Debris trap for use in linear drains

Abstract

A debris trap for use with a linear drain includes a body having an elongated configuration and defining a base and a back wall upwardly extending from the base. A plurality of prongs laterally extend from the body along a length of the base. The prongs arranged to both resiliently secure the debris trap within an internal channel of the linear drain and catch hair and other debris that enter the linear drain.

1 . A debris trap for use in a linear drain comprising:
 a body having an elongated configuration and defining a base and a back wall upwardly extending from the base; and   a plurality of prongs laterally extending from the body along a length of the base, the prongs having a resilient configuration and being arranged to resiliently load the debris trap within an internal channel of a linear drain and catch hair and other debris that drop into the internal channel.   
     
     
         2 . The debris trap of  claim 1 , wherein the prongs are arranged to resiliently load the debris trap between a sidewall of the internal channel and a plurality of cover supports. 
     
     
         3 . The debris trap of  claim 1 , wherein at least one protrusion is defined on a bottom surface of the base and arranged to form a clearance between the base and a bottom of the internal channel. 
     
     
         4 . The debris trap of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the prongs include a first portion extending from the base and a second portion that is only upwardly curved from the first portion. 
     
     
         5 . The debris trap of  claim 4 , wherein a width of at least one of the prong varies along a length of the prong. 
     
     
         6 . The debris trap of  claim 4 , wherein a width of the first portion is greater than the width of the second portion. 
     
     
         7 . The debris trap of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion includes a free end that extends above the base. 
     
     
         8 . The debris trap of  claim 1 , wherein the back wall defines a varying height. 
     
     
         9 . The debris trap of  claim 8 , wherein the height of the back wall is arranged to taper away from an outlet structure of the linear drain. 
     
     
         10 . The debris trap of  claim 1 , a top of the back wall is arranged to be located below a cover of the linear drain. 
     
     
         11 . The debris trap of  claim 10 , wherein the prongs are arranged to be resiliently loaded between supports attached to the cover and the back wall engages with a sidewall of the internal channel. 
     
     
         12 . The debris trap of  claim 11 , further comprising a handle portion connected to the body. 
     
     
         13 . The debris trap of  claim 12 , wherein the handle portion includes a handle member arranged to allow a user to easily grip the debris trap via an access hole defined in the cover. 
     
     
         14 . The debris trap of  claim 13 , wherein the handle portion includes a connecting portion extending between the body and the handle member, the connecting portion curving away from the back wall to position the handle member a distance away from the sidewall of the internal channel. 
     
     
         15 . The debris trap of  claim 1 , wherein the debris trap is arranged to be introduced into the internal channel via a slotted inlet in fluid communication with the internal channel. 
     
     
         16 . A linear drain system comprising:
 a linear drain including a drain body, a cover connected to the drain body, an internal channel including at least one sidewall under the cover, and a plurality of cover supports supporting the cover; and   a debris trap for use in the linear drain comprising:
 a body having an elongated configuration and defining a base and a back wall upwardly extending from the base; and 
 a plurality of prongs laterally extending from the body along a length of the base opposite the back wall, the prongs having a resilient configuration and being arranged to resiliently load the debris trap within the internal channel of a linear drain and catch hair and other debris that drop into the internal channel. 
   
     
     
         17 . The linear drain system of  claim 16 , wherein the prongs are arranged to resiliently load the debris trap between the at least one sidewall of the internal channel and at least some of the cover supports. 
     
     
         18 . The linear drain system of  claim 16 , wherein a height of the back wall is arranged to taper away from an outlet structure of the linear drain. 
     
     
         19 . A debris trap for use in a linear drain comprising:
 a body having an elongated configuration and defining a base and a back wall upwardly extending from the base;   a handle member connected to the body; and   a plurality of prongs laterally extending from the body along a length of the base opposite the back wall, the prongs having a resilient configuration and being arranged to resiliently load the debris trap within an internal channel of a linear drain and catch hair and other debris that drop into the internal channel.   
     
     
         20 . The debris trap of  claim 19 , wherein the prongs are arranged to flex in both an axial direction and a transverse direction.