Water filter abstract
A drain water filter assembly for filtering debris laden liquids.
The filter assembly has an apertured filter holder constructed and
arranged to be placed into a basin, tub or sink. A removable and
disposable filter is provided for placement within and securement
to the filter holder structure. The filter holder has an elevated
bottom portion which permits debris to be filtered and the filtered
drain water to be dispensed through the apertures in the elevated
portions of the filter holder bottom.
Water filter claims
That which is claimed is:
1. A filter assembly for use with basin and sink structures comprising:
a) a filter structure for placement in a basin or sink structure,
wherein said filter structure is generally rectangular in shape
and has side walls, a top peripheral edge, and a bottom portion,
wherein said bottom portion is comprised of four angled pieces coming
together to form a generally pyramidal structure; and b) a filter
element for placement in said filter structure, wherein said filter
element has a fastening means which engages said top peripheral
edge of said filter structure.
2. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said angled pieces of
said bottom portion contain slotted apertures.
3. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said angled pieces of
said bottom portion come together to form four center ridges.
4. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said angled pieces of
said bottom portion come together to form a bottom peripheral valley
between said bottom portion and said side walls.
5. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said assembly further
includes support leg structures on said bottom structure.
6. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter structure
is made of molded plastic.
7. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter structure
is made of a semi-rigid or a rigid material.
8. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter element
is made of a flexible material.
9. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said filter element
is made of a disposable paper or a woven mesh material.
10. The filter assembly of claim 1 wherein said fastening means
is an elastic band.
11. A drain water filter assembly comprising: a) a filter holder
body having a an open top, a bottom member and an enclosed wall
extending upward from said bottom member, said bottom member having
an upwardly disposed portion and a plurality of apertures therethrough;
and b) a filter member for placement on said bottom member and within
said filter holder body.
12. The drain water filter assembly of claim 11 wherein said enclosed
wall has a generally rectangular cross-sectional structure with
four sides and said bottom member has a generally four-sided pyramidal
configuration.
13. The drain water filter assembly of claim 11 wherein said filter
holder body is constructed of a polymeric material.
14. The drain water filter assembly of claim 11 wherein said filter
member is constructed of a disposable material.
15. The drain filter assembly of claim 14 wherein said filter
member is filter paper.
16. The drain filter assembly of claim 11 wherein said filter
member has means to secure said filter member to said filter holder
body.
17. The drain filter assembly of claim 16 wherein said means to
secure said filter member is an elastic member.
18. A filter assembly for use with tub, sink and basin structures
comprising: a) a rigid filter structure for placement in said basin
structure, wherein said filter structure is generally rectangular
in shape and comprises: i) side walls, ii) a top peripheral edge,
and iii) a bottom portion comprised of four angled pieces coming
together to form a generally pyramidal structure, wherein said angled
pieces contain slotted apertures and are angled with respect to
the bottom at approximately 30.degree.; and b) a filter element
for placement in said filter structure, wherein said filter element
has a fastening means which engages said top peripheral edge of
said filter structure.
19. The filter assembly of claim 18 wherein said rigid filter
structure is made of a polymeric material and wherein said filter
element is made of a flexible disposable paper or a woven mesh material.
20. The filter assembly of claim 19 wherein said side walls have
a shoulder portion, wherein said filter structure is constructed
and arranged to fit into a predetermined tub, sink and basin size
and wherein said filter structure has a plurality of legs disposed
on the bottom thereof.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 60/354867 having the filing date
of Feb. 6 2002.
[0002] This invention relates generally to a filter assembly. Particularly,
this invention relates to a removable filter assembly for filtering
drain water. More particularly, this invention relates to a filter
assembly which is constructed and arranged for placement in a service
basin, tub, sink or the like, and to filter dirt and debris in the
used liquid from a mop bucket, for example, as the liquid contents
are emptied for disposal.
[0003] Drains are often subjected to water laden with dirt and
debris. For example, it is common for the contents of a mop bucket
to be dumped down the drain for disposal after the mopping and cleaning
operation has been completed. Unfortunately, the dirt and debris
collected during mopping are likewise dumped down the drain, thereby
often eventually causing clogged drain lines. Clogged drains are
both inconvenient and costly to the building or business owner.
For example, a restaurant may need to severely alter its operations
when drains are clogged. Further, costly drain line cleaning services
are required and which may add to the disruption of the normal business
operation of the enterprise.
[0004] Although a need exists in the marketplace for safely and
effectively disposing of debris laden liquids such as used mop bucket
contents, none insofar as is known has been proposed or developed.
The drain water filter assembly provides an effective, economical
and versatile assembly to filter debris from waste water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides an apertured open container
constructed and arranged to hold a removable filter and which removes
dirt and debris from waste water, such as used liquid mop bucket
contents when dumped down a drain.
[0006] The invention utilizes a rigid open container, i.e., constructed
of molded plastic, which is designed to fit into a service basin,
for example. The outer walls of the container may be designed to
fit into specified basin structures to thereby secure the container
of the invention therein. Importantly, the container has a bottom
which is elevated at the center and slopes downwardly to the exterior
walls of the container. The elevated, sloping bottom surfaces have
apertures arranged therethrough.
