Strainer

[0001] The present invention relates to a strainer and particularly to a sink strainer having a button in the center of a filter that is depressible to control water collection and discharge.

[0002] A conventional strainer for kitchen sinks (referring to FIGS. 1 and 2) generally includes a hollow barrel 1 which has a funnel shape opening 2 with a larger diameter at the upper side and a smaller diameter at the lower side. The barrel 1 has an outer wall screwed on the bottom of the sink and a plurality of apertures 3 formed on the bottom thereof leading to a discharge tube beneath the sink. The barrel 1 has a rectangular anchor bore 4 in the center of the bottom. A disk type filter 5 made of metal is provided with filter holes 6 formed on the bottom and peripheral wall. There is a handle 7 located on the top of the center of the filter 5. The bottom of the filter 5 is coupled with a plug 8 made of rubber to stop water flow. The plug 8 has a flattened insertion strut 9 on the bottom to couple with the anchor bore 4.

[0003] When in use for stopping water discharge, insert the insertion strut 9 into the anchor bore 4 and depress, the plug 8 seals the lower side of the funnel opening 2 so that water is blocked from flowing out through the apertures 3 (referring to FIG. 2). For the filter 5 to provide filter function, pull the handle 7 upwards, and turn an angle to make the lower shoulder of the insertion strut 9 resting transversely on the anchor bore 4, the plug 8 is lifted to form a gap with the bottom of the funnel opening 2, water collected in the sink may be discharged through the filter holes 6 into the discharge tube beneath the barrel 1. In such a strainer structure, to stop water discharge through the filter 5, user has to depress downwards forcefully. To clear the residues trapped in the filter 5, the filter 5 has to be lifted and water is taken as well. As a result, the floor and sink counter often are splashed with water, and a portion of the residues could drop into the discharge tube with the water and accumulate and clog the discharge tube after a period of time. There is still room for improvement.

[0004] In view of the aforesaid disadvantages, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a strainer with a button in the center of a filter that is depressible to control water collection or discharge.

[0005] The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] Please refer to FIGS. 3 and 4, the strainer 10 according to the present invention includes a trumpet shape body with screw threads on the bottom to couple with a screw sleeve 111 of a duct 11, and a water collector 12 on a upper side that has a round opening directing upwards. The water collector 12 has a drain port 13 on the bottom.

[0015] A filter 14 is provided which is formed like a tray with a perimeter mating the water collector 12. The filter 14 has a plurality of drain apertures 141 on the bottom and a button 142 formed in a strut running through the center thereof.

[0016] Refer to FIG. 5A, a hollow tube 15 is coupled on the bottom of the water collector 12 and housed in the duct 11. The tube 15 has four bulged and longitudinal walls 151 on the inner perimeter that are spaced from one another to form a flute 152 between every two neighboring bulged walls 151. The bulged wall 151 further has an arched guiding section 153 on the bottom. The guiding section 153 has an indented wedged notch 155 in the middle directing downwards. The tube 15 has four latch holes 154 on the perimeter of the bottom thereof.

[0017] An extendable rod 16 is housed in the tube 15 from the lower portion to the upper portion. The rod 16 has lugs 161 on the outer wall of the bottom corresponding to the flutes 152, and a top end fastened to a plug 162 which may be inserted into the drain port 13 of the water collector 12 (referring to FIG. 5B). The bottom of the extendable rod 16 has a housing chamber 163.

[0018] There is a cylindrical latch member 17 with the top section housed in the housing chamber 163, and a flange 171 on the bottom. The flange 171 has four coupling sections 172 of the perimeter. The coupling sections 172 have a slanted top end.

[0019] An elastic element 18 such as a conical spring is provided and has the top end housed in the hollow interior of the latch member 17 and the bottom end fastened to a coupling member 19.

[0020] The coupling member 19 is made from plastics and has four latch hooks 191 on the perimeter of the top end thereof depressible inwards to couple with the latch holes 154 of the tube 15 for anchoring.

[0021] Refer to FIGS. 5A and 5B, by means of construction set forth above, when in use for collecting water in the sink, depress the button 142 in the center of the filter 14, the plug 162 is moved downwards, and the extendable rod 16 also is pushed downwards at the same time. Consequently, the latch members 17 are moved downwards, and the elastic element 18 is compressed. The four coupling sections 172 are pushed downwards by the lugs 161 of the extendable rod 16 to the bottom of the flutes 152 and turn because of the arched guiding section 153 of the bulged inner wall 151. Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the depressing force on the button 142 is released, the coupling sections 172 are engaged with the wedged notches 155 and anchored so that the plug 162 seals the drain port 13 of the water collector 12 to retain water for cleansing use.

[0022] After use of the water is finished, and the used water is to be discharged, depress the button 142 again, the coupling sections 172 of the latch member 17 are turned again to escape the wedge notches 155 and are aligned with the flutes 152. Hence when the depressing force is released, the returning force of the elastic element 18 pushes the latch member 17 upwards and moves the extendable rod 16 upwards at the same time, and the plug 162 on the upper end of the extendable rod 16 is moved upwards to escape the drain port 13 to allow the used water to be discharged.

[0023] As the filter 14 for filtering out the leavings is located in the water collector 12 in normal conditions, and the button 142 to control water collection and discharge is located in the center of the filter 14, the elements for controlling water collection or discharge can be prevented from losing. In addition, operation of water collection or discharge is simple and convenient. It offers significant improvements over the conventional strainers.