Sink insert with cleaning surface

Abstract

Methods and systems for a sink insert are described. The sink insert is comprised of an outer wall, a bottom portion and a cleaning surface. The outer wall is positioned to engage a sink at its drain. The bottom portion is fixed to the outer wall and extends radially inwardly from the outer wall toward a centerline of the drain, wherein the bottom portion defines an aperture through which fluids and, if present, solids flow from a sink basin to the sink drain. A cleaning surface is affixed to a top surface of the bottom portion such that the cleaning surface faces upwardly toward the sink basin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sink insert comprising:
 an outer wall to engage a sink at its drain;   a bottom portion fixed to the outer wall and extending radially inwardly from the outer wall toward a centerline of the drain, the bottom portion defining an aperture through which fluids and, if present, solids flow from a sink basin to the sink drain; and   a cleaning surface affixed to a top surface of the bottom portion such that the cleaning surface faces upwardly toward the sink basin.   
     
     
         2 . The sink insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning surface includes a plurality of cleaning surfaces positioned on a top surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sink insert of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom portion is a flexible, resilient polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The sink insert of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion includes a first level and a second level, with the first level being above the second level, and wherein the cleaning surface is affixed to a top surface of the first level. 
     
     
         5 . The sink insert of  claim 4 , wherein the cleaning surface is affixed to a top surface of the second level. 
     
     
         6 . The sink insert of  claim 5 , wherein the second level is connected to the first level by a wall extending therebetween, and wherein the wall is resilient and flexible. 
     
     
         7 . The sink insert of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion includes a concave base, and wherein a first group of cleaning surfaces is discrete and positioned around the concave base. 
     
     
         8 . The sink insert of  claim 7 , wherein the first group of cleaning surfaces are spaced substantially uniformly around the top surface of the bottom portion. 
     
     
         9 . The sink insert of  claim 8 , wherein the cleaning surfaces include a second group of cleaning surfaces that are of a different dimension relative to the first group of cleaning surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The sink insert of  claim 7 , where the outer wall includes a lower portion that extends the height of the bottom portion and includes a recess in an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The sink insert of  claim 10 , where the outer wall includes an upper portion that extends above the bottom portion and is cyclindrical. 
     
     
         12 . The sink insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning surface includes an abrasive layer. 
     
     
         13 . The sink insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning surface includes a woven pad. 
     
     
         14 . The sink insert of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning surface includes a non-woven pad. 
     
     
         15 . A sink assembly comprising:
 a basin with a drain hole;   a sink insert secured in the drain hole;   a drain pipe connected to the drain hole; and   wherein the sink insert includes:
 an outer wall to engage the basin at the drain hole; 
 a bottom portion fixed to the outer wall and extending inwardly from the outer wall toward a centerline of the drain hole, the bottom portion defining an aperture through which fluids and, if present, solids flow from the basin to the drain pipe; and 
 a cleaning surface affixed to the bottom portion such that the scrubber surface faces upwardly toward the basin. 
   
     
     
         16 . The sink assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning surface includes a non-woven pad that completely covers the bottom portion. 
     
     
         17 . The sink assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the cleaning surface is a layer with a uniform thickness extending above the bottom portion. 
     
     
         18 . The sink assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom portion is divided into a plurality of portions separated from adjacent portions by boundaries that extend radially outward from the aperture defined in the bottom portion. 
     
     
         19 . The sink assembly of  claim 18 , wherein apertures are formed in one or more of the plurality of portions making up the bottom portion. 
     
     
         20 . The sink assembly of  claim 18 , wherein separate cleaning surfaces are affixed to each of the plurality of portions making up the bottom portion.