US20030163869A1

US20030163869A1 - Clear view drain

Info

Publication number: US20030163869A1
Application number: US10/086,279
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis Bosch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-04
Filing date: 2002-03-04
Publication date: 2003-09-04

Abstract

The CLEAR VIEW DRAIN is an improvement upon existing sink traps used primarily in residential sinks. Specifically, the CLEAR VIEW DRAIN is clear—to permit easy identification and location of clogs—and includes an easily accessible and manipulated clean out mechanism to permit removal of the clog without chemicals or disassembly of the entire drain.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

None

STATEMENT CONCERNING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

There has been no federal funding for this invention.

REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

a) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to plumbing devices, specifically the “S”, “P, and “J” sink traps for lavatory, kitchen, and other sink types.

b) Background of the Invention

1) Description of prior art:

Existing traditional sink traps, installed, as required by building codes, served two main functions. By means of a watertight seal they isolate the sewer system from the sink drain, thereby preventing sewer gases and sewage from backing up into the drain. Second, they trap debris which would otherwise clog the drain line or the sewer line. These traps, however, in performing this second function, often become clogged with hair or other objects themselves and must be cleaned out. Traditionally this has required wither the services of a plumber or the use of caustic chemicals to dissolve the clog.

2) Certain prior art has attempted to solve these problems in by, in various ways, enhancing the accessibility of the trap by providing for an intermediate opening, beginning with John Dellinger's lead trap, U.S. Pat. No. 473,062, which provides a screw-plug or stopper. Other prior art includes Robert Bishop's flanged trap incorporating access fitting, U.S. Pat. No. 3,994,031 and J.H. Fleins Trap, No. U.S. Pat. No. 858,306. These three traps provide for a screw-off or other removable plug which permit debris to be removed directly from the bottom of the trap, without the use of a tool such as a snake or brush, while providing access for such tools if desired.

3) Variations such as John Manuel's Universal trap, U.S. Pat. No. 835,386, have a bowl or basin attached to the removable plug at the base of the trap.

4) John Neri's trap with clean out opening, U.S. Pat. No. 4,00,31,91, is dissimilar to the principle of the instant application because of the location of the plug and clean out opening which necessitates the use of a tool such as a snake or other apparatus.

5) One of the difficulties with the prior art is that one cannot readily ascertain until the clog has manifested itself, that one is in process. Nor do these traps permit the easy recovery of objects dropped into the sink such as jewelry. In addition, the bowl or other catch basin may intrude too far into the space under the sink, limiting its usefulness for storage or other purposes.

6) Other inventions have addressed the visibility problem by making the catch basin out of a transparent material (see Richard Rodriguez's U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,557, sink trap with valuables catch basin), but this does not eliminate the space problem. Further the Rodriguez invention has an internal coil which may perversely exacerbate the clean out difficulty by becoming clogged with hair or other debris.

7) So far as the inventor could ascertain, no invention similar to the subject of this application is currently on the market.

8) By its clear plastic construction and easily accessed removable plug at the bottom of the trap, the CLEAR VIEW DRAIN combines the best of the prior art while elegantly addressing their visibility, access and space problems.

SUMMARY IF THE INVENTION

The CLEAR VIEW DRAIN sink trap is intended to replace the standard u, p, j, or s trap constructed of opaque materials. The transparent “glass-clear” material permits the homeowner or resident to determine quickly the presence of debris or a lost valuable in the trap. The easily opened screw-in plug permits prompt removal of such items before they either create a clog or, in the case of valuables, are lost. The position of the plug at the bottom of the curve of the trap permits easy access for a snake or other took should it become necessary, while the smooth inner surface makes the need for such mechanical clean out tool unlikely.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the CLEAR VIEW DRAIN. 1) The sink's drain pipe ([0017] 1) is threaded into one of the top openings of the trap (6) and sealed with an O-ring. The outflow line (2) to the sewer is connected by the same means to the other opening at the top of the trap (7). The U-shaped section (3) of the trap has been modified with the clean-out opening (8) an O-ring seal (5), and the transparent removable plug (8).
FIG. 2 is the CLEAR VIEW DRAIN in cross section, in its alternative formation as a J trap, showing 1) the connection to the outflow from the sink, 2) the connection to the outflow from the drain to the sewer line, 3) the curved section of the trap, 4) the easy clean out opening, 4) the o-ring seal, and 5) the screw-in plug.[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The CLEAR VIEW DRAIN is constructed of clear, hard plastic. The basic design is modified from the plumbing industry standard U, P, or J traps commonly used in residential and commercial lavatories and kitchens. It attaches by standard plumbing threaded connectors and O-ring seals to the sink and sewer out-flow pipes ([0019] 1 and 2 in FIG. 1 of the drawing), from the bottom of the sink, permitting sufficient clearance. At the bottom of the curve (No. 3 in FIG. 1 of the drawing) there is an extension of plastic piping measuring into which is housed the clean out plug apparatus, (Nos. 5 and 6 in FIG. 1 of the drawing). This last consists of the housing for the plug, the O-ring seal (No. 5) and the screw-in plug, (No. 6). The plug is also made of transparent hard plastic in order to facilitate visibility of trapped valuables. The plug is hollow to serve as a further catch for small objects which may have fallen into the drain.
Disclaimer [0020]
The inventors specifically disclaim any claims related to the invention or design of the standard plumbing industry U, P, S or J traps. [0021]

Claims

1. I claim as my invention the following attributes of the CLEAR VIEW DRAIN, in combination: 1) the transparent easily removable screw-in plug 2) its location at the bottom of the curve of the trap 3) the use of clear plastic to construct the trap and 4) the cavity in the clean-out plug would act as a catch basin to capture any valuables that may be accidentally dropped in the sink and find their way into the trap, by removing the clean-out plug the valuables may be retrieved. These attributes, together, are responsible for the utility of the invention.

No claim is made to the invention of any single part of the drain, which is composed of readily available commercial parts except for the use of the clear plastic, however, its appearance, construction, and design are claimed as oginal: