# US 11,441,305 B1 · Device for preventing drain blockage > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,441,305 B1 - Document ID: US11441305B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/574,487 - Filed: 2022-01-12 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2022-01-12 - Assignees: Giftedness and Creativity Company - Applicants: Giftedness and Creativity Company - Inventors: Hebah Abdullah Alhazza - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441305B1 ## CPC - B01D 35/02: Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks, (B01D35/05 takes precedence; {water pipe system filters E03B3/18, E03B7/07; dirt catchers in sewers E03F; filters or strainers for pipe-lines in general B08B, E03F; object or dirt catching devices in sinks or the like E03C1/26; suction strainers or filters for pumps F04B53/005, F04D29/70}) - B01D 29/6476: {with a rotary movement with respect to the filtering element} - B08B 1/165: {Scrapers} - E03F 5/14: Devices for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage, e.g. sand or sludge traps, rakes or grates (for use in sewage purification plants or both in sewage purification plants or in sewer systems B01D, C02F {; gullies with sediment traps E03F5/04}) - E04D 13/0409: {Drainage outlets, e.g. gullies} - E04D 2013/0413: {Strainers for drainage outlets} - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS - E04D: ROOF COVERINGS; SKY-LIGHTS; GUTTERS; ROOF-WORKING TOOLS (coverings of outer walls by plaster or other porous material E04F13/00) ## Abstract A device for preventing drain blockage can include a planar base and an upright vane support rotatably supported on the base. The vane support includes a plurality of curved vanes mounted in a radial configuration thereon. The base includes a plurality of raised portions on an upper surface thereof and a cylindrical flange extending downwardly from a bottom surface thereof. The flange can frictionally engage the inner walls of a drain pipe for draining water from the device. A base insert is housed within a circular recess of the base and rotatably supports the vane support. The vanes each include a lower edge in close proximity to the top surface of the base. When wind, rain, or debris strikes the curved vanes, the vane support rotates, and the lower edges of the vanes sweep away any debris accumulating on the base. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for preventing drain blockage, comprising: a planar base including a top surface, a bottom surface, and a cylindrical flange extending downwardly from the bottom surface, the flange having an inner surface; an upright vane support rotatably supported on the base, the vane support including a planar top wall and a sidewall; and a plurality of curved vanes mounted in a radial configuration on the vane support, each of the plurality of vanes having a lower edge, wherein rotation of the vane support causes lower edges of the vanes to sweep away debris collected on the base; a circular recess defined within the base; and a circular base insert housed within the recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, wherein the circular base insert comprises a plurality of circumferentially extending slots defined therethrough. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a vertical support rod having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end of the vertical support rod being housed within a central hole of the base insert. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 3, further comprising: a bearing housing depending from the bottom surface of the planar top wall of the vane support, the bearing assembly having a central hole; and a bearing assembly mounted within the bearing housing, a top end of the vertical support rod being housed within the central hole of the bearing assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 4, wherein: the bearing assembly is a ball bearing assembly having an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of ball bearings therebetween. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 4, further comprising a centering bracket, the centering bracket including: an inner ring with a central hole therethrough; an outer ring surrounding the inner ring; and a plurality of radially extending ribs extending between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein the vertical support rod extends through the central hole of the inner ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 6, wherein the plurality of radially extending ribs comprises three radially extending ribs equally spaced and extending 120 degrees from one another. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 4, wherein: the bottom end of the vertical support rod further includes a central threaded bore and a screw extending into the central threaded bore. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, wherein: the base insert includes two radially extending tabs mounted opposite one another along an outer edge thereof; and the base includes an inwardly extending flange on the inner surface of the downwardly extending flange, the inwardly extending flange having two openings positioned opposite one another for receiving the radially extending tabs of the base insert. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, wherein: each of the plurality of curved vanes further includes: an upper tab extending inwardly from a top surface of a main body of the vane; and a lower tab extending inwardly from a bottom surface of the main body of the vane; and the vane support includes: a plurality of upper vane slots along a periphery of the top wall of the vane support; and a plurality of lower vane slots along a lower edge of the sidewall of the vane support, wherein the upper tabs of the plurality of the vanes extend into the upper vane slots; and the lower tabs of the plurality of vanes extend into the lower vane slots. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 10, wherein: the upper tab includes an inner tine, an outer tine and a slot separating the tines, the outer tine having a raised catch with a flat top surface; and the flat top surface of the raised catch engages the bottom surface of the planar top wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, wherein the vane support includes a plurality of through holes extending through the sidewall. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, wherein each vane includes a plurality of vertical slots extending therethrough. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device for preventing drain blockage as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of raised portions on the base.