GB2057865A

GB2057865A - A trap for a drain

Info

Publication number: GB2057865A
Application number: GB7931175A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-09-07
Filing date: 1979-09-07
Publication date: 1981-04-08

Abstract

A trap for a drain has a body (1) defining an enclosure, an apertured base (2) and stays (3) at its end remote from the base (2). The body (1) is of flexible material to enable the trap to be pushed into a drain and there retained by its own resilience. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A trap for a drain the present invention relates to a trap for placing in a drain outlet so that solid debris carried to the drain by water flow can be removed.

Solid debris such as hair tends to accumulate in the drain outlets of shower rooms in, for example, sports complexes and this accumulation presents an increasing barrier to the outflow of water from the shower. Eventually outflow of water is entirely prevented usually resulting in flooding if the showers remain switched on. Unblocking such drains can be a difficult and unpleasant task and this is particularly so where the matter has been carried some way from the point at which the drain outlet exists from the shower room. Even if the blockage is readily accessible the unpleasant nature of the task makes it more rather than less likely to be passed over.

According to the present invention, there is provided a trap for inserting in a drain outlet comprising a body defining an enclosure, the body having a base defining a plurality of apertures and a number of stays at its end remote from the base, the body being made of a flexible material and being movable from a first inoperative position in which the trap may be pushed into the drain to a second operative position in which the body is pushed out against the internal wall of the drain outlet in order to hold it in position.

A preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise any one or more of the following advantageous features: (a) The body is cylindrical (b) The base is a mesh.

(c) The material of the body is a synthetic plastics material.

(d) The material of (c) is nylon polythene or polyethylene.

(e) There are four stays joined together at a central point with respect to the body and equidistantly spaced.

(f) The trap is a single integral moulding.

(g) An extension is connected to the stays to facilitate movement of the stays.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which shows a trap for use in a cylindrical drain outlet.

Referring to the drawing, the trap, which is moulded from nylon, comprises a body 1. The body 1 is cylindrical and has a circular mesh base 2. The top comprises four stays 3 which join a central boss 4 to the upper peripheral rim 5 of the cylinder at equidistant spacings.

The nylon material of the trap is flexible so that as the trap is pushed down into the open drain outlet in the direction of the arrow D the stays 3 move from the position shown in full line on the drawing, in which they bow upwards, through a median, substantially horizontal, position, to a position in which they bow downwards, as shown in dash-dotted line in the drawing. The depression of these stays 3 causes the wall of the cylinderto be resiliently urged outwardly towards the containing wall of the drain outlet in the direction of the arrows F. The equal and opposite reaction force applied by the wall of the outlet to the cylindrical wall of the trap keep the stays 3 in compression in the bowed downwards position with the result that the trap is retained firmly in position.

In use, water borne debris will be caught by the mesh base 2, while the water is allowed to flow away through it. Should the trap become blocked or full, it may simply be removed by grasping the boss 4 between the fingers and pulling upwards to pull the stays 3 into the bowed upwards position to release the trap. The removed trap may be disposed of or it may be cleaned and reused. A replacement trap replaces the one removed and the replacement trap is installed as described previously.

It will be appreciated that the above trap has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, there may be more or less stays 3 than the four shown, the synthetic plastics material of the trap may be other than nylon, for example, polythene or polyethylene, the body of the trap may be other than cylindrical (to fit the open drain outlet) and the base 2 may be apertured rather than mesh form. Furthermore, although the trap has been described as manually removable, an applicator could be provided, to remove it so that no contact is necessary between the remover and the trap. The same applicator could of course also be used to insert the trap in the drain outlet initially.

1. A trap for inserting in a drain outlet comprising a body defining an enclosure, the body having a base defining a plurality of apertures and a number of stays at its end remote from the base, the body being made of a flexible material and being movable from a first inoperative position in which the trap may be pushed into the drain to a second operative position in which the body is pushed out against the internal wall ofthe drain outlet in order to hold it in position.

