US20230304275A1

US20230304275A1 - Sink debris collection and transfer apparatus method of use

Info

Publication number: US20230304275A1
Application number: US17/702,716
Authority: US
Inventors: James Michael Hunt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-03-23
Filing date: 2022-03-23
Publication date: 2023-09-28

Abstract

A method for collecting and therefor separating sink debris from other in-sink contents (dishes for example) and allow for liquids to drain simultaneously into the sink drain hole. This method is completed by installing a sink debris collection and transfer apparatus utilizing in-sink physical space. The method of installation and use of such apparatus is disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND

Most sinks have a garbage disposal installed under the sink. And have, in some capacity, a strainer, stopper or other like device to prevent non-food items and food debris solids from going into the garbage disposal or sink drain. These sink apparatuses do not assist or encourage food debris to enter the garbage disposal; instead they clog the sink drain hole and encourage sink debris laden liquids to pool and ultimately cover the dishes lying on the bottom of the sink. The user must manually clear the said debris so that the wash water and sink debris solids can enter the garbage disposal through the sink drain hole, adding both water resources and time to complete the task. Additionally, there is a need to collect debris within the sink space and allow sink liquids to pass into the garbage disposal. In light of the problems mentioned above an in-sink apparatus and its method of use is to be utilized.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The preferred method of utilizing like apparatus is to physically place by hand said apparatus into a sink drain hole or upon the sink floor. The said apparatus may have weep holes that the user may need to be cognizant of during installation and mount the apparatus until the weep holes align with the sink flange. Making a sealing connection with the sink flange, garbage disposal flange, sink floor or where there is a sink basin that has a molded sink flange. The term sealing connection is comprised of either a water tight or non-water tight connection. The apparatus may have an inner wall that is angled wall toward the drain hole. Where there is a design element that is parallel to the inner wall of said apparatus, an outer wall may be introduced to connect to said inner wall to comprise of a singular wall for rigidity and thickness. Such an apparatus may be comprised of an inner wall connecting a circular orifice, or the debris feed orifice, to a lower smaller circular orifice located closer to the drain hole opening of the sink basin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This detailed description will describe embodiments of a sink debris collection and transfer apparatus, followed by an installation method and method of use.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side section view of an exemplary embodiment the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus in an environment.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the “in-sink” physical space that the sink collection and transfer apparatus would reside therein.

FIG. 8 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus angle of inner wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Embodiments described and claimed herein address the foregoing problem by providing a detailed utilitarian function of a sink debris collection and transfer apparatus and method of use. The sink debris collection and transfer apparatus may be made of a solid, flexible or semiflexible material or combination of different materials to achieve the same fit and or function. The word “apparatus” as it relates to this invention is defined minimally as an apparatus that collects or transfers sink debris as having a circular orifice, or debris feed orifice, that is attached to an inner wall to a smaller orifice at the terminal end of the unit. Further, the apparatus is located within the physical space inside a sink basin and is minimally defined further as an apparatus that collects or transfers sink debris while attached to a sink flange or sink floor.
FIG. 1 illustrates a side perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus invention 200. The apparatus 200 comprises a circular orifice 45, that in vertical arrangement, is the top orifice. Both the circular orifice 45 and the smaller circular orifice 21 are arranged such that both orifice centers are vertically centered over each other. The orifice being centered over each other is held in place by an inner wall 78 that complete encompasses the circular orifice 45 and attaches to a smaller circular orifice 21 that in vertical arrangement, is the bottom orifice. To give this structure stability, a need arises to increase thickness to the inner wall 78. Thickness may be created by introducing an outer wall 36 parallel to the inner wall 78. These two walls may be constructed either singular or combined, in other words, fused to create a singular thickness wall. Another embodiment of this apparatus 200 is the weep holes 95. The weep holes allows for drain liquids to pass through the apparatus 200 and into the sink drain hole 53. The weep holes 95 may be of any shape(s) or material(s) or number(s) or repeating pattern to achieve the same fit and or function.
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrate a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200. This perspective shows the plurality of weep holes 95 spaced evenly around the apparatus 200. The number of weep holes 95 may be singular or in a plurality count. These illustrations also show the inner wall 78 and the outer wall 36. The weep holes 95 may or may not be evenly spaced. Weep holes 95 may take on various sizes, spacing, geometry.
FIG. 4 illustrates a side section view of an exemplary embodiment of the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200. As denoted by the hash marks, the inner wall 78 and outer wall 36 are fused to create a singular wall. It is possible to view the angle of the inner wall 78 as the center of both the circular orifice 45 and smaller circular orifice 21 are aligned. This angled inner wall 78 is instrumental to the function of the apparatus 200 and is shown in detail in FIG. 8 . Thus, allowing a volume of sink debris into said apparatus 200 and focuses said debris under gravitational force to direct the debris downward and inward through the drain sink hole 53. The weep holes 95 are also located proximal toward the smaller circular orifice 21.
FIG. 5 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200 in an environment. This environment is the “in-sink” area 90. The illustration also shows the apparatus 200 in the position of use. The position of use is a physical union made between said apparatus outer wall 36 and a sink flange 58. The apparatus 200 has weep holes 95 that are located in a vertical arrangement proximal to the smaller circular orifice 21. The weep holes 95 are aligned in a manner that intersects along the sink floor 74 allowing water to drain from the sink floor 74 through the weep holes 95 and into the sink drain or garbage disposal. The sink drain hole 53 is shown with a typical drain flange 58 that the apparatus 200 would make the physical connection thereto.
FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the “in-sink” physical space 90 that the sink collection and transfer apparatus would reside therein, The apparatus 200 physical capacity to contain sink debris is predominately located in the “in-sink” physical space 90 in all planes of physical space, x, y and z denoting width, height and length, respectively. The distal portion of said apparatus 200 in a vertical arrangement physically resides within the attachment to the sink drain hole 53 and compromises of a physical connection or union to a typical flange 58. This attachment to the sink drain hole 53 perimeter may be in the form of a sink flange 58, garbage disposal flange, or any connection to the sink drain hole 53 and is made of metal or any other material. In a vertical arrangement the distal portion of the apparatus outer wall 36 exemplary embodiment would physically connect to the vertical wall of a sink flange 58, or the like, that covers the sink drain hole 53. This flange 58 could also be a part of a garbage disposal flange or any other type of flange that covers a sink hole drain 53. There may also be instances where the sink itself doesn't use an additional flange but is incorporated into said sink, in which, the apparatus 200 performs the same fit and function.
FIG. 8 illustrates the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus angle of inner wall 78. In this illustration the sink debris collection and transfer apparatus 200 is in a non-opaque color and the inner wall 78 is represented as having a non-opaque hashed line denoting the inner wall 78. In a black color hashed line is representative of the X axis and Y axis. The angled black dark hash line is the angle of the original inner wall 78 that connects both circular orifice 45 and smaller circular orifice 21 as their centers are vertical aligned with each other. Also of note here is that there are two symbols theta 1 and theta 2. These symbols are the greek letter theta representing an angle. The said apparatus 200 has an angle theta 1 equal to an angle theta 2. Mathematically, these two opposite angles are equal, denoting that the inner wall 78 takes on an inward angle as measured downward from the top of the inner circular orifice. Theta 1 or theta 2 may or may not be equal to zero degrees from the Y axis for the full or partial length when measured vertically from top to bottom.
Lastly, the apparatus 200 method of use is simply to create a union between the apparatus 200 and a sink flange 58. The user will insert the apparatus 200 so that the weep holes 95 allow for adequate liquid transfer from the sink floor 74, through the walls 78, 36 of said apparatus 200 and into the sink drain or garbage disposal.
The method of use more specifically is to:

