Sink Insert

Abstract

A strainer comprising a plurality of longitudinal bars aligned substantially parallel to one another wherein the longitudinal bars are substantially rigid, a plurality of latitudinal bars secured to and aligned substantially parallel to one another and aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal bars wherein the latitudinal bars are flexible to allow one end of the strainer to be raised while retaining the opposite end in contact with a sink, a plurality of apertures result from the positioning of the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars, an outer perimeter bar surrounding and enclosing the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars and defining the shape of the strainer and a drain opening located within the strainer and within the outer perimeter of the strainer wherein the drain opening is defined be a drain perimeter bar.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A strainer comprising:
 a plurality of longitudinal bars aligned substantially parallel to one another;
 wherein the longitudinal bars are substantially rigid; 
   a plurality of latitudinal bars secured to and aligned substantially parallel to one another and aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal bars;
 wherein the latitudinal bars are flexible to allow one end of the strainer to be raised while retaining an opposite end in contact with a sink; 
   a plurality of apertures resulting from the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars;   an outer perimeter bar or flange surrounding and enclosing the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars and defining the shape of the strainer; and   a drain opening located within the strainer and within the outer perimeter of the strainer wherein the drain opening is defined be a drain perimeter bar or flange.   
     
     
         2 . The strainer of  claim 1  wherein the strainer has a shape permitting it to fit on a bottom of a sink including a shape selected from the group circle, semicircle, oblong, square, rectangular, oval, quadrilateral, tetrahedral, trapezoid, diamond, triangular, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The strainer of  claim 1  wherein the strainer is made of a material selected from the group including metal, plastic, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, polymers, silicone, wood, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of feet secured to a bottom side of the strainer. 
     
     
         5 . The strainer of  claim 1  further comprising:
 one or more foot bars secured to a bottom side of the strainer; and 
 one or more feet secured to each of the foot bars. 
 
     
     
         6 . The strainer of  claim 5  wherein the foot bars are substantially parallel to the longitudinal bars and are substantially rigid. 
     
     
         7 . The strainer of  claim 5  wherein the foot bars are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal bars and are flexible 
     
     
         8 . The strainer of  claim 1  further including a plurality of grippers secured to the outer perimeter bar to aid in both maintaining the position of the strainer within a sink and protecting a surface of the sink. 
     
     
         9 . A strainer comprising:
 a plurality of strainer sections, each strainer section comprising:
 a plurality of longitudinal bars aligned substantially parallel to one another, wherein the longitudinal bars are substantially rigid; 
 a plurality of latitudinal bars secured to and aligned substantially parallel to one another and aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal bars; 
 wherein the latitudinal bars are substantially rigid; 
 a plurality of apertures resulting from the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars; 
 an outer perimeter bar or flange surrounding and enclosing the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars and defining the shape of the strainer section; 
   wherein each strainer section is pivotally secured to one or more other strainer sections with one or more clips; and   a drain opening located within the strainer and within the outer perimeter of the strainer wherein the drain opening is defined by a drain perimeter bar or flange.   
     
     
         10 . The strainer of  claim 9  wherein the strainer has a shape permitting it to fit on a bottom of a sink including a shape selected from the group circle, semicircle, oblong, square, rectangular, oval, quadrilateral, tetrahedral, trapezoid, diamond, triangular, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The strainer of  claim 9  wherein the strainer is made of a material selected from the group including metal, plastic, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, polymers, silicone, wood, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The strainer of  claim 9  further comprising a plurality of feet secured to a bottom side of each strainer section. 
     
     
         13 . The strainer of  claim 9  further comprising:
 one or more foot bars secured to a bottom side of the strainer; and one or more feet secured to each of the foot bars. 
 
     
     
         14 . The strainer of  claim 9  further including a plurality of grippers secured to the strainer sections to aid in both maintaining the position of the strainer within a sink and protecting a surface of the sink. 
     
     
         15 . A method of using a sink strainer within a sink comprising the steps of:
 providing a sink which has a bottom surface and a drain opening;   placing a strainer within the sink, the strainer comprising:
 a plurality of longitudinal bars aligned substantially parallel to one another;
 wherein the longitudinal bars are substantially rigid; 
 
 a plurality of latitudinal bars secured to and aligned substantially parallel to one another and aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal bars;
 wherein the latitudinal bars are flexible to allow one end of the strainer to be raised while retaining an opposite end in contact with a sink; 
 
 a plurality of apertures resulting from the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars; 
 an outer perimeter bar or flange surrounding and enclosing the longitudinal bars and the latitudinal bars and defining the shape of the strainer; and 
 a drain opening located within the strainer and within the outer perimeter of the strainer wherein the drain opening is defined by a drain perimeter bar or flange; 
   placing a variety of items within the sink and on the strainer;   running water and/or washing the items within the sink resulting in the collection of organic and non-organic matter within and under the strainer;   raising a first end of the strainer up off the bottom surface and rinsing the organic and non-organic matter into the drain opening while an opposite end of the strainer remains in contact with the bottom surface of the sink;   returning the first end of the strainer to the bottom surface;   raising the opposite end of the strainer up off the bottom surface and rinsing the organic and non-organic matter into the drain opening while the first end of the strainer remains in contact with the bottom surface of the sink; and   returning the opposite end of the strainer to the bottom surface.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the strainer has a shape permitting it to fit on a bottom of a sink including a shape selected from the group circle, semicircle, oblong, square, rectangular, oval, quadrilateral, tetrahedral, trapezoid, diamond, triangular, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the strainer is made of a material selected from the group including metal, plastic, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, polymers, silicone, wood, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the strainer further comprising:
 one or more foot bars secured to a bottom side of the strainer; and 
 one or more feet secured to each of the foot bars. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the foot bars are substantially parallel to the longitudinal bars and are substantially rigid. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the strainer further including a plurality of grippers secured to the outer perimeter bar to aid in both maintaining the position of the strainer within a sink and protecting a surface of the sink.