, sùpporting means for supporting
said container within a drain opening, a handle, said container
having a base portion, means to slidably secure said handle to
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an opening in said base portion, said means to slidably secure
including means to limit the upward displacement o~ said han-
dle from said base portion and means to limit the downward
displacement of said handle towards said base portion, means to
selectively releasably secure said ~ase portion into and out of
the interior of the remaining portions of said container, said
handle at the upper end thereof defining a grasping portion
extending parallel to the said p~ane defining said opening in
said container~ said base portion having an inverted cupshaped
surface extending upwardl~ into said container, said base por-
tion is disposed having circular marginal edges, a plurality
of threads being disposed on said marginal edges, said container
having a circular opening therein, said circular opening car-
rying a plurality of female threads, said opening in said base
15 portion defining a width and a size thereof, said handle having
at least one lateral surface thereof greater in size than the
width of said opening in said base portion whereby rotating said
handle causes the rotation of said base portion and the dis-
engagement of said base portion from said remaining portions of
20 said container.
The structure and method of fabrication o~ the present
invention is applicable to a strainer fabricated from a
mesh-like material such as stainless steel. The strainer is
permitted to have any de5irable waste retaining shape such
25 as a rectangular, circular9 or conical shape9 and is provided
with a mounting device used to support the strainer within
the drain openingO Such a mounting device includes outwardly
extending fingers affixed to the strainer in the area of the
open edges thereof~ The fingers engage the flo~r surroundin~
the drain opening or a recess in the floor adjacent the drain
openingO An inverted U-shaped handle is affixed to the side
walls of the strainer utilizing rivets therefor passing -
through slots in the two side arms of the U-shaped handle.
The handle may be extended upwardly and downwardly along the ,
length of the slots formed therein and may rotate r pivot
about the rivets so that the handle may store in a plane
parallel to the floor if desired. The handle may he secured
to the innermost or outel~ost surf~ces of the stra ner a~d
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may have a pair of outwardly extending wings affixed at the
intersection of the ends of the hand grasping portion and the
side arms bearing the slQts. I'he wings may be utilized~ if
provided, to support the strainer therebelow by resting on
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the surface of the floor surrounding the drain or i~ provided~ ¦
on a strainer which utilizes protrusions to the strainer for
supporting purposes, to add supporting strength to the hand
grasping portion of the handle, reslsting downward forces
which, when applied tQ the handle, tends to deform the strain-
~ er out of its desired shape.
; Disposing the uppermost part of the handle ahove the
level of the floor, causes such handle to represent a hazard
to personnel traversing the floor and tends to expose such
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handle to accidentally applied forces, resulting in damage
or breakage thereof. Another embodirnent of the present
invention utilizes a handle secured to the base regions of
the strainer, such that the uppermost end of the handle is
disposed residing below the uppermost surface of the strainer
when the handle is not being utilized. Grasping the wings
of the handle, loosely positioned in a horizontal planeS
and applying an upward force thereto, permits the handle to
be relocated above the surface of the floor. I~ this posi-
tion, the handle may be conveniently employed to remove the
strainer from the drain opening carrying the strainer.
Conventional strainers accumulate small waste particles
as well as large waste particles. The largest of the waste
particles can never pass through the openings in the strainer
co~tainer~ Some of the smaller waste particles accumulate
within the strainer even though they are capable of passing
therethrough. Applying a substantial hydraulic force,
usually by-way of a stream of water under pressure, to a
strainer having large and small waste particles therein,
results in the large waste particles interferring with khe
effective cleaning of the strainer walls by a water stream
directed on the interior surfaces thereof. Removal of the
large particles, whilst maintaining the strainer in the drain
hole, facilitates utilizing water or other devices to clean
the strainer~ permitting the water to enter into the drain
opening direckly. This eliminates handling of a dirty
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strainer, transporting same to an area to be cleaned whereby
such cleaning area mus5 have independent drainage facilities.
The present invention ukilizes a bottom portion of the
strainer, threadingly engaged to the remaining portions of
the strainer~ and carrying the-handle slidably a~fixed to an
opening. The handle in the raised or lowered position may
be utilized to release the base portion of the strainer, by
rotating both at the same time, causing the base of the
strainer to be pulled upwardly through the interior of the
strainer, taking along with it the supported lar~e waste
particles~ The base of the strainer is then maintained
opened during the cleaning operat~on whilst the strainer is
~etained in the drain hole. Means are provided whereby the
handle assembly is keyed to ~he lower portions of the strain-
` 15 er~ in anti-turn fashion, and prevented from falling in
- unlimited fashion down to the base regions of the strainer.
