Hair Retriever Tub Drain Device

This invention relates to tub drain devices. More particularly, it refers to a tub drain device incorporating a hair pick up disposable insert for removing hair impinged upon a drain screen.

The average homeowner encounters frequent problems with buildup of hair on drain strainers. If left unattended, the hair will move through the strainer and cause a gradual build-up in pipe traps resulting in the plumbing system's loss of ability to rapidly drain away water. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,524 and 4,134,162 describe techniques for trapping hair and preventing movement into the plumbing system. However, they do not provide an inexpensive disposable insert for easily removing hair from drain strainers. Such a device would be of immeasurable assistance to the average homeowner.

I have solved the problem with a tub drain device incorporating a disposable insert that can be removed and replaced in seconds.

My drain device has a pair of spring loaded cylinders mounted in the drain with an integral hollow upwardly projecting post on each cylinder. A strainer is mounted over the drain with the posts projecting through the strainer. A disk shaped disposable insert is mounted on an end of the posts distal from the cylinder. A bottom surface of the insert has a VELCRO sheet and a top surface is attached to a cover plate. The insert is spaced apart from the strainer in a resting mode. Pressure sufficient to overcome the spring force allows the insert to touch a top surface of the strainer and cause all impinged hair to be lifted from the strainer and onto the VELCRO sheet.

The present invention may be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded assembly view of the tub drain device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the tub drain device inserted into a tub drain in a non-actuated mode.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of the tub drain device inserted into a tub drain and actuated to pick up hair.

Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures.

The drain device 10 has a pair of spring loaded cylinders 12 mounted on a bracket 14 and inserted in a drain 16 located usually in a tub 18. Each cylinder has an upwardly projecting cylindrical post 20. A strainer 22 is mounted over the drain 16 and a screw 24 is screwed into the drain screw receptable 26. Holes 25 in strainer 22 are large enough to accommodate post 20 when the strainer is screwed down over drain 16.

Disposable insert 28 is mounted on the distal end 30 of post 20 and is held in place by rivets 32 which are mounted in cover plate 34. The rivets project down through cover plate 34 and through holes 36 in the insert 28. Each rivet terminates within a post 20 to align the various component parts.

Insert 28 is disc shaped and conforms generally to the shape of the strainer 22. Any shape that covers all areas of the strainer would be adequate. A bottom surface of the insert 28 has a water impermeable hair and dirt pick-up element such as hook and loop material named VELCRO 38. The top surface 40 of insert 28 can have additional VELCRO patches 42 to contact and hold the cover plate 34. The cover plate may have VELCRO patches on its lower surface 56 to conform to the VELCRO patches 42 on the upper surface 40 of insert 28.

The cover plate 34 optionally can have a ring 44 to allow easy removal of the cover plate and therefore gain access to the insert 28 for removal.

The springs 46 employed within the cylinders 12 must have sufficient tension to keep the insert 28 spaced apart from the strainer 22 under normal conditions. Foot pressure on cover plate 34 should be adequate to stress the springs to their maximum and allow the bottom surface of the insert 28 to touch the top surface 48 of the strainer 22. As the bottom surface of the insert 28 touches the top surface of strainer 22, any hair impinged upon that top surface will be removed and held by the bottom surface of the insert 28.

The cover plate can be rubber or plastic material suitable to withstand the pressure of a foot pressing down upon the plate. The hair and dirt pick up element can be any substance that is water impermeable and will attract hair and other debris impinged upon the strainer 22. The insert 28 can be a plastic substance or non-corrodable metal at the option of the user. The strainer can be non-corrodable metal or plastic at the option of the user. The cylinder housing can be made of non-corrodable metal or a high density polyethylene or polyester material. The springs will be made of metal.

The rivets 32 will fill the hollow center 50 of the post 20 and when cover plate 34 is initially displaced downwardly, rivets 32 will stop at the bottom surface 52. Pressure on the cover plate causes each post to depress the spring 46 and allow the insert to touch strainer 22.

Although the drain of this invention is usually used in a tub environment where the maximum amount of hair is usually found, it is also usable in the same manner in a shower enclosure or in sinks that can accommodate a strainer. Strainer 22 is not 100% efficient in that some hair can escape down drain 16 through the holes formed therein; however, the purpose of this invention is not to improve the performance of strainer 22 but to pick up the hair that accumulates atop it, i.e., the hair that does not get through. Importantly, if the present inventive structure is not used, a large percentage of the hair accumulating atop strainer 22 will eventually find its way into drain 16 and cause plumbing problems. Clearly, the present invention pioneers the art of strainer top hair retrievers, and the claims appended hereto are therefore entitled to broad interpretation, as a matter of law.

Equivalent elements can be substituted for the elements of this invention without departing from its scope.