GB2264051A

GB2264051A - A trap for a basin waste pipe plug hole

Info

Publication number: GB2264051A
Application number: GB9301663A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Miles Walter Willis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-02-04
Filing date: 1993-01-28
Publication date: 1993-08-18
Also published as: GB9301663D0

Abstract

A trap 8 for a basin plug hole has a grating formed by spokes 12 and concentric rings 16. An upstanding boss 10 is located at the centre, and the boss is constructed so that a plug 28 can be placed in the plug hole without removing the trap. The spokes 12 may have a thinned part (18, fig. 2) allowing the tips of the spokes 12 to be bent up or broken off so that the trap may fit different size plug holes. <IMAGE>

Description

A Trap for a Basin Waste Pipe Plug Hole The invention relates to a trap for a basin waste pipe plug hole. The invention is adaptable for a variety of plug hole sizes and so may be used for basins, sinks, baths, shower outlets and the like. The invention may be used in conjunction with most normal plugs.

It is conventional for the waste pipe outlet from a sink, basin or the like to have an integral trap. Hair, grime and other detritus is known to collect on such traps. In time such detritus constricts the flow of water from the basin and it has to be removed and disposed of to permit normal flow of water from the basin. The task of removing hair and the like is unpleasant and is often awkward to accomplish.

A mesh which fits over the basin outlet is known, and so is a spined insert which fits within the plug hole. However, with such devices it is not possible to insert a plug into the plug hole so that the basin may be filled with water.

An overlay mesh is generally used in situations such as shower outlets which are not generally fitted with a plug.

A spined trap which fits within the plug hole is generally used by professional hairdressers who also do not wish to insert a plug in the plug hole.

The present invention seeks to provide a disposable trap which may be used in most domestic situations and also in commercial locations such as hotels. The present invention provides a readily disposable trap which may be replaced whenever necessary for example, whenever hotel guests finally vacate their rooms.

According to the present invention, there is provided a trap for a basin waste pipe plug hole, the trap comprising a planar grating adapted to fit within the waste pipe plug hole and to be supported by the integral trap in the waste pipe, the trap having a boss projecting from the planar grating to enable the trap to be placed in the plug hole and removed therefrom, the dimensions of the boss allowing a plug to be placed in the plug hole whilst the trap is in place.

Preferably the grating is a webwheel having a central boss and a concentric ring. The grating is preferably made from plastics material which is injection moulded to the desired shape. The plastics material may be bio-degradable. The trap may have spokes hinged through a thinned part of the grating to enable them to bend at one or more preset diameters so that the trap can be made to fit a plurality of sizes of waste pipe. Alternatively, the disposable trap may be adapted to fit different sizes of waste pipe plug holes by means of snap-off segments of the webwheel.

The boss is preferably a hollow cylindrical boss.

The trap may be made of low-cost materials, so that it can be discarded, with the detritus collected on it, after one use. A new trap can then be inserted in the plug hole.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a trap in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a cross section through the trap of Figure 1; and Figures 3a and 3b show in cross section disposable traps fitted within two different sizes of waste pipe plug hole.

The trap 8 shown in Figure 1 consists of a central boss 10 and a number of radiating spokes 12 connected by rings 14, 16 which are concentric with the boss 10. As shown in Figure 2 the boss is significantly upstanding from the plane of the spokes 12 to enable a person to grip the boss between finger and thumb for ease of removal, but not too high to cause it to interfere with the closing of the plug hole with a corresponding plug.

As shown in Figure 2, the spokes 12 are provided with thinned sections 18 which allow tips 20 of the spokes to be snapped off. This enables a single disposable trap to be produced which is suitable for two different waste pipe sizes, for example 1.5 inch and 1.75 inch dimensions.

In Figures 3a, a disposable trap 8 is shown positioned within a basin waste pipe plug hole 22 and located on a fixed trap 24 integral with the waste pipe 26. A plug 28 is shown in position in the plug hole and it will be seen that there is adequate clearance between the plug and the boss so that the operation of the plug is not disturbed. In use, the trap 8 is placed in the plug hole and after a period of use when hair, grime and other materials have started to restrict the flow of water from the basin, the trap can be removed by gripping the boss between finger and thumb.

since the boss is raised from the plane of the spokes, it is less likely to be contaminated with detritus and so can be gripped without difficulty.

The boss 10 is of a hollow cylindrical shape. As can be seen in Figure 3a, the plug 28 may have an internal, downwardly extending projection 30. Many plugs have such projections. Where the position of the trap in use is closer to the plug than is shown in Figure 3a, then the projection 30 can be received within the boss 10 so that the plug 28 can be properly seated in the plug hole 22.

Figure 3b shows a similar arrangement to that shown in Figure 3a, but in this embodiment the spoke tips 20 have been snapped off so that the trap can be centrally located in a plug hole 22b of smaller diameter that the plug hole 22 of Figure 3a.

As an alternative method of fitting different sized plug holes, the tips 20 of the spokes may be made flexible so that they can yield against the walls of the plug hole to allow a trap to be fitted in a plug hole which has a diameter less than that of the trap itself.

Preferably, the trap is produced as a single injection moulded device in a bio-degradable plastics material. It will be appreciated however, that the precise construction of the grating need not be in the form of a webwheel.

It will also be appreciated that the device is particularly suitable for hotel use as it provides a simple and quick means for clearing plug holes from hair, grime and other detritus. The invention however, is also suited to domestic properties to ensure that the plug hole does not become restricted by household waste products such as pips, peelings and the like.

Claims

1. A trap for a basin waste pipe plug hole, the trap comprising a planar grating adapted to fit within the waste pipe plug hole and to be supported by the integral trap in the waste pipe, the trap having a boss projecting from the planar grating to enable the trap to be placed in the plug hole and removed therefrom, the dimensions of the boss allowing a plug to be placed in the plug hole whilst the trap is in place.

2. A trap as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the grating is a webwheel having a central boss and a concentric ring.

3. A trap as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the grating is made from plastics material which is injection moulded to the desired shape.

4. A trap as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the plastics material is bio-degradable.

5. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trap has spokes hinged through a thinned part of the grating to enable them to bend at one or more preset diameters so that the trap can be made to fit a plurality of sizes of waste pipe.

6. A trap as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the grating comprises spokes radiating from the boss and connected by concentric rings, and the spokes have tips which are adapted to be snapped off to reduce the effective diameter of the trap.

7. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the boss is a hollow cylindrical boss.

8. A trap as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the trap made of low-cost materials and is intended to be discarded, with the detritus collected on it, after one use.

9. A trap for a basin waste pipe plug hole, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.