[0007] A removable filter structure is provided for securement
to and within the container. For example, the filter may be of a
rectangular liner configuration with an elastic periphery for securement
to the outside top periphery of the container. The filter is preferably
comprised of a disposable paper filter. The filter conforms over
the elevated bottom surfaces of the container. Thus, as the mop
bucket contents are dumped into the container, dirt and debris gather
in the valleys of the container while fluid filtered by the filter
in the container transfers through the apertures in the container
bottom walls and through the drain of the service basin, sink, tub
or the like.
[0008] The filter holder structure having the elevated apertured
bottom may also be constructed and arranged to have side walls designed
for placement in specified service basin structures. For example,
a filter holder structure may be designed for use in several basin
or tub designs.
[0009] These and other benefits of this invention will become clear
from the following description by reference to the drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective top view of the filter assembly
of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the filter assembly of FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the filter assembly being
positioned for use to filter a drain;
[0013] FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, show a service basin and a
tub for which the filter assembly of the assembly may be utilized;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the filter assembly
of the invention;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a top view of the filter assembly; and
[0016] FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the filter assembly taken
along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the filter assembly 10 of the
invention is shown having a filter holder structure 11 and a flexible
filter element 12. The filter holder or liner body structure 11
is preferably molded of a rigid or semi-rigid unitary structure,
i.e., molded of a plastic composition. The filter member or element
12 is preferably a disposable paper filter having a peripheral fastener
20 i.e., an elastic member. Alternatively, the filter element 12
may be a reusable woven mesh structure having a mesh count suitable
to filter dirt and debris.
[0018] The filter holder 11 is further shown to be a generally
rectangular structure having side walls 13 a top peripheral edge
14 and an elevated bottom 15. Importantly, the bottom structure
15 arranged like a pyramid for example, is comprised of angled
bottom portions 16 each having an arrangement of slotted apertures
17. The elevated bottom portions 16 defined by center ridges 22
angle downward to form a bottom peripheral valley 21.
[0019] The drain filter assembly of the invention may be used in
conjunction with a variety of drain structures. For example, mop
service basins constructed of aggregate or molded plastic composites
having strainers and drains are known for use to drain mop buckets.
The basins may be 24 inch.times.24 inch.times.10 inches, for example.
The sidewalls of the basins may have flat or curved configurations.
As shown in FIG. 5 for example, the service basin 25 may receive
filter assembly 10 as indicated by the arrow, whereby the filter
holder 11 is inserted within the side walls 26 of the basin 25.
The lower wall 24 which provides a smaller bottom area, in comparison
to upper wall 23 may be designed to fit into specified basins whereby
shoulder 18 may rest on a lower element of the basin.
[0020] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 the filter assembly 10 may also
be positioned within the walls of tub or sink 30 which may be floor
or wall mounted or free standing. Further, the filter assembly 10
may be used in a variety of such tub or basin designs and may also
be free standing.
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3-5 the filter assembly 10 is shown
constructed and arranged for positioning within a service basin
25 or a sink or tub structure 30 having walls 31. The service basin
25 is shown to have side walls 26 a bottom 27 with a drain 28 and
a top edge 29. For example, the filter holder 11 may be placed within
the walls 26 of basin 25 or the shoulder 18 of the filter holder
body 11 may rest on the upper top edge 29 of the walls 26 of the
basin 25.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows the bottom structure of the filter holder 11.
Referring further to FIGS. 1 and 3 particularly, the rows of slotted
apertures 17 in the angled bottom portions 16 are shown. The apertures
17 are shown spaced in parallel rows in bottom portions 16 between
the center ridges 22. Slots or apertures are also shown arranged
in bottom peripheral valley 21. Further, support legs 19 are shown
arranged about the bottom periphery of the holder structure 11.
[0023] FIGS. 7 and 8 further show the filter holder 11. For example,
a holder structure having sides approximately 21 inches long along
the top, a height of approximately 8.125 inches and a bottom width
of approximately 18.10 inches has been found suitable for use in
service basins, however, other dimensions and shapes may be utilized
to securely fit the filter assembly 10 in a basin, tub, sink or
the like. Further, the incline of the elevated bottom portions 16
may be approximately 122.6 degrees as shown by angle "X"
and so that the angled bottom portions may have an incline of approximately
30.degree. with respect to the bottom of the holder structure 11.
The apex 32 of the elevated bottom portion 15 may be centered and
approximately four inches from the bottom of the filter holder wall
13. Alternatively, the downwardly sloped bottom portions may be
contiguous and in the form of a dome-like structure or other elevated
bottom portion configuration, as opposed to a pyramidal form, as
discussed and shown herein.
[0024] The filter member 12 is preferably constructed of a disposable
filter paper, however, it may be constructed of a synthetic or woven
fiber composition, i.e., nylon or the like. The filter member 12
preferably filters out debris the size of sand and larger particles.
The filter 12 may have a size of 21.times.21 inches and be 6 inches
deep, for example, and constructed to be used in cooperation with
the filter holder 11 discussed above. Although the four sided, generally
pyramidal bottom structure is shown, other elevated and perforated
bottom designs may be used within the purview of the invention.
The filter holder 11 may be rectangular, round or have any other
configuration and the filter member 12 is sized to fit the interior
of the filter holder 11.
[0025] One important aspect of the invention is the elevated bottom
portions which are perforated or apertured preferably up to the
apex so that dirt and debris will settle downwardly into the valleys
of the container and, thus, allowing filtered water to pass through
the elevated apertures.
[0026] As many changes are possible to the embodiments of this
invention utilizing the teachings thereof, the descriptions above
and the accompanying drawings should be interpreted in the illustrative
and not in the limited sense. |