# US 10,501,917 B2 · Drain strainer > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,917 B2 - Document ID: US10501917B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/920,235 - Filed: 2018-03-13 - Published: 2019-01-17 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-01-24 - Assignees: Naushad Ali - Applicants: Naushad Ali - Inventors: Naushad Ali; David B. Nebel; Bridget M. Soldan; Joseph Z. Wascow - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501917B2 ## CPC - E03C 1/262: combined with outlet stoppers - A47K 1/14: Stoppers for wash-basins, baths, sinks, or the like - E03C 1/2302: {the actuation force being transmitted to the plug via rigid elements} - E03C: DOMESTIC PLUMBING INSTALLATIONS FOR FRESH WATER OR WASTE WATER (not connected to either water-supply main or to waste pipe A47K; devices of the kind used in the ground E03B, E03F); SINKS - A47K: SANITARY EQUIPMENT; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR, e.g. TOILET ACCESSORIES ## Abstract A stopper assembly for a drain system of a fluid basin and related methods, systems and components. The stopper head assembly includes a stopper head having a seal to sealingly engage the drain system of the fluid basin when the stopper assembly is moved from a drain position to a plug position and a strainer to strain fluid passing through the drain system when the stopper head is in a drain position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A strainer cartridge for a drain system, the strainer cartridge comprising: a stopper head; and a strainer detachably coupled to the stopper head to facilitate replacement of the strainer with a replacement strainer, and wherein the stopper head includes at least one actuatable element to selectively release the strainer from the stopper head. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The strainer cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuatable element is configured to enable a user to selectively release the strainer from the stopper head without physically touching the strainer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The strainer cartridge of claim 1 wherein the strainer includes a body defining a generally cylindrical receptacle having a plurality of apertures arranged to form a strainer structure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The strainer cartridge of claim 1 wherein the strainer is releasable from the stopper head by manipulating a portion of the stopper head. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The strainer cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuatable element of the stopper head includes a depressible portion of the stopper head. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The strainer cartridge of claim 1 wherein the at least one actuatable element of the stopper head includes spring-biased latches. ### Claim 7 A method of using a stopper cartridge to remove debris from a drain system, the method comprising: removing a strainer cartridge having a stopper head and a strainer holding the debris from an installed position within the drain system of the fluid basin; actuating a release mechanism of the strainer cartridge to release the strainer and the debris from the stopper head; and attaching a replacement strainer to the stopper head to form a replacement strainer cartridge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein actuating the release mechanism of the strainer cartridge to release the strainer and the debris from the stopper head includes actuating the release mechanism without physically touching the strainer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein actuating the release mechanism of the strainer cartridge to release the strainer and the debris from the stopper head includes actuating spring-biased latches to release the strainer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 wherein actuating the release mechanism of the strainer cartridge to release the strainer and the debris from the stopper head includes manipulating a portion of the stopper head. ### Claim 11 A strainer cartridge for a drain system, the strainer cartridge comprising: a stopper head; and a strainer detachably coupled to the stopper head, the stopper head including at least one actuatable element to selectively release the strainer from the stopper head. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the at least one actuatable element is configured to enable a user to selectively release the strainer from the stopper head without physically touching the strainer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the strainer includes a body defining a generally cylindrical receptacle having a plurality of apertures arranged to form a strainer structure. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The strainer cartridge of claim 13 wherein the receptacle tapers in a downstream direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the strainer includes a plurality of flexible fingers at an upstream end of the strainer that splay outward. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the strainer includes a coupler having a stopper head engagement feature to detachably couple the strainer to the stopper head to form the strainer cartridge. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The strainer cartridge of claim 16 wherein the coupler comprises an elongated member having an upstream end and a downstream end, the upstream end including the stopper head engagement feature to detachably couple the strainer to the stopper head to form the strainer cartridge. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the strainer is releasable from the stopper head by manipulating a portion of the stopper head. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the at least one actuatable element of the stopper head includes a depressible portion of the stopper head. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The strainer cartridge of claim 11 wherein the at least one actuatable element of the stopper head includes spring-biased latches.