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

Abstract

A drain strainer is provided that includes a basket. The basket defines a central cavity and includes perforations that are sized to enable liquid to drain through the basket while debris is collected in the basket. The drain strainer is configured to be preloaded to a potential energy state and upon the drain strainer being released from the potential energy state the potential energy converts to kinetic energy that is sufficient to eject the debris from the basket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drain strainer comprising:
 a basket, wherein the basket defines a 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 drain strainer is configured to be preloaded to a potential energy state and upon the drain strainer being released from the potential energy state the potential energy converts to kinetic energy that is sufficient to eject the debris from the basket, wherein the basket is configured to be stretched to a stretched position in a downstream direction and then released to eject the debris from the basket; and   a pull tab, wherein the pull tab is attached to and extends externally away from an underside of the basket at angle in the downstream direction, wherein the pull tab is operative to enable a user to grasp the pull tab and straighten it in the downstream direction to pull the basket downstream and stretch the basket to the stretched position.   
     
     
         2 . The drain strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the pull tab is greater than the width of the pull tab. 
     
     
         3 . The drain strainer of  claim 1 , wherein the pull tab comprises grip elements to help prevent a user's hand from slipping off the pull tab. 
     
     
         4 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a grip collar, wherein the grip collar surrounds the basket, wherein the grip collar is removable and in operative connection with the basket, wherein the grip collar is configured to enable a user to hold the grip collar and stretch the basket to the stretched position. 
     
     
         5 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a reinforcement collar and a base flange, wherein the base flange transitions to the cavity that is defined by the basket, wherein the reinforcement collar is attached to an underside of the base flange, wherein one of the grip collar and the reinforcement collar includes a ridge that snaps into a groove formed on the other one of the grip collar and the reinforcement collar to removable assemble the grip collar to the reinforcement collar. 
     
     
         6 . The drain strainer of  claim 1  further comprising a base flange and protrusions provided on the base flange, wherein the base flange transitions to the cavity that is defined by the basket, wherein each protrusion extends upwardly from the flange, wherein the protrusions are configured and arranged to guide the liquid towards the central cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The drain strainer of  claim 6 , wherein the protrusions are spiral shaped and configured and arranged to create a circular vortex motion of the liquid to collect the debris in a ball within the basket. 
     
     
         8 . A drain strainer comprising:
 a basket, wherein the basket defines a 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 drain strainer is configured to be preloaded to a potential energy state and upon the drain strainer being released from the potential energy state the potential energy converts to kinetic energy that is sufficient to eject the debris from the basket, wherein the basket is configured to be stretched to a stretched position in a downstream direction and then released to eject the debris from the basket;   a stainless steel ring operatively connected to the basket; and   a reinforcement collar, wherein the reinforcement collar is attached to the underside of the stainless steel ring, wherein the basket is configured to be moved relative to the stainless steel ring to a first position to preload the drain strainer to the potential energy state, wherein the basket is configured to be moved relative to the stainless steel ring from the first position to a second position to convert the potential energy of the drain strainer in the potential energy state to kinetic energy to eject the debris from the basket.   
     
     
         9 . The drain strainer of  claim 8  further comprising lift out tabs, wherein the lift out tabs are attached to the reinforcement collar and extend upwardly through the stainless steel ring. 
     
     
         10 . The drain strainer of  claim 8  further comprising lift out tabs, wherein the lift out tabs are attached to the stainless steel ring and extend upwardly from the stainless steel ring. 
     
     
         11 . The drain strainer of  claim 8  further comprising a pull tab and a holder, wherein the holder is tubular, wherein the reinforcement collar is attached to an inner side of the holder, wherein the pull tab is attached to an underside of the basket and extends away from the basket, wherein the pull tab is operative to enable the user to pull the basket downstream and stretch the basket to the stretched position, wherein the holder is configured to enable the user to grasp the holder with one hand and pull the pull tab with the other hand to stretch the basket to the stretched position. 
     
     
         12 . The drain strainer of  claim 11 , wherein the length of the pull tab is greater than the width of the pull tab. 
     
     
         13 . The drain strainer of  claim 8 , wherein the stainless steel ring is overmolded on the reinforcement collar. 
     
     
         14 . The drain strainer of  claim 8  further comprising a pull tab, wherein the pull tab is attached to an underside of the basket and extends away from the basket, wherein the pull tab is operative to enable the user to pull the basket downstream and stretch the basket to the stretched position. 
     
     
         15 . The drain strainer of  claim 14 , wherein the basket includes a bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall of the basket projects upwardly to define a recess formed on the underside of the basket. 
     
     
         16 . A drain strainer comprising:
 a basket, wherein the basket defines a 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 drain strainer is configured to be preloaded to a potential energy state and upon the drain strainer being released from the potential energy state the potential energy converts to kinetic energy that is sufficient to eject the debris from the basket, wherein the basket is configured to be stretched to a stretched position in a downstream direction and then released to eject the debris from the basket;   a stainless steel ring operatively connected to the basket; and   lift out tabs, wherein the lift out tabs extend upwardly from the stainless steel ring.   
     
     
         17 . The drain strainer of  claim 16 , wherein the stainless steel ring includes slots, wherein the lift out tabs extend through the slots. 
     
     
         18 . The drain strainer of  claim 17 , wherein the slots are open ended at an inner end of the stainless steel ring. 
     
     
         19 . The drain strainer of  claim 18 , wherein the lift out tabs are attached to the stainless steel ring. 
     
     
         20 . The drain strainer of  claim 17  further comprising a reinforcement collar, wherein stainless steel ring is overmolded on the reinforcement collar.