IP Library Granted Patent US 10,982,425
Granted Patent B1
US 10,982,425 · App. 16/996,301 · Granted Apr 20, 2021

Apparatus for capturing and destroying hair within a shower drain

Inventors: Geoffrey J. Grumbach (Somerville, MA); Olaoluwa Faleye (Somerville, MA); Jacqueline Kirk (Somerville, MA)
Assignee: NeverClog LLC
E03F5/0408C02F3/342E03C1/2665E03F5/041
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,982,425
App. No.
16/996,301
Granted
Apr 20, 2021
Kind
B1
Abstract

A system for capturing and destroying hair and waste within a shower drain includes a basket placed in the drain which holds a rod including an enzyme blend. The basket captures hair or waste that is washed down shower drains. The enzyme blend neutralizes the hair or waste. The result is a clear drain and clear plumbing, with minimal manual labor. The basket does not require removal because the hair and waste are neutralized before a clog can develop. The enzyme blend is safer for both users and the plumbing systems treated than conventional drain cleaning chemicals.

Claims (21)

1. A system for capturing and breaking down hair or waste in a plumbing drain, said system comprising:

a drain basket, including:

an upper section including a tapered upper wall having a first plurality of holes extending therethrough at an upper end thereof, and a second plurality of holes extending through said tapered wall at a lower end thereof; and

a lower section having a lower wall extending from a bottom end of said tapered wall to a bottom wall, which together define a waste chamber;

a rod sized to fit within said drain basket and including:

a first medium including an enzyme blend of keratinase and amylase formed into the shape of a rod; and

a coating of calcium sulfate and/or polyvinyl alcohol on said rod for delaying reaction of said first medium with said hair or waste.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first medium additionally includes a compound selected from the group consisting of: trypsin, sodium thioglycolate, and sodium hydroxide.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said first medium additionally includes trypsin.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein said first medium additionally includes sodium thioglycolate.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein said first medium additionally includes sodium hydroxide.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein said coating decreases in thickness from a top to a bottom of said rod.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein said lower wall is cylindrical.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein said upper section further includes an upper cylindrical wall section extending from an upper end of said tapered wall.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said upper cylindrical wall section extending from an upper end of said tapered wall further includes a third plurality of holes extending therethrough.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said upper cylindrical wall section extending from an upper end of said tapered wall further includes extensions for hanging said drain basket from said plumbing drain.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein said tapered wall includes a portion between said first plurality of holes and said second plurality of holes that is free of holes.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of holes has a larger diameter than said second plurality of holes.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first plurality of holes and said third plurality of holes are of substantially the same diameter.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein said drain basket is constructed from stainless steel.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein said drain basket is constructed from a plastic material.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 18, 2020
From: GRUMBACH, GEOFFREY J.; FALEYE, OLAOLUWA; KIRK, JACQUELINE
To: NEVERCLOG LLC
Reel/Frame 053527/0247 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 62908626 · Oct 1, 2019
Cited By (5)
US 1,077,146 US 1,077,992 US 12,331,503 US 12,447,425 US 12,595,197