2. Atrap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is cylindrical.

3. A trap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the base is a mesh.

4. Atrap as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the material of the body is a synthetic plastics material.

5. Atrap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the material is nylon or polyethylene.

6. Atrap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are four stays joined together at a central point with respect to the body and equidistantly spaced.

7. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trap is a single integral moulding.

8. Atrap as claimed in any preceding claim

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A trap for a drain the present invention relates to a trap for placing in a drain outlet so that solid debris carried to the drain by water flow can be removed. Solid debris such as hair tends to accumulate in the drain outlets of shower rooms in, for example, sports complexes and this accumulation presents an increasing barrier to the outflow of water from the shower. Eventually outflow of water is entirely prevented usually resulting in flooding if the showers remain switched on. Unblocking such drains can be a difficult and unpleasant task and this is particularly so where the matter has been carried some way from the point at which the drain outlet exists from the shower room. Even if the blockage is readily accessible the unpleasant nature of the task makes it more rather than less likely to be passed over. According to the present invention, there is provided a trap for inserting in a drain outlet comprising a body defining an enclosure, the body having a base defining a plurality of apertures and a number of stays at its end remote from the base, the body being made of a flexible material and being movable from a first inoperative position in which the trap may be pushed into the drain to a second operative position in which the body is pushed out against the internal wall of the drain outlet in order to hold it in position. A preferred embodiment of the invention may comprise any one or more of the following advantageous features: (a) The body is cylindrical (b) The base is a mesh. (c) The material of the body is a synthetic plastics material. (d) The material of (c) is nylon polythene or polyethylene. (e) There are four stays joined together at a central point with respect to the body and equidistantly spaced. (f) The trap is a single integral moulding. (g) An extension is connected to the stays to facilitate movement of the stays. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which shows a trap for use in a cylindrical drain outlet. Referring to the drawing, the trap, which is moulded from nylon, comprises a body 1. The body 1 is cylindrical and has a circular mesh base 2. The top comprises four stays 3 which join a central boss 4 to the upper peripheral rim 5 of the cylinder at equidistant spacings. The nylon material of the trap is flexible so that as the trap is pushed down into the open drain outlet in the direction of the arrow D the stays 3 move from the position shown in full line on the drawing, in which they bow upwards, through a median, substantially horizontal, position, to a position in which they bow downwards, as shown in dash-dotted line in the drawing. The depression of these stays 3 causes the wall of the cylinderto be resiliently urged outwardly towards the containing wall of the drain outlet in the direction of the arrows F. The equal and opposite reaction force applied by the wall of the outlet to the cylindrical wall of the trap keep the stays 3 in compression in the bowed downwards position with the result that the trap is retained firmly in position. In use, water borne debris will be caught by the mesh base 2, while the water is allowed to flow away through it. Should the trap become blocked or full, it may simply be removed by grasping the boss 4 between the fingers and pulling upwards to pull the stays 3 into the bowed upwards position to release the trap. The removed trap may be disposed of or it may be cleaned and reused. A replacement trap replaces the one removed and the replacement trap is installed as described previously. It will be appreciated that the above trap has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, there may be more or less stays 3 than the four shown, the synthetic plastics material of the trap may be other than nylon, for example, polythene or polyethylene, the body of the trap may be other than cylindrical (to fit the open drain outlet) and the base 2 may be apertured rather than mesh form. Furthermore, although the trap has been described as manually removable, an applicator could be provided, to remove it so that no contact is necessary between the remover and the trap. The same applicator could of course also be used to insert the trap in the drain outlet initially. CLAIMS

2. Atrap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is cylindrical.

3. A trap as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the base is a mesh.

5. Atrap as claimed in claim 4 wherein the material is nylon or polyethylene.

8. Atrap as claimed in any preceding claim wherein, an extension is connected to the stays to facilitate movement of the stays.

9. A trap for inserting in a drain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.