Drain strainer

Abstract

A stopper assembly for a drain system of a fluid basin, components thereof and related methods are provided. The stopper head assembly includes a stopper head and a strainer to strain fluid passing through the drain system when the stopper head is in a drain position. The stopper head and the strainer may be selectively removable from the drain system as a strainer cartridge or unit by manipulating the stopper head relative to the drain system or a component installed in the drain system.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A stopper assembly for a drain system of a fluid basin having a drain body with an internally threaded hub, the stopper assembly comprising:
 a stopper head to sealingly engage the drain system of the fluid basin when the stopper assembly is moved from a drain position to a plug position;   a strainer detachably coupled to the stopper head to strain at least a portion of a flow of fluid passing through the drain system of the fluid basin when the stopper assembly is installed and the stopper head is in the drain position; and   an adapter coupled to the drain body and detachably coupleable to a portion of the stopper head to enable selective removal of the stopper head and the strainer as a unit from the adapter while the adapter remains installed for use and coupled to the drain body.   
     
     
         25 . The stopper assembly of  claim 24  wherein the strainer is detachably coupled to the stopper head via a user actuatable release mechanism to facilitate replacement of the strainer with a replacement strainer. 
     
     
         26 . The stopper assembly of  claim 24  wherein the stopper head and the strainer form a strainer cartridge that is selectively detachable from the adapter coupled to the threaded hub of the drain body. 
     
     
         27 . The stopper assembly of  claim 26  wherein the strainer cartridge is detachable from the adapter by rotating the strainer cartridge about a central axis such that a coupling member of the strainer cartridge is released from the adapter. 
     
     
         28 . The stopper assembly of  claim 24  wherein the stopper head includes a pair of actuatable elements to selectively release the strainer from the stopper head, the actuatable elements including strainer engagement portions biased outwardly away from each other. 
     
     
         29 . The stopper assembly of  claim 28  wherein the actuatable elements of the stopper head are configured to move in in response to insertion of an upper end of the strainer into the stopper head. 
     
     
         30 . The stopper assembly of  claim 24  wherein a stem portion of the stopper head includes an adapter coupling member to detachably couple the stopper head to the adapter, the adapter coupling member configured to enable selective detachment of the stopper head and the strainer as a unit from the adapter while the adapter remains installed in the drain system. 
     
     
         31 . The stopper assembly of  claim 24  wherein the stopper head comprises a telescoping shaft assembly. 
     
     
         32 . The stopper assembly of  claim 31  wherein the telescoping shaft assembly includes an inner shaft, an outer shaft and a friction member provided therebetween to assist in holding an upper portion of the stopper head in a desired position. 
     
     
         33 . The stopper assembly of  claim 24  wherein the adapter comprises a telescoping shaft assembly that enables movement of the stopper head between the drain position and the plug position while the stopper head is attached to the adapter. 
     
     
         34 . The stopper assembly of  claim 33  wherein the adapter further comprises a compression spring positioned around the telescoping shaft assembly to bias the strainer cartridge upward. 
     
     
         35 . A method of using a stopper assembly to remove debris from a drain system of a fluid basin having a drain body with an internally threaded hub, the method comprising:
 coupling an adapter to the internally threaded hub of the drain body;   detaching a strainer cartridge having a stopper head and a strainer holding the debris from the adapter within the drain system of the fluid basin by rotating the stopper head to detach the strainer cartridge from engagement with the adapter;   actuating a release mechanism on the stopper head of the strainer cartridge to release the strainer and the debris from the stopper head;   attaching a replacement strainer to the stopper head to form a replacement strainer cartridge by inserting a stem portion of the strainer into the stopper head; and   attaching the replacement strainer cartridge to the adapter installed within the drain system of the fluid basin.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein detaching the strainer cartridge from the adapter installed within the drain system of the fluid basin includes rotating the stopper head of the strainer cartridge about a central axis until a coupling device of the stopper head is freely withdrawable from the adapter. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35  wherein attaching the replacement strainer cartridge to the adapter installed within the drain system of the fluid basin includes rotating the replacement strainer cartridge about a central axis until a coupling device of the stopper head is locked together with a corresponding coupling device of the adapter.