Filter guard for sink drain pop-up plunger

Abstract

A filter guard for a pop-up plunger for the drain of a sink or the like which comprises a thin sheet of springy metal having an array of openings therethrough. The sheet is rolled into a cylindrical shape and fitted over the radially extending vanes of a conventional pop-up plunger. The springiness of the sheet causes it to grip the plunger vanes and keep it in place. The openings in the filter guard allow liquid waste to exit the sink but block the passage of discrete articles, such as rings or contact lenses, which may inadvertently fall into the sink.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A filter guard for use with a waste drain pipe pop-up plunger having a head portion and a stem portion, wherein the stem portion includes a plurality of vanes extending radially outwardly from a central portion of the stem portion, the filter guard comprising: 
 a piece of sheet material provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, wherein the piece of sheet material is formed into a cylindrical shape with overlapping ends, the cylindrical shape having a diameter less than the diameter of an imaginary cylinder surrounding and contacting the vanes of the stem portion of the plunger.    
     
     
         2 . The filter guard according to  claim 1  wherein the sheet material is metal.  
     
     
         3 . The filter guard according to  claim 2  wherein the metal is stainless steel.  
     
     
         4 . The filter guard according to  claim 1  wherein the piece of sheet material is substantially rectangular.  
     
     
         5 . The filter guard according to  claim 4  wherein the piece of sheet material is approximately 4.0 inches by approximately 1.125 inches.  
     
     
         6 . The filter guard according to  claim 1  wherein the piece of sheet material has a thickness of approximately 0.005 inches.  
     
     
         7 . The filter guard according to  claim 1  wherein each of the openings is circular.  
     
     
         8 . The filter guard according to  claim 7  wherein each of the openings has a diameter of approximately 0.10 inches.  
     
     
         9 . In combination: 
 a pop-up plunger for a sink or the like having a head portion and a stem portion with a plurality of vanes extending radially outward from a central portion of the stem portion; and    a filter guard surrounding the plunger stem portion, wherein the filter guard comprises a piece of sheet material provided with a plurality of openings therethrough, and wherein the piece of sheet material is formed into a cylindrical shape with overlapping ends, the cylindrical shape having a diameter less than the diameter of an imaginary cylinder surrounding and contacting the vanes of the stem portion of the plunger.    
     
     
         10 . The combination according to  claim 9  wherein the sheet material is metal.  
     
     
         11 . The combination according to  claim 10  wherein the metal is stainless steel.  
     
     
         12 . The combination according to  claim 11  wherein the piece of sheet material is substantially rectangular.  
     
     
         13 . The combination according to  claim 12  wherein the piece of sheet material is approximately 4.0 inches by approximately 1.125 inches.  
     
     
         14 . The combination according to  claim 9  wherein the piece of sheet material has a thickness of approximately 0.005 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The combination according to  claim 9  wherein each of the openings is circular.  
     
     
         16 . The combination according to  claim 15  wherein each of the openings has a diameter of approximately 0.10 inches.