초록 ▼

A removable drain filter apparatus (20) with an housing (22) connectable with upstream and downstream drain pipes (40, 46) has a filtering chamber wider than the drain pipes and divided into an upstream portion (78) and a downstream portion (82) by a generally planer filter element (50). A hatch cov

A removable drain filter apparatus (20) with an housing (22) connectable with upstream and downstream drain pipes (40, 46) has a filtering chamber wider than the drain pipes and divided into an upstream portion (78) and a downstream portion (82) by a generally planer filter element (50). A hatch cover (32) carries a downwardly extending central core (76) with an O-ring seal (84), a filter securement member (86) for pressing the filter element (50) against an underlying support ledge (29) and a drain hole plug (88). The location of the O-ring (84) relative to the filter element (50) and the plug (88) being tapered enables the filter housing (22) to be drained of any water during removal of the hatch cover and before the watertight seal is broken to eliminate leakage of drain water out of the housing (22) when the hatch (31) is completely opened. The filter (50) bends out of the way of a plumber's auger (96).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing with a watertight filtering chamber having a forward, cylindrical section and a relatively wider and larger aft section extending laterally outwardly from the forward cylindrical section and having a top and a bottom;means for connecting an u

1. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing with a watertight filtering chamber having a forward, cylindrical section and a relatively wider and larger aft section extending laterally outwardly from the forward cylindrical section and having a top and a bottom;means for connecting an upstream drain pipe to the top of the forward cylindrical section of the watertight filtering chamber;means for connecting a downstream drain pipe to the bottom of bottom of the forward cylindrical section of the filter housing; anda filter element mounted at an intermediate location within the chamber and extending coextensively with both the forward section and aft section of the filtering chamber and sealed against interior walls of the filtering chamber to divide the chamber into an upstream part above the filter element and a downstream part beneath the filter element, said filter element having a generally planer filter body with a forward, relatively narrow, primary filtering portion within the forward cylindrical section and located directly beneath the upstream drain pipe connecting means, andan aft, relatively wider, secondary filtering portion within the aft section of the filtering chamber and extending laterally outwardly from the relatively narrow primary filtering portion with a width and a cross-sectional area that is substantially larger than the diameter and cross-sectional area of the forward portion of the filter element, of the forward section of the cylindrical filtering section and of the upstream drain pipe. 2. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 including a closable, upwardly facing, filter access hatch in the upstream, forward part of the chamber for access to the filter element,said filter access hatch having a width and cross-sectional area substantially larger than that of the upstream drain pipe to enable removal of the filter element though the access hatch without substantial distortion of the filter element. 3. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 in which the aft portion of the filter body has a handle opening sufficiently large to enable a person to insert their finger through the hole to pull the aft portion out of the access hatch opening. 4. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 in which the filter element has a filtering area that is at least three times larger than the cross-section of the drain pipes. 5. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 in which the aft portion of the filter element is substantially planer, butthe primary filtering has a concave portion with a plurality of filtering holes located only generally intermediate the drain pipe connecting means. 6. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 including an upwardly facing access hatch opening located at the top of an upstanding collar, said upstanding collar extending upwardly from a top of the upstream part of the filtering chamber that is entirely elevated above the filter element. 7. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 including means for squeezing the top and bottom of the aft peripheral portion of the filter body between two members that are mounted for vertical movement relative to each other. 8. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 in which the planer filter body is at least one of (a) relatively flexible compared to the housing and drain pipes and (b) bendable. 9. The drain filter of claim 1 in which the connecting means are manually operable toggle clamps with resilient seals. 10. The drain filter apparatus of claim 1 including an upwardly facing access hatch located entirely above the filter element for access to the filter element, anda releasable watertight hatch cover. 11. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing having a watertight filtering chamber;a filter element mounted within the watertight filtering chamber with an inlet and an outlet and having a plurality of filtering openings through which drain water may pass, anda closable drain hole for draining water from the filtering chamber when the plurality of filtering elements become clogged; andan access hatch in the chamber for access to the filter element for removal and installation of the filter element; anda removable watertight hatch cover for closing the access hatch opening and carrying a drain hole plug for selectively closing the closable drain hole. 12. The drain filter apparatus of claim 11 in which the drain hole plug closes the drain hole when the hatch cover is in a fully closed position, andis removed at least partly from the drain hole when the hatch cover is in less than a fully closed position but which is still watertight. 13. The drain filter apparatus of claim 11 in which the drain hole plug includes a tapered plug body that extends downwardly from an underside of the hatch cover that is received within and fills the drain hole when hatch cover is fully closed, andthat is at least partly removed from the drain hole when the hatch cover is moved to a position less than fully closed. 14. The drain filter apparatus of claim 11 in which the watertight cover has a watertight seal that is positioned relative to the drain hole, andthe plug to remains in watertight sealed contact with the access hatch until after the plug is at least partly removed from the drain hole to allow the filtering chamber to drain. 15. The drain filter apparatus of claim 14 in which the hatch cover includes a centrally inwardly located, downwardly extending, closure member with a circular groove snuggly received within the access hatch, andthe seal is an O-ring that is seated within the circular groove. 16. The drain filter apparatus of claim 11 in which the access hatch is a circular opening in the filter housing, andthe hatch cover is secured to the access hatch opening by rotating the hatch cover into a locked, sealed relationship with the hatch opening. 17. The drain filter apparatus of claim 15 in which the access hatch cover is threadably attached to the hatch cover,the filter drain hole is located directly beneath the access hatch opening, andthe drain hole plug is lowered into the drain hole when the hatch cover is screwed into a fully closed position. 18. The drain apparatus of claim 11 in which the hatch cover includes a hatch cover body with a cylindrical wall with internal threads,a downwardly extending closure member with an upper cylindrical section that is concentric with and spaced radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall and has a groove within which is mounted a resilient seal, anda lower, section with a bottom with a periphery and carrying the -drain hole plug at a central inner location extending downwardly from the bottom and spaced from a periphery of the bottom to define a shoulder,said shoulder pressing down on the filter element when the plug fills the filter drain hole. 19. The drain filter apparatus of claim 18 in which the downwardly extending filter securement member is made from hollow resilient plastic, andhas a radially, outwardly extending, connection collar for resilient locking engagement between a snap-fit connector tab and an underside of the hatch cover. 20. The drain filter apparatus of claim 11 in which the drain hole is at least one of (a) larger in area size than each of the plurality of filtering holes, (b) approximately six-eighths of an inch in diameter, and (b) approximately six times larger in area size than the plurality of filtering holes. 21. A filter apparatus, comprising: a watertight housing with an inline section with an inlet and an outlet at opposite ends for connection with an upstream drain pipe and a downstream drain pipe, respectively;a lateral section in fluid communication with, and laterally extending outwardly from, the inline section;a filter element mounted within the housing to enable movement of a distal end portion of the filter element between a fully blocking position between the inlet and the outlet, andanother position in which a part of the filter element is moved away from a fully blocking position to allow passage of an unclogging tool between the inlet and the outlet. 22. The drain filter apparatus of claim 21 in which the filter element has a peripheral wall with a pair of inwardly extending notches on opposite sides of the of the filter element to facilitate bending of the filter element along a line extending between the inwardly extending notches. 23. The drain filter apparatus of claim 21 in which the lateral section has a space located beneath the distal end portion to accommodate receipt of the end portion when moved downwardly to the other position. 24. The drain filter apparatus of claim 21 in which the distal end portion has an outwardly and upwardly slanted wall to facilitate sliding movement of a tool past the distal end as the distal end portion is bent downwardly by the tool. 25. The drain filter apparatus of claim 21 in which the filter element has an aft portion located opposite the distal end portion with opposite sides that are supported by a pair of underlying opposite mounting members with forward ends that are spaced from the distal end portion,said distal end portion being cantilever mounted with no underlying support to enable it to be bent downwardly relative to the distal portion during tools insertion. 26. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing with a filtering chamber and an access opening to the filtering chamber;a releasably mounted filter element with a surface resting on an underlying filter support member within the filtering chamber; anda removable cover for closing the access opening, said cover carrying a filter securement member that extends inwardly from the access opening into the chamber and engages a surface of the filter element opposite to said one surface when in a fully closed position, said filter element being held in place between the support member and the securement member; and in whichthe securement member has a filter engagement surface from which extends an inwardly located, downwardly extending plug that is received within a mating hole in the filter element when the engagement surface of the securement member engages the filter element,location of said plug within the mating hole blocking relative lateral movement, andthe engagement surface and the filter support member block relative vertical movement of the filter element. 27. The drain filter apparatus of claim 26 in which the underlying support member is elongate and supports the filter element only along a peripheral edge of one end portion of the filter element, andsaid filter element has an opposite end portion with an upstanding peripheral wall to provide enhanced rigidity of the opposite end portion for cantilevered support without underlying support. 28. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing having a watertight filtering chamber with an inlet and an outlet;a filter element with a preselected filtering area releasably mounted at a location between the inlet and the outlet within the chamber and dividing the chamber into an upstream part having a top with the inlet and a downstream part with a bottom with the outlet;means for connecting an upstream drain pipe the inlet of the upstream part of the chamber;means for connecting a downstream drain pipe to the outlet of the downstream part of the chamber; anda closable access hatch for access to the filter element for removal and installation of the filter element, said closable access hatch being located only in the top of the upstream part of the filtering chamber and facing upwardly to reduce spillage when the access hatch is opened. 29. The drain filter apparatus of claim 28 including a closable drain hole in the filter element for draining water from the filtering chamber when the filtering area becomes clogged, andmeans for draining the upstream part of the chamber through the drain hole while the closable access hatch is at least partly closed. 30. The drain filter apparatus of claim 29 in which the closable hatch is closed by a hatch cover that carries a closure member for closing the drain hole, andsaid drain hole closure member being moved from closure relationship with the drain hole while the hatch cover is being removed from a closed relationship with the closable hatch. 31. The drain filter apparatus of claim 30 in which the hatch cover carries a central core with a seal that remains in sealed relationship with the access hatch when the closure member is removed from closed relationship with the drain hole. 32. The drain filter apparatus of claim 28 in which the closable access hatch is at the top of a collar elevated above the top to reduce spillage when the closable access hatch is opened. 33. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing with a filtering chamber, an inlet, an outlet and connectors for connecting the inlet and the outlet to upstream and downstream drain pipes, respectively;a filter body within the chamber in filtering relationship between the inlet and outlet said filter body having a plurality of filtering holes extending through the filter body and located at one end portion of the filter body for passage of water to be filtered during filtering, anda drain hole extending through the filter body and located at another end of the filter body opposite the one end, said drain hole being larger than any of the filtering holes for draining the filtering chamber when the filtering holes become clogged; anda plug removably mounted to the filter body and receivable within the drain hole to block passage of water when the filter holes are not clogged. 34. The drain filter apparatus of claim 33 in which the filter body is substantially planer. 35. The drain filter apparatus of claim 33 in which the filter body has a generally oblong arcuate shape that is substantially wider than the drain pipes. 36. The drain filter apparatus of claim 33 in which the filter body has a convex portion at the one end portion. 37. The drain filter apparatus of claim 33 in which the filter body is substantially planer, and includesa peripheral wall surrounding only part of the filter body to increase rigidity of said part. 38. The drain filter apparatus of claim 33 in which the filter element has a peripheral wall surrounding part of the filter body with a pair of notches on opposite sides of the filter body to facilitate bending of the filter body along a line extending between the pair of notches. 39. A drain filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing with a filtering chamber, an inlet, an outlet and connectors for connecting the inlet and the outlet to upstream and downstream drain pipes, respectively;a filter element contained within the housing and having a primary filtering section with a concave portion with a plurality of filtering holes and a periphery partly shaped to conform to an interior of a drain pipe conforming surface of the filtering chamber extending between the drain pipes; andan aft, substantially planer and relatively larger secondary filtering section with a plurality of filtering holes extending from the primary filtering section for filtering after the forward section becomes clogged. 