GB2288340A

GB2288340A - Sink filters

Info

Publication number: GB2288340A
Application number: GB9317460A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wayne Hutton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-08-23
Filing date: 1993-08-23
Publication date: 1995-10-18
Also published as: GB9317460D0

Abstract

A sink filter (1), which is rigid and removable from a sink bowl, has two handles (2) and a fine meshed filter screen (5) which when used prevents the passage of all but minute particals to pass to the sink outlet. Optional perforated feet fitted during manufacture can raise the filter closer to the top of the bowl. One handle at each side protruding just above the bowl top enables removal and refitting of the filter without the need to touch the water in the bowl. A small offset in the frame allows the use of a plug chain without disturbing the close fitting of the filter. An optional perforated bund (7) fixed in one corner allows for the use of an overflow tube as used in some industrial type sink bowls. <IMAGE>

Description

SINK FILTERS This invention relates to sink filters which can be used as inserts in both the domestic and institutional kitchen situation for the precise purpose of not only keeping kitchen sinks free from food debris blockages but also to allow easy removal and disposal of such residues at the end of a food preparation procedure.

There are many devices in the prior art for preventing food debris,generated during washing,peeling and grating operations, from blocking the outlets of kitchen sinks but all are based upon small mesh filters and perforated discs in an attempt to keep debris going down the sink drain pipe and in doing so usually end-up by blocking the sink outlet by compacting around and on top of the perforated disc. Sink discs which fit into or cover the outlet of the sink do nothing to aid the removal and disposal of the food residues which still have to be lifted out by hand.

There is a need therefore of a sink filter which does not cause flooding of the sink because of blockage by food residues and which will retain these residues in a containment fashion so that they can be disposed of into a bin or other receptical without the requirement of hand picking around the drain outlet. Such a device is the subject of the present invention where there is provided a sink filter comprising a planar frame with handles which is shaped to fit neatly into a standard round-cornered sink bowl and which is clad with a fine stainless steel mesh which serves to pass enough water to prevent the frame from being submerged during use and enough fine a iris to be carried away in suspension with the water to prevent the outlet from clogging and where at the end of the operation the coarse residues stay on top of the mesh where they can be lifted out by the handles and disposed of into a bin or other receptical.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sink filter within a standard stainless or enamel domestic sink unit.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sink filters in use in hotel or institutional sink units.

Referring to the drawings the sink filter comprises a planar frame l,with handles 2, and fits into the side contours of a sink bowl 3 and which has a strut 4 to reinforce the frame 1 and to act as a further support for the stainless steel mesh 5 which covers the frame. In the case of the domestic unit of Figure 1 the frame can have much deeper legs than those shown in Figure 2 as 6 and these could serve to lift the mesh further up the sink bowl so that work is made more amenable for the elderly or the disabled. In the case of the industrial unit the drainage system is different so the frame also carries a perforated bund 7 which retains coarse debris but allows water to rise in the sink compartment and overflow down the tube-plug 8. 3ecause of the heavier loads in the institutional situation the meash carrying frame 1 is reinforced with the struta 4,in the usual manner,but in this case they are also assisted with epth frame 9 which keeps the mesh above the bottom of the bowl and allows the non-blocking,water transportable,fines to pass down through the mesh and from therg- to the overflow at the top of the tube-plug.

In practice the sink filters have perforated perfectly in both the domestic and the institutional situations and have even found favour in the dishwashing situation where the mesh retains the coarser baked-on food particles.

Claims

SINK FILTER 1. A sink filter which has a planar frame and handles shaped to fit sink bowls and which supports a stainless steel mesh. It is exractable from the bowl and is constructed to be inserted and removed as one unit.
2. A sink filter as claimed in claim 1. Has a stainless steel mesh fixed to the planar frame.
3. A sink filter as claimed in claiml or claim 2, has optional perforated feet fixed ridgidly to the frame in order to raise the filter closer to the top of the bowl.
4.A sink filter as claimed in claim 2 or 3, has an optional bund in one corner to be compatable with the larger industrial sink bowls.
5. A sink filter as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, has two fixed handles, one at each opposing side pertruding above the top of a sink bowl.
6. A sink filter as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, has a central re-enforcing strut which runs across from one side to another.
7. A sink filter as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6, has a small offset in the frame to allow passage of a plug chain.