- Visually inspect the sink drain opening of the sink drain hole 53 prior to installation of said apparatus 200,
- Next is to ensure a clear opening of the sink drain hole 53,
- Ensure no additional sink apparatus reside in the sink flange 58 space in a manner that would impede the sealing of said apparatus 200 with the sink flange 58,
- Manually install said sink apparatus 200 within the sink flange 58 in a manner that allows a sealing connection with said sink flange 58 and the outer wall 36 of the apparatus 200,
- Ensure the sink apparatus 200 is installed in a manner that allow weep holes 95 to be used effectively for sink liquid transfer from the sink floor 74 through the apparatus 200 and ultimately into the sink drain or garbage disposal.

The apparatus 200 is installed such that sink liquids freely flow from said sink floor 74 or sink drain flange 58 through said apparatus walls 36, 78.
The above specifications and examples provide a description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments of the described articles of manufacture and methods. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that various changes or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing an in-sink collection and transfer apparatus comprising the steps of:

Visually inspect the sink drain opening of the sink drain hole prior to installation of said apparatus, Ensure a clear opening of the sink drain hole, Ensure no additional sink apparatus reside in the sink flange space in a manner that would impede the sealing of said apparatus with the sink flange, Manually install said sink apparatus within the sink flange in a manner that allows a sealing connection with said sink flange and the outer wall of the apparatus, and;

Ensure the sink apparatus is installed in a manner that allow weep holes to be used effectively for sink liquid transfer from the sink floor through the apparatus and ultimately into the sink drain or garbage disposal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said utilizing an in-sink collection and transfer apparatus comprises of an apparatus wherein utilizing the in-sink physical space to collect and transfer sink debris to said sink drain opening.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said utilizing an in-sink collection and transfer apparatus comprises of an apparatus wherein utilizing the in-sink physical space to collect and transfer sink debris to said sink drain when said apparatus comprises of a circular orifice, or debris feed orifice, located in the in-sink physical space and is creating a sealing connection, either water tight or non-water right, to said sink floor or sink drain hole flange.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said sealing connection to said sink floor or sink drain hole flange comprises of a water tight or non-water tight connection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said manually install said sink apparatus within the sink flange in a manner that allows a sealing connection with said sink flange and the outer wall of the apparatus is said outer wall wherein said wall is a singular wall.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said manually install said sink apparatus within the sink flange in a manner that allows a sealing connection with said sink flange and the outer wall of the apparatus comprises also of installation upon sink floor where applicable.