Specific preferred embodiments of the present
invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of a
rectangular strainer installed within a drain opening located
in a floor tapering downwardly towards the drain opening;
Figure 2 is a plan view of a circular strainer and a
portion of the surrounding level floor;
Figure 3 is a partial side elevation view taken along
line 3-3 viewed in the direction of arrows 3-3 of Figure 1
showing a portion of a handle and a portion of a strainer;
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Figure 4 is a side elevation view of a cone shaped
strainer and a handle e~tending therefrom having supporting wings;
Figure 5 is a side elevatlon view of another embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of the handle portion
shown in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a~other side elevation view of the apparatus
:;~ of Figure 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation view of the app-
aratus shown in Figure 5;
~ Figure 9 is a plan view taken along lines 9-9 viewed in
: the direction of arrow 9-9, of the a~paratus shown in Figure 8;
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Now referring to the Figures, and more particularly
to the embodirnent illustrated in Figure 1 showin~ a rectang-
ularly shaped strainer 10 installed within an opening 12 in
floor 14. Fingers 16 extend outwardly from the rim of the
uppermost maJor opening of` the strainer 10 and support the
strai~er on floor 14. Handle 1~ has a hand grasplng portion
20 and side arms 22 and 24. The side arms are pivotably
secured on the inside surfaces of walls 26 and 2~ of' strainer
10 utilizing rivets 30 therefor. The rivets engage slots 32
located in side arms 22 and 24. Thus~ handle 1~ may move in
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the direction of arrows 34 and concurrently may pivot about
rivets 30 so as to store within strainer 10 as desired.
Figure 2 illustrates the uppermos-t lateral surface of
a portion o:E a flat floor 14a containing a circular drain
opening 36 therein~ Fingers 16 support circular strainer
lOa within opening 26. Handle lga is provided with a hand
grasping portion 20a and is secured to the outermost surfaces
3~ of strainer lOa utilizing the handle mounting means shown
in Figure 1, including rivets 30, slots 32, and side arms 22
and 24 therefor. Handle l~a may be pulled outwardly from
floor 14a to remove strainer lOa from opening 36 or"
alternatively, handle l~a may be pulled outwardl~ and rotated
so as to rest on floor 14a, if so desired.
Figure 3 illustrates a plortion of strainer 10 to which
is secured rivet 300 Side arm 22 has slot 32 located therein,
through which rivet 30 passes. Side arm 22 is free to be
moved in the directions of arr ows 34 and to be ro-tated in the
directions of arrows 40, utilizing rivet 30 as a pivot point
for side arm 22. Surface 26 is of reticulated design and
has supporting P~ingers 16 extending outwardly from edge 420
Figure 4 illustrates a cone-shaped strainer lOb to which
is affixed handle l~b. Hand grasping portion 20b is secured
to strainer lOb at surfaces 26b and 2~b utilizing rivets 30a
therefor. Wings 44 are co-extensive with hand grasping por-
tion 2()b. The undermost surfaces 46 of wings 44 may, if
desired7 be utilized to support strainer lOb within an opening
in a floor, not shown. In such a case~ rivets 30a cou:ld be
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engaged within holes in side arms 22a and 24a. Alte~natively~
side arms 22a and 24a may be adpated with slots 32~ and
strainer lOb may be provided with outwardly extending fingers
16, as shown in Figure 1, and utilized to support the strainer
lOb within an opening 12 in the floor 14. In such an event 9
lowermost surfaces 46 of wings 44 rest upon the floor sur-
rounding the opening in which the strainer lOb is located and
provide additional support for the hand grasping portion 20b,
which is free to ro~ate and retract utilizing slot 32 there-
for.
--The handle l~b~may be adapted to the rectangular shaped
strainer 10 shown in Figures 1 and 3, or to the circular
shaped strainer lOa shown in Figure 2.
Strainer lOb may be employed with handle 1~ b or,
alternatively, with handle 1~ as shown in Figure 1. Strainer
lOa, shown in Figure 2, may employ handle l~b, as shown in
Figure 4. Strainer 10, as shown in Figure 1~ may~ if desiredt
ernploy handle l~b as shown in Figure 4. In the event that
handle l~b is employed with strainer lOa,l as shown in Figure
2, or strainer 10, as shown in Figure 1, surfaces 46 may
engage the floor portion surrounding the opening in which
the strainer is located. However~ handle l~b cannot be
folded inwardly into the opening of the strainer due to the
outwardly projecting wings 44 thereof. As in the case of
strainer lOb, shown in Figure 4, fingers 16 sllown in Figures
1, 2, and 3 may be deleted when utilizing surfaces 46 to
support the strainer 10 or lOa, shown in Figures 1 and 2,
respectively.