40. The drain filter apparatus of claim 39 in which the aft filtering section has a drain hole, and includingmeans for closing the drain hole during filtering and unplugging the drain hole when the filter becomes clogged. 41. The drain filter apparatus of claim 40 in which the drain hole is substantially larger than the plurality of filtering holes. 42. The drain filter apparatus of claim 40 in which the primary filtering section is cantilever mourned over an underlying open space to enable bending of the primary filtering section into the underlying open space and away from a blocking location between the inlet and the outlet. 43. A filter apparatus, comprising: a filter housing with a filtering chamber, an inlet, an outlet and connectors for connecting the inlet and the outlet to upstream and downstream drain pipes; anda filter element contained within the housing and having a generally planer filter body with a plurality of filtering holes with a forward section and an aft section,a pre-weakened area of the filter body to facilitate relative bending between the forward section and the aft section. 44. The rain filter apparatus of claim 43 including an upstanding peripheral wall surrounding at least part of the forward section, and in whichthe a pre-weakened area is formed by a pair of notches in the in the upstanding peripheral wall. 45. The drain filter apparatus of claim 44 in which the peripheral wall surrounds the entire forward section. 46. The drain filter apparatus of claim 43 in which the filter housing has a filter support ledge that provides underlying support for a part of the aft section that has no peripheral wall. 47. The drain filter apparatus of claim 43 in which the forward portion of filter is cantilever mounted between the inlet and the outlet without underlying support to enable the forward portion to be bent at an angle relative to the aft section. 48. The drain filter of claim 43 in which the filter element has a generally oval shape. 49. A method of filtering drain liquid with a drain filter apparatus, comprising the steps of: connecting a filter housing with a watertight filtering chamber between a pair of drain pipes;installing a filter element with a plurality of filtering holes within the watertight filtering chamber by inserting the filter element through an access hatch in the chamber;closing the hatch with a removable watertight hatch cover for closing the access hatch opening,passing liquid from one of the drain pipes through the filter element until the filter element becomes clogged;draining any water collected above the filter element through a drain hole that bypasses the plurality of filtering holes while the hatch is still at least partly closed;removing the hatch cover after the filtering chamber has been drained through; andreplacing the clogged filter element with a clean filter element installed into the filtering chamber;re-closing the hatch to resume filtering with the clean filter element. 50. The method of claim 49 including the step of closing the drain hole during normal filtering operations when the hatch is closed. 51. The method of claim 49 including the step of opening the drain hole during opening of the hatch cover when the hatch is at least partly closed. 52. The method of claim 49 including the step of closing the drain hole during normal filtering operations with a tapered plug carried by the hatch cover. 53. The method of claim 52 including, the step of maintaining a watertight seal with a seal that is positioned relative to the drain hole and the closure member to remain in watertight sealed contact with the access hatch until after the closure member is at least partly removed from the drain hole to allow the filtering chamber to drain. 54. A method of filtering with a filter apparatus, comprising the steps of: passing waste water through opposite ends of an inline section of a watertight housing connected between an upstream drain pipe and a downstream drain pipe,filtering the waste water with a filter body having a filtering portion located in a blocking position between the opposite ends;moving the filtering portion out of the blocking position while the housing remains watertight;passing an unclogging tool through the opposite ends to clear a clog in the downstream pipe when the filtering portion is removed from a blocking position;withdrawing the tool from the housing after the clog has been removed; andreturning the filtering portion to the blocking position for further filtering. 55. The method of claim 54 in which the step of moving the distal end portion includes the step of either (a) bending the filtering portion downwardly with the unclogging tool, or (b) sliding the filter away from a blocking position. 56. The method of claim 54 including the steps of bending the filtering portion downwardly with the unclogging tool until it is removed from the blocking position,holding the filtering portion out of a fully blocking position with a side of the unclogging tool after the tool has been fully passed between the inlet and the outlet, andresiliently returning the distal end portion of the filter element to the fully blocking position after the tool has been removed from within the housing.