Bathroom Sink Clog-Preventive Popup Stopper with a Hidden Strainer

Abstract

A bathroom sink popup stopper assembly with an integrated strainer invisible from above the sink while in routine use that catches solids in draining water at its very first stage of downstream to effectively prevent any clogs in the drain passage and beyond. The hidden strainer, sandwiched in between the two parts of the popup stopper body and wrapping around the upper part of the popup stopper body, which is conventionally a one-piece device, that is knocked down into two parts in this invention, an upper body and a lower body that can be repeatedly engaged into and disengaged from each other to secure and release the strainer, is accessible, removable, and re-installable, without the need of any tools, from above the sink before and after cleaning or replacement with a new one if preferred or as needed.

1 . A strainer integrated into the popup stopper body of a bathroom sink popup stopper assembly comprising: a) an upper body, b) a lower body, and c) a strainer that is held upwardly in between the upper body and the lower body and wrapping around the upper body and catches solids in the drain water at the first stage of its draining flow and therefore effectively prevents drain passage clogging and drainpipe clogging, that is separated from and not exposed to the water in the sink, and as a result, water will not be contaminated by the strainer and the contents in it, and that is also invisible from above the sink while in its routine use. 
     
     
         2 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper body and the lower body have a matching threading added to each other, which are to be engaged or disengaged by screwing into or away from each other, to further engage or disengage the strainer. 
     
     
         3 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the top of the lower body has vanes of which the diameter is up to the inner diameter of the sink drain passage to ensure the lower body coaxial with the drain passage all the time and that the lower body will not be tilted and is always straight upwards while remaining in the draining passage after the upper body is removed for cleaning or replacing the strainer so that the female thread opening on the top of the lower body is always in the center to be easily aligned with the male threading at the bottom of the upper body when it is inserted back into the drain passage to be re-installed. 
     
     
         4 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the strainer has meshes openings sized from 1/64 to ⅛ inch. 
     
     
         5 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the total mesh opening surface area of the strainer should be more than 40% of strainer surface area to ensure smooth water draining. 
     
     
         6 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the top edge of the strainer to the edge of sealing disc is between ⅜ inch ½ inch to ensure the strainer invisibility. 
     
     
         7 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the top part of the strainer is 1/32 inch to 3/32 inch smaller than the inside diameter of the drain body wall to ensure minimal leakage of solids through the gap and smooth movement of the stopper. 
     
     
         8 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the strainer is more than 1 inch to maximize the volume of caught solids and the interval of two consecutive cleanings. 
     
     
         9 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the strainer is a bowl or cup or cone shaped. 
     
     
         10 . A popup stopper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper body, the lower body and strainer can be made of metals, such as brass and stainless steel or plastics or a combination of some of them.