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~ igure 5 illustrates handle 20b shown disposed within
strainer lOc. Base portion 4~ is threa.dingly engaged at
region 50 to side wall portion 52. Handle.portion l~c is
shown disposed below uppermost marginal edges 42a, adjacent
to annular washerli.ke ring 5~. Washer 54 secured to strainer
lOc is used to provide vertical support for the strainer in
a drain hole~ similar to the drain hole opening 36~ shown
in Figure 2r Dotted lines l~d simulate the position of
handle l~c when such handle is disposed upwardly in the
direction of arrow 56, by an applied force applied to wing
portions 5~ of handle l~c. Shaft portion 60 of-handle l~c
is disposed within strainer lOc having portion 62 thereof
located within cavity 64 in base portion 4~. Pi.n 66 is
shown residing on uppermost lateral surface 6~ of base por-
tion 4~, preventing handle 20b from further downward dis
placement,
Figure 6 shows handle 20b having the wide lateral sur-
face 70 of ha~dle portion 60 carrying pin 66.
Figure 7 illustrates the narrow surface 72 of handle
portion 60 havin~ pin 66 extending outwardly from wide sur-
faces 70. Rortion62is shown having end 74 exposed to view.
Figurè ~ illustrates portion 60 of handle 20b extending
through opening 76 in base portion 4~. Threads 7~ are shown
disposed on the exterior surfaces, circular in shape, of base por-
ticn 4~. Threads ~0 threadingly engage threads 7~ and are
disposed inwardly of internal surfaces ~2 of strainer lOc.
Releasably securing means are provided by which threads 7~ and
threads ~0 may be engaged or disengaged from one another by the
manual rotation of portion 60. When such threads are disengaged
~rom one another~ base portion 4~ may reside within strainer
lOc and may be carried on portion 62. Thus, base portion 4
may be moved upwardly, in the direction o~ arrow 56, when
threads 7~ and ~0 are disengaged from one another and when
portion 62 of handle 20b is disposed upwardly7 in the direction
of arrow 56, so as to have portion 62 of the handle engage and
carry thereon the innermost lowermost surface ~4 of portion
4~ other locking meansJ different in construction from
threads 7g and ~0 may be employed such as cammed surfaces
engaging cam receiving grooves or the like.
Figure 9 illustrates uppermost surfaces 6~ of base portion
4~ having rectangular opening 76 therein. Portion 60 of handle
20b, shown in Figure 5, is shown passing therethr~ugh. Side 70
o~ portion 60 is shown being wider than side ~6 OI opening 76.
Thus~ when portion 60 is rotated in the direction of arrows
~, base portion 4~ rotates therewith. At all times, opening
76 is sized 90 as to permit portion 60 to easily slide there--
through. Surface 6~ may be provided with openings 90 if
desired. Svch openings facilitate base portion 4~ acting as a
strainer as well.
It should be noted that base portion ~g hauing circular
marginal edges, is permitted to ride upwardly in strainer lOc
in the opening therewithin. Base portion 4~ ~Eybe fitted to
strainer lOb, shown in Figure 4, wherein such strainer is
disposed having a truncated conical exterior surface. It
-should also be noted that cavity 64, shown in Figures 5 and
~, is defined by lowermost sur~ace ~49 shown in Figure ~,
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of base portion 4~, wherein lowermost surface.~ is an
inverted cupshaped surface. If desired, base portion 4
may be flat and disc shape as well.
One of the advantages is a strainer apparatus having
a conveniently located flush type handle affixed thereto.
Another advantage is a strainer with a handle that may
retract from below its uppermost extended position to a
withdrawn inwardly stored position.
Still another advantage is a strainer having a handle
which can rotate to a storage position adjacent the side
walls of the strainer.
Yet another advantage is a reticulated strainer of
.inexpensive construction suitable for u.se in large drain
openings.
A further advantage is strainer s}~Lapes which accommodate
rectangular or circular drain openings and which are adapted
with rotatable and retractable handles.
Another advantage is a handle which may pivot away from
the opening ~..the strainer facilitating the convenient
emptying thereof of debris or waste material accumulated
therein.
A stlll further advantage is to provide a strainer whose
bottom may be opened selectively so as to facilitate the
draining of large particles of waste after th.e drain has
been cleared of small waste particles under hydraulic
pressure.
Thus, there is disclosed in the above description and
in the drawings, embodimentSof the invention which fully
and effectively accomplish the objects thereof~ However,
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it will become apparent to those skilled in the art, how to
make variations and modifications to the instant invention..
Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the
specific disclosures herein7 but only the appending claims.
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