Device for drain filtration and/or hair collection and ejecting waste objects

Abstract

A drain strainer is provided that includes a flange and a basket. The flange transitions to a central cavity. The basket defines the central cavity and includes perforations that are sized to enable liquid to drain through the basket while debris is collected in the basket. The basket has a flexibility of a sufficient value such that the basket may be stretched in a downstream direction to a predetermine value and then released to eject the debris from the basket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain strainer comprising:
 a flange, wherein the flange transitions to a central cavity;   a basket, wherein the basket defines the central cavity, wherein the basket comprises perforations that are sized to enable liquid to drain through the basket while debris is collected in the basket, wherein the basket has a flexibility of a sufficient value such that the basket may be stretched in a downstream direction to a predetermine value and then released to eject the debris from the basket.   
     
     
         2 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising protrusions, wherein each protrusion is provided on the flange and extends upwardly from the flange, wherein the protrusions are configured and arranged to guide the liquid towards the central cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The drain strainer of  claim 2 , wherein the protrusions are configured and arranged to create a circular vortex motion of the liquid to collect the debris in a ball. 
     
     
         4 . The drain strainer of  claim 2  wherein each protrusion extends from the central cavity to near an outer edge of the flange. 
     
     
         5 . The drain strainer of  claim 4 , wherein each protrusion extends from the central cavity to near the outer edge of the flange in a spiral shape. 
     
     
         6 . The drain strainer of  claim 5 , wherein each protrusion extends vertically extends upward from the flange. 
     
     
         7 . The drain strainer of  claim 4 , wherein each protrusion curves as the protrusion extends from the central cavity to near the outer edge of the flange. 
     
     
         8 . The drain strainer of  claim 7  wherein each protrusion inclines inwardly as the protrusion extends upwardly. 
     
     
         9 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a pull tab, wherein the pull tab is attached to the basket and extends away from the basket from an underside of the basket, wherein the pull tab is operative to enable a user to pull the basket downstream and stretch the basket to the predetermined value. 
     
     
         10 . The drain strainer of  claim 9 , wherein the pull tab is a cylindrical node. 
     
     
         11 . The drain strainer of  claim 9 , wherein the pull tab includes an opening. 
     
     
         12 . The drain strainer of  claim 9 , wherein the pull tab includes an enlarge portion at a free end of the pull tab for aid in gripping the pull tab. 
     
     
         13 . The drain strainer of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the perforation extend into the flange. 
     
     
         14 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a plunger, wherein the plunger has a top button that is position in the basket, wherein the top button is configured to be pressed in the downstream direction to stretch the basket in the downstream direction to the stretch position and the plunger releasably engages a catch to releasably lock the plunger to keep the basket in the stretch position, wherein the plunger is configured to be disengaged from the catch thereby releasing the basket from the stretched position to eject the debris from the basket. 
     
     
         15 . The drain strainer of  claim 14 , wherein catch includes a central slot and an offset opening that laterally merges with the central slot, wherein the plunger includes a stem and a lower plunger element, wherein the stem attaches to the top button and the lower plunger element, wherein the offset opening has a size that is larger than the central slot, wherein the lower plunger element is sized to extend through the offset opening but not the central slot, wherein the stem is sized to extend through the central slot and offset opening, where the top button is configure to be pressed in the downward direction such that the lower plunger element extends downwardly through the offset opening and laterally moves to the central slot to engage the underside of the catch to releasably lock the plunger to keep the basket in the stretch position. 
     
     
         16 . The drain strainer of  claim 15 , wherein the lower plunger element may be moved to align under the offset opening to release the basket from the stretched position to eject the debris from the basket. 
     
     
         17 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcement sleeve that is position under the flange and extends around the basket. 
     
     
         18 . The drain strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the flange has a plurality of petals around the periphery of the flange.